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Reader reaction: "Strange World" ((series premier))
SPOILER ALERT !!
Glen here...
THIS PAGE IS RESERVED FOR "TALKBACKS" ABOUT THE PREMIER OF THE
ABC TV SERIES STRANGE WORLD!!!
Please feel free to post your thoughts, comments, likes, dislikes, creative input, etc. about this
new series, which debuted the evening of Monday March 8, 1999 on ABC.
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ENJOY!!!
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It was pretty neat to see Millenium's "Lucy Butler" playing a less aggressive role! I could have done without the annoying girlfriend, though. I'll be eagerly awaiting future episodes. As a side note, I really didn't feel that this resembled an X-Files episode all that much!
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It was pretty cool but it felt kinda rushed and at times I kinda got lost. It also seemed like they tried to get that X-files feel but they just couldn't get it. Then again it was ABC so what can you expect. It looks like this show has potential but it probably won't go far cause it's on ABC, the big network guys always screw things up. Maybe if this show was on cable or FOX or WB or (god shoot me) UPN it might've been a homerun but for now it's just a base hit.
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I take it back, nothing's a hit on UPN.
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There are two series that deserve to live beyond their 13 episode allotments - Strange World and Crusade. Strange World has an intruguing premise and some well-done acting, cimatography and writing. It is quite a bit like Millennium and X-Files, but also different and new. Kristin Lehman has always been a favorite of mine since her Invisigoth role, and this shows more of her range. What stood out about this series was it's muted style. The Canadian locale certainly make a show look dark, witness pre-LA X-Files and Millennium. Hopefully this show can keep the mytharc they've got started while keeping viewers as well. It's got the timeslot, now all it needs are the ratings. Hopefully it will survive and prosper.
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My opinion? I saw either over-acting or pure blandness on the part of all the major players. **BUT**, I love the show's concept. I wont say that it's 100% orignal, seeing how it appears to be a strange cross between the X-Files and Millennium, I'm quite intrested in seeing what develops. And for that, I'm willing to give the show a few seasons to develop and find it's nitch. More power to it. --- AJC
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An hour of dreadful television. Strange World occupies a strange world, indeed: One without wit, charm, or charisma. Worse than an X-Files knock off, the show plays like a Millennium rip -- a dupe of a dupe, and the generation loss shows. The characters feel like underwritten versions of their Fox counterparts, acted in a dispassionate, curiously hurried fashion by an ensemble of bit players who are often hard to tell apart.
Yes, America, someone out there is producing inferior clones. Unfortunately, it's ABC. I wish they'd had the dignity to keep it covered up. -
Actually, from what I was expecting, it was pretty good. When ever I hear that "From the producer of..." I cringe a little bit, like tonights commercial for "Like... You Know and Stuff" or whatever it's called. "From the writter who gave us 'Yada-Yada'". Oh, you mean one of the guys that ruined Seinfeld after Larry David left? Well anyway, of the two "From the producer of the X-Files" shows that I have seen, one was excellent (Space: Above and Beyond) and this one shows promise. Now if only Morgan and Wong could finish off their S:AAB cliffhanger.
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First reaction: It's all the shadowy, dark and spooky stuff from Millennium sewn together with the conspiracy-laden plots from The X-Files. And I liked it! There's no question that Strange World is on the same shady path Chris Carter walks. It seems distinct from the two 1013 shows, though, and was a very enjoyable hour. Speaking of 1013, their Vancouver talent pool really turned out for the pilot ep of SW. Sarah Jane Redmond made what appears to be a one-time appearance, the guy who played Michael Kritchgau on XF and the Mormon sheriff on Millennium was the FBI guy, and the actress who played Invisigoth on XF has what looks to be a regular role. They've hooked me already; I'll be watching.
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I enjoyed the first episode of Strange World, but I feel it could go either way. The potential is great, so i hope it proves to be as good as its premise. There are so many interesting ways this show could go, I hope it doesn't get too wrapped up in itself. I had the samee feeling about X_Files after its first episode & we all know how well that turned out. I hope Strange World has the same kind of luck (& writers & actors &...) I can't wait to see Peter Wingfield on the show! He's a positive addition to any show he's on. We'll know more tomorrow.
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...It kept telling me that it couldn't connect. I didn't think you'd just want to read my views 3 times in a row. Again, sorry!
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I watched the pilot last night and thought it was pretty good - not great, but watchable. I like the premise of the lead character having a fatal condition that puts him in the hands of the conspiracy - makes for some moral conplications. I enjoyed the X-Files feeling without it being the X-Files, and it was enjoyable to see all the ex-X-files actors. Now I have a choice Tuesday nights of Total Recall (Toronto) and Strange World (Vancouver) - a little bi-costal rivalry (I know Toronto isn't on the coast, but it's a long way from Vancouver), and interestingly enough, both of tonight's episodes deal with babies.
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I found that this show was enjoyable... Just a bit cheesy, but me likes cheesy.. hey who
doesn't? -
Personally, I enjoyed the Pilot episode. I was not expecting so much to be packed into one episode, but I had a ball. I sat on the edge of my seat the whole time, waiting for what was coming next. The many subplots running throughout, many which still have no conclusion and probably won't be explained until later down the line either. (g) Let's just hope some of them come sooner than say five, six years down the road?
Excellent cast, good cinematography, the lighting is a bit dark, but hey I like the dark! I think there are many moral issues which are likly to make the casual viewer a bit squemish, but that is another thing I like about my television programs, those that make you think. If you're just sitting, well then....
It's a bit of irony that this series has made it's debut on a network which promotes "Just sitting there", but I think Strange World can survive ABC and ABC's lackluster campaigning attitude in spite of it. Just give us our thirteen weeks, and we will give the network four or more years.
Rae -
I knew this one would be a sucker when I heard Howard Gordon would be the producer behind it. Now, Howard Gordon was probably the most boring and mediocre of all "X-Files" writers; his writing heavy handed and mushy, his stories predictable and over-done and generally his sols scripts especially usually were mediocre to bland to downright bad. When he left the show at the end of the fourth season I was elated. He brings his same problem to "Strange World". His characters are heavy handed, one-note, quite boring actually and the entire look and feel of the show smacks of "X" with a little "Millenium" thrown in. The attempt to create another mythology (this time with the bad guys being the pharm. companies) has copy all over it as does the mysterious girl who gives him his serum. Awful, awful, awful. If I were Chris Carter I'd sue the bastard. I know that the "X-Files" first season was very uneven but it had a very interesting premise and two very interesting characters that were mismatched. The characters last night did not hold my attention nor my interest and the constant parade of previous "X-Files" and "Millenium" guest stars became downright annoying, making the comparisons inevitable. I realize only a handful of these genre shows can be spectacular (in the '90s we've only had two such examples:"Twin Peaks" and "The X-Files") and of the many clones perhaps a few will be moderately entertaining to watch from time to time. "Strange World" is not one of them. Id rather wait until Carter's new show next season "Harsh Realm" and the new upcoming series from Glen Morgan and James Wong (by far superior to Gordon) which sounds very much like "Strange World". Until then, "The X-Files" is more than enough for me. BTW, did you guys know that Mr. Gordon could not even come up with an original title for the series? It was originally called "Strange Days" but after Cameron nearly sued, they changed to "Strange World". Even the actress who was great in "Kill Switch" was bland last night. EECH!
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I don't think it's fair to say that this is a rip off of the X Files. X Files did not invent the conspiracy, ambiguity, or moody lighting. Anyway, what I think is most interesting is the portrayal of disease on television, which looks to be a central theme to the series. I cannot recall a comperable series in which the lead character had a serious illness. Not only is this an interesting flaw, but the lead genuinely looks like crap when the sickness makes inroads on him. That, along with the unsettling color tones of the production and the unnervingly plausible story of science gone wrong, created a powerful sense that there is something ailing us as a society. It wigged me out. I'm watching next week.
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I was VERY disappointed with this attempt at suspense. First off what was with the lighting and filters? They put a dark grey cast over everything even when it made no sense. Even Chris Carter at his worse didn't do that. The acting was attrocious. When the woman sees her dead kid, for instance, I was seriously wondering what the casting team was thinking of. The plot was better than I thought, but the script had the worst dialog I've heard in a long time. This was a problem with Millenium at first, but the acting and direction there allowed otherwise cheesy lines to come off convincingly. Here the poor acting and direction makes the weak dialog that much more apparent.
Ugh. Don't bother with the next episode. I can't believe ABC. What are they thinking? Here's waiting until the next Lynch series. But I'm betting ABC does something stupid and puts that on Saturday or Friday night. -
... because this is like the third time this week I've agreed with LaneMyers.
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I continue to be surprised by some of the very angry response to this show. While I expected some resistance -- an upstart "traitor" to the 1013 camp having the nerve to try and create something new -- the force of the anger is what gets me. One of the criticisms I hear most often is "it's so dark." "It just ain't funny." My response: if you want funny, watch "The X-Files." In a year when "The X-Files" has become a comedy, I frankly find it refreshing to see a show that's unafraid to be down right creepy and scary. Reminds a lot of another show... in a previous life.
Xpkfs seems to have a hard-on for Howard Gordon. Fine. Although I find it odd that such a mediocre writer can generate such passion. But to say that his characters are one note and "boring" is to forget that Howard Gordon created Max Fenig and Alex Krycek and to begrudge him his part in shaping what is likely the best genre show of this decade. And to claim that Gordon should be "sued" for theft... then so should Carter. Does anyone remember a show called "Project UFO"? It ran in '78-'79 and the IMBD synopsis goes like this: "Two agents of the U.S. Government's Project Blue Book investigate sightings of extraterrestrial flying objects." If I recall, one of the partners was a skeptic, the other a believer... Ouch. Sounds to me like William T. Coleman, the producer of "Project U.F.O." should sue. He could probably use the money. And let's not forget "Night Stalker" or "The Silence Of the Lambs," both noted inspirations of Carter's. When Howard Gordon was executive producer of "Files," we got "Jose Chung," the Peacock family, Mulder questioning everything about his sister's abduction in "Paper Hearts," and on and on. Granted, these other eps were written by others, but under Gordon's regime. Since his departure -- which you applaud -- we've had, frankly, the worst episodes of the six years and very few shows as memorable as those in the first four seasons. "Strange World" may not turn out to be any good, but I'm willing to give it a shot. Frankly, I want to be scared again. -
Mar 09, 1999 6:46:31 PM CST
Hey Xpkfs, get back to work, I think I hear Chris Carter's phone
by swinston
Heh heh.
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I missed this evening's (Tuesday) installment of Strange World. Can someone please provide a written summary of the episode?
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MY GOD I AM SO TIRED OF PEOPLE RIPPING OFF OTHER STUFF!! STRANGE WORLD was SO heavy handed and it couldn't even come up with anything NEW TO SAY! OOooooo!! OUR GOVERNMENT IS BAD AND UP TO SOMETHING!! WOOOOOOOOO! This is a story that NEEDS TO BE TOLD - or NOT. I saw the promo for episode two and I immediately thought: I'm glad this series has only been given a limited run!! As for Crazy Uncle Dave's comments: "I cannot recall a comperable series in which the lead character had a serious illness." Then I guess he hasn't watched the X-Files episodes where Scully had cancer. HELLOoooo!?! But back to STRANGE WORLD anyone who thinks it wasn't like X-Files is BLIND, DEAF or suffering from an incredibly SHORT MEMORY! EVERYTHING about the show is JUST like the X-Files - the lighting, many of the actors, the tone, the whole conspiracy thing and MANY MORE! (Even the music sounded just like the stuff Mark Snow does for X-Files.) And just because X-Files didn't invent the conspiracy plotline, that doesn't mean it's okay for every other low budget scifi show to COPY IT PRECISELY! STRANGE WORLD? Try STALE WORLD. -peteski@spinninghead.com
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Hey, Peteski -- what the hell show are you watching?! The government is bad and is up to something?! This show has *nothing* to do with government conspiracies -- that's the whole point. The government isn't conspiring to do anything at all; if anything, they're too ineffectual to *do* anything about the conspiracies that are out there. Glad to see you were watching the show so carefully!
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One can deny, deny, deny all they want, but SW certainly is X-Files. Heck, it's the one X-Files clone that is most like the original so far (Dark Skies and Psi Chronicles don't even come as close as SW). Interesting that SW is also produced by Fox. I enjoy SW precisely because of this fact -- it reminds me of how loopy, goofy and fun X-Files was when it first premiered...way back in 1993. SW brings back a feeling of nostalgia for the old X in me but, yeah, it's almost 2000 and this conspiracy, darkness, forbodeness, trust no one stuff feels a bit dated now. It's time to move on to new (dare I say, "millenial"? And I don't mean like Chris Carter's "Millennium" either) themes in action dramas. The one other comment I have is that watching SW is like asking, What if X-Files went on to Season 8 (it's supposed to end after Season 7)? What would Season 8 of X-Files be like? Well, maybe it would be like Strange World: After the defeat of the aliens, the X-Files has a new mandate -- to investigate "abuses of science." Scully no longer works on the X-Files, but she and Mulder have been dating for a while. Mulder is also suffering from a strange illness that apparently he contracted during the final battle with the aliens. The Asian Woman keeps him alive but it's a mystery as to why she's doing this and who she works for. AD Skinner is no longer around and Mulder answers to another AD, who's an African-American woman. Yep, just replace the hero, his girlfriend, and the USAMRIID with Mulder, Scully and the FBI and you got Season 8 of the X-Files.
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Duh, hello - I think YOU were the one not paying attention Daffy - the guy who was genetically cloning himself (I think) was in the MILITARY. Then, that FBI guy who sat in the car with the father at the end? HELLO, he's FBI and then that mystery Asian woman and the guy who's in this summer's "THE MUMMY" were other mysterious government types. So let's see does this look like a government conspiracy to you?!? And then there was that ridiculously heavy handed scene in the begining where somebody kept saying "What have we done?!?" in reference to all this chemical warfare stuff they were sent in to investigate (??). He was refering to what the MILITARY had done. So once again, we have the military and the FBI and some other types of suit-wearing government types working together to do something OH SO SPOOKY AND UN-X-FILES LIKE (or NOT) and DAFFY thinks it's NOT a government conspiracy show? Oh and one thing I forgot to add to my early post - it's never a good thing when your lead character states the premise of the show in a line of dialogue - he can say things along the lines of the premise, but when he recites the EXACT BLURB FROM THE TV GUIDE it's called BAD WRITING! What does he have a photographic memory and can ACTUALLY recall "Article 44" and what it states? I can't even remember the ten commandments or which holidays I have off and this guy's going to remember what "Article 44" is? SHEESH! -peteski@spinninghead.com
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Mar 10, 1999 2:08:54 AM CST
My favorite X-Files episode of the season was tonight's "Strange
by 8585
I'm sorry, but that *rocked.* Tonight's second episode of "Strange World" had everything I've been missing from The X-Files this year! It was spooky, involving, had a fantastic premise at its heart (inside joke for those who caught the ep), and was utterly unpredictable! The hour built with great pace and by the big revelation in act three I was breathless, on the edge of my seat. This was like X-Files from the first and second seasons, remember, back when they were scary and not just yuck-fests and excuses to throw in some lame shipper taunts? I thought the pilot last night was okay, but a bit personality-less, but this ep hooked me. Thanks, Glen, for suggesting we stick with it for a few eps. Only took me two. I hope they can do this every week, take us into a strange world and show us this kind of stuff. For the record, while the thing played, smelled and felt like a classic X-Files ep, complete with FBI guys battering down warehouse doors (shades of "Beyond The Sea), I really don't think this is the kind of story they would do or even have done on The X-Files. Even with all its hair raising weirdness, the conceit of the premise, genetically engineered body parts, was far too scientific and totally lacking in the paranormal (which the X-Files still does better than anybody.) Kudos to all involved. I loved it.
Rowan -
- the guy who was genetically cloning himself (I think) was in the MILITARY.
Well, first let me say "the guy who was cloning himself" was Nathan Burke, played by Bill Sage. Nathan was released from the active duty for the same reason that Paul Turner was. He was too damn sick to be in the military. Hello?????? Anybody home?????
Nathan also was not working for the military when he was involved with the cloning experiments. He was working with a group looking for a cure for aplastic anemia, the disease which both he and Turner suffer from. Nathan worked for the same people that The Asian Woman (Vivian Wu) and Agent Hoffman work (John Finn) for. At this point, we don't know who that someone is.
Then, that FBI guy who sat in the car with the father at the end? HELLO, he's FBI.
Um, yeah, and your point? Bad guys can't work for the government and be following an agenda of their own? You know, from my view point, I haven't been thinking "government conspiracy" as much as I have been thinking CIA Black Ops. And you don't even find out that Agent Hoffman is a bad guy until the moment he shoots Mr. Ballard (William MacDonald).
that mystery Asian woman and the guy were other mysterious government types.
Um, you would mean the scene at the train station yes, with The Asian Woman (Vivian Wu) and The Dark-Haired Man (Arnold Vosloo)? Toward the end of the program which by then it had become very apparent that something fishy was going on, but the right hand did not know anything about the activities of the left hand? After Nathan had died and made it perfect clear that he did not work for the government but another group? The same one the Doctor worked for? The same group which the AW and the DHM worked for? Um, were you watching the same show I was?
So let's see does this look like a government conspiracy to you?!?
No. It doesn't stink of government conspiracy to me. More like people with lots of money, who are trying to make even more of it. After the second episode that fact became even more clear, but I doubt you watched "Lullaby". Of course if you had, then you might have found out that Agent Hoffman might have been an agent for the FBI but they knew absolutely nothing of his activities. In other words he was a "mole".
And then there was that ridiculously heavy handed scene in the beginning where somebody kept saying "What have we done?!?" in reference to all this chemical warfare stuff they were sent in to investigate (??).
Well, gee, another piece of the puzzle you must have missed when you were off getting yourself something to eat. That scene directly links to Nathan Burke. If you recall, Nathan made tapes for Jeremy. That scene at the beginning was Paul listening to those tapes. Nathan was remarking on everything that he had done to achieve his immortality and the price humanity might pay for his arrogance. Nathan was on a mission, a mission to undo what had been done to him during the gulf war, which of course all started at the bunkers full of chemical/biological weapons. So the scene to me, was not heavy handed, but eerily prophetic. Nathan's goal became reality, but his death prevented the fullfillment. But now Paul has been drawn into this race for the cure. And stop a moment to think about what Paul has already done to achieve his own cure.
He was refering to what the MILITARY had done.
Ah, no, he was referring to what science had done. The Iraqis made the chemical weapons. The military ignored the warnings that the bunker was full of chemical weapons. The American military bombed the bunker and poff! They did an "Oh my God", because they didn't listen. Once the deed was done, they went in to study the effects. Get soil samples, tissue samples to find out what they were dealing with. The American military had no idea what was in the bunkers, other than some sort of chemical weapon. Specifically, General Conway (Michael Moriarty) stating get in, get what you need, and get out. Both Nathan and Paul were scientists, if you remember. So actually, Nathan was referring to what science had accomplished. Something which could kill within seconds.
So once again, we have the military and the FBI and some other types of suit-wearing
government types working together to do something OH SO SPOOKY AND
UN-X-FILES LIKE (or NOT) and DAFFY thinks it's NOT a government
conspiracy show?
No, we have individuals working together toward a common goal. The question is, who are these people and what do they want? What do they hope to gain? And I guess the biggest question, why?
What does he have a photographic memory and can ACTUALLY recall "Article 44" and what it states?
When it's important, yes. Isn't there anything important to you? Since USAMRIID is involved in studying the effects of the Gulf War Syndrome, don't you think that a person who is deeply involved in looking for a cure would read anything that pertains to that fact? And a person who used to work for USAMRIID would know the charter for the organization? Whoops, I forgot! Maybe you missed that scene too. The part where Major Reese (Saundra Quarterman) tells Paul, why should I help you when you skipped out on me? Hell, I even remember parts of the UCMJ, because they relate directly to me. One nice thing about the military, once something is forced into your brain, you rarely forget it.
People are being drawn into the conspiracy by small baby steps, little things which by themselves would mean absolutely nothing. But put them together, and you have the character by the proverbial nuts. "Lullaby" made that objective perfectly clear to me. I am going to wait out season one, and see where it goes. But if you want my opinion, the conspiracy gang is trying to get Paul Turner for themselves. Giving away the drug for free, then expecting him to follow their guidelines down the road, ie: re-join USAMRIID. Dropping little hints here and there on a case and then Turner works outside the system to accomplish his goal. He's part of the government, but he is not. I can see Turner walking right into a trap and the conspiracy gang is letting him. Last line from "Lullaby", the AW states: "I expect you learn, Mr. Turner." My thought was "Learn what?" There's manipulation going on all over the place. The question at this point, is just who is manipulating who? -
Ok, let me clear up two things: 1) I do not work for Carter (wish I did) and 2) I do not have a hard on for Gordon. I think he is a mediocre writer who wrote one good episode on his own (Sleepless) and a couple of decent ones which he co-wrote with others. As for the comment of the outstanding episodes, how interesting you would point out "Paper HEarts", "Home" and episodes which he did not write (as you so acknowledge). As far as his reign, many were in the same rank as he was and higher so I truly don't believe he deserves the praise. If you look at his contribution to season 4, (beginning with "Teliko") you'll see he almost ruined that season on his own. As for "The X-Files" I find this current season to be amongst its very finest, for its experimental nature, quirkiness and its effortless switching of genres. Something "Strange World" I don't think will ever be able to do simply because its format is too limiting. "The X-Files" has a myriad of subjects to draw upon and genres to visit and re-visit. The show has not felt this fresh or energized in a very long time and as a whole, it has been one of the strongest seasons. (Somebody else mentioned a list of the Gordon crap so I won't have to get into that). What fails in Gordon's vision-I believe-is multi-layered scripts and characters. You watch a writer's work for four years I believe and you can tell the truly gifted from the lucky. Compare Morgan/Wong or Darin Morgan or Vince Gilligan's work and you'll see. I'm not saying there haven't been any other shows to deal with UFO coverups, government involvelments or the paranormal-but what has made X standout is its ability to find the interesting, the scary and the funny in all such subject matter, something other genre shows are too afraid to do. And I think "Strange World" resembles more "X" on look and feel than X resembles "Kolchack" for instance or any of the other shows mentioned.
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Ok, let me clear up two things: 1) I do not work for Carter (wish I did) and 2) I do not have a hard on for Gordon. I think he is a mediocre writer who wrote one good episode on his own (Sleepless) and a couple of decent ones which he co-wrote with others. As for the comment of the outstanding episodes, how interesting you would point out "Paper HEarts", "Home" and episodes which he did not write (as you so acknowledge). As far as his reign, many were in the same rank as he was and higher so I truly don't believe he deserves the praise. If you look at his contribution to season 4, (beginning with "Teliko") you'll see he almost ruined that season on his own. As for "The X-Files" I find this current season to be amongst its very finest, for its experimental nature, quirkiness and its effortless switching of genres. Something "Strange World" I don't think will ever be able to do simply because its format is too limiting. "The X-Files" has a myriad of subjects to draw upon and genres to visit and re-visit. The show has not felt this fresh or energized in a very long time and as a whole, it has been one of the strongest seasons. (Somebody else mentioned a list of the Gordon crap so I won't have to get into that). What fails in Gordon's vision-I believe-is multi-layered scripts and characters. You watch a writer's work for four years I believe and you can tell the truly gifted from the lucky. Compare Morgan/Wong or Darin Morgan or Vince Gilligan's work and you'll see. I'm not saying there haven't been any other shows to deal with UFO coverups, government involvelments or the paranormal-but what has made X standout is its ability to find the interesting, the scary and the funny in all such subject matter, something other genre shows are too afraid to do. And I think "Strange World" resembles more "X" on look and feel than X resembles "Kolchack" for instance or any of the other shows mentioned.
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Your post was more confusing than the first ep of Strange World. You lost me about one-quarter into it. Try getting to the point a little faster. Before I totally got bored of your post you did mention something about how you weren't thinking "government conspiracies" but in fact were thinking "CIA Black Ops". Last time I checked, the CIA was part of the government. Just admit it, many of you out there enjoyed something that was hideously unoriginal. It's okay, it happens all the time here in America. Why do you think Titanic made more than $600 Million? -peteski@spinninghead.com
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First time I ever bothered writing in to this board, so I guess I really like this show. I thought that Strange World has been everything promised over the two nights that it has shown. The second ep., Lullaby, was by far the better of the two, but as pilots go the "Pilot" was not bad. The direction, writing and acting have all been solid to very good and I love the Vancouver setting (which has been missed this year on that other 20th Century Fox show). The only real big problem I see with Strange World is the group of fans who one would think would be flocking to try out the show. I have no problem criticizing shows when they deserve it (for example, the current seasons of Millennium, Homicide and The X-Files), but all too often in the short life of this series I have seen tons of criticism heaped upon it for the strangest (no pun) possible reasons. There is first the camp who absolutely refused to watch it from the beginning, because they think it paints all scientists as modern day Frankensteins (and that comes without ever seeing an episode). There is the group (which seems to include quite a few tv critics, who are of course known for their odes to originality), who say the show is just an X-Files clone. Of course the previous group is countered by those who say that SW isn't an X-Files clone at all, but instead is a rip of Millennium. There is the camp that says it's too dark, too serious, too depressing, too deep, and the lead guy hasn't managed to channel David D's wry humor (I'm figuring terminal illness takes away one's ability to smile at life). And of course the "it's too serious crowd" is countered by the "it's such a lightweight compared to Brimstone and early Millennium" crowd. I have read people who hate the show because Sydney (that would be the protagonist's lover, for those of you who didn't bother to stick around past the first five minutes, and yes, Kristin Lehman was Invisigoth, there are only so many actors in Vancouver) is a doctor and so must be a rip of Scully, while there are others who swear Turner's military boss, Major Reese, is a direct descendent of A.D. Skinner (though I didn't catch the resemblance) and of course that group that can't believe Gordon would stoop to the lowest level by giving Turner a...cell phone, just like Mulder (and about 60 million other Americans).
Basically what all of these folks are saying is that they can't be bothered to actually watch the show to judge it on its own merits and faults; why expend the energy, when it's so much easier to just label it a clone and dismiss the whole thing. Well, that's just lazy. I really wonder after reading over some of these comments about the show if some of the people who have posted even bothered to watch it. First, there is the guy who swears there is a grand government conspiracy going on,well, he must be receiving subliminal messages, because there is no evidence of any government conspiracy. If anything the gov't in SW, seem to be the ignorant dupes who are two steps behind the real power players (so far I'm thinking, that some kind of corporate drug syndicate is pulling Turner's, the Asian Lady's, and the rogue FBI agent's strings, but that's just what I got from it). Then there are those who say that Howard Gordon is crap and so anything he touches must be crap or stolen from Chris Carter. Well, I don't think that Gordon is the best writer/producer to come out of The X-Files, but he was responsible for a lot of the tone and direction of the show (so, of course, SW will have some of those elements) and he has delivered more than his share of good (and some great) episodes to The X-Files (more than Carter, in my opinion, whose writing I have never liked). The whole point, and yes I do have one, in this rather long rant, is to just give Strange World a chance to either stand or fall on its own merits without unfairly knocking it down with pointless comparisons (it is already somewhat doomed being on the net of death). For some reasons fans of "genre" shows have the uncanny ability to continue to shoot ourselves in the foot. If we are a fan of one show, we will ride anything we see as "invading our territory" until the bitter end (see the whole Star Trek vs. B5 stupidity that has been going on for more than half a decade as an example). This kind of fervent dislike and irrational "I refuse to watch" attitude just is not widely seen among the fans of other established types (cop/lawyer/(melo)drama)of shows, no wonder those are the most prominent types of shows on the tube. And while the majority of us would be/could be/should be fans of the show are off pissing on it for being too much/not enough of one thing or another, ABC has a couple more newsmags/lawyer/ doctor/P.I. shows waiting in the wings.
Sorry for the length, got a little carried away, and I hope this made some sense. -
I love seeing all these arguments saying that Strange World is a rip off of X-Files. Since when is X-Files original? And since when does unoriginal equate to sucks all crap? Just because X-Files ripps off shows that most of us are too young to have seen or remember, doesn't mean it doesn't rip off. And yes.... homage means ripps off to me. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
But my opinion doesn't count... since I'm from Section44.
- Frank -
Heard the ratings for this weeks episodes. When do we start writing to Sci-Fi Channel To get them to pick up however many episodes ABC never shows?
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Thank you to everyone who has been supporting this excellent show and sending in their snail mail letters. It is very important to show ABC that we are enjoying the show. *********
I have a bit of bad news though....we have been doing our job so well with the snail letters that ABC believes the show is not getting any positive response because they are not receiving any email. Our snail letters haven't had time to reach their offices yet either. Now if that isn't irony, I don't know what is. (eg)
****************************
So here is what we are asking you all to do. Please, please, please continue to write ABC snail mail at:
*******************
ABC Audience Relations Department,
ATTN: Strange World,
77 W. 66th St.,
NY, NY 10023 ******************
Then after you have posted your snail letter, send off a quick email to the Strange World Offices. We have provided an easy email to use: ************************
strangeworld@bflg.com. *****************************
It is automatically set up to go straight to them. ********************
Lets continue to show our fan support and appreciation! You may copy this post to be used for any and all groups who may be interested! Please forward at will. ***************************
Karma and Rae (
Strange World Unofficial Fan Club: http://www.bflg.com/strange/)
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Boy, this is getting pitiful. I just read on another site about how low the ratings are, and, fact is, it'll probably get worse. Ratings for repeats of NYPD Blue pull in greater numbers than SW's Tuesday night airing. I wouldn't be surprised if ABC decides to pull the third Tuesday night showing and immediately moves it to Saturday. Will we even get to see this "limited series" end with its 13th episode? How did things in television become so bad that now there's talk about starting a campaign to plead with ABC to air SW episodes they've ALREADY PRODUCED?? If the ratings aren't there to ABC's satisfaction, don't count on it. They never aired the final five episodes of Nothing Sacred nor is it likely Cupid fans will ever get to see the last produced episode of that series (which features swing dancing). I tell you, personally for me, getting involved with supporting these shows is just not worth it. After a hard day's work and navigating with one's social life, who wants the aggravation from a medium, network television, which is (or WAS) supposed to give pleasure and an enjoyable diversion?
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