Alienating the Audience

James Gunn’s “Peacemaker” chronicles a toxic meathead character as he comes to terms with his past, his racist father, and an alien takeover of the planet. He is neither a hero nor antihero.   He’s something new, and hilarious: a “loserhero”   Nick Sperdute and Justin Robert Young join to discuss.

How do clones manifest in science fiction? When are they evil, good, or a portent of science gone too far?   Scottish scifi twins Dickie and Stone rejoin to discuss.   SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.patreon.com/alienating

"Solaris" by Stanislaw Lem follows a crew of scientists trying to understand an utterly alien intelligence--a planet covered by an ocean of (apparently?) conscious goop. How can we communicate with something truly, truly foreign to our evolution and understanding? How can we even confirm it's "intelligent"?   John Krikorian returns to discuss.

"Rick and Morty" is the funniest science fiction to grace the world sense "Futurama"--if not the best comedy in general. What is it about, and what distinguishes it from other, lesser comedies? Jeff Maurer joins to discuss.  (Note: this episode was recorded before the fall of Justin Roiland)

"The Fifth Element" starring Bruce Willis and Mila Jovovich is a cult classic. But... does it hold up? Did it ever?   To answer that question, we turn to Scottish scifi twins Dickie and Stone Lynch.

"Enterprise" is the prequel of Star Trek, exploring the foundation of the Federation of Planets, and the bump, suspicious period when Vulcans and humans get to know one another. Scottish science fiction twins Dickie & Stone Lynch return to discuss.

There's a subgenre of science fiction we might call "femme fear," exemplified by writers like Margaret Atwood.  Olivia Wilde's "Don't Worry Darling" is the latest example. And while it was mostly panned by critics, Heaton enjoyed it.  Ashland Viscosi joins to discuss. SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.patreon.com/alienating

In "The Sparrow" by Mary Doria Russell, life is discovered on an alien planet, and the first humans to arrive are... Jesuits. The book explores the terrifying consequences of missionaries on a new world, who are there for good reasons--with good intentions--but don't know what they've got themselves into. Richard Amiro joins to discuss.   SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.patreon.com/alienating   BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: www.mightyheaton.com/goodscifi

The Sith are the dark lords of Star Wars. But what do they want? Are they logically consistent antagonists, with clear rationales for their goals and methods, or just mustache-twirling villains with no depth?   Stephen Kent and Mike TV join to discuss

John Carpenter’s “They Live” is a cult classic about seeing through societal mirage to glimpse the strings of the puppet masters. It’s also a specific and intentional “primal scream” against Reagonomics. Ron Hayden joins to discuss.