Omniscient and the dialectic between logos and pathos

an aesthetic and narrative analysis in the pilot episode

Abstract

This article analyzes the pilot episode of the Brazilian series Onisciente (2020), exploring the relationship between logos (reason) and pathos (emotion) in the narrative and audiovisual aesthetics. Set in a dystopian future, the series presents a society monitored by drones that record the actions of all citizens, with the promise of an infallible surveillance system. The main plot follows Nina, a technology employee who challenges the system after the murder of her father, a failure that exposes the limits of technological reason. The analysis focuses on the cinematography, which uses cold color palettes, aerial shots, and symmetrical framing to highlight the rationality and control inherent in the system. At the same time, the protagonist's private spaces and moments of mourning offer emotional contrasts that amplify the narrative tension. This study also discusses the ethical, moral and political dilemmas explored by the series, such as the relationship between security, freedom, and individual autonomy. By articulating narrative and aesthetic elements, the pilot episode of Omniscient tensions emotion and reason by questioning the limits of technological control and the human implications of its fallibility. Finally, the article reflects on how the series contributes to contemporary debates in the science fiction genre, connecting aesthetics and reception in a Latin American sociocultural context.