Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams. Episode 9, Safe and Sound.

 Directed by Alan Taylor. 

Written by Kalen Egan and Travis Sentell. 

Starring Annalise Basso as Foster Lee, Maura Tierney as Irene Lee, Connor Paolo as Ethan, Alice Lee as Milena and Algee Smith as Kaveh.

Production and Design.

I don’t have a strong opinion on the production and design of this episode, as the story carries the production the most. However, the locations and sets used help me believe in this world. The visual effects were tamed down a bit, and it worked very well. It was the story that I loved, and it was delivered in a way that worked for me and I appreciate the hard work that went into making it all seem so effortless. The holographic display of the DEX was faultless, and I think what I am trying to say is that I was so engrossed in this episode, that the background became irrelevant. If I were producing an episode like this, I would be happy if the viewer felt that way after watching it.

Story.

A single car drives through an old and decaying part of town, finally leading to a bridge that shows an advanced city skyline. In the car are Irene and her daughter Foster who have travelled from a low-tech bubble in the west to discuss some of the invasive procedures this advanced society seems to offer. As wonderful as this place looks, Irene believes that her freedom is far more important. Foster, on the other hand, seems to be impressed with what the city has to offer. The next day Foster attends school for the first time, and alarm bells are already ringing as she enters the building. Only because she isn’t wearing her DEX, a tech bracelet and tracking device. Foster is pulled to one side, searched and assigned a red band for her arm. In class, she starts to feel how different she is from the other students and realises some students actually fear her. Before she leaves, Kaveh, a fellow student, says he can get her a DEX, if she wants to fit in with the others.

Back home, Foster tells Irene about the DEX, and she instantly refuses to let her daughter have one. There is a difference between safety and comfort and Foster would be giving up her freedom with this device. Foster has different plans, and the next day she asks Kaveh to get her a DEX bracelet, using her mum’s credits. Once the purchase has been made, Kaveh goes to kiss Foster and she declines, saying she only wants his help. Kaveh takes offence and tells Foster to wait by herself for the DEX. Foster waits and eventually, a delivery drone appears and drops the device to the ground.  As Foster opens the box, she is asked to put a device into her ear and put on a bracelet which then opens up a holographic display. Struggling to close the DEX down, Foster hears a voice, it’s customer support. An employee for the DEX kindly takes her through the tutorial for the bracelet and tells her she is a natural. Foster asks the employee his name, but he says it’s against company policy to disclose such information and the chat ends.

In school the next day the students are watching a video of a terrorist attack, and the teacher asks one of the students to point out who the suspect is. Foster notices a man in the crowd who is wearing a badge from her bubble, and before she has a chance to tell anyone, it’s the same man who ignites the bomb. The video says that the terrorists used mind control on this suspect. Things go from bad to worse for Foster as she finds out Kaveh is about to ruin her life because she didn’t have sex with him the day before. To put things right, she offers herself to him and he declines. Foster has a panic attack and runs to the toilet, and as she becomes more upset, the voice from customer support is back again. He says that her vitals are going through the roof, and he is worried about her. Eventually, he offers to help with her situation by looking into Kaveh’s background. It’s not legal and just a favour, he also reveals his name is Ethan.

Breaking News! A terrorist attack has been stopped in the city. Irene is in the middle of a video link discussion with a Government official when Foster returns home, she believes the attack is a set up by the Government because of her presence there. Ethan contacts Foster again, but he sounds startled this time. Ethan believes Kaveh is up to something far more suspicious after looking into his DEX, and he asks Foster to follow him and find any evidence before alerting his superiors. Foster follows Kaveh through the school, while still talking with Ethan. A concerned student walks up to her and asks if she is okay, only because she is talking to herself. Foster explains that it’s her ear device, but the student looks confused and walks away. Ethan says she is one of the first to use that technology, but he suddenly changes the subject by telling Foster she has a new target. It’s Milena, a girl who she first met at the school. Foster then follows Milena, which eventually leads to a library containing real books, something this society doesn’t appreciate anymore as everything is digital. Foster asks Milena about Kaveh, and what they get up to together but Ethan says she is lying, which causes her to have another panic attack. Milena calms Foster down by giving her a drink and tells her about her family background. Ethan starts to scream into Foster’s ear, she must go to the bathroom and purge herself, the drink she has consumed could be poison. Ethan now believes something bigger is going on at the school, and it’s now Milena’s Father who is the target. Ethan says she cannot trust anyone now, including her mother, who comes to pick her up from school. In the car, Irene confronts her daughter about her breakdown and asks her to explain what is going on with her. Irene also mentions Foster’s father which causes more hostility and anxiety between the pair just as Foster’s DEX lights up in front of them. Irene says that the DEX would have been paid for with her verified credits, and maybe this is what this mess could all be about. As the car drives away, the bracelet drops out of the car window.

Maybe things will get better now, or maybe not. The school is put on red alert as a terrorist attack is imminent. Foster tries to follow the other students as the steel shutters start to cover the windows, and the alarm lights begin to flash. The only problem is, that she doesn’t have her DEX, so the teacher says security will arrive soon to detain her. Ethan’s back again, and he instructs her to escape the building. At this point, Foster is becoming burnt out, as Ethan describes even more bizarre conspiracy theories. Fearing another panic attack, she asks for a Doctor, and Ethan’s tone dramatically changes as he tells her to Shut the Fuck Up. He explains that her mother and others want to change this way of life, even if it means using her own daughter. Ethan explains that there are twelve more children out there, that are ready to attack, and she must follow their instructions so that they can cut the head of the snake. Foster is back home, and Irene says she is sorry for being too harsh with her. Not only that she hands her back a DEX and says she is just worried that she is giving up her independence too easily. Irene thinks the state is trying to scare people into giving up their freedom and free thoughts. Foster says she will give the DEX up for a day or so, to see how it goes. Unfortunately, she is also in her bedroom making a makeshift bomb. The next morning, Foster leaves early whilst her mum is in bed. Foster is walking towards the gates at school with the bomb in her bag, and Milena tries to catch her attention. She then speeds up towards the security gates, but Milena catches her as the alarm starts to scream, and both students go to the ground. As Foster is apprehended by security, she notices a message in the sky that says, Thank you Foster. Afterwards, Irene is arrested for brainwashing her daughter and the state announces that new tech is going to be distributed to make the city a safer place, including Hear Gel. Foster walks to the podium, and now she looks like everyone else, and her individuality has gone. She reads a speech from Autocue about how safety and comfort might not be the same thing, but people need them both. She starts to ramble and then is led away from the stage. However, Ethan is there to hold her hand as they leave.

Conclusion.

I cannot praise this episode enough, and it made a big impact on me. The pace of the dialogue is relentless, which leaves you feeling very uncomfortable throughout the story. One of the little touches I enjoyed was the fear the security guards showed on the bridge when Irene threw her papers towards them. At first, they acted tough, but then started to act like frightened children when she left her car. It’s very brief, but it tells you a lot about this story, with very good directing. Mental health, well there’s an issue I didn’t think about when you talk about brainwashing, but it’s quite scary just how vulnerable people can be in those circumstances. Finally, at the end of the episode, there is a scene that shows Ethan and his boss Odin interacting with Foster and manipulating her at each point through the episode. I found this very pointless as the clues are in the episode and I think they should have treated the viewer with more respect. Alternatively, it works as well somehow, and I am not sure how to take it yet. Another rewatch down the line might change my perspective. I  think there are so many issues in real life that you can compare with this story, but I believe science fiction fans already have their eye on the ball when it comes to technology and freedom. All I can say is, stay safe and sound. 

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