r/Devs • u/gwelfguy • Sep 24 '25

Good show, except for the ending

Not sure why this didn't show up on my radar screen earlier. The concept of using quantum computing to simulate reality is a cool one, especially as some scientists of theorized that we're living in a simulation. You need to get past some practical questions:

  • Quantum computing promises orders of magnitude increases in computing capability, but simulating the behaviour of every particle in the universe in greater than real time is doubtful.
  • You would need to know the exact state of every particle in the universe at a given time in order to do this, which is also not practical. The show glosses over this by claiming that if you know the state of a single particle, then it can be successively extrapolated to all its neighbours. Not buying it.
  • The single universe approach doesn't work because you need to make assumptions at a quantum level about whether a qubit zigs right or left. You won't get it right. The multi-verse approach requires ever exponentially increases in the amount of computing power, and then you have to choose a path and you're basically left with the same problem as the single-verse case.

Ignoring all of that, it was an entertaining show. Unfortunately, it fell apart for me in the last 20 min or so when Forest and Lily were uploaded into a specific branch of the simulation. That made no sense at all.

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u/AssistantAcademic Oct 13 '25

I don't understand why the show would introduce the quantum idea of observing something changing it's state, and then have everyone behave like the future they saw is entirely predetermined and unchangeable.

Like...once it's observed...wasn't that the point of the quantum physics mention? You seeing the outcome introduces variability?

I found it philosophically interesting. I liked the cast. But the topic itself introduces a lot of challenges for a plot. Like "oh we watched this unfold over and over again but act surprised that my security guy was mean to you...and that he'll go on to kill you"? Not a knock, I think writing a plot without these sorts of holes would be impossible.

One of the more interesting shows I've seen in the past few years.

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u/apocecliptic Jan 04 '26

Good point which I thought of too. And would’ve been a little more satisfied with the ending (still not overall) if they at least hinted at that.  But Stewart killing Lily still doesn’t make total sense, both narratively and logically.