Human Is

We get a great episode. Bryan Cranston and Essie Davis are fantastic and give their roles a real sense of character. The visuals are not top of the line, but they have a unique and consistent vibe that matches the story wonderfully. Wow. Loved this episode! Really different. So unique. 9/10

This episode of "Philip K. DIck's Electric Dreams is nearly superb. I own that I only scored it a nine from the possible 10 because the pace is a little slow and the film is a touch dark for me. However, Cranston's performance impelled me to a nine because here is a 61 year old man who does a sex scene and it is believable.

Now for some disclosure: this sex scene does avoid frontal nudity of Cranston. However, his passion that seemingly comes through for me and Davis's reaction (the actress playing his wife) is 100% on target.

Some have negatively reacted to this episode in that Cranston and Davis are not passionate enough AND that this ending is unambiguous. Certainly, I disagree with the first assertion above and do concede the second. However, just because the ending is unambiguous does not limit the episode's effect on the viewer. I was as moved here as I was in "The Matrix" "episodes one and two. If a video effectiveness can be measured the viewers reaction, you have to acknowledge my score and you have to watch this episode and let the events happen (with a certain degree of Cranston's back story creeping in.

If you watch this episode with the guidance I have noted here, you will be moved and you will certainly enjoy this episode. If you allow a preconceived judgment shape your experience, then you will not like this episode as much as some of the others. So you decide and watch,

Bryan and Essie play their roles perfectly. Touches some universal themes: war and peace, love and hate. All in 47 minutes.

Bryan Cranston plays Silas Merick, a brave army officer in a future desolate Earth now called Terra.

He is also a jerk who treats his wife Vera coldly and callously. Vera finds comfort in an underground sex club and jogging in a virtual reality world.

Terra is at war with the planet Rexor IV. Although it seems the humans are the aggressors exploiting Rexor's resources for themselves.

Following a bloody battle with the aliens in Rexor, Silas returns as a changed man. He is warm, loving and kind to Vera. He is also accused of being a metamorph and stands trial.

The drama has a nice twist by Vera who exploits the propaganda given in his testimony by General Elin. It is something reminiscent of Star Trek.

What some are missing as they criticize the conclusion of this episode is that the military entity here is not much different that some sort of unyielding, single minded group. Since these people are dependent on a substance necessary to their existence, they feel they can go to another planet and rape the resources of those people. When they meet resistance, they people they are stealing from try to defend themselves and keep what is theirs. It is stated early on that they have no interest in any sort of agreement or negotiations. So the others are seen as evil. Well, in the process of escaping, Bryan Cranston's comes back a different man. Of course, he is seen as having been infiltrated by the enemy. While the conclusion was a bit predictable, I still thought it was pretty good.