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The Chronicles of Riddick = Most Underrated Sci-Fi Franchise Ever?

Three Elements That Make the Chronicles of Riddick Series Deserving of a Larger Audience

By Luke DuffyPublished 6 years ago 4 min read
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[Credit: Universal]

In film and TV, some series have very little struggle in attracting an audience. Franchises, such as Lost, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Breaking Bad, the Twilight Saga and the Pirates of the Caribbean series have all attracted large loyal followings and have been able to begin and end their stories.

However, there are some series that gain loyal but smaller audiences. This leads to economic issues, making finishing the story a struggle. The Chronicles of Riddick series is a good example.

Since its second installment, The Chronicles of Riddick of 2004, the series has struggled to continue and even now, after the success of the 2013 movie, its popularity hasn’t really grown. A fourth film and a TV series have been said to be in the works since 2015, but no real updates were given until earlier this year on Vin Diesel’s Instagram page.

So, in the meantime, I’m going to do my part in expanding the Riddick fanbase by listing three elements of the series that makes it so unique and appealing.

The Universe and its Worlds

[Credit: Universal]

The universe the series presents is very unique compared to those of other sci-fi franchises. So far, no clear picture has been given of its overall structure, government or hierarchy. The films suggest that its huge, made up of numerous systems of planets, some colonized, some desolate. There are corporations, prisons and industries in operation, however there are also bounty hunters and religious crusaders raging for profit and power. The Riddick universe appears to be very much like the American Frontier, with some systems dominated by civilization and others free to be conquered.

Despite the relative ambiguity of the universe, the world and setting of each individual film is very detailed. Pitch Black’s desert planet with its specific heliocentric orbit and terrifying insectoid, bat-like aliens, Dark Fury’s Merc Ship with its beautiful architecture and advanced technology, and Chronicles’ Helion Prime and Crematoria, with their extensive landscapes and distinct vehicles.

The best example however is the unnamed world featured in Riddick.

Unlike the world presented in Pitch Black, this one feels a lot more real with its variety of landscapes and alien species. The world seems to be nothing but a sun scorched desert at first, but as the film progresses more land is revealed. There are plains of grass, muddy ponds and rainy storms. The alien species that inhabit the world are just as diverse, consisting of hyena-like dogs, pterodactyl-like birds, eel-like fish and the vicious, two-legged, scorpion-like Mud Demons.

The Character

From The Chronicles of Riddick [Credit: Universal]

Probably the most unique and appealing aspect of the series is the titular character. To my knowledge no sci-fi franchise has a protagonist as complex, mysterious and unpredictable as Richard B. Riddick.

When you watch the films, particularly Pitch Black and Chronicles, one thing you learn is that Riddick can’t be trusted. He’s a liar, a criminal and a survivor. He doesn’t care about anyone’s cause but his own. However, you also learn that sometimes Riddick contradicts these animalistic qualities. He manages to bond with certain characters, mostly women, and perform heroic acts to preserve them.

You never know when Riddick’s acting for himself or others, which is what makes him and the series such a compelling watch.

The Story Arc

[Credit: Universal]

Where Riddick is going next is more unpredictable than what he’s going to do next. For example, in the space of two films he goes from being an escaped convict fighting monsters and bounty hunters on a Merc ship to a warrior fighting against a religious empire for the balance of the universe.

Every film throws new environments, situations and characters at him to deal with. At the moment the series consists of three feature films, two video games and an animated short, with an upcoming fourth feature and TV series as stated before. Therefore, it’s ridiculous to presume that we’ve seen everything he can handle. Tons of new worlds, new people and new revelations are ahead of him.

With its unique universe, detailed worlds, great character and engaging narrative, it can be baffling knowing that The Chronicles of Riddick series isn’t more popular than it is. The fact that it’s struggled so much to continue is frustrating. Hopefully the elements I’ve just outlined will arouse people’s interest and maybe convert them into fans.

In the meantime, share this article and if you haven’t watched any of the Chronicles of Riddick series, I urge you to do so! The franchise needs a bigger audience!

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About the Creator

Luke Duffy

This is where I write serious stuff, for regular, less formal content visit my blog ( https://duffhood.wordpress.com).

I've also got twitter (@LukeDuffy19) and a YouTube channel (just search Duffhood).

See you around!

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