CONTINUUM Gets Real — Virtually
Episode 108 “Playtime”
This season seems to be taking all of the fun tropes of the 80s and giving them a facelift. We’ve already had the Terminator episode with everyone’s grandmothers. Now we get into the ‘virtual reality’ side of things, as Libr8 tries to take over Kiera’s mind!
[SPOILER-ISH STUFF AHEAD]
It’s an elaborate plot, to be sure: Kagame has got Lucas working on code that will hack Keira’s onboard computer, and they pull a Star Trek IV move, giving it to virtual reality game designer Fred Nettinger, who uses it for his own nefarious purposes — framing his boss for the murder of several CEOs of high-tech computer companies.
See, this code, put into a virtual reality game system, temporarily programs normal everyday people to kill the CEO and then commit suicide. When Carlos and Kiera get put on the case, they figure out the killers were beta testers for the software company. Once there, Kiera and Betty check out the VR system, which zaps Kiera and fries her CRM and takes it offline. Under the surface, this has basically put a piece of malware into her system, giving Lucas and Kagame access to her systems.
Lucas, in the meantime, has a habit of checking out the local underground fight clubs, which is where Kellog finds him. The two have a drink (quite a few in Lucas’ case) and Lucas spills that they’re working on something really big. [Note: why is it always the nerd/computer guy who can’t hold his liquor and spills the beans?] Kellog follows Lucas, keeping an eye on things, and he sees the handoff to Nettinger. Kellog overhears the plot to destroy Kiera using her own system.
I’m thinking Kellog at this point in the show is a bit like Han Solo in Star Wars — rough around the edges, willing to get his hands dirty only when necessary and only when there’s personal benefit, but willing to do just a little something extra because deep down he’s not a bad guy. And there’s a pretty face on the receiving end of his generosity. Kellog probably doesn’t love Kiera, by any means, but it’s interesting to see how he’s become that grey character that’s not going to be easily defined in terms of good vs. evil.
And the “section 6” bit between Kellog and Carlos — that’s going to come around later and become something. Feels like.
It’s a nice “ticking bomb” combined with a “race against the clock” as Alec struggles to reboot Kiera while Lucas and Kagame are simultaneously trying to take over her mind. And to see the Libr8 folks as they realize who it is they’re competing against… serves up the entire point of this episode — to establish a point of antagonism between Kagame and Alec. Now it’s “game on” in a different way. Because just how involved in the time travel plot is Alec 2077? What kind of relationship does he have with Kagame in the future? Kagame’s reaction indicates they have a history.
And Alec 2077 seems to be up to something even between himself — as Alec 2012 discovers secret code embedded in the programs for Kiera’s CRM and suit. The “Read Me First” file is undoubtedly a message to himself — who else could have sent it, after Alec so easily gets into the secret code?
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[Official Show Web Site on Syfy] [Previous recap: “The Politics of Time”]
