SGU

[magaday]

After a long delay in posting - thought I'd come back with a review of the first episode of Stargate Universe. Here goes...

After the cut for spoilers.

Comments

[sgafan]

I really like your review!

I'm seeing more and more, and with a little introspection of my own, that I was so annoyed at the story telling, I didn't stop to watch the acting...and I mean really watch it. With what they were given, yes, really strong acting by most of the cast.

As you mentioned, the disjointed way of telling the story with flashbacks really wasn't handled very well and the whole "realism" angle, well, I'm one of those people that looks for the escape element to TV (frankly, its why there isn't a heck of a lot on tv anymore that appeals to me...) I want the hero that we can watch, love and believe in and I want the escape. Maybe I'm in the minority but that's how I am. :)

I too very much loved the elements of SG1 and SGA that you mentioned that are, in my opinion, pointedly missing in SGU.

I'm probably not on the fence such as you are, though I will watch the next one and then see where I am, however, I really appreciate your review and you gave me some food for thought! :) Thanks!

[magaday]

Thanks for the comments. It's funny but I didn't read your review until after I posted mine and I felt that you brought up loads of points that hadn't even crossed my mind. I didn't really consider all of the technical aspects of the show that they glossed over and your review brought them to mind. When I watch a show I am very good at suspending disbelief and accepting any reality that is presented as long as it is entertaining... for that reason I let those real science/canon flaws fly by. It was very interesting to see them all concisely laid out and I totally understand why that would be disconcerting to many a viewer - especially a detail oriented writer like yourself

[linzi5]

Very well thought out review. I think you've been fair in your critique here as you were looking forward to SGU and enthusiastic about it, and not looking to be critical about SGU or even taking into consideration that your were disappointed by SGA's cancellation, whereas some of us can't, alas, separate that from SGU's greenlighting and perhaps aren't willing to look at the show with unbiased eyes.

There's still hope for SGU in your eyes, I'm presuming, but it wasn't the knockout you were hoping for. Is that a fair assumption on my part?

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. I'm still not sure I'm going to watch the premiere over here on Tuesday. It just doesn't sound like I'll enjoy it, and I don't want to pick holes and get annoyed. I like my heroes and team camaraderie and those things were so obvious from the onset of SGA. Guess that's why I loved it so much, despite the very poor writing it endured at times.

[magaday]

Thanks linzi5. It was daunting to sit and put all my thoughts in writing. Such a complicated place I've put myself into. I really did try and view it with the least amount of bias possible and having met many of the cast it was even feasible that I could have been biased towards it. Sometimes that personal connection can have that affect

[linzi5]

I might well give SGU a go, just so I can be sure in my own mind that I'm not missing anything. I honestly don't think it'll be my cup of tea. But you never know. I think because I liked SGA so much, it's a difficult act to follow - even if i did feel season 5 was not all it should have been and that the direction of the show wasn't working too well for me in certain areas.

I hope JF lands something that we'll like. Actually, I just hope he lands something! LOL!

[vecturist]

Thanks for your thoughts - you do have some good points. I agree with you about the acting (except for the character of TJ - I get the impression tptb were trying to channel Katherine Heigl's character from Grey's Anatomy). The script is where it fell short on several counts - I'm not invested in the characters yet - some of it I think was trying to do too much at once and some of it was a couple crucial scenes with random comment by random character. I agree that the script tended to be a little too overdramatic in parts and there were a couple scenes that fell flat - Rush talking about making a list of people and skills when they think they need to sacrifice someone.

The one character that shown through for me was Col. Young - I got the impression of a guy on his last command, a little world-weary, who just got an adventure he's not sure he wants...

[magaday]

I didn't mind TJ too much but do totally see your comparison to Katherine Heigl's character in Grey's. I watch Grey's and she is my least favorite character on that show. All that said I didn't dislike her that much. I do feel that her part was not the best written at least initially for these 1st 2 episodes.

The writing in general did seem a bit off. Some really crazy and annoying stuff was thrown in and it was frustrating. I forgot about that Rush "making a list of people and skills" lines. So out of left field. I know he's supposed to be a man with an agenda but... seriously?

I too liked Col. Young - I couldn't quite put my finger on why but you really sum it up quite well.

I thought Eli was compelling - we were given the most insight into his character with his introduction to the program and the conversation with his mother and it made him very easy to relate to.

Thanks for the comment Vec!