‘Tales From The Loop’ S01 E06: A Familiar Face In An Unfamiliar Place

In the episode, ‘Parallel’, as the title would heavily suggest, the producers of this show take on the parallel universe story, but as this is a very low-fi sci-fi, it’s done in the same style and tone all these stories have adopted and focused on the individual and the personal.
The stoic security guard who welcomes workers to the Loop each morning has his 15 minutes of fame in this instalment as he crosses over to a parallel dimension by simply fixing a high-tech tractor sitting in a field. Again, we are given no explanation except for the inescapable fact we all know of the huge ‘God particle’ housed in the Loop. Effectively a particle accelerator not too dissimilar to CERN, but light-years ahead in it’s understanding of such power. Or, rather it isn’t. After all, across this whole series there is the realisation that something is very wrong as strange cosmic, mystical powers keep leaking out causing ripples in the fabric of reality. And so it is here, as Gaddis (Ato Essandoh), the security guard, seems smitten with a beautiful man in a photograph he finds by chance in the tractor he fixes, with a little help from science whizz May (Nicole Law).

On this parallel world, we discover that this society didn’t forge forward with the Loop and as a result there are no rusty robotic behemoths on the landscape, only the crumbling remains of the Loop. It’s only when Gaddis returns to his home that he realises something is vey, very wrong as he comes face-to-face with himself, who is also the partner of the man from the photo. Rightfully so, they both have the same taste in men, so you can imagine how that could, and does, play out.
The problems in this, as in other episodes, are more moral than scientific. A reminder that, for now, the science fiction is more background reference while the trials and tribulations of human existence, in whatever universe, are at the heart of this series.
Again we have a pace that moves at the speed of syrup, and even when Gaddis does sleep with his counter-self’s partner, Alex (Jon Kortajarena), there is no big brouhaha, as you’d expect. And gain, the landscape is the star, with it’s sweeping rural vistas stretching for miles and mile thanks to the flatness of the countryside. A world where anything is possible and just over the horizon. With Simon Stålenhag’s paintings often hinting at something far more malevolent and huge, I wonder whether the Loop will unleash mammoth horror in the future? Small rural town settings with underground laboratories don’t usually end well. Stranger Things, anyone?

Gaddis, ultimately, is a lonely man who has come to the end of his tether. Although you wouldn’t know it judging from his continual morose manner that never seems to really change. But that’s the point; he is a cold fish and one can see, in an earlier scene, how difficult it is to got to know him. But, the beauty of this particular ending is that Gaddis, unlike ,any of us, gets a second chance. A chance anyone watching will be screaming for him to take. But, will be take it?
Tales from the Loop, season 1,  is steaming now on Amazon Prime.