Comments on THE GALAXY EXPRESS: Will Science Fiction Romance Ever Get Its Own BUFF...

Thanks, Bev! That's given me an idea for a blog po...

2009-05-28T15:11:05.350-04:00

Thanks, Bev! That's given me an idea for a blog post there....

There's an interesting discussion going on right n...

2009-05-27T12:23:18.688-04:00

There's an interesting discussion going on right now you might want to check out if you don't already know about it:

http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2009/05/27/are-we-speaking-the-same-language/

Anon, yes--Century City (a "futuristic legal drama"). That must have been lingering in my subconscious, lol! Or maybe it was Ioan Gruffud, rowrrr.

Didn't the networks try a Law & Order SF t...

2009-05-21T20:46:13.203-04:00

Didn't the networks try a Law & Order SF type show not too long ago? The one where Horatio Hornblower/Mr. Fantastic was a lawyer for a firm that specialized in cases involving evolving science? Can't remember the name and I think it only lasted a couple of episodes - which I missed for some reason. *Sigh*

Ooooohh...a "Law and Order: SFR" edition. I'd be ...

2009-05-21T20:20:56.626-04:00

Ooooohh...a "Law and Order: SFR" edition. I'd be all over that.

The truth is that TV doesn't do romance very we...

2009-05-20T21:49:29.583-04:00
The truth is that TV doesn't do romance very wellWhich is why I think an SFR series might find more success if it tilts slightly more toward the speculative/high concept elements. But then you could have episodes where the romance takes center stage at times.

In addition to equal partners as Bev pointed out, I want there to be great chemistry along the lines of Mulder/Scully--or even something like the chemistry between David and Maddie in MOONLIGHTING (only not so wacky).

I definitely want it to be a "their story" and I'm open to any type of setting, time period, and speculative elements. It could even be Mundane SF which has the potential to make an SFR extremely accessible, particularly for viewers steeped in shows like LAW AND ORDER and ER.

I'm sure the synchronicity required for such a project (right director/writer + supportive network + affordable budget + cultural receptivity) is the number one obstacle. Which is to say, every obstacle rolled into one.

I like the idea of a well done mini-series blazing...

2009-05-20T21:02:07.683-04:00
I like the idea of a well done mini-series blazing the trail to a media breakout for SFR. I'd love to see one of the same quality as Lonesome Dove.

I just keep dreamin'. :)

If you are interested in reading a good erotic, ro...

2009-05-20T18:50:30.794-04:00
If you are interested in reading a good erotic, romantic Space Opera, LUST IN SPACE might be up your alley:

http://www.ravenousromance.com/breathless/lust-in-space.php

Corny name, great pulp sci-fi characters and storyline. ;-)

Lisa

I'm a little confused by something. Are ya'...

2009-05-20T15:00:39.403-04:00
I'm a little confused by something. Are ya'll wanting more of "her stories" or "their stories"? Because while I liked and enjoyed Buffy, I certainly didn't tune into because I considered it to be a romance. It had it's romantic moments and themes, don't get me wrong - but it was definitely a "her story" series. And that's what I liked about it. It was Buffy's story.

Which is all well and good but that is not the same thing as a romance driven vehicle. The truth is that TV doesn't do romance very well and I'm not sure I'd want them to attempt it because they'd probably mess it up. They definitely didn't know what to do with Lois & Clark once they actually got them married - it was like they had no concept of what being married was all about. Uh, no different than what they'd been doing before, investigating stories.

And holding up an example of something like Adam Strange as somethi to aspire to where they're constantly separated? No thank you. Not what I want to see in a romance either.

That's not to say that both TV and movies can't do romances given the right properties but usually there's one key ingredient that has to be present - an equal partnership. It's found in the best detective and mystery types shows.

What was appealing about Farscape? Or even Stargate or the various Star Treks? They treat each other as equals. So, to me the answer is the breakout is going to be when someone figures out how to showcase in a science fiction setting a strong enough pairing to catch everyone's attention in a believeable fashion.

Old prejudices die hard. If you don't have a peni...

2009-05-20T13:43:27.373-04:00
Old prejudices die hard. If you don't have a penis, you don't have a brain for science or science fiction. Until that belief changes, there will be nothing new.

No matter how much we complain or beg, we're only going to get more of the same because it's too much of a financial risk to try something new.

And so the prejudice will persist and we will do without.

Or, we can make up our own stories and trade them among ourselves.

Thanks for the quote and link. As much as I love J...

2009-05-20T12:45:06.204-04:00
Thanks for the quote and link. As much as I love Jim Henson and the Muppets, I really do wish Rigel had not been part of Farscape. I agree that this aspect of the show really turned people off. However, Aeryn Sun and John Crighton are probably two of my most favorite SF charcters ever. I loved both of their character arcs. Even though it's more Urban Fantasy than SF, I also hope we get to see more of Sactuary.

One of the reasons I started my Danger Gal blog was out of my search for an SF Buffy kind of character. There are many characters that share more than a few traits with Buffy, but what one element that set Buffy apart was that she was the primary character of her own show. The ensemble that supported her were amazing, but she was iconic because she was the main character.

I don't think Star Trek could ever be a vehicle for something like that. It's purpose is entirely to depict an SF bromance.

Type in Spock and Uhura and search for fan fic - t...

2009-05-20T11:42:23.484-04:00
Type in Spock and Uhura and search for fan fic - the livejournals and fanfiction.net are already hopping with it. Also youtube vids with Spock and Uhura.

A recent TV guide said definitely no Buffy movie. ...

2009-05-20T09:29:10.272-04:00
A recent TV guide said definitely no Buffy movie. Because TV guide knows all, doncha know! *heh*

There are many rumors flying around about Whedon m...

2009-05-20T08:24:03.524-04:00
There are many rumors flying around about Whedon making a Buffy movie. I think if tv shows being made into movies make money, like Star Trek, then we have hope the Scooby gang will hit the big screen.

Great points all around, Heather! I think that's i...

2009-05-20T06:44:52.063-04:00
Great points all around, Heather! I think that's it right there. Networks and studios have to want to take a risk and in this economy and shaky entertainment industry, the people who are willing will be going to be the independents rather than the big guys. As soon as something comes along that looks like it'll make waves, networks cancel it before it can fly.

Case in point the StarHunter series. Particularly 2300. Awesome futuristic action sci-fi series with not one but two strong female characters. One of which was a pampered heiress who rejected her family's name and money to become a bounty hunter. Sadly it was canceled after it's first season much to audiences and even the cast's surprise. It had the chance to be an awesome continuing series from the first StarHunter that dealt with the hero's father. And there was even a romance blossoming throughout the show with the two leads.

I'm hoping James Cameron's Avatar will be one that starts to get the sci-fi action romance genre to full steam ahead. He definitely has something groundbreaking up his sleeve.