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submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by Anomandaris@kbin.social to c/scifi@kbin.social

It's a slightly click-baity title, but as we're still generating more content for our magazines, this one included, why not?

My Sci-fi unpopular opinion is that 2001: A Space Odyssey is nothing but pretentious, LSD fueled nonsense. I've tried watching it multiple times and each time I have absolutely no patience for the pointless little scenes which contain little to no depth or meaningful plot, all coalescing towards that 15 minute "journey" through space and series of hallucinations or whatever that are supposed to be deep, shake you to your foundations, and make you re-think the whole human condition.

But it doesn't. Because it's just pretentious, LSD fueled nonsense. Planet of the Apes was released in the same year and is, on every level, a better Sci-fi movie. It offers mystery, a consistent and engaging plot, relatable characters you actually care about, and asks a lot more questions about the world and our place in it.

It insists upon itself, Lois.

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[-] Ni@kbin.social 53 points 1 year ago

I think this might be a truly unpopular opinion, but I could not get into the expanse at all. Just never got invested in the characters enough to stick with it. I've retried watching it 4 times due to everyone recommending it, kind of given up now!

Also the latest star wars films killed any interest I had in star wars.

[-] comedy@kbin.social 55 points 1 year ago

well, I love The Expanse, but I applaud you for posting an actual unpopular opinion!

[-] NeoSniper@kbin.social 21 points 1 year ago
[-] Adama@kbin.social 14 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

The books are great. Show does a good job moving the intrigue and conflicts to a screen but man if Avasarala and Amos aren’t the absolute best portrayal of those characters.

Avasarala has a heart of gold and a fist of iron in equal measures.

This means she’ll do horrible things (even at her own expense) for what she believes is right and she doesn’t put up with any kind of nonsense.

And yet she plays the political game so well all while pretending she’s above it.

And the Shohreh Aghdashloo knocks the character out of the park. Every move and word both foul and sweet personifies the character in the book that it’s impossible to convey how absolutely masterful the performance is.

And Wes Chatham as Amos is a close second. A man whose moral code is simple because he’s broken, knows it, and so he defaults to “who is the most likely good person I can use as a guide.” Chatham portrays the violence is necessary like doing the laundry.

Turns it on, does the job, goes back as if nothing happened. Oh, I should do this instead? You got it boss.

Or how he conveys in the simple things how Amos feels there is a moral right but having grown up as he did it’s hard to know what that is and who has the authority to enforce it it just chefs kiss

What? Stop beating this guy? Ok. Sorry fella, buy you a drink?

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[-] Ni@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago

All I can do is apologise, I really tried, so I'm going to chalk it up to a me problem. Desperate for a good Sci fi series as well, that's the most annoying part!

[-] Ksanoj@kbin.social 6 points 1 year ago

Well, have you tried Another Life? Dark?
Battlestar Galactica?

[-] Ni@kbin.social 7 points 1 year ago

Battlestar is one of my fav Sci fi series, loved dark, another life was ok

[-] MudMan@kbin.social 7 points 1 year ago

Oh, oh, I have an unpopular one right here.

Battlestar Galactica's ending is worse than Game of Thrones, by quite some margin, and it absolutely ruins everything that came before.

[-] funnyletter@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I dunno that I'd rank it worse than GoT myself but I did really hate that ending.

Honestly between Lost, BSG, and GoT I'm kinda burned on endings generally. I can't really think of a show that isn't a super short limited series that I'm like, that ending was great!

[-] RheingoldRiver@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

Does The Good Place count? 4 seasons isn't that long I guess, but idk 4 years is quite a bit of time. And god damn did they stick the landing.

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[-] asteroidrainfall@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago

Spicy one right here. Hits me right in the artificial heart.

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[-] Adama@kbin.social 6 points 1 year ago

My name is Adama and I approve of this message

[-] asteroidrainfall@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

My cliche unpopular opinion is that Battlestar Galactica is a more interesting and well thought out story/universe than Star Wars.

[-] Literati@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I just started Silo last night, really enjoying it so far.

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[-] loobkoob@kbin.social 21 points 1 year ago

That means you've missed out on Andor, which I think is better than any live action Star Wars (including, perhaps controversially, Empire Strikes Back)!

It's mature, deep, detailed, grounded, and very political. The characters and world are built up phenomenally, and it's much more contemplative in its pacing, and it definitely treats its audience as intelligent rather than beating them around the head with obvious exposition. It feels more like an HBO show than your standard Star Wars affair, frankly. And it works as a standalone, too - it's not just yet more Skywalker family drama.

[-] acedelgado@kbin.social 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I've always loved anything Star Wars that didn't really involve Jedi. The universe is incredibly diverse and interesting, and cutting out the light side vs dark side trope most star wars content is centered on lets writers make really interesting characters and situations. Like in Mandandolrian the scene with Bill Burr confronting the Imperial officer that spearheaded the Burning Khan massacre was just fantastic, regardless of it being star wars.

[-] DuckCake@kbin.social 5 points 1 year ago

Like in Mandandolrian the scene with Bill Burr confronting the Imperial officer that spearheaded the Burning Khan massacre was just fantastic, regardless of it being star wars.

Bill Burr crushed that entire episode. He showed acting chops he's rarely had the chance to flex before, honestly. The guy is so self-deprecating in his humor, almost aggressively so, that it's easy to miss his talent. Heck, I did, and for a damned long time.

[-] Ni@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago

You ads selling that to me! I don't have Disney + so that might be an issue. I loved rogue one, but that was the last star wars thing I enjoyed.

[-] DuckCake@kbin.social 11 points 1 year ago

Oh my sibling in Xenu, Andor is mandatory viewing if you have any love for Star Wars at all, but ESPECIALLY if you love Rogue One. It is absolutely incredible.

[-] Ni@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago

Well this has very much sold it to me!

[-] dcheesi@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago

"Andor" refers to Cassian Andor, the team leader in Rogue One. It's his origin story, basically

[-] Ni@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

Thank you! I've not kept up with star wars stuff at all so I had no idea. Seems like I'll have to watch it now!

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[-] neus@kbin.social 12 points 1 year ago

If you are least made it past s1e4 CQB then you gave it a solid shot. That episode imo is where you either pick it up and like it or move on. The first 3 episodes can be a bit slow and introduce so many characters.

[-] Ni@kbin.social 7 points 1 year ago

I heard this, and so I think I get to episode 4 or 5 drop it and then I leave it too long, try and watch it all again but I've seen the first 4 episodes too many times.

Maybe I'm due trying to watch it again!

[-] neus@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago

Maybe on re watch just read the synopsis of episodes 1-3 if you've now seen the "boring" ones a few times now as a reminder, then start at 4.

[-] Ni@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago

I think I might try this, starting to feel the guilt of not liking it so time to try again!

[-] Adama@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago

Don’t feel guilty but as an example I love the BSG remake. But when I introduce somebody to it I suggest they watch 33 if they can’t get through the mini series.

Yes it presumes a lot but it gets you into what’s going on without hours of setup in the mininseries.

[-] Leapst@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago

Do you know where you can find the mini series to watch? I've been wanting to start into bsg finally but haven't found those to start with.

[-] Ni@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

No sure about outside the UK, but in the uk the full battlestar series including miniseries is on bbc I player. Worth taking a look to see if you can access!

[-] Adama@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

I think peacock (nbc’s streaming service) has it.

[-] asteroidrainfall@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

Usually it’s included alongside the bluray editions. I’m not sure if it’s included on Peacock (the only streaming platform that has BSG). Also, it’s not really “miniseries”. It’s more like an extended episode zero that sets up all the characters going into main series. Honestly, IMO, it’s critical for maximum enjoyment of the early series.

I wrote up a watch guide for the series over on /m/bsg:

[-] Ni@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago

33 is an exceptional episode, I still feel uneasy watching it after all this time. Really great Sci fi.

I need another battlestar-equsr series in my life!

[-] Adama@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago

For me that’s where the expanse is so good.

Moral ambiguity, a man who wants to do right encounters so many things that make it hard to know what that is.

The importance of those closest to you.

[-] asteroidrainfall@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Come on over to /m/bsg when you do! We’re planning on having a BSG rewatch discussion sometime soon!

[-] Ni@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

Already joined! But a rewatched discussion would be fantastic!

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[-] Kaldo@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago

How far do you usually get before giving up on it? Not saying you should force it more, just curious.

[-] Ni@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago

I'd heard it was a bit hard going until episode 5 so I always try and get to that point but I don't think I've got past. At this point I've rewatched the first episodes too many times

[-] Anomandaris@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago

I imagine you've probably heard this a few times as well, but give the books a try instead, I read them first and now I can't watch the show.

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[-] sgibson5150@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago

You're valid. It took us a couple tries before we really got into The Expanse.

As for Star Wars, we stick with the Dave Filoni shows now. If I may suggest, try a Clone Wars rewatch with a viewing order that emphasizes the story arcs. That's what brought me back to Star Wars, and I hated the sequels and the prequels.

[-] Ni@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

Thank you, I appreciate the star wars watching suggestions! I'm more of a trekkie but there are elements of star wars I love, they just became less and less with the latest films!

[-] kernelpanic@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago

Unpopular? Yes. Wrong? I don't think so. I finished The Expanse and at the end I didn't feel like it added anything to my life but I didn't hate it either. There was definitely some standout moments but I would not rewatch it.

[-] Ni@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

Interesting! I've only ever heard people sing it's praises, so I've definitely felt in the wrong for not loving it. Someone else suggested the books so I might try reading them instead of going for the 6th rewatch

[-] KeavesSharpi@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

I would say that while the show does a fantastic job of bringing the books to the screen, it misses the interpersonal intimacy that makes the book series so fantastic. The plots are cool, but at its core, The Expanse is really about its characters. If you like to read or listen to audio books, I HIGHLY recommend them. A big part of where the show fails, is it was impossible for them to tell the story and also deal with the internal dialogues of each character. In the books, every chapter is told from the point of view of a specific character, so you get to know their inner thoughts and feelings on an extremely personal level.

This is one of those series where I will tell someone that if they read the books and enjoyed them, they would enjoy the show - and vice-versa. That said, if you didn't enjoy the show for the reasons you stated, and you're willing to give it a go, I think you'll probably enjoy the books.

this post was submitted on 23 Jun 2023
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