Incorporated

This show is a rare gem in the recent TV shows. From the beginning you might be put off by sci-fi's familiar theme of dark dystopia and big bad corporations, but please give it some time. I was hooked in just 3 minutes after the news says "Canada construct a new wall to stop illegal immigrants". See? There are so many small details you can find. It depicts a dark picture of future corporations run amok, and unfettered capitalism results in extreme polarization between rich and poor. It's a future that we don't want to have, but also possibly end up with.

Although there are other shows having the same idea, but only "Incorporated" dares to go far. Not only it shows the dramatic difference between "Red Zone" and "Green Zone", but also different ways of thinking and surviving. In "Red Zone" you will see people fighting for scrubs, selling their own bodies and committing crimes to make ends meet; in "Green Zone" you will see people being afraid of losing their life style, stabbing other's back to get promotion, and the appalling methods of corporations use to maintain the order. In both zones there are no clear good guys or bad guys, only people struggle to survive their environment. All these make this show more believable than other Sci-Fi series.

The acting is top-notch. Many emotions are expressed with subtle facial and short words. No drama queens, no over-acting. The main story surrounds a young couple which both have their secrets. The husband appears to be a loyal corporation ladder climber, but has anti-corp agenda. The wife in the beginning seems like a spoiled rich brat but in time you will see she has a good and strong heart. Both of them experiences very difficult situations in their own way, but they did their best to keep calm and being normal. Sometimes I wondered. "That's it? But both of them had such a tough day!" In many ways "Incorporated" share similarities with "The Americans", which I also enjoyed tremendously.

The special effects are also high-end. From the refugee camp to the splendid "Green Zone". Every scene seems fit the description, and not cheap. The devil is in the details. Rich people drives very futurist cars and "Red Zone" people ride shabby ones. Rich people have expensive exotic dinners and "Red Zone" people eat rats. I really appreciate how much attention they paid in every little thing. Sometimes I pause the screen, just to see what's in the scene, and admire how much effort they must have put in for even a short clip.

However, even the show's script is great. Some pot-holes are still there, like why some "Green Zone" people took great risks to go to the "Red Zone" for fun. Then they later ended up being kidnapped. It seems not reasonable to me. But overall this show has much less holes than other Sci-Fis.

In conclusion, this is a great sci-fi show. It touches many social issues, very suspenseful, and sometimes deeply emotional. It should worth your time.

"Incorporated" is about Ben Larsen, a young boy who grows up in the squalor of the Red Zone, an area far removed from the glamorous excesses of corporation compounds in this futuristic vision of the world. We see Ben mostly as a grown man, but flashbacks fill in the blanks of his past.

While most corporate employees are driven to succeed in their jobs, Ben has a secret agenda, a purpose that guides his every move.

Since almost every character is written as desperate, willing to do what is necessary to survive, and inured to the harsh realities on life, it would be easy to write off the acting as one-dimensional. Also, the CGI can be distracting. But the story lines are convincing. And they expose the moral dilemmas that are created by this dystopian world.

Though I don't find much of this show "enjoyable", it is engaging. As long as the writers don't inject too much of the left-liberal bias that infects many shows--and allow the story to focus on plot points and twists that capture the imagination--I will continue watching.

Update 1/12/17: After a few episodes, the worlds inside and outside of the corporate walls are being fleshed out, as are the stories of the characters. I am raising my grade to "8".

I usually do not write reviews, but I find this show very interesting. It does not disappoint as a thriller and sci-fi action show. It is thought provoking, and I find myself watching episodes more than once. I do not do that with other shows. The cinematography is great when showing the advanced technology of the future. I find myself pausing the show to check it out. I cannot wait to see what is in store each week. I feel like some have misjudged this show. There is more to the main character's quest than taking down the corporations. There is a history that is yet to be revealed which is why I find it so intriguing.

Why was this cancelled? This is such an awesome series! This is why I don't trust critics these days. Just like "Better off Ted", that was amazing as well... I loved the idea, the story, the visuals, the cast was great as well. I don't normally write reviews, but I would love to see more of this!

This futuristic drama-venture is a diamond in the rough. If you can see a future through its first year growing pains you can see its potential. Ben is the main protagonist that all the sub-stories splinter off of. He is in love with a girl from the red zone who is a childhood friend but lost touch with her when she went off to be a escort in Arcadia, she wants out and Ben is trying to figure out how to get her out. He lives a double life married to elite green zone debutante who has had a not so pleasant taste of what its like outside the walls and though she has become comfortable in the green zone life she is rebelling against it. Ben seems to be helping her along in that area for his own interest. Kaplan is the quintessential bad guy who has it out for Ben and has a advance in the corporation or die attitude. He is the guy you love to hate and adds a fun edge to the show. I won't drag this out but I think if you keep watching, as the writing and acting mature you are going to have a great show to watch each week. Probably won't win any Emmys but it will be a solid show to download each week.