Electric Dreams (TV Series) Real Life (2017) User Reviews

Two lives but which is real?

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 18 October 2017]

Sarah is a successful cop in a bright future where she travels in a flying car with her partner as they hunt those responsible for killing a number of police officers. After a day's work she returns home to her beautiful wife. She suggests that Sarah takes a holiday; not a conventional holiday of today but a holiday from herself. This entails using a virtual reality device which when used makes her feel like a totally different person in a different life. When activated she does indeed enter a totally new life; she is now a man named George who lives in what appears to be our present. George is a wealthy computer programmer determined to do whatever it takes to find the man who killed his wife… at the end of the day he uses a virtual reality device and becomes Sarah. Which of these lives is real though? Both have similarities; George and Sarah are both investigating a serious crime, both eat in the same diner and both have been cautioned that continued use of the devices could lead to permanent brain damage; Sarah/George will have to decide which reality seems the more likely to be real… the desperate man trying to get away from the loss of his wife or the 'lesbian supercop with the flying car'?

I really enjoyed this story, it was possibly the best yet. The two intertwined stories were interesting and it was far from obvious which life was real and which was just VR. Thankfully at the end we do learn the truth rather than having it emerge that neither were real… a possibility which briefly crossed my mind. The fact that both lives involve characters investigating serious crimes and meeting some dangerous people leads to some exciting scenes with some decent action… also a wince inducing scene where George is threatened by a criminal who describes, in unpleasant detail, what he intends to do. The future setting was well realised with a look that reminded me of the world of 'Blade Runner' without the squalor. The cast do a fine job; most notably Anna Paquin and Terrence Howard as Sarah and George who manage to make the viewer believe that they aren't sure if they are real or not. Overall a great instalment in this intriguing series.

Dream a Lie

[Lejink · 8/10 · 27 October 2017]

The clue to this latest episode in Channel 4's Philip K Dick Electric Dreams anthology was in the title. Two different people, one a multi-millionaire mogul grieving and seeking vengeance for the violent death of his wife, the other a female cop, trying to track down the criminal mastermind who massacred her colleagues where she managed to escape, are separately encouraged to take a mind-vacation to escape the stress engendered by their memories of these events.

But their stories keep converging, they're both chasing the same gang-leader bearing the unlikely name of Colin, seem to share the same wife, end up in the same places and eventually come to the shared confusion and conclusion as to just who is dreaming who and whose is the real reality, if you follow my drift.

It took a little while for the narrative penny to drop with me but once it did, I found this to be the most intriguing of the episodes I've watched so far in the series. Of course I recognise the Dick-ensian device of the dream-vacation from "Total Recall" but it's a fascinating one and remarkably prescient of the popularity of interactive role-play in today's computer games.

I enjoyed the depiction of future life with its Fifth Element-style flying cars and invisible communication devices plus there was even a daring, though understandably non-graphic depiction of lesbian sex too. The acting, set design and direction were all of a high standard with the viewer kept guessing as to whose world was real and whose imaginary right up to the end.

Very good episode.

Near perfect

[WestrnEch0 · 9/10 · 13 January 2018]

This is one of the best examples of the classic Science Fiction I grew up with. A compelling story-telling, stunning imagery, flawless acting by the entire cast including Terrence Howard, a fan of whom I am not.

It was simply beautiful and a bit tragic, the kind of story which leaves you a little heart-broken in the end.

Solid episode

[korereviews · 8/10 · 20 November 2017]

Certainly better than some of the other ones, this episode succeeded because it had a fully fledged and proper sci-fi plot that didn't just waft off into vague fantasy nonsense towards the end. It built to a climax, then paid that off. Not mind blowing, but decently written with good performances and some nice futuristic scenes with a flying car a la Blade Runner. What's really noticeable throughout this series, though, is just how low their budget it. Mostly it's okay, but a few more bucks spent in key places would make a big difference.

"It's a vacation from your life."

[classicsoncall · 8/10 · 7 January 2022]

This story has a lot of "Black Mirror" vibe going for it, dealing as it does with a futuristic type of technology. Most of the other reviewers on this board are of the opinion that George Miller (Terrence Howard) and Sarah (Anna Paquin) were two different people, but I don't quite share that feeling. They seemed to me to be two sides of the same coin for lack of a better description, or more accurately, a single person in the real world sharing an alter-ego in a virtual world. That would explain the hunt for the same criminal gang and it's leader, and George's compensating for his murdered wife by living with her in a same sex relationship in another reality. So then one would question which of the two representations of George/Sarah be the one in the real world. I think the answer arrives at the end of the episode when George smashes the headset which provides entry to the dream reality. At that point, Sarah's neural pathways shut down and she ceases to exist. The odd thing is, and this might have been a slip-up on the part of the writers, but when Paula (Lara Pulver) tried to convince George that he should refrain from taking any more virtual vacations, she commented on his having 'hot lesbian sex in his fantasy paradise'. How would she have known that?

Almost really good.

[jcain1635 · 13 January 2018]

I heard the director of this episode say that it was a heavy adaptation but still carries the heart of the original short story "Exhibit". This is both true and false I can honestly say that the changes do not make it feel unlike the short story. The key concept is used but while the original short story is very straight forward this adaptation has a slight mystery to it. This almost makes the episode great except at the end they decided to give you a clear answer. Not only would leaving it ambiguous make the episode make more sense it would have made it a lot more entertaining. The only problem I have with this episode is that it pours so much emphasis into the mystery, that you really never care for the characters. At the end, it sacrifices the best aspect of the episode for characters that aren't well developed. Other than this, the acting is great especially from Terrence Phillips, the direction is great, the soundtrack is great, and the camera work is adequate. If you are a fan of Philip K. Dick, this feels like one of his, even though it isnt.

[6.8] Explore, enjoy and conquer!

[cjonesas · 7/10 · 10 September 2021]

An interesting episode with futuristic and SciFi implies and implications. The idea is good, so is the overall average development; it just falls short IMO because of inadequate runtime to really explore the story. Living things to imagination is not always a good thing.

So many reasons either reality could be real.

[anniec62 · 9/10 · 20 May 2018]

Loved, loved this. I love these creative, out of the box shows. This is the kind of TV that spoils me and makes me realize 98% of the rest of TV is boring and predictable. Show kept me bouncing back and forth between which life truly was reality as there were so many reasons on both sides that it would fit. Hope there's a 2nd season of this series!

Real Life

[bobcobb301 · 6/10 · 23 August 2018]

They got two big name actors in Anna Paquin and Terence Howard for this one, but they couldn't quite deliver what was needed.

That being said, this actually had a good ending. An ending that was predictable, but it went out the right way. That is worth pointing out considering how this show has dropped the ball quite a bit in the past on that front.

One of the Better Ones

[lmgswain01 · 8/10 · 23 April 2018]

Caveat: Read the short stories first if you are a mind to compare the original tales as Dick wrote them with the interpretations of today's writers, who have the advantage of our insights and usage of technology, digital addiction, and

Having read all the short stories upon which this series based, as well as having read most of Dick's novels and other writings, I was looking forward to the series.

"Real Life", based on the story "Exhibit Piece", is a good repurposing and interpretation of Dick's original story, one of the better ones in the series.

Anna Paquin's and and Terrence Howard's performances contribute to the confusion of "which reality is real", a theme in many of Dick's stories and novels, and empathy is gained for both characters in both realities.

Although much different from the original story, "Real Life" is what Dick would have written if he had written the story in this century.

What Is Real in Real Life?

[LorenBieg · 7/10 · 17 January 2018]

This initial outing written by Battlestar Galactica reboot and Star Trek: The Next Generation veteran Ronald D. Moore is smart and full of twists, but ultimately delivers an ending that falls a bit flat due to over-explaining and lack of resonance. Sarah and George are two versions of the same person, each in a different century, and each believing the other is a fantasy. Sarah believes she does not deserve her amazing, futuristic life. In fact, her life seems more likely to be the sexy, science fiction fantasy of George, a man in the 21st century who's wife was murdered by a killer that was never caught. The question of which world is real remains elusive until the very last scene, which was so talky it took away from the impact of the choice Sarah makes to give up a true happiness she feels undeserving of in favor of a life of suffering, auspiciously to atone for the sense of guilt she carries about surviving a massacre of fellow officers. A compelling idea that I wish the story could have explored more deeply.

The comfort and beauty of the future life Sarah lives is alluring enough to suggest it might be George's fantasy. And, the gritty hardness of the present day George lived in with his grief and regret had a reality to it that suggested Sarah's final conclusion may be right. But, the point of the story seemed to want to be that guilt can prevent us from embracing happiness that is right in front of us. Problem is, we never feel Sarah is very happy in the story. When she chose George's life, it seemed as if she had as much grief to fight through and as good a chance at happiness with Paula as she did with Katie in the future. Katie's flat expositional speech at the end lacked humanity. It read more like a Rod Serling outro. Despite his memory gaps, George's life seemed more believable. It's possible that budget constraints prevented the creators from giving Sarah a moment of the "futuristic super cop" her partner calls her. George actually had the more exciting action sequence, though it had a video game quality to it. Was this a creative decision designed to cast doubt on the reality of Sarah's backstory? Perhaps. By the end, it felt as if too much was happening off-camera. And, it may be that an hour was not long enough to tell this story. But, Sarah never gave me a reason to believe she had that much happiness to lose in the future, and George's connection to Paula felt too real to think he'd never be happy with her.

Despite these gripes, the episode was imaginative, well acted, kept me guessing until the end, and did provide some food for thought. Terrence Howard is always a pleasure to watch. And, Ronald D. Moore delivers solid Sci-Fi with a message once more, as he has for decades. So, I give Real Life a 7 out of 10 and look forward to more Electric Dreams.

A twist on a trope

[swatter · 8/10 · 6 January 2019]

San Juniper may have touched on the basic tropes employed in this episode, but let's face it, it was hardly the first to deal with reality swapping. We only need to wind the clock back to Total Recall or even some episodes of Star Trek--it's not a new concept. What makes this story work is the theme, that is, why the character makes the choice at the end. Their reasoning draws from something that is primal in the human condition. Not felt by everyone to be sure, but enough to drive belief systems, and when unhinged, to lead some people to make poor life decisions. If you've ever felt what it's talking about, you'll get it.

Interesting and twisty show

[sterhill-1 · 7/10 · 26 December 2019]

Keeps you guessing what is real and what's not. Amazing that Philip K. Dick stories stand the test of time so well.

Graphic sex: could have done without the lesbian sex scene. More directors should be like Hitchcock and IMPLY instead of shoving you right into it. Not a spoiler as they are right up front at the open that they are lesbians.

Anybody else think Rachelle Lefevre always plays two characters? Rachelle Lefevre And Rachelle Lefevre's hair?

Done before and better

[indigorule · 3/10 · 4 October 2018]

Whilst originally I was looking forward to this as it had potential, once I had finished the episode I was thoroughly disappointed. Firstly the characters on both sides have so little development or relatable traits that actual investment in these characters is near impossible. I found myself struggling to feel engaged despite the high stakes set up for the climax. I found once properly looked at, the depth of the episode is painfully simplistic and lacks much of the intrigue or moral reflection that other stories of this type has had. Even Aesthetically I find fault with this, as costuming and set design are at times badly utilised or like I have said, miss their potential uses. To be honest this just comes off as a dollar store San Junipero, which it kind of is, a darker yet ultimately dumber and less layered copycat of a black mirror classic.

On par with Black Mirror

[drpunkrock · 9/10 · 11 December 2019]

You cannot help but compare Electric Dreams to the mostly fabulous Black Mirror of Netflix. This one could really have been from there. A gripping tale about two realities and confusion about which one is the real one. The leads were very good, especially Mr. Howard. The look, the feel, it all fits very well. The only issue I have is that the dialogue is sometimes a little overexplanatory. But that is just a minor issue.

Provocative and entertaining

[hnt_dnl · 10/10 · 21 February 2018]

After having binged on all the Black Mirror episodes (so far, hopefully there are more to come), I really needed a show, any show, that would come close to it's compelling combination of sci-fi and humanity. While Electric Dreams is really not the level of Black Mirror, there are a few really watchable episodes and this one, REAL LIFE, is definitely one of them. Even though it's listed as Episode 5 on imdb, it is actually the first episode in the Amazon Prime list, so it is the first one I watched and what a start!

Completely immersive and thought-provoking, Real Life is a tricky tale that is very reminiscent of Total Recall in asking the question what is real and what is fantasy? And it features some seriously great acting, especially by Terrence Howard, who is so good it's worthy of acclaim as much as a lot of the acting in Black Mirror. Anna Paquin is very good as well. Howard and Paquin play opposite sides of a coin and the big question of the episode is which of their realities is actually real. Howard and Paquin get strong support from Lara Pulver and Rachelle Lefevre as their respective closest confidantes in the 2 realities.

The cinematography in both worlds is beautiful to look at and the episode does an amazing job of keeping one guessing until the very end. A really strong "first" episode, but unfortunately there are only a couple of more in Season 1 (is it destined to be the only season?) that really live up to this entertaining exercise.

What would the French do?

[fxdillinger-uno · 8 November 2018]

Frankly, the first thing I'll do if I wake up as a woman and wanted to find out about the reality of things, is to fondle my newly acquired breasts. Its what the truck drivers in Truffauts pianist would do.

Real Life

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 22 January 2018]

Future lesbian future cop Sarah (Anna Paquin) is haunted by the memories of her fellow police officers being slaughtered. Her girlfriend Katie offers her a vacation away from this via a device allowing her to experience life of a new person and new fantasies. So far a little bit like Total Recall with a touch of Blade Runner in the production design.

Sarah finds herself in the life of George (Terrence Howard) a hi tech games designer whose wife was killed and he spends his nights going on vengeance missions looking for his wife's murderer. It soon becomes clear that both Sarah and George are looking for the same bad guy. However which person is living the real life and who is in the fantasy?

Ronald D Moore has solid sci fi credentials with his work stretching back to Star Trek: The Next Generation. An interesting set up but I think it failed to be sustained and it started to get dull as both characters realise they are in some waking dream.

(Can I write "Dick story device" without you guys snickering?)

[ericrnolan · 9/10 · 14 February 2018]

I was skeptical about "Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams" (2017), and I'm not sure why -- maybe because I assumed it would be a failed and shameless imitator of "Black Mirror" (2011). But I'm happy to be proven wrong -- the first episode was damned good. It isn't quite as good as "Black Mirror" (the success of which doubtlessly helped this series reach fruition), but it looks like it could be a great show in its own right. (None other than Ron Moore and Bryan Cranston are among the producers for "Electric Dreams," so that should make us optimistic about the show's quality.)

I'd rate the first episode a 9 out of 10. (The entry I'm referring to here is the "Episode 1" with which Amazon Video audiences will be familiar -- the episodes appeared in a different order when this series first aired last year on Britain's Channel 4.) It's got a great cast, including Anna Paquin, Lara Pulver, and the incredible Terrence Howard. (His acting skills are among the best I've ever seen.) And its story is damned neat, even if it employs a Dick story device that we've already seen in some other adaptations.

This was good. I recommend it.

Separate Realities

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 18 January 2018]

A futuristic woman police officer attempts to capture the person responsible for multiple police deaths. She is a lesbian and has a gorgeous partner. This woman tells her she needs a vacation, so using a device she is transported into the past, becoming a software developer who has lost his wife. He is using a more primitive device but doesn't understand what is going on. Their lives become intertwined. The question for us is which is the true reality if there is one. It ultimately gets down to a kind of trust. Both live lives of emptiness, so how do they get around this? I realize this isn't the first episode, but it's the first I've seen. Like "Black Mirror," it appears to have a very cynical bent.

Padded and predictable

[petewood-59951 · 4/10 · 20 April 2020]

This story could have been told in twenty five minutes. It stalled about ten minutes in and just kept repeating the same ideas over and over. You'll see the ending coming at you like a freight train. I love Philip Dick. Not a big fan of this episode. And some character development would have been nice. Every character in the episode felt like a cliche to me. Very disappointing.