Computer Revolutions And Wil Wheaton Wrap-Ups: This Week’s Sci-Fi Television
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Before Mad Men premiered in 2007, AMC was just one of those channels you flipped past unless they happened to be showing a movie that caught your attention. With Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead that followed, AMC has become one of the leaders in the cable scripted drama renaissance of the past few years. Even when their new shows fail to connect — Rubicon, The Killing — their misfires are usually interesting if nothing else. Now they’ve got another new series in the chamber: Halt and Catch Fire, an ’80s-set drama exploring the early years of the personal computing boom. It stars Lee Pace, who will be making a big splash later this summer as the villainous Ronan the Accuser in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. AMC’s official synopsis is below. Halt and Catch Fire premieres this Sunday night at 10/9c on AMC, and you can read our review of the first episode here.
Set in the early 1980s, series dramatizes the personal computing boom through the eyes of a visionary, an engineer and a prodigy whose innovations directly confront the corporate behemoths of the time. Their personal and professional partnership will be challenged by greed and ego while charting the changing culture in Texas’ Silicon Prairie.
Also premiering this week is Syfy’s The Wil Wheaton Project. As you might guess from the title, it’s hosted by blogger/geek icon/former Wesley Crusher Wil Wheaton, who will run down the pop culture goings-on on a weekly basis. Think The Soup but with more Doctor Who references and fewer stories about detestable reality stars. The Wil Wheaton Project premieres tonight at 10/9c on Syfy. Here’s the network’s official description:
The Wil Wheaton Project is a weekly topical comedy show hosted by actor, blogger and champion of geek culture Wil Wheaton. The 30-minute show is a fast-paced, lighthearted exploration and celebration of all things within the realm of science fiction and genre entertainment. Each week, Wil provides his insider point-of-view, sense of humor and genre expertise as he dissects the week’s most popular and trending topics across science fiction film, television and pop culture, video games, viral videos and news. Wil is on his feet for the rapid-fire half hour, delivering witty commentary on the things he knows and loves in this golden age of sci-pop culture. The result is a fun appreciation and celebration of fandom and all things science fiction.
WEDNESDAY
The 100 (The CW, 9/8c) — “The Calm”
With a low food supply at camp, Clarke (Eliza Taylor) and Finn (Thomas McDonell) lead a group out to hunt for food and wind up in a compromising position. With Finn’s life in danger, Clarke makes a game-changing decision. Meanwhile, Raven (guest star Lindsey Morgan) makes Bellamy (Bob Morley) an offer he can’t refuse. On the Ark – Kane risks his life and is reunited with Chancellor Jaha (Isaiah Washington) and Abby (Paige Turco).
FRIDAY
Continuum (Syfy, 10/9c) — “Minute of Silence”
Kiera, without much help from Carlos, pursues a group of brilliant students who are using cutting-edge technology to commit crimes; at the same time, she’s pursued by a handsome amnesiac who wants her help piecing together his mysterious past. Elsewhere, Kellog finds a way to get back into Alec’s good graces, while Alec goes to dangerous lengths to perfect his new invention.
SATURDAY
Da Vinci’s Demons (Starz, 9/8c) — “The Sins of Daedalus”
Italian cities brace for an Ottoman attack; danger stalks Riario; and Nico holds Vanessa’s destiny in his hands.
In the Flesh (BBC America, 10/9c) — “Episode 4″
Kieren sees Simon behind Amy’s back and worries about the consequences. Meanwhile, Philip has a chance of heart and questions Victus policy and Maxine sets out to destroy him.
Orphan Black (BBC America, 9/8c) — “Knowledge of Causes, and Secret Motion of Things”
When a rehab confidante betrays Alison and threatens to expose the truth about Aynsley’s death, she goes into free fall on the eve of Family Day. With Donnie and the kids set to visit, it’s all clones on deck to contain the fallout.
SUNDAY
Believe (NBC, 9/8c) — “Revelation”
As Channing (Jamie Chung) struggles to recover from her gunshot wound, Winter (Delroy Lindo) takes desperate measures to keep her alive. With Winter distracted, Bo (Johnny Sequoyah) and Tate (Jake McLaughlin) sneak away to confront Skouras (Kyle MacLachlan) and demand he stop pursuing them. Meanwhile, Dani (guest star Mia Vallet) begins to question her position at Orchestra.
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (Fox, 9/8c) — “The World Set Free”
The Ship of the Imagination travels to our near neighbor Venus, where we begin our journey to discover the long history of global warming and the greenhouse effect. Later, explore the detrimental effects of climate change and trace the magnitude of our impact on the Earth’s atmosphere. However, with knowledge, technology and science within our grasp, imagine a hopeful future where we dedicate our efforts to taking care of our home, Planet Earth.
