SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

So Alphas started tonight over on the network that shall not be named.

Super powered people or something.

I dunno, I haven't watched it yet. But it's on my DVR and I'll get to it tomorrow as I await ADWD.

Anyone else check it out? What'd you think?

Meh.

I found it more watchable than Heroes was (is that sacrilege in this group?) mostly because it's not all DOOM and GLOOM and ANGST and MELODRAMA but instead a sort of procedural.

Plus, you know, David Strathairn.

On the negative side, so far it doesn't bring anything new to the table, the casting of powers is stereotypical, and the disabled superpower trope bugs me.

'Sokay. I didn't like it nearly as much as Heroes, myself (so there, you blasphemer!), but it's very different from Heroes. Not the same tone at all.

I thought the girl with the synesthesia (btw, they used that word incorrectly -- but whatever) looked exactly like Sarah Michelle Gellar with a dye job and fake tanner. Anyone else?

Oh btw, I thought the autistic guy was a very interesting imagining of what might actually be going on in a real autistic's head. Who knows?

So I watched it this morning.

Yeah.

I'm not impressed.

I'll give it another shot or two, but I'll probably let it fall by the wayside like Falling Skies.

The misuse of synesthesia bugged me too. C'mon now, is it that hard to just check Wikipedia first? ;)

I watched it. (I never liked Heroes after the first season, and I stopped watching.)

I think it wasn't the best pilot episode I've ever seen, but it wasn' the worst, either. The director seems to be shooting for the Robert Altman style of dialogue, but I found everyone talking over everyone else to be pretty annoying.

However, I like the idea of flawed superheroes, and I like how they started the story for almost all of the characters in medias res, so I don't have to watch them discover their powers and go through the whole "what the hell is going on and what do I do now" phase. They've found a place, they've got work to do, they've got an enemy to confront, and the audience has intimations there is more to this simple story than meets the eye. They've managed to make me care about two of the characters: the ex-FBI agent with a kickass wife and the 24 year-old girl whose father worries about her ability to live a normal life with her "condition." I haven't started to care about the Sealy Boothe-wannabe marksman yet or the autistic kid. The mind control woman is hot enough that I want to care about her. Also, I really like the actor who plays "Don." He did a great job on Battlestar Galactica. Also, David Strathairn rules.

So all in all, I'm willing to give this show a shot.

DH and I wonder if most of the budget is used up doing Gary's (autistic guy) special effects.

I also agree with Contrarius, I keep doing a double take thinking it is SMG. (Who I think has a new show coming this fall?)

Also agree with Stan regarding flawed superheroes, its a nice change. DH and I also liked how we saw their weaknesses. Mind control lady can't control everyone, sense girl sacrifices the other senses to enhance one...

We'll give it a few weeks. We haven't watched the last half hour, because it was simply getting to be too late.

I like the premise, the episode was ok, but some of the characters bug me, particularly Gary. He was profoundly annoying to me.

On the other hand, It was great to see Callum Keith Rennie as "Don", as well as David Strathairn.

I might watch the next episode, but it's not really high on my list. There are better shows on TV right now.

I also agree with Contrarius, I keep doing a double take thinking it is SMG. (Who I think has a new..."

I'm glad I'm not the only one! I want them to do a show together as sisters, or at least half-sisters.... ;)

I liked Callum Keith Rennie and David Strathairn too. I'll keep going for a bit. The two things I did like were the foregrounding of the Alphas' weaknesses, and the fact that Strathairn ended the episode as a manipulative dick, blackmailing Hicks into the Alphas. Nice touch.

Brad wrote: "... the fact that Strathairn ended the episode as a manipulative dick, blackmailing Hicks into the Alphas. Nice touch. "

Yeah, my husband commented on that last night when we watched Alphas off the DVR.

Since I never watched anything with SMG in it, I'm not getting that bad vibe. Gary is cool. I liked him (the actor) over at Bones. Although, the few people I've met who are autistic or have Asbergers, have been much quieter and less annoying.

Jon wrote: "Since I never watched anything with SMG in it, I'm not getting that bad vibe. "

Oh, I don't think it's bad. I'm a big SMG fan. It's just odd watching her doppelganger. ;)

I enjoyed the first episode. The missus says it reminds her of a series that starred Debra Messing, back a few years and it was called Prey. Not one I was familiar with. But I definitely will keep watching the next few episodes

I thought I knew what show you were talking about, and that Debra Messing wasn't in it. Then realized I was thinking of Birds of Prey and not Prey.

Prey sounds...weird.

I keep hoping it (Prey) comes out on video or someone will post it on YT as she really quite liked and I'd like to find out for myself. I also enjoyed Birds of Prey when it was out, Ala..

So...Bill...

*shifty look*

check your messages.

I like it so far. Not great but not bad either. Worth me investing a little time into and see what happens.

I like the Gary character, he's pretty funny if you ignore the annoying-factor. Ryan Cartwright was on Bones and I really liked him, he's the main reason I decided to watch this show since I hate the network that shall not be named. Add to that the supremely hot Warren Christie, throw in some David Strathairn and Callum Keith Rennie, yeah, you can bet I'll give it a chance.

"Prey" was a VERY bad series. One of those so-dumb-you-yell-at-the-screen shows...

Jackie wrote: "I decided to watch this show since I hate the network that shall not be named...."

If I boycotted every network who's news department I don't like, I'd never watch anything. Sometimes you have to use some discretion and just boycott the news shows. If you boycott ALL news shows, your blood pressure will stay under control, you won't develop bleeding ulcers, and each day will be a joy.

The only tough decisions will be, "watch the current crop of substandard SF shows or go through SF withdraw".

Al wrote: If I boycotted every network who's news department I don't like, I'd never watch anything.

I hate siffy for it's early cancellation of good shows and no other reason. I'm sure they'll cancel Alphas if it's good, let it stay if it sucks.
Even though siffy annoys me and I'd prefer not to watch it, if they got a show I'm interested in, I will watch it anyway. Nothing gets between me and my entertainment.

I don't watch the news at all, I find they all are biased with their particular spin. My blood pressure is doing just fine...my husband on the other hand, watches too many news shows and I think he'll have a stroke real soon if he keeps it up. I'm not joking in the slightest.

Jackie wrote: "my husband on the other hand, watches too many news shows and I think he'll have a stroke real soon if he keeps it up. I'm not joking in the slightest. "

A wise man (or woman) once told me ... 'Read the comics first (or only) ... you'll live longer.' :)

Jon, that's about the only part of the newspaper I'd be interested in, if I bought it. lol

Jon wrote: "Jackie wrote: "my husband on the other hand, watches too many news shows and I think he'll have a stroke real soon if he keeps it up. I'm not joking in the slightest. "

A wise man (or woman) once ..."

If you realize that most of the media is horribly biased (where political news is concerned), you can safely ignore it all (especially if it's detrimental to your health) and watch the local news to see what's going on in your community (non-political stuff) so you won't miss that parade or neat car show.

That will give you more time to read SF/F which is much less stressful.

Al wrote: If you realize that most of the media is horribly biased (where political news is concerned)

Without a doubt, my friend. But try telling my husband that. He watches the news that fits his political viewpoint, which I suppose, is what everyone does so their views are validated.
My opinion is the media and the govt are corrupt and not worthy of my precious time. I have far more important things to do.
The media and the govt feed on fear, they probably want us to have fits over it so we can buy the exorbitantly priced pharmaceuticals for depression, anxiety, heart problems, etc. (That was supposed to be a joke, but now reading it, it makes sense in a twisted way, lol)

I get my news through Reddit. Confirmation bias ftw.

Watch the BBC for the news, doesn't seem to biased. As for newspapers really glad to see that after 168 years The News Of The World is no more.

I've watched BBC news and it is biased, not as badly as American news, but it does have a liberal slant. There is no news source that is completely unbiased. Those days are long gone.

Al wrote: "watch the local news to see what's going on in your community (non-political stuff) so you won't miss that parade or neat car show."
I watch my local news for weather and road conditions.

I used to check The Weather Channel but they lie too, lol

So anyway, about Alphas, I turned it on for David Straitharn, then was pleased to see that Callum Keith Rennie (I think it must be a law that shows made in Canada hire Rennie. It's a good law.) was the villain. I'm glad they cast the guy from Bones, but the autistic young man and the young woman with synthesia are poorly written, poorly acted, poorly supported with CGI. It's a mess and I've stopped watching.

It's not meeting my expectations and they weren't all that high, considering the utter crap siffy is known for.

It's okay. If there was more competition for my time, it probably wouldn't make the cut, but, since it's the summer and I haven't got much else to watch, I've stuck with it so far.

To tell you the truth, only thing has really bugged me so far was the girl with the crazy language ability. The way she randomly stroked a brush or a closet door...yeah, I don't think there is a piece of software that you can buy has any chance of translating those sounds. That means that she would have to write the software herself, but she couldn't type. Oops.

It also didn't make a lot of sense that Gary could understand her just because he could see the audio waves if she got picked up by a cell phone. I know he's good, but seriously?

Obviously, the writers didn't think too hard about it...or assumed the audience wouldn't. It didn't make me mad, but my brother and I got a good laugh out of it.

I've been enjoying it so far, primarily because it is much more believable than Heroes, et al. (Well, a little more believable, anyway.)

Yes, the very PC makeup of the characters (and the related abilities) is stereotypical, but this is TV... what can you do? I do like the way the characters interact with each other, again, very realistic, no melodrama, just people, not necessarily friends, working together. That connection with reality is what's attracting me to the premise... kind of like the way I felt toward The Sentinel, if anyone here remembers that short-lived show.

I'm not sure where Alphas is likely to go, but I don't mind sticking around to find out.

I seem to be in a minority, but I'm enjoying it very much. I like the humour, the plot lines so far (I can suspend my disbelief somewhat as req'd) and I like the characters on the whole.

I like it. It's not perfect, but other than Storage Wars it's the only show I turn on the TV for in summer.

I especially like Gary. That's a completely different character from what we're used to seeing, so therefore refreshing.

Gary is why I keep coming back. It's not the greatest show, nor is it the worst. It's been keeping me interested enough to watch every week. It's still early and has a lot of potential.
I agree that it's easier to tune in when not much else is on. If Alphas aired during the Fall season with fierce competition, I don't know if I'd put the time into it.
My husband likes it alot, it's one of the few shows he watches.

I understand the actor playing Gary was the second to be hired during casting (after David Strathairn). I'd guess the actor's ability to play an autistic, and to handle the deft motions required for the unique role, may have even helped to sell the show (as a standalone project, at least). At any rate, I like all of the actors, and I'm hoping that their characters get to move beyond the rather 2-dimensional treatments they have at present, and really develop over time.

Cade, I can certainly see why you feel as you do. I kept coming back because I like Ryan Cartwright and David Straitharn but it's gotten to where it's almost unbearable.
To be honest, I didn't think about the clothes because I don't notice things like that. But now that you mentioned it, I see it.
For me, it isn't what Gary does that makes me laugh, it's what he says but it's getting predictable. I never saw him as a clown or a tedious burden. I don't know enough about Asperger's or Autism to know what's accurate or not but I trust that you do and I take your word for it.
I doubt I'll come back to watch it next season; I'll have to be pretty desperate. It had great potential yet never lived up to it.

I've officially given up on Alphas. Started watching this season, and just didn't really care about anyone or anything that was going on.

I didn't bother with the new season. I didn't care last year, about anyone or anything.