Flash Forward: "White to Play" 10/1 - Grading & Discussion

[Archangel]

Are you kidding, I've got Demitri already pegged as the obvious mole so it won't be him. The real mole will be ADA Carver who will be killed by episode 5 who will implicate Janice who will save the day as everyone is about to be killed by D. Gibbons (the one with the cupcakes), you didn't by that innocent baker crap did you?

 

[davejames]

If they don't have any info, how can they look urgent? Also, even if this is the most important event in centuries...running around like a chicken with his head cutoff is just going to burn them out.

Well I'm not really sure what the answer is. 24 has that ticking clock to keep you on edge throughout the season, but the situation here isn't nearly as defined as that. Every character has his or her own problem to figure out, and the flashforward date isn't even when most of it happens. For many of them, it just tells them what already happened.

I'm certainly glad this isn't another cheesy "we have to save the world from armageddon" type of thing, but they still need to find some way to keep the level of suspense up. At least to keep ME interested.

 

[propita]

And how does one affect only one species?

How does one effect every human being on the entire planet at once?

True, but I figured, if they found a way to affect all humans, how did they then limit it to only humans?

 

[Lucky Charms]

So far I really like the show, and am very intrigued by where it is going. Like a lot of you, I am not really that interested in Matt and Olivia's problems, but I do think her future beau, Simcoe is involved somehow. I think whatever happens to Simcoe's son will be related to what Matt is investigating.

My only fear is that the resolution of the plot will be anticlimatic. Also will they be able to keep the show interesting, and not drag out the plot. I don't want to see 6 months take 3 years in TV land.

 

[Trent Roman]

True, but I figured, if they found a way to affect all humans, how did they then limit it to only humans?

By targeting a physiological feature unique to human (or higher primate, depending on what the zoo cams show) biology. Like, I don't know, high-speed brain waves. If I recall my psych classes correctly, and assuming the data hasn't changed since, lower forms of animal life never get beyond theta brain waves, leaving alpha, beta and gamma as our exclusive domain--the latter of which has been, controversially, associated with the effect of consciousness. The human brain is a highly developed and complex organ with only a handful of rough cognates in the animal kingdom; I can see a human-only effect being produced by the human-only biological and cognitive structures it exhibits.

Or, you know, they could just make something up.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Verteron]

Looking forward to this. Could be interesting, I like the premiss (in theory). Always willing to give Berman/Braga a second chance, too - I mean, much as I dislike what they did to VOY and ENT, they wrote some kickass episodes back in the day. Perhaps outside of the old ST formula, this could be good...

 

[Grant]

I am glad they are bringing in Nazis for the third episode.

why weren't Nazis in episodes 1 & 2?

How can sci-fi exist without Nazis.
How can writers find interesting stories without Nazis or good villians without using Nazis?

I think they have fallen short of their Nazi quota handed out by those in charge.

Are they looking to get fired by those in charge?

Why aren't the children of nazis shown more?
The real Nazis are dying off and they are finding it harder to work Nazis into storylines. Children of nazis are just as good.

 

[Verteron]

I think they have fallen short of their Nazi quota handed out by those in charge.

Oh good god, you're serious aren't you?
BRRRRRAAAAGAAAAAAA!
(Shouted Shatneresquely)

The first 20 minutes have been so good!

 

[LutherSloan]

I am glad they are bringing in Nazis for the third episode.

why weren't Nazis in episodes 1 & 2?

How can sci-fi exist without Nazis.
How can writers find interesting stories without Nazis or good villians without using Nazis?

I think they have fallen short of their Nazi quota handed out by those in charge.

Are they looking to get fired by those in charge?

Why aren't the children of nazis shown more?
The real Nazis are dying off and they are finding it harder to work Nazis into storylines. Children of nazis are just as good.

Does that mean we have more of this to look forward to?

 

[Grant]

"First 20 minutes have been so good." ?????


No, I'm not tlaking about 'alien' Nazis, but real earth Nazis.

It is near impossible to have good TV without having Nazis worked into the story in some way.
Even when the villains aren't 'real' nazis you can imply they are nazis by certain subtle things like accents etc.

But I think if the whole flashback thing turns out to be a 65 year old Nazi plan---it will help the show immensely.

 

[biotech]

So five pages and not one of you realises that the black FBI leader who had his flashforward on the toilet is not the same actor who played him in the pilot?

I also thought the 4000 D Gibbons and 1000 with criminal records was some dodgy maths.

 

[Aragorn]

So five pages and not one of you realises that the black FBI leader who had his flashforward on the toilet is not the same actor who played him in the pilot?

Well, seeing as how Courtney B. Vance is one of the few "name" leads on this show and that he was indeed in the pilot... I guess it's only you.

 

[Archangel]

So five pages and not one of you realises that the black FBI leader who had his flashforward on the toilet is not the same actor who played him in the pilot?

I also thought the 4000 D Gibbons and 1000 with criminal records was some dodgy maths.

 

[Candlelight]

Just a friendly reminder, can we please keep all spoilers to the episode in question? I know some people have read the book and in the US you get the benefits of trailers but elsewhere in the world we don't.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Find some dolphins who happened to be hooked up during the blackout and see how their brains were affected - did they suddenly jump from being in their normal state to being in a half-sleep state, which might indicate their consciousness had jumped forward in time?

But what the heck are they gonna see? They're swimming along, suddenly they have a flash to them... swimming along... 2'17" later they're... waking up from swimming along...

Doesn't matter what they see. There should be some change in their brain from waking to sleeping state, as their consciousness leaves their body. That can be determined by their behavior or better yet, by the machines that happen to be monitoring their brains at the time - somewhere in the world, that must have been occurring.

Or, you know, they could just make something up.

Chronton particles!!!!

Cmon Braga. You know you want to.

 

[JoeZhang]

Just a friendly reminder, can we please keep all spoilers to the episode in question? I know some people have read the book and in the US you get the benefits of trailers but elsewhere in the world we don't.

The book and the show have the same basic concept but it's not an adaption so it has no spoiler value.

 

[Candlelight]

Just a friendly reminder, can we please keep all spoilers to the episode in question? I know some people have read the book and in the US you get the benefits of trailers but elsewhere in the world we don't.

The book and the show have the same basic concept but it's not an adaption so it has no spoiler value.

Well, people started going on about 'an observer' so I assumed part of the book was being carried over.

 

[Trent Roman]

^ That was one of the differences, actually, which was being highlighted--in the book there were no observers, in this series there obviously are. I think it's fair to say at this point that, with the basic premise out of the way, the book isn't going to have much influence.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Archangel]

Just a friendly reminder, can we please keep all spoilers to the episode in question? I know some people have read the book and in the US you get the benefits of trailers but elsewhere in the world we don't.

The book and the show have the same basic concept but it's not an adaption so it has no spoiler value.

Well, people started going on about 'an observer' so I assumed part of the book was being carried over.

Calling him "the observer" is an in joke to people who watch Fringe, there is a reocurring mystery background character on the show who is called "The Observer".

 

[Candlelight]

The book and the show have the same basic concept but it's not an adaption so it has no spoiler value.

Well, people started going on about 'an observer' so I assumed part of the book was being carried over.

Calling him "the observer" is an in joke to people who watch Fringe, there is a reocurring mystery background character on the show who is called "The Observer".

Really??? Ha. Never liked Fringe. People aren't exciting enough.