In short: it’s one of the most striking shows produced in the last decade, and stands as proof that style can become substance. It was scored by a soundtrack that layered wheezy breathing, strange beats, and unusual melodies. Its direction was mathematically precise, with static, perfectly framed scenes contrasting with both the chaos of the narrative and the brutality of its violence. 2013’s Utopia, created by Dennis Kelly (who serves as executive producer on this remake), was shot using a CMYK color model, with prominent use of acidic yellows and eye-searing cyan skies. Characterisation is not the only area where this US remake pales in comparison to the British original. She’s just a bit flat, and that’s a great disservice to a character that’s not just fascinating conceptually, but also delightfully strange in her original British incarnation, played by Fiona O'Shaughnessy. I’d had high hopes for Lane, but despite a clear dislike for showers and a taste for grim violence, there’s little about her that’s unsettling. Bluntly, they’re forgettable (with the exception of Jessica Rothe, who brings to Sam the same delightful energy she displayed in the Happy Death Day movies.) This sadly also covers Jessica Hyde - the conspiracy’s lynchpin, played by Sasha Lane - who, despite her ragged appearance, simply doesn’t feel odd or unpredictable enough. While part of the charm is that they are regular folk in over their heads, they’re all a little too regular. “Unfortunately, Utopia’s core cast of comic obsessives are less engaging. Meanwhile, Wilson’s virologist, Michael, is amusingly thrilled by the potential oncoming apocalypse’s link to his previous work. Kevin Christie has a remarkable calmness about him - he’s a wise dad to staff and family alike - which makes his delivery particularly magnetic. Flynn’s writing is at its best when scripting John Cusack and Rainn Wilson’s characters, who admirably tackle their roles as major players within the pharmaceutical company attempting to battle the virus outbreak. As more is revealed, the group becomes progressively more cult-like, which neatly encapsulates their genuine belief in their own monstrous actions. Its methods slowly escalate over the season, from simple assassinations to the obsessive construction of false identities and online scapegoats. The Harvest itself delightfully revels in all the best conspiracy tropes. He’s the tool that keeps The Harvest - Utopia’s shadowy force - continually dangerous and unpredictable. His methods seemingly have no bounds, resulting in the show’s most alarming, impactful sequences. His sloped shoulders and schoolboy haircut, combined with the occasional use of an inhaler and continual munching of chocolate raisins, contrast fantastically with his brutal efficiency. The best of these obstacles is Arby (Christopher Denham), a ruthless hitman offset by a childlike demeanor. But as the group travel further down this intriguing rabbit hole, they face violent opposition from those who’d rather the secrets were kept in the dark. Within the first hour, the group discover that an unpublished sequel - Utopia - exists, and that it could hold the key to solving the mysteries behind a future epidemic conspiracy. Penned entirely by Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn, Utopia follows the gradually more desperate journey of a group of comic book nerds obsessed with Dystopia a graphic novel that predicted a variety of deadly epidemics via messages hidden in its artwork. However, the current pandemic does add an uneasy layer of paranoia to the proceedings that Utopia doesn’t provide itself. There are no masks or social distancing here, and the story largely follows in the footsteps established by the 2013 British original, back when nationwide quarantine seemed a sci-fi concept in itself. It should be made clear out of the gate that, despite its timing, Utopia is not a response to our current world situation, nor is it actually all that interested in exploring the effects of an epidemic.
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