I AM SO EXCITED FOR PREDATOR BADLANDS AAAAA

[Navaan]

Anyone else?

[elhonez]

It's definitely been rewarding to see the revitalization of the Aliens/Predator franchises. Neither Romulus nor Prey sucked, so I remain hopeful. And Killer of Killers was pretty good too!

[Navaan]

I absolutely ADORED Prey and really enjoyed Killer of Killers. I'm nervous about Aliens Earth tho.

[Trekker 42]

I'm also not feeling Alien Earth, but that's mostly because of my general disdain for long form storytelling lately. If the show isn't episodic and is more like trying to do a 10 hour movie but cut into show length episodes I find myself stalling out in the middle every time. Even with Godzilla involved I stalled out. 

Star Trek Strange New Worlds is peak TV right now because they're writing *episodes.* Beginning. Middle. End. I don't trust Alien to do that.

[Navaan]

47 minutes ago, Trekker 42 said:

I'm also not feeling Alien Earth, but that's mostly because of my general disdain for long form storytelling lately. If the show isn't episodic and is more like trying to do a 10 hour movie but cut into show length episodes I find myself stalling out in the middle every time. Even with Godzilla involved I stalled out. 

Star Trek Strange New Worlds is peak TV right now because they're writing *episodes.* Beginning. Middle. End. I don't trust Alien to do that.

My friend I absolutely feel this. It's why I hate when certain shows aren't binge drops, and it's why I love things like Netflix's Marvel and Stranger Things because you had all of it at once and it actually felt just like a very long movie. I can't stand things where it's weekly episodic, but not episodes.

[cylonchaney]

I wonder if it's generational. I'm of the opposite opinion to almost all of the above. But I'm slowly turning into Abe Simpson yelling at clouds as I get older.  

When I saw the Predator with the side shave and pony tail, my first thought was it's not a fucking human and that's not fucking hair. And no one needs to see themselves reflected in the Predator. It looks so stupid to me. My feeling is that every property created after the first movie has only diminished the franchise. I loved the first one. Predator 2 and the one with Adrien Brody were OK for me. The rest including AvP were popcorn flicks and enjoyed them as such, but pretty weak movies. The one with the kid sucked and was the end for me. That one was painful to watch. Culture would be better off it there was only the Arnie one and no franchise IMHO.

The Alien show looks promising to me. It makes sense that a universe with Xenos in it would have some other nasties as well. It allows them not to overuse the Xeno by having other characters. That also provides terrific opportunities to be episodic if they want. Each episode could be chasing down a new nasty, the next one its spawn, whatever. Looks to have a scary atmosphere. I like the look of what I've seen and I don't mind long form story telling if it's good. I'm cautiously optimistic.

Tried to give Strange New Worlds a chance. But as a guy who grew up with Captain Kirk on his TV and that being the only Trek, SNW drove me crazy. Among other things, every character has an epic and / or tragic backstory. Is there no place to have a boring happy upbringing in the whole Federation? The character that is a descendant of Khan has to hide it because everyone knows who that is. Yet just a few years later in Kirk's generation, no one has a clue when he shows up. Write a new reason for her to have whatever abilities, you lazy bastards.   

If you want some good sci-fi, I cannot strongly enough recommend The Expanse. Maybe not for Trekker. It's long form.

And for the super long form story telling, Babylon 5. Some of the story arcs run the entire series and beyond. Also, G'Kar was played by Andreas Katsulas who Next Gen fans will remember as Ambassador Tomolok among others. Probably looks a bit dated now. But great storytelling.

Thankfully taste is a 100% subjective thing. More power to you if something I hate brings joy to your life. Hopefully some things go the other way.  

[cylonchaney]

4 hours ago, Navaan said:

My friend I absolutely feel this. It's why I hate when certain shows aren't binge drops, and it's why I love things like Netflix's Marvel and Stranger Things because you had all of it at once and it actually felt just like a very long movie. I can't stand things where it's weekly episodic, but not episodes.

Just wait until the end of the run and binge then. LOL

[Navaan]

7 minutes ago, cylonchaney said:

Just wait until the end of the run and binge then. LOL

See, you say that, but literally doing that with the Boys, Castlevania, and other shows. xD

[Trekker 42]

You know, oddly enough I loved Babylon 5. But that’s because it tells its arc story like something like the X-Files. Yeah there’s a long form story but the show’s episodes each have internal conflicts and arcs. It didn’t come off as if someone filmed 26 hours of movie and stopped at the most convenient cliffhangers and said “wait a week” or “now hit ‘skip intro’ again.” I’m bitching about stuff like Obi-Wan or Loki or Stranger Things or, much as I wanted to love it, Monarch Legacy of Monsters and Shogun. 

Edited July 23 by Trekker 42

[Navaan]

You know, I think that is why Orville worked. Was like a marriage between episode Star Trek TNG and longer-form seasonal TV storytelling.

[cylonchaney]

9 minutes ago, Navaan said:

You know, I think that is why Orville worked. Was like a marriage between episode Star Trek TNG and longer-form seasonal TV storytelling.

It was more Star Trek than the Trek shows of its time or since. I really wish we'd gotten another season.

[Navaan]

6 minutes ago, cylonchaney said:

It was more Star Trek than the Trek shows of its time or since. I really wish we'd gotten another season.

Heard on that. I am at least happy with what we got, there was only one 'dangling' plot thread, by my view.

[Padrino]

On 7/22/2025 at 9:28 PM, Trekker 42 said:

You know, oddly enough I loved Babylon 5. But that’s because it tells its arc story like something like the X-Files. Yeah there’s a long form story but the show’s episodes each have internal conflicts and arcs. It didn’t come off as if someone filmed 26 hours of movie and stopped at the most convenient cliffhangers and said “wait a week” or “now hit ‘skip intro’ again.” I’m bitching about stuff like Obi-Wan or Loki or Stranger Things or, much as I wanted to love it, Monarch Legacy of Monsters and Shogun. 

B5 was easily my favorite sci-fi show, followed by DS9 and then Orville.

Edited July 24 by Padrino

[cylonchaney]

4 hours ago, Padrino said:

B5 was easily my favorite sci-fi show, followed by DS9 and then Orville.

G'Kar's storyline alone was epic, amazing, and well acted. Then there's still the rest of the show. The only thing that sucked was Marcus. LOL That actor was not a good choice for a tough guy IMHO.

Have you seen The Expanse? I flip flop between it an B5 as my ATF.

[buttheadsmate]

Never seen B5 , maybe I'll have a go .   No love for Firefly ? BSG still rates as my personal favourite , just saying.

[cylonchaney]

9 minutes ago, buttheadsmate said:

Never seen B5 , maybe I'll have a go .   No love for Firefly ? BSG still rates as my personal favourite , just saying.

Being a Brit, you're used to shows with short runs. But there are only 14 episodes of Firefly. That wasn't even a full season back in those days. Good show, but there's not much of it to love.

The long arc of B5 is almost operatic. I can think of several characters that had to make some epic sacrifices. But they are well set up in the plot and actually carry some emotional weight. The only negative I can think of is the CGI from the day will not have aged well. 

B5 was created and written by Ronald Moore who, I believe, did the same for the BSG reboot. So, may well be up your alley. If you ever hear behind the scenes stuff about this guy he seems like a really good person. There's an example I would mention but it would include show spoilers so I'm not.

[Navaan]

You know, I am with BHM on this one. I feel like, Firefly w/ Serenity to cap it off is a pretty decent over and done series. NOT PERFECT, but I liked it enough and am satisfied enough to be happy with it. Would love it to ACTUALLY have been given the chance it deserved, but I still enjoy it.

[buttheadsmate]

"Being a Brit,you're used to shows with short runs "  ......where did that come from ?  

I have watched all 218 episodes of a little-known TV show , most of them several times , The X-Files . 

All episodes of Lost  which should have been 3 seasons shorter .

All 166 episodes of The Flintstones before you were even born sonny boy 

Doctor Who is a British show that is the longest running Sci-Fi TV show (Guinness Book of Records).

Ironically I was, but am no longer a fan of the Doctor yet I have always adored Daleks .  

 

Just started watching Blu-Ray box of 'Fringe' which I haven't previously seen , I can't say it's bad but I struggle a bit .

 

[Padrino]

18 hours ago, cylonchaney said:

G'Kar's storyline alone was epic, amazing, and well acted. Then there's still the rest of the show. The only thing that sucked was Marcus. LOL That actor was not a good choice for a tough guy IMHO.

Have you seen The Expanse? I flip flop between it an B5 as my ATF.

I've seen the earlier seasons but I need to rewatch from the beginning.

Marcus was a total drag on that show. 

I've been a huge fan of JMS!

I forgot all about BSG! Loved the update. The seemed to drop off a cliff at the ending, though.

 

[cylonchaney]

I saw another trailer for Predator Badlands and I'm horrified as a fan of the original. Looks so bad IMHO. It makes me want to go on a huge rant. LOL

Always remember taste is subjective. I detest the band Nickelback. An embarrassment to Canada. But 50 million people have disagreed enough to buy their horrible albums.  Who's right, me or 50 million people? Both.

But anyway, Alien Earth premieres tonight. I'm cautiously optimistic and hope I find it enjoyable. I like Timothy Olyphant so it's got that going for it.

[Navaan]

I think Badlands will be good, but I ADORED Prey and really liked Killer of Killers. Am excited for Alien Earth, tho. I trust the folks in it.

[Onyx_6]

BSG, Expanse, and The Orville are all fantastic shows, BSG is one of only 2 tv shows I have watched in entirety twice through. 

Predator and Prey were great movies in the franchise, the rest, meh. Alien and Aliens are superb, and I actually enjoyed the nostalgia factor of Romulus (and I am *only* 40! 😅). I like the lore-building of Prometheus and Covenant, but I can't tell if they are supposed to be cannon, especially now with Alien: Earth. 

[cylonchaney]

56 minutes ago, Onyx_6 said:

BSG, Expanse, and The Orville are all fantastic shows, BSG is one of only 2 tv shows I have watched in entirety twice through. 

Predator and Prey were great movies in the franchise, the rest, meh. Alien and Aliens are superb, and I actually enjoyed the nostalgia factor of Romulus (and I am *only* 40! 😅). I like the lore-building of Prometheus and Covenant, but I can't tell if they are supposed to be cannon, especially now with Alien: Earth. 

Didn't see Prey. Maybe I should check it out if you rank it as #2.

The people in Prometheus were too stupid to survive. They made so many bad decisions that it just took me out of the film. It had the potential to be a movie I would have liked but I feel it was not well written plot-wise. It needed them to make all of those stupid decisions to drive the plot forward. Removing helmets, petting Xeno snakes (Earth snakes are all perfectly harmless, right?), getting lost after you've supposedly mapped everything with a drone, running in the same direction the ship is crashing, etc. Even the fact that the Space Jockey race turned out to be basically humanoids. It wasn't as bad as the prison chiropractor fixing Batman's broken back by punching it though. I'll give it that. LOL

I don't even remember Covenant. I did see it though. I think Danny McBride was in it? And yet I can tell you all kinds of details about the first two that I saw decades ago, because they were good.

Totally agree on Alien and Aliens and your first line.

[THE_CRIPPLER]

On 7/22/2025 at 5:59 PM, cylonchaney said:

 

When I saw the Predator with the side shave and pony tail, my first thought was it's not a fucking human and that's not fucking hair. And no one needs to see themselves reflected in the Predator. It looks so stupid to me. My feeling is that every property created after the first movie has only diminished the franchise. I loved the first one. Predator 2 and the one with Adrien Brody were OK for me. The rest including AvP were popcorn flicks and enjoyed them as such, but pretty weak movies. The one with the kid sucked and was the end for me. That one was painful to watch. Culture would be better off it there was only the Arnie one and no franchise IMHO.

 

A lot of people were turned off by the design of the young Predator in the new movie. If you compare the design of it from the most recent trailer to the original trailer it looks like they did some tweaks to his head. Still not great,  but a little better looking. I will still watch it though since I am a huge Predator fan.

[Navaan]

Honestly, I can accept the differences. How different are humans, from human to human? And he is supposed to be younger.