Cycles is the second episode of the first season of the AMC+ animated sci-fi drama, Pantheon.
Synopsis[]
Ellen fights with Logorhythms over control of David's consciousness; Maddie learns the truth about her father's death and meets a stranger who wants to help; Caspian stumbles on Maddie's crisis on the dark web; A new consciousness is uploaded.
Plot[]
Maddie recalls her father comparing an infant’s brain to a computer.
When she was an infant,Peter Waxman convinces David Kim to work for Logorhythms after mentioning they are working on Uploaded Intelligence.
In the present, Maddie expresses joy when her mother explains that her father chose to upload his mind, however Ellen Kim says she was present when David died and shows her a case of broken glass from supposed failed upload.
Fifteen years ago, David, Ellen, and Waxman attend an event at Logorhythms where they discuss if they would want to upload or not. Ellen expresses her desire not to upload and David says he would not live in a world without her. Thirteen years later, David is diagnosed with terminal cancer and giving four weeks to live. Waxman visits after learning of his friend’s illness and reveals they have yet to upload a mind. Waxman reveals that Logorhythms has failed to upload from frozen brain samples and that they will try to upload a living person. However, the process involves slicing up a living brain with a laser and that the subject will die physically. Ellen is shocked that anyone would volunteer for the procedure, but becomes even more shocked when David reveals he volunteered.
That night, David explain that he sees this as his only way to still be with Ellen and Maddie, but Ellen insists it will not be him. After the procedure, Waxman comes out carrying a device and claims the process failed. Ellen throws the device and the ground and sobs.
In the present, Ellen tries to convince Maddie that the person messaging Maddie is not truly her father and they have a fight. Ellen says David is gone as Maddie cries into her mother’s arms and Ellen declares she will make Logorhythms play.
In San Clemente, Caspian Keyes gets a notification that he has a message on the dark web as he is paired up with Hannah for a project. Caspian promises to catch Hannah up on the play and invites her to his house the following day. At home, he enters a chat with Maddie who reveals some offered to help free her father and Caspian reveals he sent the logs to a contact of his and mentions the d-dos attack on Logorhythms. They both deny involvement and, as Maddie asks about Uploaded Intelligence , she gets a message from AngryAngel telling her to stop talking to him as he is being watched. As Maddie asks how they know her father, they say to go to the food court to the Lone Pine Mall at three in the afternoon the following day. Caspian looks into uploaded intelligence.
As Renee and Cary are updating Pope on Caspian, Deirdre Ryan and Karl Van Leuwen enter Pope's office and inform him Caspian cas started looking into uploaded intelligence after making contact with Maddie. Pope informs Caspian's parents of the news and Deirdre suggests they terminate the project, however Pope is angered by the comment and refuses to do so as he promised Stephen Holstrom they would crack integrity. He tells Cary and Renee that they will be informed if anything happens and ends the call. Cary and Renee then part ways.
In a laboratory, Vinod Chanda wakes up strapped to a chair with Ajit Prasad present. Prasad chastises Chonda for trying to leave as Chonda's head is shaved and mocked for trying to leave. Prasad says he got where he is by doing whatever it takes. Chonda realizes he is about to be uploaded as Prasad reveals he got data for Chonda's research by experimenting on people from the slums of Mumbai. Chonda's brain is exposed as he begs not to be uploaded, but his cries fall on deaf ears. He pleads until his speech turns into random phrases and he dies as the process is completed. Prasad looks at Chonda's hollowed out skull before looking at the monitors.
In Sacramento, Ellen looks at David's will before stumbling across a video of David and Maddie play Reign of Winter. After David's avatar is killed, he enters a cheat code to respawn. Ellen mildly berates him for doing it, but David and Maddie ignore her. She is brought back to the present by a knock at the door. Waxman arrives wanting to talk and Ellen says she will tell everyone about uploaded intelligence and berates him for lying about it, however Waxman reveals uploading David was never about saving him.
As school, Maddie is thinking of ways to protect herself in case things go south and sees Justine, a girl who writes papers for other students. She asks Justine to take her and the other girl agrees for a price.
Back, at the Kim House, Waxman reveals they uploaded David to have him work for Logorhythms even after his death. He reveals they gave David his memories back but he gained a sense of self and found a way to contact Maddie. In Svalbard, Pope is looking over David. Pope asks an employee, Anssi, that Lowell left a copy of herself and her husband quit his job three weeks ago and is currently missing.
At the mall, Maddie and Justine enter the food court and, as Justine is eating free samples, Maddie sees a man kick out a chair after they make eye contact. She goes over to him and he introduces himself as Cody Lowell and says his wife Laurie Lowell messaged her. Maddie looks up Laurie and finds that she died four years ago. Cody insists his wife and her father are not dead and Maddie gets up to leave, but Cody asks what her favorite song is, along with her father’s favorite song. Maddie says he liked Queen and “You’re My Best Friend” plays over the speakers and everyone’s phones Maddie stays and Cody explains that his wife was talented at reading stock and that he was offered a way to save her after a car crash. Cody explain that Logorhythms uploaded her and lied about it failed. Laurie then calls and Cody hands his phone to Maddie. She explains that she is responsible for the d-dos attack, a failed attempt to rescue her father.Laurie urges her to go with her mother so that she can attack Logorhythms from the inside as Cody hands Maddie a bracelet to help free her father.
In the Keyes house, Renee is washing dishes when she sees Caspian coming home with Hannah and informs Cary. When the teenagers enter, they stage a fight. After Renee points out Hannah, Cary expresses doubts that Caspian and her could be a couple. Renee puts her hand on Cary's shoulder and he pushes her to the floor. Hannah runs off and Caspian goes after her. Cary apologizes to Renee for hitting her but she says he should have hit harder.
At the Kim house, Ellen arrives home to learn Pope will be meeting with her. Maddie arrives and insists she go with her mother.
The following day, mother and daughter go to Logorhythms as Waxman transfers David’s data from Norway. Ellen and Maddie sit in the lobby until Waxman arrives at escort them to a boardroom. Pope introduces himself and Deirdre Ryan. Waxman explains that once they wipe the data,David will be gone, but Pope and Ryan refuse to do so and claim David is their property and that Ellen's power of attorney does not include his mind. As her mother chastises them, Maddie activates her bracelet and takes down Logorhythms servers. As Pope and Ryan say Ellen will lose in court and tarnish her family name, Pope is informed that everything is down. With Logorhythms losing money, Maddie agrees to give them back control in exchange for her father. Ellen is surprised by her daughter's act and tries to convince Maddie that the device on the table is not her father, but Maddie insists that it is. As they cannot afford to lose money at this rapid rate, Pope reluctantly hands over David and warns Maddie to be careful. Once the Kims leave the premises, Logorhythms gains control. Ryan berates Pope's choice as Pope vows to track them down. Deirdre reminds him that the Lowells have the hardware to run him and expresses concern that two UIs are running free, unaware of Chonda's upload.
Once they reach home, Maddie runs up to her room and reveals the Lowells have bought David an encrypted server to house David and they are freeing him. Once they finish the download, Maddie gets a call from an unknown number and her father answers, much to Maddie's joy and Ellen's horror. David tells Maddie to open Reign of Winter and his avatar appears. David asks if Maddie is ready to finish the adventure and father and daughter play their favorite game together for the first time in two years.
Cast[]
Starring[] |
Co-Starring[]
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Trivia[]
- This episode is dedicated to William Hurt.
Gallery[]
Promotional Images[]
Episode Guide[]
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| Season 1 |
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"Pantheon" • "Cycles" • "Reign of Winter" • "The Gods Will Not Be Chained" • "Zero Daze" • "You Must Be Caspian" • "We Are You" • "The Gods Will Not Be Slain" |
References[]