A reader
named Alexis writes:
“Just
wondering: what is your opinion of the new Mystery Science Theater 3000?”
Alexis,
thank you for writing, especially about this topic, as I am a long-time fan of Mystery
Science Theater 3000 (1989-1999), and have been eagerly following the multi-year
effort to revive it.
In
fact, my family was among the thousands of fans to back the Kickstarter in 2015,
and thus you can see my son’s name -- Joel Kenneth Muir -- during the end
credits of the episode that riffs The Land that Time Forgot (1975).
And
yes, my son is indeed named after series creator, Joel Hodgson. He is very, very proud of that fact.
So,
what are my thoughts about Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return
(2017 - )?
Well, I think it’s great. At this point, my family has gotten
through Yongary, the ninth experiment. We have had a good time with
every episode thus far, and there are three experiments that have stood out as
being new classics that can stand alongside Manos: The Hands of Fate, or Space
Mutiny.
Those
titles are: Cry Wilderness, Avalanche, and Starcrash.
Considering
the fact that we are in only the first season of this follow-up series, that’s a terrific average.
But I would say
that if you are new to the series, you should start with Cry Wilderness, instead
of Reptilicus, the actual first episode.
What
works?
Well,
I very much like Jonah Ray, our new host. I have always liked Mike just fine, but nonetheless count myself as a Joel guy, and Jonah seems more in that spirit. Mike had a sharper, more
cutting sense of humor. But Joel could burn
a movie and somehow still sound gentle while he was doing it, and Jonah is very
much in line with that school of riffing.
Speaking
of riffing, the jokes in the reboot are right on the mark, and as funny/smart
as ever. I know my son is thrilled because
this is the first MST-3K made after
his birth (2006), and the series has already included references to Minecraft, Candy Crush,
Bionicle, and other touchstones of his generation. This is a good thing that
assures the series will endure beyond one generation.
Also,
I have to admit, I was worried at first that in our age of political correctness and rampant
victim mentality that the new series would have to play it safe and avoid some
types of jokes.
What
I find instead is that the series is as joyfully irreverent and inappropriate
-- and therefore funny -- as ever.
What doesn't work?
Well, I have not yet completely warmed up to the New Mads, played
by Felicia Day and Patton Oswalt. I don’t hate their characters or the performers,
by any means. I just feel that thus far they lack the easy chemistry and sheer nastiness of
the original Forrester/TV’s Frank combo, or even the follow-up troika (Pearl, Bobo
and Brain Guy). The new Mads just feel
a bit generic to me. I sense that this is more a flaw in the writing than in
the specific performances. Let's just say the characters have room to grow, and I expect them to grow.
Also,
I had trouble -- for the first three or four episodes of the new series -- distinguishing
between the voices of the new Crow and the new Servo, which was a bummer. Kevin
Murphy is a tough act to beat when it comes to Servo. His deep voice was
instantly recognizable, and the new Servo takes a while to get used to.
These
are mere growing pains, however.
When I watch the new Mystery Science Theater 3000,
I get a strange feeling. It's like no time has passed since I watched the series in the nineties, and fell in love with it.
The Return is a worthy heir, and long may it reign.
Don't forget to ask me your questions at Muirbusiness@yahoo.com
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