Re: Stargate Universe

**Ferris Bueller** · 10-19-2009, 04:37 PM

Well snoogs, you do have to realize that when you're at war with people (i.e. the Goa'uld, the Replicators, the Ori, etc) that you have to keep increasing your power base or you lose. However, thats one of the things I did like about Atlantis though: atlantis was crippled when they showed up because the zpm's were almost dead. They spent 5 years trying to piece it together and just about got there without significantly increasing their "badass" factor. I mean hell, the wriath almost destroyed the city on several occasions and the Genii and Replicators both took it over at least once. Hell, even in the last episode, the only way they could beat the wraith was by Shepherd undertaking what he thought was going to be a suicide mission to destroy the hive ship (and that was just ONE ship, the wraith are still at large with no Atlantis in pegasus to help out anymore).

As far as the new series, it looks good. Theres a lot more interpersonal drama going on, which is what you would expect in a constant life-and-death situation. The only thing I fear about the show is how they're going to handle the inevitable "oh, hey, we have enough power/found a way/magic lets us dial home to earth now" scenario. That could tank the series right then and there. As much as you guys dont seem to like Eli though, I really do. He's an ordinary nerd who figured something out in a video game and got put into this massive situation that he was never remotely prepared for. He seems to be coping pretty good and has a good depth of character to him, as long as they keep up with his progression and dont turn him into the comic relief or something. Oh yeah, that and the chick who plays the senator's daughter is hot. That works too.

**ArmoredBear** · 10-19-2009, 05:05 PM

Nice to see Robert Carlye on American television. I've enjoyed many of the movies that he has appeared in (The Full Monty, Trainspotting-Begbie was a classic character) and also the British tv series, "Hamish Macbeth". I like the show so far.

**snooggums** · 10-19-2009, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by Ferris Bueller

Well snoogs, you do have to realize that when you're at war with people (i.e. the Goa'uld, the Replicators, the Ori, etc) that you have to keep increasing your power base or you lose. .

The increase in power of the enemies is part of the power creep. When you go from system lords who control area to races/technology that can destroy galaxies, then introduce another than can also destroy galaxies then you have jumped the sci-fi shark. I'd actually peg it at the first galaxy destroying race.

I was the DM/GM for Role Playing Games back in the day and I've got a good handle on balance and tension in storytelling. When you get to a certain level of power (depending on the setting) any further increase in power requires huge steps to counteract. Once players hit a certain power level there was no real fear, and that kills any kind of story elements that involve tension.

So when SG1 was teleporting nukes on the alien ships (unexpected technology to the Goa'uld) it was clever and did not require a power increase. When they reactivated Atlantis technology in increments to make it through one more day there was a good story (like faking their destruction with an air deployed nuke). When Goa'uld were replaced with replicants and later Ori the power levels were just silly and required a deus ex machina to resolve. That's just bad for a series to fall back onto and turned watching into "What ridiculous technology will they introduce this week?"

I'm not trying to hate on the franchise, most sci-fi series do this after a few years. I liked the new series change from clean action to some blood and dirt. I'm just pessimistic that they will break the formula completely.

**Delta Five Nine** · 10-19-2009, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by oniell121

I'll preface this by saying that I believe Stargate SG-1 is the best show ever and that it died when Jack got promoted/left, Hammond went away, and Frasier died. I always watch the last half of Season 7 with a note of sadness because I know it's the last true SG-1 in my mind.

This. After Season 7 it just went downhill.... but before that it was really one of the best shows ever for me. Never really bothered with Atlantis for whatever reason..... Am watching Universe until I pass judgement.

**_BuB_** · 10-19-2009, 09:30 PM

syfi has really stepped up its line up, sanct, warehouse 13, stargate uni. and caprica soon its like xmas. In case you missed em. http://www.syfy.com/rewind/index.php...yfy_Global_Nav
hulu=http://www.hulu.com/

**Ferris Bueller** · 10-19-2009, 10:29 PM

Caprica is just a movie though, isnt it? I watched it and it was pretty good, but it didnt seem like it had much series potential.

**asch** · 10-19-2009, 11:27 PM

Originally Posted by Ferris Bueller

Caprica is just a movie though, isnt it? I watched it and it was pretty good, but it didnt seem like it had much series potential.

New series starting in January I believe.

**amu107.9** · 10-19-2009, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by Ferris Bueller

Caprica is just a movie though, isnt it? I watched it and it was pretty good, but it didnt seem like it had much series potential.

I thought the plan was to do a Caprica series. Showing what lead up to the BSG series. I don't know I kind of went into cruise control when they started up 4.5 or 6.2 or 7.321... well whatever season the last one was.

**Ferris Bueller** · 10-19-2009, 11:55 PM

Dunno. Caprica is about how the cylons were born and is set 50 (IIRC) years before the fall. Remember that we know pretty much what led to BSG because of the original BSG, which took place during the first cylon war.

**ScratchMonkey** · 10-20-2009, 09:49 AM

Re Eli: Anyone remember Wesley Crusher from Star Trek: The Next Generation?

Now that actor is playing the rival guild leader in "The Guild".

Re power escalation: In BSG, neither side ever really got the upper hand, because there was nowhere for new tech to come from. Perhaps part of that arises from having a defined ending (even if the producers had no clue what it would be). Series TV suffers from having to have somewhere to go next season to appease the fans and the investors. Novelty is actually anathema, because most viewers just want last season redone with prettier effects.

**Spyder** · 10-20-2009, 10:49 AM

To me the show is interesting enough, but I don't see it as a long-running show. It's got maybe 4 seasons at best, because all of the directions they can go from here have been done recently, and most of them by their previous series.

To me, they can go:
Big Bad out to get them, chases them around the universe (ala BSG)
World hopping reveals lifeforms, some of which are Not Nice (SG1)
Problem of the week with the ship, slowly repairing to get back to earth (Atlantis in Space/voyager)

To me what they've got currently (problem of the week + character dynamics) is good enough for a season maybe, but they'll need some bigger overreaching theme for the rest of the show, and unless they come up with something original I don't know that the show will be able to maintain my interest.

Still DVR it every week for now though, mostly for the characters/interactions.

**amu107.9** · 10-20-2009, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by Spyder

Still DVR it every week for now though, mostly for the characters/interactions.

I hulu it.. but for the same reason.
What I want to know is where that escape pod or ship went to after it launched out in hyperspace.

**ArmoredBear** · 10-20-2009, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by asch

New series starting in January I believe.

I think Asch is correct about the series starting January. The pilot episode (which I think was unrated) was released on DVD earlier this year with the series to follow in the new year. I thought the story of how the Cylons monotheism happened was an interesting twist.

**UnDeaD** · 10-24-2009, 11:56 AM

What do you think of last nights episode?

*Spoiler*

Did Rush know or not? He seems like the kind of guy that may of had it in the back of his mind, knowing that the shield on the ship was activated.

**Ferris Bueller** · 10-24-2009, 10:36 PM

(spoilers)

I think he may have suspected it, but he didnt know for sure. His surprise when he figured out what was going on was completely genuine, and his attitude afterward was equally so. But its kinda understandable that he might have suspected it, I mean why would the ancients build a ship like Destiny without building in a way to power it back up easily. The ship automatically stops for planets that have the stuff the "crew" needs, so why wouldnt it do the same for the things the ship itself needs?

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