“In The Dirt” pulls back the curtain on the origin of the Brave New World

In Brave New World’s sixth episode, ‘In The Dirt,’ new secrets come into play, and game-changing revelations surface as a chilling threat arises.

Brave New World is well past its halfway now, and it’s starting to reveal its darkest secrets. Episode 6, “In The Dirt,” kicks off the Lenina-John romance everyone has been waiting for, and Mustafa Mond gives us a guided tour of how society got here, revealing why so many Epsilons look alike, how New London started, and who created Indra. And Bernard finds a way to stay relevant, and this show with him.

Bernard and John are living it up after their “punch in the face” moment went viral. It even inspired a new black eye trend among New Londoners and a new film — or “feelie” as they call them in this emotionless futuristic society — from the makers of The Moist Boys and OrgasMonday 39.

They hit the party scene where John enthralls everyone with tales of the Savage Lands, which are just the shows performed at the House of Monogamy. Bernard enjoys the attention, and John continues to go home with a new gal every night. But after a while, the rockstar vibe begins to fade, and Bernard attempts to take back the spotlight by making it all about him, which ultimately fails.

Meanwhile, John stumbles on Lenina, and the two embark on an off-the-grid day out in the beautiful Epsilon-only countryside. They make up stories about hunting and fishing before finally hooking up.

When John and Bernard reunite, they engage in a fake fight in an attempt to stay relevant with the people, and once again, they go viral. During the “fight,” John alludes to having relations with Lenina, and when Bernard asks if he was telling the truth, he lies his face off.

That’s all fun, but the standout storyline from “In The Dirt” is Mustafa Mond’s virtual vacation, just because of how much gets revealed. We’re finally done with worldbuilding ready for the real conflict.

Mustafa Mond’s real name is Jane, and she’s part of a group of creators who made Indra, which was supposed to run things while they retire in digital paradise. She discusses her concerns about Indra with Elliot, who we learn is actually the person from whom all the other Epsilons were cloned. He brushes off her concerns, and Mustafa leaves only for Indra to attack her with a flood of water and the threat of darkness.

The idea of a rogue AI is nothing new in science fiction, but one on this level could be very intriguing. The only way to stop a dangerous Artificial Intelligence is usually to introduce a virus into its programming. All signs are pointing to John the Savage getting a shot at Indra’s title before all is said and done.

One thing this show excels at is attention to detail. The trailer for Face Punch in the opening moments, complete with its critic blurb and laurels, is just wonderful.

Alden Ehrenreich seems to have settled into his character, and the rest of the leading players continue to impress. It’ll be interesting to watch the love triangle play out, and to see what Indra will do next.

Episode Grade: Beta

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