Reviewed by: Michael Hickerson (Slice of SciFi Editor)
“Stargate: Universe” — Air, Parts 1, 2 & 3
Written by: Robert C. Cooper & Bradley Wright
Starring: Robert Carlyle, Louis Ferreira, Elyse Levesque, David Blue, Lou Diamond Phillips, Ming Na
Airdates: Friday, October 2 (Part 1 & 2), October 9 (Part 3)
Slice of SciFi Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0
Has potential to be the “DS9″ of the “Stargate” franchise
Early on in the three-hour “Stargate: Universe” pilot, it becomes apparent this isn’t your daddy’s “Stargate” series. The greatest threat isn’t from an external threat like the Wraith or the G’ould but instead comes from the question of who you can and should trust among a rag-tag group of humans thrown together on a distant starship, trying to find a way to survive and, possibly a way to get back home.
With the arrival of “Stargate: Universe,” the franchise takes a turn for a darker look into the universe of the Gate and also offers a series that could be more character driven than the previous two installments. It still has elements of that won over a legion of loyal “Stargate” fans, but it so far it appears that this entry isn’t willing to play it safe with the viewers or the characters.
And with that, “Stargate: Universe” has the potential to be the “DS9″ of the “Stargate” franchise.
The three-hour pilot (shown over the course of two Fridays) wisely doesn’t try to give us the background on every single character in the cast. Instead, the pilot borrows a page from “Lost,” setting the audience up with the scenario and then slowly sketching in a few details about some of the characters while leaving us with a lot of questions to be answered over the next 18 episodes in season one.
The lions’ share of the pilot focuses on Robert Carlyle as Dr. Nicholas Rush, David Blue as Eli Wallace and Elyse Levesque as Chloe Robinson. Eli is the viewer’s entry into this new universe and his sense of wonder and excitement at being made part of this mission spills over into much of the early sections of the pilot. Thankfully, as the situation slowly becomes more and more bleak, Eli doesn’t lose his sense of wonder or his sense of humor (though they are severely tested).
After unlocking the secret of the ninth Chevron by playing an on-line video game, Eli is recruited to be part of a taskforce sent to the farthest known Stargate to see if it works. When the base comes under attack, Rush decides that he can’t reveal the coordinates of Earth to the attackers and dials up the ninth Chevron instead. A taskforce goes through the Gate to find themselves on an Ancients ship called the Destiny, which is billions of light years from Earth and appears headed in the opposite direction.
But before they can even think of trying to find a way home, they have to overcome a ship with structural issues and a faulty life support system. They can still communicate with Earth via an Ancients’ communications system that allows two people to switch consciousnesses for a limited period of time.
Over the course of the first three hours, we’ll find that not all these characters are the squeaky clean people with came to know and love in ‘SG1.” And they’re not all on the same page about decisions and the command structure aboard the Destiny. “Air” seems to be setting up some potentially fascinating and complex character dynamics and conflict that could have some great payoff as the series goes.
And while it’s a darker version, there are still enough elements of “Stargate” here to keep long-time fans satisfied. But the biggest strength is that, aside from a few familiar cameos, the pilot is accessible enough that fans who have little or no background in the previous two series can watch, enjoy and embrace this latest installment.
And if the coming installments prove as fascinating and compelling as “Air,” “Stargate: Universe” could prove to be the best entry we’ve had so far in this long-running franchise.
For the record, I do consider myself a "true" Stargate fan. I check Gateworld for news almost everday and I listen to their podcast every week. I first saw Stargate sometime in it's 8th season. Within 3 months I had bought Seasons 1 - 7 and watched them all to get caught up. I also picked up the first season of Atlantis shortly after that and from then on continued to watch every episode as they came out.
So as a "true" fan of the series I have to admit that I loved the 3 pilot episodes (Air parts 1, 2, 3). That's not to say there weren't things I didn't like (the sex scene for instance), but overall I am very excited about this show. I have been skeptical up until this point for many of the same reasons that some of the folks here are saying ruined the show for them. They have changed the tone of Stargate, they have changed the character types, they are copying other shows... etc, etc, etc.
So what?! Who says that just because a show is part of a certain "series" or "universe" it has to be just like the things that have come before it? If the things that had come before it were working they never would have been cancelled in the first place. I loved SG-1, it quickly became my favorite show after I discovered it. I even enjoyed seasons 9 and 10, though many people stopped watching it when RDA left. To me it may have been a different show, but it was still good enough to watch.
I really enjoyed Atlantis, not as much as SG-1, but I still liked it alot. I think they made some mistakes with that series, but I think they have learned from those and won't make the same mistakes on SGU. Granted, season 5 of Atlantis was a lot better than the previous 2 seasons, but the damage was done, they had to move on. I, for one, am grateful that MGM even allowed them to pitch a new show to replace it.
Even though this is clearly a different show, there is enough here to keep me watching. Even though they have changed the tone and changed the character types, even though all of the characters seem flawed in some way, the main character of the series is still intact: THE STARGATE! It's here, and it's being used. There are stories to tell through that gate. The ship probably has stories to tell itself, and I can't wait to hear them.
Please don't judge this show by what came before, but instead let it try to stand on it's own. Let it find it's own place, not only in the Stargate universe, but in the Sci-Fi universe.
If this show fails because it's not a good Sci-Fi show, shame on the writers, producers, and directors. BUT, if it fails because it's not what YOU consider Stargate, even though it may become a good Sci-Fi show, then shame on you. There will be no one else to blame.
RE: ?Michael Mennenga [<-see post by]
Having watched the three part intro (what on earth three part intro - if that's a substantiated fact or not is beyond me - I'm not even going to bother googling a THREE part intro)
Firefly was very good but it had not enough of a following which sucks and I'd never heard of Defying Gravity but I'll DL and check it out........................ did google it before writing and seems to be ABC which is a major blow for any credibilty in saying it's good Alas I'll check it anyway.
Lets start again - having watched the first FOUR parts this is not even worthy to have the name Stargate anywhere in reference.
The show started out with the PILOT - ONE SINGLE EPISODE IS A PILOT
being dull, boring, ridiculous, filled with horribly pathetic charachters a bad ship design, bad setup, just horrible in general. The show then progressed two two more episodes that went so far downhill from the horribly pathetic pilot I wasn't sure If I'd passed out or not. Ok so Darkness comes along and it's moderately interesting - miss boobs the size of texas needs some silocone removed but the gratuitous implied nudity of the senators daughter (she's hot) was ok. Apart from that it was somewhat watchable.
I'll agree and dissagree with some people - numerous charachters need to be eliminated. So far the only ones with potential are the geek and his crush the senators daughter. And both of them would need thorough rewrights to be tolerable. Every single other charachter we've seen who's actually said a sentance needs to be eliminated.
So how about a SGUU (Universe, Universe) Reboot for season 1.5.
Stop trying to emulate BSGs success (yes, it was popular but BSG was a worthless series --- it's like the new Knight Rider remake a show with a little cult following into a worthless bunch of crap.......ehh can you say it's happened before it'll happen again.)
SGU SUCKS!!! Friday night in our house for five years was family night.... we couldn't wait to sit down together to watch SG-1 and SGA, loved both of those shows!! SyFy has a real blind spot on how many of us were DVR-ing the shows to watch them later, they should have had better statistics before they canceled them.
This new 'stargate' show is irritating and there isn't enough of a payoff to want to come back for more. The stupid idiots think that sexing up a herky-jerky, poorly-edited space soap opera will draw the crowds? They are ruining a great franchise.. if I wanted cheesy drama with flashes of T & A, I'd watch daytime television.
VERY disappointed.
SPOILER ALERT - DON'T READ THIS IF SGU IS STILL ON YOUR TIVO.
While I don't hate this the way some of you do, but I didn't really like any of the characters. That said I don't think this show is a lost cause. I don't mind not having the Wraith and the show not being the "fun" experience that SG-1 was. I wasn't a huge SG-1 fan anyway, but I can see why those fans may not like the SG franchise going all BSG on them.
What annoyed me in "Air" was when what's his name fell over with the vision of the cross above the riverbed he was looking for. That was more then just a little to "on the nose" for me. The writers might just as well have had the angel Gabriel standing over the spot blowing a horn.
That said I will give SGU a chance to grow on me.
After watching yesterday's episode I have to agree with the "10 reasons why stargate sucks" comment.
Bullshit psychological dramas, Ilay (probably misspelled that) trying to pickup chicks on the spaceship? WTF?
that's not stargate, that's battlestar galactica combined with a sleazy reality show.
hopefully this changes FAST.
Well I've watched 'Air' parts 1-3 and to be honest I found parts 1 & 2 rather boring, part 3 was a little better. I'm sorry, but there's no getting around the fact that I found part 1 & 2 boring. I actually quite like the 'mature' Stargate idea on paper, however, I don't think it's quite working in practice. I like the feel of the show, music, sets etc. True the characters seem a little lacking right now but give them a chance, we're only 3 episodes in so far. I'm sure that by the time we're a few more episodes in, the characters will be more likeable. I remember watching the SG-1 pilot years ago and not liking any of the character but now of course they are amongst my favourite SG characters, it was similar with the SG:A characters. I never did really like the 'survival' episodes in the other series, though at least by the time we got into those 'oh no we're trapped on this strange ship with no oxygen' episodes, the characters had been established. With the pilot of SGU we had the (my opinion anyway) boring survival episode with characters we didn't know or like yet. I will stick with the series for now as I feel the show has potential. I'm hoping that in a couple more episodes time the show will pick up and become more interesting. I think the show has a bit of a 'Firefly' feel to it, but the trouble is, the writing, script and characters is not as clever as it is in that show. Hopefully with time those points will be improved in SGU. If they can manage that, then I think SGU has the potential to be something special. Fingers crossed. And toes.
Battlestar Galactica with a hint of stargate = not stargate and not for stargate fans. This show does not deserve the stargate titles. Extra boring battlestar galactica crap. I give this show 5 el crapo out of 5. As a show on its own i give it 2 out of five. Stargate Universe is a boring meth factory in space.
Just saw episode 4. It's our last.
SGU spends more time on drama queens , trying to be a soap opera for the reality tv morons out there instead of being about SCIENCE and FICTION for the geeks who make something of themselves.
I absolutely hate SGU .. and I swear it'll be the death of the Stargate franchise. .. unless they make a real SG series and bring back the fun and science.
.. pehaps a Russian / Japanese / Chinese / US / Canada / UK joint Stargate Command in a world defence scheme of some sort. Earth panic, replicators, nuclear strikes ... now that's what I'm talking about.
.. not this fairies in space nonsense.
SGU is thankfully set so far away from earth that it is of little or no consequence to the stargate universe , kinda like Voyager was to star trek. (I kinda liked voyager though ).
Hoefully this value-less smutty trash will drop off in ratings.
The world doesn't need more idiotic television .. it's bad enough as it is.
Watched E01 - E04 and this horrible show is getting worse.
My wife and I have decided to call it quits, because we don't want more drama in our lives.
They have turned the Stargate franchise into a mindless drama aimed at the reality tv show watching morons.
Isn't sci-fi supposed to be for geeks??? It USED TO be ok for average tv watching folk to not like good sci-fi. (re. Firefly , RIP)
I could write chapters on how disappointed I am ... but it won't matter.
RIP Stargate.
I just finished watching the 3-part pilot and Darkness episode. I was ready to give up after just 5 minutes into the pilot with the cheap thrown-in sex scene, but having been a stargate fan since the original movie airing, I thought I ought to hang in there.
When Stargate Atlantis first aired I was still missing the original SG1 series, and so gave Atlantis little room for error. It proved it was true to the spirit of the franchise, however, and entertained me for 5 years.
What did I love about the first 2 Stargate series... the fun...plain and simple. I could hang out with the characters. I could laugh with them. I could enjoy the chemistry between the characters, and I felt they were probably having fun behind the scenes as well. I didn't have to worry about what next fight would break out between the team. The moments of seriousness were sprinkled in, not suffocating the plot like a wet blanket...it was FUN TV. Never did I have the urge to see O'Neill banging Carter half-naked against a wall, Dr. McKay hiding a drug problem, or General Hammond cheating on his wife. That's a melodrama, a soap opera, a poor form of sci-fi entertainment to say the least.
If I wanted to watch TV that buried me in a hole of doom and gloom, surrounded by characters who couldn't trust each other and constantly bickered I would have watched Battlestar Galactica, or the evening news.
Perhaps I represent a minority who doesn't revel in that dark side of humanity, the edgy, gritty, back-stabbing, degrading sludge of "reality" TV. So for me and other fans of the "Fun" Stargate days, we shall have to admit the franchise truly died with the end of Atlantis.
I am sorry we could not be left just one series of lighthearted entertainment.
The dialogue makes me cringe, plot really makes no sense, actors appear embarrassed by the inane lines they utter. I tried really hard to like it. My son forced me to continue, I almost beat him to death, as he wouldn't give me the remote. The scenes of the recent episode on the desert planet as they stumble about shooting, yelling and beating each other was just stupid. Who wrote this garbage????
Have been enjoying FlashForward which has some real acting, dialogue and drama.
There are slows starts to shows, then there is this. I am a fan of previous Stargate shows, and think SU has potential. However, if this show does not pick up pace, and soon, it will get canned.
Here is few comments, and observations after watching first 3 episodes.
1. Let stories introduce characters. Don't force this. (Can you say: prolonged soliloquies of characters talking to the camera.) It is boring, and no one cares.
2. If you want to hook people, start with engaging stories. Enough of ship running out of resources in the dark. One episode of this was enough.
3. Do not unnecessarily stretch out stories across multiple episodes. This show should not feel like Dragonball Z/soap opera, where it takes the main character 4 episodes to make it across the room. (Pilot too long, ep3-4 could be one episode)
4. Fix that "dark Canadian basement" look that a lot of Canadian shows suffer from. (yes, I am from Canada). I don't know if they are attempting to copy BG...but it is not working. Lighting was much better in the original Stargate.
I hope they cancel this show soon and air something better like atlantis or SG:1
After seeing the first 4 Episodes of SG universe I am affraid it lacks the excitment Atlantis had in its first Episode!!
theres no Spark please Cancel the Show its utter Crap!!!
Bring back Atlantis!!! it can really go places if you stop being soo scroogy on ZPM's !!!!
load the city up with a ZPM makin device and have the city Travel the universe to go rescue them people trapped on that Crappy SGUniverse destiny ship, but on Atlantis's Journy they Encounter many aliens that are dominated on destroying Atlantis cus they find the Stargate system an Inavsion ! now that would be COOL and AWESOME!
Just watched episode 4 in the UK.
Totally lost and bored.
Consider myself a Stargate fan, even though the Auri story line got so tedious.
But just switched of the Sky + auto record on it, just can't watch anymore.
Dark, dismal I want escapism after work
Sorry guys I have canned you!
One word boring. Last episode (with them heading towards the sun) was so predicatable that I almost gave up. The ONLY thing that SGU has going for it is the promise that IT might mature into something good like SG was. I certainly wouldn't say that the series has matured in any good way.
The problem here is the horrible gritty crap that BSG gave us - SGU smacks of BSG which is a real shame - we watch TV for entertainment - not a case of depression! Bring back the humor from SG1. Hell cancel SGU and reinstate SG1 giving Richard Dean Anderson a bigger part like SG S01 - S08
Having watched eps 1-4 I'm relieved it seems to be improving, I'm glad that the Rush character seems to have calmed down now he's had his little 'episode' and I continue to find Eli hilarious! I could care less for the senator's daughter, what a bizarre idea to have her on the cast.
I'm definitely looking forward to the next episodes, this show might well be fantastic given time to warm up
Hey, glad to see it got people talking! For me, it's a cross between SG Atlantis and BSG, which is super. I've really liked every episode so far. I'm not a hardcore SG fan -- I only started watching SG-1 when John Crichton (oops, sorry, Cam Mitchell) joined the cast, and I only started watching Atlantis when Jason Momoa joined the cast (I remembered him from the short-lived North Shore, in which he was great). For me, there's room for lots of different approaches to sci-fi -- I loved all of the Star Trek franchise (well, except maybe Enterprise), and Farscape is my all-time favorite TV series of ANY genre (along with the sadly short-lived Earth 2 and Space: Above and Beyond), and I thought BSG was totally brilliant, and I'm now watching all of Atlantis again on DVD -- David Hewlett is a comic genius! (However, I've got to admit that I hated Firefly -- I mean detested!) Anyway, SG Universe is way better than I anticipated, and I really hope it lasts!
Let me see how the amazing storyline goes so far:
-Running out of air - 1 episode.
-Running out of power -2 episodes.
-Running out of water - 1 episode.
What is next ?? Running out of toilet paper ???!! More likely running out of time before the show is canceled....because frankly the audience is running out of patience.
Interpersonal drama is fine, but it needs a little subtlety. The notion that the trained military personnel are pulling weapons on comrades, and are constantly at each other's throats seems ridiculous and uncharacteristic, both for the real world, and especially the stargate world. Bottom line, Boring.
Oil and Water do not mix
I like Sci Fi ( Not gimpy syfy)
Other people I know haven't got the intellect to appreciate Science Fiction and instead opt for watching reality TV, or some equally boring soap.
Each to their own, is what I say
What these idiot have done with SGU is attempt to get us all together in the same room watching the same program and being happy about it.
Not going to happen
I feel personally insulted after watching the first half dozen episodes.
I really do not know why they bother with the stargate
I bought the box-sets for SG1 and SGA.
I would not pay a dollar to purchase anything to do with SGU
With one exception and that would be getting a petition going to fire the idiots responsable for this trash and then have them black listed and never allowed to write again
The only reason I am giving this show a chance at this point is because of the history of the creative teams behind it. I'm expecting there to be an AHA moment that pulls the show out of the dark and makes it interesting. If that doesn't come, well then, I will have to bail on this show.
It's sad-- All these new sci-fi shows and in my view, nothing can compare to SG-1/BSG in terms of quality.
The only new show I have seen that really riveted me and left me wanting more right away is the Caprica pilot/premier whatever you call it. It was incredible and I am looking forward to that series.
It does not at all surprise me that Ron Moore is the one behind it...
Come on peoples, you're trashing it after, what, 4 episodes? You can't tell me that the first 4 episodes of SG-1 weren't some of the worst SF ever made, but you all seem to have forgotten that in your rush to trash this series. So you hate SG-U but you enjoyed SG-1's 'emancipation' and 'broca divide' episodes? Really? OMG those two are just about unwatchable! SG-1 improved as it went and SG-U will too.
"So you hate SG-U but you enjoyed SG-1’s ‘emancipation’ and ‘broca divide’ episodes?"
LOL! The first couple seasons of SG-1 really were tough to watch.
this show has alot of promise. i just wish all of you would give it a season or 2. who knows what the other episodes hold(aliens,ships,who knows).so far it is getting better in my opinion. although i have to agree dr.rush has to go. sg1 got better after every episode. just my 2 cents sometimes not worth the mouth it came out of but its mine.
"Where are the Wraith when you need them? I miss Todd."
I miss todd too, I want to know what happened to sheppard and rodney, I want to know what has become of Jackson and Samantha, I want to know what happened to atlantis after it landed on Earth, I want to know what happened to the wraith, I want to know how the jaffa nation is going, I want exciting adventures trough the gate discovering new worlds and new technologies.
I want to know WHY they cancelled my favourite series of all times for THIS CRAP called SGU, I dont freaking care about the personal life of a nerd unless he saved the galaxy atleast once in his life.
I had BSG for that shit, and even its ending was freaking stupid (giving up thousands of years of tech to live off the land? seriously), it was what that series was created for.
Bring SG-1 or atleast atlantis back. I beg you.
I think SGU is very very boring. Ive been a fan of Stargate since its conception and i must say this instalment thus far is, well boring. There is no charm or rush that sg1 or Atlantis had and i wouldnt care if the crew of Destiny did boil away in that star. The writters should stop trying to copy Lost and BSG and concentrate on what makes SG francise sucessful. That is the likabiliy factor and fighting a real threat to the human kind. Not some automated ship which seems to do all the saving for them. SO GET A GRIP SGU AND START ENTERTAINIG. Chris. SG1-ATLANTIS fan.
the problem with Stargate Universe is that none of the characters are in the least bit likable. sure, there's the one female soldier with huge cans, but that's about it. unpleasant people incessantly arguing with one another is not a good foundation for a TV show.
I've watched every episode of SGU so far and I'm doing my best to stick with it. I'm sat with my laptop, reading previous posting comments, and I realised that I couldn't for the life of me remember what the latest episode I watched was about.... then a trailer for SGU conveniently came on T.V....oh yes *sigh* ice planet episode. No water. A few people have pointed out that the previous SG-1 & SGA had some pretty boring episodes and I would agree with that, however, I don't recall them having 4 or 5 (I'm losing track of this tedium) boring episodes back to back. I thought the show improved slightly with the flying into the sun episode but the following episode was right back to boring I'm afraid. I still intend to stick with the show in the hopes that it'll pick up but I'm struggling to be honest. Call me mindless if you must but I want action in my sci-fi (as well as interesting character, story and script of course). Like I said in my previous post, I never liked the survival episodes in the previous series and so far that's all we've had with SGU. I'm still optimistic that the show can improve but sitting through these boring first episodes is too much like hard work. OK so SGU is primarily slow burning character driven and gritty, but please throw us a viscious alien or two every now and then (I'm not counting the little swarm/sand grain things). The dark claustaphobic set would work well with a viscious alien. Just anything that doesn't involve looking for more resources. PLEASE.
A previous poster urged people to give the show a seaon or two chance. I agree that the show has promise. I want the show to be good. But to be honest I really don't think I could endure an entire season or two of this show if the rest of the episodes are the same as the first few I've seen. Look, I'll stick with this series until I finally slip into a boredom induced coma, I just don't think I can last much longer. Please get better SGU.
To be honest at this rate i dont think it has another season in it. Major General George Hammond must be turning in his grave. The writers of this instalment of stargate must be new or asleep. I dont think they are the writers of SG-1 or Atlantis. Churning out this garbage.
While it seems a lot of replies share my reaction, Tristan and Heidi cover the main problems well.
In a nutshell:
1. SG1 in particular, but also SGA had humor, characters I liked and (wait for it) some characters I could even admire (wow, what a concept), decent plots and get this -- scifi content.
2. SGU appears to be a reality show/soap opera set in space with uniformly distasteful characters. The entire lot of them. Immoral, whinny, sneaky, backstabbing, slacking, self-pitying, inconsiderate pack of losers. I could go on but what's the point. Then there's a lot of overacting going on too to try to kick up the "drama" I guess.
3. As of the last episode with the soft core porn sex scene between Young, in another body, and his wife I've beyond had it up to my eyebrows with the gratuitous sex. It's just beyond creepy. As if the possessing someone else's body wasn't creepy enough, they're using other people's bodies to engage in about the raunchiest sex I'm guessing they can get away with. And it looks like it's going to be an ongoing theme. And the writers/producers sneer are viewers that don't like it. Fine have at it without me.
I give up.
Not enough humor.
Not enough science.
Too much drama.
Too many story lines in parallel.
Characters continue to show unadmirable flaws.
This show does not have the character of a science fiction classic.
Not worth my time.
I am utterly enjoying the show. I find all the negative comments infantile and spoiled. "We want everything to be the same, we don't want to change, they have to change!"
SGU can go in MANY directions. I agree that the build-up could steer it into episode-driven boredom, seeing how the writers verge from real conflict, always trying for resolution, but this could also be the way to an emerging chaos. I hope.
I have faith in this show. As I have faith in Flash Forward, and didn't really in Defying Gravity. I trust that the underlying need to tell a relevant story will emerge, going slower about it than some newer shows, but still!
Give it, and yourself a chance to experience somehting new - and give the writers credit for more than just having won a pitch with a major TV-producer!
edit:
BTW:
Regarding likeable characters: People in general are nok likeable, when they are in a crisis situation. They don't show the staunt, proud, honest, dilligent, persevering etc. traits of the candy ass sweet characters of SG1 and SGA. They react with fear and selfishness.
I want more of this. It makes it real, and really interesting. I am not a child anymore.
SGU has great potential and having been a fan of the previous Stargate series and movie and a big fan of Sci fi in general I can see this series having a long life and I can tell they are starting it out right so that it will last.
I can't believe all the criticism and I hope that the cast and crew all mostly ignore it. You can't please everyone and really you shouldn't try 'pleasing everyone'. I hope they continue to bring the show to life in the direction they want to take it.
Again, there is great potential and I have faith in their ability to produce, write, direct and act an excellent show.
"Regarding likeable characters: People in general are nok likeable, when they are in a crisis situation. They don’t show the staunt, proud, honest, dilligent, persevering etc. traits of the candy ass sweet characters of SG1 and SGA. They react with fear and selfishness.
I want more of this. It makes it real, and really interesting. I am not a child anymore."
-Yeah, Just what I want in my *SCI FI*, REAL LIFE. Please, I don't want to see what REAL people would do. I want to see what Teal'C would do. I'll turn on some stupid crap like CSI, if I want to be depressed by the "humanity" of real life.
As I have said before, the Stargate Franchise has never been this kind of show. (what would real humans do) It's always been a bit more fantastical, so much so, that it knew how to walk the line and poke fun at itself, without making the show so cheesy it was unwatchable. Those are the goods that sold SG1/Atlantis. You can't expect the same audience to have the same appreciation for SGU. They need to rebrand, and remarket this show to another audience. Or give us some more SG movies to give us our fix.
That's what it really comes down to. I don't get my Sci Fi 'fix' from SGU. Not from anything new on the tube this season.
I wouldn't say that someone is being 'infantile' because they aren't enjoying the show. I think I've been quite restrained actually. I know the makers of the show aren't making something that I and many others find boring on purpose. They're most likely trying to do something new, something different after spending so much time making shows using the same formula which I can understand. I'm just pointing out that, in my opinion, the new style of the show is boring. I do miss the sci fi element, I miss the action and I damn sure miss the humour. Even O'Neill is boring as hell in this series. But like I said before, I'm going to stick with the show, probably to the end of the 1st series, then I'll have to see about series 2. The show is trying to be mature, gritty and real. Fine. The problem is I don't personally think it's doing a very good job of it. I really do wish the best of luck to the makers of SGU, I know they're trying to win new fans which is great, I just think that they're in danger of losing more old fans than gaining new ones. And given that T.V. studios and execs seem to cancel shows that don't immediatly perform well, I'm concerned that if, IF, the show finally pulls one out in a few episodes time, it'll be too late. Oh yes, I have also 'grown up', I like mature shows too, I don't actually mind the general idea and feel of the show, I just think that so far it's being done quite badly.
P.S. I liked 'Firefly', I'm starting to lose interest in 'Flashfoward', I can't stand 'Lost', I'm enjoying 'Trublood', I despise the 'Twilight' movies *shrug*, I liked the 'Star Trek' reboot a lot more than I thought I would and I loved the previous SG-1 & SGA series'. You can decide on my tastes from that lot if you wish.
Stargate All Series
Strengths-SCI FI, Humor, Adventure
Weaknesses-Good storytelling , plot holes, emotional scenes.
SGU- Is all about the weakness of the SG franchise, They try to leave the dorky humor, adventure, and SCI-FI behind for wooden acting, poor storytelling, bad scripts and expect people to watch this crap. At least for the first season BSG had one wondering what is coming next as it seemed something big was going to happen any moment. For SGU nothing happens, no anticipation, wooden actors that make what should be tense moments seem dry and boring.
I've given up on the franchise after I dozed off in the middle of episode 3. I have zero problem with well written emotional moments. Unfortunately the writers for Stargate have never been able to do that well and it is showing up in SGU like a sore thumb.
Stargate writers-stick with humor, sci-fi and adventure or hire someone else to do the job!
I'm a HUGE fun of SG1 and SGA and no one in the world have watched the 15 seasons three times like I did. so don't you try to tell me you're more expert.
SGU is a big disaster !!! IT SUCKS BIG TIME !!! face it people !!! they think by using a gate, a couple of minutes with Dean Anderson and some sex scenes, they are going to make some money? Well sorry Wraith, but you got it all wrong dude!
I find the show sexist, boring and meaningless. they sent the creativity and the imagination out, and welcomed stupid copy-past writers and money craving bureaucrats !
I'm sorry for SG that it will end like they did with ST in the enterprise! and I'm sure it will not last 4 seasons like enterprise did !
I don't watch SGU any more since ep 5, but here is some great shows airing nowadays:
- V ****
- Sanctuary ****
- Heroes ****
- Starwars ****
- flashforward ***
cheers
Max you just prove my point I've posted elshwere. SGU is a more grown-up show and its winning over people who WERE NOT big fans of the other more campy shows. The other shows may have had a sense of adventure but SGU has a Sense of adventure and a sense of wonder. I didn't find going to planet after planet that looked like the Canadian woods filled with humans in goofy costumes compelling at all. I would expect planets to me much more diverse. Cool thing is there's enough sci-fi shows now that you can choose something esle (i.e. Clone Wars and Sanctuary seem more to your liking) and move on.
I hated Farscape but I never complained to the actors and told them to act more like Kermit and Ms. Piggy, I just didn't watch it.
Im just after slapping my head after reading a comment claiming that Rush is a 'bad guy'. Seriously! Why is it impossible for some people to accept a flawed character in the lead role. O Neil was just a cliche. Akin to that of pretty much every other sci fi hero ever written. A charming, all American, default good guy. Rush has some fucking depth.
So please try to get over the fact that his character is not perfect.
I am not a SG fan. I tried to watch it, but honestly got more out of the first couple of seasons of SGA because I liked the interplay between the doctor and the space flyboy character. It reminded me a little of the Bones/Spock/Kirk interplay of ST:TOS.
I can see why some don't like SGU. It is rather plodding at points, can be very dark, and has none of the camp that stamped the other two SG series. It also doesn't have puppets, nearly human aliens with a little formed clay on their foreheads, or powerfully evil characters speaking in sentences that are full of single syllable words. So far it doesn't have a lot of "I'm willing to take that risk" punctuations, although the intent is there, because of the desperate situation each episode finds them in.
Every moment in time does not have to be an adrenalin rush of perfection. I like the show. I'm willing to give it a chance. I might give up on it at some point, but I'm fine with it for now, and hope they can continue to grow characters and fix plot lines so the show grows more compelling.
I'm disappointed with SGU. It's not entertaining. It's not interesting. Too slow and too much drama.
After the last episode with the time travel to erase the events, I will really have to try to get back into this show. I WANT it to work, but after that lame, easy way out ending, I fear many watchers will be turned off. I don't know if this show can recover. Episode 6 better be spectacular.
I thought the last episode was great. I didn't think the ending was an easy way out. I thought it was great twist. I didn't see it coming and I always see it coming.
They did exactly what I hoped they would. They had an episode with something besides survival as the main theme. Even though it was a time travel episode it was a clever story.
I will continue to watch.
The last episode (time) was like a drink of water to someone lost in the desert after the half dozen endless survival episodes. Sure it was a little too convient that the jungle creatures venom just happend to cure the disease, but hey, it is a sci fi T.V. show. A bit of adventure and exploring, some action, mysterious disease, and the show managed to keep it's more mature edge. It's suddenly easier to see that potential again. Also, not a Canadian wood in sight.
"Sure it was a little too convient that the jungle creatures venom just happend to cure the disease"
You forget, the ship takes them places they need to be. Perhaps it detected the cure for what they didn't even know was ailing them yet.
But, Alexander
I thought that every forest in the universe looked like the southwest of British Columbia!
If I wanted to watch a soap opera I would watch General Hospital or something, SGU would be a good show if the stargate was used more and maybe some type of enemy. Cancel Sgu bring back SG1!!!