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Sunday June 07, 2009

Stargate Universe teaser clips make it look like Battlestar

Three new videos are online now, delivering a glimpse into the latest Stargate spin-off. They include clips from the show, plus soundbites from the cast.

And it seems like the show will have a different tone from previous Stargate incarnations. Slightly darker and more earnest, very much about the survival of the human will a long way from home, trust issues with an enemy working against them from the inside, a slightly reportage approach to the camera work, "a story about hope and faith" as one of the stars puts it.

So, basically, like Battlestar Galactica.

Take a look and tell us what you think. The three clips are labelled Survival, Philosophical and Frantic.

Posted by Dave Bradley [News] ( Sunday June 07, 2009 )

Permalink | Comments [19]

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Comments:

"These are real stories with real people". Erm, yeah...

Posted by Jonathan (127.0.0.1) on June 07, 2009 at 10:31 AM BST
Website: http://www.jonathanbaldwin.co.uk #

This does just look just like Battlestar Galactica but not as good. I doubt this will be as gritty as Battlestar was/is and I doubt it will even be as bold as Primeval by killing off main characters to add a real "anyone could die" eliment to it.

Posted by Mr Kleason (127.0.0.1) on June 07, 2009 at 11:37 AM BST #

Personally, not interested. It's a transparently desperate attempt to jump on the "dark and gritty" bandwagon and is a clear sign of early onset franchise fatigue and from the looks of things, the production values don't match the ambition.

There's nothing wrong with aspiring to be the next Battlestar, since that show was so good all shows should aspire to its level of quality now, but to practically rip it off verbatim in a different universe with more sci-fi embellishments seems slightly cynical.

If I hear good things, I might watch it, but otherwise. Pass.

Posted by Stew (127.0.0.1) on June 07, 2009 at 11:38 AM BST #

I didn't watch Battlestar Galactica, but a darker Stargate could be good.

Mr Kleason - you evidently haven't seen much Stargate if you think that they don't kill of major characters. Considering that the last ew years the fandom has been constantly up in arms over favourite characters been killed.

Posted by Lanta (127.0.0.1) on June 07, 2009 at 11:51 AM BST #

*and that's 'off' and 'few. For some reason the box to type in was all screwy and I couldn't see it before I pressed post.

Posted by Lanta (127.0.0.1) on June 07, 2009 at 11:53 AM BST #

I want to like this, I really do, but the behaviour of the big US studios recently has given me severe trust issues. Why should I, or anyone else, bother to watch their shows if they can just cancel them without notice or resolution? The views of the fans aren't even a tiny part of the studios' reasoning in this regard. I emailed ABC studios in America the other day to tell them this exact thing about their reboot of 'V', but, surprise surprise, all I got back was a standard 'Thanks for your input' response. They don't care, so why should we?
Anyway, on a lighter note...C#. Boom boom.

Posted by PJ Bottoms (127.0.0.1) on June 07, 2009 at 01:37 PM BST #

On the fence here. I'll likely give SGU a go, but...well, we'll see. I didn't watch Battlestar (it is on my to do list), but even I thought the same thing. (Oh, look! It's BSG!) This show does not feel like Stargate.

But maybe that's not bad.

Many people complained that the new Star Trek film didn't feel like Trek and look how that turned out.

We shall see.

Posted by Laura (127.0.0.1) on June 07, 2009 at 02:43 PM BST #

*yawn* Oooh, look who wants to be BSG when they grow up. Seriously these people need some fresh blood in the writing and production team, they've been stealing their ideas from other people for years now and it's getting really old. Sorry guys, not interested. Not even for Robert Carlyle. And BTW, what was he thinking???? Are times really that bad in the UK?

Posted by maxi (127.0.0.1) on June 07, 2009 at 02:55 PM BST #

Watched both Stargates (preferred SG1) and never watched new BSG (enjoyed the original). That said, I really don't have an interest in this new Stargate. They seem to be veering off the original concept of the show (would have preferred SG1 coming back). Dark and gritty - do we really need that - personally no. I want a show that entertains with strong characters and relationships as well as stories.

Posted by Barb (127.0.0.1) on June 07, 2009 at 07:46 PM BST #

Sounds like the 'nu-SF' bubble may finally be about to burst. There's only so much crap you can throw at the wall before it stops sticking. Sorry SG, this sounds like one gritty journey into the darkness of mens' souls too much. I won't be bothering. And I really hope someone from the programme-makers is reading this. Get the message: fanboys are getting savvy.

Posted by PJ Bottoms (127.0.0.1) on June 07, 2009 at 09:31 PM BST #

Well I'm still looking forward to the show. Hopefully there will be a Stargate Universe at SD Comic-Con...

Posted by Kell Harker (127.0.0.1) on June 07, 2009 at 11:22 PM BST #

I meant to write that I hope there will be a Stargate Universe panel at Comic-Con.

Posted by Kell Harker (127.0.0.1) on June 07, 2009 at 11:22 PM BST #

"These are real stories with real people".

Where have we heard that before?
Next they'll be saying it's not really Science Fiction!
Nothing wrong with pretending to be the next BSG, but throughout the trailer I was hoping they would keep the humor. without that, it just wouldn't be Stargate

Posted by Khuratokh (127.0.0.1) on June 08, 2009 at 09:26 AM BST #

It's hard to say with so short clips, but I for one am looking forward to this! It could be good.. or not. Time will tell. :)

Posted by deiann (127.0.0.1) on June 08, 2009 at 10:37 AM BST #

Just another attempt to flog more garbage from a tired franchise that stank when atlantis started. I really couldn't care less, the premise is a rip of voyager, as many have said the whole 'dark and gritty' element is ripped off from new BSG and that series was garbage so it doesn't bode well for this one.

No Thanks.

Posted by Elim (127.0.0.1) on June 08, 2009 at 01:37 PM BST #

New BSG worked because it was original and different. This is an old franchise ripping off someone else's ideas. That said, proof of the pudding's in the eating so I'll probably watch it until it p!$$es me off......

Posted by Jon (127.0.0.1) on June 08, 2009 at 02:06 PM BST #

I enjoy Stargate because it's funny, slightly silly fluff that is also occasionally a surprisingly good drama. The way these clips have been edited make it clear that the show is being marketed as something different and darker, but I'm not convinced. No amount of Robert Carlyle and shadowy lighting can change a show significantly if the writing and production team is largely the same.

I'll give it a go, but if it's rubbish there's always the off switch.

Posted by Laura M (127.0.0.1) on June 08, 2009 at 04:05 PM BST #

Reding the pitch from the producer or whoever it was in SFX the other month, I immediately got the basic subtext of what they were trying to say.

ie basically, 'Hey kids, the days of lumpy-headed aliens with lazy nationalistic sterotyping and Star Trek-style planet-hopping adventures where every planet just looks like another damp forest in Vancouver are over!

From here on in, it's going to be non-stop grim existential angst, dreary political hectoring and ponderously complex plotting that goes nowhere for years on end!

Basically everything Battlestar and Sarah Connor Chronicles have already done really well, except with the name 'Stargate' bolted onto the front of it!

Oh plus we've got a proper actor you've probably heard of too. God knows how, but we have. Probably because we paid him more than the Doctor Who production team were going to! Allegedly.

Bang on! Success and seven very long seasons here we come!

Or it might be really great. Wait and see, I suppose.

Posted by spiderboris (127.0.0.1) on June 09, 2009 at 06:25 AM BST
Website: http://televisionoff.blogspot.com/ #

Well said Spiderboris. This whole thread is just chock full of good, healthy cynicism, and rightly so. SF TV producers have got to work damn hard these days to please us fanboys, and on the strength of these ST:U trailers, they might have dropped the ball on this one. I know we shouldn't really judge a whole show on just these snippets, but as Spiderboris says the subtext of their intentions is pretty clear. BSG is dead and gone; Stargate shouldn't try to resurrect its zombie bones in such a half-baked fashion.

Posted by PJ Bottoms (127.0.0.1) on June 09, 2009 at 10:03 AM BST #

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