Stargate Universe - First Reaction
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We could well be witnessing the birth of a new Sci Fi icon. Channelling the spirit of Dr Zachary Smith and Kerr Avon, Robert (Trainspotting) Carlyle’s Dr Nicholas Rush is an anti-hero every bit as self-serving and manipulative, yet charismatic and watchable as his predecessors. Of course, Carlyle has another advantage, he can actually act (which helps, because he’s given some really cheesy dialogue at times). You can’t help but watch the show, wondering what kind of contract Carlyle has signed. Usually, US Networks try to get stars to sign up to a multi-season option, but, you keep telling yourself, surely someone of Carlyle’s ilk wouldn’t commit to that. But if he hasn’t, and he does an Eccleston on us, you can’t help wondering if Universe would be a quarter as good without him. Not that the show isn’t without its other merits, but you kinda wonder if casual viewers are going to think of it primarily as anything other than, “That spaceship show with the Scottish git in it.” After just three episodes, Rush is by far the most memorable in the show, if not the franchise (that sound you hear is Daniel Jackson fans sucking air through gritted teeth). As for the show itself, well congratulations to the production team for actually achieving what Enterprise never did, and genuinely giving us a show that feels like a reboot, and not just more of the same with a different set of faces. Although never quite as gritty as Galactica (a show which it clearly attempts to emulate) it is more than just Stargate with the lights turned down. Although, as the opening shots strive to ram home, the lights have been turned down. No, this show feels different tonally as well. Partly this is the result of an inherent sense of desperation in the new scenario: while under attack from mysterious spaceships, a mix bunch of civilians and military types evacuate through a wormhole to a undefined location. This turns out to be an empty, damaged, ancient spaceship light years from Earth and heading inexorably further out into the far reaches the universe. But the show also feels different because it’s not taking a humans-versus-aliens, action adventure approach. Well, not so far, at least. The drama instead comes from the need to survive, internal power struggles and arguments over the right course of action to take next, because the on-board stargate isn’t letting anyone get back to Earth. It‘s a tense, edgy show in which cameos from the original series actually feel a little out of place. Aside from the Galactica influences, there are also elements of Lost (plenty of flashbacks) and even Heroes (in attempting to make a likable hero out of a geek – three episodes in, the jury’s still out on that one). The trouble is, while the writers have identified elements from those shows worth implementing in Universe, they never quite match them in terms of quality. The dialogue (especially when it comes to relationship scenes) is often stilted and hammy; the characters (aside from Rush and comedy geek Eli) are so far fairly bland and one-note; and some of the plotting and character dynamics are straight from the Big Book Of US Drama Clichés. What we end up with is certainly a more “grown-up” Stargate, but it's not quite The West Wing in space that Galactica was; there's still too much of Stargate slightly hokey SF DNA in the mix, though maybe that will vanish over time. But there are some truly great moments, with some stunning, cinematic action sequences, a tangibly tense atmosphere and a few hints of an intriguing larger arc plot. Stargate fans should be proud of it*, and it may even pick up a good few converts. It’s a solid, entering start to a series that certainly has promise. It also has the potential to become remarkably po-faced and talky, but there are hints of some twists coming up that shake up the format a bit to prevent that. But the producers had better work hard on fleshing out the other characters just in case Carlyle does decide to leave. Stargate Universe premieres in Sci Fi in the States on 2 October, and on Sky One on 6 October
* Unless there's some great continuity cock-ups and controversial aspects I'm not aware of – I'm a casual SG viewer, not a hardcore fan, so I could be wrong in that prediction. |
Posted by andy winter (127.0.0.1) on September 11, 2009 at 10:01 AM BST
Website: http://www.moonfacepress.com #
Carlyle as the Doctor? Maybe if he was caught in some horrible accident and permanently merged with the Master.
Posted by Peter Lanado (127.0.0.1) on September 11, 2009 at 10:24 AM BST #
aaand Sean Pertwee for the next Doctor!
=P
Posted by d a v 3 y (127.0.0.1) on September 11, 2009 at 11:06 AM BST
Website: http://www.facebook.com/dav3y #
He'd make a great Master, too.
Posted by andy winter (127.0.0.1) on September 11, 2009 at 12:02 PM BST
Website: http://www.moonfacepress.com #
Posted by Dave Cross (127.0.0.1) on September 11, 2009 at 12:03 PM BST #
Posted by CKC (127.0.0.1) on September 11, 2009 at 12:46 PM BST #
I'm really looking forward to Universe, although the lost light years from home thang is kinda how Atlantis started, but unfortunbately they ditched it way too quickly.
Posted by Paul Starkey (127.0.0.1) on September 11, 2009 at 12:51 PM BST
Website: http://www.cityofcaves.me #
I think Universe will definitely have more substance to it than Atlantis or even SG1 did, and I'm really looking forward to Carlyle and also seeing the crew having *ahem* sex. Stargate has definitely done some maturing...
Roll on October 2!
Posted by Kell Harker (127.0.0.1) on September 11, 2009 at 02:15 PM BST #
Sorry.
Posted by Samantha (127.0.0.1) on September 11, 2009 at 03:03 PM BST #
Posted by Sarah (127.0.0.1) on September 11, 2009 at 04:04 PM BST #
Posted by Cherie Wingfield (127.0.0.1) on September 11, 2009 at 04:32 PM BST #
Posted by gary makin (127.0.0.1) on September 11, 2009 at 05:10 PM BST #
Posted by gary makin (127.0.0.1) on September 11, 2009 at 05:38 PM BST #
For you folks who don't like the look of Universe, do you think you'll give the premiere episode a watch?
And this question is for SFX and anyone else who knows: why is there speculation that Carlyle might leave the show early on? Am I missing something? Does the role just not seem suited for him?
Posted by Kell (127.0.0.1) on September 11, 2009 at 05:47 PM BST #
Posted by Dave Golder (127.0.0.1) on September 11, 2009 at 06:00 PM BST #
Posted by Kell Harker (127.0.0.1) on September 11, 2009 at 06:24 PM BST #
I was very much on the fence before I started finding out about SGU yes bordering not liking, because I didn’t like the direction it was taking, sadly the more I’ve seen the more its turned me an the trailers are also truly just plain bad.
But now that I have looked into it more NO. The fact of the matter is I liked the others an was happy with what I was watching. There is nothing intriguing about this, not the actors not the concept, sorry just not overly interested an cant be bothered in checking out the pilot.
There isn’t even any SGA actors doing cross overs, I mean there’s NO Sheppard/Ronan or McKay in it. It looks gloomy an depressing an its got all that shaky cam rubbish/character driven arcs, which I personally don’t like very much, an read somewhere they have even changed the type of music they used in the others to, an it looks like its way to full of realism/reality. I don’t like watching characters I don’t like an so far none of these have anything likeable about them. I have really tried to find something that appeals about this show, as I have watched Stargate since the movie but SGA was by far the best, they really hit the right note there an it was always going to be difficult to beat it. A spin off should have a feel of the previous shows, this seems to be going out of its way to be different. Difference I suppose is sometimes ok, if you wanted a change but this is just way to much an I personally didn’t, but both shows should have been done together in my view just like SG1/SGA did. Besides that I just realised that the new Warehouse 13 has started on Tue, so I rather spend my Tue night checking that out, than bothering with this. Sorry.
Posted by Cherie Wingfield (127.0.0.1) on September 11, 2009 at 07:52 PM BST #
I think one of the problems with such a huge revamp of the franchise is that we'll see Stargate Universe being more "difficult". What I mean by this is, Stargate was lighthearted and fun and funny, whereas SGU seems to be a bit more heavy in terms of theme and characters. One of the reasons I think SG-1 and Atlantis lasted so long (where as Firefly, for example, didn't) is because it was easy to watch. SGU might be more challenging, and that might not be what Stargate fans will want to follow. I am a huge Gater, though, and I still am excited about Universe. So I guess it's just a matter of sci-fi taste. :) To each his/her own, yeah? But I love the differing reactions it's getting. I have some friends who are huge Stargate fans who have no interest in Universe, and others (like me) who'll be glued to the TV on October 2nd. Really, I won't know if I'll actually love the show until I see it for myself.
The trailer did go over really well at this past San Diego Comic Con, though. There's still a lot of hype for it, and I'm glad for that. I think I'm just happy to see more sci-fi on TV. Ha ha...
Thanks again, Cherie! :)
PS. Also loving Warehouse 13. Now that's a show that didn't hook me right away, but it eventually reeled me in. Good stuff.
Posted by Kell (127.0.0.1) on September 11, 2009 at 08:19 PM BST #
No worries, yeah we are all different an we all see things from a different perspective. Most of my friends who are into SG are all like me, ranging from down right no’s to will see but no expecting much kinda thing an way to many people are in the it better “wow” from the pilot or there off, very little lee way. As for WH13 that grab me from the get go, so I'm enjoying it but early days yet. I just think its shame they didn’t do both show, not the one size fits all idea and as is always the case with sci fi, one show is always cancelled so we can get another, makes no sense to me what’s so ever, when there’s a place for both an you never know they might even have got some off the down right no's to check it out if SGA had still been going. Instead its seems they will just replace any lost fans with news one, instead of trying to keep then all or at least a lot of them an the adding extra, that would be better all round for Stargate in general. Guess the PTB know better “wink wink” ;-)
Posted by Cherie Wingfield (127.0.0.1) on September 11, 2009 at 08:37 PM BST #
This means you've missed all the controversy that has existed since, well, SGA was cancelled, right?
Because, believe me, there has been SO DAMN MUCH!
First came the PTB saying (and I'm paraphrasing here because, well, I didn't take notes) that they weren't interested in any demographic except the 16-24 male one, which didn't go over well with anyone not in that demographic.
Then Brad Wright and Martin Gero spent a good amount of time insulting their fans for daring to ask thought-provoking questions (we won't mention Joe Mallozzi, because he does that ALL the time) in Q&A sessions they instigated.
Then came the casting call that managed to insult anyone who's female, disabled or just plain tired of the same old cliches being used again and again.
I was always unlikely to watch SG:90210 (sorry, SGU) after the way season five of SGA was awfully handled, but, these trangressions and the unimpressive trailer I saw at ComicCon and the reviews I've read so far have pretty much made that a certainty.
Posted by Iona (127.0.0.1) on September 11, 2009 at 08:38 PM BST #
"Brad Wright and Martin Gero spent a good amount of time insulting their fans for daring to ask thought-provoking questions" - funny, I'm a fan and I read those and wasn't at all insulted. If anyone should feel insulted, it's Brad Wright who is constantly accused of all sorts of absurd evilness by some deranged "fans".
"Then came the casting call that managed to insult anyone who's female, disabled or just plain tired of the same old cliches being used again and again." - Please. That whole thing was pretty much a fabricated controversy by a few fanatics who conveniently ignored everything that was said to explain the situation so they could continue their whining. More importantly; a casting call is NOT an episode. You don't know what will actually happen.
"I was always unlikely to watch SG:90210" - aaand there it is. Seriously, anyone who STILL compares it to 90210 at this point is basically throwing whatever credibility they may have out the window. Good day.
Posted by Sheesh (127.0.0.1) on September 11, 2009 at 09:26 PM BST #
He would have been a great Doctor, but is probably too well known for the role now.
Conversly... He would have made the perfect Master to Ecclecton's Doctor. What a pairing that would have been.
Posted by William Chalker (127.0.0.1) on September 11, 2009 at 10:46 PM BST #
They can't be blamed for wanting to do something a bit different after doing FIFTEEN seasons of pretty much the same thing..
Posted by Matt (127.0.0.1) on September 11, 2009 at 10:56 PM BST #
Posted by Nick (127.0.0.1) on September 12, 2009 at 12:17 AM BST #
I enjoyed SG1 and Atlantis but at times they were just too juvenile and I think a "grown up" Stargate has a lot of potential. Fingers crossed they flesh out the characters a bit and strengthen the dialogue (if it is indeed "hammy") but I'm prepared to be patient.
Oh and they should'nt try too hard to be BSG, obviously its an influence which is fine but the writers and producers should just concentrate on making a great, more complex Stargate series.
Roll on October!
Posted by Chris Evans (127.0.0.1) on September 12, 2009 at 11:25 AM BST #
Posted by gary makin (127.0.0.1) on September 12, 2009 at 04:21 PM BST #
Posted by Laura Mc (127.0.0.1) on September 12, 2009 at 09:24 PM BST #
My friends and family have all watched SG for years and we couldn't believe they canceled SGA for this show.
As for the actors for their new baby I think that one person had it right its going to be the new SG:90210 with a little BSG on the side and a hint of SG. (just in the title I'm afraid)
Posted by PJ (127.0.0.1) on September 13, 2009 at 11:20 AM BST #
Final outburst: BRING BACK ATLANTIS!
Posted by Daveydaver (127.0.0.1) on September 13, 2009 at 11:48 AM BST #
Posted by ChannelDelibird (127.0.0.1) on September 13, 2009 at 07:58 PM BST #
Posted by David Roden (127.0.0.1) on September 15, 2009 at 07:02 PM BST
Website: http://www.enemyindustry.net #
Posted by Banana (127.0.0.1) on September 17, 2009 at 09:00 PM BST #
Posted by TLC (127.0.0.1) on October 06, 2009 at 12:35 PM BST #
Good God son, calm down. There are plenty of legitimate criticisms to made with regards to the SG franchise as a whole and this new venture in particular. I get that you're a fan, but it is actually possible to be a fan of something without being blinded to its faults. Iona wasn't talking out of her arse, so I'll thank you to stop reinforcing the "fanboys are socially maladjusted fucktards" cliche any time now.
Demos (the age/sex/class demographic of the viewers) are considered the single most important factor in obtaining advertising dollars for a show, and good demos can often keep even relatively low-rated shows on the the air. SGA skewed older and female, which isn't considered a particularly lucrative demo. Farscape had the same problem - good ratings, bad demos (young and female, in that case) - which led to its cancellation despite a previous promise of another season from SciFi execs. The 16-24 male demo is considered the most profitable, so it's not unreasonable to presume that's what TPTB were aiming for.
"it's Brad Wright who is constantly accused of all sorts of absurd evilness by some deranged "fans"."
I've seen him accused of incompetence, rudeness, and a general inability to innovate or listen to criticism. There seem to be perfectly good arguments for all of the above, whether or not I personally agree with them, so I fail to see how doing so is either absurd or deranged. And your use of scare quotes is simply childish.
"That whole thing was pretty much a fabricated controversy by a few fanatics who conveniently ignored everything that was said to explain the situation so they could continue their whining. More importantly; a casting call is NOT an episode. You don't know what will actually happen."
Yes, because when people - especially women, people of colour, people with disabilities, and members of the GLTBQ community - say, "This is offensive and hurtful to me," they are usually just making things up as an excuse to whinge. It's NEVER because there are real problems that need to be addressed. I mean, honestly, I'm not the most sensitive person on the planet, but that casting call was ridiculous and all this talk of body-swapped sex just sounds nauseating. Does that make me a fanatical whinger as well?
@TLC:
Carlyle won't be able to "jump ship", no matter how bad the ratings get, unless he's willing to buy out his own contract (5 years is standard, and there's no way in hell they would've hired him for anything less than 3), which would make him persona non grata in the US television industry. Sadly, he will likely be stuck in the Stargate 'verse for quite some time. It's a shame, a man of his talent deserves so much better.
On that note, damn this thread for giving me the mental image of Carlyle as the Master. Seeing him face off against Eccleston's Doctor would have been brilliant!
Posted by Nox (127.0.0.1) on October 10, 2009 at 01:58 PM BST #
Posted by Paula (127.0.0.1) on October 10, 2009 at 05:18 PM BST #
Now, here comes SG-U promising to be "more gritty" and "dark" (Yep, 'cos that's what someone at the see-fee channel told Brad what-sis-name was double plus good about BSG).
Sadly the show runners seem to have merely interpreted these adjectives as a bunch of lighting instructions, but painting your set in shades of gray and letting the DOP loose with the shaky cam don't instantly equate with moral ambiguity or emotional depth.
As good old Dave Golder points out, the problem here is that the writing is composed of the same yawn-inducing episodic formulas that plagued previous incarnations of SG. Though in addition to the 2d characterisation we now get regular cheap attempts to engage audience sympathy, which I assume, are efforts of sorts to access the emotional seam that BSG mined so effectively, and seemingly, effortlessly. Morever, the clunky mawkishness of some of the writing seems to sit uneasily with the more irritatingly nut-bag aspects of the franchise that they haven't jettisoned (take those fucking communication stones and shove them up Richard Dean Anderson's perma-smirking butt, please)
On top of that and perhaps most disappointingly I found Robert Carlyle's turn a bit of let down. As a character Rush is all over the place. As Dave Golder points out at times he seems to be just a vellure polo-neck away from Zacahry Smith campness ("How dare you!" he shouts grandiosely at a bit of rough handling at one point in ep3 ) then minutes later he bristles with proletarian anger ("I was a Glaswegian ship builder's son!" Aye son and I was a miner.) As a result he really doesn't exude sufficient gravitas or moral complexity to anchor the show. He's just a bit, well, er. Crap. I can't see Carlyle sticking around for too many seasons of this, but hey it's a regular gig, innit.
Oh yeah. I'll be tuning in to watch this every week. Uh, not.
Posted by DonFelipe (127.0.0.1) on October 11, 2009 at 07:08 PM BST
Website: http://nowherestom.blogspot.com/ #
There'd be little point in ending Atlantis' run to do something exactly the same, so the change to more character led plotting is a good one..
Yes the dialogue can be a bit corny at times..but this is Stargate..the writing's never been astoundingly brilliant..it just does what it's good at, which is one good pass over from the previous series..
Oh..and Robert Carlyle has been superb so far..he's just an invisible fallen angel away from Baltar..
Posted by smoth (127.0.0.1) on October 18, 2009 at 04:51 AM BST #
Posted by heatehr (127.0.0.1) on October 23, 2009 at 02:11 PM BST #
Posted by ryanne (127.0.0.1) on October 23, 2009 at 02:36 PM BST #
Posted by metamorph (127.0.0.1) on October 30, 2009 at 01:46 PM GMT #
It's clearly not original. It's Space 1999 stranded-and-speeding-through-the-universe with a dash of Battlestar Galactica's grittiness. I suspect that's probably why I quite like it - comfortable, familiar, with good leading performances. But it really needs some more original ideas if it's going to have some longevity. And for goodness sake someone show them where the light switch is!
Posted by Gary R (127.0.0.1) on November 05, 2009 at 07:45 PM GMT #
Posted by turing cop (127.0.0.1) on November 19, 2009 at 09:45 PM GMT
Website: http://www.enemyindustry.net #