WWTBAM Bored

When I was a child my father had a collection of brown-bound Tom Swift books - Tom Swift and his Motor Cycle, Tom Swift and his House on Wheels, etc. They were about a young inventor who had adventures. Then I discovered that there was a series about Tom Swift, Junior - Tom Swift and his Triphibian Atomicar, Tom Swift and his Outpost in Space, etc. They were also about a young inventor who had adventures, mixed in with some science-fiction elements (aliens from outer space) and spies (the fictional nation of Brungaria). I collected those and enjoyed reading them.

So I was interested to learn that The CW was going to have a TV series about Tom Swift; I wondered how they might update the inventions (since some of those from the books were either impossible, implausible, or already developed), and how the adventures might play out. So I watched the first episode. I was appalled. This Tom Swift is a gay black narcissist, nothing at all like his literary antecedent. There was a lot of glitz and glitter, a smidgen of science/science-fiction, and a lot of attitude. It was more of a nighttime soap opera than a scifi/adventure show - and I won't be watching the next episode.

That's a letdown. I read all the Tom Swift Jr books - every one. I can only imagine how dated the original Tom Swift series was, as the JR series was very 50's / 60's. Didn't read any of the Tom Swift originals.

Book hungry me will confess to reading every one of my sisters Nancy Drew books too.

This is how I felt at the Starship Troopers movie - they lost all the grit and heart, and turned it into only action. Sort of like much of the current Star Trek universe.

Ritterskoop wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 02, 2022 8:49 pm

This is how I felt at the Starship Troopers movie - they lost all the grit and heart, and turned it into only action. Sort of like much of the current Star Trek universe.

Starship Troopers was intended as satire.

earendel wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 02, 2022 12:36 pm

When I was a child my father had a collection of brown-bound Tom Swift books - Tom Swift and his Motor Cycle, Tom Swift and his House on Wheels, etc. They were about a young inventor who had adventures. Then I discovered that there was a series about Tom Swift, Junior - Tom Swift and his Triphibian Atomicar, Tom Swift and his Outpost in Space, etc. They were also about a young inventor who had adventures, mixed in with some science-fiction elements (aliens from outer space) and spies (the fictional nation of Brungaria). I collected those and enjoyed reading them.

So I was interested to learn that The CW was going to have a TV series about Tom Swift; I wondered how they might update the inventions (since some of those from the books were either impossible, implausible, or already developed), and how the adventures might play out. So I watched the first episode. I was appalled. This Tom Swift is a gay black narcissist, nothing at all like his literary antecedent. There was a lot of glitz and glitter, a smidgen of science/science-fiction, and a lot of attitude. It was more of a nighttime soap opera than a scifi/adventure show - and I won't be watching the next episode.

Perhaps because I never read the books, none of this stuff bothered me. Also, I'm pretty sure they set him up as a jerk to give him room to grow in later episodes.

What did bother me, though, was the complete failure to account for any light-speed delay from Saturn. --Bob

earendel wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 02, 2022 12:36 pm

There was a lot of glitz and glitter, a smidgen of science/science-fiction, and a lot of attitude. It was more of a nighttime soap opera than a scifi/adventure show - and I won't be watching the next episode.

You weren't alone in your opinion. Tom Swift has been cancelled after only six episodes aired (the remainder of the season will still be broadcast).