All Episodes - Sci-Fi Malady
Sci-Fi Malady is a podcast about all things related to Science Fiction, Fantasy and gaming. Each week Scott, Corey, Nick and The Ragemaster will discuss topics from the world of science fiction, fantasy and gaming.
View Podcast Details40 Episodes
Symptom 300
Can you believe it sickies, 300 symptoms! To commemorate this special occasion, Scott is gonna take us on a little trip, to Malady and Beyond! Hey, that’s the name of the show going forward, Sci-fi Malady and Beyond! Note: This channel is called Malady Classic. See Sci-fi Malady and Beyond on Spotify for the newer episodes from here on out.
Symptom 299: Jurassic World Dominion, We've Got Dodgson Here!
If you thought Fallen Kingdom couldn’t get worse, Collin Treverrow said, “Oh yes it can!”
Symptom 298: Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom, There's Not Enough Paint Thinner In the World to Help This One
The title says it all. It can’t get worse than this, right?
Symptom 297: Jurassic World, the Raptor Whisperer
The title of today’s episode says it all. This film started with a good premise, what if the park eventually got made and turned into an attraction that was losing interest? How far would corporate jerks go to bolster profits? This sci-fi staple could’ve been good. But, then they added the raptor whisperer and a stupid family angle with upset teens unessential to the plot. Oh, and don’t forget the weaponizing raptor angle too.
Jurassic July
Jurassic Park is a legendary sci-fi tour de force. It seemed inevitable that we would cover some of the sequels, particularly the newer ones. Though kinda fun, we can only remark at how far the apple has fallen from the tree.
Symptom 296: Dagger of the Min...nope, Infinity Chamber
This week’s film is what happens when, despite a low budget, you can make a film just under Nolan quality in terms of sci-fi. Stick around for the end, Ruk needs witnesses. Be sure to check out the Raving Lunatic Media Youtube channel and do the usual Youtube stuff.
Symptom 295: Lockdown, Where's Snake Pliskin
Wanna see a film about a space prison that more or less rips off Escape from New York and Escape From L.A? Yeah, us neither. But, we did it anyway.
Symptom 294: Wedlock, Run Away From Partner And Your Head Pops Off
Rutger Hauer deserved better. This is a film about a prison based off of a lethal buddy system. It could have worked, but… Be sure to check us out at our new youtube page at Raving Lunatic Media as well at https://www.youtube.com/@RavingLunaticMedia
Symptom 293: Fortress, But With The Highlander
These days, most people complain that films put message before story. But, what happens when you take a thin story and shove a bunch of messages which you never develop? Well, you get the film The Fortress.
Jail June
Jail and science fiction. Those two things go together like pickles and peanut butter, chocolate and molasses, syrup and brisket, or jelly and oat flakes. If any of those combos seem good to you, then this month should intrigue you.
Symptom 292: King Kong '76, Careful Man There's a Kong Here
So sickies, here’s the kong. We all recorded a great episode. Then, Rage screwed up and deleted it. Then, Thomas and Scott had King Kong come through and wreck their lives. So, Rage went solo for this with the expectation they’d be added on. They couldn’t be. Fear not, you get a review and this film is great. I mean hey, it stars The Dude.
Symptom 291: Gamera, Space Monster! More Like Clip Monster
Ok, so we kinda stretched this one. This film was released in 1980, but was made in the 70s and still has the 70s vibe, so there. Anywhoooo, if you ever wanted to see a last ditch effort by a studio to revive a franchise using clip shows and popular, yet out of place, tropes; then look no further than today’s installment of Gamera, Space Monster. Seriously, when it’s not ripping things off, it’s just showing old clips of older Gamera films.
Symptom 290: Hanuman v. the 7 Mighty Ultramen Brothers Missle Pants Energy Stars
Wow, with a title like that, how can you not watch? I have to wonder, do these titles sound good in the original language? Well, the films must have at the time. Listen in to find out why.
Symptom 289: Godzilla v. Hedorah, Go Planet!!
This might be the last Godzilla film with a message. Unfortunately, that message, warning about pollution, is lost with psychadelic footage, strange suits, and the occasional groovy dance scene. Yep, it’s Godzilla v. Hedorah. Or in the US, Godzilla v. The Smog Monster.
Monster May, 70s Style
Trippy footage, bad rubbery suits indicative of slashed budgets, and studios just not trying anymore beyond keeping the kid audience. That’s right, it’s kaiju movies of the 70s; all this month on Sci-Fi Malady.
Symptom 288: A Tale of Two Tropes: Zodiac Trope Force and Trope Eater
We hear a lot of complaints today about too many tropes, or tired tropes. Ironically, complaining about a trope is a trope unto itself. Seriously though, when is a trope too much, or just enough? Ruk and Rage discuss this comparing, unbiasedly, Zodiac Task Force and God Eater to see when tropes are just right.
Symptom 287: Cyberpunk Edgerunners, So Edgy
Today we review the anime of the year, Netflix’s…wait, anime of the year? I mean…it was ok at times. It had some decent moments and the setting was great, but best of the year? That would take 50 Stretch Armstrongs. Let’s dive into this one and see why.
Symptom 286: Psycho Pass
We keep doing these shows about society and free will, especially with AI. You sickies seeing a trend here? For this week’s episode, a really great anime which talks about all three things, anime style.
Symptom 285: Ghost in the Shell, My Consciousness is Trapped!
Can you believe we haven’t reviewed this yet? Can you believe we keep doing films about women and AI? Well, here we go again for this classic anime. Also, if the audio takes a hit at any point, blame it on Rage.
Anime April,...Again!
This was such a popular month that we just had to do it again. We will also be joined by Ruk again to cover some really great sci-fi anime. In a world of sci-fi anime, you can never have too much. So tune in this month for Anime April,…Again!
Symptom 284: Tank Girl, Everything At the Wall
Wow! This movie is…something amazing, that is, if you’re Rage. Scott love hates it and Thomas will never forget it. If rocket bra boobs and sentient pet tanks are your thing, then Tank Girl is your date.
Symptom 283: Demon Seed, This Was...Interesting
What happens when you have a film that is disturbing, yet highly thought-provoking and prophetic. Tune in to find out. When you’re done with that, tune into WYS to hear a guy that sounds like Rage work with Ruk to explain the virtues of My Hero Academia season 3.
Symptom 282: Advantageous, Rod Serling Did It Better
This was a great concept which really did a great job showing a possible issue from a woman’s point of view. Unfortunately, it was laden with plot points which aren’t needed or go nowhere. It makes the whole thing seems slow. The Twilight Zone Episode, “The Trade-Ins,” was better. Worth a look? Probably. Listen to find out why you should or shouldn’t watch this. Hey, that reminds me of another show on Raving Lunatic Media.
Symptom 281: Ex Machina, AI Done Right
These are the kind of films we love to review. It tricked us, entertained us, and begged us to look into what makes someone human. The title says it all.
Matriarch March
These days, whenever people talk about sci-fi and women, it usually is just repeating the names Ellen Ripley and Princess Leia. But, there are so many more women in sci-fi than we think. So, in honor of Women ‘s History Month, we’re gonna review a few movies where women are the headliner.
Symptom 280: Anasazi, Wind Talker Files
So we end the month on a cliffhanger. Really, this episode ends on a cliffhanger with Mulder being burnt alive in a fiery explosion, or so you think. The truth is out there, but you’ll have to wait till next season to find out if he lives. Until then, check out what happens when you jam Navajo, government hallucinogens, and a story that makes half sense.
Symptom 279: Die Hand Die Verletzt- Could It Beeeee...SATAN!
See what happens when Mulder and Scully take on the satanic panic. Or rather, when the satanic panic turns out to be true. Or rather, when it’s true, but only half so,… oh forget it. The devil exists in X-files.
Symptom 278: The Host, the Hostest with the Mostest.
You ever wonder what happened to all that waste from Chernobyl? It ended up in New Jersey, sort of, along with today’s X-Files creature. There’s also apparently a Twinkie. By the way, check the latest Why You Should, especially if you like Silent Hill.
Symptom 277: One Breath, One Scully, Never Gone
Before we get into the episode, be honest; did Rage sing that song better than Bono? We think he did. Anyway, here’s an episode about Mulder trying to save Scully.
X-Files February
Since we only wound up covering the best of season 1 episodes in August, we decided to do season 2 this month; where the alliteration works better. Will there be a best of season 3? Depends on what the analytics say.
Symptom 276: The Augments
We finish off Trekkin Into the New Year with not one, not two, but three episodes about augments which winds up being not only essential Trek but sci-fi in general. Are you a fan of genetic engineering? Then this episode is for you. Are you a fan of My Hero Academia? No? Well then check out Ruk’s podcast Why You Should where he will explain why you should be.
Symptom 275: Similitude, It's A Clooooone!!!!
This episode is kind of a combo between Tuvok and Beyond the Pale Moon Light. But, don’t let that fool you. It’s actually a well-written piece of science fiction and Trek and is worthy of being called that name. Plus, it has a huge ethical dilemma, which lights Scott’s fire.
Symptom 274: First Flight, Go Archer, Go Archer, Go!
This week, we learn how humanity achieved warp flight beyond warp two. Also, the Vulcans are jerks, again. Who knew?
Symptom 273: Enterprise, Carbon Creek. Not Saying It Was Vulcans, But Vulcans.
Ever wonder how velcro was invented? By a couple of Vulcans in Pennsylvania. For this Trekkin’ into the New Year, we’re starting off with episode two of season two of Enterprise, Carbon Creek. Also starting off the month is Ruk’s newest solo project, Why You Should, in which he convinces the Rage why he needs to watch Jujutsu Kaisen. If you need a convincin’ check it out on Spotify.
Trekkin Into the New Year- Enterprise Style
Some might say we are getting to the bottom of the barrel. We would contend that those people have never seen anything Kurtzman Trek. There are some hidden gems in the series Enterprise. Maybe not many, but goramit we will find them and discuss them all this month on Trekkin Into The New Year.
Symptom 272: Kin, Dennis Quaid Is In This?
After a contentious discussion last week, we are back to mostly agreeing. This mediocre to decent film was ruined by the ending, which brings into laser focus how little meat was actually in this animal.
Symptom 271: The Day After Tomorrow, This Movie Blows...Really.
Roland Emerich, you suck. On today’s Malady, we once again see how Scott can overlook the most egregious of cinema feces so long as it “brings humanity together to show the good side of people helping one another!” So aspiring film creators, if you ever want to get Scott’s approval for your trash fire of a film, just add an angle of humanity coming together spontaneously without the state to help one another out ala a Coke commercial.
Symptom 270: Frequency, Not That Often
This film was great. Despite some flaws we point out, it was great. Great symptom, nuff said. Except for that creepy sound that came through. Ruk’s looking into that.
Symptom 269: Innerspace, Honey I Shrunk the Quaid
This film freaked out little Rage as a kid. The thought of some pilot inside me, able to do damage, terrified me and honestly still does. At least Martin Short dances like a maniac.
Dennis Quaid December
We don’t normally dedicate a month to an actor, but this guy has starred in some neat sci-fi flicks. We saw him in November with Enemy Mine and thought, what about his other films like Innerspace, Frequency, or Pandorum. Of course, there’s some sucky ones too which we’ll cover because Rage knows how to pick ‘em. So join us all this month for Sci-fi Malady with Dennis Quaid December. Also, if any of you hear this weird distortion during our reviews, please let us know. We’ve been picking it up and it’s been buggng us. It hasn’t made it into symptoms yet, we think, but you never know.