SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Anyone else been watching Continuum on Syfy?

I'm not sure I'm going to stick with it -- starting to feel formulaic, but then a lot of these series start out that way, including some (like Eureka or even Deep Space Nine) that I started to really love.

Still, it's feeling pretty flat. And shows that have a single obstacle to overcome, in this case: get the bad guys and go back to the future, eventually have to either come to an end with that actually happening, or pull some really interesting twists to send it into new directions.

So, do I give up and risk that it becomes something I feel I gave up on too soon (like Supernatural) or something I let myself get dragged into way too long (Voyager)?

I liked the first couple of episodes (though I can't stand the male cop for some reason) but have been finding excuses not to watch the recent episodes we've DvRed.

The show has an interesting concept but might need to pick it up or I might lose interest.

I know what you mean. I liked the first episode, and it continues to have moments, but it has definitively stopped working for me. It's not jus the single goal issue, it's also the now-oppressive gimmick of the kid in her head, and, if he fixes it (I might be behind by a week or two), her suit. While the overall philosophical, political, interpersonal, and theoretical issues remain somewhat interesting, they let lackluster dialogue, cheap production values, cheesy music and occasional senseless violence (I don't mind violence, senseless or otherwise, but I don't like the feeling that I get when the showrunners seem to be saying, "Ignore how dull this is, just look at the blood. Blood is exciting, right?"). I only have so many hours a week, so I keep thinking that they going to have to do better to get my hour.

I don't get what NBC (parent company of SyFy) is thinking. They keep tossing, or not picking up, shows that are phenomenal; Stargate Universe, Caprica, Battlestar Galactica Blood & Chrome, Harry Dent, Blade, the series...There are lots more on the list. Instead, we get Mansquito 1, 2 and 3, Piranhadon versus Supergator, Way Too Many Dragons, Robot Combat League, Fact or Faked: Paranormal, Ghosthunters and Haunted Collector. The only shows I actually watch are the wonderful Being Human (of course, this is just a copy of the British show), Lost Girl (already a hit on Canadian television, but I LOVE that Kenzie), and Face Off (I have no explanation for this).

Tenant is the Doc for me. Smith is tolerable. I want more Torchwood, or John Barrowman in ANYTHING.

Suzi wrote: "I know what you mean. I liked the first episode, and it continues to have moments, but it has definitively stopped working for me. It's not jus the single goal issue, it's also the now-oppressive..."

...and let's not forget their latest "science fiction" show, wraslin' (Give me a break!).

I couldn't agree more with you, Suzi, although I don't watch any of the shows you mentioned that survive (not a vampire fan -- horrors!). SyFy has become Sci-flop (or is that "cow flop").

Well, at least we still have a lot of good books we can read after we turn the TV off in disgust. With the advent of eBooks and the rise of many small publishing houses (and some talented "indi" authors), there is a plethora of new stuff to choose from at reasonable prices (and some of it is quite good). And even the "so-so" authors put out better stuff than we see on Sci-Flop these days.

I did end up dropping Continuum from my DVR list. Like Suzi, I don't have unlimited time waiting for a TV series to maybe get good.

Now that I finally signed up for Netflix, I'm re-watching Deep Space Nine and Spaced and have seen some interesting indie SF movies, too. I just watched a movie called "Love" that was very interesting, and if you haven't seen "Primer" yet it's a must see.

And yes, BOOKS TOO!

I'm sticking with Continuum until the season finale, then I'll make up my mind. I agree the series is only moderately interesting at best, but I hate to give up too soon. One of my fave series of all time, Babylon 5, was pretty awful at first, but I stuck with it and was amply rewarded.

The biggest problem I have with the series is the premise that it's actually a good thing to preserve a future where corporations rule everything-like they don't already, right?-and everyone lives in a total surveillance state. Therefore, I can't really get behind Kiera and her mission. I actually want Liber8 to succeed in busting that bleak future. No, I don't agree with their terrorist tactics, but it feels to me like the show's creator(s) are advocating for a corporate/oligarchic society, and dissent should be looked at as terrorism.

Am I wrong?