Details

IMAGE: "When Worlds Collide" by Chesley Bonestell

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
We are meeting on Zoom on Wednesday, April 15.We will start at 7 PM Eastern Time.

TOPIC FOR THIS MEETING
TITLE:
I Didn’t See That Coming.

GUIDELINE:
“A straight line may be the shortest distance between two points, but it is by no means the most interesting.”
-- Doctor Who; “The Time Warrior” (1973)

DEFINITION:
Since movies and TV series are works of fiction, they are in a constant state of flux.
Writers may have established the rules of the narrative.
But, whenever they want, they can also re-write (or even erase) a story.

To keep things interesting, writers will fool around with your expectations and assumptions.
So productions can pull the rug out from under you at any time!

Productions will often go to extraordinary lengths to hide the biggest surprises of a story.
To prevent leaks, some companies may give actors incomplete scripts or even multiple different lines.
Even fake titles may be used for a highly anticipated sequel to hide it from the public during filming.

So, as much as possible, productions want to keep a surprise twist concealed from the audience.
Viewers, who pay attention to details, may discover some hints during the show.
But hopefully most people will be astonished by something that they did not see coming.

Choose 1 or 2 science fiction movies or TV episodes.
Identify the most surprising moment in the story.
• Did you catch any hints?
• Were you totally caught off-guard?

The surprise can be almost anything.
• It can just be a cameo by a famous actor or character.
• It can be an “easter egg” that you saw in the background.
• You might also consider “retcons” (retroactive continuity changes).
• It could even be a major twist in the story that changes everything.

Accordingly, there may be spoilers in this topic.
But, as much as possible, please keep them to a minimum.
You could also warn the members of our group if your choice contains a major twist.

SAMPLE EXAMPLE:
In STAR TREK 2: THE WRATH OF KHAN (1982), the biggest surprise in the film was Mr. Spock’s death.

To save his crewmates from an explosion, Spock exposed himself to deadly radiation in order to repair the ship’s damaged warp drive.
Spock successfully restored power to the Enterprise, but at the cost of his life.
A space burial is held in the Enterprise's torpedo room with Spock's coffin being shot into orbit around a new planet.

When I first watched this surprising moment, I was stunned.
I thought it was some kind of stunt, not realizing that it would be final!
In previous episodes of the STAR TREK TV series, Mr. Spock had always cheated death.
But this would be the one time when he did not survive.

By the way, an early draft of the script called for the death scene to take place at the film's beginning.
Somehow, this information was leaked to the fans who were understandably upset.
So the “Kobayashi Maru” scenario was invented to allow Spock to “die” in the opening as rumored.
It threw off the audience for the drama of Spock's actual death at the film's ending.

The death of Spock was originally supposed to be final and irrevocable.
Leonard Nimoy did not want to appear in any further Star Trek projects.
However, he enjoyed the experience of filming STAR TREK 2 so much that he asked if he could return.

So last minute changes were added to the movie, hinting that Spock may return from the dead.
For instance, as McCoy tries to prevent Spock's entry to the chamber, Spock incapacitates the doctor with a Vulcan nerve pinch.
He then performs a mind meld, telling him to "remember".
Also, instead of burning up in the atmosphere, Spock's coffin had soft-landed, resting on the planet's surface.

=========-------===================-------=============----------
New members are always welcome.
Drop in and say hello.
You can participate as much (or as little) as you want.
Think of your first meeting as a welcome to the neighborhood.
We begin with the monthly "Ice Breaker" topic.
But, after that, it's a wide-open discussion.
We talk about everything related to SciFi & Fantasy; Movies, Books, TV, Star Wars, Star Trek, Dr. Who, The Expanse, Battlestar Galactica, Big Bang Theory, Comics, Writing, Firefly, Stranger Things, X-Files, you name it.
Although Meetup sends out a reminder, I would like to have an email address for all members.
Please message me with your email, so I can send out a last-minute reminder before the next meeting.