5 Shows That Predicted the Future

Television has always been a mirror reflecting societal norms, ideals, and fears. Yet, sometimes, the screen doesn’t just reflect but also predicts. Over the years, certain TV shows have made eerily accurate predictions about the future. Let’s take a look at five series from the past decade that did just that.

“Black Mirror“

Arguably the crown jewel of dystopian series, Charlie Brooker’s “Black Mirror” has made several on-point predictions. One of the most notable is the episode “Nosedive”, which visualized a society where people rate each other after every interaction. The omnipresence of social media and our obsession with online validation is brought to life in this eerily prophetic episode. While we aren’t rating every person we cross paths with, the ubiquity of apps like Uber and Airbnb, which rely on peer reviews, is a step towards this unsettling future.

“The Handmaid’s Tale“

Based on Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel, “The Handmaid’s Tale” portrays a dystopian America where fertility is a rarity and women’s rights are stripped away. While it’s a dire prediction of the future, some parallels can be drawn to current real-world scenarios. The series subtly warns about the fragility of rights and freedoms, highlighting issues like reproductive rights, women’s autonomy, and the dangers of religious extremism. As certain governments worldwide lean towards conservative policies, the show’s narrative feels increasingly relevant.

“Years and Years“

This British series, though less known, is a haunting tale that charts the lives of a family over 15 years, with each episode leaping forward in time. Touching on political, economic, and technological trends, the series forewarns of corporate monopolies, the growing refugee crisis, and political populism. One striking prediction is the banking collapse, echoing real-world concerns about economic instability and the volatile nature of global finance.

“Westworld“

At first glance, “Westworld” might seem like a sci-fi tale of rogue robots in a theme park. But beneath the surface, the show delves into the implications of artificial intelligence, consciousness, and human morality. The rise of AI, ethical dilemmas surrounding its use, and the blurry line between human and machine are central themes. As real-world tech giants develop increasingly sophisticated AI, the questions “Westworld” raises about autonomy, rights, and the definition of life itself become ever more pertinent.

“Mr. Robot“

In a post-Cambridge Analytica world, the narrative of “Mr. Robot” seems eerily prophetic. The show revolves around a young hacker, Elliot, who aims to bring down corrupt corporations with cyber-attacks. Themes of data privacy, corporate greed, and the power of hacking are all too relevant today. With major companies experiencing data breaches and growing concerns about data privacy, “Mr. Robot” serves as both a cautionary tale and a prediction of our digitized world’s vulnerabilities.

In conclusion, TV shows often draw from current societal trends to construct their narratives, but sometimes they manage to leap ahead of the curve, foreshadowing what’s to come. As viewers, while we immerse ourselves in these tales of fiction, it’s worth pausing to consider the underlying messages and warnings they offer. As the line between fiction and reality blurs, these series remind us of the potential paths our world might take. The future, it seems, is often scripted in the past.