Virtuality - What Might-Have-Been
I recently had the occasion to write a sample TV column, so I figured I would post it here for your reading pleasure. I may do more in the future.
“Virtuality” (8 PM ET, June 26th on Fox) is exactly the kind of show you would expect as a follow-up from Michael Taylor and Ronald D. Moore, the brains behind some of the most arresting moments on “Battlestar Galactica”.
The two-hour pilot is a visually stunning sci-fi character drama that questions the complex nature of reality - which is why it flat-out sucks that we’re not likely to see more of it in the future. While they’re airing the pilot, Fox has no plans to buy the series; a tragedy in my mind, but we’re at least afforded a brief glimpse into a show that-might-have-been.
“Virtuality” follows the twelve-member crew of Phaeton, a multi-billion dollar interstellar craft on a ten-year journey to the star Epsilon Eridani. Though the mission was intended to seek out signs of intelligent life, massive global weather changes on Earth have made Phaeton ‘the last, best hope’ for the fate of humanity - who watch their every move via the reality-show-within-a-show ‘Edge of Never’.
No pressure.
To give the crew much needed downtime from the tedium and tension of long-term spaceflight (and each other), they escape into virtual reality modules, allowing them to experience anything they can imagine. While computer whiz Billie becomes a rock-and-roll superspy and tough pilot Sue rides waves and mountains with equal aplomb, others use VR to explore their deepest desires and regrets.
As they reach go/no-go, the point where they must decide to continue on or turn around for home, one of their number turns out to be seriously ill, the mysterious ‘Consortium’ behind the reality show has started making vague threats - and a ‘glitch’ in the VR modules has begun to stalk them.
“Virtuality” uses its gorgeous visuals to emphasize the boundaries between the worlds the characters inhabit - hyper-real views of space, hand-held and surveillance footage for reality TV, and starkly surreal skies in VR. Though the ensemble cast allows for few characters to really shine in the pilot, the actors should all be commended for making the crew’s relationships seem authentic across the board. Psych officer/reality producer Roger Fallon is a standout; James D’Arcy treads the line between cutthroat and caring deftly, and Roger’s gift for rationalization marks him as bound for total insanity down the road.
An intriguing combination of science fiction, thriller, and ensemble drama, “Virtuality” has me dying to see what happens next. It’s a shame we’ll never know.
Bring on the fanfic!
“Virtuality” (8 PM ET, June 26th on Fox) is exactly the kind of show you would expect as a follow-up from Michael Taylor and Ronald D. Moore, the brains behind some of the most arresting moments on “Battlestar Galactica”.
The two-hour pilot is a visually stunning sci-fi character drama that questions the complex nature of reality - which is why it flat-out sucks that we’re not likely to see more of it in the future. While they’re airing the pilot, Fox has no plans to buy the series; a tragedy in my mind, but we’re at least afforded a brief glimpse into a show that-might-have-been.
“Virtuality” follows the twelve-member crew of Phaeton, a multi-billion dollar interstellar craft on a ten-year journey to the star Epsilon Eridani. Though the mission was intended to seek out signs of intelligent life, massive global weather changes on Earth have made Phaeton ‘the last, best hope’ for the fate of humanity - who watch their every move via the reality-show-within-a-show ‘Edge of Never’.
No pressure.
To give the crew much needed downtime from the tedium and tension of long-term spaceflight (and each other), they escape into virtual reality modules, allowing them to experience anything they can imagine. While computer whiz Billie becomes a rock-and-roll superspy and tough pilot Sue rides waves and mountains with equal aplomb, others use VR to explore their deepest desires and regrets.
As they reach go/no-go, the point where they must decide to continue on or turn around for home, one of their number turns out to be seriously ill, the mysterious ‘Consortium’ behind the reality show has started making vague threats - and a ‘glitch’ in the VR modules has begun to stalk them.
“Virtuality” uses its gorgeous visuals to emphasize the boundaries between the worlds the characters inhabit - hyper-real views of space, hand-held and surveillance footage for reality TV, and starkly surreal skies in VR. Though the ensemble cast allows for few characters to really shine in the pilot, the actors should all be commended for making the crew’s relationships seem authentic across the board. Psych officer/reality producer Roger Fallon is a standout; James D’Arcy treads the line between cutthroat and caring deftly, and Roger’s gift for rationalization marks him as bound for total insanity down the road.
An intriguing combination of science fiction, thriller, and ensemble drama, “Virtuality” has me dying to see what happens next. It’s a shame we’ll never know.
Bring on the fanfic!