What’s it called?
Forest 404
What’s it about?
Without giving too many plot spoilers, it’s an eco-themed drama set in a dystopian future in which some kind of cataclysmic event has destroyed the world we would recognise – here referred to as the Slow Times – and replaced it with the Fast Times. In this era, people live off-world or in a towering skyscrapers so crowded in that they’re deprived of natural light. Our hero, Pan, is a “librarian” in the “heavy data” section of an organisation devoted to deleting obsolete recordings – such as audio from the moon landings, Bohemian Rhapsody and the speeches of Barack Obama. Then one day she hears a recording of a rain forest, and everything changes …
Who’s in it?
Pan is played by Pearl Mackie, aka Doctor Who companion Bill Potts, who stepped into the TARDIS in the company of 12th doctor, Peter Capaldi. Pippa Haywood is her boss, Daria. The series is produced by the BBC.
Best bits so far?
Writer Timothy X Atack and director Becky Ripley have done a great job with the story and the sound design is awesome – play this through good speakers if you can – but what really marks out Forest 404 is the addition material in the form of stand-alone soundscapes (the rain forest that Pan listens to, a frog chorus, bird song in a British wood) and talks from experts on everything from why nature is good for us to the prospect of having to vote for a government run by AI.
Fun fact …
The music is by award-winning electronic composer Simon Green, better known by his stage name of Bonobo which, as our more erudite readers will know, is also the name of an endangered, forest-dwelling chimpanzee of the Pan genus.
For fans of ...
Bladerunner, Doctor Who, David Attenborough
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel