Maniac
2018
🎯 Verdict
✍️ Full Review
Maniac is what David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas would be if instead of Mitchell, it was created by PKD or William Gibson. It strips away the gobbledygook wooey mystic aspect of reincarnation or even the exotic unbelievable scenarios of however many possible dimensions and instead remains grounded in science fiction but keeps it layered and hard-concept-oriented stretching it between simulations, lucid dream and human experiences of trauma as well as the technologically diagnostic side of ailments along with value-based traits. A real good sci-fi show that started real complex, yet after four to five episodes later, it kinda loses its elusive mysterious nature as things start to fall into predictable places. The performances were very at par with the level of excellence as expected from the cast. I like how this show takes a long warranted break from Hollywood's fascination with the Jungian-style psychoanalysis and the shadow self as well as mirror consciousness and leans into the Freudian concepts and thereby addresses the stigma around mental illness, causes and treatment approaches vis-a-vis substance abuse as a manner of escape from reality. Maniac also underlines the significance of human connection and all things humane itself being existent upon that social connection. Given the finale, with the advantage of hindsight I find it pretty ironic that both Cary Joji Fukunaga and Jonah Hill were at the helm of this show.