Review of Next

Next (2020)
7/10
good although smarter writing would help
23 December 2020
Tech entrepreneur Paul LeBlanc (John Slattery) warns the world of the dangers from a future rogue computer AI. It is already here. FBI Special Agent Shea Salazar leads the cybercrime unit. She visits her hospitalized friend Richard Weiss who found a hidden computer code. Apparently, someone or something is attacking him with tech. He had left her a tape addressed to LeBlanc with a somewhat paranoid warning. Paul had been kicked out of his own company after shelving his AI program which his brother Ted as the new CEO has reactivated.

This show got the quick axe after two episodes. It probably deserves better but it never gained a good audience. It does have Slattery leading a good cast in a fun thriller. It runs into the foreseeable problem of an omnipotent enemy opposed by a ragtag team. It's an uneven fight unless the AI is brought down a few notches or some contrivances be introduced. This does both with varying degrees of success. My initial thought is that the show should explain why the AI doesn't simply multiple. It's an easy solution. The AI doesn't want competition and therefore it doesn't want other AIs. My other thought is that the ragtag group needs better camouflage. They should be found much more easily by all the security cameras. Either give them some fictional tech or have the AI hack the camera system later in the show. There needs to be a clearer progression of the AI's abilities. The show gets a rushed conclusion. The characters do a bit too much handwringing about their tactics especially in the last few episodes. There is one character who is forced to do unlikely tasks for the sake of drama. All in all, it's a good network TV thriller although some smarter writing would help.
11 out of 12 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Recently Viewed