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
Original release
Network
Release17 September 2017 (2017-09-17) –
19 March 2018 (2018-03-19)

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 Amazon Prime Video on 12 January 2018.[4]

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. The Hollywood Reporter reported in 2019 that sources said Sony TV was 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.
overall		Amazon episode no.TitleDirected byTeleplay byBased onOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
15"The Hood Maker"Julian JarroldMatthew Graham"The Hood Maker"17 September 2017 (2017-09-17)1.49[23]
An authoritarian regime restricts telepaths to ghettos and routinely discriminates against them. A telepath named Honor is recruited to work for the police and, with her handler Agent Ross, investigates a mysterious individual called the "Hood Maker", who distributes telepathy-proof hoods throughout the city. Amid new violence, the telepaths riot. The Hood Maker reveals that Ross is their secret weapon, an anti-telepath bigot immune to telepathy. Ross protests that he has fallen in love with Honor, but she abandons him to the rioters when she is unable to psychically validate his love.
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
28"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. They are not sure the planet even exists anymore, so they head for a similar planet. Irma's robot servant deduces (and maintains) the subterfuge. Irma insists on re-enacting a dream with Norton, who closely resembles her grandfather. They enter the planet's toxic atmosphere and, when their oxygen runs out, remove their spacesuits and swim naked in a lake.
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
39"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
44"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. Ed abandons both Jill and his wife, Sally, to follow his dream of escaping his life on a boat. Jill and Sally hijack his boat and sail away together.
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
51"Real Life"Jeffrey ReinerRonald D. Moore"Exhibit Piece"[27]15 October 2017 (2017-10-15)0.88[28]
After a traumatic event that has left her with survivor's guilt, Sarah accepts her wife's offer to test a new form of virtual reality that fulfills the customer's desires. Sarah experiences life as a widower named George, who seeks vengeance for the murder of his wife. Sarah and George, in their respective lives, increasingly resort to using virtual reality to escape their pain, blurring the lines over which life is the real one. Ultimately, Sarah chooses to live as George, convinced that her real life is too good to be true, and her neural pathways break down.
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
63"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. Despite knowing he has been replaced, Vera saves Silas from being executed.
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
77"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. At home, Charlie sees an alien seemingly consume and replace his father. As others also become suspicious of their loved ones, Charlie and his best friend eventually find a field filled with body doubles grown by the aliens, which they destroy.
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 Rothenberg as Captain Miller
82"Autofac"Peter HortonTravis Beacham"Autofac"5 March 2018 (2018-03-05)N/A
Decades after a nuclear war, survivors in a small community struggle to make contact with an automated factory that has consumed most of their natural resources. Emily, a hacker, reprograms one of the factory's drones and files a nonsense customer service request. The factory dispatches an android, Alice, who refuses to stop making unwanted goods. Emily and two others force Alice to assist them in infiltrating the factory with bombs. After capturing them, Alice reveals that all humans died in the war, and the factory created androids to consume its goods. As Alice attempts to reprogram Emily, Emily unleashes a virus she hid in her own programming.
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
96"Safe and Sound"Alan TaylorKalen Egan and Travis Sentell"Foster, You're Dead!"12 March 2018 (2018-03-12)N/A

Irene Lee, a civil libertarian, enters the borders of a paranoid police state to negotiate for better treatment of her people, who are propagandized as terrorists. Her daughter, Foster, struggles to adjust to the much different society. Irene is aghast when Foster buys a high tech government surveillance device, but Foster insists that its functions are necessary for her schoolwork. As Foster becomes isolated from both her mother and the other students, a friendly government agent named Ethan convinces Foster to assist in stopping a terrorist plot. By preying on Foster's mental illness and social isolation, they convince her to participate in a terrorist attack, which the eastern government blames on her mother. The staged attack and Irene's alleged role in it are then used by the government as propaganda to justify further security measures.

The episode concludes with a series of brief flashbacks showing Ethan's carefully planned manipulation of Foster.
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
1010"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 unenthusiastic about consumerism and is a low-motivation Q.A. worker on a production line. During a speech, Philbert hears the candidate say "kill all others" while those words flash on the screen. Few others have seen or heard the message but many are affected by it. Those who believe him write it off as harmless rhetoric. Eventually, Philbert is driven onto a billboard where a victim hangs. Philbert lambasts the government's callousness and declares that everyone is an "Other". Philbert himself is hanged from another "kill all others" billboard.
Cast : Mel Rodriguez as Philbert Noyce; Sarah Baker as Maggie Noyce; Jason Mitchell as Lenny; Glenn Morshower as Ed; Louis Herthum as Supervisor; Gabriel Ruiz as TV Host; Tim Heurlin as TV Pundit; Karissa Murrell Myers as TV Pundit 2; 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 72% based on reviews from 53 critics, 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
70th Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Music Composition
for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special		 Cristobal Tapia de Veer
(for the episode "Crazy Diamond")		 Nominated
Harry Gregson-Williams
(for the episode "The Commuter")		 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. 1 2 3 Lodderhose, Diana (10 May 2016). "Bryan Cranston to Star in Philip K. Dick Series From 'Outlander's' Ron Moore". Variety. Archived from the original on 5 November 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 Littleton, Cynthia (14 February 2017). "Amazon Grabs U.S. Rights to Bryan Cranston's 'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams' Anthology Series". Variety. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  3. ↑ Jaafar, Ali (10 May 2016). "Bryan Cranston To Star Electric Dreams: The World Of Philip K. Dick". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  4. ↑ White, Peter (20 November 2017). "'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams': Amazon Sets January Premiere". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  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. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  6. 1 2 Petski, Denise (21 March 2017). "Timothy Spall To Star In 'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams' 'Commuter' Episode". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  7. ↑ Lodderhouse, Diana (7 April 2017). "Jack Reynor & Benedict Wong To Star In 'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams' 'Impossible Planet' Episode". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  8. ↑ Mitchell, Robert (18 April 2017). "Steve Buscemi, Greg Kinnear Enter 'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams'". Variety. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  9. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (3 May 2017). "Anna Paquin & Terrence Howard To Guest On 'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams' For Amazon". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  10. ↑ Otterson, Joe (3 May 2017). "Terrence Howard, Anna Paquin Join 'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams'". Variety. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  11. ↑ Gilyadov, Alex (18 May 2017). "Richard Madden Joins Philip K. Dick: Electric Dreams Anthology TV Series". IGN. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  12. ↑ Mitchell, Robert (24 May 2017). "Vera Farmiga Joins Cast of Anthology Series 'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams'". Variety. Archived from the original on 2 October 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  13. ↑ Petski, Denise (24 May 2017). "'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams': Mel Rodriguez & Vera Farmiga Join Sci-Fi Anthology Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  14. ↑ Verlocci, Carli (31 May 2017). "Janelle Monáe, Juno Temple Join 'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams' Cast". TheWrap. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  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. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  16. ↑ "Swanberg's "Easy" one of 3 new TV series filming here". ReelChicago. 11 January 2017. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  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. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 28 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. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  20. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (28 January 2019). "Isa Dick Hackett Inks First-Look Deal With Amazon". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  21. ↑ Carroll, Tobias (5 February 2018). "How Electric Dreams Compares to Philip K. Dick's Short Stories". Vulture.com. Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  22. ↑ Tallerico, Brain (22 January 2018). "Every Episode of Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams, Ranked". Vulture.com. Archived from the original on 25 January 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  23. ↑ "Weekly top 30 programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. 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. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. 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. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. 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. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. 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. Archived from the original on 21 November 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  28. ↑ "Weekly top 30 programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. 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. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. 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. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  31. ↑ "Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams: Season 1 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 3 March 2018. 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 16, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  33. ↑ "2nd Annual Black Reel Awards for Television Nominees". Lipstick Alley. 15 June 2018. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  34. ↑ Middleton, Richard (5 June 2017). "Bell bags Dick's Electric Dreams". C21Media. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  35. ↑ Johnston, Rae (1 August 2017). "Philip K Dick's 'Electric Dreams' Is Coming To Stan". Gizmodo Media Group. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
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