---
title: "Threshold, the sci-fi with 5 blades?"
date: 2005-10-06T22:50:44-04:00
url: https://blog.lmorchard.com/2005/10/06/threshold-the-sci-fi-with-5-blades/
author: Les Orchard
tags: [asides, scifi, entertainment, writing, podcasting, television]
---

# Threshold, the sci-fi with 5 blades?

I'm starting to get into [CBS' Threshold][th] tonight, having gotten 4 episodes of it.  Seems like network TV goes through sci-fi cycles, and this must be the latest.  This particular show looks like it might shape up to be combination sci-fi slasher and forensic drama.  But, still, [I find myself comparing it to a podcast][ss].

Also, what's up with "triple-helix DNA"?  Is this a concept that's popped up somewhere—other than [being an early guess at our own DNA's structure][dna]—like, on UFO conspiracy boards and whatnot?  Or is it just double-helix-plus-one so as to be extra spooky alien?  ([Kinda like a 5-bladed razor][razor]?)  

Double helix DNA, I *think* I understand:  It's very convenient in copying.  Unzip it, dunk it in a soup of free-floating spare parts, agitate, and you end up with two self-assembled copies.  But how the hell would a triple-helix work?

On the upside, I do really like the [Blit-like concept][blit] involved in the "bioforming sound signal" which mentally and genetically alters those who hear it.

Yeah, I think about this crap too much sometimes.  Whenever I get around to writing the stories I keep meaning to write, I want to avoid these things.

<!-- tags: scifi television entertainment writing -->

[blit]: http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/stories/blit.htm
[jwz]: http://www.livejournal.com/users/jwz/550519.html?thread=9838455#t9838455
[dna]: http://osulibrary.orst.edu/specialcollections/coll/pauling/dna/narrative/page19.html
[th]: http://www.cbs.com/primetime/threshold/
[ss]: http://decafbad.com/blog/2005/10/05/ancestor-rocks-like-a-creepy-rocking-thing
[razor]: http://www.theonion.com/content/node/33930

<div id="comments" class="comments archived-comments">
            <h3>Archived Comments</h3>
            
        <ul class="comments">
            
        <li class="comment" id="comment-221090552">
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                <div class="author">
                    <a class="avatar image" rel="nofollow" 
                       href="http://sporkmonger.com"><img src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=56ee28134dd0776825445e3551979b14&amp;size=32&amp;default=http://mediacdn.disqus.com/1320279820/images/noavatar32.png"/></a>
                    <a class="avatar name" rel="nofollow" 
                       href="http://sporkmonger.com">Bob Aman</a>
                </div>
                <a href="#comment-221090552" class="permalink"><time datetime="2005-10-07T16:55:05">2005-10-07T16:55:05</time></a>
            </div>
            <div class="content"><p>In a particularly bad episode of "Walker: Texas Ranger", Chuck Norris had to do battle to the death with a genetically-enhanced thug who had triple-helix DNA.  He was all bullet-proof and big and stuff, so Chuck tossed him out a window into like a pile of welding tanks and then he blew him up!  Or something like that.  I wasn't paying attention.</p>

<p>Then Walker went back to kicking normal unenhanced thugs in the head like usual.</p></div>
            
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        <li class="comment" id="comment-221090554">
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                    <a class="avatar image" rel="nofollow" 
                       href="http://www.decafbad.com"><img src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=2377f34a68801b861c3e54e1301f0dce&amp;size=32&amp;default=http://mediacdn.disqus.com/1320279820/images/noavatar32.png"/></a>
                    <a class="avatar name" rel="nofollow" 
                       href="http://www.decafbad.com">l.m.orchard</a>
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                <a href="#comment-221090554" class="permalink"><time datetime="2005-10-07T17:22:25">2005-10-07T17:22:25</time></a>
            </div>
            <div class="content"><p>That almost sounds like Walker had Real Ultimate Power, though last I knew, he wasn't a Ninja.</p></div>
            
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