Alter Ego (2021)

Watchseries; The designs of most of the characters are bad. The thing about 3D models that are somewhat based on real people, there is always going to be a disconnect with eyes. 3D model animation doesn't have expressions and it's horrifying.

The show's premise is really great though, having a 3D animated model alter ego for normal people who are good at singing but something is holding back from performing and this show gives them the confidence to overcome it. That is what I like about the show

If the motions would be more fluid and emotions are added to the expressions like how the normal people are... such as the girl who cried and the alter ego had animated tears but the character is just standing there dead eye staring... creepy! Right now there is a disconnect I can't overcome and that's why it's a 5 star rating for me.

The designs of most of the characters are bad. The thing about 3D models that are somewhat based on real people, there is always going to be a disconnect with eyes. 3D model animation doesn't have expressions and it's horrifying.

The show's premise is really great though, having a 3D animated model alter ego for normal people who are good at singing but something is holding back from performing and this show gives them the confidence to overcome it. That is what I like about the show

If the motions would be more fluid and emotions are added to the expressions like how the normal people are... such as the girl who cried and the alter ego had animated tears but the character is just standing there dead eye staring... creepy! Right now there is a disconnect I can't overcome and that's why it's a 5 star rating for me.

Alter Ego watchseries. Really really cool to see avatars representing people. I think this is the future. I care about someone's voice more then what they look like. Let them represent themselves however they want!

I want to like this, but can't. I want to be in the dark about the people too. They have completely ruined this show for me with the format. And the judges, please, learn to judge. Simon was mean but fair. Stop fangirling every singer.

There isn't a minus star or even a zero star so it gets one. You have to wonder about the audience they're looking for ? The talentless populace of the earth ? Or does the media believe we are creepy creatures who need they're cgi magic to force the audience to eat this stuff ? There can be no spoilers to Lazy money.

This singing competition show features 10 singers who perform for a chance to win $100,000. But the judges don't watch them sing, they watch avatars that the contestants have helped design. These avatars, which bear creative stage names and project whimsical personae, mirror the backstage performances of the actual singers through motion capture technology.

Immediately, one can foresee the possibility for creating avatars that differ from the actual performer in size, ethnicity, age, gender, or general appearance. The viewer has to decide how he feels about that. Does it open a world of invention, deception, or even self-deception?

I was concerned that watching the judges watch a holographic performance on stage was akin to watching someone else playing a video game: it can be enjoyable, but it's not the same as playing the game yourself. Then I discovered that the judges are not watching a stage performance; they are watching the performance on a video screen, just as I am. I found that discovery annoying.

When the judges evaluate the performances, it is clear they are not reviewing only the vocal performances. The (sometimes presumed) back stories of the contestants definitely affect their decisions. And so do the avatar images themselves. Some judges might place a premium on vocal ability, while others evaluate the performance holistically, like an art installation. Regardless, they usually respond to whatever evokes their emotions.

I watched the first two episodes, which includes all ten of the series' performers. The talent is good. And there is a cross section of styles and personalities.

This technology carries a cautionary message. Just as we have seen people hide behind the anonymity of the internet and/or find more satisfaction in virtual relationships than bonding IRL, the use of avatars is a portent of future e-socializing, which will bring even greater problems. A new style of catfishing may emerge. On the other hand, some will find a hopeful message about self-actualization in the freedom offered by avatars. As Grimes--who is a judge--said, "I feel like I know a lot of people who feel a lot more accepted in the digital realm. I know I do."

By the end of episode two, I felt there was an authentically therapeutic effect for some contestants. But it was not just from hiding their physical realities. In fact, when the "losing" contestant reveals his "true" self at the end of each episode, that is the best moment of the show.

Personally, I felt a kind of love for an unlikely contestant---a trucker with a wolfish avatar who produced an unexpectedly operatic voice. And I expect other viewers will find their favorites.

The show itself is fine, nothing inherently bad. But all the alter egos look like Fortnite skins, some I would actually get. It would be a 7.5 but the Fortnite made it 7.