This week, we review one of the best episodes of "Alien Nation." It's called "The Game," and it's an episode that keeps on giving, with multiple big reveals and an emotional ending. - With both co-hosts agreeing that this is a great episode, Todd focuses on performances, and Nick focuses on the world-building. - How does this episode have not just one "Babylon 5" connection but two? - How many great moments of performance did Eric Pierpoint have as George Francisco, and how many great reveals are there? - What do the co-hosts appreciate about the Day of Descent holiday depicted in the episode? - Despite being a serious episode, what moments of humor does the episode have? And, despite being a great episode, what few flaws does it have? - This episode continues the tradition of this show capping things off with an amazing final scene. What is it about this episode's final scene that almost got one co-host choked up? - What were this episode's moments of bad police work, and was George guilty of it this week instead of Matt? - As much as this week's titular game was a central aspect of the episode and a great source for storytelling, which nitpicks did the co-hosts still point out about it? - Which actress from the opening credits is finally back in this episode but doesn't even get a line a dialogue? - Which technical nitpicks did Todd point out? - Which connection to another movie, pointed out by Nick, led Todd to explain a possible, brief, vague, boring, and convoluted connection he might have had years ago? - Nick usually does a "Star Trek" actor count, and this week, Todd does a "Babylon 5" actor count too. How high did the counts go? - Seriously, how many minutes did Todd rattle on about this week's "Babylon 5" connections? Was there almost certainly a quicker way of saying it? And, how did Todd make fun of himself for it, through the editing? - George Francisco is one of Todd's favorite characters, but what is his all-time overall #1 favorite character, any genre, any medium, and why is it relevant to this episode? - What connection did Nick find between this episode and the 1980s TV show "Manimal," leading to a brief mention of Joe Crowe, director of the American Sci-Fi Classics Track at Dragon Con? - And, was "Dobbs Watch" a productive segment this week? Listen now to the answers to these and other strategic questions as the co-hosts are lucky enough to dissect, "The Game." Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments on individual episodes via the Spotify and GoodPods apps. Our e-mail address is alienatingourselves@gmail.com. Royalty-free music used in this episode came from Pixabay.com.
