Metal Hurlant Chronicles Adapts Sci-Fi Tale By Alejandro Jodorowsky
This article is more than 2 years old
We highlighted the premiere of Syfy’s Metal Hurlant Chronicles last week, but damned if there isn’t a compelling reason for us to give it the spotlight again this go-round. If you recall, Metal Hurlant Chronicles is a Franco-Belgian science fiction anthology series based on the comics magazine of the same name, better known to American audiences as Heavy Metal. Each half-hour episode is a self-contained story, with the one linking device being an asteroid zipping past the Earth during each tale. Syfy is serving up two episodes in a row on Monday nights, and tonight’s first episode, “Master of Destiny,” includes one name we’ve been bandying about here at GFR quite a bit lately: filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky.
Each of the Metal Hurlant eps adapts a story from the magazine, and “Master of Destiny” gives the live-action treatment to “Les Maîtres du Destin,” a story by Jodorowsky and artist Adi Granov. If the name is ringing a bell but you’re still not sure why, Jodorowsky is the subject of the acclaimed documentary Jodorowsky’s Dune, which chronicles his attempts to mount an adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune back in the 1970s. Jodorowsky set out to recruit an insane lineup of talent, including Orson Welles, Salvador Dali, H.R. Giger, and the band Pink Floyd. Needless to say, Jodorowsky doesn’t lack for ambition. We may not have gotten to see his version of Dune, but tonight we’ll at least get to see one of his forays into science fiction realized, courtesy of Syfy and Metal Hurlant Chronicles.
“Master of Destiny” stars Joe Flanigan (Stargate Atlantis) and Kelly Brook (Piranha 3D), and it premieres tonight on Syfy at 10/9c. It’ll be followed by a second episode, “Whiskey in the Jar” — a twisted Western tale starring genre staples Michael Biehn (all things James Cameron) and James Marsters (Buffy, Torchwood, Caprica). Here’s the synopsis for the two episodes:
’Master of Destiny’: A hero travels to the end of the galaxy in search of asecret race — and gets more than he bargained for.
‘Whiskey in the Jar’: A small-town doctor has a talent for saving lives, but there may be more to his skillset than meets the eye.
Check out the rest of this week’s sci-fi TV picks below!
MONDAY
Star-Crossed (The CW, 8/7c) — “What Storm Is This That Blows So”
A hurricane suddenly hits the town and everyone is trapped inside the school. Teri (Chelsea Gilligan) drugs Roman (Matt Lanter), which leaves him very paranoid and very angry. While drugged he says some very hurtful things to Emery (Aimee Teegarden) that alter their relationship. Taylor (Natalie Hall) convinces Drake (Greg Finley) that they should go public as a couple. However, when Grayson (Grey Damon) overhears the couple talking, he blackmails Drake into breaking up with Taylor. Meanwhile, Julia (Malese Jow) turns to Emery for help after Eva (guest star Stephanie Jacobsen) threatens her.
The Tomorrow People (The CW) — “A Sort of Homecoming”
With the possible return of Roger (guest star Jeffrey Pierce) on the horizon, everyone is concerned about the consequences if The Founder (guest star Simon Merrells) were to find out. Stephen (Robbie Amell) now knows the truth about the machine The Founder has been using him to train in and needs John (Luke Mitchell) and Cara’s (Peyton List) help to destroy it. Meanwhile, Russell (Aaron Yoo) and other Tomorrow People have lost hope they will ever find The Refuge and choose to head out on their own.
Warehouse 13 (Syfy, 9/8c) — “Secret Services”
Pete and Myka travel to Washington, D.C., to investigate drowning incidents that have occurred on dry land. While there, they cross paths with a pair of Secret Service agents who cause them to evaluate their relationship. Meanwhile, Artie uses an artifact to take Claudia back into his memories of an old case involving her sister.
TUESDAY
Face Off (Syfy, 9/8c) — “Heavenly Bodies”
Season 6 comes to a close with the winner being chosen after the final three artists each create two rival alien characters who will perform a rigorous dance routine.
Jim Henson’s Creature Shop Challenge (Syfy, 10/9c) — “Life in Motion”
Larger-than-life creatures are designed with realistic movement for a challenge performed on a black-light soundstage.
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC, 8/7c) — “The Only Light in the Darkness”
With their world turned upside down, Coulson races to save the life of his one true love as the mystery of ‘The Cellist,’ which began in Marvel’s The Avengers, is finally revealed.
WEDNESDAY
The 100 (The CW, 9/8c) — “His Sister’s Keeper”
Bellamy (Bob Morley) leads his crew into Grounder territory as they search for Octavia (Marie Avgeropoulos). Raven (guest star Lindsey Morgan) can’t help but notice the deep connection between Finn (Thomas McDonell) and Clarke (Eliza Taylor). Meanwhile, flashbacks reveal Bellamy’s and Octavia’s childhood on the Ark. Paige Turco, Isaiah Washington, Henry Ian Cusick, Devon Bostick and Chris Larkin also star.
FRIDAY
Continuum (Syfy, 10/9c) — “A Minute Changes Everything”
Kiera questions police behavior while working to help a college student caught up in a cop cover-up; Carlos learns that the influence of Liber8 can be felt even in the VPD; and Alec makes an unlikely ally.
SATURDAY
Orphan Black (BBC America, 9/8c) — “Governed by Sound Reason and True Religion”
Sarah gets Art to help her find Kira and is shocked when she learns where the trail leads. Meanwhile, Alison struggles with Aynsley’s death; and Cosima grapples with the worsening symptoms of her mysterious sickness.
The Real History of Science Fiction (BBC America, 10/9c) — “Space”
What if we could explore the vastness of Space? Science fiction has always fed upon our need to explore — to wonder what is out there. Space journeys from Jules Verne’s earliest ideas about attempts to leave our planet, to the Star Wars far away galaxy through to Nichelle Nichols revealing how her groundbreaking role as Lt. Uhura in Star Trek led to her participation in the recruitment of NASA’s astronauts. It explores the deep sea inspiration for Avatar, finds out why Ursula K Le Guin wrote The Left Hand of Darkness and discovers how Stanley Kubrick was able to make 2001: A Space Odyssey seem so believable. In addition, the program looks at the way Dune and The Mars Trilogy embraced the challenge of world building and discusses the appeal of the beaten up ‘dirty space’ of Dark Star and Firefly. From the horrifying scenes of Alien, to the epic spectacle of Star Wars, this is a journey to the stars and the alien encounters that await us there.
SUNDAY
Believe (NBC, 9/8c) — “Together”
Worried that Skouras (Kyle MacLachlan) has developed the ability to locate Bo (Johnny Sequoyah), Winter (Delroy Lindo) sends Channing (Jamie Chung) on a mission to infiltrate the Orchestra campus. Despite Winter’s instructions to keep a low profile, Bo is compelled to help a family man who is in over his head.
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (Fox, 9/8c) — “Sisters of the Sun”
Discover the remarkable story of Annie Jump Cannon (guest voice Marlee Matlin) and Cecilia Payne (guest voice Kirsten Dunst), two incredible women who challenged conventional wisdom and uncovered the real-life story of the stars. Cannon led a group of female astronomers in the early 20th century to catalogue the spectral characters of stars, and two decades later, young British beauty Payne joined forces with Cannon to analyze the data and uncover the chemical compositions of the stars. Later, travel on the Ship of the Imagination to explore the lives and deaths of stars and visit the planet of a star orbiting a globular cluster.
Resurrection (ABC, 9/8c) — “Schemes of the Devil”
With the help of Bellamy and Sheriff Fred, Tom leads the charge in the search for Rachael, but her situation becomes increasingly dire as her captors grow more desperate. Maggie and Dr. Ward continue their medical research on the resurrected subjects and a series of shocking discoveries sets them on the brink of a game changing find, however, their focus shifts when Arcadia is suddenly in the throes of an epidemic.
