Daydreaming, HD-DVD and BSG 1
Not all that much has been happening in the world of Steve this week, I must confess. I'm currently submerged in the important 'thinking stage' that comes before starting work on any new story. It's at this stage that a writer spends most of his time in a combination of daydreaming and research - basically, it's the fun part!
When I was at primary/elementary school, my teachers complained to my parents a number of times about how much daydreaming I seemed to do in class. The fools! Couldn't they see I was already in training for a career as a pulp SF writer?
Life is more than just writing, of course. I've had some great training sessions this week (plenty of scrapes and bruises to show for it, thanks to Hide-san, my current sparring partner). I've also just finished watching the first season of Battlestar Galactica on HD-DVD (the recent re-make, not the original series).
I was an early adopter of Toshiba's HD-DVD and was sorry to see it lose the recent high-definition format war. Despite the format being officially dead now, I haven't actually regretted buying into it for a minute. I've got a great little collection of films on HD-DVD that I genuinely love (like King Kong, Batman Begins, The Thing, The Matrix, etc.).
Battlestar Galactica was a joy to watch in high-def and, if you haven't seen the series but love quality science fiction TV, I strongly recommend that you see it. Give it a few episodes to grow on you, though. The characters don't really become sympathetic or engaging until the latter half of the first series, but stick with them. It's worth it.
If you have any recommendations for great sci-fi series that just have to be watched, why not post a comment and let us all know?
When I was at primary/elementary school, my teachers complained to my parents a number of times about how much daydreaming I seemed to do in class. The fools! Couldn't they see I was already in training for a career as a pulp SF writer?
Life is more than just writing, of course. I've had some great training sessions this week (plenty of scrapes and bruises to show for it, thanks to Hide-san, my current sparring partner). I've also just finished watching the first season of Battlestar Galactica on HD-DVD (the recent re-make, not the original series).
I was an early adopter of Toshiba's HD-DVD and was sorry to see it lose the recent high-definition format war. Despite the format being officially dead now, I haven't actually regretted buying into it for a minute. I've got a great little collection of films on HD-DVD that I genuinely love (like King Kong, Batman Begins, The Thing, The Matrix, etc.).
Battlestar Galactica was a joy to watch in high-def and, if you haven't seen the series but love quality science fiction TV, I strongly recommend that you see it. Give it a few episodes to grow on you, though. The characters don't really become sympathetic or engaging until the latter half of the first series, but stick with them. It's worth it.
If you have any recommendations for great sci-fi series that just have to be watched, why not post a comment and let us all know?
Labels: Sci-Fi TV
posted by Steve Parker at
6:23 PM
8 Comments:
Very good call on BSG, Steve - glad that you've discovered it!
Personally, I wouldn't regard myself as a big sf TV fan (unlike my older brother, Richard, who loves BSG, Star Trek, Babylon V, Stargate etc, etc). I find it all a bit cheesy and lacking in genuine drama to keep me entertained. BSG is cut from a different cloth altogether, though - Star Trek meets the West Wing, or something like that.
The politicking, the real world analogies, genuine problems and well-rounded, believable characters make this a cut above most genre sf - at least to my mind.
I'm currently nearing the end of season three (a little weak towards the midway point, but building up to a very exciting and compelling finale - I'm sure you'll like it when you reach this point, too, Steve).
As for recommendations, I was always a fan of the X-Files, at least in its earlier seasons (I think it went on too long). I've heard good things about the 4400, but that's not an opinion garnered by experiece, so tread with extreme caution.
One series I can happily (?) warn you to stay away from is Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. This is derivative, samey, characterless nonsense really (that somehow got a second season - a rare beneficiary of the Writer's Strike methinks).
Of course, one shouldn't mention quality sf without talking about both Lost (yes, you heard me right) and Heroes. Despite the latter's lacklustre second season, don't write off this series (in for no better reason than the superb season one). Lost, too, though it has its detractors, is a great sf series. Much like Heroes, it's second season left a little to be desired and started treading water somewhat from a narrative and character development point of view, but after that it's been compelling stuff.
Here's a thought; what about sf franchises that should be made into TV series (I'm talking big budget, sfx-laden geek-fests). On my mind right now... Aliens and Ghostbusters. We can only dream...
Hey Nick,
Thanks for the recommendations. I'll have to check out Lost sometime. I hear great things about it for the most part.
Heroes Season One was a joy to watch, but it did such a good job of tying itself up by the end of the first season that I don't feel very compelled to watch the second, particularly in light of various comments about the dip in quality.
The 4400 is very enjoyable. I've seen three seasons of it so far and it's managed to keep me interested and entertained throughout.
Babylon 5 was another series I liked, as was Firefly (the movie is great in hi-def).
On your advice, I guess I'll stay away from The Sarah Connor Chronicles, though I love the Terminator milieu.
As for franchises that should be made into series, an Aliens versus Predator project that completely and utterly discounts both the recent movies and instead draws its inspiration from the graphic novels could be a real shot in the arm for two terminally ill but much-beloved movie monsters.
Want to help me pitch it to Fox? :)
Err... yes!
BSG is great to watch. I'm also watching the first season these days.
I came to your website after reading Mercy Run in Planetkill. Great story, easily the best in the book. After reading it I couldn't help but order Rebel Winter (it's on it's way) and I guess I'll be getting Gunheads as well.
Regards from Spain
Hey Alberto,
Thanks very much for the kind comments on Mercy Run. Hope you enjoy Rebel Winter and Gunheads when they arrive.
As for BSG, I'm itching to see season two, but forcing myself to wait for the blu-ray version. Hope I don't have to wait too long. :)
Hey Steve,
I see Firefly is coming out on Blu Ray that has to be a must buy!! Also, non sci fi but still great is the series Dexter, if you can get a hold of that it is awesome.
Best Wishes
Steve's BFF
Babylon 5.
I haven't looked into a high-def version, but this is a series you could lose a few weeks to, so beware.
Babylon 5, eh? I'd have to agree with you there, DCLXVI. This was a series I used to enjoy a lot, especially the later seasons (though I had to stay up pretty damned late to catch it).
There was some brilliant writing in there, and some of the characters still stand out as particularly memorable.
With its 5-year story arc, though, I'm not sure I'll ever get a chance to revisit it in its entirety. Then again, if I actually survive to retirement age, it'll give me something very worthy to watch. ;)
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