Time Travel is one of the most fascinating concepts to tell a story around. There have been enough triumphs in the past on this subject. Does storytelling around this subject in 2018 do it any justice? The following two Netflix Originals, dabble into two contrasting worlds, giving you a taste of the dark side as well as the happy one. While some of you may be travelling for the long weekend, the others can strap on for a journey far more interesting.

WHEN WE FIRST MET: GROUNDHOG DAY – 2018 EDITION

The iconic Groundhog Day had many things working for it. The wonderful concept, the poker face king – Bill Murray and the ever so radiant Andie Macdowell. That film is a classic, one that you don’t mind reliving again and again. Cut to the future, where Adam Devine and Alexandra Daddario try to recreate that magic, and they do make a valiant effort of it. When We First Met is a heavy dose of hopeless romantics with a strong jolt of reality. The concept revolves around Adam Devine’s Noah having the most perfect first date with Daddario’s Avery, but rather than ending the night with a romantic kiss, it ends up with a friendly hug. Flash forward to three years later, we see Noah getting wasted at her engagement wishing he had a second chance. A time-travelling photo booth later, he gets that wish granted. But as I said before, this world of fantasy comes with a strong caution of reality, simply put, actions come with consequences. The night they met is followed by the engagement day three years later, with all the consequences of that night, intact. The film basically oscillates between these two days, where we see Noah try everything under the sun to win her over. Within this time travel frenzy, director Ari Sandel throws in friendships, relationships, true connections and morals for good measure. After all, this is supposed to be a rom-com with a heart. The twists and transitions are dealt deftly and what you get is romance more cut-out for 2018. It’s not all soppy, but one that actually feels more real. The film does not have the same impact as Groundhog did, but then again, this is not meant for a cinematic viewing, it’s meant to be seen on your laptop. It cannot be truly called an ‘Original’, but a Netflix Original? Sure, why not!!

ALTERED CARBON: THE FUTURE OF CRIME

There’s an odd satisfaction to see the word ‘Raksha’, meaning protection, written in hindi on the police cars of the future. And what a future it is. What looks like a neon-lit Tokyo, Altered Carbon has a glorious vibe to it. It’s funny how Tokyo, Hong Kong and Japan have become the world cities of the future. You can see it in Pacific Rim, Her, and other futuristic and post-apocalyptic worlds. While the earth crumbles, these regions not only withstand and survive, but thrive. Altered Carbon has a very unique take on time travel. To be honest, it has a far more interesting take on immortality. So, what world are we looking at? To start with, no one truly dies, unless their chip has been destroyed as well. Everyone’s skin is preserved, and consciousness can be transferred to any skin, thereby rendering them immortal. The central plot revolves around a mercenary brought back to life after 250 years to solve a murder of a living person. Sounds fascinating, doesn’t it? Watch on to know what happens with that storyline. There’s much to appreciate in Altered Carbon. It’s utter genius to see some of these concepts brought to life. There’s an entire hotel that runs on Artificial Intelligence – right from the receptionist, the services, the protection, everything’s a code. Psychology is a code, that one needs to download. Torture is what happens in the sub-conscious. The rich live above the clouds. And their experiences can be saved on the ‘cloud’. The rebellion here is for death. The first 6 episodes give you a heady mix of this wonderful concoction, and you keep on chugging, getting immersed and woozy in this glorious world of crime. And then, the plot thickens. And also weakens. Within this mad crazy world, the parallel story takes center stage, and gets trapped in the regular tropes of backstory, revenge and relationships. As the novelty wears off, as the carbon gets altered, this sci-fi treat, turns into a stale dish of drama. But just because the dessert wasn’t the best, doesn’t mean the meal was bad. Altered Carbon is one you need to savour. Just like acquired taste, you need to sample it, alter your palate, roll in the flavour and only then will you truly enjoy this. This is, in every sense of the word, a NETFLIX ORIGINAL. And it deserves your time.