History WesternAnimation / Pantheon

Madison "Maddie" Kim is not a happy kid. Her father, brilliant programmer Daniel Kim is presumed dead. Kim was a lead designer of the "UI" (Uploaded Intelligence) project for tech corporation Logorythims, a brilliant advancement to [[BrainUploading scan human minds into the cloud]] [[{{Transhuman}} and become more than human.]] When Daniel was stricken by illness, he volunteered as a test subject and was believed dead when the process went haywire. She faces intense abuse and bullying at school and hasn't any friends. One rainy day, she receives messages from a mysterious stranger who seems to be interested in helping her navigate her issues. This strange new friend soon launches digital vengeance against Maddie's bullies and Madison's mother Ellen is alarmed-especially when Maddie's "friend" begins communicating in ways only her late husband would. Maddie soon hooks up via Chatroom with Caspian, a sullen yet intelligent teenager whose parents have been keeping secrets from him involving [[MegaCorp Logorythims]]. Maddie suspects Logorythims has faked her dad's death and is keeping him prisoner, and the two begin a small-scale investigation into the company. Meanwhile, idealistic businessman Chandra hopes to use the "U.I" technology to usher in utopia, but his employers have far more sinister plans and target him as the latest test subject.

* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: The year is 2023. Uploaded intelligence was an ongoing but not yet realized field of study in 2001, but by the present day two software companies have successfully uploaded human brains, [[spoiler: with only the integrity problem of decay over time, a known problem in 2001, still unsolved]]. Additionally, VR technology has become advanced and prolific enough to be used in [=MMOs=] and integrate motion capture gloves, and haptic vests are also available accessories.

* AssholeVictim: Mr. Prasad. Given he was a corrupt snake who killed numerous people in his Uploading experiments, including Chanda, while posing as a benevolent businessman, ''noone'' would mourn when Chanda kills him. That said,[[spoiler:Chanda killing Prasad's innocent wife and children as well makes his revenge far less satisfying.]]

* AndIMustScream: [[spoiler:Heavily implied so far to be the case for U.I's. Logorythims trapped David Kim and another subject in their databanks to use their minds as resources, and in turn given them every reason to rebel. And it only gets ''worse'' by episode 3, where Chanda discovers those who fail the process are trapped in the grid as amorphous, mute wraiths, yet fully remember their human lives.]]

* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: Maddie, Justine, and Caspian all suffer this in different ways. Maddie is cyberbullied by a cruel AlphaBitch and her posse who suicide bait and humiliate her, Caspian is thought of as a creepy loner by most of his peers, and Justine is ostracized and avoided because of her weight. Fortunately, Maddie and Justine become friends while Caspian starts to bond with the more outgoing and friendly Hannah.

* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: The year is 202X / 203X. Uploaded intelligence was an ongoing but not yet realized field of study in 2001, but by the present day two software companies have successfully uploaded human brains, [[spoiler: with only the integrity problem of decay over time, a known problem in 2001, still unsolved]]. Additionally, VR technology has become advanced and prolific enough to be used in [=MMOs=] and integrate motion capture gloves, and haptic vests are also an available accessory.

* IHatePastMe: This is something that [[spoiler:Laurie]] comes to see in regards to [[spoiler:her relationship with Cody in the past. During the more severe stages of her degradation, recovering her source code is brought up as a way to save her which Cody plans to do. She however counters that her source code is merely the day one version of her as a UI prior to all the character development she gained with Cody. Seeing that her past self was someone who was more focused on her personal career than her marriage, she admits that version of her didn't really love Cody as much as does in her current state. Thus not wanting to hurt Cody, she asks that he just let her go and not bring her back.]]

* ImpededCommunication: David disrupts the bullies targeting Maddie by redirecting phone, chat, and email messages and by doctoring a photo to show a girl having stolen another’s boyfriend. Since they’re in class and can’t talk to each other directly, the group is splintered by lunch and are so riled that they direct accusations of hacking at each other rather than an outside party.

* ItsAllAboutMe: A character flaw of Laurie’s. The night of the accident, Cody criticizes her for always being the one to make major decisions in their relationship, which she doesn’t have a good counter for. After she’s uploaded, this dynamic goes even further since he’s her “hands in the physical world,” but he’s so happy she’s alive he no longer minds. Moreover, she didn’t break David free for his sake, but because she thought he could [[spoiler: fix her design flaw]] and impulsively tries to kill him when he says he can’t.

* AIIsACrapshoot: The show makes a distinction between AI and UI, but [[spoiler: the integrity problem inherent to all [=UIs=] thus far, where they gradually become erratic and unstable the more processing power they expend,]] is in line with this trope.

* AmoralAttorney: Pope’s lawyer is aware of all his unethical activity and even pushes him to be ‘’less’’ moral for the sake of reducing risk, arguing for David’s continued captivity when Maddie is trying to free him and arguing ‘’repeatedly’’ that Caspian be killed despite Pope being firmly unwilling to do the latter. Presumably threatening Ellen and Maddie with a smear campaign was her idea.

* BrainUploading: The whole premise is based around humans scanning their brains into the Cloud as new thinking, feeling programs, as well as the ethical implications that carries.

* CantKillYouStillNeedYou:[[spoiler:When he's at the mercy of Prasad, Chandra begs his boss not to kill him. "Fortunately" Prasad feels Chandra's mind is still a valuable resource, but he didn't say that included his body....]]

* CatapultNightmare: Maddies does this in the third episode after her NightmareSequence.

* DigitizedHacker: A U.I is a digital copy of a human mind that can freely move through cyberspace and meddle in any computer system. Laurie Lowell wrecks havoc on Logorythms after her transformation and David hacks Maddie's school to dish out some justice on the teens tormenting his daughter.

* SelfDuplication: [=UIs=] are computer programs, so they can make copies of themselves. Laurie and [[spoiler: Chanda]] make partial copies to continue their work and mask their escape, and Laurie makes another partial copy that conducts her second attack on Logorhythms (and is then captured by them while the original remains free). [[spoiler:Chandra calls what's left of the UI who helped him get free "the clan" but he describes them as all being a single mind's duplicates, which are seen to succumb to the late stages of the flaw at different rates.]]

* LockedOutOfTheLoop: Justine thus far is the only major character who isn't either involved in the Logorhythims conspiracy or knows of Uploaded Intelligence. Given her [[TheStoic demeanor]], one wonders how she'd react if or when she discovers what her friend's been up to.

* SelfDuplication: [=UIs=] are computer programs, so they can make copies of themselves. Laurie and [[spoiler: Chanda]] make partial copies to continue their work and mask their escape, and Laurie makes another partial copy that conducts her second attack on Logorhythms (and is then captured by them while the original remains free).

* WordSaladHorror: [[spoiler: Chanda’s begging for his life devolves into disconnected babbling as the laser cuts into his brain to upload him.]]

* AndIMustScream:[[spoiler:Heavily implied so far to be the case for U.I's. Logorythims trapped David Kim and another subject in their databanks to use their minds as resources, and in turn given them every reason to rebel. And it only gets ''worse'' by episode 3, where Chanda discovers those who fail the process are trapped in the grid as amorphous, mute wraiths, yet fully remember their human lives.]]

Madison "Maddie" Kim is not a happy kid. Her father, brilliant programmer Daniel Kim is presumed dead. Kim was a lead designer of the "UI"(Uploaded Intelligence) project for tech corporation Logorythims, a brilliant advancement to [[BrainUploading scan human minds into the cloud]] [[{{Transhuman}} and become more than human.]] When Daniel was stricken by illness, he volunteered as a test subject and was believed dead when the process went haywire. She faces intense abuse and bullying at school and hasn't any friends. One rainy day, she receives messages from a mysterious stranger who seems to be interested in helping her navigate her issues. This strange new friend soon launches digital vengeance against Maddie's bullies and Madison's mother Ellen is alarmed-especially when Maddie's "friend" begins communicating in ways only her late husband would. Maddie soon hooks up via Chatroom with Caspian, a sullen yet intelligent teenager whose parents have been keeping secrets from him involving [[MegaCorp Logorythims]]. Maddie suspects Logorythims has faked her dad's death and is keeping him prisoner, and the two begin a small-scale investigation into the company. Meanwhile, idealistic businessman Chandra hopes to use the "U.I" technology to usher in utopia, but his employers have far more sinister plans and target him as the latest test subject.

* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: The year is 202X / 203X. Uploaded intelligence was an ongoing but not yet realized field of study in 2001, but by the present day two software companies have successfully uploaded human brains, [[spoiler: with only the integrity problem of decay over time, a known problem in 2001, still unsolved]]. Additionally, VR technology has become advanced and prolific enough to be used in MMOs and integrate motion capture gloves, and haptic vests are also an available accessory.

* AIIsACrapshoot: The show makes a distinction between AI and UI, but [[spoiler: the integrity problem inherent to all UIs thus far, where they gradually become erratic and unstable the more processing power they expend,]] is in line with this trope.

* CastFromLifespan: [[spoiler: With current methods, UIs have a design flaw that causes them to gradually degrade the more processing power they use. Figuring out how to prevent that problem is the motivation for most of Logorhythm’s current schemes.]]

* EndOfAnEra: When the American UIs learn that [[spoiler: Alliance were able to develop BrainUploading independently of Logorhythms]], Ellen speculates that the creation of more UIs is inevitable, and that humans will need to adapt to a new era dominated by UIs much like humans dominated after discovering fire.

* LaserGuidedAmnesia: Since UI’s memories are part of their code, their captors can selectively partition memories away or reset them to a prior memory state. Learning to NoSell this is what lets the UIs start going rogue, though the more thorough method of rebooting from source is suggested to still potentially work.

* NoPlansNoPrototypeNoBackup: Despite being copyable and being able to fit on a small hard drive when compressed, none of the UIs have backups.

* ThePowerOfLove: Discussed in the opening narration of the second episode and in Stephen Holstrom’s presentation, which posit love as what sets humans and UIs apart from simple A.I.s. When implemented, UIs cut off from their emotions don’t have the same creative problem solving that they did as humans, and reintroducing love to fix that problem can cause them to “evolve beyond their programming” due to it stimulating neuroplasticity. [[spoiler: David, Laurie, and Chanda are motivated by their love for Ellen and Maddie, for Cody, and for Chanda’s mother, respectively. In particular, David’s love for Maddie is what lets him repel Laurie’s murder attempt.]]

* SelfDuplication: UIs are computer programs, so they can make copies of themselves. Laurie and [[spoiler: Chanda]] make partial copies to continue their work and mask their escape, and Laurie makes another partial copy that conducts her second attack on Logorhythms (and is then captured by them while the original remains free).

* SuperIntelligence: In addition to the SuperReflexes below, UIs can develop the ability to visualize the make-up of digital systems they interface with, enhancing their capacity to understand it. It’s unclear what other capabilities may be boosted, since all the extant successful uploads were genius programmers to start with.
* SuperReflexes: UIs can think at accelerated rates if they devote the processing power to do so. The intended use for the extant UIs was for them to simply keep performing the programming jobs they had as humans, but faster. [[spoiler: We see Chanda experiencing a day’s worth of work in a much shorter span, and then accelerated to experience multiple weeks of workdays within a single day.]] David complains that Ellen refusing to talk to him for a few days felt longer from his perspective.

* TransferableMemory: Since the UI’s memories are just a part of their code, they can be manipulated, reset, or fail to transfer. The initial plan for harnessing UIs was to put them in a virtual work environment without any life memory outside that context, and to continually reset their memories so they don’t catch on to the situation, but [[spoiler: the memory reset began to fail for Laurie and David when emotional memory was reintroduced to get their productivity back up, and for Chanda when the failed uploads interfered.]] When [[spoiler: David’s server in Oregon is shut down,]] he isn’t transferred completely in time and loses the past day or so of his memory.

* AIISACrapshoot: The show makes a distinction between AI and UI, but [[spoiler: the integrity problem inherent to all UIs thus far, where they gradually become erratic and unstable the more processing power they expend,]] is in line with this trope.

* 20MinutesIntoTheFuture: The year is 202X / 203X. Uploaded intelligence was an ongoing but not yet realized field of study in 2001, but by the present day two software companies have successfully uploaded human brains, [[spoiler: with only the integrity problem of decay over time, a known problem in 2001, still unsolved]]. Additionally, VR technology has become advanced and prolific enough to be used in MMOs and integrate motion capture gloves, and haptic vests are also an available accessory.

* BigGuyLittleGuy: Maddie and Justine form a female version of this whenever they share screentime. Though big girl Justine is actually quite articulate, cool, and collected, while Maddie is often passionate, impulsive, and doesn't always think things through.

* TheDogBitesBack: [[spoiler: Pope often treats Peter disrespectfully, and it appears that Peter may have given his mooks the wrong address to prevent his former friend David from being captured again, rather than David spoofing the tracking algorithm like Peter claims to Pope.]]

* WaxingLyrical: During a presentation on uploaded intelligence, Stephen Holstrom asks the audience to [[TheBeatles “Imagine. It’s easy if you try,”]] prompting chuckles from the audience. Caspian sarcastically calls him [[LampshadeHanging “real original.”]]

* SelfDuplication: UIs are computer programs, so they can make copies of themselves. Laurie and [spoiler: Chanda]] make partial copies to continue their work and mask their escape, and Laurie makes another partial copy that conducts her second attack on Logorhythms (and is then captured by them while the original remains free).

* CyberneticsEatYourSoul: Episode 4 reveals this is gradually happening to U.Is. They start out as their human personalities, but as their code breaks down they become more volatile and unstable.[[spoiler:Laurie fears this happening and wants to prevent it when she senses it coming, but Chanda seems to have gone over the deep end when he burns Mr. Prasad and ''his entire family'' alive in revenge.]]

* DaddysGirl: In case you couldn't tell by the premise, Maddie. And David was a great dad, so justified.

* EmoTeen: Caspian, and Maddie somewhat at first.

** Pope's lawyer repeatedly argues that Caspian needs to be "terminated" whenever it seems like he might be going off the rails.

* HonestCorporateExecutive: Chanda, who exposits to several investors how U.I will make the world a brighter place.[[spoiler:Unfortunately, his boss Mr. Prasad is ''not'' this and decides to punish Chanda for going against his plans.]]

* GroundHogDayLoop:[[spoiler:Chanda ends up imprisoned in one after his successful uploading, where he relives the same boring day over and over, completely unaware what's really happening. But he breaks out when the failed uploads show him the truth and he slips out of his virtual prison unnoticed.]]

** In episode 5, Renee discovers Caspian is deviating from the desired outcome [[spoiler:to recreate his genetic "father" Stephen Holstrom. She plots to murder the boy, furious that he can't grow up to be the man she loved.]]

* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Logorythms is led by people who are willing to do anything to see their late founders' dreams achieved, even if it means holding people prisoner as sentient programs and resources. Chandra's boss arguably outclasses them, as [[spoiler:he not only turns his pupil into a U.I through a horrifying and invasive procedure, but casually mentions he's done this to other people. [[LackOfEmpathy With less successful results.]]]]

* EmoTeen: Caspian, and Maddie somewhat at first.
* FatAndSkinny: Maddie and Justine after becoming each other's OnlyFriend.

* TrumanShowPlot: Caspian's homelife is a dark twist on this.[[spoiler:His parents are agents of Logorhythms roleplaying a toxic, abusive relationship to mold their son into an asset for the company. His dad Cary is having regrets about this while his mother Renee is more focused.]]

** Chanda not only sets out to kill Prasad, but torments him even further by massacring his family, including two teenage children, and ''forcing him to watch.'' Compare that to the humble humanitarian from episode 1.