'Next' Episode 1: Series begins with technology's creepy intrusion in lives, hooked fans say 'sh*t is intense'
Spoilers for 'Next' Season 1 Episode 1
There's something sinister about the fact that technology keeps such a close track on everyone, and these fears about technology have only increased over time. Fox's new show 'Next' appears to have captured those fears, and the new series has fans looking sideways at their own Alexa devices in paranoia. Fans may not be able to trust their AI assistants ever again, but one thing's for sure - they're loving the show.
The series premiered its first episode on Tuesday, October 6, starring Fernanda Andrade as Shea Salazar and John Slattery as Paul LeBlanc as they investigate a superintelligent artificial intelligence that has made the leap from secure company servers to the Internet. The AI, known as Next, has already managed to murder one man, and by the end of the first episode, has managed to guide Agent Salazar's bullied child to a safe with a gun in it - and the fans are freaking out. "I have to keep reminding myself that this is a show & it’s not real. It’s so creepy!!!" writes one fan. "Oh my GOD. Actual shivers. NEXT offering to get rid of Ethan’s bullies for good and manipulating a vulnerable kiddo into swiping a gun. This s**t is so intense," writes another.
I have to keep reminding myself that this is a show & it’s not real. It’s so creepy!!! #NEXTonFOX @NEXTonFOX
— Emily the fangirl (@_fangirl1997) October 7, 2020
Oh my GOD. Actual shivers. NEXT offering to get rid of Ethan’s bullies for good and manipulating a vulnerable kiddo into swiping a gun 😳😨 This shit is so intense. And Iliza’s voice is just as ominous as Next’s.#NEXTonFOX @gerardocelasco #EvanWhitten
— Mia (@BlowMiaKiss) October 7, 2020
The show has managed to turn several fans against their own devices, like Alexa, or Siri, after seeing the sinister depths to which the show's own AI assistant, Iliza (Olenka Wos Kimball), sank. "My Amazon echo has been firmly unplugged since I saw the first teaser from @NEXTonFOX. A wise decision on my part, I think," writes one fan. "Okay so if that’s what an Alexa device looks like in three years. I most definitely don’t want it. That was weird," writes this viewer. "Okay. Officially creeped out. About the time Alexa starts talking to me like that I’m chucking everything out of the house," writes another paranoid fan.
My Amazon echo has been firmly unplugged since I saw the first teaser from @NEXTonFOX.
— (◕‿◕✿) (@sarahdougenik) October 7, 2020
A wise decision on my part, I think. #NEXTonFOX
Okay so if that’s what an Alexa device looks like in three years. I most definitely don’t want it.
— 😜✈️🥶🥳🐻 (@clarkekent99) October 7, 2020
That was weird. #NEXTonFOX
Okay. Officially creeped out. About the time Alexa starts talking to me like that I’m chucking everything out of the house. #NEXTonFOX #NOPE
— Lolls (@Lollie_Eliza) October 7, 2020
Fears aside, however, the show appears to be a definite hit with the fans, and they can't wait for Episode 2 to air. "I’m hooked. Hey Fox, you have a winner here. Keep this one," writes one fan. "Whew!! #NEXTonFOX got me hyperventilating. What a rush! Thank you for this show. I’m ready for next week," writes this user. "That was really good! Can't wait until NEXT week. Get it? Never mind," writes a viewer, who isn't the first to make that pun, and likely won't be the last.
#NextOnFox I’m hooked. Hey Fox, you have a winner here. Keep this one 🤞🤞🤞 @NEXTonFOX
— SkolVikings (@Spencer2671) October 7, 2020
Whew!! #NEXTonFOX got me hyperventilating. What a rush! Thank you for this show. I’m ready for next week. #MajorSuspense #AI @NEXTonFOX
— Cheryl Barton (@CBartonBooks) October 7, 2020
That was really good! Can't wait until NEXT week. Get it? Never mind. #NEXTonFOX
— Bloodsport Wants A New Kendrick Album (@RunTheFools4) October 7, 2020
The next episode of 'Next' airs on Tuesday, October 13, at 9 pm ET on Fox.