Sci-fi you couldn’t get into?

ElectronBadger, 10 months ago

Star Trek, both the old and new ones
Battlestar Galactica

SeeJayEmm, 10 months ago

I could not get I to BSG! I tried. No one was relatable or sympathetic.

blivet, 10 months ago

Yeah, by the end of the story all the characters had been shown to be so awful that I didn’t care what happened to any of them.

metaStatic, 10 months ago

I loved Babylon 5 but Crusade just hasn't clicked for me

theinspectorst, 10 months ago

I don't think Crusade clicked for anyone. Hence Crusade getting cancelled midway through its first season.

To be honest, all of the 'post-B5' B5 has been difficult. JMS apparently literally thought up the gist of the five season plot (which ended up being condensed into seasons 1-4 of the show as they were unsure if they would get cancelled - hence so much happening in s4) while he was in the shower, and it was one of the best sci-fi stories ever told. But it's seemed clear to me that everything he's done since B5 s4 has not reached anything like the same levels.

He told a great story, and he created a great universe, but I think he doesn't really know how to tell other great stories in that universe.

BonKH, 10 months ago

@stopthatgirl7 I've started Dune numerous times. I get further each time, but I'm still not very far along. I think there's a tone change between the opening of the book and the move to Arrakis. Paul's mother has just met with the "house mother" in my latest attempt. I'll get there. Eventually.

Lasairiona, 10 months ago

I tried Dune a few times, I just can't do it. Not the books, not the miniseries, not the new movie. In theory it sounds great, but... It's not gripping me at all for some reason.

Durandal, 10 months ago

Dune is one of my favorite series, but I can totally see why it would be jarring. Unfortunately there are a couple of major tonal shifts throughout the series. Heck.... there's a couple just in the first book. It is definitely a very dense read. Lots going on and a lot of moving parts to track. There's even a glossary in the back to keep track of it with maps heh.

It's a really interesting universe. Herbert was really into philosophy and lead a really interesting life (his biography written by his son is an interesting read as well). It doesn't get any less dense and layered unfortunately, if that is what is keeping you out of it.

The Sci-fi mini-series was good and hit most of the major points pretty well, if you just can't deal with the books themselves. It might bring you back with some renewed interest. The new movies are interesting as a fan, but don't really tell the story fully, IMHO.

oo1, 10 months ago

i did love dune, enjoyed the variety and dynamics; but i struggled with all the follow ups i think it just became more style, complexity and politics and there was not enough story left to drag me through it.
(cf. War and Peace)

Durandal, 10 months ago

I really enjoy the philosophical and psychological study of humanity through sci-fi, so I enjoyed that thread through the whole series. I've read far too much of it lol. But I totally get it when people have to tap out... it's a dense series of books.

I have the same reaction to Lord of the Rings. I love the story, but I can't slog through reading the books. The peter jackson films were a god send for me.

OldFartPhil, 10 months ago

I read The Three Body Problem, but it wasn’t engaging enough to read the sequels. I’m not into sci-fi adjacent films like Pacific Rim and superhero or comic book movies. In general, I have a strong preference for sci-fi books over movies and TV shows because books can go places that visual media can’t.

bingbong, 10 months ago

I can’t seem get into Star Trek. I’ve seen several variations of movies and shows, but it’s just not for me

metaStatic, 10 months ago

The original series is just god awful and I basically love everything else up until to the new movies. (Any trekies in the house wanna fight about Enterprise being the best trek series?)

oo1, 10 months ago

hah, the only ones i liked were the early ones.
square acting, awful dialogue, kirk sh*gging random aliens.
comedy gold.

without that we'd have no Zapp Brannigan!

dave, 10 months ago

First, the Trekkers would like a word with you about that slur…

BonKH, 10 months ago

@dave

I just talked about this with customers im my shop last week...

I'm a Trekkie and a Trekker. 🖖

If Swifties become Swifters, the merch people could clean up! 🧹

Furries & Bronies, Furrers & Broners? 🤣
Um, nah. Sounds naughty. 🦫🍆

@stopthatgirl7 @bingbong @metaStatic

effingjoe, 10 months ago

I am really digging Strange New Worlds. It feels like Star Trek to me. (As opposed to Discovery, which-- well, let's just say I'm not a fan haha.)

theinspectorst, 10 months ago

Is Enterprise the best Star Trek series? No way.

Is Enterprise s4 arguably the best individual Star Trek season? Very possible.

SeeJayEmm, 10 months ago

Enterprise is a mixed bag for me. I very much disliked the temporal cold war and the season long Xindi war.

But, they had some of the best mirror universe eps. in all of trek and I think, a great cast.

theinspectorst, 10 months ago (edited 10 months ago)

My problem with the earlier seasons is that the human characters all behave like irrational over-emotional caricatures of humans, as if they were written by Vulcan logic absolutists expressly for the purposes of anti-human propaganda. A moderately intelligent human today wouldn't behave the way they sometimes do, yet we're to believe that the best and brightest of humanity in the 22nd century would.

By season 4 they had ironed out the kinks and finally told some great stories, but by that point too many people had switched off.