Geekery

Favourite Fictional Geeks

Posted on 11. Dec, 2009 by Jake.

Writing a blog post on David Gemmell got me thinking how many geeks read fantasy novels about macho men with big swords, as if to make up for the fact in real life the closest they’ll get to combat with a sword is while playing World of Warcraft. But hang-on, I thought, surely there are some real geeks in the realm of fiction that we can look up to? Geeks who, while being heroes with mad skills and/or an insane amount of power are, in a way, just like us. So, I bring you some of my favourite fictional geeks.

Spiderman (Peter Parker) and Hulk (Bruce Banner)
In their own right, both Spidey and the not-so-jolly green giant are, while fearsome fighters when in the guise heir super-hero alter-egos, complete geeks when in normal human mode. Peter Parker is a brainy guy with glasses who gets good grades but struggles to succeed socially at school, while Bruce Banner is the polar opposite of the thoughtless monster he turns into when angry. He is a withdrawn, shy and extremely intelligent physicist. Respect.

Mohinder Suresh
He may be exceptionally good looking, and he may not live up to the geek stereotypes (the glasses, lack of social skills, greasy hair, etc), but Heroes’s main boffin, hailing from Chennai in India, is a geek, make no mistake. As a genetics professor, Suresh is an expert on impressive sounding things things like algorithms, the genetic fight-or-flight impulse and the Shanti virus. While many other characters on the show can be found partying, Suresh is most often perched behind a screen or buried in a book, determined to discover what he needs to… even if it takes all night! Oh, and he’s hot. And his status as one of the few geeks with pulling power make him an aspirational character.

Marshal Flinkman
One of the stars of TV’s CIA action drama, Alias, Flinkman is a true geek hero. He is kind of the series’ Q, inventing incredible gadgets. He is also an expert in robotics, chemistry, acoustics, electronics, biometrics, explosives, computer networks, and has a photographic memory to boot. Despite all his skills though, he is completely socially inept. Just like many of us! While Mohinder Suresh gives geeks false hope that we will all one day be charming and debonair, most of us unfortunately are a lot more like Flinkman.

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Top Ten Geek TV Shows (currently showing)

Posted on 07. Dec, 2009 by Jake.

The modern definition of a geek – clichéd as a weedy looking character wearing specs – is somebody that relates academic studies to the real world outside of academic studies, and is normally obsessed with all sorts of gadgets and gizmos.

The following ‘Top Ten’ list of current TV programs is sure to bring out the geek in all of us. So without further ado, and in no particular order, here it goes:

Chuck – Chuck Bartowski is a computer geek turned government agent when he accidently ‘downloads’ the last copies of the worlds greatest spy secrects into his brain.

Scrubs – Medical intern John “J.D” Dorian accompanied by crazy friends Turk and Elliot learns the lessons of life and medicine from the cynical king of sarcasm Dr. Cox of Sacred Heart Hospital. Not to mention one really outrageous janitor.

Mythbusters – Two of the world’s most popular geeks Adam Savage and Jaime Hyneman go to ridiculous lengths to scientifically separate truth from urban legends.

Fringe – The show described as the modern day X-Files with better looking actors, follows an FBI “fringe division” as they use unorthodox investigative techniques in order to solve “the Pattern”, a series of paranormal events happening all over the world.

24 – Jack’s back. In what will be the 7th season of 24, Jack is back to his usual tricks as he has 24 hours to stop terrorists in their tracks using sheer determination, some very cool gadgets, and some help from a couple of computer whiz-kids.

Prototype This – A team of geniuses inventing the future one prototype at a time by building outrageous gadgets that could solve todays problems and creating some of the coolest machines around. A must see if you are the gadgets and gizmo’s type!

The IT Crowd – The computer geeks that skulk around a basement office, far away from any social interaction deal with ridiculous IT problems of the employees of Reynholm Industries, and a clueless manager. Very funny.

The Big Bang Theory – Leonard and Sheldon are bonafide geeks that know loads about science, but lack in common sense and social interaction. They also live across from a pretty waitress that wants to become an actress. Throw it all together and you have the “Big Bang Theory”. Hysterical comedy that any geek could associate with.

Heroes – This show is based on everyday people who realize they have extraordinary/super powers and as the story is based on genetics and all that ‘geeky’ stuff, it wouldn’t be right if this show did not make the list.

Numb3rs – A mathematical genius and an F.B.I agent who happen to be brothers solve crimes using a combination of good old fashioned police work and a couple esoteric theories.

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