The Ottawa Science Fiction Society Meeting...

[fajrdrako]

Yesterday was the OSFS meeting where we gave presentations on current or coming TV shows we find remarkable - a fannish pimping session.

I did Doctor Who, with mention of Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures. They've heard me go on about Captain Jack Harkness before. My presentation this time was more focussed on Martha as the 'new companion'.

Lyn did Heroes. I helped her; love that show.

Tasia did Life on Mars. I very much enjoyed the scenes she chose, but as usual, I find myself a little disappointed by the show in ways I can't put my finger on. I find it underwhelming.

Sandi did The Dresden Files, which looked good, rather to my surprise, because I didn't like the first of the books when I read it. And I don't much like the actor in the lead, but that's okay, since the writing of the TV show seems better than the writing of the book adn the story had a certain charm.

Sandi also did Eureka. She said she hated Heroes, but couldn't explain why. That's pretty much my reaction to Eureka, in which I find all the characters vaguely distasteful but I can't put my finger on the problem. Even when I think their lines are funny, I find them all annoying. maaboroshi suggested it was because in Eureka we have the Marshall's point of view, and he's an outsider, looking at all the geeky people in the town. In Heroes, the geeks are the viewpoint, Hiro the ultimate fanboy and absolutely brilliant, and it's a show that plays on the strengths of the intelligent outsider. Or maybe the unintelligent outsider, if I'm thinking of Ted and Matt.

Pat did a presentation on the Green Arrow storyline in Smallville.

Originally there had been talk about Joel doing a presentation on Battlestar Galactica, which he hated. He borrowed the first season from a friend, I don't think he got through more than a few episodes. Sandi thought his comments would be interesting, but we didn't have time for it, and I was relieved. I could see myself defending this show I adore against those who dislike it - and I think I may be the only person in OSFS who loves BSG, though I could be wrong. Some of them liked the old series, which I don't like at all.

Sometimes I feel a little out of step with my peers.

Comments

[abrakadabrah.livejournal.com]

On the contrary, the writing on Henry Dresden is pretty bad - it just doesn't go anywhere. With crisper writing, it could be a much finer show. This showed, to some extent, in the last 3 episodes of the season - maybe they'll have a stronger crew next year.

As for Life on Mars, I know what you mean. It almost goes somewhere great, into fantastic territory, it has the potential to go there and the chemistry between the three leads works really well, but it keeps holding off, and so ends up disappointing in many ways.

I read that Lowachee story from the Canadian collection. It has her trademark strong writing and the rush of emotion contained in a young, embittered male. But the problem with the story is that is has no story - it is all telling, there is no showing at all in it. It's like a dissertation or a therapy session. So, ultimately, disappointing.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

the writing on Henry Dresden is pretty bad - it just doesn't go anywhere.

Oh. That's too bad. We only saw clips, so I had no sense of pacing, structure or story arcs. And I guess I was hoping for the best.

It almost goes somewhere great, into fantastic territory, it has the potential to go there and the chemistry between the three leads works really well, but it keeps holding off, and so ends up disappointing in many ways.

Yes. It seems such a near miss. And sometimes it's so clever, but then - the cleverness doesn't reach a point, it holds back from grabbing my emotional involvement or really pulling me into the action and suspense.

It has her trademark strong writing and the rush of emotion contained in a young, embittered male.

Yes. Which is its strength: I liked the style.

the problem with the story is that is has no story

More like the prologue to a story, or the introduction of the characters and situation with the real plot left off. I'd like to see it developed into something else, with a turning point and resolution - but I'd rather see Karin Lowachee working on another book in the Macedon universe.

[myfavouriteplum.livejournal.com]

I understand about Life on Mars, too. It's almost great somewhere in the first series, then falls to nothing at all. It ends up far more frustrating to watch than something much worse. A big anticlimax going on and on. And those characters all seem beautiful, yet it's impossible to be connected to anyone of them at all. It's like watching a flower in the mist. Maybe it's a little bit too clever, like you said. I'd appreciate something with more sincerity and less cleverness.

What a waste. I know I would have loved it very much, but now I can't even enjoy it as what it is. And you'd think a TV show about TV showes would be great...Anyway. I think John Simm is a wonderful actor and I'm glad we'll see him in Doctor Who, as Mr.You-know-who or not.

As for BSG...why would someone prefer the old series to the new one, seriously? I've watched a couple of the old episodes, and I'm not that impressed. It's just like Life on Mars. The great nostalgia is having its way.

Neither the actors nor the writing on the Dresden Files grabbed me, though I'm sure I've seen worse.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'd appreciate something with more sincerity and less cleverness.

Good description. I watch it thinking that I don't quite know what I'm supposed to be feeling - as sense of disconnectedness. Obviously Tasia doesn't see it that way, and many people love the characters.

John Simm is a wonderful actor and I'm glad we'll see him in Doctor Who, as Mr.You-know-who or not.

Exactly my feelings!

As for BSG...why would someone prefer the old series to the new one, seriously?

I can't answer that!

The great nostalgia is having its way.

I think that's it.

Neither the actors nor the writing on the Dresden Files grabbed me, though I'm sure I've seen worse.

It seemed amusing. I was hoping it would exceed my hopes, and it didn't, but it didn't annoy me either.

[beck-liz.livejournal.com]

For some reason, Sci-Fi aired The Dresden Files almost completely out of order, so that didn't help the storyline any. I enjoyed it well enough, and ended up really appreciating Harry, but I have yet to fall for it in a big way.

I ended up not even bothering to watch Series 2 of Life on Mars, even though I ended up enjoying the first one well enough. I just couldn't work up an interest, and then I heard how it ended and that killed any interest I had in seeing it.

I love Eureka, and the majority of the characters there, but everyone has shows that just put them off for inexplicable reasons. Loads of people on my flist are mad about Friday Night Lights, but I've been unable to take an interest to the point where I wish people would stop trying to convince us all to watch the show. :-)

You know, the old series of BSG airs occasionally on the Sci-Fi channel here, and I tried to get into it. I've even read a bit of Apollo/Starbuck slash from that era (mostly because a writer I like wrote it). But I think it may be one of those things that if it didn't hook you when it originally aired, you won't get it.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Sci-Fi aired The Dresden Files almost completely out of order, so that didn't help the storyline any.

Oh no! I didn't know that. That's the old trick with Firefly - on first viewing I found it very surreal. As far as I know, SPACE aired the episodes in the right order.

I enjoyed it well enough, and ended up really appreciating Harry, but I have yet to fall for it in a big way.

This evening I got Sandi to show me the rest of the episode - the first, I believe - that she'd shown the beginning of at the meeting. I enjoyed it well enough but found it rather unspectacular, not quite disappointing but not impressive either. Pity.

I just couldn't work up an interest, and then I heard how it ended and that killed any interest I had in seeing it.

Oh? How did it end? (I believe we haven't seen the end of it yet in Canada; I think they're still showing first season here.)

everyone has shows that just put them off for inexplicable reasons.

Perhaps the sense of humour just doesn't mesh with mine? or something in the characters' body language? For some reason I find them all off-putting. It isn't one or two of the characters, which is normal enough, it's everyone. Something in the way it's directed, perhaps.

Loads of people on my flist are mad about Friday Night Lights,

I tried watching the pilot, and lasted about five minutes!

I think it may be one of those things that if it didn't hook you when it originally aired, you won't get it.

I never watched it when it originally aired, though a teen-aged girl I knew told me the details of every episode, so I had a good sense of the story. Never wanted to see it. Saw part of an episode a few months ago, thought it was hokey - everything I thought it was when I was avoiding watching it in the 1970s. (Or whenever it was.) I'm really a horrible snob when it comes to TV.

But I totally and absolutely love the new series.

That being said, it hasn't caught my fannish side the way Doctor Who has. I love watching BSG and I watch it mesmerized. Then I forget about it till the next episode. Doctor Who (as you see) stays with me and comes out in fanfic and eagerness to talk about it - it matters to me in a was BSG doesn't. I'm not sure what makes the difference. I'm not sure it matters. Isn't it wonderful that there are good TV shows on the air?

[bunsen-h.livejournal.com]

It's a bit much to say that I hated BSG. I disliked it, yes; I watched half of the first season, and thought that there were serious objective problems with the story and presentation along with a number of things that are simply very much not to my taste. The show isn't utterly without merit, but I think it isn't very good. The plot holes, wretched science, etc. are probably not worse than, say, the first half-season of ST:TNG... but BSG is also emotionally unpleasant in a way that ST:TNG is not.

I never watched the original BSG series, so can't compare the two.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

BSG is also emotionally unpleasant in a way that ST:TNG is not.

Though I love BSG and (obviously) don't find it emotionally unpleasant, I know what you mean. It is dark, dark, dark, and I'm sure you'll believe me when I say that first season is all cheerfulness and joy compared to second and third seasons, when some really bad things happen and even the good characters (well, some of them) are messing with each other's heads.

I simply dismiss the wretched science as an artifact of the 1970s version and mostly ignore it. But that's easier for me to do than it is for you. I would throw fits if a show messed up history, especially medieval history. (Note that I am not watching the new "Robin Hood".)

I never watched the original BSG series, so can't compare the two.

No, neither did I. Except for about ten minutes a few months ago, when Patti was watching it and I came into the room. It was a segment with Jane Seymour, which was interesting, as I'd never known she was in it. She was beautiful, but the show itself was appalling: stilted, full of cliches, rather overblown. As SF on TV tended to be in those days, in my opinion.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

That aside, welcome to my LJ! I hope you don't mind that I friended you. Not that I don't already consider us friends. The nomenclature of LJ sometimes leads to some odd permutations.

Love your icon.

[filkferengi]

"Sometimes I feel a little out of step with my peers."

Now I'm hearing Linda Ronstadt singing "Different Drum." ;)

Also, you're not the only one. My local sf club [Atlanta Science Fiction Society] includes a variety of interests. The mailing-list is a fabulous source of information about all sorts of things I'd never have heard of otherwise [rather like a certain other mailing-list, only with info on free movie passes, comic shop sales, local anime cons, etc.].

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Linda Ronstadt singing "Different Drum." ;)

Yeah, that's me!

The mailing-list is a fabulous source of information about all sorts of things I'd never have heard of otherwise

I have a friend in Montreal, associated with the Montreal Science Fiction Association, who does a similar mailing list and it's terrific. Not for local things so much (useless anyway because I don't get to Montreal often), but for science and SF news.