Here are my thoughts on the first four episodes of “Ad Lucem” an audio drama from QCODE about augmented reality and the dangers of technology. Episodes seem to drop on Mondays, so expect episode five to release tomorrow. My full review will come after the finale drops. QCODE did not request this review. I just happened to find the series and started listening to it before too many episodes were out.

Obviously, virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR) isn’t a new idea in science fiction. Even today, in real life, the fiction of sci-fi has rapidly been catching up. One need not look further than the various AI programs like ChatGPT that have made writers and actors of Hollywood expendable in the minds of studio executives. Interestingly enough, “Ad Lucem” bypasses the obvious relationship between artificial intelligence and VR or AR. Instead, the show calls it OI or Organic Intelligence.

Chris Pine as Vocal Chameleon

When one thinks of Chris Pine, Star Trek and perhaps Jack Ryan come to mind. Pine’s voice is fatherly and almost unrecognizable from his previous roles like Kirk from the rebooted Star Trek movies. When I hear his character (Dominic) speak, I’m not picturing a star ship captain or “Dungeons and Dragons” Chris Pine, but somewhere in between Jack Ryan and the other aforementioned roles above. At the same time, the overall sum of his performance is quite unique.

Ad Lucem: Into the Dark Web

Thus far, the first four episodes feel almost standalone. The protagonist seems to change in a given episode. Episode three is most certainly Miranda’s as it deals with a traumatic event from her past. Miranda is the creator of the original version of this story world’s Alexa or Siri. If Alexa or Siri were on steroids, that is. By the time the story begins, holographic projection is already a thing and physical contact with a hologram is just around the corner.

As with most technologies, it can be used for nefarious purposes. The company who makes the holographic computer program assistant (known as CARA) has contingencies in place for rogue CARA units. That does’t stop all kinds of illegal or morally detestable things from happening. It’s also used by people outside hacker groups and people on the dark web.

Lovable Cast, Terrible People

While Chris Pine plays the father as lovable uncle role well. He’s not the only powerhouse in this production. Clancy Brown from various live action and animated shows and movies. It feels like he’s been popping up more and more. Most recently the new Star Wars show “Ahsoka” where he plays the live action version of a character he voiced in “Star Wars Rebels.” I don’t know why I didn’t expect the voice of Lex Luthor (Superman: The Animated Series) to be a creep, but Brown plays it unnervingly well. Olivia Wilde plays Miranda, who let’s just say, is acting like nothing bad will happen with the launch of the newest update to CARA. There’s a sense of some kind of bias or even naivety on her part, as if she doesn’t want to think about the past. Though, by the end of episode three, I can certainly understand why.

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