'Strange Angel' Sci-Fi Series

Trailer.

Have you read the book?

So, what did you think of the first episode?

I thought the first ten minutes or so were slow and boring (science talk) and almost decided this show wasn't for me, but then it sucked me in completely. Was it just me or were those cigarette and pool moments supposed to be homoerotic? I'm sure they'll downplay that angle going forward, because reasons. The Asian inserts seemed weird to me at first but perhaps they're the show's way of paying homage to the Chinese rocket tradition? That the show looks slightly more diverse because of it doesn't hurt either, I'm sure. Because there is not a person of colour in sight otherwise.

Great acting all around, with not a bad link to be found. Usually, I instinctively feel a show like this will have cheesy and cliched dialogue, but the writing here is more than fine.

The only thing that bothered me were the numerous shots of Californian vegetation. So fucking ugly, Jesus Christ. Almost started choking from all the humidity just looking at that. I'm really into luscious green forests but I'll survive because I like the show. Perfect little summer series, I think.

Any character who lives gay lifestyle ?

Great concept but wasted on network TV. If you are going to show Crowley and company you need an HBO or similar to not candy coat the fuckery

r3 It's not a lifestyle and it would be pretty hard to live one in 1938, but no, there aren't any gay characters [italic]yet.[/italic] Although, as I've said in r2, one of the leading men seems like he's seducing the main character at times, but perhaps that was just to symbolize all things unconventional for that time, which then rubs off on the main character and helps him achieve the desired breakthrough when it comes to his project. We'll see where his rashness leads him next.

r4 I know, if there ever was a show to display debauchery with the capital D and contrast it with the uptight social mores of the time, this one is it. But it's on CBS All-Access which has been doing all sorts of edgy and naughty shit with the second season of The Good Fight, so I don't understand what the holdup is. If Star Trek on the same platform can use the word "fuck", then this one should go that much further.

On the other hand, there [italic]was[/italic] a completely naked lady in the first episode, so maybe I'm complaining about nothing and I'll have egg on my face in the weeks to come.

The actor playing the possible homo has an interview with NYT out today. Had no idea he was English.

He helped hold Homeland together for me for a couple seasons until the brain damage/flashback stuff.

*I should have said "possible bisexual". Correcting myself before I'm accused of bi erasure.

This is an old Laurie Anderson CD called Strange Angels. Any connection? Something about strange angels following her?

Well, it's based on the 2005 book by George Pendle, titled "Strange Angel: The Otherworldly Life of Rocket Scientist John Whiteside Parsons".

Haven't read the book but perhaps it refers to either Rupert Friend's character or Aleister Crowley? They might function as John's angels in the sense that they help him experience life beyond what society at the time could offer and allow him? That's the sense I got from watching the first episode. Or maybe John himself is the strange angel because he's in the field of rocket science and he's trying to send stuff up into the heavens?

The second episode was as good as the first, I thought, and I found myself annoyed that I have to wait another week for the next one to air. I'm totally sucked into California in that time period by now.

Oh, and I made a gif out of that cigarette scene I mentioned earlier and you can tell me yourself if I was reading too much into it.

Yeah, I got vague gayness. Interesting, but not captivating. Not interested in voodoo Crowley culties. But old LA and the science is interesting, plus handsome dudes.

This is how the boys flirted back in the olden days. Fire is involved once again, just like in r10. Could it maybe symbolize a spark of some sort? When water was involved (the pool scene), it ended in violence and blood, but also with a game-changing recognition. Fascinating, right?

I love how this episode was basically the story of a person in a relationship who wants to explore something new and different but the other one is afraid and would rather stay in the comfort zone, however stale and painful it might be. Just say yes to Chaos, frau! Though to be fair to her, I can't even begin to fathom how strange that (sex?) cult must have been to a good old Catholic girl back then. The numinousness of it all!

^^ Oh, and he's using ammonium nitrate there, if anyone was curious.

So we get a confirmation in this episode that the neighbour, played by Rupert Friend, is indeed bisexual, if not an outright homo. He got rock-hard while watching Jack getting head, which was hot to see. Of course, that closing scene with the cult leader only cemented it. I'm also glad my theory about the water and the fire symbolism got confirmed so explicitly.

Vision quest in a desert next episode!

"I want some of that as well!"

This was cute as well. You wouldn't think CG would work in a period piece, but it does.

"The War of the Worlds" being played on the radio that very evening was a nice touch. It was also refreshing to see that none of the characters were duped by it for a moment. A lesser writing team totally wouldn't be able to resist going down that cheaper route.

It seems to me to be leading to the fact the scientist is more than just a recruit. I kind of like how the actor is able to use his eyes to give us his "eyes wide open/closed" moments.

And judging from the previews it may be suggested that he has no problem with his neighbor's attentions.

Why did that come out like I was one of the Baldwin sisters from The Waltons? Probably the one with the false teeth.

[quote]And judging from the previews it may be suggested that he has no problem with his neighbor's attentions.

You got that impression? Because I paid special attention to the next week's preview in order to catch any homo moments but there really wasn't anything suggestive there. We'll see.

I think the series might wimp out and not have them do the deed. But I do believe the character won't object.

Since this is a pay service and not on network, they do really have to be bolder.

No homo moments in this episode but there were some really cool visuals and the cinematography in the desert was [italic]stunning.[/italic]

Ernest has finally and quite literally embraced the cactus, i.e. that prickly but also gentle part of himself that wants to explore romantic relationships (or at least sex) with men.

I've known about Jack Parsons for year. He was extremely brilliant and extremely weird. His birth name was Marvel Whiteside Parsons and not only was he heavily involved with Aleister Crowley, he was also heavily involved with L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. He blew himself up at age 37 in his home laboratory and no one knows for sure whether it was an accident, suicide or murder. Extremely bizarre character. Genius and crossed paths with all sorts of well known, smart and strange people over the course of his brief life. Weird UFO connections.

^ for years, not year.

Oh, and I've heard stories that his sexuality was as strange as the rest of his life. More pansexual than bi, he would and did try everything. But those are just rumors and I can't source them without googling, which i don't have the interest to do right now.

CBS?

So this is a censored, broadcast network show for families?

r24 No, it's on their All-Access streaming platform, where anything goes. The first-ever "fuck" on Star Trek was shown there earlier this year, for example.

Yeah. I knew this episode was a wimp out when he hugged the cactus after the cactus "apologized" for making him want a man, or whatever bullshit they were going for.

I just started the book the series is based on. I'm only a little bit in and already I see the series has taken some shortcuts that just don't make sense even allowing for "artistic licence." I'm still intrigued by the show but I'm worrying it's going to be a somewhat lazy exercise in dramatizing something that really was fascinating.

This unfortunately is all too common. Hell, Affleck made a bullshit hash out of Argo and got an Oscar for his lack of effort. '

Read about the real Jack Parsons, not the the heavily whitewashed version this series will be forced to present. Blow your mind.

Parson had a heavy affair with his wife's sister. She left him for a pre-Scientology L Ron Hubbard. Later, the sister and Hubbard swindled him for a massive amount of money (Parsons came from wealth). He was also a friend of the young Kenneth Anger. I wonder how much this series will go into all that.

I don't know, I prefer this lighter approach. I don't like my summer shows to get too dark.

There's a very funny Drunk history about this...

Thank you for introducing me to Drunk History, r30. It's really funny and entertaining.

It's getting nuttier with each new episode and I'm loving it. That threesome overlayed with Chamberlain's speech declaring Britain is now at war with Germany was something I never even knew I wanted in my life. Who among us hasn't in ecstasy chanted universal spiritual truths while getting eaten out? We're finally getting represented on screen.

That was definitely menstrual blood in that little sex charm, wasn't it? And dear God is his wife prudish. I've got a suspicion she has never actually climaxed in her whole life, hence that "it was strange" comment.

How sweet and sexy was that reel Ernest made of Jack? I don't think I've ever seen a mainstream TV show featuring footage of a man getting filmed from the gaze of another man who desires him. Really wonderful stuff. Ernest has it bad for him.

"That was definitely menstrual blood in that little sex charm, wasn't it? "

No human blood was ever required.

In the Los Angeles chapter of Thelema, (the Aleister Crowley cult depicted on the show) the blood actually came from animals. One of the members was a butcher who supplied them with blood. But he left. At some point they tried to be a commune, because the cult had no money and most of the members weren't making much money if any at all. The depression, remember? The idea was to raise animals for both food and blood. But none of them knew how to do that and the animals died. Crowley may have some kind of genius, but the people he duped were for the most part, idiots. They could not get together to collect animal blood, which is a hell of a lot easier than squatting over a tin cup while you're having your period.

Forgot to add, and I can't stress this enough, magic isn't real.

I don't think this show is meant to be some "based on a real story" bullshit twisted into a horror flick. It's all artistic licence about real history.

For example, you think that a guy who just picked up a camera for the first can film a montage in camera with no editing? You saw him pointing his camera at other things besides Jack. Where did those shots go? You think he was able to splice disparate shots together with no editing equipment? You think the woman who printed the film did the editing? Not her job. She even commented how she thought it was a test reel for an actor. Because, yes, they showed you an edited reel. Magically done by an amateur with no editing equipment. Because he has the magic power of desire. Which has been scientifically proven to chemically alter film stock.

Just kidding. Magic isn't real.

Cancelled. I'm not too mad about it because they killed the only gay character at the end of season two.

r34 It's called magical realism, darling. The point isn't to convince viewers that magic is real, but to use some magical elements while exploring the human condition, especially as it pertains to the subconscious. This is nothing new in literature, movies, etc. And yes, I know I'm responding to someone from a year ago; I wanted to respond back then, but forgot.