Explore every episode of the podcast Fusion Patrol

John and Eugene discuss rock and roll gone horribly wrong, and the surprising way the director for Space Rockers was chosen.

00:00:35 Space Rockers Intro
00:02:46 Concert Chaos Begins
00:04:27 Signal Behind the Music
00:06:54 The Song Repeats
00:10:55 The Kids and the Plot
00:13:55 Casting and Character Oddities
00:19:12 Clues and Coverage Problems
00:22:00 Youth Riots Explained
00:26:24 Tweaky in the Tunnel
00:32:48 Behind the Director Story
00:43:40 Music World Questions

In this wildly free-roaming episode, Ben and Eugene discussd institutional failures in education, the assumption that everyone is motivated by greed, Disney’s Song of the South taken in a modern context, the notion that the child of two hillbillies could be educated not to be a hillbilly, is electing an idiotic TV personality to the US Presidency a good idea, dress Crocs, electrolytes, does this film punch up or punch down, is it anti-intellectual, anti-moron, or both and, most importantly, why on Earth are they discussing this film.

The film is Idiocracy and it’s what plants crave.

Next week: Buck Rogers in the 25th Century – Space Rockers

Simon and Eugene we discuss whether Hubot technology changes what death means for humans, compare customer satisfaction in the pizza and battle Hubot industries, and ask whether there is less sex with robots this season.

00:00:34 Opening Credits
00:00:59 Rick’s Rebellion
00:02:07 Douglas Makes His Choice
00:03:52 Bee and the Missing Code
00:05:52 Law Firm Crisis
00:06:32 Inger’s Family Trouble
00:07:27 Douglas’s Death Debate
00:27:57 Kevin Gets Groomed
00:32:52 Damaged by Hubots
00:48:55 Fingerprint Trick
00:54:00 Bea and Roger’s Past
01:05:02 Niska Revealed
01:16:09 Lennart’s Fate
01:20:08 Virus and Arabic Download

Kenneth and Eugene discuss the arrival of Klaatu, the identity of the so-called “innocent,” the impossibility of getting building permits in California, and bring to light the shocking connection between this episode and the Starlost.

00:00:34 Welcome to Fusion Patrol
00:01:20 Episode Synopsis
00:02:39 Act 2 Overview
00:03:20 Act 3 Developments
00:04:03 Act 4 Tensions Rise
00:04:34 Epilogue Reflections
00:04:53 The Innocent Explained
00:05:28 Writer Insights
00:06:45 Story Complexity
00:07:28 Viewer Engagement
00:10:20 Dabney Coleman Discussion
00:10:46 Norman Klenman Background
00:17:01 Guest Star Highlights
00:20:12 Car Chase Analysis
00:21:29 Driver Education Anecdote
00:25:02 Star Trek Connections
00:27:37 IMDb Ratings Debate
00:30:31 Finger Goof Observation
00:33:10 Leisure World Discussion
00:38:39 Santa Margarita Valley Reveal
00:42:56 Concluding Thoughts
00:46:23 Next Episode Preview

Simon and Eugene mark the 800th episode of Fusion Patrol where they discuss the classic 1931 Frankenstein, the extent of the impact of this film across other media, the differences between the film and the book, and whether the film or Mary Shelley are responsible for the perception of the mad scientist.

00:01:00 Anniversary Opening
00:02:29 Frankenstein’s Obsession
00:04:51 The Monster Escapes
00:06:47 First Impressions
00:10:51 Boris Karloff’s Performance
00:15:26 Film Versus Novel
00:18:52 The Beast’s Short Life
00:22:33 Morality and Responsibility
00:26:18 Script Differences
00:30:41 Deleted Dialogue
00:36:10 Body-Snatching Ethics
00:39:35 The Stage Play
00:43:00 Mad Scientist Trope
00:50:24 Never Alive
00:53:54 Why Not Start Small?
00:59:04 Waldman’s Dilemma
01:00:37 Mary Shelley Revisited
01:03:07 Science and Fear
01:08:35 Final Thoughts

John and Eugene dicsuss the return of sad Buck, the daughter of America’s mom, the ridiculous plot contrivance of this episode, and how the name New New Orleans just trips over the tongue.

Simon and Eugene discuss Swedish electric wiring, hubots and eggs as baby substitutes, and how a baby upgrade programme could work.

Kenneth and Eugene discuss David Vincent’s need to have someone else believe him, the double-bluff of having an obvious main Invader guest star who isn’t, and ask the all-important question: If the cylinder contains the masterplan for invading the Earth, does that mean the Invaders have been working without a plan so far?

John and Eugene look at the 2492 Olympic games on the planet Mykos.

They discuss the in-built advantages/disadvantages of having aliens with different physical capabilities competing against one another, ponder how small of an area you could hold the games in if there were no pesky audiences, ask if the writers were unable to come up with two imaginary drug names, look at the fascinating history of the branding of this episode vis-a-vis the disastrous 1980 Olympics in Moscow, and come up with a new tag line for this podcast: “We’re from the future, and we’ve got some script notes.”

Kenneth and Eugene look at Andrei Tarkovsky’s famous, and ponderously slow, 1972 film, Solaris. They discuss why 40 minutes of the film is set amongst wet greenery, Tarkovsky’s daddy issues, they ask “What the hell was the point of the horse?” and “Why did we sit through 10+ minutes of silent driving through Osaka?”

This cursed episode of Fusion Patrol was over four years in the making.

00:00:35 Introduction to Solaris
00:01:39 The Lost Recording
00:02:02 Revisiting Solaris
00:02:48 Watching at 1.5 Speed
00:03:42 Synopsis of Solaris
00:05:37 Part Two of the Film
00:07:58 The Nature of Guests
00:08:36 Dissecting the Film’s Themes
00:12:09 The Nature of Identity
00:12:26 Different Versions of Hari
00:18:25 Film Length and Pacing
00:21:03 Cultural Context
00:30:43 The Purpose of Characters
00:32:40 Understanding the Guests
00:34:34 Questions of Existence
00:39:10 The Climax of the Story
00:45:22 Communication with the Unknown
00:54:00 Tarkovsky’s Personal Influence
00:55:46 Visual and Aesthetic Choices
00:58:02 Final Thoughts on Solaris
01:11:21 Critique of Adaptations

Next week: Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Olympiad

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Simon and Eugene discuss upgrading the babysitter, the theme of children abandoned by mothers, and Eugene grapples with his unresolved cyber security issues. Follow this blog on Mastodon or the Fediverse to receive updates directly in your feed.

Eugene and Kenneth delve into *The Invaders* Season 1, Episode 8, “Doomsday Minus One,” where Major Graves faces a nuclear test threat while Spence’s paranoia leads to tragic consequences from alien forces. They discuss Vincent’s quest for truth, the episode’s tension, and the moral nuances of its characters, as well as frustrations with its reset ... Read more

Eugene and John dive into Season 1, Episode 18 of *Buck Rogers in the 25th Century*, “Twiki is Missing.” They humorously critique a high-stakes mission involving a spaceberg, a miners’ revolt, and a kidnapping plot against Twiki. Amid absurd twists, they discuss scientific credibility, casting choices, and themes of loyalty and free will, teasing the ... Read more

Ben and Eugene discuss Irwin Allen’s second attempt to get City Beneath the Sea going with this TV movie and seeming back door pilot. They discuss the survivability of an asteroid strike in the Pacific Ocean, Robert Wagner’s evil ‘tache, the fact that the unsuspecting people of Pacifica were always going to get saddled with ... Read more

Simon and Eugene look at Season 2, Episode 4 of Real Humans when they discuss far-right mentalities and arguments around migration and exceptionalism, we ask, if you create free will and yet still embed an override, is it still free will? Possible allusions to the Matrix and Frosty the Snowman, and Eugene reveals why he ... Read more

In this episode of Fusion Patrol, Kenneth and Eugene be looking at Season 1, Episode 7 of The Invaders. With the episode entitled “Nightmare” where they discuss how the Invaders are like the Wild Wild West’s Dr. Loveless, ask, “why mutate butterflies when locusts are readily available?”, and why small towns immediately distrust outsider David ... Read more

In this episode of Fusion Patrol, John and Eugene analyze two contrasting episodes from Season 1 of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: “A Blast for Buck” and “Ardala Returns.” They explore the quirky narrative of “A Blast for Buck,” a clip show that offers a humorous spin on nostalgia while critiquing the logic behind ... Read more

Simon and Eugene look at the Dalek Master Plan, including the newly-recovered episodes 1 and 3, and they discuss companion deaths, the traditional Christmas Dalek, whether Douglas Adams watched this serial, and whether Mavic Chen could have been blue.

This week Simon and Eugene look at Real Humans, Season 2, Episode 3, and discuss whether coincidence in television is a product of convenience or pleasing the audience, whether the Hubot virus is mining Bitcoin, which characters might benefit from an external battery pack, and how on earth you would retrieve a retractable cord from ... Read more

In this episode of Fusion Patrol, Kenneth and Eugene analyze Season 1, Episode 6 of The Invaders, titled “Vicar.” The story follows an electrical lineman who dies after witnessing aliens regenerate, prompting David Vincent to investigate Vikor Enterprises’ dark ties to the invaders. We examine the moral complexities of George Vikor, who prioritizes personal gain ... Read more

In this episode of Fusion Patrol, John and Eugene analyze Season 1, Episode 15 of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, titled “Happy Birthday, Buck.” The narrative explores Buck’s existential crisis as he confronts his 534th birthday and feels a sense of nostalgia for 20th century Chicago. Next episode: The Invaders – VikorNext on Buck ... Read more

Kenneth and Eugene explore the 1955 classic “This Island Earth.” Their discussion highlights Cal’s research, mysterious technology, and ethical dilemmas posed by the Metalunans. They reflect on the film’s pacing, special effects, and its commentary on Cold War politics, examining how its themes resonate with contemporary issues. They also discuss the film’s charm and its ... Read more

This week, Simon and Eugene look at the second episode of the second series of Real Humans. They discuss Chekhov’s robot grandfather, the Swedish electoral system, whether induction hobs are better than gas, and whether they would switch on digital replicas of their deceased loved ones. Next week: This Island Earth (1955)

In this episode Kenneth and Eugene analyze Season 1, Episode 5 of The Invaders, titled “Genesis.” A police officers encounter with an Invader loosing his human form leads David Vincent to discover a desperate Invader plan to save the life of a scientist key to their invasion plans. Next Week: Real Humans Season 2, Episode ... Read more

It’s the episode everyone has been waiting for! John and Eugene review Space Vampire! They discuss the surprisingly effective direction of Buck Rogers’ take on the horror genre, the curious omission of the named “Dracula,” and they welcome the return of “Sexy Wilma.” Next time on Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: Happy Birthday, BuckNext ... Read more

Not a movie, but a follow-up to our discussion of the Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea feature, as we look at this television episode remake of the movie. Ben and Eugene examine the moral dilemmas faced by Admiral Nelson and Dr. Weber as they propose differing solutions to a catastrophic scenario. The discussion ... Read more

This week, Simon and Eugene look at the second episode of Real Humans, season 2, where they discuss the changes between the last season and this, or lack thereof, the loss of some of the interesting ambiguities, and whether there is a Swedish TV body count limit. Next Week: Voyage to the Bottom of the ... Read more

Dr. Markham escapes the Invaders, leading to a chaotic pursuit involving David Vincent and Warren Donaghan, who fears alien abductions linked to missing scientists. Kenneth and Eugene explore themes of friendship, skepticism, and belief in the face of the mysterious alien threat, dissecting the episode’s character dynamics and storytelling elements. Dr. Markham escapes the Invaders, ... Read more

This week, Eugene and John explore *Buck Rogers in the 25th Century*, Season 1, Episode 13, “Cruise Ship to the Stars.” They call out the awkward attraction between the 500+ year old Buck and the 19 year old Ms. Cosmos, critique the episode’s convoluted plot, humorously discuss Twiki’s romance, and ponder 2491’s beauty standards. Next ... Read more

In this episode of Fusion Patrol, Ben and Eugene delve into the 1961 Irwin Allen film “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea,” starring Walter Pidgeon and Joan Fontaine. The discussion centers on the USOS Seaview and Admiral Nelson’s desperate mission to extinguish a catastrophic burning of the Van Allen Belt, which threatens all life ... Read more

In this week’s episode of Fusion Patrol, Simon and Eugene dissect the series finale of Bugs, focusing on the two-part episode “Money Spiders” and “The Enemy Within.” They argue over which of the many things Alex should have been fired for, they discuss whether the G5 is the chip Apple released five years after the ... Read more

In this episode of Fusion Patrol, Kenneth and Eugene analyze Season 1, Episode 3 of The Invaders, titled “The Mutation.” The story follows David Vincent as he investigates mysterious phenomena along the Texas-Mexico border, leading to a life-threatening encounter with locals and ultimately, alien forces. Despite being undermined by those he encounters, including the deceptive ... Read more

In this episode of Fusion Patrol, we explore “Escape from Wedded Bliss,” the twelfth episode of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. The plot unfolds as a menacing space probe prompts the Federation to act, while Princess Ardala plots to capture Buck as leverage against them. Amidst a chaotic reception, Buck navigates Ardala’s royal wedding ... Read more

This week Simon and Eugene look at the Bugs episode Twin Geeks, and discuss their disappointment at the size of this episodes’s explosions, whether lawyers are as scarce as police in Bugs Land, and they lament the lack of eccentric British gauge collectors in this episode. Next week: Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Escape ... Read more

In this episode of Fusion Patrol, the Kenneth and Eugene review The Invaders episode “The Experiment,” which features guest star Roddy McDowall as the son of an astrophysicist targeted by alien brainwashing. The discussion highlights the story’s strong Cold War influences, noting how the plot mirrors spy thrillers like The Manchurian Candidate by effectively substituting ... Read more

This week Simon and Eugene look at the last nugget of the Disney-BBC Doctor Who deal, the War Between the Land and the Sea where they discuss parallels between the modern UNIT and Torchwood, whether Kate Lethbridge-Stewart is the true heir to the Brigadier, and Eugene explains why the naming of Homo Aqua is as ... Read more

This week Fusion Patrol looks at Buck Rogers in the 25th Century – Season 1, Episode 11, Cosmic Whiz Kid as John and Eugene discuss— Cosmic Whiz Kid Airdate: November 15, 1979 Runtime: 60 minutes Starring: Gil Gerard, Erin Gray, Tim O’Connor Guest Stars: Gary Coleman, Ray Walston Director: Leslie H. Martinson Writer: Alan Brennert ... Read more

This week Fusion Patrol looks at The Andromeda Strain as Ben and Eugene discuss hard science fiction tension built from plausible medical and military technology; human errors, prejudice, and design flaws that nearly trigger nuclear catastrophe; Nostalgic enthusiasm for long‑forgotten light pen computer interfaces; and a strangely prominent topless corpse and its clash with the ... Read more

This week we look at “Bugs: Jewel Control” as Simon and Eugene discuss electricity billing, Beckett’s impressive Chinese reading capabilities, and whether Bugs is part of the same universe as Torchwood and whether it shares some of the same strengths and flaws. Jewel Control “Airdate: ” August 29, 1998 “Runtime:” 50 “Starring: ” Jaye Griffiths, ... Read more

This week Fusion Patrol looks at “The Invaders: Beachhead” as Kenneth and Eugene discuss— Beachhead Airdate: January 10, 1967 Runtime: 51 minutes Starring: Roy Thinnes Guest Stars: Diane Baker, J.D. Cannon, James Daly Director: Joseph Sargent Writer: Anthony Wilson (teleplay), Larry Cohen (story & creator) Synopsis: Architect David Vincent, tired from a late-night drive, stumbles ... Read more

This week Fusion Patrol looks at the 1973 movie Soylent Green as John and Eugene discuss if starving people even care if Soylent Green is people, Charlton Heston’s most human performance in a dystopian film, women treated as apartment “furniture” in a collapsing society, and Edward G. Robinson’s final acting role as his own death ... Read more

This week Fusion Patrol looks at Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, “Planet of the Amazon Women” as John and Eugene discuss Planet of the Amazon Women Airdate: 1 November 1979 Runtime: 49 minutes Starring: Gil Gerard, Erin Gray, Tim O’Connor Guest Stars: Ann Dusenberry, Jay Robinson, Anne Jeffreys Director: Philip Leacock Writer: D.C. Fontana, ... Read more

Simon and Eugene look at Season 4, episode 6 of Bugs — Pandora’s Box. They discuss why you can’t fix a sixth century plague with modern technology, Beckett’s annoying, sexy upstairs neighbor, and why blowing things up is a much better solution to a contagion than containment. Pandora’s Box Airdate: April 8, 1995 Runtime: 50 ... Read more

Kenneth and Eugene discuss the final two parts of Children of the Dog Star, with the episodes Kolob, and Alien Contact. Kolob Airdate: October 6, 1984 Runtime: 24 minutes Starring: Sarah Dunn, Jason Wallace, Hamish Bartle Guest Stars: Roy Billing, Susan Wilson, Catherine Wilkin, Raymond Hawthorne Director: Chris Bailey Writer: Ken Catran Synopsis: Gretchen finally ... Read more

John and Eugene talk about the time Buck Rogers met the Scream Queen, Jamie Lee Curtis, and they discuss the Tennessee delicacy, sand squid, as they look at the episode Unchained Woman. Unchained Woman Airdate: November 1, 1979 Runtime: 48 minutes Starring: Gil Gerard, Erin Gray, Tim O’Connor, Pamela Hensley, Felix Silla, Mel Blanc Guest ... Read more

This week, Ben and Eugene look at the 1956 Japanese Kaiju classic, Rodan! Or, as originally known, Sora no Daikaiju, Radon. Rodan Release Date: December 26, 1956 (Japan), August 6, 1957 (US) Runtime: 74 minutes Starring: Kenji Sahara, Yumi Shirakawa, Akihiko Hirata Director: Ishirô Honda Writer: Takeshi Kimura, Takeo Murata (screenplay), based on story by ... Read more

Simon and Eugene look Season 4, Episode 5 of Bugs, Hell and High Water. They discuss how this throws back to earlier Bugs episodes, whether Alex commits the most unethical act seen in the show so far, and if you work on defense contracts and give your computer to a museum, whether you should check ... Read more

Hello and welcome to this not-actually-an-episode of Fusion Patrol. I’m Eugene, and I’m all alone here today. Have you noticed that Fusion Patrol episode numbers just keep getting higher and higher? Here we are at over 750 episodes. Our first episode dropped in April of 2010. That’s over 15 years. That’s like 30 to 60 ... Read more

Kenneth and Eugene look at episodes 3 and 4 of Children of the Dog Star. Swamp Light Airdate: April 16, 1984 Runtime: 24 minutes Starring: Sarah Dunn, Jeison Wallace, Hamish Bartle, Roy Billing, Susan Wilson, Catherine Wilkin, David McKenzie, Raymond Hawthorne, Anzac Wallace Guest Stars: John Mellor, Whatanui Skipwith, Jim Hickey, Rodney Newman, Dennis Gubb ... Read more

Who’d have thunk it?  Buck Rogers in the 25th Century decides to tackle issues of ageism, the mental anguish of disabilities, and questions of identity as related to the concept of “fixing” a disability.   Or at least, it would have been if the production staff had given this episode much thought. John and Eugene, ... Read more