MINISERIES PREMIERE: This new eight-part sci-fi drama comes from FX – it’s an FX Production appearing first, and exclusively, on Hulu, in what is a new, occasional occurrence billed as “FX on Hulu.” More to the point,
Devs is written, directed and executive produced by Alex Garland, writer and director of
Ex Machina. It looks appropriately and impressively futuristic, and stars Nick Offerman as Forest, head of a very secretive and envelope-pushing tech company. Zach Grenier plays his head of security, Alison Pill a brilliant quantum physicist, and the miniseries includes other gifted actors as well. The plot of
Devs is mysterious and constantly shifting, and is more than matched by its music. Bob Locke and Tom Norfolk (known collectively as The Insects), along with Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow, have collaborated on an appropriately ultramodern score. The first two episodes of
Devs are shown today, with the remainder rolled out on successive Thursdays. And what starts as a story about a mysterious new computer program turns quickly into a murder mystery with a cast of suspicious characters – sort of like a high-tech
Charade, with a headstrong girlfriend (Sonoya Mizuno) cutting her way through a thicket of deep deception. Liked the first two episodes; loved the music.
For a full review, see David Hinckley's All Along the Watchtower, and for a
peek behind the scenes, see Mike Hughes' Open Mike.