Ep 5. Movie Debate Night

In the fifth episode of season one of SYFY Wire's the Great Debate, titled Movie Debate Night, the topics of discussion revolve solely around movies. The episode features a panel of six comedic celebrities who debate and discuss their opinions on popular films and characters in a friendly and humorous manner.

The episode opens with host Baron Vaughn introducing the panelists - comedian Orlando Jones, writer and actor Felicia Day, comedian and writer Jonah Ray, actress and comedian Maude Garrett, comedian and writer Adam Savage, and actor and writer Janet Varney. Baron explains to the audience that the panelists will be debating popular movie topics and that their opinions are solely their own.

The first topic of the night is "Which movie franchise is better - Star Wars or Star Trek?" The panelists take turns arguing passionately for their preferred franchise, using humor and wit to support their arguments. Orlando Jones advocates for Star Wars, claiming that it has more heart and emotional depth, while Janet Varney argues for Star Trek, stating that the franchise is more relevant to the real world and has better storytelling. The debate is intense, but ultimately one panelist's argument sways the audience.

The next topic, which sparks much discussion, is "Who is the best movie villain of all time - Darth Vader or Hannibal Lecter?" The panelists each make their case for their preferred villain, with Adam Savage arguing for Darth Vader and Felicia Day arguing for Hannibal Lecter. The panelists discuss the qualities that make each character an effective villain, including their psychology, appearance, and motivations. The debate is lighthearted but insightful, providing unique perspectives on these iconic movie villains.

The third topic of the night is "Which movie is actually better than the book it was based on?" This topic sparks much debate, with the panelists discussing the differences between movies and books and how they can either enhance or detract from each other. Maude Garrett argues for the movie adaptation of Stephen King's The Shining, claiming that it improved upon the book's ending, while Orlando Jones advocates for the film adaptation of Jurassic Park, stating that it streamlined the story and focused on the action. The debate is engaging and enlightening, providing new perspectives on movies that many people might not have considered before.

The final topic of the night is "Which movie would be better if you added zombies?" This topic generates much laughter and whimsy, as the panelists discuss the most ridiculous and entertaining movie ideas with added zombies. Jonah Ray advocates for adding zombies to the classic musical Singin' in the Rain, while Janet Varney suggests adding them to the romantic comedy The Notebook. The debate is light and fun, providing a welcome change of pace from the more serious topics discussed earlier in the episode.

Overall, SYFY Wire's the Great Debate season one episode five, Movie Debate Night, is an enjoyable and insightful episode that discusses popular film topics in a humorous and engaging manner. The panelists are witty and entertaining, and their arguments provide unique perspectives and new ways of thinking about classic movies and characters. Fans of movies and pop culture will enjoy this episode and the lively debates it provokes.