Fusion Patrol

Simon and Eugene discuss whether the real human cloning process should be more like Star Trek or a zombie movie, how likely a computer is to explode when code is overwritten, and we ask, where did all the nannies come from? 00:00:35 Opening the Final Countdown 00:01:25 Bea’s Dangerous Bargain 00:02:39 Mimi’s Final Shutdown 00:03:24 Jonas Plans His Transfer 00:05:38 Cloning, Souls, and Identity 00:...

Eugene and Kenneth discuss The Invaders, Season 1, Episode 12, “The Betrayed,” focusing on David Vincent’s long surveillance of an alien hotspot and his effort to document a landing and an invader facility hidden in a railway car, his recovery of an alien data tape, and attempts to get it analyzed Much of the conversation is devoted to plot holes and the show’s handling of the Invaders, including...

Eugene and John discuss Buck Rogers season 1, episode 22, “Buck’s Duel to the Death,” after a storm interrupted their first attempt to record. They describe it as a fairly routine episode in which Buck is brought to the planet Katar to serve as a symbol of hope for an oppressed population ruled by Warlord Trebor. They go over the basic plot: Trebor has ruled for generations, steals women, kills wa...

Kenneth and Eugene look at the classic 1951 Christian Nyby directed (wink wink), Howard Hawks Produced The Thing from Another World. They ask, “Is this film slow, as some people claim?”, “Is it unfair to complain the creature is a walking carrot?”, and “How did they get the sexually charged bondage sequence past the Hays Office Code?” 00:00:35 Introduction to The Thing 00:02:37 The Discovery of th...

Simon and Eugene discuss the status of Hubots as property and its legal implications, whether there is a government requirement for Hubots to make a noise like electric vehicles must, and they discuss the correct procedure for warming up a severed finger. 00:00:34 Episode 8 Overview 00:01:41 Mimi’s Trojan Crisis 00:03:02 Free Will and Clones 00:06:33 Florence’s Inheritance 00:07:43 Rick’s Cult Ris...

Kenneth and Eugene discuss if the Invaders know how to fly planes for themselves, what Roy Thinnes and Susan Oliver’s children’s eyes would have looked like, and did hippies want to nuke China in the 1960s. 00:00:35 Invaders Episode Recap 00:02:33 Academy Infiltration 00:04:10 The Police Arrive 00:05:35 Cahill’s Final Choice 00:06:23 Episode Discussion Begins 00:19:12 Alien Logic Problems 00:24:41...

John and Eugene discuss rock and roll gone horribly wrong, and the surprising way the director for Space Rockers was chosen. 00:00:35 Space Rockers Intro 00:02:46 Concert Chaos Begins 00:04:27 Signal Behind the Music 00:06:54 The Song Repeats 00:10:55 The Kids and the Plot 00:13:55 Casting and Character Oddities 00:19:12 Clues and Coverage Problems 00:22:00 Youth Riots Explained 00:26:24 Tweaky in...

In this wildly free-roaming episode, Ben and Eugene discussd institutional failures in education, the assumption that everyone is motivated by greed, Disney’s Song of the South taken in a modern context, the notion that the child of two hillbillies could be educated not to be a hillbilly, is electing an idiotic TV personality to the US Presidency a good idea, dress Crocs, electrolytes, does this f...

Simon and Eugene we discuss whether Hubot technology changes what death means for humans, compare customer satisfaction in the pizza and battle Hubot industries, and ask whether there is less sex with robots this season. 00:00:34 Opening Credits 00:00:59 Rick’s Rebellion 00:02:07 Douglas Makes His Choice 00:03:52 Bee and the Missing Code 00:05:52 Law Firm Crisis 00:06:32 Inger’s Family Trouble 00:...

Kenneth and Eugene discuss the arrival of Klaatu, the identity of the so-called “innocent,” the impossibility of getting building permits in California, and bring to light the shocking connection between this episode and the Starlost. 00:00:34 Welcome to Fusion Patrol 00:01:20 Episode Synopsis 00:02:39 Act 2 Overview 00:03:20 Act 3 Developments 00:04:03 Act 4 Tensions Rise 00:04:34 Epilogue Reflec...

Simon and Eugene mark the 800th episode of Fusion Patrol where they discuss the classic 1931 Frankenstein, the extent of the impact of this film across other media, the differences between the film and the book, and whether the film or Mary Shelley are responsible for the perception of the mad scientist. 00:01:00 Anniversary Opening 00:02:29 Frankenstein’s Obsession 00:04:51 The Monster Escapes 00...

John and Eugene dicsuss the return of sad Buck, the daughter of America’s mom, the ridiculous plot contrivance of this episode, and how the name New New Orleans just trips over the tongue.

Simon and Eugene discuss Swedish electric wiring, hubots and eggs as baby substitutes, and how a baby upgrade programme could work.

Kenneth and Eugene discuss David Vincent’s need to have someone else believe him, the double-bluff of having an obvious main Invader guest star who isn’t, and ask the all-important question: If the cylinder contains the masterplan for invading the Earth, does that mean the Invaders have been working without a plan so far?

John and Eugene look at the 2492 Olympic games on the planet Mykos. They discuss the in-built advantages/disadvantages of having aliens with different physical capabilities competing against one another, ponder how small of an area you could hold the games in if there were no pesky audiences, ask if the writers were unable to come up with two imaginary drug names, look at the fascinating history o...

Kenneth and Eugene look at Andrei Tarkovsky’s famous, and ponderously slow, 1972 film, Solaris. They discuss why 40 minutes of the film is set amongst wet greenery, Tarkovsky’s daddy issues, they ask “What the hell was the point of the horse?” and “Why did we sit through 10+ minutes of silent driving through Osaka?” This cursed episode of Fusion Patrol was over four years in the making. 00:00:35 I...

Simon and Eugene discuss upgrading the babysitter, the theme of children abandoned by mothers, and Eugene grapples with his unresolved cyber security issues. Follow this blog on Mastodon or the Fediverse to receive updates directly in your feed.

Eugene and Kenneth delve into *The Invaders* Season 1, Episode 8, “Doomsday Minus One,” where Major Graves faces a nuclear test threat while Spence’s paranoia leads to tragic consequences from alien forces. They discuss Vincent’s quest for truth, the episode’s tension, and the moral nuances of its characters, as well as frustrations with its reset button mechanics. Next Week: Real Humans, Season 2...

Eugene and John dive into Season 1, Episode 18 of *Buck Rogers in the 25th Century*, “Twiki is Missing.” They humorously critique a high-stakes mission involving a spaceberg, a miners’ revolt, and a kidnapping plot against Twiki. Amid absurd twists, they discuss scientific credibility, casting choices, and themes of loyalty and free will, teasing the next episode, “Olympiad,” for more adventures....

Simon and Eugene look at the Dalek Master Plan, including the newly-recovered episodes 1 and 3, and they discuss companion deaths, the traditional Christmas Dalek, whether Douglas Adams watched this serial, and whether Mavic Chen could have been blue.

This week Simon and Eugene look at Real Humans, Season 2, Episode 3, and discuss whether coincidence in television is a product of convenience or pleasing the audience, whether the Hubot virus is mining Bitcoin, which characters might benefit from an external battery pack, and how on earth you would retrieve a retractable cord from a Hubitron 400 once the plug is cut. Next Time on Real Humans: Sea...

In this episode of Fusion Patrol, Kenneth and Eugene analyze Season 1, Episode 6 of The Invaders, titled “Vicar.” The story follows an electrical lineman who dies after witnessing aliens regenerate, prompting David Vincent to investigate Vikor Enterprises’ dark ties to the invaders. We examine the moral complexities of George Vikor, who prioritizes personal gain over ethics, and the troubled relat...

In this episode of Fusion Patrol, John and Eugene analyze Season 1, Episode 15 of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, titled “Happy Birthday, Buck.” The narrative explores Buck’s existential crisis as he confronts his 534th birthday and feels a sense of nostalgia for 20th century Chicago. Next episode: The Invaders – VikorNext on Buck Rogers: A Blast for Buck & Ardala Returns Follow this blog on...

Kenneth and Eugene explore the 1955 classic “This Island Earth.” Their discussion highlights Cal’s research, mysterious technology, and ethical dilemmas posed by the Metalunans. They reflect on the film’s pacing, special effects, and its commentary on Cold War politics, examining how its themes resonate with contemporary issues. They also discuss the film’s charm and its legacy in sci-fi cinema.

This week, Simon and Eugene look at the second episode of the second series of Real Humans. They discuss Chekhov’s robot grandfather, the Swedish electoral system, whether induction hobs are better than gas, and whether they would switch on digital replicas of their deceased loved ones. Next week: This Island Earth (1955)