Hello /c/sciencefiction lemmies. I’ve put together an image of some of the most discussed shows from July 2023.
Are there any science fiction TV series you are currently in the middle of watching or plan on watching in August?
Here is last months post. What are you Watching? (July 2023)
I’m watching Foundation (just started, so I’m on s01e01!), Silo, and I’m planning to rewatch Babylon 5.
Foundation is great. I’m enjoying the hell out of it. Silo was really good too
Seems like it takes a mighty deuce over the classic and everything it was saying, as is tradition for Asimov adaptations. Did you read the books?
I tried to read Asimov (by recommendation of my grandpa) as a kid and even though I was big into really heavy, dry philosophy and philosophical books I couldn’t get through any of his books - if you watch Foundation without expecting a great adaptation of the books (which in and of itself would be quite an achievement which I doubt we’ll ever see) it is a pretty great scifi show in my opinion. Certainly piqued my interest in finally reading the books even if it’s nothing like the show, but then again I don’t expect adaptations to be exact replicas of the original work and find that very difference enjoyable.
a direct adaptation of Foundation would never have worked, I’ve been enjoying the show but I’m not fully sold on how they’re doing it. I think they are going too hard into ideas only introduced in the later books (written decades after the main trilogy) that changed certain characters, making those later revelations too obvious and damaging the characters somewhat by doing it, but that’s just me having read the expanded asimoverse books recently, mostly it’s been fun.
What I would love to see is more isolated original stories in the foundation/empire/robots universe, it feels like an untapped treasure in that regard.
Did you watch it? I read the books and I’m really liking it. It very obviously diverges from the books early on, but I like to think of it as a different timeline, where things happened slightly differently. That’s what it feels like, anyway. Not sure about how they’re characterizing the Mule though, he’s not supposed to be some superman blasting his way through the galaxy, but the man in the shadows, orchestrating everything from behind the scenes.
They Cloned Tyrone is a surprise for me. Great modern scifi/blaxploitation film, though I have about 30 minutes left to finish.
Finally finding the time to finishAndor and what the fuck?! How is it so good???
Andor is SOOOOO GOOD. Andy Serkis straight up made me cry. (I have the last couple of episodes still to go so no spoilers pls lol)
But the characters, the writing, the acting, the storylines and the theeeeeemmes omg. It’s like a dramatic embodiment of Seeing Like a State.
I’m sorry, you’re only allowed to say “what the fight? How is it so good???”
But otherwise, yeah - it’s a show that really benefits from tight plotting, dedicated performances, an excellent score and some Tony Gilroy & Friends bangers for speeches. I kind of have to stop myself re-watching it (for the millionth time)
I’m sorry, I don’t understand the first half of your comment. Are there strong language rules on this community?
Not that I’m aware of. Sorry - it was a reference to Andor: there’s a scene where a character says ‘Fight’ where it was initially filmed as ‘Fuck’ but Disney wouldn’t let them use it (maybe for the best, I don’t know).
Strange new Worlds. I think it’s the best Star Trek series since the original. I don’t think the casting is particularly great, but Anson Mount makes up for it. Like William Shatner was born to be Captain Kirk, Anson Mount was born to be Captain Pike.
I’m still trying to figure out why kirks brother is being shoehorned in. Most of his season one scenes had him just standing there. He was even knocked out 5 minutes into a mission. I love the “holodeck” they use for set extensions, definitely better than any green/blue screen from previous series. At least brother-Kirk is getting more to do in season 2.
My only issue with this season is that the worlds they are going to are neither strange nor new. It’s always a previously-discovered or previously-visited planet or even one that’s already a Federation world. Still love the show, but it’s not a good name for this season.
Definitely the best Trek since Next Generation. Infinitely better than the reboot movies, Discovery, and Picard.
It’s genuinely funny, it’s usually smart, it’s optimistic, and most importantly it’s episodic, so when bad writing creeps in, it remains isolated to just a few bad episodes (like every other good star trek series).
So far my only critique is that occasionally they go too hard on mindless action/violence, which is just boring.
I wish the show had gotten a better main musical theme. Other than the cool retro sci-fi sound at the end, it’s really lame.
Definitely the best Trek since Next Generation.
I see you never watched Deep Space Nine.
Currently watching Farscape. Such a bonkers show. About to finish second season.
YES! it’s so rare I find anyone else who’s seen farscape. only tv show I wish I could see again for the 1st time.
I think I’ve watched it completely at least four separate times; I love it so much. It’s just such good fun.
Harvey was the best.
Loved Harvey. My favorite episodes are crackers don’t matter, unrealized reality, Kansas, won’t get fooled again. Rygel in John’s body trying to figure out how to pee in a corner always cracks me up. Humans are SUPERIOR!!!
Rewatching The Expanse. First 3 seasons are so intense and so good