Classic Coverage looks back on the episodes of past shows from a modern perspective.
Written by: Eric KaplanDirected by: Swinton O Scott IIIDN’s Ranking: Bad / Nonessential / ESSENTIAL This is neither the most philosophical nor the most emotionally intense episode of Futurama, but it reveals that these traits are nice but unnecessary, because … Continue reading Futurama, Season Four, Episode Sixteen, “Three Hundred Big Boys”
“Regeneration”Star Trek: Enterprise – Season 2, Episode 23 Enterprise shamelessly cribbing from previous Star Trek series (and movies) is one of its core attributes/flaws. And here they’re at it again! Much in the same way that it heavily referenced the … Continue reading You Talking Trek to Me? – “Regeneration”
Written by: Bill OdenkirkDirected by: Ron HughartDN’s Ranking: Bad / Nonessential / ESSENTIAL It’s funny that this has always been one of my favourites for its wildly creative energy, and yet when I sit down to analyse it, I see … Continue reading Futurama, Season Four, Episode Fifteen, “The Farnsworth Parabox”
As we reach the end of Madoka Magica, it’s useful to remember how Goethe’s Faust served as a major touchstone. We’ve touched on the show’s religious symbolism, which is easy enough to read into Madoka’s transcendence into Godhood or Buddhahood … Continue reading The Madoka Project: My Very Best Friend
Four U.S. soldiers who fought in the same combat area are shot during battles. It is discovered during emergency surgery that each soldier now has two sets of brain waves and brains. They have survived bullets made with fragments of … Continue reading The Outer Limits: S2E10 “The Inheritors (Part 1)”
Written by: Dan VebberDirected by: Dwayne Carrey-HillDN’s Ranking: Bad / NONESSENTIAL / Essential Within a string of magnificent feats of creativity and one absolute tire fire, we have this okay little number. It’s reminiscent of “Godfellas” both in that it … Continue reading Futurama, Season Four, Episode Fourteen, “Obsoletely Fabulous”
After the last three episodes’ bombshells, Madoka Magica no longer has many secrets. As the endgame with Walpurgisnacht approaches, characters become unusually direct and honest in explaining their motivations and questioning the Magical Girl system. All that’s left is to … Continue reading The Madoka Project: The Only Thing I Have Left To Guide Me
Star Trek: First Contact (1996) Star Trek: The Original Series took an interestingly circuitous and winding pop culture path – a short-lived, cancelled television show followed by an almost decade-long break before returning as a six-part film series that would … Continue reading You Talking Trek to Me? – “First Contact”
A robot pulls a young girl from a river. She is terrified of the giant metal man. An angry mob led by sheriffs is already chasing the robot, claiming he is a murderer and assuming the worst in everything he … Continue reading The Outer Limits: S2E09 “I, Robot”
Written by: Michael RoweDirected By: James PurdumDN’s Ranking: BAD / Nonessential / Essential Ugh, let’s get through this. Futurama is frequently sexist and there’s no way around or justifying that; if you’re a fan of the show, it’s because you … Continue reading Futurama, Season Four, Episode Thirteen, “Bend Her”
Like everything about Madoka Magica, Homura Akemi defies simple analysis. Introduced as an antagonistic character, throughout the series she’s offered frequent, if fleeting glimpses behind her mask. She’s a mess of contradictions: claiming to be out for herself, she shows … Continue reading The Madoka Project: I Won’t Rely on Anyone Anymore
A scientist has recreated a miniature version of a distant planet and star system known as Wolf 359. The evolution and growth of the planet is sped up significantly by its miniaturization. This includes a previously undiscovered species with incredibly … Continue reading The Outer Limits: S2E08 “Wolf 359”
Written by: Patric M VerroneDirected by: Brain SheesleyDN’s Ranking: Bad / Nonessential / ESSENTIAL I described “Roswell That Ends Well” as Futurama doing what it normally tries to do at the highest level of skill and inspiration, and I mentioned … Continue reading Futurama, Season Four, Episode Twelve, “The Sting”
After eight episodes of playing its cards close to the chest, Madoka Magica explodes in a burst of sudden clarity. Exposition clears up loose ends, character motivations are revealed, subtext becomes text. It’s the show’s emotional low point, but it … Continue reading The Madoka Project: I’d Never Allow That To Happen
“Spock’s Brain”Star Trek: The Original Series – Season 3, Episode 1 I admit that my experience with The Original Series is spotty. It wasn’t the Star Trek I grew up on, and because of its uneven track record I haven’t … Continue reading You Talking Trek to Me? – “Spock’s Brain”
In the far distant future of 2021, two astronauts lead a mission to Mars. One by one, they exit the spaceship, scream, and lose transmission with Earth. Three years later, four new astronauts complete the second mission to Mars to … Continue reading The Outer Limits: S2E07 “The Invisible Enemy”
Written by: David A GoodmanDirected by: Pat ShinigawaDN’s Ranking: Bad / Nonessential / ESSENTIAL Ralph Waldo Emerson said that when one talks about the world, one is really talking about oneself; in this episode, Futurama ends up revealing so much … Continue reading Futurama, Season Four, Episode Eleven, “Where No Fan Has Gone Before”
One common criticism of Madoka Magica I’ve encountered is that it’s tragic to the point of cruelty, remorselessly meting out dreadful fates to characters who don’t really deserve it. (It is a Gen Urobuchi joint, after all; the man’s never … Continue reading The Madoka Project: I Was Stupid, So Stupid
A married couple are lost on a road trip. They pull over to check their maps when a truck races out of what should be their next turn. Their car instantly breaks down on a rock that wasn’t in the … Continue reading The Outer Limits: S2E06 “Cry of Silence”
Written by: David X CohenDirected by: Wes ArcherDN’s Ranking: Bad / Nonessential / ESSENTIAL Of all the episodes of Futurama we’ve covered and all the episodes of Futurama we ever will cover, this is the one I had to take … Continue reading Futurama, Season Four, Episode Ten, “The Why of Fry”
Before plunging into The Fall of Sayaka Miki, let’s take a moment to appreciate Kyoko Sakura. She has the least screen time of the main cast, barring Mami. Aside from Sayaka, her conversations with Homura and Madoka up till now … Continue reading The Madoka Project: Can You Face Your True Feelings?
