I hesitantly want to take a stab at VanDerWerff's question regarding religious analogues between Martin's work and our world. The only direct analogue I see is with the practices of Druids in ancient times. That particular brand of paganism (with no actual gods as such, more an overarching worship of the natural…

Many of the great musical numbers on shows I care about are already covered in TV Club (like _The Simpsons_, _Futurama_, and _Adventure Time_). A terrific one that isn't, though, happens in the _Justice League Unlimited_ episode "This Little Piggy" when Batman sings "Am I Blue?" It's not only a stunningly appropriate…

The great (and, sadly, late) writer Octavia Butler has a short story entitled "Bloodchild." In the story, human colonists have been living on an alien world for generations (the timeline is unclear; it could have been dozens of generations, or hundreds). The dominant species on the world, called T'lic, are vaguely…

The great (and, sadly, late) writer Octavia Butler has a short story entitled "Bloodchild." In the story, human colonists have been living on an alien world for generations (the timeline is unclear; it could have been dozens of generations, or hundreds). The dominant species on the world, called T'lic, are vaguely…

[more spoilers coming]

[more spoilers coming]

Thanks for the clarification. My guess on the character's age is based on my estimate of the actor's age, which we all know has little to do with the actual character age. Certainly, lots of folks in their twenties (and even thirties) have played teens. Also, that young telepath definitely gets treated as a child…

Thanks for the clarification. My guess on the character's age is based on my estimate of the actor's age, which we all know has little to do with the actual character age. Certainly, lots of folks in their twenties (and even thirties) have played teens. Also, that young telepath definitely gets treated as a child…

[more spoilers here]

[more spoilers here]

[potential mini-spoilers for newcomers]

[potential mini-spoilers for newcomers]

JMS: Yes, I agree regarding the soul question. Frequently, the best art (fiction included) involves tackling hard questions but giving no clear answers. Art, I think, should highlight the debate but not include specific answers, just as Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" was intended to bring attention to the…

JMS: Yes, I agree regarding the soul question. Frequently, the best art (fiction included) involves tackling hard questions but giving no clear answers. Art, I think, should highlight the debate but not include specific answers, just as Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" was intended to bring attention to the…

So true. Even when he had crap roles (like on the Gil Gerard _Buck Rogers in the 25th Century_), Ansara was always a delight. I remember him on an old _Outer Limits_ playing a future soldier (in fact, I think the episode was called "Soldier" and was penned by Harlan Ellison [terrific fiction and essay writer who was…

So true. Even when he had crap roles (like on the Gil Gerard _Buck Rogers in the 25th Century_), Ansara was always a delight. I remember him on an old _Outer Limits_ playing a future soldier (in fact, I think the episode was called "Soldier" and was penned by Harlan Ellison [terrific fiction and essay writer who was…

Do please review this show. I'm intrigued by its promise, even though I also see flaws (and that upside-downside sort of viewpoint is the essence of good criticism, right?).

Do please review this show. I'm intrigued by its promise, even though I also see flaws (and that upside-downside sort of viewpoint is the essence of good criticism, right?).

"Despise"? That's a verb. I think you mean "spite." And yes, you are correct.

"Despise"? That's a verb. I think you mean "spite." And yes, you are correct.