Current SF First Episode Rant
Can we have some ‘REAL’ SF please?
Alright, who’s decided they’re going to destroy live action SF?
Of course, I understand that science fiction is really something for subscribers, or government sponsored free to air TV. It certainly doesn’t lend itself to advertising too easily. Though, if marketers really were on the ball, every SF episode would be advertising the latest technology, mobile phones, apps and more. If we’re into tech we’re into SF and visa versa. VR googles and bendable mobiles would be the ideal thing to advertise.
But, what’s with the ‘accessible scene followed by plot twist’ to get those who are not so interested in SF to be interested? I think this is an old trope from the 60s, and has no place in today’s SF. Consider the 60s mentality of almost a decade getting ready for the moon landing and seeing the rocket launch.
Guys, SF fans are over that. We don’t need the lead up.
Disappointed
Anyway. Why this rant? Friends repeatedly recommended me to watch Stranger Things. First ep starts with a Dungeons and Dragons game in the 80s. Following scenes are set in the 80s, with a school. Limited budget?
Friends said I should check out Philip K Dick’s Electric Dreams. Although the trailer looked a bit hodgepodge, I thought, you know, give it a go.
Started with a contemporary scene. What?
Episode 2 was better but if it is over 700 years in the future, why are they using LCD screens, and why does one of the main characters have a double row of mail pigeon holes above his desk?
Read reviews of Black Mirror. Thought, yeah, alright. Flicked through all episodes. Most were contemporary. The first episode starts with the Prime Minister sleeping in bed. <Raises eyes heavenward>
If it is on free to air TV, and the goal of the channel is to attract a new audience to sell advertising too, fair enough. I understand these have to exist and create revenue somehow. But, for something to be billed as science fiction, then made available via Netflix, Amazon video, or other pay per view portal, I would expect to pay for something, well, science fictiony!
So, I thought, well, I really should check out episode 3 of Lost in Space. Two bottles of wine got me through the first two, so surely the third will start out not so saccharin, now that the crazy Doctor Smith bitch is in residence. (Very excited. Parker Posey is going to bring some awesome scenes to that show.) But guess what?! It started with a scene in a house on Earth over food and wine. Looks like that bottle of Muscat I started drinking is going to need a sister.
Now, I’m not saying LiS was bad. It continued with a nice twist, and I love the fact that there wasn’t an explanation as to what she did next, leaving it to us simple viewers to work it out, but, still, why the ‘reality’ scene at the beginning? And why is this so common now? It’s not just the USA and the UK doing it. It’s every country that produces SF. Did someone write a manual? No, it was a dot to dot book, wasn’t it?!
Modern SF Episodes
Step 1. Write an accessible scene for those stuck on the lounge who didn’t bother to hit the remote. Let them think it’s a basic soapy story with a mystery. Make the scene as realistic and contemporary as possible, but slightly mysterious and interesting, so that they don’t think to change to something else.
Step 2. Add an interesting twist that isn’t too confronting that gets them to think that, woah, wait, WTF is going on.? Okay, I’ll watch a bit longer.
Step 3. Slowly introduce the SF element bit by bit, but always have flashbacks to reality on Earth, just so they doesn’t feel left out.
Step 4. Make the scene end on a poignant, cliffhanger note related to Earth life so that they sit in their lounge thinking about it long enough to play a tech or relationship ad.
Step 5. The next scene after the ad should also help ease them back into the series without being too confrontational or too otherworldly.
Step 6. Leave enough mystery so that they decide to watch the next one.
Tired
Was very happy when both The Discovery and The Orville started as I was sure that the writers knew how to write real science fiction. Then it turned out Discovery was about love and loyalty, and The Orville was about divorce.
Sigh.
Ok. Rant over. Overall, I love both Star Trek: Discovery and The Orville. I want more of that (just, no boxing episodes, thanks). Please powers that be, please consider some SF scripts that don’t bother with the contemporary stuff.
Why not look into what producers did in the 50s? Contacted soap producers and got their advice on how to make a show where they could sell washing soap. Or the 70s – got advice on how to create a show that would sell action figures.
Or the 90s. Created shows that would sell music.
Why not contact SF writers, producers, directors etc and ask them what they could do to create a compelling show that would increase the sale of high tech stuff.? There’s so much possible advertising revenue just begging to be matched with SF.
Mobile Phones
VR glasses
Computers
Fitwear
Relationships
Bitcoin
A.I. Investments
Robot merchandise
Alexa and Google Home assistants
Drones
The list is endless
And you wouldn’t need to start with a contemporary scene. You could start with a futuristic one using ‘ancient’ contemporary gear.
Looking forward to a new series on Netflix or Amazon video that starts immediately with a science fiction scene that only science fiction lovers will understand.
Exploding binary stars followed by non-humanoid aliens surviving and looking for help? Anyone?
Or, aliens and humans working together to solve a problem in another galaxy in the far future?
I live in hope.
At least Doctor Who didn’t bother with the whole contemporary start to…
What? Russell T. D? Why did you have Rose working in a clothing store? Steven M? Why did Bill turn up at a contemporary uni? Chris Chibnall? Is the Doctor really going to crash land in 2018 London and meet a family?
Wait. The first episode in 1963 started in a school?
OMG!
Back to reading books.
😛