Theme: The universe is a cold, unforgiving place.

Time: 44:03

Films. 28 Days Later. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. The Fellowship of the Ring. Star Wars films. Stowaway. 

TV episodes, series. Star Trek (the original series). 

Ideas. Math-driven decision making & resource management. Artificially intelligent capitalism. Space stowaways. Challenges of life on the interstellar frontier. Forces of nature & laws of physics are equally ruthless. In real life there is no cavalry ready to rescue you. Comparisons to the Trolley problem & the Lifeboat scenario. Heroism & self-sacrifice v. personal accountability. Anti-climactic, run-of-the-mill gloom. CYA. Otto Warmbier. Motive & consequences. Lottery losers. Unrelenting logic is often a character flaw in literature & film. Mr. Spock's warm, fuzzy humanity v. his ruthless Vulcan logic.

Previous episode: Isaac Asimov, "The Dead Past"

Next episode: Jack Williamson, "With Folded Hands" 

Music Credit: "Ouroboros" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
Link: Creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/