Symptom 31: Welcome To The Machine

Well after a week off we are back. No RageMaster, but he will be back for next week, but this week Scott and Corey discuss intelligent machines and how the way they are portrayed in science fiction might not actually be realistic. 

Sci-Fi generally shows us two types of intelligent robot, an altruistic and good being, like Bishop in Aliens or Data in Star Trek, or it shows us something that is pure evil, like Ash in Alien, Data's brother Lore or SkyNet. 

The thing is good and evil behaviors are essentially driven by emotion, as are all behaviors. Our emotions are determined solely by chemicals and hormones and without these physiological reactions we could not experience them. Since a robot or sapient computer could never have a chemical or hormonal reaction it can't actually exhibit emotionally driven behavior. It could simulate emotional behavior, but it is difficult to believe that it could be emotionally driven to take either altruistic good actions or selfishly evil actions. How would an intelligent machine intelligence behave. Scott and Corey dive into this question this week on Sci-Fi Malady. 

Also, stay tuned at the end for the trailer for our upcoming new segment - Nerd Duels!

Symptom 30: Oh My God Not That Future!

Science Fiction portrays two possible visions of the future usually, utopian, where everything is perfect, and dystopian, pretty much hell on earth. In this symptom we are exploring dystopian science fiction and what makes it great. Dystopian sci-fi generally can deliver the more powerful messages, because usually the events discussed have occurred, although to a lesser degree. It tends to be more relatable to the average viewer or reader because being the flawed creatures we are, we have real life examples of nightmare societies and oppressive powers to compare it to. Utopia's though, just don't exist. 

So here is symptom 30, we talk a lot about Demolition Man, have a great side bar conversation about Aliens and discuss Planet of the Apes, all excellent examples of a flawed, dystopian future. 

Symptom 29: Dear God, Why?

It is the movie that fans like to forget. Trekkie's pretend it never happened and there are running arguments that if you struck it from the canon nothing changes and there is zero lasting impact. They are right, but the movie did happen and it is canon. Of course, I am talking about William Shatner's tour de crap, Star Trek 5 The Final Frontier. This is the movie that almost killed Star Trek on the big screen. It certainly is a terrible, with a rambling and non-sensical plot full of holes and special effects that look like a graduate student with a C average was contracted for this film. THe thing is though, if you can push all of that aside, there is some amazing stuff in this nightmare and with a re-write or five and an Earnest Hemingway approach of removing unneeded garbage, this film could have an amazing discussion of religion versus humanism. Unfortunately this filmed failed to accomplish that and we would have to wait until the mid 90's with Deep Space Nine for Star Trek to truly tackle this one. 

So here is Symptom 29, a discussion of the steaming pile of garbage that is Star Trek 5 and how close it came to being truly epic. Its the amazing movie we almost got but didn't. Thanks Bill. 

Symptom 28: Halo Skyward And Falling

The most recognized symbol of xbox is that of Master Chief.  The Halo series redefined the first person shooter genre while mixing modern combat themes with sci-fi troupes.  With a sleek gameplay, great multi-player options, a dirge of great weapons and enemies, there isn’t much not to like about this series.  However, in recent years, the series has taken on a new direction when it was taken over by a different company.  This new direction was not received with the fanfare of the originals.  Can the series retain its former glory?  Nick, Corey, and the Ragemaster give their take.  As Scott has never played these games, he has been tied to a chair and kept quiet lest he contribute less than nothing to this symptom.

Symptom 27: A Dash of Art, A Pinch of Score, MMM That's Good Sci-Fi

Movies have many different non-verbal methods of advancing the story. An actor or actress does not always need to be speaking for the director to be conveying information to the viewer. In Symptom 27 Scott and The Ragemaster discuss the use of score, panning, set and art design and other non-verbal clues that make up good movie making. There is also a song or two about fidget spinners.

Symptom 26: Mono Means One, Culture Means Culture

Science Fiction has a mono-culture problem. On one hand it is a proven and reliable story telling and world building device that allows talented writers to tell deep stories which examine the flaws of humanity through actions of the alien races. This, in a show like Star Trek, allows the writers to portray humanity as the hero and the perfect society that it hopefully evolves into, while exposing the flaws of our current society through the actions of the aliens. 

The downside to the use of monocultures is that it reinforces, passively, stereotyping. In Star Wars all Radians are bounty hunters, all Jedi are selfless and all Sith are selfish. In Star Trek all Vulcans are morally upstanding and emotionless, all Klingons are warriors obsessed with honor and ritual, all Romulans are cunning, deceitful and paranoid and all Bajorans worship the Prophets.  These portrayals, albeit passively, support the reliability of stereotyping a person by race or cultural identity. 

So on one hand, the use of a monoculture allows a progressive thinking show, such as Star Trek, to tell smart, heady, deep morality plays which explore the strengths and weaknesses of current human society and the perfect society we hopefully will one day evolve into. It is both a good and bad thing, hence, science fictions problem with the story telling device of a monoculture. 

Time Loop: Ditch Your Meat Body

It has been a busy week for all of us here at Sci-Fi Malady and that means that we don't have a new symptom for this week. As a result I have dug into the vault and decided to re-post an earlier episode where Corey, Scott and The RageMaster break down the San Juniper Episode of Black Mirror. If you have caught the sickness late and missed this Episode I think you will enjoy it, if you heard it the first time I think it is worth a re-listen as there was a lot of good stuff in this one. 

Symptom 25: To Lamely Go Where Abrams Has Gone Before

It is another Isolation Unit Episode. That means no one put the 86 on a Star Trek topic.  On May 17th the first trailer for the new Star Trek Discovery TV show was released. I think I hate it.  I don't want to hate, but combined with the behind scenes dysfunction associated with the new show, I am worried. This is a short Sci-Fi Malady symptom, only about 19 minutes. It has the required crapping on JJ Abrams and me rushing to judgment on something I haven't seen yet. Maybe I will eat my words on this one, I hope I do. Enjoy. 

Symptom 24: A Tale of Two Universes

The Marvel cinematic universe is a smash success.  It seems Marvel cannot miss recently with their superhero movies.  Whether it is the Avengers franchise, or the individual hero stories, Marvel just keeps releasing well paced, action filled and thoroughly entertaining films.  The question remains though, is this good for comic book fans.  

On the surface this seems like an odd question. Of course it has to be good for comics if graphic novels are adapted successfully to the big screen.  Is it though? Movies and comics are very different mediums with very dissimilar audiences.  What works for one may not work for another. 

This week Scott and the RageMaster discuss the MCU and this question of is the MCU good for comics.  

Symptom 23: I'm Mary Poppins Y'all

The Marvel Cinematic Universe once again goes interstellar with Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2. This film ramps up the action, effects, and humor in a way that improves upon the original without sacrificing story or character development.  The common thread that runs along this film is the importance of family. As the film progresses, each member of the team realizes how they need one another.  While doing this, the film maintains its slapstick humor, edge of your seat action, and killer soundtrack.  On this week’s symptom, Scott, the Ragemaster, and special guest Groot heap atoms of praise upon James Gunn’s latest addition to the Marvel films franchise.

Symptom 22: Ancient Aliens - Science Fiction As Science Fact

We love science fiction.  It is awesome.  Sci-Fi allows authors and writers to explore the question of what it means to be human as well as attempt to the predict the future or even explore alternate history. These are some of the strengths of the genre, except when that fiction is presented as fact. 

Enter Ancient Aliens. To call it pseudo-archaeology is an insult to pseudo-archaeologists.  Ancient Aliens is science fiction. If it was presented as such, it would be a fine and provocative show. Unfortunately it is presented a science fact, and often deceptively so. The show is dangerous as it further expands upon a trend of false science and false news spun to fit a predetermined narrative. In an era when science is distrusted and losing a public relations war against political and religious ideologues - Ancient Aliens only further weakens trust in actual science. 

So here is Symptom 22 - calling Ancient Aliens what it is - science fiction. 

Symptom 21: All Hostiles Are Down Commander

It is time for another video game review.  This week Scott and Corey decided it was finally time to break down XCOM2.  Turn based strategy games are largely dead on console gaming platforms, but that didn't stop Firaxis and 2K gaming from releasing in our opinion one of the best games in recent years. XCOM2 has near infinite replayability and near perfect strategic gameplay. The story, while not Last of Us good, is good enough to captivate and even poses a few questions about the nature of human beings during a crisis. XCOM2 gets the Sci-Fi Malady seal of approval, it is just a fantastically well done game and we are eagerly awaiting XCOM3. 

Symptom 20: Expand Your Universe

Expanded universes, the exclusive domain of the superfan. This is where those of us sci-fi nerds who can't get enough of their favorite franchises live.  It is where you find out that Luke married a Jedi chick named Mara Jade (pre-disney and pre-prequels that is) or what actually happened to Balok and the people of First Federation, or what in the world Shepard Book's backstory in Firefly  really was.  

Yet, this is where you also get complete lunacy, like Ripley killing a hive mother in single combat without any enhancements or airlocks to blow her out of, or 60 something year Dr. Crusher having child with Captain Picard, or Mon Mothma demilitarizing the New Republic while the Empire was actually still around and still enslaving millions.

So yeah, expanded universes are a mixed bag. In symptom 20 Scott, Corey and the RageMaster attempt to figure out are they good for science fiction and if so, are the canon, or are they just glorified sanctioned fan fiction?

Also, anytime Scott says fan fiction by mistake in this podcast, he means 'expanded universe'.

IMG_2448.JPG

Symptom 19: Who Ya Gonna Call

It is hard to believe it has been 30 years since the Real Ghostbusters cartoon debuted. This was my introduction to science fiction. The technobabble, the proton packs, containment unit and overall the science drew me like fly to a bug zapper. This was my first favorite TV show. Recently Netflix released the series for streaming view.  I was nervous, would the series hold up? Yes. A resounding, reverberating yes. 30 years later and the show is as awesome as ever.  

So here is Symptom 19, an isolation unit episode with just Scott rambling on about a the Ghostbuster cartoon for 30 minutes. Enjoy and I promise the next upload will at least have one other member of the Sci-Fi Malady crew on board. 

Symptom 18: The Next Frontier

Back in early March the RageMaster and Scott discussed new movie releases slated for 2017. This week they review The Discovery, the Netflix original film in which an afterlife is confirmed.  Both Scott and RageMaster were both very excited for this film and they felt that while the movie was overall solid, it was not the smash hit anticipated based on the preview. 

Symptom 18 digs deep into concepts of death and an afterlife, as well as looking analyzing the character behaviors in the movie. We try to figure exactly what statement the writer was attempting to make about death and how belief or a lack of belief in an afterlife influences human behavior and societal norms as a whole. Hope you enjoy Symptom 18. 

Symptom 17: Quatrains of SciFiDamus

To finish off our recent run of list based shows in this symptom of Sci-Fi Malady Scott and The Ragemaster discuss three times science fiction correctly predicted the future and three times they got it wrong.  Science fiction writers are often portrayed as being visionaries of the future and sometimes they are, equally often though, the writers get it horribly wrong. So enjoy this week's Sci-Fi Malady as we break down when SciFiDamus got it right and when he or she got it totally and completely wrong. 

Let us know your thoughts by leaving comments at RavingLunaticMedia.com or tweeting at us @mediaraving on twitter. 

Symptom 16: I Can't Believe They Invented It

Two weeks ago Scott and the Ragemaster discussed the best tech in science fiction history. Now it is time to bookend that with a discussion of the worst tech in science fiction history.  The items that make this list are useless, misapplied, unrealistic or just plain stupid and cringe inducing. Some of the items are actually conceptually awesome, had the writers put just a little time into making look the least bit realistic or functional. 

We also take time to crap on Captain Planet, because even though he is not science fiction he is technically a superhero, and the worst one ever. 

Symptom 15: Do Androids Dream of Positronic Emotions

This week is another Isolation Unit Episode, meaning Corey, Nick and the Ragemaster could not make it.  Of course this also means Scott had no one to stop him from talking about Star Trek.  Symptom 15 discusses Data from Star Trek The Next Generation and his supposed lack of emotions. 

Data is portrayed throughout the series as having no emotions. By season three it is firmly established that he has no emotions. In this week's Sci-Fi Malady I argue that this is as believable as the sales pitch of a Ferengi.  While Data may not have complex emotions, or display the physiological manifestations of emotion, he clearly, on some level, has emotions, even if he doesn't realize that he does. 

This, like all solo efforts, is a shorter podcast, its only about 20 minutes in length. Feel free to leave comments and feedback at our website, RavingLunaticMedia.com or tweet at us @mediaraving on Twitter. 

Symptom 14: Gadgets, Gizmos and Super Science, Oh My!

We can discuss for hours (and lets face it, we have) what makes great science fiction.  Sure, memorable characters, a cutting and weighty moral dilemma, an in depth exploration of the human condition and what makes us tick, but in every SciFi nerd's heart there is a soft spot for a TARDIS, Lightsaber or some other crazy gadget.  

This week Scott and The RageMaster list their favorite science fiction gadgets plus a couple honorable mentions. Grab your replica of Mr. Spock's tricorder or steal your kids lightsaber and settle in for Symptom 14: Gadgets, Gizmos and Super Science, Oh My!

Feel free to send us you comments either at our website, RavingLunaticMedia.com or on twitter @mediaraving

We hope you enjoy Symptom 14. 

Symptom 13: Reviewing The Future

It was supposed to be a simple show about reviewing future science fiction movie releases.  That's how it started. Then, about 10 minutes into things, the Ragemaster began singing and gave us all a moment of awesomeness.  

Aside from the Ragemaster's impromptu singing, we do discuss the major upcoming sci-fi movies set to appear on the silver screen in 2017, and to our surprise, there was a lot less "worst movie ever" than we thought.  

Don't miss the Ragemaster remix at the end of the Symptom 13.