Continuum is a Canadian time-travel sci-fi series recently ported to the Syfy Channel here in the US. I recently finished watching the first season on Netflix, and plan to jump into the second season when it becomes available online.
In 2077, North America has become a high-tech, high-surveillance, dystopian police state controlled by mega-corporations. The series follows law-enforcement officer Kira, who finds herself transported 65 years into the past (present-day Vancouver) along with the members of Liber8, a terrorist group bent on altering past events for their own purposes. Posing as an operative from a non-existent government agency, Kira joins up with the Vancouver Police Department to bring down the criminals. She gets help from her new partner Carlos and computer genius Alex, whose ties to Kira's own time could change everything.
The series is an interesting mix of sci-fi, police drama, and mystery, as Kira attempts to foil the plans of terrorists while hiding her true identity, all while slowly discovering her being sent into the past was no accident. Episodes often open with a flashback (or flash-forward?) to 2077, where we learn more about Kira's past and that of the terrorists.
From a technology standpoint, the show definitely offers us plenty of eye-candy. Besides all the cool-looking 2077 tech (flying cars, holographic displays, etc.), our lead character runs around wearing a 'super-suit' with built-in computers, a cloaking device, and bullet-reflecting force-field. Kira also has a sidearm that somehow folds out of her suit and brain implants that allow her to analyze everything (any everyone) for potential threats via a floating HUD display.
From a character standpoint, the series makes us wonder which side we should be rooting for, the so-called terrorists, or the so-called law-enforcement officer. Much like the Rebels from Star Wars (or our own forefathers here in the States), the members of Liber8 could be considered revolutionaries, fighting to bring down an Orwellian government where personal freedom and privacy is only an allusion. Kira, a cop whose first duty is to protect the Corporations (and not its citizens), could be considered the bad guy, even though she's clearly a good person at heart and truly believes she's doing the right thing. The lines between good and evil are very much blurred, which adds to the appeal an intrigue of the series.
Overall, I'd definitely say Continuum is worth watching. It's somewhat unique in it's approach to the classic time-travel story, and in an era where good sci-fi is hard to find, it's refreshing to see a somewhat original program. Granted, there's no spaceships or aliens, but to some degree, this is a thinking man's show. It makes one wonder about the very real dangers of incorporating technology into our lives to such a degree that we sacrifice personal freedoms in the process. It makes one wonder about the dangers of mega-corporations, and the very real possibility of them one day ruling the world. There are others, but I'll let you discover them for yourself.
If the producers can keep up the momentum they've already gained and continue writing interesting stories, this show could have the potential to go far. We all know this often isn't the case with most modern sci-fi dramas, but I'll give them the benefit-of-the-doubt and see what happens. Check out Continuum and see the battle for the future begin!
