Alter Ego

First of all, the gimmick that makes the show different--avatars being on stage in real time--is a fallacy. There is no commercially-available technology that can achieve that or there would be holograms standing in every store trying to sell you something.

The avatars are added in post-production and the judges overplay the false "I can't believe this is happening in real time!" angle. Eliminate that, and it is like any other singing show.

... Well, not quite. Every singer has a sob story about lack of confidence at singing in front of people which makes you feel bad for them. With no way to prove that their insecurities are real, they "nervously" sing backstage, hidden from everyone, but once they are eliminated, each steps onto the stage, belting out a song, with all of the pride and confidence in the world.

Public speaking/singing/dancing as well as body shaming oneself is a real, often crippling fear for millions of people. Very rarely can a single, four-minute performance liberate someone completely, from a lifelong fear, which is how the show presents it, and I detest it being used to drive the "story" as it were.

I will give two stars because, like all other singing competitions, some of the music is enjoyable to listen to in the background while I do other activities.

Amazing show, just replace Grimes next season. The characters were very original and unique and this is definitely where television and life is going.

This feels like something that would be playing on a TV in the background of a Black Mirror episode, but if it were it would have higher production value than this does. The avatars are super glitchy and hilariously ugly, but you can tell the judges are like under contract to oooh and ahhh at them as if they're totally mind-blowing. Overall it's a total assault on my eyes and ears, and I say that as someone who's watched 5 seasons of the Masked Singer for no good reason.

That being said, it's further evidence that my love for Grimes is unconditional.

This singing competition show features singers who perform for a chance to win $100,000. But the judges don't watch them sing, they watch avatars that the contestants have helped design. These avatars, which bear creative stage names and project whimsical personae, mirror the backstage performances of the actual singers through motion capture technology.

Immediately, one can foresee the possibility for creating avatars that differ from the actual performer in size, ethnicity, age, gender, or general appearance. The viewer has to decide how he feels about that. Does it open a world of invention, deception, or even self-deception?

I was concerned that watching the judges watch a holographic performance on stage was akin to watching someone else playing a video game: it can be enjoyable, but it's not the same as playing the game yourself. Then I discovered that the judges are not watching a stage performance; they are watching the performance on a video screen, just as I am. I found that discovery annoying.

When the judges evaluate the performances, it is clear they are not reviewing only the vocal performances. The (sometimes presumed) back stories of the contestants definitely affect their decisions. And so do the avatar images themselves. Some judges might place a premium on vocal ability, while others evaluate the performance holistically, like an art installation. Regardless, they usually respond to whatever evokes their emotions.

I watched the first two episodes, which include all ten of the series' performers. The talent is good. And there is a cross section of styles and personalities.

This technology carries a cautionary message. Just as we have seen people hide behind the anonymity of the internet and/or find more satisfaction in virtual relationships than bonding IRL, the use of avatars is a portent of future e-socializing, which will bring even greater problems. A new style of catfishing may emerge. On the other hand, some will find a hopeful message about self-actualization in the freedom offered by avatars. As Grimes--who is a judge--said, "I feel like I know a lot of people who feel a lot more accepted in the digital realm. I know I do."

By the end of episode two, I felt there was an authentically therapeutic effect for some contestants. But it was not just from hiding their physical realities. In fact, when the "losing" contestant reveals his "true" self at the end of each episode, that is the best moment of the show.

Personally, I felt a kind of love for an unlikely contestant---a trucker with a wolfish avatar who produced an unexpectedly operatic voice. And I expect other viewers will find their favorites.

I would have preferred to watch the actual singers overcome their anxiety in a healthy way. "Pretend" is not improving their awesome voices but it is diminishing who they actually are by covering them up.