Podcast: TV or GTFO Episode 15, “Cleopatra 2525”

By Sachin Hingoo

In this episode of TV or GTFO, Sachin and Gary explore the dystopian-future sci-fi series about women being driven underground and forced to battle an all-seeing male overlord. Margaret Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale? No, it’s… Wait, this can’t be right, Sam Raimi’s Cleopatra 2525?

What the deuce? How is Sam freakin Raimi involved in this thing?

From the creators of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess (and producer Sam Raimi!) comes the timeless story of an exotic dancer (Jennifer Sky) who was placed in cryostasis after a breast augmentation procedure, and then awoke exactly 525 years later to a nightmare future where machines rule the earth and humanity lives underground. Sound like The Matrix? It sure does, but I suppose the creators of this show felt that there wasn’t nearly enough midriff-baring tactical gear in that franchise.

Running for two seasons as part of the Action Pack block of shows with Jack of All Trades (stay tuned for that one), Cleopatra 2525 seemed to think it was about two-hundred-percent smarter than it actually was, but it does have the notable distinction of being the hands-down worst-edited show we’ve reviewed on the podcast yet. Cleopatra 2525 changes perspectives, timelines, and settings using the exact same transitions, making it unclear (especially in the last episodes) who or what was being talked about, and when anything is happening. The show is also notable for making laser battles with cyborgs completely uninteresting!

Perhaps the best thing about Cleopatra 2525 is Gina Torres, who plays Hel on the show, doing a pretty great rendition/reimagining of Zager & Evans’s 1969 hit “In The Year 2525”.

Here’s the original:

And here’s the Cleopatra version:

Rounding out this hilarious mess is a killer clown, the good guys torturing someone to death, and it’s seemingly all shot on two sets and a blue screen. Join us this week for a deep dive into early-2000’s sci-fi schlock as we explore Cleopatra 2525!

Don’t forget to like and subscribe to TV or GTFO on iTunes, on your favorite podcast app, or check out the episode right here!