So I was watching Dark Angel the other night. Well, not really watching. I would basically just zone out until Jessica Alba would come on screen.
You know this show, don’t you? It’s absolute perfection. Let’s look at the premise here: a science fiction show (which will attract the sci-fi fiends) with an extremely attractive female lead character (in order to keep the sci-fi enthusiasts planted on the station…because a hot girl in leather is exactly what you’ll never get if you spend all your time interested in sci-fi).
Now, in the midst of my watching the show I realized that this take on the future was a very dark one indeed. From what I am able to deduce, in the future…everyone is a bike messenger. They are all riding around on their BMXs and mountain bikes, getting people to sign for packages, and wearing various sports jerseys from the 20th century with the names conspicuously missing. This is a very macabre glimpse into the future, and I hope it never comes to pass.
I have never actually seen anyone ordering packages or requesting delivery from this world of messengers; I believe they just go around delivering the same package over and over again to whomever they feel like. Then, all of a sudden, the dispatcher will radio to his flock of delivery pigeons that someone is being held hostage. You may ask, “Who?” Does it really matter who? It sure as hell doesn’t seem to matter to the writers. Then, Jessica Alba will ride in on a motorcycle and save everyone and everything, all the while wearing an oh-so-snug leather outfit or Prada ensemble.
The worst part of this future: everybody seems to be doing all right. In the postapacolyptic future, there’s supposed to be hyperbolic economic conditions. Half the country supposed to live on the streets in poverty while the other half never leaves their penthouses. But in Dark Angel, everybody seems to be on level footing, just kicking it in middle class lifestyle.
Let us hope that James Cameron, the executive producer, is more prophetic than he knows. I relish the thought of my descendents working in the future as middle class bike messengers. Hell, I might like to try it on for size. Let us also hope that Cameron stops putting himself in the show every damn time to reiterate the fact that he made Titanic. I’ve never even seen that movie. I just know there was no leather-clad Jessica Alba in it…more’s the pity.
Porter contributed to this Thought. Scott made sandwiches during the writing of this Thought, and Nupe remained enthusiastic the entire time. We thank you all.