Stephen Fry sez about Dr. Who:
"We missed that episode and nothing that has transpired in my life since has ever, or could ever, make up for that terrible, terrible disappointment. There is an empty space inside me that can never be filled."
I've just again had a realization about something I never understood, but which is really simple... this time about why so many intelligent adult men have an intensely loving relationship with TV shows like Star Trek and Dr. Who, while I can't see the attraction at all. So simple: the grew up with them! And I didn't, since they weren't shown on Danish TV.
I didn't grow up with Doctor Who since it is not that popular here. But I am a fan of it now since the 9th Doctor (Eccleston). It is a fun show. Star Trek (at least the original series) can be fun too, although I did see a couple of part episodes of that show.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe Star Trek was not shown on Danish TV.
ReplyDeleteWarning!Geek alert.
ReplyDeleteI thought Eccleston was okay, but Tennant! Great, really engaging, and good fun.
Dr Who was on while I grew up, but I never took to it. I was growing up in the Pertwee/Tom Baker times, and didn't get interested in them.
I dabbled around Davidsons time, and tried but hated Colin Baker. The charms of Sophie Aldred kept me interested in the McCoy years, the McGann one off was fun.
The re-incarnation of DrWho under Russel T Davies has a new zest and drive. This and Torchwood have brought a maturity and polish that UK SF never really had.
As for Star Trek, grew up with it around, but it wasn't until the later years of DS9 (after they stole the Babylon V writers) did I really get enthusiastic.
These cliched, laughable shows should be watched on several different levels.
It's SF, it ain't real, let the FX be what they are, and hang the sense of any anomalies.
It's a cult classic, get into the back story, the legends and gorge yourself of the geekyness.
Look for the classics re-written. Dr Who started as an educational show. The Timelord could pop up anywhere in history and see historical fact (usually with an alien anomaly chasing him, or interfering). Both DW and ST liberally borrow from classic mythology, history and ancient sagas.
Look for the humanity expounded in the shows. SF is mostly to show how man is doing things wrong, and why we should take a broader view, and balance of opinion.
Space Hookers, the gossamer clad dames of Star Trek, and the Doctor has more female companions than The Saint.
I guess these shows are also anti jock, about as reactionary you can get to the "mandatory" soccer and baseball and cricket and wrestling.
Qapla'
Thanks so much for the warning, Alex. I've sent the children to safety before scrolling down. ;-)
ReplyDeleteMe, I never watched either while growing up. Some Star Trek episodes were on when I was little and a very good potential fan, but I didn't speak English yet! [Out of mercy for this region, I won't even TALK about what it's like to follow arabic subtitles.]
But I've discovered them later, and liked them a lot. I feel they're just... good, and fun, and good fun, y'know.
Thermoman was nice too [for totally different reasons]. The few episodes I managed to catch on satellite TV.
My essential gripe about the otherwise great Star Trek series, is that nearly all the alien "races" (shouldn't that be "species"???) are so damn HUMANOID, and they can even reproduce together, in spite of evolving of totally different planets. At least, Stargate had a very plausible excuse for that.
I mean, not only Earth itself displays how hugely varied living morphologies can be, but the genetic code has no chance of being compatible between planets. My biology knowledge just feels insulted there.
OK, I know, the answer is simple: "write my own SF." Planning to. (I already have a humble 850 pages of drafts.)
Can you believe that only TWO volumes of James White's excellent Sector General series were translated in French? I only read the first one, and immediately thought: "Wow, now THIS is how alien stories should be."
The Valérian comic series is also decently realistic about extra-terrestrial intelligent life forms. At times. I quite liked Ambassador of the Shadows.
but I didn't speak English yet!
ReplyDeleteYou poor bastard! ;-)
Pascal,
ReplyDeleteThey explained the whole 'everyone's humanoid' in Star Trek TNG by saying that the first humanoid race, upon discovering they were alone, seeded the universe with their DNA So the humanoids evolved from a single species. Perhaps only some humanoid species can interbred? You never see a Klingon with blue head antenae.
I kind of grew up with Doctor Who. Sylvester McCoy was on when I was 3 years old, so I obviously don't remember much of that, but I was very happy to watch Doctor Who re-runs throughout the years!
ReplyDeleteLeviathud,
ReplyDeleteDidn't they only reveal that in the closing season of Enterprise, the one where they realized it had all come to an end (no budget) and they had to tie up every story line going?
Alex,
ReplyDeleteNot sure about Enterprise (I didnt like the show and watched it sporadically). But from what I gathered on the net it was first revealed in TNG.
I don't remember Andorians in TNG, saw then in TOS and Ent.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it was in TOS, I remember one where Romulans, Humans and Vulcans all sought a great historical artifact, and they found they were all related species.
Anyway, the Zindi had more than just humanoids as their sentient being. They had insectoids on the land, fishoids in the sea and something else, were they humanoids.
I still need to catch up on a few TOS and TNG I didn't see, gave up on Voyager, and Enterprise was cute but not well exercised. If it wasn't for Hoshi (Linda Park) I would have never bothered. Having said that, compared to Boomer (Grace Park) in Gallactica, Enterprise had no appeal.
The problem with Voyager and with Enterprise, is that at the end of the day, I really didnt care if they all died, unlike Galactica and with Dr.WHo, you know he's not going to die but you watch for the amazing acting and to see what crappy "deus ex machina" Russell T Davies is going to write into the script.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it was in TOS, I remember one where Romulans, Humans and Vulcans all sought a great historical artifact, and they found they were all related species.
ReplyDeleteThat was definitely in TNG. Maybe they did something similar in ENT, I wouldn't know as I didn't watch that one.
Have any of you ever seen the movie Free Enterprise? Look it up, it's very funny. At least I thought so.
Just been talking to a nerdy friend, he reminded me that in TOS they met Apollo, and he talked of the spreading of the tribes, which amounts pretty much to the seeded DNA.
ReplyDeleteWith this hint in mind, it seems that it would not have been known in ENT.
Thanks for the update, Leviathud. It's nice to see they made the effort. Even if it's called "retcon". I don't mind a good retcon.
ReplyDeleteHowever, for this to be consistent with the known facts of our evolution here on Earth, the others would all have to be evolved distinctly from the rest of the life forms found on their respective planets. Hello, creationnist religions cosmos-wide! "We were created different, apart from animals. Science confirms it." ;-P
I understand that humanoid actors with make-up were far more practical, but even in these days, Jim Henson already made amazing puppets. Some of which extremely realistic and life-like. Ah well.
"compared to Boomer (Grace Park) in Gallactica, Enterprise had no appeal."
Well, 7 of 9 in Voyager certainly had plenty of it. :-)
Pascal,
ReplyDeleteIf you liked Jeri Ryan as 7 of 9, then you may like Jolene Blalock as T'Pol in enterprise.
I'm surprised the EMH is so libidinous. He was the one who designed 7's wardrobe once she was "unassimilated".
The good Doctor, hunh? Who'da thunk?
ReplyDeleteBeware of the harmless nerds that nobody notices. Next thing you know, he might turn out to have a platonic romance with the hologram of a Domai girl...
I bet he serenades her with that opera voice of his.
EO,
ReplyDeleteYou didn't have Dr Who or StarTrek, but did you have the German cop show "Tatort"?
I saw an episode about 6 months ago and loved it, just saw a second tonight, this show is up there with Morse, The Sweeney and Hill Street Blue.
I find it hard to argue about the relative merits of a given television series, since it seems to me that we're trying to distinguish among the Fs and D-minuses of human experience. Like those folks who get all up in arms about the call numbers on the Enterprise model in the special effects ... hmmm ...
ReplyDeleteIf you're saying there are no good TV shows, I heartily deg to biffer.
ReplyDelete(Hmm, good phrase, I'm gonna use that.)
Will you all just buit kibbering? You're gonna koz me drain bamage.
ReplyDeletesince it seems to me that we're trying to distinguish among the Fs and D-minuses of human experience.
ReplyDeleteYou're the kind of guy who pretends to be above something so lowly as TV, but probably is a reality show junkie. You wish you liked opera, chess, classical music, and modern art - but you're into the trashiest stuff going. And I'm going out on a limb here, but I'm guessing you don't belong to Mensa.
Said the kind of guy who can't stand Final Identity's comments, and thoroughly reads every single one of them to make sure that opinion is unflinching. :-)
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of trashy, I've finally completed the Jackass video game. It unlocks some awesome extras, like how Steve-O started jackassing, by testing jockstraps against all sorts of possible crotch impacts. Instant classic!
And in their latest movie? One word: scatophilia. It doesn't get any better than this! SO enlightening. Did you know that ALL Earthbound humans have crap in their bowels? Even the hottie babes. Cool, hunh?
As for Mensa, they're not worth shit on a planet that's graced by the presence of Chuck Norris. Chuck Norris can divide by zero. He's counted to infinity. Twice. And he knows the last digit of pi.
Not surprising, since he actually lives in a round house. (It has no doors, only walls that Chuck Norris walks through.)
All genuinely authentic true provenly confirmed facts from some nameless internet gossip page.
I take it Chuck does not have many visitors.
ReplyDeleteWell, he wouldn't bother with ordinary visitors anyway. Only those tuff enuff [at least in their own league] to have their own Facts Page need bother:
ReplyDeleteLinus Torvalds, Vin Diesel, Kevin Federline, Ron Paul, Mr. T, Bob Sanders, Bruce Schneier, Tim Tebow, Jon Finkel, Cole Hamels, Dave Green, Bruce Campbell, Bill Nye, Jack Bauer, Kyle Katarn, Batman, Captain Falcon, Albus Dumbledore, Saurfang...
They like to welcome Bob Saget for some hearty fun, because he's the anti-Chuck Norris, and that's just too hilarious.
"Every night, the boogeyman checks under his bed for Chuck Norris; but then Bob Saget comes in, gives the boogeyman warm milk and quietly reads him a bedtime story."