We are happy to release our coverage of the Disney+ series Andor as a bonus episode this holiday season. In this special roundtable, your hosts Jaime, Patrick, Christian, AndieGeekGirl, and special guest Micah Greene discuss what some of us agree is the best Star Wars product since the original trilogy. As always this was a lively and in-depth conversation that we hope you enjoy.
206 // The Space Jockey
Some call it the Pilot. Some call an Engineer. Many of us call it the Space Jockey. Call it what you will, this mysterious figure inside the Derelict has haunted and intrigued fans for decades.
But why? What is it about this silent, seemingly ancient figure that makes it so unforgettable? For years, a major part of the Jockey's lasting appeal was its unknowability. But now that we have the prequels—and with them, the Engineers—is the Jockey no longer a mystery? Or has the mystery just shifted?
In this roundtable, Jaime, Patrick, Maj, and Perry ponder these questions and come to some unexpected conclusions. They also explore the history of the Pilot from script to screen, and examine its life in the Expanded Universe of Dark Horse comics, etc.
// Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes
205 // Lovecraft and Prometheus (Cosmic Horror Part Two)
A decade ago, Guillermo del Toro famously stopped his work on an adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's At the Mountains of Madness because he felt Ridley Scott's Prometheus had beaten him to the punch. Scott himself was mum on the issue, but when Prometheus premiered in theaters it was clearly connected to ATMOM, whether Ridley (or Spaihts, or Lindelof) were public about it.
So what exactly is Prometheus' connection to Lovecraft's 1931 novella? Do they share story beats, or are there deeper philosophical connections between the two?
In this second installment of our investigation into cosmic horror and the Alienfranchise, we mount an expedition to look for answers to questions we might not've known we were asking in the first place.
Art by François Baranger.
// Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes
204 // Alien and Cosmic Horror: Part One
"Lovecraftian" gets thrown around a lot these days, but what does it actually mean? When people say Alien is a Lovecraftian film, what are they getting at?
We're launching a miniseries to explore those questions (and a whole lot more), and on this first installment we're looking at H.P. Lovecraft himself and how his themes speak to the themes in Alien.
How does Giger's reverence for HPL show up in the film? What are we actually afraid of, long after the credits roll? Join Jaime, Patrick, and bona fide Lovecraft scholar Christian as they wade into the strange depths in search of answers.
To support Christian's Necronomicon project, head over to his Patreon page!
// Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes
203 // Wreckage & Rage: David Fincher and Alien 3
David Fincher's involvement with Alien 3 does not have a storybook ending. Unlike his predecessors Ridley Scott, and James Cameron, Fincher's work on Alien 3 would be remembered as one of the most troubled productions in cinema history. In this episode, Christian, Patrick, and Jaime discuss the issues surrounding Fincher's involvement and the merits of his continuing disassociation from the film. This was a interesting and challenging conversation. We hope you enjoy.
202 // The Feminine & The Beast
Feminism is a word that's long been linked to the Alien franchise, and it continues to be an incendiary term in our current social climate. In this episode, special guest Sarah Welch-Larson joins Patrick, Andie, and Jaime to break down what that actually term means and if it's faithful to the spirit of the original four Alien films. This was an informative and educational episode that might surprise you. We hope you enjoy.
201 // Interviewing the Team Behind Aliens Expanded
Patrick and Jaime were delighted to sit down with writer/director Ian Nathan, and executive producer Robin Block as they discussed their new documentary Aliens Expanded. If Alien fandom has a bedrock, it would be none-other than James Cameron's Aliens. Aliens is the film everyone gathers around, the main course at a cinematic feast. Ian, and Robin discuss why they believe that's the case, and how they want to capture the love and celebration in a documentary that's certain to ignite our love for the film even more. We hope you enjoy.
200 // Celebrating 200 Episodes of Perfect Organism Podcast & Beyond
Perfect Organism: The Alien Saga Podcast celebrates 200 episodes of what has been a rollercoaster of excitement and wonder. Join cohost and founder Jaime, Patrick, Christian, AndieGeekGirl, Perry, Maj, & Xander as they sit down to discuss the journey they've been on as a team, the road ahead, and the latest Alien tv show and film news. This was a wonderful episode to be a part of. This was a very special episode for everyone, we hope you enjoy.
199 // Inferno’s Fall: Interviewing Authors Philippa Ballantine & Clara Carija
Christian, Patrick, and Jaime were delighted to sit down with co-authors Philippa Ballantine and Clara Carija to discuss their new book, Alien: Inferno's Fall. As long time fans of the Alien saga and extended universe, Philippa and Clara discuss what the Alien universe means to them, and their propensity for creating rich and diverse worlds populated with multifaceted characters. This was a wonderful interview full of laughter and candid moments. We hope you enjoy.
198 // Interviewing Chris Bissette, Creator of The Wretched
Have you ever wondered what would've happened if Ripley's showdown with the creature onboard The Narcissus had ended differently? Chris Bissette is a game designer, writer, and musician who created an innovative RPG experience to explore that question—not only creating a theoretical fifth act to Alien, but putting players in Ripley's shoes as well. The Wretched is an original IP, but functions beautifully as an Alien analogue.
In this minisode, Patrick and Christian chat with Chris about game design, the enduring power of Alien, and why single-player RPG experiences are having such a moment.
For more on Chris and their work (and to grab a copy of The Wretched for yourself!), visit https://loottheroom.itch.io/wretched.
And be sure to give Chris a follow on Twitter @pangalactic while you're at it!
An actual play of The Wretched will be coming to our Patreon feed in the near future if you'd like to hear the full audio experience. Happy gaming!
// Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes
197 // The Artificial Intelligence of Alien and Blade Runner
In this special crossover episode, hosts Patrick and Jaime are joined by contributing host Peter from the Midwest to discuss artificial intelligence as featured in Alien and Blade Runner. This is a bit of a crossover episode as we explore why the kinds of A.I. exist in both of these worlds and what's really behind the need for such technology. This was a fascinating and complicated discussion. We hope you enjoy!
To listen to the rest of this Artificial Intelligence mini-series, go to www.bladerunnerpodcast.com
// Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes
196 // Interviewing Andy Kelly, Author of Perfect Organism: An Alien: Isolation Companion
Alien: Isolation is the sort of game that attracts a certain type of Alien obsessive: packed with lore, overflowing with aesthetic detail, and completely unrelenting in its difficulty and terror, Isolation is an extraordinary achievement in game design that continues to enthrall Alien fans eight years after its release.
Andy Kelly is a video game journalist who has written extensively about Alien: Isolation from the very beginning. Along the way, he's amassed a wealth of interviews, behind-the-scenes insights, and level design knowledge that has culminated, finally, in his writing the definitive Alien: Isolation companion.
In this episode, Andy takes Patrick and Christian behind the curtains for a deeper look at this incredible game, and lets us know what we can look forward to when the book is eventually published.
To support the book's creation on Unbound, visit https://unbound.com/books/perfect-organism/. And be sure to follow Andy on Twitter @ultrabrilliant so you never miss an update along the way!
// Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes
195 // A Man With a Future: Discussing Dr. Clemens
Charles Dance's portrayal of Dr. Jonathan Clemens in Alien 3 is a layered look at how substance abuse, grief, and loss function in the Alien universe. In this roundtable, Jaime, Patrick, Christian, and Andie are joined by first-time guest Forrest MacKnight for an in-depth examination of this fascinating character.
// Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes
194 // Interviewing Shiromi Arserio, Narrator of Alien: Colony War and Alien: Into Charybdis
Two recent Alien novels—Alien: Into Charybdis by Alex White and Alien: Colony War by David Barnett—share a common audiobook narrator. What you might not know about this narrator, though, is she's just as much an Alien nerd as you are!
Shiromi Arserio's website describes her as an "Accent Chameleon," and listening to her work on these recent novels is a masterclass on how to balance character, dialect, and storytelling tension in a way that's at once unobtrusive and yet utterly riveting.
Shiromi was kind enough to spend an evening goofing around with Patrick and Christian, spilling some trade secrets and geeking out about painting Alien miniatures along the way.
For more on Shiromi and her work, visit www.shiromispeaks.com.
// Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes
193 // Propstore & Perfect Organism Podcast presents: An Aliens Panel Discussion
Perfect Organism was honored to be asked by Propstore to host a panel discussion with ALIENS actors Ricco Ross, Mark Rolston, and ALIENS Visual Effects Supervisor Pat McClung. This event was hosted on top of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles and included industry players, fans and more. Please join us as we unveil this very special episode, hosted by Jaime Prater and Christian Matzke.
192 // Prometheus at Ten Years: A Roundtable Retrospective
On June 8, 2012, Prometheus ushered in a controversial—and wildly new—era in Alien history. How has Prometheus aged in the decade since it was released? What themes have stuck? How has it shown up across other works throughout the expanded Alien universe, and how do those works bring Prometheus in new directions?
In this roundtable, Jaime, Patrick, Perry, and Maj discuss Prometheus' past, present, and future.
// Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes
191 // The Promise of a Flower: Discussing Dillon
Charles S. Dutton's performance as Leonard Dillon in Alien 3 is one of those portrayals that seems almost star-crossed. With his thrilling speeches, deep humanity, and murky past, Dillon is a character who becomes more special the more time you spend with him—a character that makes us ask Big Questions, like what is redemption? Can you find it even after you've committed atrocities? Where do you search for hope at the Ass End of Space?
Dutton, with his own troubled past and remarkable acting journey, brings such force and depth to this character that it's no wonder many of his monologues—the burial sequence, his "let's fight it" speech—have become beloved touchstones of modern science fiction.
In this next installment in our ongoing 30th Anniversary of Alien 3 coverage, Jaime, Patrick, Christian, and Andie discuss this deeply complex character.
For some additional reading, here's a relatively recent interview with him that gets mentioned in the episode a few times: https://bit.ly/3wLsMK3
// Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes
190 // Charles de Lauzirika’s Alien 3 Assembly Cut Commentary
Art by Locusta
Charles de Lauzirika is the Restoration Producer of the Alien 3 Assembly Cut, as well as the director of Wreckage and Rage, the definitive behind-the-scenes account of Alien 3 (which you may have seen, in various forms, on both the Quadrilogy and Anthology boxsets). He reached out to us after our previous Assembly Cut commentary went live on Alien Day and asked if we'd like to watch it again, only this time with him on the commentary panel!
Jaime, Patrick, and Christian had the immense pleasure of learning the inside story of the Assembly Cut from the guy who actually put it together, and we're thrilled to share this exclusive experience with our listeners.
The commentary track gets started after a few minutes of intros and banter; we'll cue you when it's time to start playing the film.
// Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes
188 // Alien 3 | The Assembly Cut Commentary
Happy Alien Day! As is our tradition (and for as long as we can) Perfect Organism releases a commentary episode every 04.26. This year, in honor of the 30 year anniversary of Alien 3, Patrick, Maj, & Jaime sat down and recorded a commentary track for the assembly cut of Alien 3. We hope you enjoy!
189 // Interviewing Sarah Welch-Larson, Author of Becoming Alien
Sarah Welch-Larson's Becoming Alien is subtitled ... The Beginning and End of Evil in Science Fiction's Most Idiosyncratic Film Franchise, and that should tell you everything you need to know about why we were so thrilled to chat with her!
Becoming Alien is a philosophical examination of all six canonical films—an exploration of deep themes like the nature of evil and the things that make us human. Join Jaime, Patrick, Christian, Andie, and Sarah as they don their headlamps and venture into one of their deepest conversations yet.
Follow Sarah on Twitter (@dodgyboffin) and be sure to pick up Becoming Alienat http://cutt.ly/BecomingAlien!
// Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes