Stargate Universe

[Elemental_Elf]

Now that the show has premiered and everyone has had a chance to see it on Hulu what are your guy's onions on and about the show?

[Ishmayl-Retired]

I like it a lot.  It's a lot darker than the other two Stargates, and has taken on a lot of the positive sides in cinematography, acting, dialog, and tone that has shown up in the best sci-fi shows in recent years (BSG, Firefly).  I'll be following it.  That's even after (as I have expressed on this site before) not having much of a positive opinion at all of Atlantis and regular ol' SG.

[Elemental_Elf]

I have to agree, the show is very much darker than the other two SG shows. It's also picked up, as Ish mentioned, much of the modern cinematography that seems to be all the rage. I also like the change in the feel and tone of the music, there's less overwhelming orchestra and more gritty Mass Effect-like tones (which is just great).

Personally, I'm hoping this series evolves into an amalgam of BSG and Lost but firmly rooted in the Stargate mythos.

[Llum]

It was terribad, I really wanted to like this show and was looking forward to it. However it was (IMO) full of lame plot points and idiotic characters.

[Stargate525]

The flashbacks were a waste of time; it would have been easier and less annoying to simply run it chronologically.

I couldn't get a feel for any of the characters ('cept Eli or, as my roommates and I are calling him, 'Rodney 2.0'), because they were all either 'stoic, reserved and TEH SEKRET BACKSTORY!' or utterly nuts.

The death had no impact, considering the only good things about him were told, not shown, and after his death to boot. Whiny complainer gone, and we're supposed to care why?

I see that the Atlanteans, much like the BSG engineers, have no concept of adequate interior lighting.

The pacing was very, very slow. They arrive, they turn on some lights, seal a hole, and dial the stargate. And it only took them TWO HOURS.

[Nomadic]

Stargate movie and SG-1 first season... best of them all in my opinion.

[Elemental_Elf]

The flashbacks were a waste of time; it would have been easier and less annoying to simply run it chronologically.

That would have been boring, especially for a Pilot (IMO).

I couldn't get a feel for any of the characters ('cept Eli or, as my roommates and I are calling him, 'Rodney 2.0'), because they were all either 'stoic, reserved and TEH SEKRET BACKSTORY!' or utterly nuts.

This is the pilot meant to spell out where the show is going AND to educate brand new fans about what has come before. On top of that, it's a survival scenario... Characters will be emphasized in later episodes.

The death had no impact, considering the only good things about him were told, not shown, and after his death to boot. Whiny complainer gone, and we're supposed to care why?

I don't think it was supposed to have great meaning. The point of the death was to show that Eli is socially inadequate and Scott is the white Knight coming to the distraught damsel's side. IMO, this point will be emphasized greatly as the series goes on (thus adding depth to all three characters in the love triangle).

I see that the Atlanteans, much like the BSG engineers, have no concept of adequate interior lighting.

Technically, it would have been the Alterans, not the Atlanteans... The Lanteans built a wondrous city full of open space and lots of light. The Alterans seem to like stone and closed spaces. Plus we may only be seeing the equivalent of emergency lighting (no one said lights had to be red for them to be of the emergency type).

The pacing was very, very slow. They arrive, they turn on some lights, seal a hole, and dial the stargate. And it only took them TWO HOURS.

Wow, I had the opposite feeling. The episode was fairly well paced, especially with the flashbacks (which made it seem faster and more fluid).

It was terribad, I really wanted to like this show and was looking forward to it. However it was (IMO) full of lame plot points and idiotic characters.

So you prefer the unrealistic 'keeps cool under world annihilating pressure' hero mentality exemplified in the last two shows? Was the plot really any more lame than Sheppard magically waking all the Wraith or Teal'c pledging his life to 3 prisoners and escaping with a horde of refugees on a heavily fortified planet? Please, this was far better than either SG show's Pilot episodes.

[Stargate525]

That would have been boring, especially for a Pilot (IMO).

But more comprehensible and better-paced. As it stood, after the second flashback, I knew we'd see the whole thing. If we're going to see the whole thing, why not do it in a logical order, instead of breaking it into chunks?

This is the pilot meant to spell out where the show is going AND to educate brand new fans about what has come before. On top of that, it's a survival scenario... Characters will be emphasized in later episodes.

Emphasized, sure, but they don't have a personality. It's Eli, and wooden blocks 1, 2, 3, and 4.

I don't think it was supposed to have great meaning. The point of the death was to show that Eli is socially inadequate and Scott is the white Knight coming to the distraught damsel's side. IMO, this point will be emphasized greatly as the series goes on (thus adding depth to all three characters in the love triangle).

And which one's Scott? And I'm pretty sure you're wrong on the 'no meaning' bit. With the amount of wailing, blubbering, and heroic grief shots that went on, I'm pretty sure the viewer was supposed to feel it too. Unfortunately, all I got was a sense of them making a big deal out of it. He felt like a redshirt, and died a redshirt's death.

Technically, it would have been the Alterans, not the Atlanteans... The Lanteans built a wondrous city full of open space and lots of light. The Alterans seem to like stone and closed spaces. Plus we may only be seeing the equivalent of emergency lighting (no one said lights had to be red for them to be of the emergency type).

Same culture, just on a different point. Alterans, Atlanteans, Ancients...

But I'll concede the point if the lighting improves at all.

Wow, I had the opposite feeling. The episode was fairly well paced, especially with the flashbacks (which made it seem faster and more fluid).

We didn't learn anything. Nothing actually happened!

So you prefer the unrealistic 'keeps cool under world annihilating pressure' hero mentality exemplified in the last two shows? Was the plot really any more lame than Sheppard magically waking all the Wraith or Teal'c pledging his life to 3 prisoners and escaping with a horde of refugees on a heavily fortified planet? Please, this was far better than either SG show's Pilot episodes.

Actually, yes. Forgive me for wanting my heroes to have some semblance of a heroic personality. If they are to save the world, defend the city, do whatever it is they're doing, I want them to actually do it, not sit around spouting cryptic phrases, acting like assholes, and wailing. Do most of that offscreen; it's not what I came to see.

On Pilots:
SG-1: We assemble the team, learn about how the stargate works, encounter the main enemies, defeat the main enemies, and solve the episode's beginning 'hook' (the kidnappings).

Atlantis: We arrive at the city, discover the main power issue, meet the main villains, get kidnapped, deal with some technology, and solve the kidnappings.

Universe: We arrive on the ship, wail about our lot in life, discover a hole, wail about our lot in life, fix the hole, find some hovering cameras, have angst, and wail about our lot in life.

How is the last one in the same caliber, again?

[Llum]

So you prefer the unrealistic 'keeps cool under world annihilating pressure' hero mentality exemplified in the last two shows?

Was the plot really any more lame than Sheppard magically waking all the Wraith or Teal'c pledging his life to 3 prisoners and escaping with a horde of refugees on a heavily fortified planet?[/quote]Please, this was far better than either SG show's Pilot episodes.[/quote]

That's your opinion and your welcome to it.

[Stargate525]

3. They didn't forsee someone sacrificing themselves even though it was obvious as soon as you seen the broken door plot point and then we have to watch some lame emotive blindsided BS.

Better question: WHY DIDN'T THEY USE ONE OF THE EYEBALLS TO PUSH THE BUTTON?!

[Llum]

3. They didn't forsee someone sacrificing themselves even though it was obvious as soon as you seen the broken door plot point and then we have to watch some lame emotive blindsided BS.

Fucking THANK YOU!!!!

Good lord, its the first thing I thought of, I am extremely happy I'm not the only person who seen this glaring mistake.

[Elemental_Elf]

At least those were exciting.

Atlantis- definitely. SG-1, not really.

That's your opinion and your welcome to it.

And I'm sticking to it! :D

Better question: WHY DIDN'T THEY USE ONE OF THE EYEBALLS TO PUSH THE BUTTON?!

The implication of them trying over and over again was that they tried the Kino ball. Hell they specifically mentioned that someone had to be in there. On a perfect ship they could have shut the door from the bridge but this is hardly a perfect ship.

[Elemental_Elf]

But more comprehensible and better-paced. As it stood, after the second flashback, I knew we'd see the whole thing. If we're going to see the whole thing, why not do it in a logical order, instead of breaking it into chunks?

I think the point of not doing it in the logical order was to add to the immediacy of the situation, the viewer, like the characters, were left with a feeling of not knowing what was really going on initially. Plus the logical way would have required more time simply for the transitions. :(

Emphasized, sure, but they don't have a personality. It's Eli, and wooden blocks 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Granted we didn't get to see (or vicariously interact with) many of what appear to be main characters but I'd hardly call everyone a wooden block...

And which one's Scott? And I'm pretty sure you're wrong on the 'no meaning' bit. With the amount of wailing, blubbering, and heroic grief shots that went on, I'm pretty sure the viewer was supposed to feel it too. Unfortunately, all I got was a sense of them making a big deal out of it. He felt like a redshirt, and died a redshirt's death.

Scott was the one Chloe (the Senator's daughter) was comforted by on the observation deck.

I have a feeling this show is going to have more than a few Lost style flashbacks, which will probably showcase how the Senator really was not what she said he was, or the inverse, we learn more about him through her emo flashbacks :P

Same culture, just on a different point. Alterans, Atlanteans, Ancients...
But I'll concede the point if the lighting improves at all.

We all want better lighting but what with the Canadian Dollar being so strong... They have to cut some where and it looks like the producers chose lighting. I'm sure the Green lovers out there are applauding their decision to conserve electricity by not installing enough lights! :P

Actually, yes. Forgive me for wanting my heroes to have some semblance of a heroic personality. If they are to save the world, defend the city, do whatever it is they're doing, I want them to actually do it, not sit around spouting cryptic phrases, acting like assholes, and wailing. Do most of that offscreen; it's not what I came to see.

Well these are the wrong people who weren't meant to be on the Destiny. I'm sure they'll grow more heroic once they fix the life support system and have the weight of impending doom lifted from their shoulders. :)

On Pilots:
SG-1: We assemble the team, learn about how the stargate works, encounter the main enemies, defeat the main enemies, and solve the episode's beginning 'hook' (the kidnappings).

Ok I can see that but we also had stiff, stereotypical acting and a patently unrealistic plot.

Atlantis: We arrive at the city, discover the main power issue, meet the main villains, get kidnapped, deal with some technology, and solve the kidnappings.

Yeah... Can't deny that one. Atlantis' pilot was good but really only because Shepard carried it, everyone else was stiff and meh (plus I hated Ford). I still say the Pilot was unrealistic but indeed better than SG-1's.

Universe: We arrive on the ship, wail about our lot in life, discover a hole, wail about our lot in life, fix the hole, find some hovering cameras, have angst, and wail about our lot in life.
How is the last one in the same caliber, again?

Life does suck though, especially when you only have a day to live and a crazy scientist is trying to take command and your only recourse is a green horned Officer...

[Llum]

Wow, I have to call you out on #2. Plenty of people refuted it, which is what bolstered Scott to man up and take command (the consequences of Rush's power grab should be dealt with post-we're-going-to-die-in-less-than-a-day emergency)  

No what they did was bitch and complain then not even use the god damn stones.

Well, then they could have at least put a Kino ball into the scene where they talk about doing it over and over. Bad editing then, hardly something that enamors me with the show ~~

As for the Senators sacrifice being heroic, he was the most logical choice, he was essentially dead anyway.

[Nomadic]

Colonel Jack O'Neill is unamused by your fanboyish bickering



(btw in case you guys didn't catch it, I'm joking :P)