Is it me or does SF/Fantasy shows seem optimistic,compared to regular tv shows? (movies, Lost)
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Because seems in SF/Fantasy shows stuff like dishonesty like deceiving people,cheating on someone and such and greed appear to be looked down upon. While in regular tv shows,stuff like cheating on someone and deceiving a person seem to be viewed as a way of life. And seems doing the right thing seems admired in SF/fantasy,while in regular shows it is scorned.
SF has gone back and forth between the utopian world of ST:TOS to the gritty world of Star Wars to the utterly bleak and hopeless world of Gibson, Dick and most of the current TV shows. I'm not sure any blanket statement can be made about "honesty" within the genre; it depends on whether the show is utopian, dystopian or flat-out post-apocalyptic.
Firefly comes to mind as a show set in a fairly bleak world but whose main characters mostly prized their integrity.
It comes in waves. Science fiction went through the bright-eyed "gee whiz!" phase in the '50s. Then things got dark in the '60s and '70s. STAR WARS came along, and things got more optimistic again. We're now in a more pessimistic phase. THE EXPANSE, WESTWORLD, EX MACHINA, ALTERED CARBON, BLACK MIRROR, and even the recent incarnations of STAR TREK and LOST IN SPACE are significantly darker than their predecessors.
Science fiction tends to reflect the culture. When we're feeling optimistic about the future and things are largely going well for most people, science fiction reflects that --- at least on TV and at the movies. When we're feeling more pessimistic and people are worried about the future, science fiction follows the zeitgeist.
This, with a proviso: Sometimes, we see some creators working to present a contrasting view. I think that's MacFarlane's intention with The Orville, and when push comes to shove, was Roddenberry's intention with Star Trek.
This, with a proviso: Sometimes, we see some creators working to present a contrasting view. I think that's MacFarlane's intention with The Orville, and when push comes to shove, was Roddenberry's intention with Star Trek.
I haven't watched THE ORVILLE. Whatever neuron exists in people's brains that allows them to find Seth McFarlane funny, I am apparently missing. But you're right about Roddenberry.
The Orville isn't really a comedy. It's amusing, which is as funny as I would want it to be.
It's Star Trek with the comedy moved up 1 position. From a 5 to a 6.. And, honestly, the comedy might not be MORE, it's just bigger. Whereas Star Trek might have Data (Or McCoy or whoever you like) say something pithy.. Orville has a character run in with his leg cut off.
They're both Sci-Fi series at the heart.. With a touch of comedy for the 'human element'
I totally missed Orville last night.. Will have to catch it on Hulu.
I haven't watched THE ORVILLE. Whatever neuron exists in people's brains that allows them to find Seth McFarlane funny, I am apparently missing. But you're right about Roddenberry.
I would have agreed 100% and bought you a beer, had I not watched and positively loved all 14 episodes so far. Give it a try. It's not nearly as stupid as most SMc stuff, just funny in appropriate doses.
As a similarly cynical friend who loves it even more said, it's... hopeful. In a way we haven't seen for a long time. Nice antidote to the endless grimdark that would make Phil Dick shoot himself.
Not as a rule. Many sci-fi/fantasy shows/movies take place in dystopian worlds/places. Very dark.
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