Maybe time (pun intended) will prove me wrong, but Lost is definitely a science fiction show. Despite the unexplained smoke monster and the general weirdness surrounding the island, Lost has firmly planted its foot (four-toed, natch) in the realm of science fiction this season, starting with the landmark episode, "The Constant," straight through to last night's Ben-centric kill-fest.

Oh, and by the way, spoilers abound.

In "The Constant," we found out that Desmond's psychic abilities weren't some sort of strange mystical phenomenon, they were based firmly in science. Pseudo-science, granted, but they were caused by radiation and time travel, two clear hallmarks of scifi film and literature.

Continue reading "The Four-toed Foot of Lost Is Planted in Science Fiction" »

A few days ago, we told you about the changing face of Sarah Connor, and how the character influenced almost every strong female scifi character after her. Well, at least one Sarah Connor won't be going anywhere for the time being, as Fox has announced that The Sarah Connor Chronicles will be returning for a second season.

Though the renewal hasn't officially been confirmed, Fox has said they are happy enough with the ratings for the time traveling exploits of the Connor family (and their plucky robot companion) to keep them going for another year.

Continue reading "Sarah Connor Chronicles Will Be Back on Fox" »

In 2002, Joss Whedon launched his eagerly awaited follow up to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off Angel. The show was called Firefly, and was instantly acclaimed by critics as a rich new sci-fi world. And yet, several months later, it was canceled. Thanks to fan lobbying and DVD box set sales, Whedon launched a cinematic follow-up in 2005 called Serenity. Again, the film was critically acclaimed. Again, no one saw it, and the film died in theaters.

Three years later, Serenity has maintained its fan following, launching a comic book mini-series ("Better Days"), and a third annual series of charity screenings called "Can't Stop the Serenity."

Fans of Serenity/Firefly are quick to point out that an avid fan base and a rich sci-fi world is what launched the original Star Trek from "failed" TV series to global franchise. If Star Trek, then why not Serenity?

Continue reading "Does Serenity Have Longevity as a Franchise?" »

Back when it was just an off-hand reference made by Princess Leia in Episode IV, the idea of the Clone Wars sounded extremely cool. But then George Lucas had to go and make Episodes II and Episode III and turn the whole thing into a boring mess. But there's a ray of hope, thanks to the new leaked trailer for Star Wars: The Clone Wars, coming to theaters this August. Yes, it's basically a glorified pilot for the Cartoon Network animated series debuting this fall. But Jabba's in it, R2 does his scared whistle thing, and best of all: Anakin's chopped off the rattail.

If the trailer gives you a slight sense of deja vu, that's because the Clone Wars were animated once before in 2D for Samurai Jack creator Genndy Tartakovsky's 2003 Cartoon Network series. And you can rest assured that Lucas will revisit the Clone Wars saga again in the upcoming live-action Star Wars TV show. (The Clone Wars are just one Ken Burns documentary away from serious overexposure.)

Continue reading "Clone Wars to Feature 70% More Space Battles and Jabba the Hutt " »

It's been over a year since Bob Dylan ushered four new cylons into self-realization and a long-lost Starbuck returned from the dead -- and the wait has been frakking unbearable. The die-hards among us were given a small fix in November with the stand-alone movie Razor, which was serviceable as canon but otherwise only reminded us what we'd been craving for so long. Finally, Ronald D. Moore's pitch-perfect space opera Battlestar Galactica returned last week with the premiere of its fourth and final season. If "He That Believeth Me" disappointed, it was only in the fact that it didn't live up to the impossible task of topping the third season finale, which was executed with such precision.

Right off the bat, the opening credits let us know that Moore is steering the plot towards a conclusion. No longer are we teased with the notion that the Cylons, having rebelled, evolved, and copied, now have a plan, but with a promise that one Cylon remains and will be revealed. Of course, that promise only prompts more questions, most importantly how that revelation will serve to resolve the plot. Is the Cylons' central imperative no longer paramount, or is it now somehow indelibly linked with the Final Five, who are obviously not of the same batter as their One through Seven bretheren?

Continue reading "Battlestar Galactica Watch: Of Gods and Cylons" »

If you haven't been watching the new Battlestar Galactica, now's your chance to catch up with this eight-minute video that reviews all the major plot points of the first three seasons. The recap was inspired by last year's seven-minute Sopranos summary.

If you have seen Battlestar Galactica, you can watch the video to relive the memories from the past three seasons.

If you hate science fiction, well then you're probably on the wrong website. But seriously, even people who don't like sci-fi admit the show is great. So take the next eight minutes to watch the video, and if nothing else, you can feel cultured.

The final season of BSG begins Friday 10PM (EST) with a re-airing at midnight. And if you can't wait, SciFi.com will stream the premiere at lunchtime tomorrow.

Doctor Who has defeated some of the most difficult beings in all of time and space. But did you know he went against the U.K.'s Metropolitan Police Authority and almost lost?

The battle was not waged in space, or in the back alleyways of London, but rather in the courtroom. It seems that the BBC's attempt to register the blue police telephone box -- used on the show as the good Doctor's time machine, which he calls the TARDIS -- did not win any friends over at the Metropolitan Police Authority. The organization regarded the police call box as universally associated with (get this) the police.

The facts are these:

Continue reading "Doctor Who Versus the Metropolitan Police Authority" »

Although still in its infancy, the recently launched Hulu.com (NBC and Fox's full-force strike against YouTube) has been a boon to fans of retro sci-fi TV. Right now its a bit of dumping ground for NBC/Universal's back catalog (thus the Galacticas both classic and 1980 formula), but the lack of major network shows has meant a ton of obscure sci-fi finds. Here are just a few of the many gems:

• Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot. If you're not clicking on this one based on the title alone, I don't know what to tell you. The American dub of the classic Japanese show Giant Robo, Johnny Sokko has it all -- giant flying robots, a diabolical Illuminati-style organization, and did we mention giant flying robots?

Continue reading "A Boy and His Robot: Fun Sci-Fi Finds on Hulu.com" »

I've been looking for a reason to link Matt Stone and Trey Parker's recently launched South Park Studios for a while. Tired, in their words, of constantly having to steal their own television shows when they wanted to download an episode, they have generously and brilliantly released every episode of South Park ever free, online.

Which is great and all, but it doesn't really intersect with science-fiction... except that the latest episode of South Park was a genius parody of possibly the most ridiculous, misogynistic and, well, just plain French animated film of the hair '80s, Heavy Metal.

Fair warning: if you do not find the thought of a cartoon in which a balding Jewish man dressed only in his underpants fights a fourth grader to the death in a Coliseum shaped like a gigantic human breast to be a tasteful example of sophisticated parody, this won't be the right cartoon for you. But for anyone who ever sat through Heavy Metal, this is just spot on.

Watch South Park Heavy Metal Parody [South Park Studios]

It appears that Peter Davison isn't the only senior citizen Doctor Who hinting he'd like the TARDIS back. Now, no less implausible a personage than Tom Baker has gone on record saying he'd be willing to make an appearance on the new show, provided the offer was "polite" enough.

"Perhaps I might make a guest appearance -- perhaps. Providing they ask me nicely, of course," said Baker, who is now 74. That said, he wants to make clear he doesn't actually watch trash like Doctor Who: "I don't actually watch it. I didn't even watch it when I was in it, for all sorts of reasons... but I do get messages from David Tennant and I have seen him in other things of course. He has been a huge success and I am very pleased about that."

Tom Baker has been notoriously unwilling to return to the role that made him famous, so this is a pretty amazing concession. I assume "asking nicely" is a euphemism for large cash injections, though. I don't know: I love Baker's Doctor, but honestly, I'd rather see a past Doctor who actually likes the show make a return. That's why Davison's appearance was so perfect: He's a fan.

Tom Baker Ponders 'Doctor Who' Return [Digital Spy]