So if we’ve learned anything at all from shows like Star Trek (in all its incarnations), Stargate SG1 and 1001 other sci-fi shows that feature humanity dashing from one corner of the galaxy to another, it’s that exploring another planet is exciting, scary, important, enthralling, educational or a heady mix of all five.
One thing it is not supposed to be is catching the 8.01 commuter train to the City routine, boring even.
Why that flies in the face of everything we hold dear about visiting and checking out planets that granted scientists are finding in ever increasing, if not Earth-like, quantities as our space telescopes grow ever more sophisticated.
But that’s how life is for “two incompetent astronauts” roaming across a desert-like planet – the Kickstarter funded short film was filmed at the suitably arid and yes extraterrestrial looking Vasquez Rocks in northern Los Angeles County, California, the scene, according to Nerdist, of “the epic Captain Kirk vs. Gorn battle in Star Trek: The Original Series” – who don’t speak about visionary endeavours or the nobility of their mission but rather “food things”, women and the startlingly banal stuff of everyday.
Which makes sense if all you ever did was explore planets, many of which would not harbour mysterious unseen civilisations bristling with strange customs and dire threats but rather, well, not much at all, and zipping through space began to feel like just another day at the office.
That’s not to say there’s not anything to be worried about on the planet but our intrepid, rather ambivalent astronauts aren’t really paying much attention are they?
So anything could happen and … well, you’d better watch this very clever short film and find out.
If you need me, I’ll be soaking in the hot tub back on the spaceship and checking my emails …