Max Headroom Episodes 6 and &
Two episodes that, on the surface, poke fun at elements of 1980's TV, but are more about a deeper theme.
Apologies for a late Substack this week. I spent a couple of days on vacation and didn't get the chance to write anything on Sunday. Things will also be busy this coming week because I'll be attending another event this coming weekend.
In the meantime, here are two more Max Headroom episode reviews. I will have a couple more for next week and, from there, I should be getting back on track with some original writing, mixed in with posts from my former author website.
Episode Name: The Academy
Premise: Blank Reg is accused of zipping (hacking) Network 23's transmissions, but the real culprits are students at the network's Academy of Computer Sciences, for whom Bryce is covering up.
Theme explored: Logic versus emotion. Bryce, in his attempts to cover up for the academy students, uses logic to determine that there is no harm in diverting attention to an innocent person because the evidence will show the person is innocent. However, Blank Reg is different because, given that he chose to wipe out his entire record, the networks use a "criminal profile" to determine the likelihood that he may have committed the crime -- a profile also based in logic. Or in other terms, a computer algorithm determines the likelihood of guilt.
It raises the question about the usage of computer algorithms to come to conclusions. We have seen this become an issue in how posts are removed from social media accounts, or said accounts are suspended, based on what an algorithm determines, rather than an actual person examining the post or account to determine what is really being posted. And given the nature in which the academy teaches its students, in which they are taught to think in terms of logic rather than emotion, how that may not be a good thing when some situations may require a determination of "right or wrong" that is based more on emotion than logic.
Also critiqued was the trend at the time of broadcasting court cases for entertainment purposes (The People's Court was in syndication at the time this episode was taped). The critique comes in Blank Reg's trial, which is broadcast on the Network 23 show "You The Jury," in which the prosecutor and judge behave more like game show personalities and everything is treated as an event. It begs the question about how far you go in taking legal cases and broadcasting them for entertainment purposes rather than informational.
Max Headroom quotes:
"I happen to be living above the mainframe and just watched the show."
"As they said to King Charles I on the scaffold, are you going to go quietly or do you need a push?"
"Me smirk? It's not in my program."
Personal observations: This was one of the better episodes of the series. The writers were hitting their stride by this point, exploring a main theme that wasn't solely about critiquing television but finding a way to fit a critique of the media into the show. And in our debates today, there's always the struggle between using logic (data, algorithms, etc.) versus emotion (feelings, conscience, etc.) to determine what is the best solution to a problem.
Thoughts several years later: It's still worth asking even more about whether algorithms are a good means to solve a problem, particularly given how those algorithms might be manipulated. As for logic and emotion, there are plenty of issues to consider when it comes to policy and what works best. In some cases, the "emotion" side of things could relate to things that can't be measured, but in other cases, the "emotion" side is more about pacifying somebody. But it's still worth asking whether logic or emotion should be applied when determining the best solution to a problem.
On another note, the whole premise of "You the Jury" could be applied to how some people on social media make decisions about investigations and criminal cases based on their emotions about who is involved, rather than what the evidence says.
Episode Name: Deities
Premise: Edison Carter is tasked to investigate the View Age Church, which promises technology to resurrect loved ones, that happens to be overseen by Carter's old flame.
Theme explored: On the surface, it's televangelism -- the View Age Church is like many televangelists when considering the promise of salvation if you'll just give money. A deeper theme explored, though, is the question "what is truth?" That's the challenge that Vanna Smith, the head of the View Age Church and a former love interest of Carter's, poses to Carter itself when she points out that she promises her church members something and they have found peace, while what Carter seeks out doesn't always bring peace, even if the evidence shows he's right.
There's also the question about how relationships can present conflict of interest when it comes to our jobs. Carter had a past relationship with Smith -- at first, he's reluctant to pursue the story, but once he learns more details, he becomes almost vindictive in his pursuit of the story. Carter tries to make peace with Smith, but in doing so, violates one of his rules that he will not allow a source to see his story before it airs. And then comes a confrontation with Ashwell, a member of Network 23's board of directors, who happens to be a member of the View Age Church and points out that Carter's past stories have often cost Network 23 sponsors and shows, thus hurting the network's bottom line.
Though the themes don't necessarily tie into what one would find in a dystopian environment, they are themes that hold relevance in society, especially when it comes to the question of what seeking the truth is all about.
Max Headroom quotes:
"God may have taken only seven days to create the universe, but the running repairs go on forever."
"One of my commandments is thou shalt not squeal."
"And God created the fish that swims in the sea, the birds of the air and the creatures that walk among the earth and then... he created Vanna Smith."
"What do I need a new body for? I never had an old one."
Personal observations: Again, this episode focused less on the consequences of a dystopian environment and more on asking the question about what truth really is. It does a good job building to the moment in which Max Headroom himself proves to be the mediator in the conflict between Carter and Smith, all while staying true to his personality.
Additional thoughts several years later: It's still worth asking about the value of religion and what it represents, particularly as more people turn to politics to find meaning in life. I will say that the episode doesn't poke fun at religion, but takes a more nuanced approach about what it means. I also think that Carter's vindictiveness holds relevance to today's environment in another aspect, because some people working for media outlets seem more interested in pursuing a story because of a personal dislike for somebody, rather than asking whether the story is actually newsworthy.