Foray into Science Fiction Fandom (8)
In the late seventies, explorations into the sub-, extra-, or super-natural were carried out by investigative journalists only, such as "Kolchak: Night Stalker" (a show of which I have seen every episode). Crime drama and Occult Investigations gave birth to a new set of shows involving the investigation of what are now called Fringe Sciences (probably coined by the firstborn of that union, The X-Files).
"Kolchak: Night Stalker" ended when the writers ran out of monsters. When they had finished with vampires, werewolves, and South American human sacrifice, ghosts, zombies, and all the other conventional evils, the writers could not think of anything else for Kolchak to do. His investigations did not disturb any major political or occult figures (just his boss), and his determination to find and publish the truth did not meet with any significant resistance, and so foundered and sank. With a little scientific advancement, the wreckage could be raised again.
"Chronicles from the Edge" was a similar show involving several investigative journalists, but using the now cliched "man with an vendetta" plot (main character had lost his pregnant wife to an unexplained death (probably some kind of lycanthrope)) to extend the life of the show (it didn't work). The show was fun, and dark, but did not do any more than hint at a solution (as I recall. It's a difficult show to find). I believe the show failed because the audience did not get enough information quickly enough to keep its interest.
Shows about law-enforcement who investigate unexplained or extra-terrestrial phenomena include Torchwood (an X-rated spin-off of Doctor Who), X-Files, Fringe, 11th Hour, and Special Unit 2. Special Unit 2, like Torchwood, largely involves the capture or killing of "monsters" (called "links," like "the missing link"). Special Unit 2 also uses the "man with a vendetta" plot as well as a midget (called a gnome, with kleptomania) and a nerd (classic components of science fiction media).
X-Files is by far the most famous and successful of this type of show. It ran for nine years and included one semi-unsuccessful spin-off and three successful movies. It features a variation of the "man with a vendetta" plot (Mulder is looking for his sister Samantha who was abducted by aliens, and cloned; and later, Doggett is looking for the man who killed his son). The shows are split almost evenly between the "monster of the week" episodes and the substantial "FBI vs. Aliens" plot. I absolutely prefer the former (except the ones about Eugene Tooms. He's NASTY). The show also features an interesting romantic sub-plot. Well, two, really, since the two main characters phase out (similar to Stargate SG-1) and two others phase in during the last few seasons.
Fringe emerged recently from the mind of J.J. Abrams. It has definite similarities to X-Files, but its own twists too. It has moved beyond the "man with a vendetta" cliche, but kept the long-term plot with definite enemies. I believe it will have more to do with trans-dimensional travel than outer-space, though. Like all successful shows, it has an element of comedy, and a little romance.
Standing between Fringe Science and Forensic Science shows is Eleventh Hour, a show that professes to be purely scientific, but which has such twisted science that it is difficult to believe. The major Forensic Science shows also contain their elements of science fiction or fantasy, but mostly for the sake of an ignorant public than for the elements of horror or wonder around which Fringe Science shows are based. CSI, Bones, and other science-based crime dramas may contain references to the occult or religion, but practitioners are always show to be mad, rather than magical.
You have some options here.
"Kolchak: Night Stalker" ended when the writers ran out of monsters. When they had finished with vampires, werewolves, and South American human sacrifice, ghosts, zombies, and all the other conventional evils, the writers could not think of anything else for Kolchak to do. His investigations did not disturb any major political or occult figures (just his boss), and his determination to find and publish the truth did not meet with any significant resistance, and so foundered and sank. With a little scientific advancement, the wreckage could be raised again.
"Chronicles from the Edge" was a similar show involving several investigative journalists, but using the now cliched "man with an vendetta" plot (main character had lost his pregnant wife to an unexplained death (probably some kind of lycanthrope)) to extend the life of the show (it didn't work). The show was fun, and dark, but did not do any more than hint at a solution (as I recall. It's a difficult show to find). I believe the show failed because the audience did not get enough information quickly enough to keep its interest.
Shows about law-enforcement who investigate unexplained or extra-terrestrial phenomena include Torchwood (an X-rated spin-off of Doctor Who), X-Files, Fringe, 11th Hour, and Special Unit 2. Special Unit 2, like Torchwood, largely involves the capture or killing of "monsters" (called "links," like "the missing link"). Special Unit 2 also uses the "man with a vendetta" plot as well as a midget (called a gnome, with kleptomania) and a nerd (classic components of science fiction media).
X-Files is by far the most famous and successful of this type of show. It ran for nine years and included one semi-unsuccessful spin-off and three successful movies. It features a variation of the "man with a vendetta" plot (Mulder is looking for his sister Samantha who was abducted by aliens, and cloned; and later, Doggett is looking for the man who killed his son). The shows are split almost evenly between the "monster of the week" episodes and the substantial "FBI vs. Aliens" plot. I absolutely prefer the former (except the ones about Eugene Tooms. He's NASTY). The show also features an interesting romantic sub-plot. Well, two, really, since the two main characters phase out (similar to Stargate SG-1) and two others phase in during the last few seasons.
Fringe emerged recently from the mind of J.J. Abrams. It has definite similarities to X-Files, but its own twists too. It has moved beyond the "man with a vendetta" cliche, but kept the long-term plot with definite enemies. I believe it will have more to do with trans-dimensional travel than outer-space, though. Like all successful shows, it has an element of comedy, and a little romance.
Standing between Fringe Science and Forensic Science shows is Eleventh Hour, a show that professes to be purely scientific, but which has such twisted science that it is difficult to believe. The major Forensic Science shows also contain their elements of science fiction or fantasy, but mostly for the sake of an ignorant public than for the elements of horror or wonder around which Fringe Science shows are based. CSI, Bones, and other science-based crime dramas may contain references to the occult or religion, but practitioners are always show to be mad, rather than magical.
You have some options here.
Comments
Post a Comment