Amazon Prime’s The Feed season 1, episode 5 recap

In episode 5 of Amazon Prime’s The Feed, we learn that Lawrence has made a more profound imprint on the population than expected.

Previously on The Feed, the Hatfields hit the reset button on Max (Osy Ikhile), out of hope that his violent “glitch” would be removed. We also met resisters and saw Ben Hatfield (Jeremy Neumark) haunted by holographic fantasies of his ex-wife, Miyu (Jing Lusi).

Also, Kate Hatfield (Nina Toussaint-White) scheduled a secret surgery to remove The Feed from her brain. Episode 5 begins with that surgery, as well as Tom Hatfield (Guy Burnet) accessing the memories of Sara Hoyt (Milly Thomas).

Kat’s surgery doesn’t quite go as planned, however. When Dr. Adu (Ace Bhatti) asks Kate to wiggle her toes, she can’t. She also can’t remember her daughter’s name (Bea) at first. The surgery is halted prematurely, as they fear the procedure will damage her mind. Kate then asks them to take Bea off The Feed. Interestingly, though, they learn that Bea doesn’t even have a conventional transmitter.

Meanwhile, Ben still can’t delete the Miyu simulation, so the program follows him everywhere he goes. Meredith Hatfield (Michelle Fairley) wants Ben to be on an internal family security monitor program, intended to protect their family from hackers. Ben seems reluctant, and he also doesn’t mention Miyu haunting his mind.

Ghost apps and awkward dinner conversation

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Tom learns that there was a “ghost app” in Sara Hoyt’s Feed, linked to “Mindspy,” “Snuffroom,” and “Virtual Companion.” When these sites are mentioned during the Fatfield family dinner, there’s a somewhat humorous moment where Ben pretends he doesn’t know about them (it seems the Miyu ghost might stem from corruption in Virtual Companion).

Ultimately, though, the big moment is when the Hatfields discuss Kate’s visible surgical scars.

The conversation shifts to Bea, and it’s revealed that the baby has an invisible implant, which Lawrence Hatfield (David Thewlis) describes as “polymeric conductors imprinted on DNA.” In other words, The Feed is quite literally a part of Bea’s very being, which is quite scandalous.

Not only does it seem risky, but Lawrence never asked anyone’s permission to do it. His rationale is that it’s not an infection but an enhancement. As Lawrence tries to justify his decision to Kate privately, Ben decides to send the Miyu apparition to Gil (Chris Reilly), Miyu’s new love interest.

Lawrence’s mindset

It’s interesting to see how Lawrence rationalizes putting The Feed into people genetically. Quite simply, he feels he as the right to do it because (a) it will connect everybody and (b) someone else less decent would have eventually implanted it anyway, so why not have someone with a moral compass beat them to it?

Tom tells Larence that he’s not the single answer to chaos and that he’s doing it for power. However, Lawrence insists he didn’t do it for his ego. Even if true, motivation is only part of an issue. Something probably doesn’t become wholly justified simply because one’s intentions are good.

Later, Tom tells Sue (Tanya Moodie) that she needs to wrest control of The Feed away from Lawrence, sensing that his father has little respect for privacy and consent. Sue declines the proposal, so, as sort of a last resort, Tom broadcasts Lawrence’s speech against freedom, also revealing to the masses that Lawrence has established The Feed genetically.

This leads to Lawrence officially stepping down as head honcho that very night. However, it’s doubtful that he’ll just stand by the sidelines.

Other events

Episode 5 of The Feed has a few other significant events. Max proposes to Eve (Clare-Hope Ashitey). However, a strange janitor named Eric Bell (Jonathan Aris) ends up beating her over the head, leaving us uncertain of her fate.

Also, Danny Morris (Shaquille Ali-Yebuah) visits the building of Jonah Greene (Laurie Kynaston) but learns Jonah was swept up in a police raid. However, Jonah does return later to dismiss Danny as a Feed addict, urging him to simply head back home.

What are your thoughts on Amazon Prime‘s The Feed? Let us know in the comments!