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

[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.