Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 156
July 1, 2021
July 1, 2021: I’m too drunk to come up with a title for this blog entry. Feel free to improvise your own!
Hoowee. Just completed a sampling of seven different spirits (pictured above). All top of the line inventory from days on Dark Matter. Feeling a little tipsy, so excuse this rambling blog entry.
Them: Can you send us a head shot?
Me: Sure. Feel free to use any of these. pic.twitter.com/r550bzYoEC
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) July 1, 2021
Which is your favorite?
Why, yes, it HAS been one of those weeks.
Guess the episode!
Today’s Yes/No…
Strawerry Choux Cream Frappuccino? Yes/No
We try Starbucks’ new Strawberry Choux Cream Frappuccino https://t.co/vrKz4rvCJ7 via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) July 1, 2021
Speaking of which – our local Starbucks has a strawberry Funnel Cake Frappuccino I’ve been meaning to try…
The weekend is almost upon us and a new smash burger spot has opened in the neighborhood. The possibilities are endless!
The post July 1, 2021: I’m too drunk to come up with a title for this blog entry. Feel free to improvise your own! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
June 30, 2021
June 30, 2021: Amazing Covers!
A few that caught my eye this week…
Cable #11 – cover art by Phil Noto
That Texas Blood #7 – cover art by Marc Aspinall
Dune: House Astreides #8 – cover art by Evan Cagle
We Only Find Them When They’re Dead #7 – cover art by Matta De lulis
DC Poster Portfolio: Joelle Jones – cover art by Joelle Jones
Parasomnia #1 – cover art by Rafael Albuquerque
So which were your favorites?
The post June 30, 2021: Amazing Covers! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
June 29, 2021
June 29, 2021: Dark Matter, more Dark Matter, Projects on Deck, and Pickle Soda!
In case you missed it, here’s yesterday’s Dark Matter Monday stream with special guest – actor Andrew Moodie.
As always, a huge thanks to PJ, our host, and the rest of the Dark Matter panel.
Speaking of Dark Matter, I frequent the Dark Matter subreddit over on reddit and came across the following post by member LandosMustache:
[DISCUSSION] Just Finished the Series for the First Time, Here’s My Thoughts
I’m a bit late to this party, but I just binge-watched the whole Dark Matter series, and boy do I have thoughts.
Honestly, I don’t remember how I missed this when it was on air. I found it just a few weeks ago (mid 2021, for anyone reading this in the future) by some IMDB rabbit hole I went down. I figured that the whole ‘lost their memory’ bit would feel overdone and boring, but I was very pleasantly surprised by the show. Part of this is pretty simple to understand: I LOVE me some Star Wars. I LOVE me some Firefly. And, depending on which Star Trek series we’re talking about, I love me some Star Trek (as did the writers, quite obviously). Any show which combines aspects of all of those, and tosses a little Alien/Aliens in, is going to have me as a fan pretty darn quick. But my standards are gonna be high…
Now, Anthony Lemke as Three is no Han Solo…or Mal Evans…and neither is Melissa O’Neil as Two. But Three is a decent Jayne Cobb and Two is a decent Zoe Washburn, and as the two leads they could have done far worse.
They built a pretty cool world (or galaxy) for this show. Massive, powerful, semi-government corporations, in conflict with each other and the actual government, and all of them after our protagonists in one way or another, is an interesting approach which set Dark Matter apart from the standard “government exists, government bad” setup. I also liked that the spaceships, the planets, the facilities, all felt lived-in. They were dirty, things malfunctioned. It was a very Alien or Firefly way to handle sci fi, and as I may have mentioned, I love that kind of sci fi.
What I Liked:
The Android
Obviously. Serious props to the Dark Matter writers for having a Commander Data character arc without blatantly copy/pasting the Commander Data character arc (they even managed to put a new spin on the ‘emotion chip’ development).
And serious props to Zoie Palmer, who must have known that she’d be judged on the Commander Data scale, and still took the role without copy/pasting Brent Spiner.
They Balanced A Weekly Serial with a Larger Plot Arc
I had this thought when I reflected on Warehouse 13: basically, WH13 is kind of the antithesis of X-Files. With X-Files, the ‘monster of the week’ episodes were hit or miss, but the longer looks at the larger world were masterful. Warehouse 13…let’s just say that they were at their best as an ‘artifact of the week’ serial. The big villains were clumsy. The ‘devious plots’ were nonsensical.
Dark Matter pulled a Firefly, with a ‘mission of the week’ which contained elements of the bigger picture but also could focus in on an extremely immediate task which had little or nothing to do with the larger story arc. And though I’d never say that Dark Matter was better than Firefly, I’d like to point out that Dark Matter had to maintain this balance for longer.
The Show Stayed Within Itself. Barely.
One of the worst things that a show like this can do is to take independent, outlaw, hunted characters…and send them on an idealistic crusade. Thankfully Firefly didn’t fall into this trap (…because it was canceled too early…sob), even if Serenity kinda did. Call this the “Pirates of the Caribbean franchise” mistake. Only Han Solo can do this convincingly, and way too many people in the movie industry answer the question “do we really think our character is as good as Han Solo?” with “hell yeah I know what I’m doing!”
Dark Matter almost did this, and you could see that things were headed that way. There were many conversations about ‘taking on the system’, mostly by Six (Six, man…), which made me roll my eyes a bit. But even then, I appreciated that they took the approach of having the crew try to screw over the powerful, no matter who they were, instead of, say becoming generals in the Mikkei army. [Until the end, even though it DID kinda feel like the plot of Descent: Freespace – The Great War, a game which I also enjoyed back in the day. And I doubt that arrangement was supposed to be permanent.]
They also kept the general philosophy of “anyone could be an enemy at any time”, which kept the show true to itself. I also especially appreciated how the narrative arc grew organically: the big threat was first the corporations, then an all-out corporate war, then…something with aliens, instead of season-by-season Big Baddies with Lex Luthor plots (“now the galaxy is in danger”, “now the galaxy is really in danger”, “ok, we’re serious this time, the galaxy is super in danger.”). The Dwarf Star Conspiracy plot gets an Incomplete. The Android Revolution gets an Incomplete.
The Foreshadowing and Subplots Paid Off. Most of the Time.
Anyone remember Pretender, the TV show starring Michael Weiss? They had a main subplot, namely, ‘what happened to Ms. Parker’s mother??’…and never really did anything with it. Every so often a character would allude to their knowledge of what happened, and who might be involved. The show must have introduced a dozen shadowy nefarious characters who were connected to this subplot, and just sorta kept trying to make the next one more shadowy and nefarious without resolving any of the previous ones. By the time the show was canceled, Ms. Parker’s mother was somehow magic and may have passed the trait to Ms. Parker – just an out-of-left-field plot development with no foreshadow and no payoff. It was almost a relief when that show was canceled, because you could finally stop pretending to care about all that stuff when it was obvious that the writers had no idea what happened to Ms. Parker’s mother either.
Anyway, Dark Matter didn’t do that. If you saw an unanswered question or a mysterious object, you’d see it again soon with some kind of explanation and it would be handled in a way which drove the plot forward. For the most part. IMO, the show fumbled the ‘shadowy conspiracy behind One’s murder’ pretty hard. Five was also set up to be some kind of important galactic character and they never really explored it. Speaking of…
Five is a Well-Written Character
It must have been some kind of SyFy/SciFi corporate edict that every show must have an emotionally damaged but tech-savvy teenage girl who has some kind of shadowy but super-important past. Now, nobody can Joss Whedon except Joss Whedon, but Dark Matter handled this requirement much muchbetter than, say, Warehouse 13.
I really liked the character of Five, mostly due to how well the writers handled how she acted and her contribution to the crew. We all know that the easiest thing to do when you have a young female character is “make her emotional and hysterical and completely unreasonable!”, which is what Warehouse 13 did with Claudia. God I hate Claudia. Or they could go the way that Disney Star Wars took Rey, i.e., “make her angry and combative but good at everything and everyone loves her.” God I hate Rey. But I felt like Five had a personality, and acted according to that personality, and though the show started to try to make her more important than she was, they never got around to it. Personally, I liked her more as a plucky crew member than some centerpiece of a Galactic plot.
Really appreciate how they had Five carve out a role in the ensemble.
What I Disliked:
Six
I feel like the whole point of Dark Matter was about finding morality in a gray galaxy, so there wasn’t really any need to have a guy like Six, who’s a good person who’s always a good person and always chooses the good thing to do. It’s boring, it’s pedantic, and it’s unrealistic in a show where the characters are supposed to be wavering on the line between good and bad.
And I really didn’t like how the show made him always right. Like when he turned on the crew the first time because it was the right thing to do, then he let them go because it was the right thing to do, then he helped them against the GA because it was the right thing to do, then he helped colonists declare independence from a corporation because it was the right thing to do, then rejoined the crew because it was the right thing to do. We, the audience, were clearly meant to disagree with his first decision without actually disliking him, so that the next time he said something was the right thing to do, we would listen to him. “I’m sorry I betrayed you, but it was the right thing to do”??? Even his death got me to roll my eyes.
I get that the crew needed a good angel on their shoulder, but Six’s idealism went too far. Or maybe this is just a deep dislike of self-righteous characters in science fiction…which I blame directly on Chakotay from Voyager and Doctor Crusher from TNG.
Four’s Undiagnosed Bipolar Disorder
Anyone else notice how Four see-sawed between “brooding and secretive but generally genial and engaged crew member” and “ruthless and power-hungry killer who wants nothing more than reclaiming/maintaining his throne”?
I mean, on a scale from one to Captain Janeway…Four doesn’t seem so bad. But still, from episode to episode it could be jarring.
***
Great of him to take the time to write up his thoughts (For the full post, head here). So I responded:
The Android – Interestingly, I’d originally planned to make Android a supporting character but, as the episodes kept coming in short, I was forced to write extra scenes for those early episodes. Given Zoie’s brilliant performance, I elected to elevate her character so we ended up with scenes like The Half Dozen Accents Encounter in Episode 109. Eventually, the character got her own arc and, literally, a seat at the family table in season 3.Serial vs Larger Arc – This was by design and, ultimately, the best of both worlds. I’d argue it’s difficult to do but provides the most satisfying of narrative experiences as they episodic nature offers a great jumping on point for new viewers while the bigger character and story arcs reward longtime viewers.Staying Within Itself – I approached each season like an installment in a book series, with its own theme and possessed of a beginning middle and end. Season 1 begins with the crew discovering they are the worst of the worst, wanted criminals and ends, appropriately enough, with them being hauled to prison. Season 2 is about them trying to do the right thing and having that plan literally blow up in their faces.SIX embodies this second point, the drive for personal redemption, and it’s something I wanted to explore from the very beginning, this notion of nature vs nurture – are people born bad or are they products of their environment. Can they change? Thus, SIX was the angel and THREE was the devil hanging over TWO’s shoulders and you see this play out over the course of the series, all the way up to our final episodes in which SIX and THREE pitch very different answers to Ryo Ishida’s threat. THREE wants to kill him while SIX argues against. Ultimately, TWO is left to decide.Foreshadowing and subplots. Before the series even began production, I had all of the character story arcs and backstories laid out, knew exactly where I wanted to go, and planted seeds throughout. In Episode 3 when TWO tells the Android to be careful on her EVA because they can’t get it done without her, the Android tells TWO: “Well, YOU can.” It’s a subtle inflection in her delivery that suggests an underlying intent – that isn’t revealed until Episode 9 when we find out the truth about TWO. A more subtle example is Episode 9. Following Sarah’s death, we cut back to FIVE who studies her and cocks her head in an uncertain way as though…she’s thinking. We don’t find out what thought struck her until season 3 when we realize she uploaded and stored Sarah’s consciousness after her death, giving her new life within the ship’s systems.
FIVE – FIVE was actually inspired by Cowboy Bebop’s Radical Edward, but, of course, took on a unique life of her own in large part do to Jodelle Ferland’s amazing performance.
SIX – I disagree with the argument that SIX is proven right time and again. Quite the opposite. He has the team arrested at the end of the first season and this turns out to be a big mistake (which leads, indirectly, to the death of ONE). He pushes the crew to take on the corporation’s and make a difference – and fails spectacularly in the season 2 finale. He leaves the Raza to help make a difference with the squabbling colonies and soon realizes he will not get anywhere.
Ultimately, it’s not just him. Many of our characters make very bad decisions over the course of our series.
FOUR – FOUR may seem erratic in season 3, but this is a result of him reacquiring his old memories and struggling to reconcile them with the memories he made as FOUR. He’s also got a lot more on his plate given his new role as Emperor. That said, he was always unpredictable. Witness his dealing with his old friend Akita-san.
***
Head on over to the Dark Matter subreddit to join in the discussion!
Well, looks like I got a little ahead of myself. We have (presumably) one final pre-pitch this Thursday before the commencement of official pitching on the small screen adaptation of that EPIC sci-fi comic book series. This one will be wild (The series, not the pitch…although the pitch is certainly wild to a certain extent).
Waiting to hear word on some contractual matters related to TimEscape after which we move on to Phase 3 in our effort to get this series picked up. Would be lovely to start writing for Jara, Rudd, Little Alice and, of course, Akemi’s favorite – Mo.
Keep thinking I should start a new spec pilot. It’s not like I don’t have ideas. But I do have paid pilots on the horizon and, to date, some truly awesome pilots aren’t gaining traction so I feel like I’d be wasting my time.
Today’s Yes/No…
Hard Pickle Seltzer? Yes/No
Where to buy the Hard Pickle Seltzer? Cost of Brumate beverage explored! https://t.co/rUrc5GjrM8
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 29, 2021
I am intensely curious.
The post June 29, 2021: Dark Matter, more Dark Matter, Projects on Deck, and Pickle Soda! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
June 28, 2021
June 28, 2021: Dark Matter, Stargate, and Falafel-fried Chicken! What more could you ask for?
Later today, Dark Matter fans! We’ll be discussing Episode 312, My Final Gift To You, with special guest Andrew Moodie (Teku).
DARK MATTER MONDAY Plz…RETWEET…Thx!
#DarkMatterSeason4
w/ Creator JOE MALLOZZI
@BaronDestructo
&
Actor ANDREW MOODIE
Monday, June 28th, Ep.12 – Season 3
5:30pm ET
2:30pm PT
22:30h BST
23:30h CET
JOIN us LIVE!https://t.co/4xvDdQVYqw pic.twitter.com/i1vhspq4jT
— Orville Nation……….We Grow TOGETHER!!! (@nation_orville) June 28, 2021
Today’s Yes/No…
Falafel-fried Chicken? Yes/No https://t.co/usXR96J9T5
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 28, 2021
I don’t know. Maybe? While I do like my fried chicken sandwiches, I just had fried wings at lunch and they were decidedly underwhelming. When it comes right down to it, I guess I prefer my wings roasted.
Fresh from the Stargate vault…
The post June 28, 2021: Dark Matter, Stargate, and Falafel-fried Chicken! What more could you ask for? appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
June 27, 2021
June 27, 2021: Suji Sunday!
Action ready!
Tongue twister
Lil Pink
Stand off!
Vacay mode
Melty sleepy
Kibble Time…
The post June 27, 2021: Suji Sunday! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
June 26, 2021
June 25, 2021
June 25, 2021: Closing out the week!
Spoiler alert, Stargate fans!
The message in the cosmic microwave background radiation finally revealed! @cpbinder https://t.co/NmjbunZOxz
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 25, 2021
News of note:
I'll just leave this here: https://t.co/5PbeQadWva
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 25, 2021
Also…hmmm….
The U.S. govt has released a report on UFOs — here is what we know so far:
143 sightings since 2004 remain unexplained
pic.twitter.com/eJyjeUVc5e
— AJ+ (@ajplus) June 25, 2021
Today’s Yes/No…
Tokyo Teriyaki Tower Burger? Yes/No
Burger King unleashes the Tokyo Teriyaki Tower in Japan https://t.co/vh2WPP5ter via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 25, 2021
So, weekend plans?
The post June 25, 2021: Closing out the week! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
June 24, 2021
June 24, 2021: Just waiting for that Amazon green light! Yes/No! My day in food pictures!
In my garage.
Getting ready to dust it off on the heels of that sale to Amazon.
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 24, 2021
Today’s Yes/No…
Strawberry Supermoon Dougnhnuts? Yes/Nohttps://t.co/Qq9J6P9W7q
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 24, 2021
Yesterday’s outing in mostly food pictures…
I think it’s been well over a year since I’ve eaten oysters on the half shell (https://www.instagram.com/ration.beverley/)
The Ration Burger (https://www.instagram.com/ration.beverley/)
The Hot Honey Boi (https://www.instagram.com/chickmagnet.to/)
Isabella’s Mochi Donuts (https://www.instagram.com/isabellasmochidonuts/)
Chocolate and the Marie Antoinette (https://www.instagram.com/nadegeicecream/)
Oh damn! The Silver Snail comic shop has relocated to the neighborhood. Looks like I’ll be expanding my supervillain action figure collection! (https://www.instagram.com/silversnailto/)
The post June 24, 2021: Just waiting for that Amazon green light! Yes/No! My day in food pictures! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
June 23, 2021
June 23, 2021: Amazing Covers!
A few that caught my eye this week…
Fantastic Four: Life Story #2 – cover art by Daniel Acuna
Sword #6 – cover art by Valerio Schiti
Silk #4 – cover art by Pyeong Jun Park
Silk #4 – cover art by Jenny Frison
Way of X #3 – cover art by Bob Quinn
Lighthouse #3 – cover art by Brian Haberlin
Vengeance of Vampirella #19 – cover art by Ben Oliver
Batman/Superman #19 – cover art by Greg Capullo
Checkmate #1 – cover art by Alex Maleev
Detective Comics #1038 – cover art by Lee Bermejo
Wonder Woman: Black and Gold #1 – cover art by Jen Bartel
Eros/Psyche #4 – cover art by Elias Chatzoudis
Bakemonogatari vol. 9 – cover art by Oh!Great
Chariot #4 – cover art by Jeff Dekal
So, which were YOUR favorites?
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June 22, 2021
June 22, 2021: Podcasts! Streams! Ramen Pizza! And Stargate!
Well, this doesn’t sound very good…
Check out this podcast interview I did with Powder Mage author Brian McClellan…
My new podcast has begun! In the first episode I talk with TV writer/producer @BaronDestructo about his start in children's programming, his transition to scifi with Stargate and Dark Matter, and his current work ramping up for a Powder Mage TV show. https://t.co/Kbs0OTKAn6 pic.twitter.com/lURS60zHU8
— Brian McClellan (@BrianTMcClellan) June 22, 2021
And in case you missed it, here’s yesterday’s Marauder Monday stream with the gang at Orville Nation and actress Kate Drummond…
Today’s Yes/No…
Taiwan Ramen Pizza? Yes/No
Tokyo’s Taiwan Ramen Pizza beats us into blissful submission with its powerful flavor【Taste test】 https://t.co/a9G92orYUe via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) June 22, 2021
I am curious.
And a few some things from the Stargate vault…
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