“Continuum”: Freedom of the Will, the Ethics of Force, and Action-Packed Time Travel

Last updated on: January 17, 2013 at 8:30 am by Geoffrey Reiter

“Continuum”: Freedom of the Will, the Ethics of Force, and Action-Packed Time Travel 2013-01-16T19:05:40-07:00 Geoffrey Reiter

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

This Monday saw the American premiere of Continuum, a new science fiction series that has already run its first season in Canada. Indeed, a second season has already been ordered, and Continuum has thus far received generally favorable reviews. The show follows Kiera Cameron (played by Rachel Nichols), a Vancouver cop from the year 2077 as she is inadvertently thrust back in time to our present with Liber8, a group of freedom-fighter terrorists slated to be executed by the corporate-run government. Now in the early twenty-first century, decades away from her family and friends, Cameron seeks to prevent the terrorist group from affecting the timeline.

Thus far, Continuum seems self-conscious enough about the possibilities intrinsic in time travel to play nicely with the standard questions of determinism and free will; and, of course, these are questions of interest to the theologically-minded Christian as much as to the science-savvy television viewer. The premiere episode’s final big reveal particularly opens up some nice avenues to explore regarding the nature of human identity and whether or not we are predestined to become who and what we do become. Additionally, the conflict between a law-enforcement official of what may be an oppressive corporate regime and a terrorist cell that pursues liberty through violence promises to raise some intriguing ethical questions.

Whether Continuum lives up to its early promise right now can only be answered by time travelers (or Canadians), but it seems off to a good start.

Of the Moment

Television

of the moment

Previous Post

January 17, 2013

How did Science Fiction Become Science Fact in 2012?

Next Post

January 18, 2013 Civil Discussion: Obama's Gun Initiative and the NRA's Cold, Dead Hands

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Asides Elsewhere Featured Film Games General Culture Headline Literature Music Of the Moment Podcast Politics RetroPost Sports Technology Television Uncategorized Viral

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz