[Avec France Culture] In this column for the show Brave New World, we talk to you The Orville and Upload (and even The tragedy of the orca): or when the future is hilarious.
You definitely know The Office, this office sitcom which has also transformed into many same ones on the Internet. Recently, one of its creators, Greg Daniels, launched into a new format: science fiction! This is called Uploadand it’s streaming on Prime Video.
In this future, there is a virtual paradise: the most fortunate upload their consciousness into a digital world to continue living after their death. Each person uploaded has an “angel”, a living person, from the real world, who accompanies them remotely. The hero is Nathan. He suffers a violent car accident, so he must be urgently uploaded to this virtual paradise. There he discovers this completely crazy world where everything is possible, if you have the means to pay. The series is full of gags and its atmosphere is frankly refreshing.
A series that is no exception
Upload is not the exception! Star Trek was already often a series full of humor — I can swear it. And besides, Seth MacFarlane, known as the creator of American Dad, created his own version of Star Trek, in a humorous version. This is called The Orville (on Disney+).
I will surprise you: The Orville And Upload are, in my opinion, part of the best that SF has to offer. I even often prefer these two series to Black Mirror. Because these series are funny, but far from being stupid. It is finally. in their second degree that all their relevance is hidden. By taking a step back from reality – with a little lightness here, a little gags there – this SF manages to make fun of the future, to mock the present by highlighting its excesses, or its nonsense.
And then humor doesn’t necessarily translate only into incessant jokes: in these works, there is also deep writing and touching moments. Besides, The Orville took everyone by surprise over time: presented as a parody of Star Trek, it became a serious, truly brilliant series. In one episode, we visit a planet where the fate of each person is decided by virtual votes.
The first episode of season 3 shows a robot determined to end its life, and all the philosophical implications that go with it. The examples are numerous, the episodes speak intelligently about our times. Result, The Orville is today as important for SF as series Star Trek current.
The tragedy of the orca: humor and thought
At your bookstore, I can only advise you The tragedy of the orca by Pierre Raufast, at Forges de Vulcain. It’s Hard SF, and therefore SF with solid scientific bases… but a novel that begins with “ There you go, Tom, we hold the record for the furthest uncapped beer from Earth » will only please you, if you like to question yourself about the ecological and technological future with, also, second degree.
Brave New World in replay
The best of worldsthe show presented by François Saltiel, can be listened to as a podcast on the Radio France website or on audio streaming platforms.
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