scifi

The square root of absolutely nothing happens in each episode, but I’m still watching every week!

A lavish sci-fi series with characters so bad you find yourself rooting for the evil aliens plotting to conquer Earth, Apple TV’s Invasion is the latest show that outstays its welcome after some early success.The first series was held together by a group of child actors, the second was held together by stunning visuals, but the third season is held together by… nothing at all.

At best, Apple TV’s Invasion is a victim of its own success and has been drawn out for one or two seasons too long. With an undeserved 6.2/10 on IMDB, it’s absolutely not worth your time – but for me, it is too late.

The third season boasts the usual high production values you get from an Apple series, but the script is abysmal (featuring timeless quips like the age-old “In English, please?!”) as it follows the violent spikey black aliens who, out of nowhere, have re-launched their invasion on Earth.

I have recently found solace in a community on Reddit dedicated to trashing the programme. One person wrote: “Every single episode makes me wonder, ‘Did I fall asleep watching the last episode and miss something? Did I accidentally skip an episode?’”

I agree with them. But sifting through the exasperated posts, it seems we have more than our hatred in common. We all, like a dog with a bone, return each and every Friday for another hit of this endlessly disappointing series.

Another wrote: “The season is almost over and nothing has happened yet. We saw one clear alien with a wounded leg, who seemed to be about as aggressive as a stoned jellyfish, and three hunter killers in a hole in the ground.

“I think it’s safe to say that this isn’t a sci-fi as much as it is an unfunny sitcom with annoying characters who are always whining about the invisible aliens winning a war.” Very true.

I think the reason for our slot-machine addiction to Invasion is the promise of the first season. That was almost entirely down to the young acting prowess of Billy Barratt (Caspar Morrow), India Brown (Jamila Huston) and Paddy Holland (Monty Cuttermill). We see them overcome school bully and victim dynamics, traverse the English Channel and unlock communication with the terrifying morphing alien beasts.

The sparkly performances from all three casts a Goonies-like magic on the plot and has you gunning for the humans – unlike some of the other characters who make you wonder if it’s actually time for an alien takeover.

Huston’s performance is certainly an anchor in the third season, but she is outnumbered by griege special effects and gaping plotholes, while the loss of her schoolmates is palpable. I am convinced that some distant promise of a reunion of the young stars is what is keeping us locked in.

One Redditor wrote of Barratt’s unexplained absence in the third season: “My guess is they have left it open for him to come back. I hope he does. But, with the quality of the show in decline, the actor may decide he doesn’t want to, especially if he is getting other offers.

“With the poor quality of script writing and character development, I can’t imagine it’s a very rewarding acting experience for the cast.”

For now, we are left with an indistinguishably twisty plotline that follows some of the most annoying characters on screen, even though I will be tuning in for every single episode and beyond!

July 18 (UPI) — The Netflix streaming service said this week it is using artificial intelligence for the first time in order to create realistic effects for a foreign sci-fi series.

The company’s revenue is certainly on the rise, which rose 16% during the second quarter of 2025, and is expected to be between $44.8 billion and $45.2 billion, up from a range of $43.5 billion to $44.5 billion as per its full-year revenue forecast. Its profits grew from $2.1 billion to $3.1 billion.

As for its AI usage, Netflix co-Chief Executive Ted Sarandos said the Argentinian science fiction program The Eternaut was the first for which generative AI footage was utilized.

“We remain convinced that AI represents an incredible opportunity to help creators make films and series better, not just cheaper,” he told analysts Thursday after Netflix reported its second-quarter financial results.

According to Sarandos, visual effects artists used AI for Eternaut to show the collapse of a building.

“Using AI-powered tools, they were able to achieve an amazing result with remarkable speed and, in fact, that VFX sequence was completed 10 times faster than it could have been completed with traditional VFX tools and workflows,” he said. “The cost of [the special effects without the use of AI] just wouldn’t have been feasible for a show in that budget.”

The Eternaut, or El Eternauta, is based on an apocalyptic Argentine comic book and graphic novel about the survivors of an alien invasion.

Project Hail Mary is one of the most talked about upcoming blockbusters for next year, but there’s another gripping science fiction thriller you should check out first

Science fiction fans can stream this critically acclaimed blockbuster right now ahead of the new Ryan Gosling-led thriller, Project Hail Mary.

The upcoming space epic will be hitting cinemas next March and a recent trailer has teased a high-octane thrill ride beyond the solar system.

Starring Gosling as school science teacher Ryland Grace, he’s plunged headfirst into a dangerous outer space mission to protect the Earth from catastrophe – but can he save his own life in the process?

Helmed by the genius directors behind 21 Jump Street and Into the Spider-Verse, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, this jaw-dropping adaptation of Andy Weir’s bestselling novel is guaranteed to be a must-watch cinematic experience.

Sci-fi readers will already be well-acquainted with Weir as the author of the equally gripping novel The Martian, which was adapted into a major film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon back in 2015.

10 years later, this nail-biting space survival thriller remains one of the most beloved sci-fi films of the century so far – and fans can stream it right now.

Whether you’ve already experienced this riveting space adventure or it’s somehow passed you by, make sure you stream The Martian on Disney+ at some point before March to get yourself well-prepared for Project Hail Mary.

One five-star Google review calls it: “An Absolute Masterpiece of Sci-Fi Cinema.”

They went on: “Adapted from Andy Weir’s equally captivating novel, this film takes you on an exhilarating journey to the red planet, Mars.

“From the very first scene to the closing credits, The Martian is a thrilling and suspenseful rollercoaster of human ingenuity, resilience, and survival.

“Matt Damon’s portrayal of Mark Watney, an astronaut stranded on Mars, is brilliant. His charismatic and witty performance keeps you engaged throughout the film.”

Someone else raved: “What makes The Martian so rewatchable is its tone. It’s intense when it needs to be, but never loses that touch of optimism and wit that makes it so enjoyable.

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“The soundtrack fits perfectly, the pacing keeps you engaged, and the visuals of Mars are stunning without ever feeling overwhelming.

“It’s a film that makes space feel both terrifying and oddly comforting, a rare mix. Whether you’re into science fiction, survival stories, or just well-made cinema, The Martian is the kind of film you’ll gladly watch more than once.”

The accolades continued over on Letterboxd, where yet another five-star review says: “An effortlessly engrossing and excellently rendered science fiction epic of survival, Ridley Scott’s Martian immediately ranks as one of the director’s most satisfying works.

“A love letter to the power of science, problem solving, and human will, the film provides a smart and soaring experience that rivets as much as it satisfies.

“Scott and company tell a story that is buoyant, nail-biting, and life affirming.”

This modern masterpiece isn’t leaving Disney+ any time soon, so there’s plenty of time and absolutely no excuse not to stream one of Damon’s best blockbusters before the torch is passed to Gosling next year.

The Martian is available to stream on Disney+.

China is a popular travel destination in Asia and one tourist visited a busy city in the country and shared everything that blew him away during his three-day trip

China, one of the world’s most populous and powerful nations, is a magnet for tourists thanks to its booming economy, vast military, status as a manufacturing powerhouse, and cutting-edge technology. The country’s iconic attractions like Beijing’s Great Wall and Forbidden City are major draws for tourists.

With its deep historical roots, stunning natural scenery, and dynamic culture, not to mention the delectable Chinese cuisine, China continues to draw visitors from all corners of the globe. Riyan Ruparelia, a content creator known as Bearded Travels, took to TikTok to share his travel experiences in Chongqing, one of China’s major central cities. Chongqing is celebrated for its rugged terrain and has earned the nickname ‘Mountain City’, nestled near the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers.

In his TikTok video, Riyan exclaimed: “China is living in the future so here’s everything that blew my mind on my most recent three-day trip to Chongqing.

“Starting off with the hotels, the majority of which have smart rooms where you can control pretty much everything from the click of a button, including this huge projector screen and they literally have smart toilets everywhere.”

He stayed at the ISEYA Panoramic Hotel, where room service is delivered by “an entire robot“, which he was amazed by.

The tourist was amazed by the city’s “insane” engineering feats, noting that Chongqing was “built on a mountain” and has a population of over 30 million people.

Riyan remarked: “You can be in a main square with shops and restaurants all around you and then realise you’re on the 22nd floor and if that’s not enough, the engineers actually built an entire train track into a residential building which then proceeds to wrap around a mountain, and believe it or not the train doesn’t make any noise whatsoever.”

The travel content creator was also impressed by the prevalence of electric cars in China, many of which were unknown brands that offered “super luxurious” features and “absolutely incredible performance”.

Riyan continued: “And if you’re in two minds you can get a bike slash car but what blew my mind most was the skyline at night time. This city lights up and it feels like you’re in some sort of sci-fi movie.

“The drone shows every Saturday are next level so if you want a taste of the future then make sure to pay China a visit because it will really surprise you.”

According to travel experts at China Discovery, tourists flock to Chongqing mainly for the Yangtze River cruise which offers breathtaking views of the majestic Three Gorges Dam.

Besides the inspiring landscape, Chongqing is renowned for its local cuisine, most notably, the spicy hot pot.

The clip on TikTok by Riyan has racked more than up over 80 comments. One user said: “Omg I can’t get my head over this! This is crazy! I do want to visit China!”

Another user was floored by the advancement, saying: “They are so far ahead it’s amazing.”