Stargate Universe -- 2 Hour Series Premiere -- "Air" -- 10/02/09

[Jason]

I liked it quite a bit. I always thought the Stargate SGI looked like a cheap 80's show, and I never watched it or Atlantis. The outer space angle and darker storyline drew me to this. I have seen the movie, but apparently the series have moved well beyond it.

The one thing I wasn't completely clear on is who knows about the stargate technology. Is it a secret shadow organization (a black ops type of thing)? Eli apparently knew nothing of its existence, but there seemed to be a lot of people of varying levels who work on it. If a senator knows about, a lot of people in washington do too, and I just can't see how it would remain a secret forever.

[wmansir]

It's a black ops type deal. Initially it was a secret US project but it is now run by the International Oversight Advisory formed from the UN Security Counsel countries, but still in secret from the general population. That brunette woman who was questioning what to do with the soldier that was let out of the brig said she was with the IOA. The IOA was generally portrayed as a bunch of useless/spineless bureaucrats who spent most of their time second guessing the decisions of the SG teams.

[DJariya]

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/10/03...premiere/29405

2.35M viewers for the series premiere. It actually beat Dollhouse in the ratings!!

[Nth Power]

I didn't think it was that great for a pilot. My attention started to wane as it went on, but it was better towards the end. It feels too much like it's trying to emulate BSG in tone and style. I would have preferred it didn't go that route, but I can live with it.

Eli seems like they warped Rodney McKay back 20 years. He seems like the exact same character with maybe a smaller ego.

I'll watch the next couple eps before I decide on it, but I'll probably watch as long as it doesn't get terrible. Despite the flaws, I'd rather SyFy show this rather than something like Ghost Hunters, so I feel a little guilty complaining.

[riley_dude]

Originally Posted by DJariya

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/10/03...premiere/29405

2.35M viewers for the series premiere. It actually beat Dollhouse in the ratings!!

How long will the ratings high last though. Stargate Atlantis premiered to equally high numbers and they kept falling after the premiere.

[Gunde]

I liked it quite a bit. Angsty is good. IMO sci-fi works best when all hope seems lost.

However I didn't quite get what happened to the seantor. They needed someone to go close a door and then he

Spoiler:

died

in a chair. What did I miss?

[Ravenous]

Not a bad show. And I hate Scifi shows. I mainly watched cause of Philips and Carlyle. I didnt really like the Lt cause he seemed too try hard and the fat geek was like that Jonah Hill. I NEVER watched the first shows or BG and I didnt like the movie that much, but Ill keep watching.

[Giantrobo]

Originally Posted by Gunde

I liked it quite a bit. Angsty is good. IMO sci-fi works best when all hope seems lost.

However I didn't quite get what happened to the seantor. They needed someone to go close a door and then he

Spoiler:

died

in a chair. What did I miss?

As you know, the door could only be closed from the inside.

Spoiler:

The Senator was injured when he came out of the Stargate and had internal bleeding. He also had a heart condition and was on blood thinners which made his internal bleeding worse. He was basically dead by the time he pulled the gun on the soldier and the guy trying to fix the door; so after acting like a bit of an ass, he eventually sacrificed himself for his daughter and the rest.

Overall I liked the Premiere. If they keep putting it on Hulu I think I'll stick with it.

[Kdogg]

Who's bright idea was it to name a place/project Icarus? Isn't that asking for failure?

Anyway, I thought it was an OK pilot with potential. It certainly has a different feel that the over Stargate shows which I enjoyed. It's really going to depend on the chemistry of the characters though. It will be a long season if every week they in survivor mode.

[Breakfast with Girls]

I watched both of the prior series, but just from the photo and the premise of the show this one does not sound interesting. I missed the first episode and I doubt I'll bother watching it on Hulu.

Also, I try to avoid anything involving Lou Diamond Phillips.

[Patman]

For those curious about "James" who was getting quite the shagging by the lead soldier dude, just google "julia anderson horror" (with the safe search set to off), and then you can thank me later. Totally NSFW!!!

[wmansir]

Originally Posted by Giantrobo

As you know, the door could only be closed from the inside.

Spoiler:

The Senator was injured when he came out of the Stargate and had internal bleeding. He also had a heart condition and was on blood thinners which made his internal bleeding worse. He was basically dead by the time he pulled the gun on the soldier and the guy trying to fix the door; so after acting like a bit of an ass, he eventually sacrificed himself for his daughter and the rest.

I don't think he died from his injuries. The force field that was plugging the hole in the shuttle wasn't a complete seal, which is why they needed to close the door. Once the door was closed the small amount of air in the shuttle quickly vented out.

[mugwump]

It felt pretty rehashed and yet the lack of much real sci-fi on TV will keep me watching for a while.

[JasonF]

I thought it was OK, though the way Robert Carlyle was playing his character, I kept waiting for him to start hallucinating a hot blond in a red cocktail dress.

[resinrats]

Of course what they could have done is use one of the kino (floating cameras) to push the button without anyone needing to die.

[Tommy Ceez]

i think it was a touchscreen and not a hard button

[Giantrobo]

Originally Posted by wmansir

I don't think he died from his injuries. The force field that was plugging the hole in the shuttle wasn't a complete seal, which is why they needed to close the door. Once the door was closed the small amount of air in the shuttle quickly vented out.

I know. I didn't say his injuries killed him. That said, his injuries were most definitely killing him. He had nothing to lose by closing the door from the other side. Even the Soldier said, "He was basically Dead", when everyone showed up realizing what the Senator did.

[Giantrobo]

Originally Posted by JasonF

I thought it was OK, though the way Robert Carlyle was playing his character, I kept waiting for him to start hallucinating a hot blond in a red cocktail dress.

I kept expecting him to start vomiting blood and attacking everyone.

But seriously, is he going to be a "shady character" on this show or what?

[Ranger]

I thought it was OK.

I think the cast has potential. It's always cool to see RDA again.

[Chew]

It was a different feel than either of the Stargate shows and they didn't jump right into the "big picture" storyline in the pilot like the other shows did.

It was slow, but not boring. I enjoyed it and will be back for plenty more.

[nemein]

Some general thoughts/reflections/questions...

- I liked the premier but I wonder how long they'll keep that going before it slides back into the usual camp of the previous series (or even other Sci-Fi shows)? I mean this sub-genre of lost in space and out of touch has been done several times (Voyager, BSG, etc) but it always seems to quickly fall into a routine. By the second show of Voyager they were all in starfleet uniforms and one big happy ship again. Even for how much I loved BSG the feeling of the first season just wasn't there in the follow-up seasons. From the clips they showed it looks like they'll keep some of it going through out the season, but we'll see.

- Did I miss something, I understand how the video game guy got there, but how does solving the puzzle in the game make him sort of math genius/scientist. Did they establish any other credentials for him?

- Did something change, or was this mentioned before in the other series? The gate addresses are always based on their position to earth? I thought I remember someone saying that when explaining the gate system to the video game kid.

- Also if someone could explain the 9th symbol thing I'd appreciate it. I must of zoned out when they were going over. 7 is a normal address, 8 is to another galaxy, so what is 9?

[rw2516]

Originally Posted by nemein

Some general thoughts/reflections/questions...

- I liked the premier but I wonder how long they'll keep that going before it slides back into the usual camp of the previous series (or even other Sci-Fi shows)? I mean this sub-genre of lost in space and out of touch has been done several times (Voyager, BSG, etc) but it always seems to quickly fall into a routine. By the second show of Voyager they were all in starfleet uniforms and one big happy ship again. Even for how much I loved BSG the feeling of the first season just wasn't there in the follow-up seasons. From the clips they showed it looks like they'll keep some of it going through out the season, but we'll see.

- Did I miss something, I understand how the video game guy got there, but how does solving the puzzle in the game make him sort of math genius/scientist. Did they establish any other credentials for him?

- Did something change, or was this mentioned before in the other series? The gate addresses are always based on their position to earth? I thought I remember someone saying that when explaining the gate system to the video game kid.

- Also if someone could explain the 9th symbol thing I'd appreciate it. I must of zoned out when they were going over. 7 is a normal address, 8 is to another galaxy, so what is 9?

The video game guy is also an MIT dropout.

Spoiler:

The reason they couldn't get the gate to dial the ninth symbol is because they assumed the point of origin was the planet they were on. The video game guy came up with the notion that maybe the point of origin is somewhere else. They guessed at earth. The ship they ended up on originated from Earth(maybe). They discovered that in the ship's video log. The ship was designed to travel through space depositing stargates on planets so the ancients on Earth could travel to these planets by dialing them from Earth. The stargate at the base must be from Earth or something. I'm assuming the ninth symbol represents the ship. Or the ship just passed by Earth while leaving stargates in our galaxy. I guess that's how the stargate network was built.

I assume we'll always be left guessing what Caryle's true agenda is.

I can see it now

Spoiler:

Many episodes with an away team on a planet and for some reason they are prevented from reaching the gate and they have to escape the predictament before the countdown reaches zero and the ship jumps to warp leaving them behind

[iggystar]

Originally Posted by JasonF

I thought it was OK, though the way Robert Carlyle was playing his character, I kept waiting for him to start hallucinating a hot blond in a red cocktail dress.

....I can't pinpoint what movie that's from.

I kept waiting for him to slay the whole crew and eat them in a big pot of stew.

[Chew]

Originally Posted by iggystar

....I can't pinpoint what movie that's from.

It's not a movie, it's a reference to the fact this show has a Battlestar Galactica feel to it and he's the Baltar-type.

[iggystar]

Originally Posted by Chew

It's not a movie, it's a reference to the fact this show has a Battlestar Galactica feel to it and he's the Baltar-type.

Yes, of course. Obviously I wasn't a BG fan, but I get the reference now.