The new Red Dwarf episode, it was... funny. I am pleasantly surprised.
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The new Red Dwarf episode, it was... funny. I am pleasantly surprised.
I find myself agreeing with you. My expectations were low, but it did have some good jokes in it. Although, now that they've got some Red Dwarf IV on, I'm sure I'm going to realise that whilst the first episode of X was good, it won't hold up to the old stuff.
[Spoiler regarding the second episode trailer]For what it's worth, I hope that the installation of a new computer and its inevitable going wrong, that we get (a) Holly back.[/spoiler]
For the first time ever, I decided to be geeky and watch Star Trek (the Next Generation). Only few episodes in but I'm finding more intriguing than I expected. From what I've heard I anticipated common archetypes, but the characters are actually pretty interesting; I was surprised at how douchy and awkward Picard is, Data's wish to be human and his constant word-clarifications, etc. The stories also seem more diverse than I expected (the first one with Q and testing humanity, or the one where everyone goes crazy). Only worry is that the episodes are starting to get a bit predictable/formulaic (introduction, the big "bad stuff" happens, last minute save etc.) Also hate the ambassador; every time she talks about sensing emotions she just sounds retarded...
Also, started on Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Loved the first series, and my sister tells me the second is better as it follows the Manga (which I have never read). So far everything is rehashing the first series, so can't wait when the differences start kicking in!
I'm still laughing at Rimmer's Kryten putdown.
Not neccisarely. Amy and Rory would have gone to Manhattan with or without the doctor eventually (Holiday!) - Without the doctor, things could have been a lot worse.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lukasz
! Picard and Data rapidly become the best characters in the main crew, mostly because of what you mentioned regarding Data's exploration of humanity, but Picard easily steals the show. Any episodes focused on him will be good. The awkwardness definitely stands (and comes to a lovely development come the final episode) but he is not at all douchy. Stickler for the rules? Sure, but often the best parts are him subverting the rules. God help you if you get a Data AND Picard episode.Quote:
Originally Posted by Koobazaur
Oh, man, they're all formulaic. Again, some of the best episodes are where this is subverted in some way. The two-parters are, from memory, all good, whilst you get one-off episodes that are absolutely fantastic. That's not to say the formulaic episodes are bad, but some of the lesser episodes are the ones that stick religiously to the formula. There's an episode where the solution involves restarting the main computer. Yeah. TNG at its best is phenomenal TV. At its worst? A bit silly.Quote:
the episodes are starting to get a bit predictable/formulaic (introduction, the big "bad stuff" happens, last minute save etc.)
Ah, you're waiting for "A Good Troi Episode". They don't come often.Quote:
Also hate the ambassador; every time she talks about sensing emotions she just sounds retarded...
As it stands, TNG is famous for the idea of "Growing the beard"; when Riker (Number 1) has a beard, which is in line with the second series, it starts getting good. There are so many good episodes in the show, although I will say my favourite is the finale two-parter.
It's not really a second and more a recreation that's indeed more faithful to the manga, you're in for a treat dude. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Koobazaur
Theres defiantly some crackers in Next Generation and Picard and Data are probably the best but you do eventually start to like all of them.
That's pretty much the rule yes, although I'd say that a lot of the second season was pretty awful. The first half was heavily affected by a writers strike at the time, so a lot of stories were half baked and some old scripts for the abandoned Star Trek Phase 2 series were dusted off and re-purposed. Towards the end of that series though, it started to really grow into a great show with some really good episodes and ideas (and introduced the Borg). But in general, beardy Riker is the sign that the show is growing into something good.Quote:
Originally Posted by The JG Man
Red Dwarf was definitly a lot funnier then i thought it would be and it was good to see them together. It was disconcerting that they all looked old though especially rimmer!
Just watched the first two episodes of Continuum. I really wanted to like it, the Deus Ex HR style tech is fun but the characters, action and acting are such a clunking great lump of cheese I can't summon up much enthusiasm to watch more. Does it get better?
Cat dude still looks the same surprisingly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Xercies
No, not really. It just pootles along in the same vein and then it ends. I also want to like it but the leads are both pretty charmless and Kiera has all the charisma of a discarded mattress. Continubum, more like.Quote:
Originally Posted by Colonel J
Ghost Adventures.
As others have said, it gets a lot better. Personally, I think TNG is the best of the Treks, but it has been a very long time since I have watched Deep Space Nine. Certainly, those are the only two that I would be interested in owning on DVD/Blu-Ray (prices are still a bit too high though.)Quote:
Originally Posted by Koobazaur
In fact, Star Trek is something that I haven't watched in the last four or so years. Now that I've seen Babylon 5, I'm not sure whether I would like it quite so much.
The problem I have with re-watching Star Trek, and I'm only saying this because of what you said Vandelay regarding B5, is that the Federation comes over as being so damn perfect as to be completely implausible. I loved Roddenberry's idea, but it falls short. So when you have B5 which shows an advanced, but still flawed humanity (precisely because it IS human), Star Trek just seems at a wash. Not just B5 either. My favourite sci-fis are where humans (or a human in the case of Farscape) are thrown into an environment that depicts 'realistic': in B5, we're one of the least advanced space farers and restricted by red tape; Farscape has a human reacting to a totally alien environment and, as a result, starts going insane (assisted or not); Firefly's humanity succumbing to issues of wealth and distribution.
On top of that, these shows convey aliens so well. B5 is good at showing how aliens are alien to each other, whilst Farscape goes ballistic in "How crazy can we make it this week?" to the extent that by the end of the episode, some of the animatronics fit in with ease; Rygel, in particular, becomes so incredibly convincing as the show goes on as being real. Then you return to Star Trek with "Warriors with head ridges", "...Romans" etc. One of the best created Trek races, the Borg, then end up getting watered down so much over the course of their existence. Real shame that one.
I kind of agree with you Star Trek does seem quint with its perfect humanity and everyone being chummy but i actually kind of like that you can have your humanity going through darkness and what it means to be human and probably the best sci-fi is that but to be honest I think you should also have sci-fi that says humanity is good and this is what we should strive for. In fact i think those kind of sci-fi is probably the most important i know as a child i looked up to captain picard and said wow if only i and othwer people could be as diplomatic as that...and be that british.
I think all four series showed us that humanity in Star Trek is only perfect as long as they feel secure, have access to their superior technology. Strip them off those things and they revert back to normal, 20th/21st century human characteristics.
DS9 focused on this issue way more than any other series but both Voy and Ent touched upon it. TNG much less so but it did feature Federation, humanity at peace, which even Borg could not disturb.
I'm liking Breaking Bad right now.
I was disappointed by the ending of Homeland season 1, so I was only midly looking forward to the start of season two, fully expecting to be let down.
To use words from Prometheus: I was wrong. I was so, so wrong. The first two episodes are stunning, the interplay between characters is just as good as the marvellous first season was. Also, it's extremely tense. I couldn't have wanted more.