Explore every episode of the podcast Fusion Patrol

Eugene and Kenneth discuss Season 1, Episode 13 of The Invaders, “Storm,” in which climate scientist Dr. Gantley notices a freak hurricane, a surviving ship in the eye of the storm, and a town that was strangely spared. When he goes to investigate, he is killed by the invaders, while David Vincent arrives in St. Matthew’s Beach to follow the trail.

They point out a number of practical details, including the geography of the hurricane and the hospital, the use of the church location, and the episode’s staging of the storm machinery. They note that Lisa’s behavior is convincing, that the characters are not unusually foolish, and that the episode stands out as one of the stronger ones in the series.

Eugene and John discuss the final two-part episode of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century season one, in which Buck discovers a strange orb near Vasquez Rocks, the Defense Directorate studies it, and the object leads to a vortex into another universe. The episode introduces Pendar, where Buck and the others are drawn into a conflict they do not want, and are pressured into helping defend a world whose people refuse to kill but still force others to fight for them.

This episode also marks the last appears of the Draconians, Ardala and Kane, and of Drs. Huer and Theopolis, making this the end of an era for Buck Rogers.

Eugene and John also discuss Buck’s wooden goodbye scenes, Wilma and Huer’s character moments, Ardala’s final appearance, and whether the episode gives the season a stronger ending than the series as a whole.

Ben and Eugene look at the 1976 sequel to Westworld, Futureworld, where they discuss the continuity misses between Westworld and Futureworld, the nature of context shaping how two “identical” minds might react, and make note that there’s an awful lot of talking about sex with robots, but no actual sex with robots in this movie.

00:00:35 Futureworld Synopsis
00:03:43 Delos Tour Begins
00:06:04 Tunnels and Robots
00:07:48 Dreams and Duplicates
00:09:01 The Replacement Plot
00:10:59 Aftermath and Reactions
00:15:11 Yul Brynner Dream
00:18:32 Robot Sex Talk
00:22:57 Missing Delos Logic
00:27:57 More Dream Debate
00:29:59 Duplicate Showdown
00:37:08 Duffy and the Clones
00:40:01 Waters and Cameras
00:44:31 Missing Scenes
00:48:04 Hologram Chess Problems
00:50:19 Ninja Robots Nonsense
00:53:54 Mirror Identity Test
00:56:12 Final Thoughts
00:59:29 Beyond Westworld Talk

Simon and Eugene discuss whether the real human cloning process should be more like Star Trek or a zombie movie, how likely a computer is to explode when code is overwritten, and we ask, where did all the nannies come from?

00:00:35 Opening the Final Countdown
00:01:25 Bea’s Dangerous Bargain
00:02:39 Mimi’s Final Shutdown
00:03:24 Jonas Plans His Transfer
00:05:38 Cloning, Souls, and Identity
00:15:58 Jonas’s Death Ritual
00:34:39 Overwriting David’s Code
00:42:27 Bea, Roger, and Control
00:49:08 Mimi’s Hidden Memory
01:00:27 Nannies and Purpose
01:05:28 Hans Goes to Korea
01:06:44 Rick’s Rebel Turn
01:09:01 Battleland Showdown

Eugene and Kenneth discuss The Invaders, Season 1, Episode 12, “The Betrayed,” focusing on David Vincent’s long surveillance of an alien hotspot and his effort to document a landing and an invader facility hidden in a railway car, his recovery of an alien data tape, and attempts to get it analyzed

Much of the conversation is devoted to plot holes and the show’s handling of the Invaders, including why they sometimes want Vincent dead, sometimes want to discredit him, and sometimes do not seem to recognize him. Eugene also notes that Vincent is shown as a working architect with an actual investigation plan, which he likes, while questioning the logic of the tape format and the coordinate system.

00:00:34 Opening and episode setup
00:00:43 Vincent’s Alien Breakthrough
00:01:41 Carver Oil Stakes
00:02:37 Taft Decodes the Tape
00:03:17 Susan’s Betrayal
00:04:14 Brother Killed in Ambush
00:04:49 NASA Sets the Trap
00:05:58 Railcar Showdown
00:06:42 Aftermath and Goodbye
00:06:57 Theodore Sturgeon Debate
00:10:13 Plot Holes and Invader Logic
00:16:12 Tape and Camera Problems
00:24:10 Evelyn Bowers Unmasked
00:29:23 Susan’s Death
00:33:43 Alien Mission Aborted
00:36:09 Coordinates and Earth Maps
00:39:33 Title Meaning
00:40:06 Guest Cast and Credits

Eugene and John discuss Buck Rogers season 1, episode 22, “Buck’s Duel to the Death,” after a storm interrupted their first attempt to record. They describe it as a fairly routine episode in which Buck is brought to the planet Katar to serve as a symbol of hope for an oppressed population ruled by Warlord Trebor.

They go over the basic plot: Trebor has ruled for generations, steals women, kills warriors, and is challenged by the legend of the Roshan. Buck is tricked into returning, learns what is happening, and ends up leading an assault on Trebor’s palace, rescuing the captured women, and later confronting Trebor in a fight. They note that Buck’s final “duel” is more of a scuffle than a true showdown.

A major topic is the rescue sequence, especially the “emergency access to the women’s quarters,” which they find odd in both design and placement. They also point out how the scene is staged to emphasize the women coming down a ladder, with the camera lingering on their clothing and legs, and they describe it as especially dated and deliberate.

They also spend time on the episode’s sci-fi logic, especially the claim that electricity has not been used for 400 years. They question how the setting functions without electricity and how Trebor’s electrical powers fit into that world. They also comment on the naming, the archives scene with Dr. Junius and Dr. Albert, and the clear exposition problems in the report Wilma is given.

The discussion returns repeatedly to Trebor’s obvious villainy and the frustrating choice to have characters try to capture him for justice instead of simply shooting him. They also mention a traitor subplot that amounts to little more than one warning call, as well as the episode’s production details, including reused props, unusual guns, and the Kataran capital’s resemblance to an Osaka Expo building.

Kenneth and Eugene look at the classic 1951 Christian Nyby directed (wink wink), Howard Hawks Produced The Thing from Another World. They ask, “Is this film slow, as some people claim?”, “Is it unfair to complain the creature is a walking carrot?”, and “How did they get the sexually charged bondage sequence past the Hays Office Code?”

00:00:35 Introduction to The Thing
00:02:37 The Discovery of the Creature
00:03:45 Conflict Over the Creature
00:05:32 The Creature Awakens
00:07:04 The Creature’s Escape
00:07:56 Final Confrontation and Resolution
00:08:11 Reflections on the Film
00:14:03 Discussion of Character Dynamics
00:24:26 Analysis of Themes and Style
00:31:27 The Role of Science in the Film
00:32:45 Trivia and Fun Facts
00:47:42 Closing Remarks

Simon and Eugene discuss the status of Hubots as property and its legal implications, whether there is a government requirement for Hubots to make a noise like electric vehicles must, and they discuss the correct procedure for warming up a severed finger.

00:00:34 Episode 8 Overview
00:01:41 Mimi’s Trojan Crisis
00:03:02 Free Will and Clones
00:06:33 Florence’s Inheritance
00:07:43 Rick’s Cult Rising
00:16:55 Mimi’s Mysterious Memory
00:24:25 Electric Noise Detour
00:30:57 The Logic of Reformats
00:44:37 Can Free Bots Transfer?
01:01:02 Jonas and Roger’s Escape
01:02:26 Silas’s Childhood Memory
01:03:52 Rick’s New Followers
01:07:14 Machines and Memories

Kenneth and Eugene discuss if the Invaders know how to fly planes for themselves, what Roy Thinnes and Susan Oliver’s children’s eyes would have looked like, and did hippies want to nuke China in the 1960s.

00:00:35 Invaders Episode Recap
00:02:33 Academy Infiltration
00:04:10 The Police Arrive
00:05:35 Cahill’s Final Choice
00:06:23 Episode Discussion Begins
00:19:12 Alien Logic Problems
00:24:41 License and Identity
00:28:39 Production Trivia
00:32:54 Susan Oliver Spotlight
00:34:32 Next Episode Preview

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 ... Read more

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 ... Read more

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 ... Read more

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 ... Read more

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 ... Read more

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 ... Read more

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