British thriller Utopia featured, at its center, a comic book titled The Utopia Experiments that seemingly predicted a variety of different epidemics. This leads a group of nerds to seek out the comic, and in the process they find themselves embroiled in a conspiracy that could absolutely devastate the world. While the show, which ran from 2013 until 2014 was cancelled, Utopia gained a cult following thanks to its believable, yet dire, predictions of the future and its unshakeable eeriness.
Earlier this year, Amazon released a remake of Utopia. While much of the key story remains the same, there are definitely some key differences between the British and American versions of Utopia.
The Original Utopia Nailed Creepiness
The original Utopia immediately gives viewers an overwhelming feeling that something just isn’t right. The show's unnerving atmosphere never wanes and is bolstered by both the acting performances and the audio. Neil Maskell, who plays the assassin Arby, is a prime example of this. From the way he talks in short blunt sentences, to how he staggers in pursuit of Utopia's protagonists, his robotic demeanour is alarming, even in the scenes where he refrains from violence.
Arby’s eccentricities are assisted by the unforgettable music of Cristobal Tapia de Veer, whose odd ambient sounds fit the tone perfectly. The soundtrack, which was praised for blurring the line between music and sound design, really brings home the collective sense of paranoia in the show, as the whispers, murmurs and distant screams make viewers question their sense. Elements like these on top a story about an impending apocalypse and global conspiracy make the British Utopia feel really disturbing.
Kevin Christie Is a New Character
Played by John Cusack, Kevin Christie is a new addition to Amazon's Utopia. A rich and powerful industry mogul, Christie is one of seemingly two characters sharing the identity of Mr. Rabbit. Christie’s story begins with him pedalling a meat alternative called Simpro, which has sparked the interest of the FDA, who believe it may be the cause of a recent flu. This causes the American version of Utopia to move away from the secret government bunkers of the original and instead more thoroughly explore business.
Amazon's Utopia Isn't as Tense
In contrast to its UK counterpart, Amazon's Utopia isn't as tense. Arby is notably more child-like in Amazon's version, and his killings, even early on, are more akin to a bad guy in an action movie than a stalker in a thriller. The music, which sometimes does try to match the darkness of the original, frequently jumps to upbeat pop/rock. This abruptly energizes scenes, sometimes cutting through the tension. Additionally, the remake is filled with humor, like Michael’s goofy bursts of excitement, Jessica’s abnormal behaviours and bathroom techniques, the constant high-school flirting between Becky and Ian, or even Wilson Wilson’s fanboy ramblings. Overall, the character's seem safer and less troubled by their circumstances, and a lot of serious moments are undermined with gags.
The British Utopia Felt Like a Mystery
The British Utopia is a lot more mysterious, partially as a result of pacing, as Amazon's Utopia arrives at virtually the same conclusions four episodes quicker. This means the British Utopia hold a lot of its core reveals for longer, while the Amazon version ends up getting to them rather quickly. The new show also features more of the fabled graphic novel the story centers on, revealing full pages and using motion comic elements to explain its hidden symbolism. Although this is actually a pleasant and meaningful change, it does make the book seem less cryptic and conspiratorial.
Amazon's Utopia Feels Like It's Happening Now
In addition to Utopia's central plot feeling a bit uncanny as a result of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Amazon version of the series feels particularly grounded in modernity. In addition to looking at the role of television in spreading information, social media plays a prominent role on the show. Christie's son, Thomas, leads a collective of influencers who are instructed to disrupt the flow of information surrounding the virus, weaponizing the tools of today. All of these things combine to give the remake a huge boost of familiarity.