Stargate Universe

Stargate Universe looks to be trying to balance a lot of things, and while the series reinvention seems to be the science-fiction hopeful of the season, I’m not sure how all that balancing is going to work out. For now, it isn’t working so well, but there is certainly enough potential to look past the stumbles of the first episodes. Once the general theory stabilizes and gets past the establishment work, we may find we’re onto something here.

Brian J. Smith as Lt. Matthew Scott, Robert Carlyle as Dr. Nicholas, David Blue as Eli Wallace -- Syfy Photo: Carole Segal

Last night’s two-hour premiere was a good move in theory, because we have to hope for the uninitiated, but the effort dragged before long, and many were the moments of overly dramatic, overly extended subroutines that amounted to very little in the end. Eventually, the show spilled into a sort of insecurity, and instead of being quite serious and dramatic, it was just saying it was serious and dramatic.

The premise of the show revolves around the Stargates, which are basically magic portals that transport you millions of miles through space instantly, left throughout the universe by a species known in the show as The Ancients. Our story begins when a large group of people are forced to go through a StargateStargate reviews when they aren’t sure where the other end leads. It turns out that it opens up on a spaceship so far from EarthEarth reviews that the numbers are incomprehensible.

Louis Ferreira as Col. Everett Young, Robert Carlyle as Dr. Nicholas Rush -- Syfy Photo: Art Streiber

The group we have is basically what’s left of a research and military base that’s studying a Stargate on another planet, along with a few civilian visitors who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Led, sort of, by Dr. Nicholas (Robert Carlyle), the group discovers that the ship was made by The Ancients, and that the life-support system is failing. The clock is ticking on how much air they have left, and if they solve that problem, they get to move on to figuring out how to get home.

We’re then left with a kind of Star TrekStar Trek reviews: Voyager reinvention as well.

The trouble with the show is that you’ve got to imagine the road ahead far more than you can rely on what’s given early on. I have a strong feeling that at the eighth or ninth episode, this is going to live up to the possibilities, and be a fun yet serious science-fiction adventure that could well take up the mantle of Battlestar GalacticaBattlestar Galactica reviews. However, it’s a bit rough out of the gates, with a lot of heavy-handed work trying to set up the initial character interplay. Are people really being uppity at the only person who can get them home and/or the people with all the guns in this situation? Really? Does the military commander really stomp around and think he can push everyone around when he isn’t even really there? A good note there is that it doesn’t work, but still.

Syfy Photo: Art Streiber

There is conveniently a cliffhanger aspect to the premiere, which will hopefully get people to the next episode, but there isn’t exactly such a draw at the end of that one. After next week’s episode, you’re sort of just in or out. Hopefully, a lot of people will show up for the fun of a show that really can do absolutely anything week after week. They might show up for the characters, but right now the characters are being abused, and aren’t allowed to deliver anything to really engage viewers. There’s just too much going, and too much that the writers are trying to squeeze in while devoting amazing amounts of time to stretching out the drama. Next week won’t change matters any either.

I feel nearly forced to recommend you give it a try, because in a few months I think you’ll wish you had, but the first few episodes are more in the class of that which you have to suffer through, as opposed to true parts of the good stuff itself.

Stargate Universe premeres tonight, set your TiVos (crunchgear.com)
Go Behind The Scenes With Stargate Universe (cinemablend.com)
Across the Stargate Universe (tor.com)
Television Review | ‘Stargate Universe’: Extensive Portal-Hopping Out on the Final Frontier (nytimes.com)

Related Articles on Are You Screening?:

Tagged as: Robert Carlyle, Science fiction, Stargate Universe, Television

rynoth25

This show blows so much I don't even know where to begin.
I suppose the biggest problem is that there are zero likable characters. None.
SPOILERS ABOUND!

Dr. Rush is an arrogant coward and only a few steps away from becoming a mad scientist.

Eli was funny for the first few episodes, then quickly became annoying with his pop-culture references, and endless amounts of naivety. Also remains content to have Chloe turn him into her B.F.F so he can spend the entire series with perpetual blue-balls.

Chloe has no personal skills that could benefit anyone in any way. She's not a scientist, not a fighter, not even a cook (There is an actual cook on the ship not being a misogynist). Also she's totally fine with dragging Eli around by his penis so they can have fantastic giggly girl time. I can't wait for the episode where she cries into his arms because Lt. Scott didn't notice her new hair style.

Lt. Scott is my personal favorite. Shown to be very "religious" yet has no qualms about thinking with his dick and has already slept with 2 of the 4 female main characters. Both his parents were killed in a car crash (cliche) he was raised by a priest who "drank himself to death" by the time Scott turned 16 (cliche) and he got a teenage girl pregnant (cliche)
His character is unbelievable tragic. There is no person in the history of the world that has lived that pathetic an existence.

Sgt. Greer. This is the quote for this character from the SGU website:
Raised to be a military man, his physical prowess hides a very troubled past that at times escapes his control. On lockup from a court martial when Icarus is attacked, he is released by Col. Young and undoubtedly looks to him for leadership. Destiny, while far away from his home and family, is a place for Greer to start anew and become the man he believes he can be.

Sgt. Greer from the show is a savage. A violent savage. He doesn't respect authority, doesn't respect those who are smarter than him, and is confrontational at every turn. He is the poster-child for how everyone who has a problem with the military views the military.

Col. Telford ran screaming like a little girl back to earth when is was assumed the ship was going to blow up in a sun. Doesn't matter if it was a hoax, Telford didn't know that and it basically showed who he looks out for.

Camile: We're doing lesbians? Seriously? In the first season? Talk about a cheap way to attract an audience. I don't remember Amanda Tapping having to tongue another woman to get people to watch SG-1. God that would have been hot.

Lt. Vanessa James: the second girl to have been sexed by Lt. Scott. Just a boring character. Nice tits though.

This show is garbage. There are no sentient aliens, no decent characters, and gobs and gobs of forced drama. My favorite episode to date is 'Time'
about 10 minutes in. I'm sure those who've seen it know why.

Todd

Too bad this dude knows nothing about the Stargate. Magic portals? Nice try, now go look at the real show SG-1 and review this nonsense later.

Felipe

Why? Whyyyy did they create this crappy SGU show? Please say it ain't so, say it ain't so. All the episodes have been bad. The only one that I though was so so was when the Alien in the sand showed up. Boy did I get excited when I saw that. I started thinking that some advanced Alien civilization all the way out there in space was about to make contact with them. Maybe an ascended being or an ancient.

Anyway, for those people that keep saying to give this series a chance I say STFU. Already like ten episodes have aired and the show still stinks. Please shoot me, shoot me now please. I'm so glad Caprica is starting now. I was hooked from the first episode. No need to give it a chance because it already proved itself in the pilot.

Somebody really needs to take SGU outside, shoot it multiple times, throw it in a grave, pour concrete, rocks and sand. And finally blow it up with a nuclear bomb. Yes, it is that bad. Piece of crap. They are ruining the legacy of SG1 and Atlantis.

kobesbm

LOL at the guy who said "And, frankly, I think you might be showing your lack of experience with general military protocol when it comes to battles with alien races and the chain of command when using technology that no one really understands." Just LOL.

Military protocol is the same no matter what technology is being used or what the locale is or who the enemy is. I should know, I am an ACTUAL military vet. The entire Stargate entity is technically a military one, with civilian components...but still under ultimate control of the President (in his capacity as Commander in Chief). This show is a complete mess. The characters are all wrong, the ship is too dark and dreary, and the soapy drama and shaky cameras and kino scenes are all lifted from other shows.

This show has failed, it has alienated the majority of its fanbase (which is responsible for its existence in the first place), and since the rest of this season has already been filmed and is "in the can", the next episodes could kill the franchise for good. The synopses for the next episodes have been released, but as we are all seeing now, the spin on the positive aspects of SGU are deceptions. The actual show itself is almost unwatchable. The vapid, nonsensical "science" is missing from this fiction. If I wanted to watch "As The Stargate Turns", I could get up earlier...or just go out and buy tissues and chocolate and cuddle with my TV pillow while watching. OMG shoot me now.

Apollo

The latest Stargate offering is boring. Old stargate fans like me, like to see a bit of action and special effects. The characters in Stargate Universe are also difficult to relate to. And it appears to be trying to cash in on the interpersonal conflicts that were well portrayed in Battlestar Galactica. The problem is, Stargate Universe has very little action and leaves me cutting each programme short. I've now stopped watching or recording the series. I'd rather watch the old repeats...

Joseph

SGU is a huge disappointment. I am an avid Stargate fan, and i was looking forward to the adventure and excitement I have come to expect over the years. The problem is that this program provides no adventure nor excitement. So far all I have seen is a cross between Lost and As the World Turns. Oh well, I see that As the World Turns may be cancelled. Maybe SGU will be next. I suppose the writers could only come up with a limited story, so the added fluff to make it last the whole season. The sad part about this is, the story seems to have a great potential but the writers have no clue. Its a shame.

keith

sgu the most boring crap ever time you will never get back hopefully it will be cancelled

stayingtrue

way to duul, the seriously need to apply some action to this almost boring series or whatever

bryannc42

i also just wanted to add part of what was SO great about stargate sg1 or altlantis was it wasnt Always life and death and gloomy...there were some real Funny episodes in and this new "stargate" offers none of that and no hope of it in future episodes.

bryannc42

ok first i didnt even read your review..i just wanted to drop my 2 cents in.
i used to be a HUGE stargate fan but this new one has just crumbbled!!
my first main issue is What the fuck is up with the "military" staff on this project these "soldiers" are so unruly and disobediant they would have barely made it past boot camp ...let alone be privvy to something as secret as the stargate and for them to be put on the All important super secret 9th ceveron project is just ludacris! The "soldiers" are an unruly pack of dogs i could go on with invidiual issue about them but .....that would be boring!
Second the whole style of the sets and filming....could you rip of battlestar alittle more?
Third the "scientists" i like em... poor fellow have Daniel Jackson or Rodney ever had to deal with out right insult and threats by the " military " staff that is supossed to protect them?
i could easily put up a 1000 resaons Not to watch this show...but i will settle with 3.