Ever since The Peripheral came out on Amazon Prime Video, people have been wondering what is Burton's back. This is because the show gave a glimpse to the weird futuristic lines on the back of Burton Fisher (played by Jack Reynor) yet did not go into detail how he got those lines.
Later in the series, we learn that those futuristic lines are not really a tattoo since they aren't like Ash's (played by Katie Leung) tattoo that moves. So what is in Burton's back? We've got the answer for you!
Who Is Burton Fisher In The Peripheral?
Burton Fisher is the brother of Flynne Fisher (played by Chloë Grace Moretz) who is an ex-Marine of the elite Haptic Recon force. After leaving the Marines, he makes a living as a VR sim player who has gained recognition across the community.
Because of his popularity and expertise in the VR field, Burton found a lucrative opportunity to be an early tester of a futuristic tech manufactured by a Colombian company under the name Milagros Coldiron. He receives a blueprint for a new VR headset that he gets printed at the 3D printing shop where Flynne works. He later gets Flynne to test drive the headset and their lives change from that first experience.
What Happened To Burton In The Marines?
The Peripheral series gives snippets of information on what happened to Burton during his time as a Marine officer. But in the source material of books written by William Gibson, it is revealed that Burton is actually part of the Marines' Haptic Recon force.
This experience allowed Burton to specialize in Haptics technology, which allowed him and his squadron to synchronize using cybernetic implants, which is what we see on Burton's back.
As a Marine officer, Burton experienced a number of tragedies and injuries that he still carries up to today. The traumatic experience has also led to him having PTSD, which is why he needs drugs to deal with the pain.
Another important part of Burton's time at the Marines is the horrifying accident that left his friend, Connor Penske (played by Eli Goree), a triple amputee. Burton continues to feel responsible for Connor's situation.
Why Does Burton Have Cybernetic Implants?
The futuristic technology allowed Burton and his squad to share visuals and some emotions. This comes pretty handy when they are in combat as they are able to have a bird's eye view using the drones they launch in the air. The implants allow them to see their squad's different perspectives and use that to their advantage. Not to mention, they also get to hack into other devices like a drone.
Still, this technology gives Burton and his squad a huge advantage over their enemies. Apart from the benefit that this technology brings, the implant also gives Burton and his squad an undeniable bond that will never go away.
As of this writing, there are only four episodes of The Peripheral available on Amazon Prime Video. More episodes will be released every Friday on the streaming service. In the meantime, you can watch this behind-the-scenes footage of the show:
RELATED: When Do New Episodes Of The Peripheral Come Out?
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