Alienating Ourselves Podcast

#002 - Alien Nation 1.01 "Pilot"


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Nick & Todd are back and diving in to the "Alien Nation" pilot TV movie (counting as episode 1 of the TV series). This episode is packed with world-building, character development, and social commentary.


- What was Todd's favorite moments, and how did Nick react to it differently?

- Did the TV pilot continue the trend in the theatrical movie of Matt Sikes doing bad police work?

- What in-world alien advertisements did Nick take note of?

- What differences between the theatrical movie and the TV show did Nick & Todd point out?

- What were the opinions on the obnoxious teenage Buck Francisco character?

- How many instances of discrimination, bullying, and racial slurs, were in the TV pilot, proving the show called "Alien Nation" is an exploration of...alienation?

- What did we all learn about Tenctonese physiology from the uncomfortable bedroom scene, and how did that lead to an "Ally McBeal" reference?

- What did we learn about the Tenctonese religions?

- What did Nick & Todd love so much about the conversations Matt had with his new Tenctonese neighbor Cathy Frankel, and how insightful were they about life on the Newcomers' former slave ship?

- How did a conversation between two child characters work its way into Todd's favorite moments?

- Todd's favorite moment came near the beginning of the episode. Which of Nick's favorite moments came near the end of the episode, and how does involve...velcro?

- What bizarre & illogical ways did the makers try so hard to integrate the theatrical movie into the TV pilot while also so blatantly retconning other aspects of the theatrical movie?

- What strange writing, directing, and/or editing choices were made near the end of the episode?

- What flimsy & possibly coincidental connection did Todd make between something in this episode and the novel "Ender's Game"?

- How many connections did Nick & Todd make between the actors in the show and their roles in other shows, and how many of those other roles were in the "Star Trek" franchise?

- How did Nick & Todd work in references to "South Park," "Spaceballs," "Little House on the Prairie," "Mac & Me," and much more?

- How did the vote split this week for the Albert Einstein Award?

- Which exotic & haunting musical instrument, featured in this episode, did Nick love & research further?

- What was Todd's head-canon theory about Emily's friend Jill, and if he's right, how does that fit the themes portrayed more blatantly in the rest of the episode?

- How did Nick & Todd score this episode, and what did Todd give it on his Head-Explode-O-Meter?


Listen now for the answers to these and other questions as Nick & Todd examine the TV pilot of "Alien Nation."


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Royalty-free music in this episode comes from Pixabay.com.

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Alienating Ourselves PodcastBy Alienating Ourselves Podcast