EPISODE · Apr 16, 2026 · 44 MIN
034 Mercy is Dangerous Propaganda
from Exploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions · host Mikel J. Wisler
The recent sci-fi thriller, Mercy, starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson, plays with a pretty fascinating concept that feels like something Philip K. Dick would have written. An AI Judge gives a murder suspect 90 minutes to drop the certainty of their guilt from 98% to 92%. This is the reasonable doubt threshold that will keep him from being killed in an hour and half.Well, I have a lot of thoughts on where this movie goes wrong. But more importantly, I have serious concerns about the kind of world this story is promoting. Mercy is not just a terrible movie with a nonsensical plot. It’s a dangerous piece of propaganda masquerading as mass entertainment.What did you think? Are you concerned?Want episodes early and bonus content? Join my Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/mikelwisler
What this episode covers
The recent sci-fi thriller, Mercy, starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson, plays with a pretty fascinating concept that feels like something Philip K. Dick would have written. An AI Judge gives a murder suspect 90 minutes to drop the certainty of their guilt from 98% to 92%. This is the reasonable doubt threshold that will keep him from being killed in an hour and half.Well, I have a lot of thoughts on where this movie goes wrong. But more importantly, I have serious concerns about the kind of world this story is promoting. Mercy is not just a terrible movie with a nonsensical plot. It’s a dangerous piece of propaganda masquerading as mass entertainment.What did you think? Are you concerned?Want episodes early and bonus content? Join my Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/mikelwisler
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034 Mercy is Dangerous Propaganda
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