Love, Death And Robots

I've just spent the last couple of hours being completely blown away by the new anthology series, Love, Death and Robots on Netflix. The series features some amazing animated stories based on works by, among others, Peter F. Hamilton and Alistair Reynolds. They had me from the start.

There are some stories that didn't quite work for me, but overall I was amazed by both the visual wonder and storytelling at work. I can think of loads of short stories that would be absolutely fantastic for this format and would love to see more of this.

If you haven't checked it out already, do so now. HIGHLY recommended!

My favourite episodes were (in order of appearance):

Sonnie's Edge
Brutal and bloody, with an amazing sting at the end. An excellent adaptation of Peter F. Hamilton's novelette from 1991 . The only downside is that by today's standards the 90's cyberpunk aesthetic might seem a bit dated.

Three Robots
Based on a short story by John Scalzi this one is full of humour and laughs despite its post-apocalyptic setting. Three Robots provides a much lighter tone than most of the other episodes which is sorely needed as a palate cleanser between the much darker episodes. Plus it has cats, calm your motherboards and watch this!

Suits
One of the stories I got really emotionally invested in. An astoundingly touching story and some brilliant animation and voice acting at work. The kicker is when the bigger picture is revealed. Let's just say this one deals with some really extreme homesteading. Based on a short story by Steven Lewis.

Beyond the Aquila Rift
I never thought anything would be able to do Alastair Reynold's story justice, but this simply blew my mind away. Visually stunning and brutally poignant. Simply amazing!

Shape-Shifters
This episode gives new meaning to 'unleash the dogs of war'. Beautiful animation, a touching story and some poignant themes. Really enjoyed this.

Helping Hand
Wow! What a story, both visually and emotionally. The premise might be simple, but it's used to stunning effect. "Just a wee sacrifice to the great nothing". Based on a short story by Claudine Griggs.

Lucky 13
The bond between pilot and their plane can be far greater than expected. Another stunning story in all the best ways with a touching ending and beautiful visuals. Based on a short story by Marko Kloos.

Zima Blue
Another adaptation of an Alastair Reynolds short story. I'm not sure the animation style worked for me, but I'm a huge fan of the original material and this does a good job of bringing it to life.

I would absolutely love to see more of these.  This medium could provide a great way to adapt those science fiction stories that we would all love to see on the big screen, but which would cost way too much to film traditionally. Science fiction has an almost limitless collection of great short stories which would be perfect for adaptation. Hopefully in the next season we'll get some more work from female authors, a more unified theme connecting the stories and a little less focus on sex.

Love, Death and Robots is a simply amazing experience. Like most anthologies some stories are bound to resonate more than others and it can be a hit-and-miss affair. You are bound to find something you'll love. Just be warned that most of the episodes contain adult content and some of them can be extremely violent. Cancel your weekend plans and go watch this. Highly recommended!

Addendum:
If you aren't keen on all the sex and nudity in some of the episodes I'd recommend you check these out:

Three Robots
Suits
When the Yogurt Took Over
Shape-Shifters
Helping Hand
Lucky 13
Fish Night
Zima Blue
Ice Age
The Secret War