I was a little sceptic about this one. But turned out to be a nice surprise. Interesting plot and decent acting. Waiting on a second season to see how this will develop.
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vitormiguelneves8830 January 2020
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deabigt18 February 2020I get the points they are trying to make but despite sticking actual code on screens, Mr. Robot style (though in this case often where is makes no sense to be there), they pretty much missed the boat on the tech. For instance the drones are smart enough to learn to predict out comes from actions and even monitor your vitals to sense how nervous or angry you are but ignore differing outcomes and are not only totally confused by basic tampering but do not report tampering even when that results in them going offline. Even the most basic security camera systems are better than that. That is like designing a plane to crash instead of land.
In all basically the plot is a cross between Robocop (corporate take over of government) and Person of Interest (rise of the surveillance state) though both of those are closer to reality of where tech actually is going. Even if you are not technical enough to notice those flaws you might make out the other basic plot holes. If you can ignore all that though other wise it is a half decent who-done-it. -
thenextrushmagazine8 February 2020Taking us into a future world where this is very much a real possibility, the story drags on for me and there's not enough action. It has some great moments but overall it was not as exciting as it read on paper.
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Hellooo12343213 June 2021Didn't have much expectations, because I was distracted by the rating 6,4 given by IMDB users . But I was pleasantly surprised by this series, full of tech, mystery, crime, a very interesting plot and good acting as well. Binge watched Omniscient in one sitting, it was that good!
I hope Netflix renews Omniscient for a season 2, because there is so much more to explore. -
Very good premise and overall story, good acting, excellent sets and visuals, compelling intrigue that quickly draws you in, pretty much the same strong points that made the first 2 seasons of "3%" so amazing.
They need to take more care with the realism of the plot developments though, because at times our hero gets away with too much, too easily. The worst development is how easily they get into the camera guy's house AND get him to tell them everything he knows. That was pretty stupid.
Also, some of the intermediate/transitional scenes are a bit too long - I don't need to watch someone go down 3 flights of stairs, open a door, cross a parking lot, look at the sky for a bit, then get into a car, just to find out they left the building and got into the car. It doesn't make the story more compelling or give me a better sense of what kind of person the character is. It just tests my patience for no reason.
Definitely want to see another season, hope the realism of the plot developments gets fixed, and fingers crossed that it doesn't take a nosedive like "3%" did in season 3. -
Enjoyed the premise. Didn't mind the low budget aspects they never seemed to interfer with the storyline. But what's the point of having a drone monitoring you and your vitals if it won't even report you dead or injured somewhere? Odd it's only alert when you do something wrong but keel over in a ditch somewhere and you're on your own.
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I am a passionate Brazilian and dedicated to the area of futurism, futurology and science fiction, as I followed the series 3% of my country, I could not hesitate to watch Onisciente.
I will separate my review by topic topics, a model that is rarely followed on the internet, but that I admire for its specificity.
Screenwriting 5/10 points Medium quality. Losing points mainly due to the predictability of the ending (in the first episode it is already possible to theorize that the one who killed her father is Judite) and the insertion of scenes (mainly in relation to the scene in which Marcello Airoldi's character beats an unknown person on the other side of border).
Technology 6/10 points Probably due to budget limits, the near future presented in the series is very little developed in terms of technology of the future. I praise the minimalist and monochromatic user interface that you see on the equally thin and bold monitors in the Omniscient office. Now the few-inch smartphone that the characters use is a little controversial, but it has a beautiful interface, although its design of the housing is very strange and with an unfinished aspect, it convinces relatively as something designed to symbolize "futuristic technology", but the size the absurdly small device that compares it to a 2008 iPhone goes against market trends.
The main technology, the drones, was actually well executed. the designs of the robotic dragonflies (drones) are well done, and the scene of them being printed on a cutting-edge 3D printer, in the detail of the drone technology, is very cool, this was the best part in terms of design and technology. But I must point out that the biggest sin committed was the complete failure to capture images in 360 degrees, something that is already present in certain drones today, and that would certainly make the Omniscient system much more advanced than the one presented in the series. Drones have beautiful applications of artificial intelligence and computer vision, with concepts that are relatively scientifically coherent but with no obvious technologies employed, as has already been said here by the user '' jhunterwu ''. It is very likely that the absence of enhancements such as 360 images is explained as a means of providing loopholes so that the Omniscient system is not so "overpowered" and sophisticated as to hinder the protagonist Nina from succeeding in circumventing the system by knowing its loopholes. .
Now the thing that bothered me most of all in terms of technology would undoubtedly be the "Firewall security card" and other electronic parts used by Nina. They do not convey an idea of the future, as they are inexplicably very backward. It did not make sense to use circuits with such large components, if in the first episode the commercial for the Omniscient System mentions a "nanotechnology" in the process of images, a miniaturization that does not exist in scenographic objects.
One thing I didn't understand is why the central computer can only be accessed using an astronaut-style protective suit. Perhaps this is an artistic freedom of the plot, what I heard was mentioning the presence of a gas, but at no time did they explain the need for the gas to maintain the data center. The central computer even has a beautiful science fiction design.
It is clear the absence of several technologies that should already be in the daily lives of people in the series, such as augmented reality glasses and autonomous cars.
Another detail that bothered me was the mechanical keyboard that accompanies the personal computers of Onisciente employees. The rounded keys have a nice futuristic charm, but the fact that it is completely mechanical and noisy, looking like a typewriter, was a little tacky. At least they didn't put mice, but trackpads, which helps in the conception of evolved technology.
Scenography and Setting 7/10 points The scenarios chosen in São Paulo were of good taste and convey the feeling of modernity, but they are not futuristic enough to evoke the sensation of the near future. There are few futuristic modifications in the middle of the streets, with the only ones I could notice being the thin LED poles around the entrance to the Omniscient building. The most beautiful scenery is in fact the funeral place (church) and of course, the office of the homonymous surveillance company.
Everything is very beautiful and modern in all its architectural details and in the interior design the headquarters of Onisciente. Although I thought there was a lack of beanbags, present in modern technology companies, the absence of these friendly elements may have been intentional for the rigid approach of the company in question.
What bothered me most was the scenarios related to the government and the city hall, which have few futuristic elements, but perhaps that was done so that the focus is on the Omniscient company, or to not be too far from our reality.
The circle shape window in Nina's bedroom was a nice addition, contributing to the creative and futuristic design. The clay filter in the house is something that was probably made to connect with the most humble spectators or as a simple tribute, but something that makes no practical sense in an apartment of people who have spent their childhood with the Omniscient surveillance system implanted.
I praise the detail of the compact cars that convey the desired feeling of the future, but the fact that they are not autonomous does not speak much with the city's objective of being a safe place through the anti-crime system.
Nina's father's minimalist coffin was a big hit in futuristic design and I definitely have nothing to criticize about it.
Costume 3/10 points Maybe this is just my opinion, because I saw a lot of people who appreciated the costume but in my opinion, it was considered bad taste to choose the pieces used for the clothes of the characters.
The clothes, despite being minimalist, go against what is expected of a series in the near future. Suspenders, buttons and cargo pants will make this series very dated in the future. It's all too retro, maybe it was thought of as a strategy of distancing ourselves from our present to give an idea of the future, but that suffers from the extreme poor quality of fabrics and seams everywhere, which makes no sense given that the clothes of the future don't would have seams thanks to 3D printing and uses of cutting edge nanotechnologies.
Final conclusion I liked the series, and I hope that a second season is coming, given the clear hook that the end of the season gives us. Although low-tech due to the budget, the series convinces of its premise. Things are thrown, yes. Dialogues are expository yes, but it is still good entertainment,
Just as 3% had many defects in its first season, and the second season impressed. It is completely possible that if a second season launches, we would see more technology and an improvement in the technical, visual and, above all, the plot. -
Katherine5001528 October 2020Seems kinda low and cheap at first but oh man.. it's thrilling and keeps your attention till the very end.. I looove it.. season 2 come fast!!
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fredstrassen3 February 2020Similar in tone to Aldous Huxley's Brave New World - the action is divided between a controlled social system that delegates law and order inside the city to a central computer, and an unmonitored outside zone. The design of the city settings is minimalist Stepford-wife suburban and rather stylised (it reminded me a little of the Good Place - a colourful and safe, yet socially stifling and souless utopia). The outside scenes are more redolent of contemporary Brazilian backstreets (or how those are depicted in other Brazilian movies I've seen). I enjoyed the contrast - which is very clear. As another reviewer said, it's essentially a Brazilian Black Mirror. But it has its own flavour and Carla Salle is rather compelling in the central role.
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ribeirojose-966693 June 2020I watched this show because it's from the creator of 3%. I was really curious to know what it would be like. The show is good, clever and has a good twist in the end. It's definitely not as good as 3%, but it's still worth the watch. Patiently waiting for season 2
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debanjalee-ghosh27 November 2020"Nano"boards the size of an encyclopedia, personal drones with old school firewalls stored in a closet, coders overseeing the actual 3D printing of a drone, the founding fathers' fingerprints being the overriding passkeys for virtually the entire security system of the city(? Country? The whole world?) that can be scooped up by a trainee with two months in the company all the while sweating and hyperventilating under the watchful eyes of her drone...all in a day's work.
It'd be a masterpiece had it been from a ten year old living in the '60s but is quite pathetic at a time when food delivery drones are technologically more advanced than these termites shown here. Stupid. -
zoliszekely-5507730 January 2020A very interesting show that reminds me of Black Mirror. Very exciting, a good binge-watch show, hope there will be a 2nd season!
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zac-6827431 January 2020If this is the future for exceptionally brilliant minds then I'd rather stay outside without 24/7 drones closely evaluating every second of your life! The moral of this series is Nothing or Nobody is perfect!
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qui_j20 March 2020This starts off well but as the series progresses, there seems to be a rush to tell the story and it becomes confusing due to gaps in the story, a lack of continuity between scenes, taking the viewer from point A to C without stopping at B. Oddly enough, there are scenes included that have no relevance to the story and one wonders about the rationale of including them as they only waste time. This causes the viewer to lose interest and quickly fast forward to the final episodes to see the outcome. The special effects are a bit cheesy but I'm sure this was due to budget issues. Not a spoiler but be prepared for the dumbest, most incomprehensible ending in any series you have ever watched!
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dafunmaker9 February 2020Would you sacrifice your privacy over security? Even in that case, would it mean you are completely safe? Would you hand over the power into the hands of a mega machine? The mini-series tries to answer these questions although some elaboration might be better. It's a well-written, terrifying story to some though, dystopian story we can all relate easily. There are obvious references to 1984 and Black Mirror, but this is a more hopeful story. Humans can outsmart the system created by themselves with the idea of having a flawless one. I guess they are too terrified to learn that the system can be tricked as well.
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eloyhenrique23 June 2020Why do they put so many sex scenes on the show? I lost count. I think in just one episode had like 2 sex scenes and the one after another sex scene. The show is smart, the premise is nice.
But the logic of the antagonist is awful. They should've thought of that. They shoulda figured out a way to tell the police who was the killer of their father, not looking for the guy themselves, or they should've put another important character on the play and then the protagonist should've succeded on hacking the killer's pc and we would discover it would be that character I don't know. I think it would be more exciting.
I hated when the protagonist said to the man that she loved him. so cliche man.
Since every TV show has its flaws, I voted 6. -
mickafela26 March 2023I liked the plot; Secure system hacked but by who?
The Ocean's Eleven style of intricacy in finding out is interesting, as well as the tech involved.
It also touches on the morales of monitoring everybody all the time and til the end it does keep you guessing.
I'd like to see a second season to see where they take it but it could do with something more interesting to keep me hooked, the graphics were poor (low budget) and so was the soundtrack - very simple moody wind instruments, though the acting isn't terrible and the camera work is artistic in places.
I'd say it's a worthwhile watch even if another season doesn't materialise. -
Interesting story of how dehumanising decisions allows those who simply 'function' can avoid responsibility. It is a big problem in today's corporate society. This show in the first episode does this without being preachy or assigning blame
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Pat10022 April 2022There's a murder, high tech drones, a divided society, a mystery.
It was quite a feat to make all of that boring but they succeeded.
Some scenes seemed totally irrelevant.
Weak acting, unrealistic dialogue and poor science. -
The idea for this is great. The storyline unfolds neatly, and things start happening quickly. Unfortunately, I won't bother to watch another season, if there is one. After all she went through, she failed at the end, and the "bad guy" won. Why would I bother to watch anymore if I know it will be unsatisfying.
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thales-630453 February 2020If you like dystopian future drama then this is for you. Some of the scenes were slow and unnecessary in my opinion (sex scenes) but the acting was fairly good and I do like dramas where the actors are unknown to me. I can't take the hype of well known U.K./USA/Aussie/NZ actors being in vogue when truth be told most are very one dimensional. Netflix does well putting on series from other parts of the world. It seems to me that the scriptwriters of this series are leaning to giving us more information and expanding the characters and I look forward to series 2.
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jhunterwu31 January 2020They don't even have AR glasses or even electric bikes, but they have drones that follow you all day. The drones aren't even 360 degrees view. Too low budget; I don't know if I survive the first 10 minutes here. Really weird flashing camera angles. Also, they have to explain everything, like they assume you're five years old. People also just look really weird, like third grade actors. Dialog is unnatural. I've only watched 10 minutes, but I can't stand this boooring stuff anymore. I'm out.
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kking-686411 March 2020I enjoyed the characters, the mystery, the suspense and drama. I look forward to season 2 - because season 1 does not finish the story.
I had some suspicions about what was really going on, and as the season progressed I even guessed some of the motives. But it wasn't completely obvious, and even after I'd guessed some of it I still enjoyed watching the show to see how it would turn out.
I was hoping that Season 1 would be a complete story, but they ended it with a cliff-hanger. So I really hope there is a Season 2 and that the story is completed. I hate to invest so much time and emotion into a story only to have it never completed.
There was a brief time when I was doubtful about the antagonist's end goal - I didn't see that it would accomplish very much. But there were one or two lines that I remember that explain the end goal to my satisfaction. Blackmail is mentioned, but blackmail would only work once and then the whole system would be shut down because it would have obviously failed, and then everybody loses. Blackmail in this scenario is just the threat of 'mutually assured destruction' meant to protect the main goal. Don't try to take me down or I'll burn down everything and destroy us both. The main motivation is money, and there are many more ways of making money than through blackmail. -
Thrill-Seeker30 January 2022I decided to watch this as it was only 6 episodes and plot seemed interesting.
It was interesting to watch till 4-5 episodes, But at the end, all that invested time seems like gone to waste There is no conclusion in story at the end of a season as you normally expect.
You are left with unanswered questions and hanging story at the end without any closure.
They will likely continue this torture in next season.
For me, it was a Waste of those 5 hours.