Not everyone cares as much about technology as I do, which is fair. I’m kind of a nerd. But you know when you watch a movie or TV show and see something that just doesn’t… work? It just doesn’t work that way, guys! You can’t “enhance” footage from a CCTV camera! That’s not how recording technology works!
Alright, I’m good, I swear. With that, let’s introduce our favorite TV shows that get tech right.
Sherlock
This show is fantastic, for one thing. It’s engaging and smart and fast-paced, keeping the viewer on the edge of their seat. Story beats are often depicted through text messages, as is common in modern tales. Sherlock pioneered a visual technique that makes these texts flow beautifully in the action.
In Sherlock, texts appear as floating, stylish words onscreen near the characters reading them. This more accurately represents what it feels like in the moment when you’re reading your phone. By using this technique, Sherlock smartly sidesteps a common pitfall of TV set in modern day: how do you depict smart phone interfaces on screen?
Black Mirror
This show’s whole premise is how terrifyingly likely its scenarios are. Black Mirror is a modern blend of the Twilight Zone and cautionary sci-fi tales of the 50’s. Episodes meditate on the potential fallout of technological advances. One episode presents perfect recall through recording software embedded in your eyeballs. Another imagines a world where everyone has a social rating like a credit score displayed for all to see.
The anthology-like presentation and believable technology make Black Mirror a scary peek into our own potential future. Without the believable, down-to-earth technology, the show wouldn’t work on as many levels as it does.
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a very goofy show about some very goofy software developers. Depicting the ins and outs of an internet start-up, Silicon Valley does a great job of accurately depicting the lives of programmers. From the accurate depictions of Silicon Valley offices to the types of desks and computers developers use, the show is certainly on the nose.
This is no surprise however. The show was created by Mike Judge, who also created King of the Hill and Office Space. Judge has also been part of an internet start-up himself, so he knows the source material personally. This lends the show a “real”-ness that ups the credibility of its technology–and its laughs.
Our Favorite Depiction of Technology on TV: Mr. Robot
The phenomenal and believable hacking on Mr. Robot comes courtesy of love and care from the show’s producer. Kor Adana, once a cyber security specialist, helps advise on the show. Adana uses knowledge from his previous vocation and ample consultation with real hackers to make the show believable.
On screen command prompts and use of actual technology help ground the show. The believable hacking and tech make the show that much more engaging, lending it credibility. This makes Mr. Robot as close as we’re likely to get to a televised version of Neuromancer.
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