In this week's unintentionally Joss Whedoncentric edition, Marc and Lee review the
latest installment of the comic book series Buffy Season 8 as well as the Astonishing X-Men.
Turning to television, along
with their usual review of Doctor Who, Marc and Lee give a preview of
the next movie in here!'s "Everyday Gay Heroes" series, Solar Flare.
And
in the return of Lists, find out who are the nine greatest lesbian and bi
female characters in the sci fi/geek world.
Check it out after the break!
Astonishing X-Men
Marc, say it isn't so.
I guess I'm alone in my hatred of Joss Whedon's run on Astonishing X-Men. Yes, hatred is a strong word but I'm justified. The first point I would like to tackle is your assertion that all the plotlines and subplots are woven together well and resolved well. In issue #18, Cassandra Nova transfers her consciousness into "Armor" the Japanese girl. That plotline IS NEVER HEARD OF AGAIN even through the conclusion of Giant Size Astonishing X-Men #1. Issue 18 makes it completely obvious that Cassandra Nova IS IN Hisako Ichiki aka "ARMOR" because Hisako's nose is bleeding after the process is complete. This subplot is a big pet peeve of mine because it was the most interesting plot development Whedon made and to just drop it is unforgivable from a reader's perspective.
Secondly, the last storyline on "Breakworld" was BORING and ABSURD. Colossus ended up being a red-herring thus making all the previous storylines and character motivations irrelevant (I didn't like it when it was done in Angel Season 3 and I definitely hate now). By the way, how the hell did Breakworld get their hands on Illyana Rasputin DNA and Why is her DNA "magic"? I mean this is the whole reason why Kitty Pryde had such a big problem with the substance the bullet was made out of. I thought that was the most ridiculous plot point until I realized the IMMENSE STUPIDITY of a gigantic space bullet(hollow point) being fired at earth WITH NO PROPULSIONS SYSTEMS OF ITS OWN. First of all, it would take decades to reach earth IF IT WERE TRAVELING NEAR THE SPEED OF LIGHT. Secondly, the probably of such a projectile hitting the earth from light years away is ZERO (not "almost" Zero. ZERO).
Thirdly, going back to previous storyline: "Danger" has got to be the worst portrayal of artificial intelligence in comic book series I have EVER had the displeasure of reading. It's the kind of science fiction someone writes when they have absolutely NO EXPERIENCE in science and/or engineering.
Finally, I beg to differ on Joss Whedon's Emma Frost. GRANT MORRISON is FAR MORE ADEPT at writing killer one liners for Emma. Grant Morrison was the one who rehabilitated her character way back in 2001.
So, all in all I detested Whedon's run on Astonishing X-Men. It was almost on the level of "Chuck Austen" bad.
Astonishing X-Men #25 by WARREN ELLIS is already lightyears ahead of Whedon. It's a great book I suggest that everyone pick it up. Comic Book Resources gave it 4.5 out 5 stars. Warren Ellis brings a cool transhumanist Futuristic flavor to the X-Men that they've sorely needed for that last 4 years.
Whedon should just stick to Buffy. It's what he's really good at.
Dude, what DON'T you hate.
I just said
Astonishing X-Men #25 by Warren Ellis is out today and it is VERY GOOD. Read the whole post, Ben.
I also said in the past the Buffy Season 8 by Joss Whedon is VERY GOOD as well. I think it's obvious from the various shows and other media Whedon has created that Buffy and Angel are his best work. Firefly was mediocre at best. Granted Fox never gave it a chance to develop and improve but those 13 episodes while OK leave much to be desired.
Ben, the planet-sized plot holes in Astonishing X-Men shouldn't be ignored just because he's given us some semi-clever dialogue.
Firefly / Adam Baldwin
There was a story in Firefly? I was too busy staring at Adam Baldwin...
I love Firefly and Serenity, but you're right that the story didn't get a chance to live up to its full potential. It does feel "incomplete".
theAngryPuppy.com
"I was too busy staring at
"I was too busy staring at Adam Baldwin..."
He's the only reason I originally tuned in (as he is, without a doubt, the sexiest man alive and my favorite actor EVER), but I fell in love with the show when Mal kicked Crow right into the engine.
And as for feeling incomplete, I couldn't agree more. I think that is the reason why it is has the cult following it does.
Hold Your Fire! ;)
This is how I feel when people talk about American Idol as good TV. :P
I admit that I don't much care if my sci-fi is out of step with current scientific knowledge. I generally suspend my disbelief altogether if the story's good.
One big exception: if the story is trying to take itself too seriously with the science, yet still makes a huge mess of it, then it's fun to laugh at. (Earnestness sets off my spidey senses.) I don't get the feeling that scientific accuracy is Joss Whedon's biggest concern, so if that's important to you in your sci-fi (and I know that to a lot of people, it's paramount), then I can see where you'd be left cold by his contribution to the genre.
I'm going to take a look at some Morrison Emma Frost lines. Do you have any suggestions or examples on hand? I might concede that point, but I still like Whedon's White Queen quite a bit.
theAngryPuppy.com
American Idol?
I'm not sure I get your usage. Please clarify. I hope you're not comparing the X-Men with American Idol >:)
I'll return with a more detailed response with respect to Grant Morrison, Emma Frost, suspension of disbelief and levels of science in science fiction.
Although, I will say now that if an ostensibly "sci-fi" show HAS NO RULES WHATSOEVER, and I'm affraid the best example is "Dr. Who", apologies to Dr. Who fans everywhere, then it really can't be called science fiction, it is actually science FANTASY. Astonishing X-Men actually felt like a long Dr. Who episode; No Science, No Fun. Granted, I only watched the first season and about 4 episode of this year's season.
I liked "The Unicorn and the Wasp" Dr. Who Episode because it was a Mystery Genre episode having to do with Agatha Christie. The "Science Fiction" in this episode was essentially irrelevant and, in my opinion, non-existent. The only purpose of the sci-fi was to get two Modern Characters into the past so that the episode could pose anachronistic situations that are humorous. But other than that you can't really call this episode sci-fi. Now, a lot of people like this kind of sci-fi (with virtually no science). I generally don't; with the exception of this episode because of the Agatha Christie character.
My concern is that this kind of "Sci-fi" is becoming dominant in the culture and I think that is a VERY BAD THING.
No American Idol for Me
No, the opposite. I don't get what people see in American Idol, but, at least a few years ago, it seemed like everyone's favorite show. It always made me want to rant against it. ;)
See my comment below about sci-fi/fantasy/horror. I tend to blur them all, but I understand why purists don't.
If you're concerned that the popularity of quasi-sci-fi will keep pure sci-fi out of the media, I can see your point. I guess, though, you could argue that in this long-tail world you can always find whatever you want.
If you're worried that dumbed-down science in "sci-fi" will lead to the endumbenning of our youth, on the other hand...
theAngryPuppy.com
No, of course not
"If you're worried that dumbed-down science in "sci-fi" will lead to the endumbenning of our youth, on the other hand..."
no, that's not what I'm saying at all. But I love the word "endumbenning". I have to remember to use it in conversation some time.
"If you're concerned that the popularity of quasi-sci-fi will keep pure sci-fi out of the media, I can see your point."
That is my point. "The Transformers" by Michael Bay is an excellent example of severe dumbing down. That movie was so braindead that it dropped everyone's IQ by 10 points.
Having said all that, I certainly do believe that the poor education system in this country is certainly a cause of this shift in the media. Isn't America almost last in the world in terms of broad science education? That certainly has to have an effect. And one of the symptoms of all that is a moving away from real sci-fi because there is no longer an audience that can appreciate it. I mean if you take a look at some of the forums for Battlestar Galactica the vast majority of the posters don't even have clue of what's going on. They're talking as if the "supernatural" components of the plot are actually supernatural instead of having a sci-fi explanation.
Grant Morrison's Emma Frost
Issue 116: [Emma is leaving "Xavier Institute for Higher Learning" in a taxi cab; she has just discovered that she can turn into Diamond]
Cab Driver: " 'Higher Learning' right? That's a marvelous thing. You know I always remember my teacher, Miss Murphy; eyes that could look through any excuse you had. Then, one day she gave birth to a hundred eggs during a clarinet recital. My brother witnessed the whole thing."
Cab Driver: "She was a Mutant. I say genocide's too good for 'em. But that's just my humor. I'm as shocked as anyone by all this Genosha stuff; How about you?"
EMMA FROST: "Well, I'm like Miss Murphy. I'm a teacher too."
Cab Driver: "Is that an English accent, honey?"
Emma Frost: "mm"
Emma Frost: "Van Cleef and Arples on Fifth at Fifty Seventh, driver. I intend to have myself valued"
_______________________________________________
End of Issue 116: [After Emma dispatches what appeared to be a triumphant Cassandra Nova]
Cyclops: "Emma, I knew you wouldn't turn your back on us"
Emma Frost: "Sweet as you are; I didn't come back for you, Scott. I came back for my handbag. Lucky for you, this is a Louis Vuitton..."
__________________________________________
Issue 131:
Emma Frost: "Henry, Darling, I'm one of the World's most renowned and PRURIENT Telepathic talents"
a few pages later [Emma is hooked up to Cerebra, the Telepathy amplification device]:
Emma Frost: "Boys! Big Sister is WATCHING. It's hard enough keeping tabs on everyone without you distracting me. I can't BELIEVE what some mutants are up to right now in the privacy of their own homes."
__________________________________________________
Issue 131: [Emma has telepatically taken Scott inside the shared space of their minds]
Cyclops: "I don't need this! What do you know about me or Jean or any of us?"
Emma Frost: "Rather a lot, as a matter of fact, Mister Scott Summers."; "Jean is a human furnace of VIOLENT Emotions... it can be quite HORRIFIC to experience."
Cyclops: "I know she has a temper..."
Emma Frost: "A TEMPER? For God's Sake, Scott, She once almost Erased half my BRAIN! I was left drooling and incontinent for a month.
____________________________________
Issue 137: [Riot at Xaviers]
Esme (one of the Telepathic quintuplets "the Stepford Cuckoos"): "But weren't they all killed, Miss Frost? The students you used to teach?"
Emma Frost: "There were one or two fatalities. Yes... but for Heaven's Sake Esme. Let's try not to dwell on the down side." [in fact, they were all killed]
I really enjoyed Grant Morrison's run of X-Men. It was a classic.
Five Stars
I almost forgot
Remember how Emma Frost promised Charles Xavier to "Danger"? Apparently everyone forgot about that storyline too because almost no one complained when it wasn't even mentioned in Giant Size Astonishing X-Men #1.
Oh, and Lockheed
Lockheed the Alien Spy. I wish much more was made of this subplot but it too was thrown aside like a used cleen-x.
Solar Flare
I sat through Solar Flare this weekend as well, and I think Lee missed a key dialogue exchange near the beginning. Right after the "big train crash" (I'm still trying to figure out how a solar flare can cause a train to crash into Union Station), there's a scene in the family kitchen between mom Michelle Clunie and her son. During their chat, mom wants to take son to a movie on campus, to which the son replies "Why can't you take Trixie or Barbie, or whatever her name is, to the movie?" Mom replies "It's Candi, and I broke it off." I thought that made it pretty clear that Michelle Clunie's character was our Lesbian Du Jour.
And after sitting through the two back-to-back, I definitely agree that, of the two, Polar Opposites was the better film, although I doubt I'd sit through it again. I was a bit surprised to see several similar (if not identical) establishing shots used in both films - although I'm sure that's a good way to save some money when putting these films together.
Thanks, giovannif7!
I definitely spaced out a little in the middle (around the time that I thought Tracey Gold's character was going to hook up with the gym coach), but I thought I was paying close attention near the beginning.
I remember that exchange (what was it, "Empire University"?), but not the line "It's Candi, and I broke it off." To me it sounded like he was just making fun of his mom for being too much of a partier.
I don't think it's a particularly bad movie, but I guess the balance between "sci-fi" and interpersonal relationship issues was a little off for my taste.
Thanks for the correction!
theAngryPuppy.com
Gay Sci-Fi Characters
I know it's debateble if this series is SciFi or just Fantasy (Id say it was both) but His Dark Materials series (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass, probably my 3 favorite books ever) has two very explicitly gay angel characters named Baruch and Balthamos. They don't appear until later in the second book.
Have you guys read this series? What did you think? I thought people were way too hard on the movie and I'm sad we will probably never get to see the angels on screen (though they probably would have been de-gayed or cut altogether in the films)
The Golden Compass / Books
I blur sci-fi/fantasy/horror all the time, which irritates the hard-core fans of each of those genres. :P
I haven't read any in that series, but I do remember that everyone who had read the books hated the movie, or maybe that was just the media. I'll add these to my "to read" list.
While we're on the topic, we started up an Angry Puppy group at LibraryThing. We focus a lot on visual media on this vlog/blog, so we thought it might bring up more books if we all shared what we're reading and made recommendations to each other. Right now I only have a few comic books entered, but I swear, I do read more than comics! ;)
theAngryPuppy.com
Hmmm... after half way through, i forgot what i was saying...
I have read the His Dark Materials but honestly i didnt make it through the last one so I suggest you don't and say you did. And yes, I know, I'm a horrible person for it :D
there is way too few gay storylines in (as you would say Lee, Hard Core Fantasy) that it is really disappointing and if I could write I would try to fix that.
But if you like snarky humour, I would say pick up a copy of the Dresden Files. Nothing really gay, but a very enjoyable read.
I wish you guys were up to
I wish you guys were up to speed on Doctor Who, I'm terrible at keeping secrets I want to blurt out the answers..................must resist.
Doctor Who
I wish we were too! I saw the 2nd part of "Silence in the Library" before I put this episode together. It's a little disorienting.
Maybe next season we can get screeners instead of watching them as they air. I'll start pleading now. :)
theAngryPuppy.com
Iain M. Banks novels
have been keeping me busy lately. If you stay with the ones written inside or principally about the Galaxy-spanning Culture civilization, sexuality and gender are taken and flexible and indeed changeable aspects of the characters. He sleeps with her, who through genetic tweeking becomes a him, and sleeps with original him again, who then becomes a her and has a baby with the new him. It gets a bit fluid and blaise at times when it comes to gender and sex. Kind of refreshing - start with "Matter" then maybe "Player of Games" - the books are truly operatic in scale and concept, and make a fun read.
I've accidentally slipped into some of his non-Culture books by the same author (supposedly the Culture books have him using"M." while his others don't, but I'm currently finding that to be untrue) - these are a tougher read. My current one, "Feersum Endjinn" is tough because one of the main characters has a perfectly advanced intellect and vocabularly, but due to some quirk, speaks and thinks phonetically, which is fine until the words get up to 5 syllables, then it really slows down my reading.
But the Culture novels certainly deal with fluid sexuality and gender issues.
All the sci-fi books are
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
Felicia Day / Slayerettes
Thanks, Jaydawg125. I always forget about that because I think of her as Codex from The Guild.
I wonder what all those other slayerettes are up to these days.
theAngryPuppy.com
"Silence in the Library" and "Forest of the Dead"
I had the same feeling as Marc watching the first half of this two-parter; "What the frak is going on?" When I heard him say it reminded him of "Blink", I again felt the same way. Until now "Blink" has been my favorite Doctor Who episode, but "Forest of the Dead" instantly took the top spot. I enjoyed "Blink" and "FotD" for essentially the same reason; the confusion and sense of mystery. Add to the story the River Song character and Catherine Tate's performance, and this episode was entirely riveting. I'm eager to find out how River knows the Doctor. Does she know the tenth Doctor? Why does she know his real name? The list of questions this episode created is quite long; very much like watching Lost, as you guys mentioned. If this ("Blink", "SitL" and "FotD") is the direction that Steven Moffat is taking Doctor Who, then I am thoroughly on board.
BTW - Totally agree with you Lee. I've never been a fan of American Idol and I can't understand why it's so popular.
I'm pretty sure River knows the 10th Doctor
From everything she said, it seems pretty clear to me that it's the 10th Doctor that she knows so well... she DEFINITELY recognizes him, and I assume that wouldn't be the case if he'd regenerated between now and the time she met him (oooh, these time-travel verb tenses are going to drive me nuts). River's apparently QUITE familiar with the Doctor at some point in his future... and apparently it's something other than just a Companion relationship since she it sounds like he goes in and out of her life and not always in chronological order for both of them (thus the diary and her leafing through it trying to find out the last part he remembers).
Also... does anyone have any thoughts about River's reaction to Donna? RTD doesn't throw much away, so I HAVE to assume something happens to or with Donna in this season's finale to put her into the Doctor's past when River first meets him to get that reaction; perhaps not very far into his past... any chance River's "past" with the Doctor might be explored next season?
BTW, I second your opinion about the quality of these stories. While they still don't beat Blink for me, and my FAVORITE of the new series so far is The Empty Child (and whatever it's 2nd part was called), Stephen Moffat DEFINITELY writes some of the most wonderfully CREEPY stories in Whodom (is that down the road from Whoville?). I can definitely see all the kiddies hiding behind their couches during those stories.
Mary McDonnell
Hey guys!
Another great video and thank God you don't have that wig anymore Marc!
I was just curious if you guys follow the awards circuit at all (Oscars, Emmys, etc.) because I don't know if you have heard, but Mary McDonnell has made the semi-finals to be nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Just in case you don't know, the Emmys have two rounds of voting to determine their nominees for Drama Series, Comedy Series, and their subsequent acting categories. The first round is a basic popular vote of Academy members' top 5. The top 10 finishers of the popular vote then submit an episode for their show or performance to be judged on. A "blue-ribbon panel" then watches all the submitted episodes for a category and then rank all ten submissions from best to worst. The Academy then takes the results from the popular vote and the blue-ribbon panel's judgements and combines them on a 50/50 level and the top 5 (or 6 if there's a tie) are the nominees.
Mary submitted the episode entitled "Faith". I'm guessing you know this episode, as you both know so much about BSG, and I was wondering if you think she submitted a good episode that showcases her acting abilities well. Also, you might want to keep in mind that the judges might not be regular watchers of the show, and might have a tough time understanding what's going on. Oh, and if you reply, please don't spoil anything. I still have to watch all the episodes of BSG so far.
Thanks!
Award Show Ignorance
I wouldn't know a Grammy from an ESPY, but it's great for Mary McDonnell to get recognized with either! After BSG and Donnie Darko, she's definitely earned a spot in my list of favorite actors.
I'm not sure any single episode of BSG makes much sense if you haven't watched the whole series. The little details can't possibly hold as much significance as they do for someone who's watched every episode (twice).
Colonel Tigh, for example, is one of my favorites, not for any particular thing he did, but for his character as a whole. No single episode could come close to demonstrating why I like him so much.
With that said, I think "Faith" is a good choice for Mary McDonnell. A lot of my favorite Roslin moments are one-liners that only have impact if you consider the entire character, but in "Faith" she gets a lot of screen time that can be understood even outside the context of the previous three seasons.
And Nana Visitor!
theAngryPuppy.com
Are they justlooking for
Are they justlooking for Sci-Fi, or do they want fantasy/'speculative fiction' as well?
Elizabeth Moon's Serrano Legacy books have small LGBT characters, but it's not really a big deal in the universe. When it does come up, it's pretty incidental. Jumping Off The Planet by David Gerrold has a gay character. Iron Council by China Miéville has a pretty big gay plot in it (it's excellent, as well) Two gay characters pop up in Variable Star as well.
And Dune, obviously.
I have to agree with Metabaron...
...Regarding Morrison's Emma Frost having better lines than Whedon's. After all, Whedon's run on Astonishing X-Men is practically the follow-up to Morrison's on New XMen. But that's just about all that I agree with him on*. LOVED Whedon's run, and it will look SOOOOOOO pretty in hardcover!! John Cassaday totally rules!
Another GREAT episode, guys, congratulations!
Incidentally, last week saw the release of Whedon's last issue on Runaways. I've read a lot of criticism of his arc on the web, but personally liked it A LOT (maybe because I waited to read the whole thing once it was finished, I'm sure Id be pretty pissed if I'd been waiting on the monthly installments) - I'd like to hear your take on his arc!
Best,
J.
*I kid. He's totally right about Warren Ellis' first issue os Astonishing, I have high hopes for his run. Simone Bianchi's art takes some getting used to, though.
"I walk with dignity. I step with pride."
I Love River
Wonder Showzen
Whoooo! I love that show, watched it all on the UK version of MTV2 a while ago. I love the episode where they just interview people and nothing else, and the one that rewinds to the start halfway through :)
I agree with Silence in the Library and Forest of the Dead. I'm very interested to see River's story, although I know lots of people who found river smug, which I don't get.
As I'm not hugely into comics I haven't read Buffy S8 or Angel S6 yet, but I know i need to soon. I'm just confused as to how, do they have to be imported? I haven't seen them in any Comics stores, though not being a regular patron of them I could be going to all the wrong ones.
Wonder Showzen = huh?!
I managed to catch this while I was flipping channels one day and this was the reaction I had pretty much,
I have to try to find it again just to get the feel of the show one more time but I sometimes have a fickle sense of humor. I think it may end up like how Marc feels about Drawn Together. You mentioned that how you liked that show differed from episode to episode. Do you think I may have that reaction as well for Wonder Showzen?
Wonder Showzen = huh.
Wonder Showzen definitely varies a lot from episode to episode. My favorites are the early ones that were straight-up parodies of Sesame Street, The Electric Company and all those old PBS kid shows.
Then you have episodes like "Horse Apples", which is a Hee-Haw parody for the full episode. Not the best in my opinion. How many "hillbillies are stupid" jokes can you really take in one sitting?
Besides, as a bona fide hillbilly, I'm sensitive to these things. ;)
theAngryPuppy.com
Wonder Showzen?
Buffy Season 8
I picked up Volume 1 of Buffy Season 8 in Sweden last year without too much trouble.
On the Dark Horse site, there's a "find a retailer near you" button. If you can't order directly from them, maybe they can point you to a local option?
theAngryPuppy.com
Thanks very much!
Two parters grrr!
"Donna Noble has left the Library. Donna Noble has been saved."
I was getting so wrapped up in this episode and then I noticed I was at the 50 minute mark in my DVR and I yelled, "Ah it's a two parter!!"
I sometimes purposely don't watch shows recorded on the DVR unless I have two or three episodes because of this, but i waited :-), does anyone else feel the same way? I noticed the Sarah Jane adventures were like this for the entire season - two part episodes.
I already watched the next Doctor Who episode and I want to say alot but...
Can't explain much... you know,spoilers.
The Same Thing Happened to Me!
I knew that it was a two-parter, but I couldn't believe how fast the first hour went by.
I like to watch multiple episodes in one sitting for certain shows too. My longest stretch was probably watching one season of 24 on a train trip to Montreal with Marc. Ten (or so) hours up, ten hours back.
theAngryPuppy.com
Lets diversify your list
Love and Rockets
Good call - I know the series but haven't read it. Need to check it out now, thanks!
In keeping with your Lesbian theme...
afhickman
"It takes a village (to make Village People)"
Yikes! I go to Istanbul for a week, and look what happens! I missed your mention of my request for LGBT sci-fi ideas! (I think I'll stop using exclamation points now, if nobody minds.) But I do appreciate your effort! Actually, Samuel R. Delaney is represented in my anthology by "Driftglass." Not too surprisingly, he follows P. K. Dick. What with Delaney, Ursula LeGuin, and "Torchwood," I have a pretty good mix. I can also throw in the film version of "Barbarella," with Anita Pallenberg as the Great Tyrant (aka "the one-eyed wench"), who has her good eye on Jane Fonda's Barbarella. There's even a Duran Duran reference. Thanks to the bloggers who responded with other ideas. In fact, I think that's worth another exclamation point!
hey guys - I'm starting to
Sorry - I promise less travel now!