Sci-Fi Goodness

I really like Science Fiction movies and television, especially when they start messing around with time-travel. So below are some television shows that I think you should check out if you're into time-travel and sci-fi.

If you don't like spoilers, please stop reading.

LOST
This show started off with a plane crash on an island. Pretty normal stuff, except for a man in a wheel chair walking again (Locke) and that smoke monster and polar bears... Pretty mysterious, but I didn't really get into the show until season 2, when I watched a season 1 wrap up with one of my friend.

Currently, season 5 is pretty awesome! Although I have confessed that knowing too much about the Darma Initiative was lame, I do like the time-travel aspect of the show. You have to realize that the show didn't start off like this, it's evolved into science fiction.

I just love the time-travel aspect, and I think a lot of people will agree with me. I have already have my own theory on how the show is going to end (the show is ending next year).

As far as music is concern, despite being lost and isolated on an island, you do get the occassional Patsy Cline. My favorite was spotting Oasis' "Wonderwall" as performed by Charlie Pace on a street corner. Charlie, as you know, is the singer in the fictional band Drive Shaft, who had brief fame before crashing on Flight 815.

For further music information, check out Lostpedia. In all of their database, they didn't at all mention the band Previously on Lost.

Previously on Lost should be one of the worst band name ever. Their only gimmick is songs recaping Lost episodes. Previously no relationship with the show, for the last season (season six), ABC.com have hired them to do a musical recap of Season 5 (I can't wait to see what they rhyme with "Jacob" and "four-toed foot statue").

I did request their latest album The Tale of Season Four and the Oceanic Six, and I can tell you the band is as silly (and witty) (and nerdy) as I imagine the band to be. The first recap song "We're Goin' Home" will take you back to the Jack vs his beard fiasco and introduced the catchy chant "we are the oceanic six". It does get a little boring when you realize all the songs are about episodes from Lost. You start to think, didn't I just watch this ? With one exception, "Ballad Of Sayid Jarrah", is much better than the actual episode. It pretty much sums up what Sayid is all about: armed to the teeth secret agent with a list... and with good hair gel.

The Brooklyn band is currently on tour:

06/06/09 Public Assembly LIONSHARE and Ninjasonik Brooklyn, New York*
06/09/09 The Middle East Downstairs Cambridge, MA*+
06/10/09 AS220 Providence, Rhode Island+
06/11/09 Maxwells Hoboken, New Jersey*
06/12/09 Nightcat Cafe Easton, Maryland*
06/13/09 Danger Danger Gallery Philadelphia, Pennsylvania*

* with Anamanaguchi
+ with Harry and the Potters

My only concern for the band is that it's a novelty. I mean, will we still hear about them a year or two after the show's gone off air? Where will they get their inspirations for new songs ?

Their debut album, The Tale of Season Four and the Oceanic Six, can be bought via paypal to wearepol at gmail.com or iTunes.

JOURNEYMAN
I really like this show, I spent the better part of some weekend watching all thirteen episode of Journeyman on Hulu. The 2007 time travel television show feels like a modern age Quantum Leap (another show that I loved when I was younger). The show was created for 20^th Century Fox, but ultimately ended up airing on NBC.

The show is quite modern, I mean, after all, it was only two years ago, but seeing the iPhone on the show is kind of cool.

My problem is that Dan Vasser disappear in modern time (2007) whenever he does the time travel thing - often at unconvenient times. I mean, wouldn't people sort of noticed this bright light and a man disappearing? Also, since it's time travel, why doesn't he just return at the same time he left?

My favorite part about the show is the Journeyman theme song by Amanda Ghost and The Rural. The song was never official released on any record, but if you're interested in buying her 2008 download-only album, Blood On The Line, it is available here.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Am I the only person that was disappointed with the very last episode of the new Battlestar Galactica ? I mean, huh? Prior to the final episode, the writing and story was top-notch! I love the time stuff, and it's more of a human story (everything from racisms to religion). The idea of the machines believing in God (read: not man), is a strange idea.

While the show was a rollercoaster ride, there were a few episodes that sort of went nowhere - but it's still a very excellent show. At one point, I thought it was my favorite show ever because they were killing off all your favorite (and not-so-favorite) characters.

Music was a main plot point when Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" (as played by Jimi Hendrix) caused the Final Five to unite and discover each other as Cylons. The Battlestar Galactica version from Bear McCreary is available on the soundtrack to Season 3.