OK--Episode 5, so that I'm caught up. I do want to tell Sissitrix that the drawing of the Aston Martin for Ep. 4 was off the hook! And yes, Kate, we all love Aston Martins, though the closest I've ever been to one's a James Bond flick.
Now we're getting into the meat of the story! In my last comment, I surmised that Erin had been changed, corrupted--turned out I was right! She's become a stone killer in fact, at least right now. She's become a nuclear-powered destruction machine--and the internal dialogue bits indicate that she's aware at some level that something's changed within her--that she has fallen very far from where she was. Taking her new persona as a whole, I think in many ways, she HAS lost her humanity, but not entirely from her "Allen" experience (she's clearly become addicted to artificial "love")--she's treating Max like a lackey right here, and even Max has a thing for his pod, "Chloe." Then there's Erin's plan to turn Sin Street into a kind of urban "Westworld" upscale, adult playground, where illicit pleasures can be had for a price within a regulated, controlled environment. All centered around a collection of pods in the basement, where all sexual fantasies can be fulfilled. But she also wants to use them to impose sentence on the guilty--so it looks like I was right about them not being entirely benevolent.
Now, about Bliss Paradox. Erin's got a burner phone on which she's talking to this reporter like there's an understanding of some kind in place. This brings up some questions in my mimd, triggered by the noir universe we're operating in here. We know of Erin's background--about Brian's leading her astray and so forth--based on her story, told to Max in the ER. But is it the entire story? Have some crucial bits been left out to secure Max's sympathy, and thereby his resources and assistance? Maybe she was always a stone cold mercenary (Harvard MBA) from the start, who'd already been in deep with the dark barons of Sin Street, tried to make a power play of her own--it went south, and they figured they'd have some sadistic "fun" with her before blowing her brains out, or finding a more "creative" way of disposing of her.
Probably overthinking of course, but just an inference based upon this new info from Ep. 5--it certainly fits. She certainly finds her sexual needs fulfilled by the pod things--finds them more convenient, and more trustworthy than a commitment to the genuine article--though she's totally open to "IRL" sex with men and women as we see from her exchanges with Hannah (who's clearly a bit disturbed).
Kate--great descriptive prose in re Sin Street and its filthy environs. Totally unappealing and gut-wrenching, hellish place! More post-apocalyptic and "Mad Max" than the eerie B&W elegance of classic film noir chiaroscuro--but given the narrative/character parameters--works perfectly!
I have a confession to make.... I spent the whole of today at the beach. It was 43 C in Kyrenia. I’m like a lobster. Thank you as ever John for your excellent review. I’ll read it later after my body absorbs a few gallons of aftersun. Hope you had a great weekend!
With this new episode, we now see the resurgence at work.
OK--Episode 5, so that I'm caught up. I do want to tell Sissitrix that the drawing of the Aston Martin for Ep. 4 was off the hook! And yes, Kate, we all love Aston Martins, though the closest I've ever been to one's a James Bond flick.
Now we're getting into the meat of the story! In my last comment, I surmised that Erin had been changed, corrupted--turned out I was right! She's become a stone killer in fact, at least right now. She's become a nuclear-powered destruction machine--and the internal dialogue bits indicate that she's aware at some level that something's changed within her--that she has fallen very far from where she was. Taking her new persona as a whole, I think in many ways, she HAS lost her humanity, but not entirely from her "Allen" experience (she's clearly become addicted to artificial "love")--she's treating Max like a lackey right here, and even Max has a thing for his pod, "Chloe." Then there's Erin's plan to turn Sin Street into a kind of urban "Westworld" upscale, adult playground, where illicit pleasures can be had for a price within a regulated, controlled environment. All centered around a collection of pods in the basement, where all sexual fantasies can be fulfilled. But she also wants to use them to impose sentence on the guilty--so it looks like I was right about them not being entirely benevolent.
Now, about Bliss Paradox. Erin's got a burner phone on which she's talking to this reporter like there's an understanding of some kind in place. This brings up some questions in my mimd, triggered by the noir universe we're operating in here. We know of Erin's background--about Brian's leading her astray and so forth--based on her story, told to Max in the ER. But is it the entire story? Have some crucial bits been left out to secure Max's sympathy, and thereby his resources and assistance? Maybe she was always a stone cold mercenary (Harvard MBA) from the start, who'd already been in deep with the dark barons of Sin Street, tried to make a power play of her own--it went south, and they figured they'd have some sadistic "fun" with her before blowing her brains out, or finding a more "creative" way of disposing of her.
Probably overthinking of course, but just an inference based upon this new info from Ep. 5--it certainly fits. She certainly finds her sexual needs fulfilled by the pod things--finds them more convenient, and more trustworthy than a commitment to the genuine article--though she's totally open to "IRL" sex with men and women as we see from her exchanges with Hannah (who's clearly a bit disturbed).
Kate--great descriptive prose in re Sin Street and its filthy environs. Totally unappealing and gut-wrenching, hellish place! More post-apocalyptic and "Mad Max" than the eerie B&W elegance of classic film noir chiaroscuro--but given the narrative/character parameters--works perfectly!
Excellent job, both of you!
I have a confession to make.... I spent the whole of today at the beach. It was 43 C in Kyrenia. I’m like a lobster. Thank you as ever John for your excellent review. I’ll read it later after my body absorbs a few gallons of aftersun. Hope you had a great weekend!
No problem Kate--left a few thoughts for you on your Twitter DMs when you have a chance. Cheers!-John.
I’ll check it out thank you John
Maybe you'd like the comfort of one of these sex pods to rejuvenate your skin? I spent most of the day at the fuck factory, fine-tuning one of them.
I could certainly use the therapy