The Letters to the Editor department is intended to be a forum for our readers to express their own opinions and ideas. While we appreciate the many complimentary letters we receive each day, you won't find them on this page. Instead, you will find letters that go beyond or even contradict what we have written, letters that offer a different perspective and provide a different view of science fiction. If you would like to submit a letter, please use our feedback form or send a message to scifiweekly@scifi.com.
-- Brooks Peck, Editor
Sliders Finale Disappointed
s a season finale, the last Sliders episode rates a B or B-: an above average episode in what was probably the best season the show has had since moving to the SCI FI Channel. As a series finale, however, it was very disappointing.
I have no real criticism of the story or the writing nor of the acting, but to leave the story hanging in mid-air with no real clue as to the fate of Rembrandt (not to mention whether or not Quinn and Colin are really gone) shows poor judgment by the powers that be at the SCI FI Channel. Why not reclaim viewers who were upset by SCI FI's treatment of the show by wrapping up the series with a two-hour series finale? In two hours, most of the major story lines could be concluded and, chances are, former stars could be enticed to return to character one more time.
Michael Ray
michael.l.ray@worldnet.att.net
Sliders Finale Slides Off Course
am sorry to say that after viewing the series finale of Sliders, I must
seriously disagree with your critic's assessment of it. Did I miss
something? Or did the ending actually suck?
Don't get me wrong, the idea of them sliding into a world where their own
lives and adventures were fodder for a TV series was right up there with
some
of the series' quirkiest (and usually best) episodes. But how
disappointing
it was to have them tack on a non-ending to the climax of what was to be
their final show. I don't object to loose threads--after all, life
itself
is a series of loose threads which never get tied up completely, even in
death--but the series ending had more of a cliffhanger feel to it than
anything else. Did Remy survive his last slide? Were the Kromaggs
defeated
on Earth Prime? And, as one of the characters so aptly pointed out, "Now
what do we do?" It was all most unsatisfying to those of who have been
fans
of the series for its entire run. Sliders was one of the most unusual
concepts for a series I have seen in a good long time, and it deserved a
better sendoff than the one it received.
Richard Poshard
rposhard986@cs.com
DiCaprio Can Master The Dark Side
any people have complained that Leonardo DiCaprio would make a terrible Darth Vader
because he can't act. Don't mistake his popularity and flashy looks with not being able to act!
Sure, his last few years have been spent taking fluff roles to make women
swoon, but for anyone who doesn't think the guy can act, go see What's
Eating Gilbert Grape? and then tell me he can't act.
I've seen a doctored photo of DiCaprio in the Jedi robes, and he fits the
movie. Not to mention his appearance is a perfect logical progression from
Jake Lloyd (who really couldn't act) to play the young adult Anakin.
Sean Huxter
sean@TurbineGames.com
Find Spidey On TV
eonardo DiCaprio as either Anakin Skywalker or Spider-Man is one sure way to keep me from seeing the films. And while Freddie Prinze Jr. or Jude Law might make a good Spidey, I think the producers are missing the boat by not looking to TV. Nicholas Brendon or Jason Behr would make a great Spider-Man!
Judy Erp
judy.erp@honeywell.com
Anime Isn't For Kids
am a great fan of anime. Many networks refuse to air anime unless it
has been overdubbed and over-censored. To me, this is just another
example of uptight American morality at its worst. Anime is represented
as "juvenile" and unfit entertainment for the little ones. Anime was
never meant selectively for the kiddies. By way of example, The Simpsons got away with an incredible amount of political and social faux pas,
making it extremely popular with the present younger generation (which,
in my own "juvenile" opinion, is a lot more flexible than any other that
I myself am acquainted with).
I don't protest the amount of sex
in TV these days, or violence. What I protest is the utterly conformist,
straight-laced and protective social community that deforms media and
twists it to its own liking before it is considered worthy for the
receptive masses. Anime is not a kiddie cartoon. Anime is a unique,
inspirational form of art, and a form of communication as well. It looks
as though our society has a problem with sex and violence as long
as it's not American sex and American violence. Tom and Jerry beat the
Hell out of each other every day. But fantastically, there's no blood. I
must say, how very realistic! No blood on TV unless it's purple or black
(or in Spock's case, green, I think). Better yet, why not create the
impression that one may beat one's contemporaries over the head with
large mallets, and expect them to leap up, and applaud our good aim? Not only are the censors unfair, they also have a very dim view of the
world. If they are going to twist anime for the benefit of the younger
and more impressionable crowd, I sincerely hope that a station will be farseeing enough to realize that uncut, subtitled anime
would be a valuable addition, not only as entertainment, but as cultural
awareness. I have been angry with the censors of American TV for a long
time--if I want entertainment freedom, well, as of now, it looks as
though I might as well move to Japan.
Anna Ialeggio
ialeggio@quest-net.com
Farscape Should Definitely Be A Movie
think Farscape would be a great movie. It's a great show with great
characters and it doesn't just appeal to kids, or should I say young
adults. I am a grandmother (although a young one) and my husband and I
watch it every week. I think it just hints enough at sex to tease,
and that it has just the right amount in it. I'm sure its popularity will
change, especially since it won TV Guide's award for best SF show
of the year. How long a series is on TV, or if it's on TV at all,
doesn't have anything to do with its success at the box office. After
all who ever heard of the The Blair Witch Project?
Judy Edwards
jacintha@phoenix.net
Stop The Lexx Hypocrisy
am growing tired of all the negativity I have been reading about Lexx. The complaints seem to fall into two categories, the first being the supposed poor quality of the show, and the second revolving around the sexual/sensual content of the show. Regarding the first complaint, I must defend Lexx by pointing out that this series was preceded by four very entertaining movies. I understand that due to legal reasons, SCI FI was unable to show these movies and had to compromise by airing the Rated Lexx program to inform the viewers of the story "so far." While Rated Lexx did it's job, it pales in comparison to the movies. SCI FI then chose to confuse its intended audience further by omitting the first three episodes of the series and running the rest of the episodes out of order. There is a progressive storyline to this series and by making such decisions SCI FI has severely injured the show's potential to attract and maintain new viewers.
As to the second complaint regarding the sexual/sensual content of the show, I can only find myself disgusted by the hypocrisy of this country. Lexx is no more explicit than many of the popular programs we "wholesome" Americans enjoy. Shall I mention a few and gauge your response? Xena: Warrior Princess has skimpy costumes and deals with "uncomfortable" sexual issues. Do I need to remind you of Bay Watch? The Discovery Channel recently advertised a program about sex in the Bible. Jerry Springer and Ricki Lake aren't exactly focused on baking tips, and I read a survey that estimated that your daily soaps show approximately 2.3 sexual scenes per day. So please, until you have watched all four Lexx movies and have had a serious, honest look at the programs you do enjoy, please stop the crusade against Lexx!
Synthia Shipley
SynSheva@aol.com
Voyager Rips Off Dr. Who
n a recent letters one correspondent mentioned: forget Star Trek and bring back Doctor Who. I have no problem with that, but has anyone noticed that most of Star Trek: Voyager's episodes are nothing more than re-workings of old Doctor Who episodes? I kind of like that, but it gets a little tiresome after awhile. Give us stuff based on new concepts please!
It truly seems that the only way to get out of this rut is to have a break in the Star Trek world, and come back with a new crew (directorial and cast). And if you're going to make a socio-political comment, at least have the decency to do a spot with one of the cast (like after the program and before the credits) telling why this was done. The Voyager episode that aired on Feb. 2, 2000 was an example. It seemed to be based on the regrettable massacre at My Lai that took place during the Vietnam War. A little note alluding to the fact would have been nice.
Jack Sienkiewicz
JackN2MPU@aol.com
Voyager Is True Star Trek
am a Trekkie not a
Trekker. I sat in front of that TV as a young man just out of the
military, and watched the first episode of Star Trek with Kick in
command. The acting sucked, the characters were still trying to find
themselves and the special effects were nothing to brag about. But it
was fresh and new. The problem with Star Trek's fans now, is the
freshness. You can only shove a star ship with a crew and captain up
their nose so many times before they rebel. Star Trek: The Next Generation came at
a perfect time, but it was still the old Star Trek remade. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a large ship (I know it's a space station) that doesn't move
but still it has a crew and a captain. And Star Trek: Voyager, even if no one has
the guts to admit it, is a closer clone to the original than TNG was.
I agree that Star Trek should give us something different, something
besides a set cast with the same old star ship. I would like to see
Star Trek thrown way beyond the Next Generation, but on earth. A show
that would have only one weekly cast member. He/she would be an
archivist, in charge of the history of the Federation. A host that
would take us to the massive holodeck of the Federation library and show
us a new episode of the Federation each week. It could be anything from
the times before Kirk and his crew to ships and crews far in the
future. But, besides the normal ship/crew type of show, it could
include wars, ground battles, events on different worlds, Klingon,
Vulcan etc. At least it would have the feel of being fresh each week.
Leonard Morgan
morgan@morganonline.com
Most Voyager Fails To Incite Wonder
nce upon a time, Star Trek meant solid writing, character
development,
and there was hardly a single episode that didn't provoke some serious "Yeah, what
if?" on the part of the viewer. A past episode of Star Trek: Voyager (the one prior
to "Virtuoso") was an excellent example. An entire planet's culture
developed around solving one overriding mystery: What, exactly, was that
odd star in their sky that never moved, and that seemed to be causing
earthquakes?
Now, though, it seems that Trek episodes are for sale to the
highest
bidder. I (thankfully) missed the most recent episode (the wrestle-fest), I
wish I'd missed "Virtuoso" (Robert Picardo deserved better), and now
there's discussion about a monster-truck episode?
Rick Berman and Paramount must think the fans are as stupid as the
storyline writers who came up with these ideas. I can see it now: A series
of Titan-sized monster-trucks are turning some planet's ecosystem into
earthen road kill, and it'll be up to Seven of Nine to figure out whether to
a) remotely slash their tires, b) transport sugar into their fuel
tanks, or c) get Neelix to grow enough jumbo-sized bananas to make
exhaust-pipe stuffers.
What kind of head-scratching was the wrestle-fest supposed to
provoke?
What kind of engrossing storyline, and opportunity for the series actors to
flex their interpretive muscles, was "Virtuoso" supposed to create? I admit
it might have been better if the thing hadn't turned into a badly-produced
music video of Robert Picardo. Sheesh, MTV could have turned out something
better!
I'm glad Voyager is heading through its last season. With ideas
like
what we've been seeing, it's no wonder that the majority of the series is
taken up by episodes that have all the punch of a flat tire (monster-size,
of course).
Bruce Lane
kyrrin@bluefeathertech.com
