Fusion Patrol

Simon and Eugene look at the Dalek Master Plan, including the newly-recovered episodes 1 and 3, and they discuss companion deaths, the traditional Christmas Dalek, whether Douglas Adams watched this serial, and whether Mavic Chen could have been blue.

This week Simon and Eugene look at Real Humans, Season 2, Episode 3, and discuss whether coincidence in television is a product of convenience or pleasing the audience, whether the Hubot virus is mining Bitcoin, which characters might benefit from an external battery pack, and how on earth you would retrieve a retractable cord from ... Read more

In this episode of Fusion Patrol, John and Eugene analyze Season 1, Episode 15 of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, titled “Happy Birthday, Buck.” The narrative explores Buck’s existential crisis as he confronts his 534th birthday and feels a sense of nostalgia for 20th century Chicago. Next episode: The Invaders – VikorNext on Buck ... Read more

Kenneth and Eugene explore the 1955 classic “This Island Earth.” Their discussion highlights Cal’s research, mysterious technology, and ethical dilemmas posed by the Metalunans. They reflect on the film’s pacing, special effects, and its commentary on Cold War politics, examining how its themes resonate with contemporary issues. They also discuss the film’s charm and its ... Read more

This week, Simon and Eugene look at the second episode of the second series of Real Humans. They discuss Chekhov’s robot grandfather, the Swedish electoral system, whether induction hobs are better than gas, and whether they would switch on digital replicas of their deceased loved ones. Next week: This Island Earth (1955)

In this episode Kenneth and Eugene analyze Season 1, Episode 5 of The Invaders, titled “Genesis.” A police officers encounter with an Invader loosing his human form leads David Vincent to discover a desperate Invader plan to save the life of a scientist key to their invasion plans. Next Week: Real Humans Season 2, Episode ... Read more

It’s the episode everyone has been waiting for! John and Eugene review Space Vampire! They discuss the surprisingly effective direction of Buck Rogers’ take on the horror genre, the curious omission of the named “Dracula,” and they welcome the return of “Sexy Wilma.” Next time on Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: Happy Birthday, BuckNext ... Read more

Not a movie, but a follow-up to our discussion of the Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea feature, as we look at this television episode remake of the movie. Ben and Eugene examine the moral dilemmas faced by Admiral Nelson and Dr. Weber as they propose differing solutions to a catastrophic scenario. The discussion ... Read more

This week, Simon and Eugene look at the second episode of Real Humans, season 2, where they discuss the changes between the last season and this, or lack thereof, the loss of some of the interesting ambiguities, and whether there is a Swedish TV body count limit. Next Week: Voyage to the Bottom of the ... Read more

Dr. Markham escapes the Invaders, leading to a chaotic pursuit involving David Vincent and Warren Donaghan, who fears alien abductions linked to missing scientists. Kenneth and Eugene explore themes of friendship, skepticism, and belief in the face of the mysterious alien threat, dissecting the episode’s character dynamics and storytelling elements. Dr. Markham escapes the Invaders, ... Read more

This week, Eugene and John explore *Buck Rogers in the 25th Century*, Season 1, Episode 13, “Cruise Ship to the Stars.” They call out the awkward attraction between the 500+ year old Buck and the 19 year old Ms. Cosmos, critique the episode’s convoluted plot, humorously discuss Twiki’s romance, and ponder 2491’s beauty standards. Next ... Read more

In this episode of Fusion Patrol, Ben and Eugene delve into the 1961 Irwin Allen film “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea,” starring Walter Pidgeon and Joan Fontaine. The discussion centers on the USOS Seaview and Admiral Nelson’s desperate mission to extinguish a catastrophic burning of the Van Allen Belt, which threatens all life ... Read more

In this week’s episode of Fusion Patrol, Simon and Eugene dissect the series finale of Bugs, focusing on the two-part episode “Money Spiders” and “The Enemy Within.” They argue over which of the many things Alex should have been fired for, they discuss whether the G5 is the chip Apple released five years after the ... Read more

In this episode of Fusion Patrol, Kenneth and Eugene analyze Season 1, Episode 3 of The Invaders, titled “The Mutation.” The story follows David Vincent as he investigates mysterious phenomena along the Texas-Mexico border, leading to a life-threatening encounter with locals and ultimately, alien forces. Despite being undermined by those he encounters, including the deceptive ... Read more

In this episode of Fusion Patrol, we explore “Escape from Wedded Bliss,” the twelfth episode of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. The plot unfolds as a menacing space probe prompts the Federation to act, while Princess Ardala plots to capture Buck as leverage against them. Amidst a chaotic reception, Buck navigates Ardala’s royal wedding ... Read more

This week Simon and Eugene look at the Bugs episode Twin Geeks, and discuss their disappointment at the size of this episodes’s explosions, whether lawyers are as scarce as police in Bugs Land, and they lament the lack of eccentric British gauge collectors in this episode. Next week: Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Escape ... Read more

In this episode of Fusion Patrol, the Kenneth and Eugene review The Invaders episode “The Experiment,” which features guest star Roddy McDowall as the son of an astrophysicist targeted by alien brainwashing. The discussion highlights the story’s strong Cold War influences, noting how the plot mirrors spy thrillers like The Manchurian Candidate by effectively substituting ... Read more

This week Simon and Eugene look at the last nugget of the Disney-BBC Doctor Who deal, the War Between the Land and the Sea where they discuss parallels between the modern UNIT and Torchwood, whether Kate Lethbridge-Stewart is the true heir to the Brigadier, and Eugene explains why the naming of Homo Aqua is as ... Read more

This week Fusion Patrol looks at Buck Rogers in the 25th Century – Season 1, Episode 11, Cosmic Whiz Kid as John and Eugene discuss— Cosmic Whiz Kid Airdate: November 15, 1979 Runtime: 60 minutes Starring: Gil Gerard, Erin Gray, Tim O’Connor Guest Stars: Gary Coleman, Ray Walston Director: Leslie H. Martinson Writer: Alan Brennert ... Read more

This week Fusion Patrol looks at The Andromeda Strain as Ben and Eugene discuss hard science fiction tension built from plausible medical and military technology; human errors, prejudice, and design flaws that nearly trigger nuclear catastrophe; Nostalgic enthusiasm for long‑forgotten light pen computer interfaces; and a strangely prominent topless corpse and its clash with the ... Read more

This week we look at “Bugs: Jewel Control” as Simon and Eugene discuss electricity billing, Beckett’s impressive Chinese reading capabilities, and whether Bugs is part of the same universe as Torchwood and whether it shares some of the same strengths and flaws. Jewel Control “Airdate: ” August 29, 1998 “Runtime:” 50 “Starring: ” Jaye Griffiths, ... Read more

This week Fusion Patrol looks at “The Invaders: Beachhead” as Kenneth and Eugene discuss— Beachhead Airdate: January 10, 1967 Runtime: 51 minutes Starring: Roy Thinnes Guest Stars: Diane Baker, J.D. Cannon, James Daly Director: Joseph Sargent Writer: Anthony Wilson (teleplay), Larry Cohen (story & creator) Synopsis: Architect David Vincent, tired from a late-night drive, stumbles ... Read more

This week Fusion Patrol looks at the 1973 movie Soylent Green as John and Eugene discuss if starving people even care if Soylent Green is people, Charlton Heston’s most human performance in a dystopian film, women treated as apartment “furniture” in a collapsing society, and Edward G. Robinson’s final acting role as his own death ... Read more

This week Fusion Patrol looks at Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, “Planet of the Amazon Women” as John and Eugene discuss Planet of the Amazon Women Airdate: 1 November 1979 Runtime: 49 minutes Starring: Gil Gerard, Erin Gray, Tim O’Connor Guest Stars: Ann Dusenberry, Jay Robinson, Anne Jeffreys Director: Philip Leacock Writer: D.C. Fontana, ... Read more

Simon and Eugene look at Season 4, episode 6 of Bugs — Pandora’s Box. They discuss why you can’t fix a sixth century plague with modern technology, Beckett’s annoying, sexy upstairs neighbor, and why blowing things up is a much better solution to a contagion than containment. Pandora’s Box Airdate: April 8, 1995 Runtime: 50 ... Read more

Kenneth and Eugene discuss the final two parts of Children of the Dog Star, with the episodes Kolob, and Alien Contact. Kolob Airdate: October 6, 1984 Runtime: 24 minutes Starring: Sarah Dunn, Jason Wallace, Hamish Bartle Guest Stars: Roy Billing, Susan Wilson, Catherine Wilkin, Raymond Hawthorne Director: Chris Bailey Writer: Ken Catran Synopsis: Gretchen finally ... Read more

John and Eugene talk about the time Buck Rogers met the Scream Queen, Jamie Lee Curtis, and they discuss the Tennessee delicacy, sand squid, as they look at the episode Unchained Woman. Unchained Woman Airdate: November 1, 1979 Runtime: 48 minutes Starring: Gil Gerard, Erin Gray, Tim O’Connor, Pamela Hensley, Felix Silla, Mel Blanc Guest ... Read more

This week, Ben and Eugene look at the 1956 Japanese Kaiju classic, Rodan! Or, as originally known, Sora no Daikaiju, Radon. Rodan Release Date: December 26, 1956 (Japan), August 6, 1957 (US) Runtime: 74 minutes Starring: Kenji Sahara, Yumi Shirakawa, Akihiko Hirata Director: Ishirô Honda Writer: Takeshi Kimura, Takeo Murata (screenplay), based on story by ... Read more

Simon and Eugene look Season 4, Episode 5 of Bugs, Hell and High Water. They discuss how this throws back to earlier Bugs episodes, whether Alex commits the most unethical act seen in the show so far, and if you work on defense contracts and give your computer to a museum, whether you should check ... Read more

Hello and welcome to this not-actually-an-episode of Fusion Patrol. I’m Eugene, and I’m all alone here today. Have you noticed that Fusion Patrol episode numbers just keep getting higher and higher? Here we are at over 750 episodes. Our first episode dropped in April of 2010. That’s over 15 years. That’s like 30 to 60 ... Read more

Kenneth and Eugene look at episodes 3 and 4 of Children of the Dog Star. Swamp Light Airdate: April 16, 1984 Runtime: 24 minutes Starring: Sarah Dunn, Jeison Wallace, Hamish Bartle, Roy Billing, Susan Wilson, Catherine Wilkin, David McKenzie, Raymond Hawthorne, Anzac Wallace Guest Stars: John Mellor, Whatanui Skipwith, Jim Hickey, Rodney Newman, Dennis Gubb ... Read more

Who’d have thunk it?  Buck Rogers in the 25th Century decides to tackle issues of ageism, the mental anguish of disabilities, and questions of identity as related to the concept of “fixing” a disability.   Or at least, it would have been if the production staff had given this episode much thought. John and Eugene, ... Read more

This week Ben and Eugene look at the 1960 movie, Village of the Damned, inspired by the 1957 John Wyndham novel, the Midwich Cuckoos.

This week, Simon and Eugene discuss ultrasonic weapons and whether they are as effective at punching holes in concrete as they are at cleaning dental guards, Ross’s suddenly discovered sensitivity to sexism and Alex being patronized for her age, and Eugene introduces his groundbreaking conception of the three eras of Britain. The Two Becketts Airdate: ... Read more

This week, Kenneth and Eugene begin their look at a new series here on Fusion Patrol — the 1984 New Zealand production, Children of the Dog Star. This time, the first two installments, The Brass Daisy and Power Stop. The Brass Daisy Airdate: April 2, 1984 Runtime: 24 minutes Starring: Sarah Dunn, Jeison Wallace, Hamish ... Read more

John and Eugene discuss the time Buck Rogers pits himself again the lamest group of assassins the galaxy can muster, and they ponder the riddle, “Why are they even a threat?” It’s the two-part episode, The Plot to Kill a City. The Plot to Kill a City Airdate: October 11–18, 1979 Runtime: 96 minutes (two-part ... Read more

It’s hard to keep a good Phibes down. Would it be as hard to keep a bad Phibes down? Ben and Eugene discuss the 1972 The Abominable Dr. Phibes sequel, Dr. Phibes Rises Again. Dr. Phibes Rises Again Release Date: July 5, 1972 Runtime: 89 minutes Starring: Vincent Price, Robert Quarry, Valli Kemp, Peter Cushing, ... Read more

This week, Simon and Eugene look at Bugs, Series 4, Episode 3, Girl Power. When they discuss child geniuses being given the idiot ball, how convincingly Ed and Beckett are at getting duped, and when the Intel Pentium 7 chip came out. Girl Power Airdate: July 25, 1998 Runtime: 48 minutes Starring: Jaye Griffiths, Jesse ... Read more

Kenneth and Eugene finally arrive at the final episode of Space Rangers with, the Trial.

This week, John and Eugene look at the Buck Rogers in the 25th century episode, Vegas in Space, where we ask the questions, do you see mirrors or a piano keyboard, and can Buck be a bigger SOB to Wilma than he was in the movie, we also reflect on Gil Gerard’s moment of acting. ... Read more

This week, on World Beyond movie Night, Ben and Eugene dip their toes into comedy/horror Diesel Punk with The Abominable Dr. Phibes. The Abominable Dr. Phibes Release Date: May 18, 1971 Runtime: 94 minutes Starring: Vincent Price, Joseph Cotten, Virginia North, Hugh Griffith, Terry-Thomas, Peter Jeffrey, Aubrey Woods, Susan Travers, David Hutcheson, John Cater, Maurice ... Read more

This week, Simon and Eugene look at Season 4, Episode 2 of Bugs, Sacrifice to Science.  They discuss the naming of government security departments, the difference between boathouses and houseboats, and whether you could be excused for not trusting scientists if you only ever meet the mad ones.  Sacrifice to Science Airdate: July 18, 1998 ... Read more

A washed-up comedian, Buddy Hackett, arrives for a show, and there’s a disaster… No, that description might just be a little too meta. A washed-up comedian, Lenny Hacker, is en route for a show, and there’s a disaster. The Space Rangers team has to rescue him from a notorious prison planet. Kenneth and Eugene discuss ... Read more

Investigating a mystery on the planet of the slave girls. Tough job, and only one man in the 25th century is up to it: Capt. Buck Rogers! John and Eugene discuss Planet of the Slave Girls. Planet of the Slave Girls Airdate: September 27–28, 1979 Runtime: ~95 minutes (as two-part episode) Starring: Gil Gerard, Erin ... Read more

Between seasons 1 and 2 of Space: 1999, Gerry Anderson took another stab at space opera, this time with an eye towards teachiing children about Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity. How well did that plan go? Find out as Ben and Eugene discuss The Day After Tomorrow. (AKA, Into Infinity) The Day After Tomorrow (Into ... Read more

Simon and Eugene pick up where they left off on their coverage of bugs, this time with the opening episode of series 4, Absent Friends. Where they rant… er… discuss recasting, retcons, recasting, cliffhangers, and recasting. Absent Friends Airdate: July 11, 1998 Runtime: 48 minutes Starring: Jaye Griffiths, Jesse Birdsall, Steven Houghton, Jan Harvey, Paula ... Read more

This week, Kenneth and Eugene watch as Capt. Boon makes mistake after mistake after mistake as they muddle their way through the Space Rangers episode, Death Before Dishonor.

At long last, John and Eugene begin the much-requested coverage of the epitome of 1970s space opera: Buck Rogers in the 25th Century! This week they look at the theatrical release and they spare some thoughts for the television re-edit. Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Release Date: March 30, 1979 Runtime: 89 minutes Starring: ... Read more

This week, Simon and Eugene finally come to the end of the 2025 season of Doctor Who and the end of the Gatwa era, when they look at the final two episodes, Wish World and The Reality War. They discuss Ncuti Gatwa’s performance as the Doctor, compare the Deadly Assassin with the Reality War, whether ... Read more

“Barbarella, pychodella, there’s a kind of cockleshell about you…” It began as a scandalous comic book, then Dino De Laurentiis thought, “hey, they oughta make a movie about that.” …and now, Ben and Eugene have to watch it and discuss it. It’s the 1968 movie, Barbarella starring Jane Fonda.