Cybergeddon

By Cara

I’ve recently embraced online web series as a way to pass the time when there’s nothing on television, which is actually more often than you realize.  I found out about the web series Cybergeddon during the Streamy Awards, where Missy Peregrym won for Best Female Performance in a Drama.  She’s the only reason I watch ABC’s Rookie Blue in the off-season (read: summer, when there’s really nothing on TV).  So I gave Cybergeddon a chance because she’s kick-ass, and would never steer me wrong.

For those of you who haven’t heard anything about this series (are you living under a rock, people? I kid), the first season of Cybergeddon is 8 episodes, each one about 10ish minutes.  The story focuses on FBI Agent Chloe Jocelyn, who is forced to go rogue after being framed for cyber crimes she didn’t commit. While on the run, Chloe discovers that Gustov Dobreff, a ruthless cybercriminal may be behind the attacks.  With the help of her old friend, Chase ‘Rabbit’ Rosen, a former hacker, and her ex-boyfriend, Frank Parker, she tries to track down Gustov and stop Cybergeddon from taking down the world.  Don’t worry, there’s more about Gustov’s backstory and his motive, I swear. And so maybe it does seem a little cheesy but it is a web series, so expectations should be adjusted accordingly; we’re not watching HBO here.

Simply put, Cybergeddon reminds me of Hackers + The Net on steroids, and that’s basically all I needed to be in love.  It makes sense that it comes across this way since computers, technology and cybersecurity, itself, are so much more advanced than they were in 1995 (!!!).  The graphic animation used to show networked computers and file uploads is reminiscent of Hackers, for sure.  But I’m also making a comparison to the Sandra Bullock cult hit because this web series has the female protagonist driving the plot, and Peregrym is believable in that role.  As a self-proclaimed computer nerd, it is refreshing that the smartest person in the room is the woman.  It should happen more and it doesn’t.  So hats off to Peregrym for fully embracing the character, even though there was a good chance not many people would ever watch it.

While season one finishes off somewhat predictably (on the off-chance no one wanted a second season), I was content with devoting my precious time to it.  And I do hope the second season is just as fun and creative as the first season.