Classic Coverage looks back on the episodes of past shows from a modern perspective.
The end of the world is inevitable. The tensions of The Cold War have risen so high that nuclear weapons are being launched as threats to other countries. A team of scientists must use new surgical technology to transform one … Continue reading The Outer Limits: S1E03 “The Architects of Fear”
“That’s it. Earth. Minus the sunshine.” “A Human Reaction” is… Aw, fuck. “A Human Reaction” is great. You know it, I know it, the world knows it. A paranoid thriller that deconstructs E.T. way better than the episode that explicitly … Continue reading The Wonders I’ve Seen: 1×16, “A Human Reaction”
Written by: Ken KeelerDirected by: Brain SheesleyDN’s Ranking: Bad / Nonessential / ESSENTIAL I knew going in that I would call this one essential but I wasn’t sure how I was going to justify that – I usually take subjective … Continue reading Futurama, Season One, Episode Twelve, “When Aliens Attack”
“Modern Warfare” originally aired on NBC Thursday night May 6, 2010 Community doesn’t really “become” Community until “Modern Warfare”. That’s the accepted narrative, anyway. i happen to disagree with this[footnote]by my count, Community really “becomes” Community no fewer than four … Continue reading A Community Notification For This: S1E23, “Modern Warfare”
“Paradise Lost”(Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Season 4, Episode 11) As I mentioned in my review of “Homefront,” rewatching many Star Trek episodes as an adult can be a different experience than when I first absorbed them as a … Continue reading You Talking Trek to Me? – “Paradise Lost”
It’s the presidential election in the United States. An unspecified East Asian country chooses this as the opportunity to take over America. They have developed technology that will allow them to transform one of their citizens into the presumptive winner … Continue reading The Outer Limits: S1E02 “The Hundred Days of the Dragon”
Written by: J Stewart BurnsDirected by: Bret HaalandDN’s Ranking: Bad / NONESSENTIAL / Essential There’s been occasional discussion in the comments on how, for being done by the most overeducated cartoon writers’ room in history, Futurama rarely churns out sophisticated … Continue reading Futurama, Season One, Episode Eleven, “Mars University”
“Homefront”(Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Season 4, Episode 11) One of the most incisive and subversive bits of dialogue in Deep Space Nine was spoken by an angry Benjamin Sisko ranting to Kira about the former Federation colonists’ plight … Continue reading You Talking Trek to Me? – “Homefront “
The Outer Limits is a science fiction anthology series created by writer, director, and producer Leslie Stevens. The series began airing in 1963, a few years after The Twilight Zone debuted. The shows have very different tones. The Twilight Zone … Continue reading The Outer Limits: S1E01 “The Galaxy Being”
“I left the half-dead sanctimoniousness of my planet the first chance that I got. I stole food when I was hungry. Jumped transport without voucher. Defended myself when necessary.” “Durka Returns” is, in most respects, a fairly middling episode of … Continue reading The Wonders I’ve Seen: 1×15, “Durka Returns”
Written by: Eric HorstedDirected by: Peter AvanzinoDN’s Ranking: Bad / NONESSENTIAL / Essential This is a great one to explore the concept of a ‘nonessential’ Futurama episode, because it’s funny without its main ideas quite sparking to life. If I … Continue reading Futurama, Season One, Episode Nine, “A Flight To Remember”
“The Art Of Discourse” originally aired on NBC Thursday night, April 29, 2010 It’s not as if i don’t understand why “The Art Of Discourse”[footnote]written by Chris McKenna, directed by Adam Davidson, yes i’m trying to get these out of … Continue reading A Community Notification For This: S1E22, “The Art Of Discourse”
“Bride of Chaotica!”(Star Trek: Voyager – Season 5, Episode 12) One of the quirkier aspects of Voyager were its many allusions (and celebrations) of 20th century Earth culture. Outside of Picard’s Dixon Hill adventures, it was something The Next Generation … Continue reading You Talking Trek to Me? – “Bride of Chaotica!”
Fear Itself is an anthology horror series that aired on NBC in 2008. The show is the unofficial third season of Showtime’s Masters of Horror. Lionsgate stepped in to produce a third season, landing a deal to move the show … Continue reading Fear Itself: S1E13 “The Circle”
“The slug who would be king.” There are a lot of things that make “Jeremiah Crichton” a bad episode. The acting from nearly all of the guest stars. Ben Browder’s fake beard. The racist undertones. But probably the worst thing … Continue reading The Wonders I’ve Seen: 1×14, “Jeremiah Crichton”
Written By: Eric KaplanDirected By: Rich MooreDN’s Ranking: Bad / Nonessential / ESSENTIAL I’m genuinely shocked this one comes so early! I knew Futurama found its feet relatively early compared to most television comedies, but somehow I always missed that … Continue reading Futurama, Season One, Episode Nine, “Hell Is Other Robots”
“Trials and Tribble-ations”(Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Season 5, Episode 6) When it comes to long-running pop culture properties (particularly sci-fi and fantasy ones), legacy is a delicate and tricky thing. Beyond the challenges of maintaining the lore’s continuity … Continue reading You Talking Trek to Me? – “Trials and Tribble-ations”
Fear Itself is the unofficial third season of Showtime’s Masters of Horror. When Showtime was no longer willing to finance the show, Lionsgate stepped in with a budget and a new deal for the show to move to NBC. The … Continue reading Fear Itself: S1E12 “Echoes”
“So how does the pious Zhaan coexist with all that rage?” “Rhapsody in Blue” is a love story. It’s several other things besides—a Zhaan character study, a mild psychological thriller, a vehicle for establishing some more backstory for John—but the … Continue reading The Wonders I’ve Seen: 1×13, “Rhapsody in Blue”
Written By: Lewis MortonDirected By: Susie DietterDN’s Ranking: ESSENTIAL Here we go! This is the first truly great episode of the show. The ones building up to it are good and even moving, but I don’t revisit them anywhere near … Continue reading Futurama, Season One, Episode Eight, “A Big Piece Of Garbage”
“Contemporary American Poultry” originally aired on NBC Thursday night, April 22, 2010 Emotional anchors — that’s what made Community’s concept episodes work so well. Such a simple and important idea, and yet one that is so often overlooked in discussions … Continue reading A Community Notification For This: S1E21, “Contemporary American Poultry”
