Hugo Award -- Dramatic Short Form

Darren Dirt · October 19, 2012, 09:15:05 AM

I wonder if the "Doctor*" streak will continue this year? seriously, WOW after Firefly and Buffyverse series disappeared from the small screen, it was Doctor all the way! (with a "Dr." break in the middle)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Award_for_Best_Dramatic_Presentation#Short_Form

imo most likely nominations: TATM , although I wouldn't be surprised if it goes to the innovative TPOT.

Mr. Analog · October 19, 2012, 09:34:49 AM

There is a significant shortage of Sci-Fi variety these days, that's for sure.

Thorin · October 19, 2012, 10:05:27 AM

I dunno, Falling Skies and The Walking Dead have both had some great episodes this year. And does Game of Thrones contend in the short form?

Mr. Analog · October 19, 2012, 10:10:21 AM

For 2012:

Long Form
-Game of Thrones (Season One)*
-Captain America: The First Avenger
-Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
-Hugo
-Source Code

Short Form
-Doctor Who: "The Doctor's Wife"*
-Community: "Remedial Chaos Theory"
-Doctor Who: "The Girl Who Waited"
-Doctor Who: "A Good Man Goes to War"
-The Drink Tank?s Hugo Acceptance Speech

I don't know exactly how it works and I am surprised that stuff like Walking Dead isn't there (perhaps it's categorized as horror even though it's an interesting science fiction tale of post-apocalyptia)

I was quite happy with the season opener BTW, we'll see how it goes!

Darren Dirt · October 19, 2012, 10:19:19 AM

Quote from: Mr. Analog on October 19, 2012, 10:10:21 AM
I don't know exactly how it works and I am surprised that stuff like Walking Dead isn't there (perhaps it's categorized as horror even though it's an interesting science fiction tale of post-apocalyptia)

The date for the "2012" award nominees/winners was early/mid 2011 by the looks of things, so my guess is the qualifier for "2013" awards = late 2011 thru mid 2012. Although maybe not, since the whole Silence+RS arcs for the Doctor seems to have been for the 2012 awards ("A Good Man Goes to War" was in there), but if not then this latest series that just took a "break" would for sure be at least one or two noms.

EDIT: actually "released in the previous calendar year" makes it pretty clear. Broadcast between January 1, 2012 thru December 31, 2012 = "2013" nominees.

Personally I didn't mind the season opener, just didn't really "wow" me. But I found TPO3 (aka the "Cube" episode) extremely satisfying on both "geek" and "human/emotional" levell; very creative in the way it was shot and perfectly paced the way the story unfolded (and seeing the Doctor so impatient/bored when "housebound" was genius imo).

Mr. Analog · October 19, 2012, 10:29:25 AM

Yeah, but, Season 2 of Walking Dead was 2011 and it was pretty damn powerful (if you ask me)

Ah well...

Thorin · October 19, 2012, 10:33:50 AM

I read the Wikipedia article and now know EVERYTHING about the Hugos! </sarcasm>

It does explain, though, that shows have to get nominated and that the top five nominated each year are listed in the Wikipedia article. So it could be that Doctor Who just has more / more-rabid fans that spend more time nominating?

There are some other shows that on the one hand just suck but on the other hand just suck you in. For instance, Revolution. But I've already posted about that one.

And maybe it's more that as sci-fi it has to have space and aliens and that's why The Walking Dead isn't listed? Although it's supposed to be only for dramatized sci-fi, yet the Apollo 11 Moon Landing broadcast got it one year.

Mr. Analog · October 19, 2012, 10:40:11 AM

That's one thing that REALLY bugs me about what people assume SCI-FI is all about.

Sci-fi isn't all spaceships and aliens, it shouldn't be, in fact a lot of stories that feature aliens and spaceships are more like fantasy than science fiction (re: lengthy conversation about Star Wars we had previously...)

I think what happens though is that certain things get categorized and fall out of running.

I mean if Walking Dead was a story about the aftermath of a devastating plague and the only survivors had to fight off other survivors in a post apocalyptic world it would probably count as Sci-Fi but because zombies are in there it puts it into another category (likely horror).

Thorin · October 19, 2012, 11:12:51 AM

Yeah, I 'unno, maybe it just comes down to how many people nominate which shows. All I know is some shows I like and some I don't. I'm surprised by what I've been wanting to watch in the last couple of weeks:

Revolution season 1
Last Resort season 1
Arrow season 1
Falling Skies season 2 (to catch up, even though it was aired long ago)
The Walking Dead season 3
Doctor Who season 7 (well, actually season 33)
The Big Bang Theory season 6
Flashpoint season 5

Some of those would have to qualify as sci-fi / fantasy.

Darren Dirt · October 19, 2012, 01:44:10 PM

Quote from: Thorin on October 19, 2012, 11:12:51 AM
Yeah, I 'unno, maybe it just comes down to how many people nominate which shows. All I know is some shows I like and some I don't. I'm surprised by what I've been wanting to watch in the last couple of weeks:

Revolution season 1

I heard from somebody that it's really bad. But somehow engaging, perhaps even strangely irresistable...

Quote from: Mr. Analog on October 19, 2012, 10:40:11 AM
I mean if Walking Dead was a story about the aftermath of a devastating plague and the only survivors had to fight off other survivors in a post apocalyptic world it would probably count as Sci-Fi but because zombies are in there it puts it into another category (likely horror).

imo some of the BEST scifi (that I have seen or read or played) has more to do with, indeed, the aftermath of some signficant change in society due to some external source, whether it be aliens invading or suns going nova or an invention/inventory going awry. It's all about the humanity (just ask Gene Roddenberry, he knew how to get people hooked, draw them in on the HUMAN STORY level, and the aliens and technobabble are overlooked as just window-dressing, and rightly so).

Mr. Analog · October 19, 2012, 01:54:41 PM

Exactly, sci-fi is about radically changing something or introducing some element that doesn't exist and playing out the effect in a fictional context.

Thorin · October 19, 2012, 02:06:56 PM

You mean, like Earth 2?

Thorin · October 19, 2012, 02:15:03 PM

Dammit, after mentioning Earth 2 now I wanna see or even read some real sci-fi. Maybe I should re-read The Diamond Age.

Mr. Analog · October 19, 2012, 02:16:14 PM

Quote from: Thorin on October 19, 2012, 02:06:56 PM
You mean, like Earth 2?

Hnng... sort of but I'd prefer exploring stuff like The Magnetic Monster or Radar Secret Service or The Brain that Wouldn't Die or The Twonky or Just Imagine or Dick Tracy or any number of films that don't have aliens or spaceships but deal with the advance of science/technology and its impact on humanity