Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams
Season 1 -- 10 episodes on Amazon Prime
viewed on 01/13/2018

While I have read stores by Philip K. Dick before, I was not familiar with any of the stories which were adapted for this series.

My ratings are variable depending on the story. Any anthology, wether printed or on video is likely not going to have a perfect rating across one season.  I do commend Amazon for taking this project on.

(1) REAL LIFE -- 3.0/5
While Anna Paquin (as Sarah) was good, most of the dialogue ran to the very overwrought, level leading towards a kind of a weepy, dark version of a Lifetime/Hallmark movie. The plot has a stressed out person using a highly sophisticated virtual reality (prototype) device.  So good (and so without any internal safeguards) that the stressed person cannot tell virtual reality from reality. Unfortunately one of the realities, isn't as well written as the other, so this makes this tearjerker even murkier. My rating is solely for Anna Paquin, even though she isn't on screen as much as I would like.
(2) AUTOFAC -- 4.5/5
This movie had several twists. I did guess the secret of one of the main characters, but not all the characters.  This is a clever story with enough irony to make the viewer almost chuckle, but this is not a comedy. There is an extremely famous online retailer who has briefly mentioned using drones. I hope that they watch this episode before instituting any radical changes. There is a magazine shown very briefly in the beginning of this episode. This magazine is a major spoiler which provides an additional twist right at the conclusion.
(3) HUMAN IS -- 4.5/5
The year is 2520. Earth is approaching a danger point in terms of breathable air and other elements. Government's response to this danger, is predictable but still fascinating to watch.  I credit the two leads, Essie Davis(as Vera) and Bryan Cranston (as Vera's husband Silas) for keeping my interest. The supporting cast is good, while restrained. However due to their jobs (military/government) that is appropriate. A courtroom scene excels in good dialogue, with Essie Davis's performance...perfection. The conclusion was the most logical and satisfying that I have seen in a while.
(4) CRAZY DIAMOND -- 2.5/5
Well this was weird. Steve Buscemi played a major part. Actually in view of the decisions his character made, Steve Buscemi kept his acting steady and watchable. However none of the characters in this episode were smart, likable or even ethical. Perhaps that was the author's point. However that still made it hard to watch such annoying people do such stupid things.
(5) THE HOOD MAKER -- 4.0/5
The title of this episode should be taken literally. It is a symbol for the conflict this episode showcases. Telepaths are basically the lowest class in this society relegated to slums and houses of prostitution.  However one telepath (they are called "teeps" or "it") is so good that she hired by the police to partner with one of their more successful detectives. The world building was excellent. The cinematography reminded me of a Bladerunner society matched with film noir (even to the point of the agent's hat). The two leads, Richard Madden (as Agent Ross) and Holliday Grainger (as the teep, Honor) were charismatic and affecting. The ending is left in a situation, probably due to the intent of the original author (Philip K. Dick), that is quite open. Perhaps I missed a cue, or a facial expression that would have given me an answer. Just know that this movie does not have a neatly tied "in a bow" ending.
(6) SAFE & SOUND -- 2.5/5
Much of this movie takes place in a very modern museum-like high school, with its main character, Foster Lee as a teenage student (acted by Annalise Basso).  While Ms Basso's acting is good, the dialogue (everyone's dialogue) was trite, ordinary and very artificial sounding. Most adults in this episode were at best clueless, at worse predatory. The tech device is very reminiscent of a Fitbit crossed with an iWatch. As obvious as the direction that this movie was taking (think fluorescent arrow obvious), why did they make the last 2 1/2 minutes a flashback showing how the conclusion was accomplished? Those 2 1/2 "remedial" minutes is why I would rate this episode so low.
(7) THE FATHER THING -- 4.0/5
While a serious subject, this is a romp. Think of very very dark Goonies with interplanetary aliens, and you have this episode. With kids taking control as heroes. Luckily the main child actor, Jack Gore (as Charlie Cotrell), is unbelievably good at making the viewer believe in this child's intellect, maturity and moral code. Think Captain America as a child, and you have this character.
(8) IMPOSSIBLE PLANET --  2.5/5
So many good actors (Geraldine Chaplin, Benedict Wong, Jack Reynor), beautiful cinematography (decent CGI and practical effects) and good set design, but yet somehow this episode lacks a purpose or point. Maybe reading Philip K. Dick's story would help, but this episode did not reach me at all.
(9) THE COMMUTER -- 3.0/5
No, Liam Neeson is not in this movie, although his presence would no doubt have elevated my rating. This episode has borrowed themes from the movie,  It's A Wonderful Life (1946) and a very old episode from the original Twilight Zone series (season 1, ep. 30 shown in 1960) called, "A Stop at Willoughby". However this episode is quite dark with absolutely no celebrations and no warm smiles. The acting was good, cinematography fine, even the dialogue was decent. Perhaps this episode does not translate well from book to video,
(10) K.A.O. -- 2.5/5
The name is abbreviated at the beginning of this episode, but spelled out at the end. Unfortunately IMDb listed it written out which is a major spoiler.
Vera Farmiga plays the character of, "The Candidate" of this (entire) world. Her appearances are brief with her acting framed by her dialogue which is essentially political election doublespeak. More Farmiga would have automatically raised my score to a 3 or higher, but she is used all too briefly.  As for the rest of the movie, it is competently acted, but the trite dialogue would limit almost any actor's big scene. The message of this episode is sent as frequently, as heavy-handedly and as obviously as any real-life speech.  While that may have been the point, bad dialogue with obvious plot points does not make for an entertaining episode. Quite a bit of this episode almost plays like a prequel to the horror movie franchise, The Purge. Since the movie did it over and over I will say it again,  predictable is nice for meal quality and travel schedules, but makes for bad entertainment.