Sci-Fi Storm

Seems that the team is getting a bigger workout this season…

The time traveling teaser is returning – River Song, played by Alex Kingston, will appear in the upcoming Doctor Who Christmas episode, for the first time opposite Peter Capaldi, and the third incarnation of the Doctor that she’s appeared with.

River’s appearances in the Doctor’s timeline is very twisted. The two encountered each other in opposite directions. In her very first appearance in “Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead” (with David Tennant), it was the first time he met her – but in her case, it would be her last (sort of). They then successively encounter each other in reverse order – as the Doctor sees her more and more, it is earlier in her timeline, but we learn more about her mysterious past, such as that she’s been in prison for killing a “good man”, which we later learn is the Doctor himself. Finally we learn the meaning behind her name and who she really is.

When we last saw her, her “ghost” self from the Library speaks to the Doctor via a telepathic connection, as he himself approaches his own ending.

Is she still a memory? A ghost? Who knows. Time travel is involved and we know she has knowledge of some of the Doctor’s incarnations. We could encounter her somewhere in between previous appearances. Even showrunner Steven Moffat says, “So how can he be seeing her again? As ever, with the most complicated relationship in the universe, it’s a matter of time…”

Alex Kingston is scheduled to appear at Rhode Island Comic-Con in November…I hope I have the chance to interview her…

Syfy has just announced that it has renewed freshman series Killjoys and Dark Matter. Both will return in 2016, with Killjoys getting 10 episodes and Dark Matter getting 13. No word on a fourth season of Defiance yet.

Produced in association with Space and distributed worldwide by Universal Cable Productions, Killjoys follows a trio of interplanetary bounty hunters who chase deadly Warrants (fugitives) throughout the Quad, a distant planetary system on the brink of a bloody class war. The series stars Hannah John-Kamen as Dutch, Luke Macfarlane as D’avin and Aaron Ashmore as John.

Killjoys averaged 1.5 million viewers (L3) in its first season.

“With exciting space-based action, deep world building, and a standout cast, Killjoys has struck a nerve with viewers and critics alike,” said Bill McGoldrick, Executive Vice President, Original Content, Syfy. “We can’t wait to see what adventures Michelle Lovretta and Temple Street take Dutch, John and D’avin on in season two.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to bring back Killjoys and its stellar cast to audiences across the U.S.,” said David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg, co-Presidents of Temple Street Productions and Executive Producers of Killjoys. “We look forward to working with the team at Syfy for a thrilling second season.”

Killjoys is produced by Temple Street Productions in association with Space and Syfy. Creator and showrunner Lovretta serves as executive producer and writer. Executive producers are David Fortier, Ivan Schneeberg and Karen Troubetzkoy.

Dark Matter averaged 1.8 million viewers in its first season.

The series, produced by Prodigy Pictures, follows six people who wake up on a derelict spaceship with no memories of who they are or how they got on board.

“With its mysterious premise and fascinating characters, Dark Matter has built an incredibly loyal, passionate and engaged fan base,” said Chris Regina, Senior Vice President, Program Strategy, Syfy. “We look forward to another out-of-the-world season from this talented creative team.”

Created by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, executive producers and writers of the Stargate franchise, and developed with Prodigy Pictures (Lost Girl), Dark Matter is based on Mallozzi and Mullie’s graphic novel of the same name, published by Dark Horse Comics. The series features Melissa O’Neil, Marc Bendavid, Anthony Lemke, Alex Mallari Jr. and Jodelle Ferland with Roger Cross and Zoie Palmer.

Executive producers are Jay Firestone, Joseph Mallozzi, Paul Mullie and Vanessa Piazza.