One of the core rules of science fiction is that no-one ever really dies in Sci-Fi.
A staple plot device, we've seen The Comeback used (and abused) to provide twists in stories and bring seemingly dead and buried franchises back to life.
Reanimations using strange healing devices, characters sent back or forwards in time, picked up from alternate dimensions, cloned, strange altered realities/computer simulations... nothing hasn't already been used to bring your favourite character back from the dead.
So, we've compiled a short list of times the comeback mcguffin has been used or, indeed, abused.
Character: Ripley, Alien: Resurrection.
In Alien 3 we all thought her torment was over, finally allowed to rest as she took out the Queen alien one last time. That was, until rumblings of a 4th installment started up. How could Ripley come back? Maybe it would be another poor unfortunate left to clean up after the latest defense agency tried to use them as weapons?
Nope... instead, here come the clones!
Verdict: Rule abused!
Character: Skynet, The Terminator franchise.
No matter how many times they've tried to hit that delete key, the botnet from hell always manages to re-emerge - only spamming and financial details harvesting are the last things on its hive mind.
However, rather than just being a cheap way of bringing back an axed character, the writers use the "inevitable" inception of electronic self awareness as the setup for the future war and thus any onscreen shenanigans. They also chop and change how it affects the plot to keep things fresh and up to date with current tech trends - Sometimes it's the endgame, sometimes just there as part of the mythos and a clever commentary on the human desire to play God. Showing that the only way to win the game, is to not play in the first place.
Verdict: Used nicely.
Character: Kristine Kochanski, Red Dwarf.
The love interest for (almost) human survivor Dave Lister, kept apart by 3 million years and cruel, cruel fate. We've seen the poor girl return so many times: in the past, in the future, resurrected in hologrammatic form, encountered in an alternate dimension, imitated by brain sucking aliens and brought back in hazy flashbacks, almost always at Listers' expense.
They've even used the alternative dimension version to explain the change of actress!
Verdict: Used well and badly abused.
Character: Joshua, V (The 2009 remake).
In a series littered with plot twists and surprises, the shock of watching the fifth columns' crucial inside man laying down his life to keep the fight going was transformed into confusion and speculation after he was resurrected by the V healing device, at the request of that guy.
As a season finale plot element, it was the icing on the vengeous fury Anna cake and spawned many a conspiracy theory as we await the second season - my own personal one is that Anna's second in command is John May... remember who called it should that be true!
Verdict: Expertly Used.
Character: Zoey Graystone, Caprica.
In this Battlestar spinoff series, the very first episode involves killing and then resurrecting one of the main characters not once, but several times - splitting the character into a virtual and a mechanical form.
This split is then used to provide subtle and colourful depth to the franchise history for fans to talk about for years to come.
Verdict: Used.
Character: Peter Bishop, Fringe.
Even though it was hinted at for quite a while, the season two reveal that our Peter was in fact a switcheroo all along still managed to surprise most.
Instead of the usual "get to know the character > kill character > bring character back" blueprint, the writers decided to turn everything on its head and "resurrect" Joshua Jackson's character in the show before the series had even started, all while leaving a breadcrumb trail deep into the show. Genius!
Verdict: Rule redefined.
If you can think of more examples of The Comeback, let us know on either twitter or facebook!
