My Favorite 110 TV Episodes: Star Trek: TNG Edition

The Best of Both Worlds (1990)
The Borg kidnap Picard and transform him into a weapon. Riker is forced to adapt to defeat his mentor.

The Drumhead (1991)
An admiral launches a McCarthy-style witch hunt takes place aboard the Enterprise.

Redemption (1991)
Worf restores his family honor during the Klingon Civil War.

Unification (1991)
Spock meets Data and Picard on Romulus. 'nuf said.

The Inner Light (1992)
Picard lives another man's life courtesy an alien probe.

Chain of Command (1992)
Picard is captured and tortured by the Cardassians.

Starship Mine (1993)
Picard goes Rambo.

My 110 Favorite TV Episodes: Star Trek: Enterprise edition

Regeneration (2003)
Borg surivors from the 24th century awaken in the 22nd. The frightening aspects of the Borg reemerge after they had been defanged.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0572230/

Borderland/Cold Station 12/The Augments (2004)

Genetically enhanced "augments" run amok and fill in some gaps left from the Original Series. The final episode of the three-parter serves as part of an origin story for Data. Brent Spiner (Data from TNG) guest stars/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0572179/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0572193/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0572248/

Demons/Terra Prime (2005)

The Enterprise deals with a Xenophobic terrorist organization. Peter Weller is in top form as the villain.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0572200/
http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Terra_Prime_%28episode%29

My 110 Favorite TV Episodes: Star Trek Edition part 2

Voyager:
 
Future's End (1996)

A 29th Century starship crashes to Earth in the 1960s igniting the computer revolution. Voyager is tossed back to 1996.

Scorpion (1997)

Voyager encounters the Borg and a new species.

DS9

In the Pale Moonlight (1998)

Sisko conspires with Garak to bring the Romulans into the Dominion War.

My 110 Favorite TV Episodes: X-Files Edition

Beyond the Sea (1994)

Mulder and Scully reverse their roles as Scully seeks help from a pyschic on death row.

Darkness Falls (1994)

Mulder and Scully are attacked by ancient insects in an old growth forest.

The Erlenmeyer Flask (1994)

Scully finds an alien fetus and trades it for Mulder. Deep Throat is murdered.

Duane Barry/Ascension (1994)

Scully is abducted.

Die Hand Die Verletzt (1995)

Mulder and Scully meet Satan.

Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose (1995)

Peter Boyle guest stars as a man that can see how people die. He helps Mulder and Scully capture a serial killer and then commits suicide.

Anasazi/The Blessing Way/Paper Clip (1995)

Mulder travels to the Navajo Reservation, discovers alien bodies, and is almost killed. He recovers, but Scully's sister dies. Meanwhile, Mulder discovers his own sister's fate.

Jose Chung's From Outer Space (1996)

Author Jose Chung tries to get the truth after a UFO encounter and gets several different stories about the event.

Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man (1996)

The Smoking Man's past is revealed...or at least some of it.

Triangle (1998)

Mulder gets trapped in the Bermuda Triangle.

Two Fathers/One Son (1999)

The Syndicate is destroyed by alien rebels.

My 110 favorite TV episodes: Battlestar edition

Battlstar Galactica miniseries (2003)

A re-imaged remake of the original 1978 cheese series. The Cylons return after 40 years to launch a genocidal war. Only a handful of survivors remain...

Battlestar Galactica: 33 (2004)

The most intense episode in the history of television!

Battlestar Galactica: Blood on the Scales (2009)

A rebellion occurs on Galactica. In the end, the mutineers are executed. The executions demonstrated a clear shift in the characters. Humanity could ill afford to lose members at this point, but executions occurred nonetheless.

Greatest Sci Fi Movies: Honorable Mentions

Metropolis (1927)
E.T. (1982)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
The Terminator (1984)
Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
The Road Warrior (1981)
Return of the Jedi (1983)
Aliens (1986)
Escape from New York (1981)
The Thing From Another Planet (1951)
12 Monkeys (1995)
First Contact (1996)
Omega Man (1971)
Dark City (1998)
The Matrix (1999)
Interstellar (2014)
Forbidden Planet (1956)
Predator (1987)
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Bride of Frankentein (1935)
Star Trek IV: Voyage Home (1986)
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
Signs (2002)
War of the Worlds (1953)

Top 10 Science Fiction films

1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
2. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
3. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
4. Star Wars (1977)
5. The Wrath of Khan (1982)
6. Planet of the Apes (1968)
7. The Thing (1982)
8. Blade Runner (1982)
9. Alien (1979)
10. Frankentstein (1931)

Sci Fi History: The Time Machine (1960)

H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine has been adapted into two full length films, at least two television series, and comic books. The book has influenced science fiction and science for over a century. In fact, the term time machine originated with Wells. The most famous adaptation came in 1960. The makers adapted the film to the Cold War and included a nuclear holocaust as well as the first two World Wars. The book sympathizes with the working classes in the form of the Morlocks, who live underground, operate machines, and cannibalize the Eloi. The Eloi represent the leisure classes who have developed into child-like sheep. The film ends with the traveler returning to Victorian Britain, grabbing some things, and setting off to the future to be with Weena, whom he saved from the Morlocks. Wells was not the first to ponder time travel, but he popularized it and time travel has been a key component of science fiction ever since.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKP-WkcDT5s

Sci Fi History: The Blob (1958)

 

Steve McQueen, the embodiment of cool for a generation, made his film debut in The Blob. A meteorite strikes a hill unleashing an alien blob monster. The thing oozed into a small Pennsylvania town consuming all in its path. Eventually, the town uses fire extinguishers to freeze the monster. After, the Air Force transports it to the arctic. Some argue the blob represented communist encroachment. Although a number of period films tackle this subject, The Blob seems to be a simple sci-fi horror flick. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdUsyXQ8Wrs

Sci Fi History: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

Aliens attack a small town and replace people with duplicates devoid of emotion or individuality. A doctor discovers the plot and tries to stop the invaders. Critics have argued for years about the film’s theme. Some believe it was a commentary on conformity in Middle America. Others argue it is a warning about communism. One critic claims it is an examination of the reduction of personhood in the face of extreme leftist ideology. Still others point to Senator McCarthy as inspiration. It could also be the loss of one’s self in the modern world. One thing is for certain, Invasion of the Body Snatchers is about the loss of individuality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFnSxeDfENk

Sci-Fi History: Godzilla (1954)

Godzilla was a Japanese reaction to nuclear power. In 1945, the U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on Japan ending World War II. Memories of the attacks led Japanese writers to develop Godzilla. The monster became a metaphor for nuclear weapons. In the beginning, he was a destructive monster. However, Godzilla's popularity forced a change. In later films, Godzilla played the hero and sometimes defended humanity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKrj1ymJzmo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laJ7UCzCtV4

Sci Fi History: The Forbidden Planet (1956)

The Forbidden Planet combines Shakespeare with Freud serving as a precursor for future Sci-Fi endeavors. The movie stars Leslie Nielson and Anne Francis and introduces Robby the Robot. It borrows heavily from The Tempest and uses Freudian ideas on the subconscious. The film is a direct ancestor of Star Trek. Gene Roddenberry cited Forbidden Planet, with its United Planets, as an influence.  Today, the film is considered both a cult classic and a sci-fi classic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y4crGU7dkg

Malcolm Reed timeline

Born: 2122

2140: Joined Starfleet Academy

c. 2144: Recruited by Section 31

2151: Assigned to Enterprise NX-01

2151: Along with Ensign Mayweather, became first human to walk on a comet

2151: Stranded in Shuttlepod 1 with Commander Tucker

2152: First contact with Romulans; Reed almost killed when a mine ran through his leg and attached itself to the Enterprise’s hull.

2152-3: Xindi Attack on Earth; Enterprise spends a year in the expanse before defeating the Sphere Builders and Xindi Reptiles

2154: Augment Crisis

2154: Becomes trapped aboard a Romulan telepresence vehicle

2154: Section 31 contacts Reed again during Klingon Augment Crisis

2155: Terra Prime Incident

2156: Promoted to Lt. Commander

2156-61: The Romulan War

Dr. McCoy timeline

Born: 2227

2240s: Attended University of Mississippi

2245: Studying medicine by this point

2249: McCoy’s daughter is born

2251: Leads inoculation program on Dramia II

2253: Earns MD by this point

2253: Developed advanced brain grafting procedure

2254: Becomes involved with Nancy Crater.

2255: Divorced his wife. She took everything but his “Bones” Sometime during this period, meets James T. Kirk and witnesses the Kobayashi Maru incident.

2266: Joins USS Enterprise

2266: Reconnects with his old flame, Nancy Crater, who turns out to be a salt vampire

2267: Seemingly dies during Shore Leave

2267: Travels to 1930 Earth and changes history. Kirk and Spock follow to correct the mistake.

2267: Returns to Capella IV, where he had visited on a survey years before. He delivers the child of the High Tier, who is subsequently named Leonard James Akaar.

2267: Spock’s brain

2268: Diagnosed with a terminal disease and chooses to live his life  on a planet-ship. He discovers a cure there. He married Natira during this period.

2269: Promoted to commander

2270: Arrested for murder, but acquitted

2270: Retires and goes into private practice

2273: Drafted back into the service. V’Ger crisis.

2285: The Wrath of Khan

2285: Spock places his Katra in McCoy’s head causing severe problems.

2285: The Search for Spock: McCoy is taken to Vulcan and the Katra placed back into Spock’s body. Along the way, he helps steal the Enterprise.

2287: The Final Frontier: It is revealed McCoy felt extreme guilt for taking his father off life support. A cure was found shortly thereafter.

2293: Convicted for murdering the Klingon High Chancellor and sentenced to Rura Pente. He escaped and helped break a Section 31 conspiracy.

2364: Inspects Enterprise-E

Greatest Movie Villains: Honorable Mentions

The Terminator (Arnold)
Bane (Tom Hardy)
Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates)
Magneto (Ian McKellen)
Tony Montana (Al Pacino)
Gollum (Gollum)
General Zod (Terrance Stamp) 

Greatest Movie Heroes: #11-20

20. Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier)
19. Maximus (Russell Crowe)
18. Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson)
17. Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver)
16. Rooster Cogburn (John Wayne and Jeff Bridges)
15.Obi Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor and Alec Guiness)
14. John McClain (Bruce Willis)
13. Batman (Christian Bale)
12. The Man with no name (Clint Eastwood)
11. Phillip Marlowe/Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart)

Star Trek Timeline: From the Big Bang to the Romans

16 billion years ago: The Big Bang (Some members of the Q hide out here)

5 billion years ago: Sol System forms

4.5 billion years ago: An ancient group of aliens seed the galaxy’s oceans with DNA codes leading to many humanoid races.

3.5 billion years ago: The first amino acids combine on Earth (Picard and Q visit)

1 billion years ago: The Slaver Empire rules the galaxy. All sentient species died in a war which led intelligent life to re-evolve.

65 million years ago: Dinosaurs wiped out. Some survived, evolved into the Voth, leave Earth, and end up in the Delta Quadrant.

600,000 years ago: Tkon Empire collapses

500,000 years ago: Sargon’s people become extinct

22,000 years ago: The Trill begin as a joined species

18,000 years ago: Orion slavery well established by this point.

10,000 years ago: Vaal is built

10,000 years ago: First orbs appear at Bajor

10,000 years ago: Founders found the Dominion

10,000 years ago: The First Grand Nagus writes the Fergengi Rules of Acquisition

4527 B.C.: The Borg come into being after survivors from the NX-02 Columbia are flung back in time and are absorbed by a malevolent Caeliar named Sedin.

4000 B.C.: Advanced aliens kidnap people from Earth and eugenically bred them to help humanity save itself later on. Gary Seven is a product of this program.

3834 B.C.: Flint is born

3733 B.C.: Landru preaches peace and love and creates a computer to help guide his people. It creates an oppressive society on Beta III.

2700 B.C.: Aliens visit Earth and become the Greek gods

2700 B.C.: Spock and McCoy temporarily stranded on Sarpeidon during an ice age.

2500 B.C.: Pyramids built in Egypt

850 B.C. P’Jem Built

800 B.C.: Homer

500 B.C.: Trakor writes prophesies about Bajor’s Prophets

400 B.C.: Sahndara System supernovas. The refugees revere Greek philosophers after apparently encountering them. They move to Platonius and form a civilization based on the Greeks.

323 B.C.: Alexander the Great dies

31 B.C.: Augustus wins at Actium and later forms the Roman Empire

Sci Fi History: Flash Gordon (1934)

The first Flash Gordon comic debuted in 1934. Inspired by Buck Rogers, the story recounts a polo player and their battles with Ming the Merciless from the planet Mongo. Eventually, Flash and his compatriots defeat Ming and establish a peaceful Mongo. The series featured faster than light space travel and adventures across many star systems. The comic led to serials and films, most notably starring Buster Crabbe. In 1980, Hollywood produced a major film version that critics panned, but had a good soundtrack. There has also been a television series, cartoons, comics, novels, radio serials, and a Sci-Fi channel live action series in 2007.

Sci Fi History: Things to Come (1936)

Based on a H.G. Wells story, Things to Come covers a century of history from 1940-2036. The film is extremely dark and critical of technological advances. It examines gas attacks, bombers, plague, and endless war. After a century, mankind lives underground and the people are demanding a break from the “rush to progress.”

The screenplay was written in 1934, but missed predicting the beginning of World War II by about a year. It also predicted the bombing campaigns that helped end the war. At the same time, a new world is built from Iraq, which led to the rise of civilization 5000 years ago. It also envisions an eventual world government. So far, that has yet to occur!

Sci Fi History: The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Shortly after Frankenstein’s release, the studio began work on its sequel. The story is loosely based on a subplot in Mary Shelley’s original tome. In the book, the Monster forces Frankenstein to create a companion. In the film version, the Monster entangles himself with some grave robbers led by Dr. Pretorius who force Dr. Frankenstein back to work. Frankenstein creates a woman that rejects the Monster. A rejected Monster kills himself, his bride, and his benefactor, Dr. Pretorius.

The film won widespread acclaim from audiences and critics alike. However, censors went to work cutting the film up for its violent content. Since 1935, the film has grown in renown and some consider it greater than the original. Like the Monster, the Bride has become a cultural icon and has appeared in many pop culture incarnations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiFfUnimUH4