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We can keep the Queen music.
Apr. 6th, 2018 07:33 pmAs Hollywood has completely run out of ideas, we're seeing more and more reboots of older shows, and not so old shows as now there a proposed reboot of Babylon 5. Which I won't watch without Peter Jurasik and Andreas Katsulas playing Londo Mollari and G'Kar. It's as bad as trying to have someone other than William Shatner play Captain Kirk, and . . .
No, I refuse to believe those movies happened. Just like there were no sequels to The Terminator or Highlander. I live in a happy place of denial about those things.
But why, I find myself asking, aren't the show makers looking back farther? To a property that is perfect for episodic television because it was episodic? To a glorious vision of good vs. evil, strong-jawed heroes, and magnificent villains? A story that can last for years written on a broad stage? The first true Space Opera worthy of the name?
I'm talking about Flash Gordon. The tale of a trio of humans who find themselves trapped on Mongo, fighting the evil Ming the Merciless and his plans to add Earth to his empire! Flash was a staple of comics, radio drama, and movie serials through the 1930s and 40s. The story is episodic with a long story arc that could cover several seasons.Of course, there would need to be some updates to the classic characters.
"Flash" Gordon - Former USMC fighter pilot (call sign Flash) veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Expert fencer from his days on the United States Naval Academy's Fencing Club's team. At the start of the story, he's trying to get into NASA. He's in his mid-30s and very fit. Beyond that, all that matters is that we believe he is a hero. He could be played by an actor of any race, the important thing is he has to inspire the viewers.
Dale Arden - Television journalist with extensive field experience. Met Flash in Iraq, where they started a casual relationship. Very capable and has a reporter's eye for details. At the start of the story, she and Flash are dating. She is not going to be the hostage of the week. Dale Arfen is a self-rescuing princess.
Dr. Hans Zharkov - Ex-NASA/DARPA scientist. Considered a UFO kook by most of his contemporaries. He has managed to salvage most of a Mongo scout ship's drive and computer. Pretty much kidnaps Flash and Dale at the climax of the first episode. Zharkov is the classic movie cliche of a man with a degree in Science! which means he knows a bit of everything. Not overly athletic, and a bit older than Flash and Dale.
His Dread Majesty, Emperor Ming, called the Merciless - The absolute ruler of Mongo, a cruel tyrant whose every whim is law. But he is honorable, in his own way. He honors his promises, bargains fairly, and prefers it when his subjects kneel out of their own will. Ming's power base is having absolute intelligence in his realm, and playing his subject races against each other. He has a large harem and thinks this Earthwoman Dale Arden would make a fine addition to his list of wives.
Mongo itself? I'm thinking mega-structures orbiting the stars in a K/M binary system. Not a ringworld or full Dyson sphere, but enormous platforms or mini-ring structures, thousands of miles across, each harboring a different race or culture. This also adds a potential plot point: the platforms are all ancient tech, and they are beginning to fail. Ming uses his monopoly on understanding the technology to keep the platforms enslaved by playing the various factions against each other. If only some hero would come to unite the peoples of Mongo and lead them to freedom!
Yeah, I'd watch 110 episodes of this, plus a few expanded universe movies. The main arc has to be Ming's impending invasion of Earth. Or maybe he's going to bring the Earth to Mongo so disassembly. Think big! With CGI we can do anything! Keep the classic look of the spaceships and the various peoples of the Mongo system, then add some non-humanoids to the mix. Ming has been collecting for a long time, he's going to have some very odd subjects.
This is just my idea of how I'd like to see it done. American television is starting, finally to accept the idea that stories should have an end. Planning for a five-year arc is the best way to tell a long story with five big "chapters" with plenty of space to grow. Make it happen, Hollywood!
No, I refuse to believe those movies happened. Just like there were no sequels to The Terminator or Highlander. I live in a happy place of denial about those things.
But why, I find myself asking, aren't the show makers looking back farther? To a property that is perfect for episodic television because it was episodic? To a glorious vision of good vs. evil, strong-jawed heroes, and magnificent villains? A story that can last for years written on a broad stage? The first true Space Opera worthy of the name?
I'm talking about Flash Gordon. The tale of a trio of humans who find themselves trapped on Mongo, fighting the evil Ming the Merciless and his plans to add Earth to his empire! Flash was a staple of comics, radio drama, and movie serials through the 1930s and 40s. The story is episodic with a long story arc that could cover several seasons.Of course, there would need to be some updates to the classic characters.
"Flash" Gordon - Former USMC fighter pilot (call sign Flash) veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Expert fencer from his days on the United States Naval Academy's Fencing Club's team. At the start of the story, he's trying to get into NASA. He's in his mid-30s and very fit. Beyond that, all that matters is that we believe he is a hero. He could be played by an actor of any race, the important thing is he has to inspire the viewers.
Dale Arden - Television journalist with extensive field experience. Met Flash in Iraq, where they started a casual relationship. Very capable and has a reporter's eye for details. At the start of the story, she and Flash are dating. She is not going to be the hostage of the week. Dale Arfen is a self-rescuing princess.
Dr. Hans Zharkov - Ex-NASA/DARPA scientist. Considered a UFO kook by most of his contemporaries. He has managed to salvage most of a Mongo scout ship's drive and computer. Pretty much kidnaps Flash and Dale at the climax of the first episode. Zharkov is the classic movie cliche of a man with a degree in Science! which means he knows a bit of everything. Not overly athletic, and a bit older than Flash and Dale.
His Dread Majesty, Emperor Ming, called the Merciless - The absolute ruler of Mongo, a cruel tyrant whose every whim is law. But he is honorable, in his own way. He honors his promises, bargains fairly, and prefers it when his subjects kneel out of their own will. Ming's power base is having absolute intelligence in his realm, and playing his subject races against each other. He has a large harem and thinks this Earthwoman Dale Arden would make a fine addition to his list of wives.
Mongo itself? I'm thinking mega-structures orbiting the stars in a K/M binary system. Not a ringworld or full Dyson sphere, but enormous platforms or mini-ring structures, thousands of miles across, each harboring a different race or culture. This also adds a potential plot point: the platforms are all ancient tech, and they are beginning to fail. Ming uses his monopoly on understanding the technology to keep the platforms enslaved by playing the various factions against each other. If only some hero would come to unite the peoples of Mongo and lead them to freedom!
Yeah, I'd watch 110 episodes of this, plus a few expanded universe movies. The main arc has to be Ming's impending invasion of Earth. Or maybe he's going to bring the Earth to Mongo so disassembly. Think big! With CGI we can do anything! Keep the classic look of the spaceships and the various peoples of the Mongo system, then add some non-humanoids to the mix. Ming has been collecting for a long time, he's going to have some very odd subjects.
This is just my idea of how I'd like to see it done. American television is starting, finally to accept the idea that stories should have an end. Planning for a five-year arc is the best way to tell a long story with five big "chapters" with plenty of space to grow. Make it happen, Hollywood!
