Hello everyone.
I’´m curious to hear your opinion about a sci-fi series I have. The story takes place on Earth and its mini h colonies in the 22nd century. Earth ressources are mostly depleted and humans have to rely on mining colonies and a new living colonies to Hope
to have a decent level of life, which is why they have to expand which will obviously create frictions with their neighboring species.
The structure is inspired by Games of Thrones and by that I mean there are five main protagonists who are a different places.
Now, while there will be a lot of actions and Space combats, I also intend the series to be a critic of our current society so I want to take a position on economic matters as well as social matters. I had the intention to have a very intimate look at our characters private life with their friends and family and love ones. A kind of This is Us mixed with Star Trek.
From the critics I received some review critized the private take and wanted me to focus solely on actions and conflicts. What is your opinion on this. Can such mix be pulled off or is sci-fi mostly the place for Space combat and technologies stuff?
I really like your idea, Nicolas Lavoie! After I read your second paragraph, I thought "This is like a Sci-Fi colony Games of Thrones." I'd definitely watch it, and I definitely think that mix can be pulled off! Look at shows like The Last of Us and Stranger Things and movies Interstellar and The Martian.
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The question I would ask yourself is, "How is my series different from The Expanse?" Because what you described sounds a great deal like The Expanse, right down to the Game of Thrones inspiration and structure. There may only be superficial similarities, but that's a question I'd be ready for.
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Yeah, Sean Rodman, I can see why both series could look similar on paper. Both happen in the near future at the beginning of Humans expansion. It has military, politics with many protagonists.
I only watched the first two seasons of the Expanse and never Read the books. From What I have seen, the Expanse shows humans being at war between themselves. In my series, humanity is one faction and they will be at war with other species. My ambition is to show humans first extraterrestrial relations with the fear of the unknown, not knowing who to trust and who to not trust. I play a lot on that in fact, making every species being neither good or bad. They all have their own strength, flaws and interests which may make them allies or enenies of HUMANS OR BOTH.
I show humanity struggle internally and with other species as they try to improve their situation while at the same Time having to build its Galactic identity and stand.
I also decided to add a layer of spirituality with prophecies (like Matrix and Star Wars, still with my own signature of making it as realistic and nuanced as possible).
My characters all have their personal struggle (even in their couple) attemoting to make a Life for themselves and their family and not really caring about humanity bigger picture. Their actions has huge consequences for humanity yet in general their goals is individualistic and not oriented toward making humanity better. For example one of my characters will go find work in another specie colony because they give good salary and conditions and she can help her family this way. We see her struggle as a migrant. it also help show that species culture and inner working. But it can be slow in terms of actions as it is a bit mundane.
Speaking of which, I don’t know if that is a strength or a weakness. in my opinion Real people don’t act with humanity in mind or thinking they are heroes. They act with themselves and their family in mind. I really try to make my characters humans and like you and me. But in a sci-fi series described only through their eyes and actions with huge expectation in term of actions and conflicts, does that attempt at realist is a flaw rather than a strength? it makes the story too slow and dull?