Once Upon A Time,
I wrote:

>>There was one more I can think of, "Think Like a
Dinosaur," based on a
>>short story by James Patrick Kelly.
>
>A horrifying story, a "Cold Equations" for a new generation. 
I've never
>seen the episode; I'll have to check it out.

OK, I watched this just now.

A disappointing adaptation.  Oh, it gets the job done, but liberties were
taken with the story that just felt wrong.

Firstly, "Think Like a Dinosaur" is a horror story, IMO.  Tension sets in
early with the fear that Kamala has going into the transfer procedure,
which plays off of the cool detachment of Michael, who is just a guy doing
his job as professionally as he knows how.  It builds to a climax with her
terror during the stasis, which *lasts and lasts*.  And then there's the
ultimate horror of the solution to the conflict.

In the TV episode Kamala is completely at ease before starting the
procedure, even curious, asking to see the lab (the only reason for which,
I'm sure, was to make the production costs worthwhile).  She and Michael
even get friendly.  Did they kiss at one point?  I blinked.  And her terror
later is expressed in one short unconvincing scream followed by exposition.
Badly done.  The screen writer flattened out the thundering heartbeat of
the story and muted its horror.

Introduced to the screenplay was a brand new character whose only purpose
was to get Michael's thoughts (in the story) expressed as dialog.  Plus, a
subplot involving Michael's wife and daughter, on which they hung
"motivation" for his act of balancing the equation.  The story didn't need
this.  I found it gratuitous.

I wonder what James Patrick Kelly thinks of the adaptation.  If it were one
of Harlan's stories I think we'd see "Cordwainer Bird" appear in the
credits.


** 
Captain Infinity
--- SBBSecho 2.12-Win32