I have nothing bad to say about Stargate: Universe

Actually that isn’t completely true, after being spoilt watching Stargate SG1 on DVD immediately one after the other I just don’t know how I’m going to stand waiting for new episodes each week!

They have completely won me over with the first two-parter episode Air, honestly the title of ‘my must watch show’ is theirs to lose.

I like the concept, I like the look and feel and damn it if I don’t already find the characters intriguing.

There seems to be a lot more room for natural conflict amongst this group of people, of course I’ll be happy if they can keep it to well thought out conflict drama as opposed to the usually painful to endure character ‘issues’ that are produced in the hopes of drama.

I think the survival scenario that they are in is a really interesting concept that lends itself to a very strong story arc, though I don’t know if it can be so effective past the first season. I can’t think of a show that has ever done the stranded storyline well for more than one season (maybe Gilligan’s Island? I admit to not watching Lost) but I’d love to see it.

My biggest hope is that this doesn’t just turn out to be another ’safe’ Stargate or Star Trek clone, I can bare the thought of another Stargate season of filler episodes (I’m looking right at you Stargate Atlantis). I think if you left the Stargate fold because of weak stories or just plain exhaustion this might be a good place to jump back in and if you’ve never seen any Stargate then don’t be afraid, check SGU out!

So if you’ve seen it I’d love to hear what you think and where you think it might go, try and keep spoilers to minimum but if you haven’t seen the show yet you might want to pick carefully through the comments!

Jeff

Finally caught it tonight. I enjoyed the cameos, though Daniel's was kinda lame (though funny).

I liked it. They have enough of the conventions of a typical Stargate show, but altered enough to keep it interesting.

I'll make a couple predictions on my own blog so I don't spoil the premiere here - but I don't think they'll completely escape the formulaic... um... formula. They did make an excellent start however, so perhaps I'll be wrong.

Lee

I was surprised at how old Jack looked actually and how badly he delivered the "we'll beam you up to our spaceship" line and I didn't mind Jackson's induction videos because I've worked on induction stuff and it doesn't matter how awesome the job those induction videos are always painful!

I too fear that the 'formula' will raise its ugly ugly head. Look forward to reading your thoughts!!

Jeff

That's funny, I mentioned to my wife that I thought RDA was kinda phoning it in during that scene. I rewatched it, and really the only line he delivered the way I liked was when he asked if he would be there without knowing everything there is to know about Eli.

The only problem I had with the induction videos was that that's all we got of Jackson. The videos themselves were supposed to be painful, which is what made it funny.

(When did you get the new comment plugin?)

Lee

From that (albeit brief) performance I am really surprised that the next Stargate DVD is supposed to focus on Jack!

Got the new comment plugin yesterday actually, I wanted something that I could more effectively share on the various different social media platforms. So if you're on Twitter you can just login using your Twitter account and it will link the comment with your Twitter account.

Same with Facebook and a couple of others! My only concern would be that it was confusing or a bit too much but I\then you can always post as a guest just like always!

Captain Incredible

I've not heard much about the show, I must say - to be honest, I thought there was very little the producers could do with the concept at this stage, so any new show was going to be pretty formulaic.

So I figured we could count on a scientist, a gung-ho military type, an annoying geek and a friendly alien among whatever mix they came up with.

But I'll give it a go - it starts here next Tuesday, but I'll miss it 'cos I'll be away so I'll have to count on a rerun next weekend or else stream it from the web when I come back.

Unless I find it before I go...

Lee

I actually think that it is really worth it, this has the promise of a really good show.

Captain Incredible

From the Web it is, so - I'm packing for Paris tonight, so I can watch while I'm working...

Arjan

psst..of course you'll be able to find it...it's probably not turning up on tv overhere before 2011 if it's going to turn up that is. So I'm completely dependent on the interweb, and I find these kind of things every day.
.-= Arjan´s last blog ..I'm sooooo retro =-.

Arjan

I really liked it but can't fully disclose all opinions for the sake of not spoiling.
There were however some minor points that I liked less. The biggest of those was that the shifting between the two story lines was a bit confusing in the beginning. Of course it wasn't hard to figure out how things worked, but they probably could have done something to make it less confusing in the beginning.

my tv-series followspree is peaking very high at the moment: dexter, californication, heroes, how i met your mother, super natural, vampire diaries (somehow I keep dwloading and watching it), flashforward, fringe, merlin, sgu and next week sanctuary again. At the moment I'm thinking about saving up a series or two...because it's too much tv for one week even considering that I don't use my tv all that much for other stuff.
.-= Arjan´s last blog ..Dutch movies (top 10) pt 2: Blackbook =-.

Lee

I'm never much of a fan of the whole flashback story device myself, it's been done to death which is why I'm a little torn over Flash Forward :P

I did like how it started immediately rather than building up to them going through the Stargate.

Dude you have a pretty big list to follow there, I've had to be a little pickier with my viewing because I just can't find the time - Heroes is very very close to be on the chopping board!!

Mistress B

Ooooo finally! Will be seeing uncle larry about this over the next couple of days. Just as soon as we are finished with wolverine and supernatural.
.-= Mistress B´s last blog ..Simple Pleasures Sunday =-.

Lee

You know, if Larry got a dollar from everyone around the world that went to him for this kind of material then Larry or indeed the studios giving Larry the content would get a decent amount of comic book money.

I'm just saying.

MIstressB

Yeah, I know what you are saying.

I watched it last night, loved it. Yeah, I can see where the SG formula will slip in, but you know what? That's ok because I don't mind the original formula and they managed to give Atlantis it's own feel. If it was to become merely SG1 repeats in a different setting, then yes that might be a problem, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

So far though, a big thumbs up from me!

Lee

Generally when I talk about the 'problems' with Stargate formula is that they particularly in SGA don't allow for much personal growth in their characters, Sheppard for instance is pretty much the same character at the end of the five seasons as he was at the start which, after all he had been through was impossible.

They just play things very safe and then throw in a couple of unreasonable deaths and thing they are shaking things up. So that's the kind of stuff that I hope that they don't fall into.

LOL the last season of SGA had a story about three people in hole!!!

MIstressB

oooops

meant to say, I found the flashbacks a little confusing at first too but also really liked how it got right into it. And actually the way it was done caught my curiosity straight off the bat because you never see that!

Semaj

I loved it. I didn't like the BSG shaky camera. It was a bit too much early on, but tended to get better as the show went on. I have to say I really enjoyed it. It feels like a mixture of LOST, DS9, BSG .

(Minor Spoiler) They even have a John Locke character that seems to be more into them staying lost than getting rescued.

I just hope the Network doesn't lose interest in the show and drop it.
.-= Semaj´s last blog ..The Jump Snap? =-.

Lee

The show is certainly affected by the success of BSG in some of its look and feel but I personally think they've taken the best bits and still spun it enough to have (so far) its own identity.

I don't think there is much chance of them dropping the show as Stargate is a bit of a tent pole for the SyFy channel. I just hope they keep it fresh and interesting. If I remember correctly (and I doubt that I do) but the second episode of SGA was a filler :)

Marita

We tried to watch it today but I struggled to follow the story lines with children constantly interrupting. I'm going to try again tonight.

Lee

Let us know what your take on the new show is when you finally get the quiet.

Marita

Watched it again and really enjoyed SGU.

It is like BSG but with a Stargate feel. Much stronger cast than they usually have. I miss Rodney :(

Hope they take it more seriously and have less comedic episodes.

Lee

You watched SGU again already!? I actually wouldn't mind doing so and having a closer look at some of the detail in the episode.

I completely agree, I think they have a much stronger cast in this show (as much as I loved the other two) and I'm hoping it won't fall into the usual Stargate 3 guys 1 girl 1 alien 1 geek 1 military gung-ho kind of style. I guess I'd like a bigger ensemble cast that has more diversity which I think SGU can easily do.

And yeah less comedy more science fiction would be nice!

Marita

Leechboy is predicting that there wont be any aliens in the cast. I'm thinking they will appear in the next couple of episodes.

We rewatched it together and even the usually critical Leechboy was impressed which made me happy. Hard viewing a show with constant critical commentary in the background.

Lee

I think they'll encounter an alien in a couple of episodes who will join them as a refugee or something. If not this season, definitely next season. There will be drama about sharing their dwindling supplies with the newcomers.