Electric Dreams (2017 TV series)

Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams, or simply Electric Dreams, is a science fiction television anthology series based on the works of Philip K. Dick. The series consists of ten standalone 50-minute episodes based on Dick's work, written by British and American writers.[1][2] It premiered on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom on 17 September 2017,[3] and in the United States on Prime Video on 12 January 2018.[4]

Electric Dreams
Genre
Based onShort stories
by Philip K. Dick
Developed by
Theme music composerHarry Gregson-Williams
Composers
Country of origin
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Ronald D. Moore
  • Michael Dinner
  • Bryan Cranston
  • James Degus
  • Isa Dick Hackett
  • Kalen Egan
  • Christopher Tricario
  • Maril Davis
  • David Kanter
  • Matt DeRoss
  • Lila Rawlings
  • Marigo Kehoe
  • Kate DiMento
  • Don Kurt
Producers
  • Lynn Horsford
  • Rupert Ryle-Hodges
  • Dan Winch
Running time50 minutes
Production companies
DistributorSony Pictures Television
Release
Original networkChannel 4
Original release17 September 2017 (2017-09-17) –
19 March 2018 (2018-03-19)

Production

Development

The series was initially planned to run on AMC and Channel 4, before AMC pulled out, leading Channel 4 to announce the series.[1] In February 2017, it was announced that Amazon Video had bought the U.S. rights to the series.[2]

The series is produced by Sony Pictures Television with Ronald D. Moore, Michael Dinner, and Bryan Cranston serving as executive producers. Cranston also stars in one of the episodes.[1] The episode writers include Ronald D. Moore, Michael Dinner, Tony Grisoni, Jack Thorne, Matthew Graham, David Farr, Dee Rees, and Travis Beacham.[5] Jack Thorne wrote the teleplay for "The Commuter", based on the short story of the same name, with Tom Harper directing the episode.[6]

Casting

In March 2017, Timothy Spall joined the episode "The Commuter", starring opposite Anthony Boyle and Tuppence Middleton.[6] The following month, Jack Reynor and Benedict Wong were cast to lead the episode "Impossible Planet", alongside a supporting cast including Geraldine Chaplin and Georgina Campbell.[7] Also in April, Steve Buscemi was cast in "Crazy Diamond", and Greg Kinnear and Mireille Enos joined the episode "The Father Thing".[8]

On 3 May 2017, Anna Paquin and Terrence Howard were cast in the episode "Real Life", with a supporting cast including Rachelle Lefevre, Jacob Vargas, Sam Witwer, Guy Burnet and Lara Pulver.[9][10] Also in May, Richard Madden and Holliday Grainger were announced to star in "The Hood Maker".[11] Later that month, Vera Farmiga and Mel Rodriguez were cast to lead the episode "Kill All Others", with Jason Mitchell, Glenn Morshower and Sarah Baker also appearing.[12][13] Finally in May, Janelle Monáe and Juno Temple joined the cast of the episode "Autofac" alongside Jay Paulson and David Lyons.[14]

In June 2017, Maura Tierney and Annalise Basso were cast to star in "Safe and Sound", and Bryan Cranston was confirmed to appear in the episode "Human Is" with Essie Davis, Liam Cunningham and Ruth Bradley.[15]

Filming

Five episodes were filmed in England and five were filmed in Chicago.[16]

The fourth episode of the series, "Crazy Diamond", filmed in two locations in Kent, England; the Dungeness estate was used for various exterior settings and driving scenes, and the Cheyne Court wind farm was used as the checkpoint Sally passes on her way in and out of the estate.[17]

Music

Harry Gregson-Williams was hired to compose the main titles theme music and score an episode, and Ólafur Arnalds and Cristobal Tapia de Veer were also hired to score multiple episodes each.[18] Brian Transeau and Mark Isham scored music for the episode titled "Autofac", while Bear McCreary scored music for three episodes in the first season.[19]

Sequels

Amazon intended the production as a limited series. Some sources say Sony TV is attempting to find a new home for the drama.[20]

Episodes

Each episode is based on a short story by Dick.[21] The episode sequences are different on Channel 4 and Amazon Video.[22]

No.TitleDirected byTeleplay byBased onOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
1"The Hood Maker"Julian JarroldMatthew Graham"The Hood Maker"17 September 2017 (2017-09-17)1.49[23]
In an authoritarian regime called the Free Union, a minority of humans have developed telepathic abilities. Mistrusted by society, they are referred to as "Teeps," live in ghettos, and are routinely discriminated against. A telepath named Honor is recruited to work for the police, and forms a close relationship with her handler, Agent Ross. The pair begin working together on an investigation when a mysterious individual, calling himself the "Hood Maker," begins distributing telepathy-proof hoods throughout the city.
Cast : Richard Madden as Agent Ross; Holliday Grainger as Honor; Noma Dumezweni as Senior Agent Okhile; Anneika Rose as Mary; Richard McCabe as Dr. Thaddeus Cutter; Paul Ritter as Franklyn; and Tony Way as Carmichael
2"Impossible Planet"David FarrDavid Farr"The Impossible Planet"24 September 2017 (2017-09-24)1.35[24]
Two bored space tourism guides, Norton and Andrews, are approached by a 342-year-old woman, Irma Louise Gordon, who offers them five years' salary each to take her on one last trip to Earth. As they are not sure the planet even exists anymore, having been evacuated centuries ago due to solar flares, they head for a similar planet, although Irma's robot servant deduces (and maintains) the subterfuge. Irma has a very specific dream about her grandparents swimming in a river in Carolina, and wants to re-enact this with Norton, who closely resembles her grandfather.
Cast : Jack Reynor as Brian Norton; Benedict Wong as Ed Andrews; Geraldine Chaplin as Irma Louise Gordon; Georgina Campbell as Barbara; and Malik Ibheis as RB29
3"The Commuter"Tom HarperJack Thorne"The Commuter"1 October 2017 (2017-10-01)1.50[25]
Ed Jacobson is a railway worker at Woking station. His life takes a turn for the worse when his son, Sam, begins experiencing psychotic episodes. Afterwards, a young woman named Linda asks for a ticket to a non-existent destination called "Macon Heights". Intrigued, Jacobson follows a number of passengers who jump off the train and walk to an idyllic village where their traumas are wiped away. On his return home, he discovers his son never existed, and he returns to Macon Heights to find Linda and demand she restore his original life.
Cast : Timothy Spall as Ed Jacobson; Rebecca Manley as Mary Jacobson; Anthony Boyle as Sam Jacobson; Rudi Dharmalingam as Bob Paine; Tuppence Middleton as Linda; Anne Reid as Martine Jenkins; Ann Akin as Dr. Simpson; Hayley Squires as Waitress; and Tom Brooke as Tall Man in Light Coat
4"Crazy Diamond"Marc MundenTony Grisoni"Sales Pitch"8 October 2017 (2017-10-08)0.96[26]
Ed Morris works at a company which produces synthetic humanoids called Jacks and Jills, and the QCs ("quantum consciousness") which give them intelligence and emotions. He is approached by a dying Jill, who wants him to help her steal ten QCs – one to extend her own lifespan, and the rest to sell, with a share going to Ed to start a new life with his wife, Sally.
Cast : Steve Buscemi as Ed Morris; Sidse Babett Knudsen as Jill; Julia Davis as Sally Morris; Lucian Msamati as The Director; Joanna Scanlan as Su; and Michael Socha as Noah
5"Real Life"Jeffrey ReinerRonald D. Moore"Exhibit Piece"[27]15 October 2017 (2017-10-15)0.88[28]
Sarah is a policewoman living in the future who shares headspace with George, a brilliant game designer living in the present. While both of them try to understand which one of them is "real" and which one is living in a dream, both are pursuing violent killers whose plans could have shattering consequences. In a race against time, sharing a bond that no one else can see, they learn the very thing that connects them can also destroy them.
Cast : Anna Paquin as Sarah; Terrence Howard as George; Rachelle Lefevre as Katie; Lara Pulver as Paula; Sam Witwer as Chris; Guy Burnet as Collins; and Jacob Vargas as Mario
6"Human Is"Francesca GregoriniJessica Mecklenburg"Human Is"29 October 2017 (2017-10-29)0.85[29]
Mission director Vera Herrick is trapped in a loveless marriage with military hero Colonel Silas Herrick. Silas returns to the planet of Rexor IV to obtain a substance needed to process Earth's toxic atmosphere, but comes under attack from the local Rexorians. When their ship returns on autopilot, Silas has apparently survived, and Vera finds him uncharacteristically kind and considerate. The colonel is arrested by the State, who believe that Silas has been taken over by a Rexorian consciousness.
Cast : Bryan Cranston as Silas Herrick; Essie Davis as Vera Herrick; Liam Cunningham as General Olin; Ruth Bradley as Yaro Peterson; William Gaminara as Dr. El Ganol; Khalid Abdalla as Interrogator; and Ronan Vibert as Chief Judge
7"The Father Thing"Michael DinnerMichael Dinner"The Father-thing"26 February 2018 (2018-02-26)N/A
Eleven-year-old Charlie has a close relationship with his father, sharing a love of baseball. One night, while camping out, they see glowing orbs slowly falling from the sky, which the radio news reports are meteoroids. After a day at home, Charlie is uncertain that his father is who, or what, he appears to be, and he is not alone. Charlie and his best friend eventually find a field filled with body doubles grown by the aliens.
Cast : Greg Kinnear as The Father; Mireille Enos as The Mother; Jack Gore as Charlie Cotrell; Shannon Brown as Rotko; Alana Arenas as Detective Fernandez; Terry Kinney as Mr. Dick; and Andrew Rothenburg as Captain Miller
8"Autofac"Peter HortonTravis Beacham"Autofac"5 March 2018 (2018-03-05)N/A
Twenty years after a nuclear war, a small community of survivors are challenged by an automated corporate factory, which uses drones to send them unnecessary goods on a daily schedule. Their ability to grow food is diminishing as the natural world around them fades away, which they believe is due to pollution caused by the mega-factory. They plan to bypass the deadly defenses of the factory and shut it down.
Cast : Juno Temple as Emily; Janelle Monáe as Alice; David Lyons as Conrad Morrison; Nick Eversman as Avishai; Jay Paulson as Reverend Perine; and Maximiliano Hernández as Lewis
9"Safe and Sound"Alan TaylorKalen Egan and Travis Sentell"Foster, You're Dead!"12 March 2018 (2018-03-12)N/A
In a near-future dystopia, the United States is divided between high-tech, hysterically paranoid "safe" cities and "bubble" communities where invasive technologies are rejected. A "bubble" representative moves with her daughter for a year of negotiations and life in the big city. While the mother tries to negotiate better treatment of the bubbles, her daughter struggles to adapt to school life, its social oddities, and the pervasive technologies around her.
Cast : Annalise Basso as Foster Lee; Maura Tierney as Irene Lee; Connor Paolo as Ethan; Alice Lee as Milena; Algee Smith as Kaveh; and Martin Donovan as Odin
10"Kill All Others"Dee ReesDee Rees"The Hanging Stranger"19 March 2018 (2018-03-19)N/A
In the near future, video advertising is everywhere. North America is a single nation with a single presidential Candidate. Philbert Noyce is less than enthusiastic about consumerism and is a low-motivation Q.A. worker on a production line. During the Candidate's speech one night, Philbert hears her utter the words "kill all others" while those words flash on the screen. Few others have seen or heard the message but many are affected by it. Only one of Philbert's co-workers believes what he says about the message and the political system. Eventually, Philbert is driven onto an ad where a hanging victim has been left, lambasting the government's callousness, and declares that everyone is an "Other".
Cast : Mel Rodriguez as Philbert Noyce; Sarah Baker as Maggie Noyce; Jason Mitchell as Lenny; Glenn Morshower as Ed; Louis Herthum as Supervisor; DuShon Monique Brown as Peace Sergeant; and Vera Farmiga as the Candidate

Reception

On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an approval rating of 73% based on 52 critical responses, with an average rating of 6.06/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Electric Dreams's dreamy production values and optimistic tone help make up for a lack of originality and tonal cohesion – and save the show from feeling like just another Black Mirror clone."[30] Metacritic assigned the first season a weighted average score of 68 out of 100, based on 16 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[31]

Accolades
Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2018 44th Saturn Awards Best Guest Performance in a Television Series Bryan Cranston Nominated [32]
Best New Media Television Series Electric Dreams Nominated
2nd Black Reel Awards for Television Outstanding Actor, TV Movie or Limited Series Terrence Howard Nominated [33]
Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Limited Series Janelle Monáe Nominated
Outstanding Director, TV Movie or Limited Series Dee Rees
(for the episode "Kill All Others")		 Nominated
Outstanding Writing, TV Movie or Limited Series Nominated

Broadcast

The series was greenlit for production by Channel 4 in the UK and Amazon Video in the United States. The first six episodes were screened weekly on Channel 4 in 2017, with the rest premiering on 12 January 2018 on Amazon, when the entire season was released on Amazon Streaming worldwide (except UK, Canada and Australia). On Amazon, the episode order is sequenced differently from the UK broadcast.[2] Electric Dreams was broadcast on Space in Canada,[34] and on the streaming service Stan in Australia.[35]

References
  1. Lodderhose, Diana (10 May 2016). "Bryan Cranston to Star in Philip K. Dick Series From 'Outlander's' Ron Moore". Variety.
  2. Littleton, Cynthia (14 February 2017). "Amazon Grabs U.S. Rights to Bryan Cranston's 'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams' Anthology Series". Variety.
  3. Jaafar, Ali (10 May 2016). "Bryan Cranston To Star Electric Dreams: The World Of Philip K. Dick". Deadline Hollywood.
  4. White, Peter (20 November 2017). "'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams': Amazon Sets January Premiere". Deadline Hollywood.
  5. Andreeva, Nellie (14 February 2017). "'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams' TV Series From Ron Moore, Michael Dinner & Bryan Cranston Picked Up By Amazon". Deadline Hollywood.
  6. Petski, Denise (21 March 2017). "Timothy Spall To Star In 'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams' 'Commuter' Episode". Deadline Hollywood.
  7. Lodderhouse, Diana (7 April 2017). "Jack Reynor & Benedict Wong To Star In 'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams' 'Impossible Planet' Episode". Deadline Hollywood.
  8. Mitchell, Robert (18 April 2017). "Steve Buscemi, Greg Kinnear Enter 'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams'". Variety.
  9. Pedersen, Erik (3 May 2017). "Anna Paquin & Terrence Howard To Guest On 'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams' For Amazon". Deadline Hollywood.
  10. Otterson, Joe (3 May 2017). "Terrence Howard, Anna Paquin Join 'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams'". Variety.
  11. Gilyadov, Alex (18 May 2017). "Richard Madden Joins Philip K. Dick: Electric Dreams Anthology TV Series". IGN.
  12. Mitchell, Robert (24 May 2017). "Vera Farmiga Joins Cast of Anthology Series 'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams'". Variety.
  13. Petski, Denise (24 May 2017). "'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams': Mel Rodriguez & Vera Farmiga Join Sci-Fi Anthology Series". Deadline Hollywood.
  14. Verlocci, Carli (31 May 2017). "Janelle Monáe, Juno Temple Join 'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams' Cast". TheWrap.
  15. Pedersen, Erik (6 June 2017). "'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams': Amazon Finalizes Season 1 Cast With Maura Tierney & Others; Bryan Cranston Role Set". Deadline Hollywood.
  16. "Swanberg's "Easy" one of 3 new TV series filming here". ReelChicago. 11 January 2017.
  17. "Filming in Kent: Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams (2017)". Kent Film Office. 14 September 2017.
  18. "'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams' to Feature Music by Harry Gregson-Williams, Olafur Arnalds & Cristobal Tapia de Veer". Film Music Reporter. 25 September 2017.
  19. "New Episodes of 'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams' to Feature Music by Mark Isham, BT & Bear McCreary". Film Music Reporter. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  20. Goldberg, Lesley (28 January 2019). "Isa Dick Hackett Inks First-Look Deal With Amazon". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  21. Carroll, Tobias (5 February 2018). "How Electric Dreams Compares to Philip K. Dick's Short Stories". Vulture.com. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  22. Tallerico, Brain (22 January 2018). "Every Episode of Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams, Ranked". Vulture.com. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  23. "Weekly top 30 programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 9 October 2017. Ratings on Channel 4 (SD+HD) for week 11 Sept – 17 Sept.
  24. "Weekly top 30 programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 9 October 2017. Ratings on Channel 4 (SD+HD) for week 18 Sept – 24 Sept.
  25. "Weekly top 30 programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 9 October 2017. Ratings on Channel 4 (SD+HD) for week 25 Sept – 1 Oct.
  26. "Weekly top 30 programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 16 October 2017. Ratings on Channel 4 (SD+HD) for week 2 Oct – 8 Oct.
  27. "Interview with Ronald D. Moore for Electric Dreams". Channel 4. 6 September 2017.
  28. "Weekly top 30 programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 30 October 2017. Ratings on Channel 4 (SD+HD) for week 9 Oct – 15 Oct.
  29. "Weekly top 30 programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 6 November 2017. Ratings on Channel 4 (SD+HD) for week 23 Oct – 29 Oct.
  30. "Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  31. "Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams: Season 1 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  32. McNary, Dave (March 15, 2018). "'Black Panther,' 'Walking Dead' Rule Saturn Awards Nominations". Variety. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  33. "2nd Annual Black Reel Awards for Television Nominees". Lipstick Alley. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  34. Middleton, Richard (5 June 2017). "Bell bags Dick's Electric Dreams". C21Media. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  35. Johnston, Rae (1 August 2017). "Philip K Dick's 'Electric Dreams' Is Coming To Stan". Gizmodo Media Group. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
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