Metal Hurlant Chronicles Comes To Syfy In This Week’s Sci-Fi TV Picks

By David Wharton | Updated

This article is more than 2 years old

metal-hurlant-chroniclesSyfy has had pretty good luck when it comes to imported programming over the last few years. I don’t actually know anybody who watches Lost Girl, but they must be out there, because the show is now heading toward its fifth season. Syfy nabbed that show from the Canadian network Showcase, and their other Showcase acquisition, Continuum, has become, in the words of GFR head honcho Josh Tyler, “the best time travel show of all time.” Well, tonight Syfy premieres another import, the French sci-fi anthology series Métal Hurlant Chronicles, but you might know it better by another name: Heavy Metal.

The cult-classic anthology comic, which was previously adapted into the 1981 animated film featuring the talents of Ivan Reitman and Dan O’Bannon, among others. (There was also the less noteworthy Heavy Metal 2000, and a proposed third film from David Fincher and James Cameron, but it died back in 2009.) Métal Hurlant Chronicles first premiered in October 2012 on French television, and it’s been a waiting game to see when it would finally make its way Stateside. Tonight, that wait is over!

Each half-hour episode of Métal Hurlant Chronicles adapts a story from the comic magazine’s run, and it looks like Syfy will be airing two episodes back to back on Monday nights, leading into the returning Warehouse 13’s final season. This being an anthology, the cast is different for each episode, but the first season includes familiar sci-fi faces such as Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner) and James Marsters (Caprica, Torchwood).

Métal Hurlant Chronicles makes its American debut tonight on Syfy at 8/7c.

‘King’s Crown’ — Warriors battle to become the next king in a society run by robots in the premiere of this sci-fi anthology based on the French graphic novels by comic artist Jean Giraud.

‘The Endomorphe’ — The only hope for humanity lies in a boy designated as the chosen one.

MONDAY

Star-Crossed (The CW, 8/7c) — “Some Consequence Yet Hanging in the Stars”

Roman (Matt Lanter) argues with Emery (Aimee Teegarden) about whether he can trust his uncle Castor (Johnathon Schaech). However, when Roman asks his uncle about the day their spaceship crashed, Castor’s reaction is far from what he expected. Meanwhile, Grayson (Grey Damon) tries to remember what happened the night he blacked out, and Taylor (Natalie Hall) throws a “meteor shower” party to spend more time with Drake (Greg Finley). Still unable to deny her feelings for Roman, Teri makes a decision that puts her in grave danger.

The Tomorrow People (The CW, 9/8c) — “Modus Vivendi”

Stephen’s (Robbie Amell) hard work as a double agent seems to be paying off with a potential truce between the Tomorrow People and Ultra. Still untrusting, Cara (Peyton List) sends Russell (Aaron Yoo) to meet with The Founder (guest star Simon Merrells). Jedikiah (Mark Pellegrino) is now on the run and is desperate to keep Ultra from discovering his secret. Meanwhile, with the help of Hillary (guest star Alexa Vega), Stephen tries to contact his dad (guest star Jeffrey Pierce) once again.

Warehouse 13 (Syfy, 9/8c) — “Endless Terror”

Season 5 begins with Claudia facing off against Paracelsus, but he manages to escape back in time to the 9th century. While Pete and Myka try to track down the villainous alchemist, their friends discover that history has been changed for the worst and the Warehouse is now a house of horrors.

TUESDAY

Face Off (Syfy, 9/8c) — “Cry Wolf”

Conclusion. The four remaining artists compete for a spot in the finale by creating werewolf rivals for their vampire characters.

Jim Henson’s Creature Shop Challenge (Syfy, 10/9c) — “Heads Up!”

A humor-filled challenge requires the designers to create mounted creature heads that magically come to life under the spell of a wizard played by Donald Faison.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC, 9/8c) — “Providence”

With Colonel Glenn Talbot now on their trail, Coulson and his team seek refuge in the last place anyone would look, where they begin to uncover S.H.I.E.L.D.’s most dangerous secrets — secrets that could destroy them all.

Person of Interest (CBS, 10/9c) — “Death Benefit”

Reese poses as a Secret Service agent to get close to the latest POI, a U.S. congressman who may hold the key to derailing Decima’s plans to bring a second Machine online.

WEDNESDAY

The 100 (The CW, 9/8c) — “Twilight’s Last Gleaming”

Clarke’s (Eliza Taylor) newfound romance with Finn (Thomas McDonell) is threatened. Octavia (Marie Avgeropoulos) suffers a blow to the head and wakes up to find a Grounder watching her. On the Ark, Abby (Paige Turco) exposes Kane’s (Henry Ian Cusick) plan to reduce the population of the Ark. Jaha (Isaiah Washington) and Abby (Paige Turco) notice a signal and realize at least some of the 100 must still be alive on Earth.

FRIDAY

Continuum (Syfy, 10/9c) — “Minute to Win It”

Kiera is tasked with solving a series of Liber8-connected bank heists, which she comes to learn are being run by the recently escaped Lucas. Meanwhile, Carlos has trouble focusing on work now that he knows everything he never wanted to about time travel.

SATURDAY

Da Vinci’s Demons (Starz, 9/8c) — “The Sun and the Moon”

Leonardo, Riario and Nico are reunited in the New World; Lorenzo is helped by an old flame in his attempt to save Florence; and Clarice’s hold on the Medici bank is threatened.

Orphan Black (BBC America, 9/8c) — “Nature Under Constraint and Vexed”

In the season premiere, Sarah is out of options, on the run, and pursued by deadly adversaries. Desperate to find her daughter Kira, Sarah suspects ruthless pro-clone Rachel is behind her daughter’s disappearance and sparks an all out war against her. Alison and Donnie attend the funeral of her fallen friend, Aynsley, causing Alison to sink into guilt and despair. Cosima is faced with a perplexing decision that may have dire consequences.

The Real History of Science Fiction (BBC America, 10/9c)

What if our creations turn against us? The idea of creating life has fascinated society since the earliest days of science fiction. The first installment of the four-part series, Robots, transports viewers from the first steps of Frankenstein’s monster to the threat provided by the Terminator and the world of Cyberspace.

SUNDAY

Believe (NBC, 9/8c) — “Bang and Blame”

After an intense confrontation with Zepeda (guest star Nick Tarabay) leaves Bo (Johnny Sequoyah) vulnerable, Winter (Delroy Lindo) turns to guardians from Bo’s past to protect her once again. As Tate (Jake McLaughlin) and Winter take risky action to help Bo, revisiting the girl’s past reveals surprising information about Channing’s (Jamie Chung) history. At Orchestra, Skouras (Kyle MacLachlan) pushes Sean (guest star Owen Campbell) to control his telekinetic abilities, with dangerous results.

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (Fox, 9/8c) — “The Clean Room”

To determine the true age of the Earth, geochemist Clair Patterson (guest voice Richard Gere) developed the uranium-lead dating method to make an unprecedented discovery – calculating Earth’s age of 4.5 billion years. But Patterson’s groundbreaking discoveries were just beginning. Patterson made it his mission to draw public attention to the detrimental effects of lead in the environment and dedicated his career to fighting against the petroleum and chemical industry, eventually achieving public health’s biggest victory of the 20th century.