Complex thought is mistaken for compelling storytelling in the technological dystopia of "The Peripheral," Prime Video's sci-fi drama about, well … I'm still trying to figure it out.
The series, which premiered Friday, is set in the near and far future, the natural world and virtual reality, Appalachia and London. Connecting all these places and spaces is a new VR "game" so advanced that it blurs the line between the physical realm and the simulated experience, leaving players — and viewers of the show — incredibly confused.
If killer robots, wanton violence, time warps, and cyber-commerce's commodification of rural America seem like familiar themes, it's because they are. The series, created by Scott Smith and based on the 2014 book by William Gibson, is executive produced by "Westworld" creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy. And just like that HBO series, there's a good story buried somewhere in "The Peripheral," if one has the patience, focus, time and passion for tortuous, nano-tech nightmares.
