What's hot and what's not in the world of sci-fi
 

The sci-fi scene seems a tad bleak to me just now. Admittedly after a pretty decent decade of stuff. The end of Battlestar Galactica seemed about to herald a whole new life for the franchise, with Caprica, but that show's cancellation after just one slightly patchy season cast a cloud over that. A new spinoff project called Blood and Chrome may be good, but looks a little young and shiny (Battlestar Twilight?). Still, here's hoping.

Stargate, one of the longest running Sci-fi franchises, seemed about to go off in interesting new directions with SGU, but then Sy-fy cancelled it just as it was starting to find its feet with its second season.

Doctor Who I love, as always, but it's never been 'hard' sci-fi. Lots of intriguing shows around that play on the margins of sci-fi and fantasy, many set in the modern world, with a few odd elements thrown in. Lot of supernatural themed shows, my current favourites being True Blood and Being Human. But where are the hard sci-fi shows? Where's the space opera, the alien worlds, the exploration beyond the bounds of the now?


I miss the scale of Startrek, Stargate and Battlestar. I miss the gorgeous alien tech, and indeed the gorgeous aliens. I get some of that kick from Doctor Who, but the Doctor only comes out to play for short runs. I miss the epic sweep of space opera.

So, I was quite intrigued to see that the BBC was taking a punt on a new sci-fi show: Outcasts. Set on another planet (tick) and involving things like space ships (tick) and cool 'memory retrieval' tech (tick).

Watched the first two episodes, and Oh God, I remember now why we don't often do straight-up sci-fi here: we are shit at it. If there's a bleak streak of humour running through it, then we're the people to deliver, but if you want hard sci-fi, get the Americans in, they just do it so much better.

I'm going to give it a couple more episodes to find its feet. And it isn't all bad; there are two or three really interesting characters and some of the plot intrigues me. But really: far too ponderous, takes itself way too seriously, and tries to crowbar a sense of mystery and intrigue into every other conversation.

So, what do you guys think: what's hot, and what's not in the world of sci-fi?

I really wish I could help you here, Dana.

I just don't know my sci-fi.

wolf?

Fringe and V seen to be the best scifi on TV right now

I don't look to TV for sci fi. There's a lot of crappy scifi TV out there (Lost in Space has it's campy fun moments, but it wasn't good sci fi, and I never got into anything like Lexx or Firefly or that thing with the farting alien and the oversexed plant).

Even most big budget scifi movies miss the mark ... all you people who loved Avatar? If it weren't for the 3D distracting you, you would have realized it was just Dances with Flying Lizards ... nothing special, nothing non-formula about it.

I didn't like the Battlestar remake or reboot ... I wasn't fond of the original series, and despite multiple tries, I cannot get into the new one at all.

X-files was okay, Fringe started all right, but I haven't followed it at all to know if it has gone from quirky to stupid, and has that dude figured out he's a clone of his crazy "dad" yet? (I don't know if that's even supposed to be a plot point, but it seemed pretty obvious to me from the outset).

Current sci fi TV seems to have to be confusing (The Event) and shiny. I like my scifi a bit gritty, if I may.

Luckily, there is plenty of good scifi to read ... a friend just turned me on to Greg Egan, Neal Asher, and I've been very enchanted with John Scalzi.

You know what you should do, dana? Look for a set of Blakes 7 DVDs.

Oh, and I hear they might be doing a remake of that, probably going to bollux it up something fierce.

Har! Blake's Seven. I could practically quote that to you line for line. Hope they don;t fuck that up.

Greg Egan is one of my favourite Sci-fi authors. I remember getting one of his from the library many years ago: it looked terrible. Really lowrent pulp sci-fi cover. Called Quarantine, I think. Mind blowingly good sci-fi story.

I really loved the reimagined BSG. I thought it was beautifully made. Loved how flawed the characters were, and the clever use of leitmotif throughout.

Fringe has been solid IMHO and has taken a battle for the worlds set up.

Right. Gonna give Fringe a go I think.

I have seen the first two episodes of V. I quite liked it. But I was a huge fan of the original as a kid, and the new one seems to lack something. Not quite sure what.

I don't think the new V has as much mouse eating.

That was probably it.

If not for the fact that I do keep watching it, I wouldn't call V good. Fringe is probably tops at the moment (I think it's unlikely that Peter's a clone of Walter). I like Sanctuary, Warehouse 13, Eureka, and Primeval, but they aren't particularly hard.

Dana, you might take a gander at Dollhouse. It's not really sci-fi at all, more just modern high technology. Specifically, it's secretive all-powerful memory replacement technology, and the capitalistic and/or nefarious uses that technology would naturally lend itself to. It's by Joss Whedon. I do think you'd enjoy it a lot, despite not having aliens.

Well Futurama is back.

I tried watching the pilot of Sanctuary. Mainly because Amanda Tapping is in it, and because Michael Shanks guest stars in the second season (I think?). That and I was curious about the mostly greenscreen aspect of it and the fact that it came from a web series. I like anything that plays with technical wizardry in a new way.

I found it a little over done. But then one can never really judge a programme by its pilot. I shall give it another try at some point.

Dollhouse. Right. That sounds interesting. I'll check it out.

Thanks!

Do you even read your PMs madam?
I'm waiting for your address.

Thank you.

Sanctuary started pretty shaky, but it's developed a nice little story.