2014 Summer TV Part 3: THE LEFTOVERS, THE INTRUDERS, THE QUEST, DOCTOR WHO AND MORE!

Here is my 3rd post on the new and returning Sci-fi and Fantasy shows airing this summer.  I'm excited because there is some juicy stuff coming and it isn't even Fall yet.  Click on the links if you want to go back and check out part 1 and part 2 of my Summer TV posts.

First Up! 2 Percent of the world's population suddenly disappears.  And the people that are left behind don't know how to deal.  I mean, who would when loved ones are suddenly gone?  THE LEFTOVERS comes to HBO on Sunday, June 29th.  The new series is based on a novel by Tom Perrotta.  And me being a Christian, I'm curious about how this show will do. I don't think they will get into the whole Revelations story, but instead it will probably revolve around a 'What If' plot.  I haven't read the book either.  Just a heads up, the trailer has some cursing and nudity in it.




Some people just don't want to die. So why not just take over other people's bodies and live forever? Sounds like a plan. But why do these subleters of the flesh have to be so creepy when they do it? Watch the trailer for the upcoming BBC America series - INTRUDERS. This is a series also based on a novel written by Michael Marshall of the same name. The network doesn't specify a date yet, but when Geek Soul Brother knows, so will you brothers and sisters too. UPDATE: BBCAmerica has scheduled the series to premiere August 23rd at 10pm. There you go!



Of course we can't forget the premiere of one of our favorite Scifi shows ever - DOCTOR WHO Season 8!  Peter Capaldi is the new doctor and I know all the eyes of Whovian geekdom will be watching his performance sometime in August.



I dislike many a reality show.  But ABC might be featuring a competition show that I might get into, even if it's only to laugh at - THE QUEST.  For you Fantasy and Lord Of The Rings fans, this might be right up your ally.  Of course the Executive Producers from LOTR and The Amazing Race are the ones producing this show. It's a match made in LorthLorien.  Tune in Thursday July 31st, 9pm

OTHER RETURNING SHOWS -

Get ready for the final season of TRUE BLOOD when it returns June 22nd to HBO.  Maybe it's time to put the vampires of Bon Temps Louisiana to rest.  Because I've been hearing disappointing reviews from my own geek circles that the last season just wasn't up to snuff.

If you want more Werewolf action then tune into MTV for the season 4 premiere of TEEN WOLF when it airs at 10pm on June 23rd.  Though the revamp of the classic comedy film has its fair share of teen drama, I do like the action and supernatural mythology that the writers have set up for the story.  I still have to catch up to last season, but I suggest that geeks who love the supernatural stuff check it out.

I only watched a couple episodes of WITCHES OF EAST END on the Lifetime Network.  It didn't seem like a horrible show.  But there were other juicy TV shows that were on around the same time, and a geek only has so many hours in the day.  I guess if the series made it to season 2 then maybe there's something there worth watching.  Look for the season 2 premiere July 6th.


And finally a Netflix original series is back. No, I'm not talking about ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK, which actually is back! I'm talking about the horror series - HEMLOCK GROVE.  I thought that a series produced by Eli Roth was going to hook me in.  But I could only make it up to episode 5 or half of 6 of the first season.  And several other geeks I talked to said the same thing.  So I'm curious as to how Netflix saw it fitting to air a season two, which premieres on Friday, July 11th at Midnight?  I know some shows need a season to get themselves together (Agents of Shield).  I'm wondering if that's the case with this gothic horror series.  I do have to give credit where credit is due - the Werewolf transformation was crazy!! This bloody trailer does do a good job of selling the show.





Well that's pretty much it for the Summer TV Shows that are probably on that geek radar.  Of course there are other shows that might be of interest to you all.  Let a brother know in the comments if he missed any shows that you are looking for.  Just because it's not under my radar, doesn't mean they aren't worth mentioning.

2014 Summer TV Part 2: EXTANT, THE STRAIN, OUTLANDER, UNDER THE DOME

Are women floating and working and being alone in space a thing?  Cause I feel like CBS is trying to take some of Alfonso Cuaron's juju by premiering a series starring another well known actresss.  Halle Berry is the astronaut on a lone mission, but comes back with some problems to deal with - EXTANT.  I won't spoil it for you, but if you do want to know what Halle has to deal with just look at the trailer.  I'm liking the fact that this looks like some real science fiction, and with a woman of color in the lead.  You probably know how truly rare that is.  The show actually looks deep.  Spielberg is Exec. Producer so it might have that special something.  EXTANT premieres July 9th at 9pm est.  And the week before, look for the return of UNDER THE DOME on June 30th at 10pm.  Stephen King is actually writing and extending the story beyond his original book.




Next up is Guellarmo del Toro's THE STRAIN, based on his and Chuck Hogen's novel trilogy.  There hasn't been much of a look into the show, but the teasers are creepy.  Check the one below to see what I mean.  I haven't read the books either, but the story deals with virus outbreaks and vampirism.  With Guellermo and FX behind it, I couldn't ask for more.  Look for the premiere on July 13th at 10pm est.



And on August 9th, another female lead takes a trip.  Not into space, but backwards through time.  Starz is featuring its new series - OUTLANDER.  Claire, played by Caitriona Balfe, is thrown back in time from 1945 to 1743.  She doesn't know why, but she's dropped in the middle of a war and has to figure out how to survive.  The story is based on the books by Diana Galbadon.



Stay tuned for 2014 Summer TV Part 3.

Fox's HIEROGLYPH! Ancient Egyptians are Very Very... British!

I didn't know Egypt was conquered by the British!  But as you can see, a few must have traveled back in time by way of the Tardis from Doctor Who, and taken roles among the royalty.  At least that's the only reason I can use to explain the cast of the upcoming Fox show HIEROGLYPH. 

From the trailer, and what I heard on the geek streets, this might be Fox's attempt to make their own Game of Thrones type of show.  A little drama, a little sex, and some magic in an ancient world sounds about right.



As for the representation of Ancient Egyptians, many people are hatin', and saying Fox totally missed the mark.  There are some PoC in the show, but not enough for me to believe that this is authentic. For those of you that say "What's the big deal?" it's always been a problem for Hollywood to represent Ancient Egypt the way scientific research has shown it to be.  I'm glad they at least went with Condola Rashad as Nefertari, and lead actor Reece Ritchie is on the mixed side also.

Still, in my opinion the Pharaoh Ramses II...

... looked a lot more like this Guy from Sudan...

... than what Hollywood usually portrays.

So are you going to watch it?  Or give it a thumbs down for one reason or another?  If you choose to watch, look for it coming soon to Fox.
 

METAL HURLANT CHRONICLES Coming to Syfy Channel

I was always a fan of the magazine HEAVY METAL, although it did fall off in the nineties for me.  Still it had great adult science fiction stories and the animated motion picture was crazy.  The magazine started in France as Metal Hurlant before it came to the states.  Now Syfy is bringing the modern French TV series to the states. METAL HURLANT CHRONICLES will be premiering April 14th at 8pm est.  But there is already a first season out there somewhere.  And I'm always glad to see Michael Jai White starring in a film or TV show. Check the trailer...



And there is a season two being developed in France.  Hope the first season is a hit over here in the USA.  When I ask people if they have ever read the magazine they usually look at me crazy. And these are Science Fiction and Comic fans. What can you do. lol