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Scarred For Life

Deep Dive: Alternative Universes with Gary Russell

Season 5, Ep. 22

This week on Scarred For Life, Andy Bush and Dave Lawrence welcome back writer, producer, former child actor, and all-round opinion-holder Gary Russell for a deep dive into one of science fiction's most enduring fascinations: alternative universes.

From evil doppelgängers and fascist Earths to Mirror Universes, multiverses and "what if?" storytelling, Gary traces his lifelong love of parallel realities back to childhood encounters with Lost in Space, Doctor Who's legendary Inferno, and classic Star Trek. Along the way, the team explore why alternative realities continue to capture our imagination, how they allow writers to twist familiar characters into unexpected shapes, and whether the concept still has a place in modern storytelling.

Expect passionate discussion of Deep Space Nine, The Next Generation, Marvel's What If...?, Batman's Elseworlds adventures, Spider-Verse, and much more. Plus: Gary's obsession with the London Underground, a spirited defence of maps, and the revelation that somewhere in the multiverse there may be a version of him who actually likes Star Trek: Enterprise.


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