Counterpart and the Joys of Streaming

Some of the best streaming series I’ve ever watched were those that were recommended to me. Such is the case with Counterpart, a science fiction thriller on Starz. Stuart Sweet recommended it to me. I believe his exact words were, “J.K. Simmons’ plays an arrogant character who reminds me a lot of you.” Wow! Which such a rousing endorsement, how could I not watch it? Mrs. Buckler and I took a chance on Counterpart and we liked it right away. These kinds of shows and series, the ones that someone recommends to you, certainly make streaming great.

Check out the Counterpart trailer:

What This Starz Original Series is About

Counterpart is a science fiction thriller starting J.K. Simmons playing the lead role. He’s most known for his roles as J. Jonah Jameson in the Spider Man trilogy, and Vern Schillinger on HBO’s OZ. In Counterpart, Simmons plays two roles: Howard Silk, an accomplished clandestine government agent, and Howard Silk, a nerdy loser whose life is boring and unfulfilled. Why are there two Howard Silks? Because in the world of Counterpart, there are actually two worlds separated by a thin, dimensional rift.

Events in nerdy Howard’s world are carrying over into tough guy Howard’s world. High-level government espionage is suspected, since many operatives end up getting killed. Tough-guy Howard is sent into his geeky counterpart’s world to help figure out what’s going on and possibly assassinate the killers responsible. As the series unfolds, it becomes obvious that this double crossing reaches into some of the highest levels of government in both dimensions. Who do you trust?

There are many aspects and artistic choices that make Counterpart unique. First is the setting. The series is filmed in Berlin, and features a mix of English-speaking Americans and English actors, as well as those who speak German. I don’t know if this was a casting decision or a suggestion that a one-world government exists in this show’s worlds. Counterpart is also well paced and offers plenty of build up to its shootouts and assassinations. In short, if you enjoy The Man in the High Castle, you’ll probably like this Starz original series.

What’s With All These Parallel Dimensions?

Counterpart is the latest in a series of streaming series that feature time travel and/or a parallel dimension as a major plot device. I’ve already mentioned one of them: The Man in the High Castle on Amazon Prime. There’s also Stranger Things and Dark, both on Netflix. There might even be more that I’m forgetting as of this writing. The point I’m trying to make is, why is the concept of alternate realities and dimensions such a hot topic in TV shows these days?

I have a theory as to why this topic is so hot right now. It can be summed up in four letters: CERN. That’s the French acronym for the European Organization for Nuclear Research headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Some people believe that the activation of the Large Hadron Collider at this facility triggered the creation of an alternate universe and something called the “Mandela Effect.” It’s quite a bizarre theory that’s smack dab in the middle of conspiracy theory land, but if you’re interested in this stuff, there are plenty of speculative (and somewhat kooky) YouTube videos on the subject.

It’s my theory that the creators of these and similar shows are well aware of how popular these alternate reality theories are in the zeitgeist. What better way to add excitement and appeal to their movies than by adding to this ongoing mystery? Think about it. Those who believe in the “Mandela Effect” will point to these streaming series and say, “See! This is the deep state’s way of trying to tell us that this stuff is real without coming out and saying it.” As far as I’m concerned, I just think it makes for exciting television shows… but you can make of it what you wish.

Do You Want to Stream Counterpart?

You might after everything I’ve said about it. If so, it’s important for you to know that you don’t need to pay an expensive cable bill to watch this and other programming. You can get Starz with a DIRECTV satellite TV package. You also can stream it with a DIRECTV NOW and an AirTV Player optimized for Sling TV. All three of these streaming options let you:

  1. Enjoy a huge selection of national channels.
  2. Receive some or all of your free local TV channels.
  3. Add many of today’s top streaming service providers.

Would you like to start enjoying some of these amazing programs that Stuart and I talk about? If so, you might be wondering which service is best for you. Guess what? The folks at Solid Signal can help you decide. Give us a call at 888-233-7563 and let our talented techs answer your questions about DIRECTV, DIRECTV NOW, and DISH AirTV Player. They’ll have you well on your way to enjoy some amazing programs at lower-than-cable-company prices. Just don’t accidentally step through the gateway to another dimension!

About the Author

Jake Buckler
Jake Buckler is a cord-cutter, consumer electronics geek, and Celtic folk music fan. Those qualities, and his writing experience, helped him land a copywriting gig at Signal Group, LLC. He also contributes to The Solid Signal Blog.