Netflix on February 19 has cancelled two more Marvel series on its platforms. The streaming giant has cancelled ‘Jessica Jones’ after three seasons, and ‘The Punisher’ after two seasons. This has officially put an end to its partnership with Marvel. Jessica Jones was scheduled to arrive for the third season, but the show won’t be renewed for a fourth season.
These TV shows are the fourth and fifth respectively, to be taken off from the platform after ‘Iron Fist’ was cancelled last October after two seasons. It was then followed by ‘Luke Cage’ which was cancelled the same month after airing two seasons. Then ‘Daredevil’ took the axe after three seasons.
What’s Next For Marvel’s Shows?
While all the shows by Marvel have been cancelled, it doesn’t mean that they won’t be returning soon. In a statement, a senior executive at Marvel hints that these series may have a chance of survival. Disney, who owns Marvel, is all set to launch its own streaming service Disney+ in a few months. The shows may come back on the said platform or on Hulu, on which Disney will hold a majority stake in after its acquisition of Fox is complete. But there may be problems in doing that, as the reported contracts between Netflix and Marvel TV wouldn’t allow such a move for two years.
Reports were also afloat that Disney was looking to procure back all the properties of Marvel from streaming services. The company would then stream on its own service, where it will be available exclusively. The service will also feature original shows and movies, including original Marvel and Star Wars series. Marvel fan favourite character Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston, will get an original series on the Disney+ service. A prequel series to Star Wars movie is also planned for the platform. The upcoming Avengers movie, Endgame will be exclusive to Disney+. The service will reportedly launch in late 2019.
The weekend is here and it is time to catch up on some TV series that are definitely a must watch. Here is a list of 5 Netflix series to binge watch and relax during the weekend.(Note: Click on Titles to visit Netflix.)
The Netflix show is based up on the gothic horror novel that was written by Shirley Jackson in 1959. Hill House is an eighty year old villa in an unspecified location in the middle of hills built by the deceased Hugh Crain. The plot concerns 4 main characters:Dr John Montague, a super natural investigator; Theodora and Eleanor Vance who are invited to the villa by Dr John as they have previously experienced some paranormal events and, Luke Sanderson the young heir to the hill house. The plot revolves around their stay in the Haunted Hill House.
Another Netflix original series that follows the life of the character Saul Goodman about six years prior to the events of infamous Breaking Bad. In 2002, Saul Goodman who is a former con artist tries to follow a legitimate career as an aspiring lawyer in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He seeks to become a partner in the law firm in which his older brother Charles “Chuck” McGill is a senior partner. At the same time, another character Jimmy frequently takes care of Chuck, who claims to have electromagnetic hypersensitivity. Scattered among Jimmy’s activities are the prior histories of other Breaking Bad characters, including Gus Fring, Hector Salamanca and Mike Ehrmantraut.
The series begins with heiress Fallon Carrington who is unhappy to find her billionaire father Blake engaged to Cristal, a rival employee at the family company. When Fallon’s plot to separate the couple backfires and cost her a promotion, she allies with Blake’s rival and former employee, Jeff Colby, and strikes on her own. Meanwhile, the arrival of Cristal’s opportunistic nephew Sam-who becomes romantically involved with Fallon’s brother Steven who threatens to expose her shady past.
This is the second instalment to the Indian TV series Little things from 2016. The show revolves around the sweet little moments experienced by a young couple in their everyday life. The main characters of the show are Kavya and Dhruv, played by Mithila Palkar and Dhruv Sehgal.
This Netflix Original TV series documents the pains and hardships real fighters go through in their daily lives. In every episode of Fight World, Frank Grillo – the lead character goes to a different country. He looks for a new gym with the most dangerous men and trains with those deadly fighters.
The weekend is here and its a time to rejoice. While some of us may have bigger plans, most might just prefer to stay in and watch something good. So, whether its an immersive experience or just some light content you’re looking for, here’s a list of Top 10 shows on Netflix that are sure to make you go wow.
The Sci-Fi show is a Netflix original which is based 300 years in the future. The society has been transformed by technology, and death is no longer permanent. One can be brought back to life with the possibility of interchangeable bodies. The protagonist, Takeshi Kovacs is the only surviving soldier of an elite warrior force. They were defeated in an uprising against the new world order. For centuries, his mind had been imprisoned when he was given a chance to come back to life. However, he has to undertake an impossible task to do so. Based in the future and in a society which is overrun by technology, Altered Carbon is a visual treat. The narrative is fresh and original and will leave you wanting for more.
This is a must watch for anyone who loves The Crown or Sherlock. The show is set in post World War I England and follows the activities of a criminal gang. The gang soon comes under the scanner of Chester Campbell, a detective sent by Winston Churchill himself to clear out crime.The Show stars Cillian Murphy and Tom Hardy among others and won the British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series this year.
Brooklyn Nine Nine is arguably one of the most popular comedy series out there right now. Having picked up a huge fan following over the past few years, it has now acquired a cult status. The show is based in a police precinct in New York, filled with weird and whacky officers of the law. The protagonist, Jake Peralta is played by Saturday Night Live star Andy Samberg and he is supported by other notable comedians such as Terry Crews. The series can be described as nothing short of a laugh riot and deserves to be watched right away.
Sacred Games has redefined Indian television and set a really high benchmark for the same. The story revolves around a Mumbai cop, Sartaj Singh (Saif Ali Khan) and Ganesh Gaitonde (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) and their bitter contest. Sartaj is taken off Gaitonde’s case, however he still continues to pursue Gaitonde for the sake of justice. What follows is a series of crimes and a thrilling story which is sure to grip you with its beautiful narrative. Sacred Games also gives us a sense of pride as we see the Indian television industry matching up to be world class.
Lost in space is another Sci-Fi show which makes it to the list. The Human Race is facing a catastrophe which threatens its survival. To combat this, various missions are sent into space to colonise the Alpha Centauri star system. The story revolves around the Robinson family. The Robinson family is one of many who live on board the Resolute, the mother ship which is carrying all the human beings. However, an alien robot forces them to evacuate and land on a nearby planet. They must now try a way to combat the harsh conditions of the planet, ensuring their survival.
Comedians in cars getting coffee is one of the most original ideas seen till date. The show has host and comedy star Jerry Seinfeld taking other famous comedians out for coffee, in amazing cars. Yes, each episode features a new comedian and a different car. The cars are usually vintage classics or supercars which are sure to make your jaw drop. We see the comedians involve in a candid conversation, giving us a closer look at our beloved stars. The show also maintains a balance between talking about the comedians and also giving us a detailed dose of the beautiful machines.
Vikings is a must watch show for history and action lovers. Based on Nordic stories, it is about a farmer who rises up to his call and emerges as one of the most fearless warriors. The series revolves around the stories of Ragnar Lothbrock and how he eventually becomes a king. Vikings stars Travis Fimmel and is sure to leave you awestruck with its rawness and intensity.
Mindhunter is a crime based drama, and it is sure worth a watch. The story revolves around two FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench, who try to understand serial killers in order to catch them. This has them go through many killers and cases, but along the way they develop what is the modern day serial killer profiling method. Along with intense acting, the series is backed by Oscar-nominated director David Fincher and Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron as the show’s executive producers. The show might just redefine crime for us as we know it.
Another Indian TV series to make this list, Ghoul is nothing short of a masterpiece. It is a fantasy horror drama, starring Radhika Apte. The story is set in a ‘totalitarian near-future India’ and involves a mysterious prisoner being brought in to a top secret army facility. The interrogating offers soon realise to their horror that the prisoner has the power to unleash a demon from Arabic folklore, which exposes their deepest secrets. Ghoul has redefined what horror means when it comes to India and has set a standard, apart from the terrible attempts at horror in the past.
Disecnhantment is an animated comedy series by Netflix. The story is based in medieval times and revolves around a princess. The twist however, is that the princess breaks every convention of being one. She continues to wreak havoc in her father’s kingdom along with her elf friends. The show is a dig at the same old structure of a fairy tale and offers a good deal of laughs as one goes along. While it may seem to be just another animated comedy on the surface, the creators have subtly sown satire into the story which takes a jab at our modern society too.
These TV shows are not ranked in any particular order and cannot be compared as they cover different spectrums. Whatever your pick, a good time is guaranteed!
The only right way to begin any discussion on Artificial Intelligence is with a reference to Isaac Asimov, the sci-fi writer who gave the three laws of robotics, and they are as follows:
A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
Robot and human hands almost touching – 3D render. A modern take on the famous Michelangelo painting in the Sistine Chapel; titled, “The Creation of Adam”.
Asimov’s robots often went ahead to disregard these laws and exercise free will and subjectivity, which more often than not, didn’t end well for the human race. With the take-over of our lives by technology, an apocalyptic vision of the world, often represented in art and media, does not seem too unnatural. TV shows and movies have rampant examples of technology going out of our hands and ceasing to be a means to an end. Instead, it ends up controlling our lives to the point of enslavement. This is precisely what this article would be about as we look at examples of AI in film, TV shows and of course, good old real life.
Her:The film is about a romantic relationship which the protagonist, Theodore Twombly develops with ‘her’, the Artificial Intelligence of a networked computer operating system. OS One, Samantha is brought to life in the film using Scarlett Johansson’s voice. Twombly’s initial reaction to the AI system is calling Samantha “weird,” since she seems “like a person but [she’s] just a voice in a computer.”
Theodore with Samantha at the beach.
The plot unfolds to reveal the development of a deep, romantic bond between the two, with the lack of a corporeal existence of the AI not being a hindrance at all. However, the movie concludes with Samantha ending her virtual romance with Theodore, and falling in love with 641 of the other 8,316 human operators she communicates with.
https://youtu.be/WzV6mXIOVl4
Robert Alpert comments on ‘Her’ and aptly says, “The romantic comedy, the melodrama, draws to a close, and it is the artificial intelligence of Samantha, not Theodore, the “unartificial mind,” who comprehends a state of being beyond perception, not “tethered to time and space,” and passes on to Theodore that not unhappy vision.”
One of the most over-arching questions the film raises about the relationship of humans and AI is -would you be willing to invest yourself in a computer as deeply as Theodore or Amy, because your own species is incapable of providing the sense of companionship you seek? We are given a lonely, melancholic protagonist at the start of the movie, unable to cope with leading a life all by himself. It doesn’t sound too unfamiliar a scenario if we take a look around. So next time you feel distanced from the world, could your answer lie in AI?
When it comes to analysing the line between fact and fiction in terms of Artificial Intelligence, Stephen Wolfram of the Wolfram Alpha fame, which is the main driving force behind AI-like component of Siri on the iPhone, says,
“The mechanics of getting the AI to work—I don’t think that’s the most challenging part. The challenging part is, in a sense: Define the meaningful product…I used to think that there was some sort of magic to brain-like activity, [but] there is no bright line distinction between what is intelligent and what is merely computational.”
People are more than willing to anthropomorphize things around them, even if that requires finding a way to make sentient beings out of metal and steel with minuscule microchips to power all that consciousness within. ‘Her’ shows a man finding solace and peace, and an almost spiritual bond of sorts with a computer – providing the perfect plot for a romantic comedy/ drama. But it raises questions like how far is too far with AI? Ethical debates and discussions on notions of right and wrong have prevailed since time immemorial when it comes to technology. And there is no imminent end to them for now.
Black Mirror:
Black Mirror, created by Charlie Brooker, debuted in 2011 to immense critical acclaim, and with good reason. The show is set against the backdrop of a society very deeply infested by technology, and therefore, its consequent pitfalls. Having said that, feel free to read ahead without the fear of spoilers.
In terms of AI, two of the show’s episodes are of significance. The first episode of the second season, ‘Be Right Back’, takes an interesting but fairly disconcerting take on it. The episode is about Martha and Ash, a couple who has just moved to a new house in the countryside. Ash ends up in a car crash right at the start of the episode, and the show takes the viewer into Martha’s attempts to cope with loneliness, loss and grief post his death. She purchases a build-to-order AI that uses all of Ash’s social media activity to model itself after him.
Martha provides the computer operated system with access to Ash’s pictures, videos and personal emails, who was already a compulsive social media addict and therefore had a large amount of content up online, and finds a fully automated, computerized version of Ash. The AI adopts his voice and mannerisms, and looks like a physically groomed version of Ash, since he only had his best pictures up for display on the internet. The new Ash, however, misses out on small details which social media had failed to record -like a mole or a bodily flaw, reminding Martha that the end of the day she is only play-romancing an anthropomorphic computer.
While you grapple with the ethical and moral implications and the inadvertent emotional entanglements of this situation, Black Mirror takes Artificial Intelligence closer to pure science, and away from the world of fiction in its White Christmas episode, set in a futuristic society where blocking users is no more confined to social media platforms. If a person is blocked by another, they are reduced to a blob of visually indistinct static, incapable of making themselves heard or seen by the person who has blocked them.
Jon Hamm’s character, Matt, works for an Artificial Intelligence company that allows its customers to get an AI modeled after the customers themselves to run and manage their smart-homes. The procedure for each client requires a “cookie” to be surgically implanted in their brain for a few weeks, closely recording their likes and dislikes. The cookie is then removed and set to work running the entire house.
https://youtu.be/2OIkZQJMMBk
The little glitch in this perfect procedure is that the AI, modeled so closely after the host, ends up developing a consciousness of its own. Matt’s job is to make sure the AI surrenders to an existence of enslavement by the host, and he achieves this by reducing the AI to solitary confinement for a period of as long as six months, if need be.
However, time for the AI can be controlled and altered and played around with – thus, six months for the AI are no more than a couple of seconds for Matt in real time. The AI eventually chooses mute surrender instead of torturous loneliness. The show also subverts the sci-fi trope of robots or technology enslaving humans in White Christmas. It is only apt to quote David Holmes in this context when he says,
“But perhaps humans of the future will become so enamored with the convenience offered by robots that we will jettison our sense of humanity in return for this convenience — just like we’ve jettisoned our privacy and security for the tools and platforms of today.”
Pepper -the Humanoid Robot:
Moving away from the realm of TV shows to real life -let’s talk about Pepper. First unveiled in June, 2014, Pepper -the first ever humanoid robot was made available at a price of JPY 198,000 ($1,931 or around Rs. 12,500) at Softbank Mobile stores in February this year.
https://youtu.be/kCFYw8mIqcc
At the expense of your happiness, let it be clarified that Pepper doesn’t do household chores, or posses superpowers. What he can do, however, is converse with you, recognize and respond to your emotions accordingly and move autonomously.
If you’re looking for a practical purpose for this robot, please skip this segment. All that Pepper provides is companionship and communication through the most intuitive interface in robots so far which includes voice, touch and emotions. Pepper is already greeting and interacting with customers in Japan.
Artificial Creativity:
Here’s a look what technology and Artificial Intelligence has to offer in terms of creativity. Let’s begin with music.
The above track is one of the many compositions by Emily Howell, a robot. She is capable of producing numerous such pieces every day and when a blind test was conducted, it showed people could’t tell the difference between her work and that of a human composer.
Next comes writing. Take a look at the passage below:
Or the following paragraph:
“Friona fell 10-8 to Boys Ranch in five innings on Monday at Friona despite racking up seven hits and eight runs. Friona was led by a flawless day at the dish by Hunter Sundre, who went 2-2 against Boys Ranch pitching. Sundre singled in the third inning and tripled in the fourth inning […]”
Yes, they are both pieces produced by bots. But you have possibly already been initiated into the world of literature written by computers if you have used Wikipedia, a website which has about 8.5 percent of its articles written by a bot. CTO of Narrative Science, Kristian Hammond predicts that “more than 90 percent” of news will be written by computers in 15 years.
What began as machines and bots replacing human beings for jobs requiring physical labour has snowballed into a threat of rendering us absolutely obsolete in our creative endeavours as well. The financial and ethical implications of such technology are endless. It seems like facing competition from machines is no more a plot for Hollywood’s hack-writers, but an imminent reality perhaps? Either way, let’s sit back and watch the drama unfold of a world where time and again humans have gone the Frankenstein way, incapable of comprehending and controlling their own ‘monsters’.
While all the shows by Marvel have been cancelled, it doesn’t mean that they won’t be returning soon. In a statement, a senior executive at Marvel hints that these series may have a chance of survival. Disney, who owns Marvel, is all set to launch its own streaming service Disney+ in a few months. The shows may come back on the said platform or on Hulu, on which Disney will hold a majority stake in after its acquisition of Fox is complete. But there may be problems in doing that, as the reported contracts between Netflix and Marvel TV wouldn’t allow such a move for two years.
