Stargate Universe

[wraithfodder]

I'm actually letting Battlestar Galactica run only for the ads for various Sci Fi shows, and the green pastures they shot some scenes in is the only appealing part of the movie.

Anyway, the much-ballyhooed trailer for Stargate Universe aired in the first 15 minutes of the show, and an hour later, SciFi.com had it online. They were never this fast with either Stargate SG-1 or Stargate Atlantis. Sigh.

Anyway, it's up at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE_1rmvQWvw

I was... well, not thrilled, not dismayed, just.... eh? You see, it was dark. Did Mallozzi mean dark it was going to be dark, as in we're conserving energy and can afford only three lightbulbs?? I'm tired of the dark visuals in scifi shows. However, what did strike me was a similarity to SGA's "Rising" in that wow, they're in trouble, but the camerawork reminded me too much of Cloverfield, which was critically acclaimed, sorta, but the camerawork sucked. Take a Dramamine before watching that film, plus everybody basically dies.

SGU doesn't really bear much resemblance to the Stargates we know, at least not that I can see. I'll still check it out, but the trailers for SGA had me going "whoa...." while this one is, okay, been there, done that, gonna go do the wash.

Opinions??

Comments

[parislove27.livejournal.com]

Thank you for posting the YouTube link! *hugs*

I'm not very sure about SGU. From what I've heard, I don't believe it will fill the shoes of SG-1 or SGA. That's not pessimism, that's reality.

I think Mallozzi meant "conserve energy" dark because REALLY-how dark can Stargate get? The Stargate-verse was never naturally dark as...for example...The X-Files or Supernatural. It'll be just *weird* for fans to watch and we will have thought (for sure this time) that Mallozzi has lost his mind.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

They can't let SGU get too dark because they will lose audience - the ones who watched SG1 and SGA. Granted, neither was heavy-duty drama, but it was durable in syndication, a family could sit down and watch. Given what I read in Carlyle's interview, SGU is going to be dark in theme. If it goes too dark, and they get too dependent on arcs, and try too hard to copy BSG, it'll be a show I might tape and watch in a marathon, but not a "must see watch live" kind of show.

[shansgrl.livejournal.com]

Hee, I thought of Cloverfield too!

The trailer left me very meh. I'll be honest, I wasn't planning on watching it anyway, and the trailer isn't making me change my mind. Again, we have a team/expedition that is in trouble the moment they get through the gate. Like you said...been there done that. Their mission is to survive? Um, again rinse and repeat.

Like I said on GW, I guess the lightbulbs are the first to go when there are budget cutbacks. I think quite a few fans are thinking that this will be the "darker, edgier" Stargate, but you know? That's not what Stargate is about and never was. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Oh well, the ratings will tell.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I was joking about the lightbulbs on GW ;) but well, the trailer didn't inspire me much. People running around panicing with shaky camera angles is too Cloverfield at this point.

I love that pic of RDA

[kjhamnik.livejournal.com]

And the caption SAYS IT ALL ROTFL!!!!!!

Re: I love that pic of RDA

[shansgrl.livejournal.com]

Hee, thanks. It's my default icon at the moment....I'm quite confused about everything right now! LOL

[cimmerdeux.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it's all set up to appeal to the BSG crowd. Nothing wrong with BSG but contrary to network opinion the world is big enough for more than one type of show on TV at a time. Alas, we have SG:BSG because that's what they think will pull them the demos they want. Robert Carlyle stated in his interview there are 3 deaths in the first three hours and a suicide by episode 6! What fun eh? LOL The sad part is that JM, BW and Co. have never been able to do anything like BSG and I have a strong feeling this SG copy is going to end up making 'both' sets of fans unhappy. The BSG folk will decry the writing and compare it unfavorably to what they had and the SG folk will dislike the bastardization of the elements that drew them to one or both of the prior series.

As my mom used to say; when you attempt to please everyone you end up pleasing no-one.

[libra-traveller.livejournal.com]

It's definitely missing any hot guys, and that is sad. But you're right, nothing of that rang Stargate to me.

missing any hot guys

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

~~LOL~~
I almost said that but felt the remark might
label me as transparent......
OK I freely admit I am when it comes to Flanigan.....
:P

Re: missing any hot guys

[shansgrl.livejournal.com]

There can and never will be another Flanigan.

[parisindy.livejournal.com]

when is universe suppose to start?

[seticat.livejournal.com]

Serious 'meh'.

[vecturist.livejournal.com]

The vid on youtube is now down. I'll see if I'm bored enough to catch it during BSG.

SGU doesn't really bear much resemblance to the Stargates

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

It is not only dark, but frantic.........like they shot
it in high speed with strobe lights thrown to impress us.
It kind of reminds me of being in one of those paintball galleries
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Finally,
the ONLY SG I care about is SGA
This looks like a dud compared to the SGA pilot
I saw the trailer for it on another cable station and was
(((((immediately)))))) interested but this just makes me want to curl up with some ff dedicated to SGA......

[flingslass.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link, it's definitely 'Wha'! and then 'Meh'.
I couldn't be bothered turning the sound on and I still went 'meh'!

[lysambre.livejournal.com]

The Cloverfield camera work is an apt description, and I already disliked it in the movie : steadycam are heaven, use them !

Otherwise it also left me very "bleh", and not really anymore interested than I was, I know the thing was short, but for SGA Joe Flanigan and David Hewlett managed to catch my eyes in about 3 seconds.

So, opinion unchanged for me so far.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

I won't watch SGU. It has nothing to do with the cancellation of SGA or SG-1 or whatnot, I just don't like the premise or the characters or the actors, for that matter. I don't like dark shows and from what I read on GW, it's all deathdeathdeath, dark and broody and depressive and people having their own agenda and plotting behind each other's back... No, just no. Stargate for me has always been team adventure and people trusting each other implicitly. This is... no. I dropped BSG for this very reason.

[ann-tara.livejournal.com]

Did Mallozzi mean dark it was going to be dark, as in we're conserving energy and can afford only three lightbulbs??

LOL! That was exactly my reaction too - gee, they're really working on a shoe-string budget there. No money for lighting. Whatever. Bored now.

Quite honestly, the previews for Warehouse 13 look much better - funnier, a bit too much like Eureka maybe, but still worth a look-see. ;)

Uh, do you like Flanigan?

[kjhamnik.livejournal.com]

Warehouse 13 is a remake of Manmade, without Flanigan in it. This is perhaps the show that Joe was saying he was offered. He was in the original pilot years ago!!!!!

Re: Uh, do you like Flanigan?

[ann-tara.livejournal.com]

Only lots and lots! ;D

Warehouse 13 is a remake of Manmade, without Flanigan in it. This is perhaps the show that Joe was saying he was offered.

Are you serious????? Oh, man, he would have been PERFECT for the role! *aaaarrrrrggggghhhhhh*! I can sorta see him not wanting to be type-cast into being a sci-fi lead, but at the same time, I sure want to see him on my little screen again, and soon.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

. Did Mallozzi mean dark it was going to be dark, as in we're conserving energy and can afford only three lightbulbs??
Yes! Exactly!

I kind of went, "Huh? That's supposed to make me want to watch? Watch what? I couldn't see anything! I have less idea of what the show is about than I did before I saw the ad!"

I'll give it a shot. I like a couple of the actors, and they made Scalzi a creative consultant. I'm not holding my breath, though.

[monkey-junkey.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking SGU is going to suck big time, and that makes me a bit sad because I have enjoyed the franchise so much up to this point. There is a teeny tiny part of me that wants it to fail just to show Mallozzi what an arrogant prick he is. Ultimately, I'll have to watch for myself and decide whether or not stick with it. Either way, I live in SGA rerun land now, but it's conveniently close to SGA fanfiction land!

[jedi40.livejournal.com]

The preview makes me want to watch the show even less.

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

I am STILL thinking about this.....
It burns me up that Mallozzi just let SGA go without
further adieu.........His fat ego bloated to the point where nothing else mattered so why not just go on to SGU
and start a *new and improved* stargate adventure????
***rolls eyes***
If they had spent half the time on
developing better scripts, and never mind getting a bit of input from the cast, perhaps they would have had some
real quality instead of the mediocrity which crept into the last season.......
And BTW, surely a galaxy as big as Pegasus would host other threats other than Wraith????
I feel the battle was beginning to reflect on Flanigan.....The light from earlier seasons seemed to fade, like it might not be worth it anymore.
AND,I am NOT being mean spirited, just expressing what I feel about how the battle might have begun to wear on him
Everyone reaches a point in any process, where
the constant battle becomes harder and harder to deal with.
Perhaps his body language and overall look in VEGAS was not all makeup etc.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I can't fathom how they're going to go more character-driven when the writers of both SG1 and SGA weren't able to do it in 15 years of shows... ??

[these-dark-ages.livejournal.com]

Alright, I am in the target demographic that the SG:U and “ScyFy” network is looking to cash on and after that preview, I am still not impressed. I will admit that I enjoyed SG-1 and SGA (especially the darker season four), but SG:U seems like it is trying too hard to morph itself into every sci-fi show that was ever out there. And by having to shape itself to fit into all these identities (Firefly, BSG), etc, it will essentially cut all ties to the Stargate franchise (while continuing to keep it in the title to appeal to Stargate fans too). The franchise worked in part because it did not take itself too seriously.

And given the fact that the writers and producers delivered unsatisfactory plotlines, character arcs, and eventual endings (IMO) to SG-1 (but mostly) SGA, I’m not sure I even want to invest my time in characters that will be killed for “ratings” or when TBTB run out of ideas. I also don’t trust TBTB not to do a lame retread of passed plotlines from their show, or to just slap something on when they again, have nothing else to do. I mean really, how long before the SG:U crew get to hook-up with the SGC again? Thirty minutes? An entire three hours? Talk about bland.

If I watch, it’ll only be only to see what the actors can do to elevate the crap they are given, not because I have any faith in TBTB.

[media-junkie.livejournal.com]

I think the trailer itself said it best:

These are the wrong people in the wrong place. They're going to die out there.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

well, that would make it a limited run series if they started dropping like flies...

[media-junkie.livejournal.com]

I meant die in the performing arts sense. You know, when an actor says "I'm dying out there"

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Oh!

[nakedwesley.livejournal.com]

It looks...interesting? Definitely not the kind of show I'd watch, even if I didn't already know about it. I know BSG is lauded and was a critical success, but I didn't watch that either. I preferred SGA for a reason.

Too bad they couldn't have put a little care and effort into the show they already had, rather than tossing it aside. Maybe the BSG fans will like it, but now I'm even more sure I won't.

[kodiak-bear.livejournal.com]

I can't make up my mind about SGU.

I am still bearing some serious resentments towards TPTB.
-booting SGA to make room for SGU
-changing it to the McKeller hour
-refusing to QA their work

But then again, I have loved SG-1 and SGA, and enjoyed the good, the bad, and the ugly, as it has rolled along. For that alone, I want to give it a try. But then I think 'these people are the same people that couldn't seem to get their act together'. The writing quality was as erratic as a geriatric heart patient's EKG. Their treatment of the fans...mmmmm...well, having our show cancelled because *they* wanted to make a different one...yyeeaaahhhh...leaves kind of a bitter taste, doesn't it?

But I love sci-fi and there's a bit of a vacuum now and damn it, I like Lou Diamond Phillips...crap, I'll probably have to tune in. Just to be fair. Yet, I'll probably be sitting there, glaring at the TV, still pissed off about it all.

And the preview didn't impress me much. Again, though, I was sitting there feeling extremely pissy towards it so apparently TPTB have grossly underestimated the time required for fans to 'forgive and forget' eh?

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Well, SciFi execs think any old 'fix' will do, sigh...

Eh, remember Roswell

[kjhamnik.livejournal.com]

It might be okay, but the minute they start playing the lastest pop hits of the day as background music I'm gone. It's gonna be like Smallville I suppose. That's what they want. It might be greed, cut down on a few of those 4 thousand dollar lights and and lets see if we can make some money. It's like at work when they tell we're not allowed to offer sauce anymore with the chicken or extra ranch. It just kills the customer base!!!!

Re: Eh, remember Roswell

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

yeah, I remember Roswell. Wow, that show was really hot and then it was gone and where is the cast today?? I think the darkness they used in the trailer is show they're in a new place, and how dark (potentially bad) it could be. I hope the whole show isn't done like that as it's gets boring real fast.

You know what else is missing...

[kjhamnik.livejournal.com]

Patriotism. SG-1 and SGA were patriotic in their base. I was engaged by the respect and honor shown in SG-1 (I'm from an Air Force family, ya know, the Army Air Corps right on thru to the present day). And NO Shepperd's hair didn't bother me cos I've seen AF guys in way worse shape after six months in Iraq, let alone an entire year in another galaxy LMAO!

Re: You know what else is missing...

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I liked Sheppard's hair and had no problem with it. :)

[toranoko.livejournal.com]

I was surprised. I wasn't expecting any real footage.

It honestly looked a bit like Rising rehashed, aside from the lack of lighting and shaky camera shots (though I don't think the directors will actually go that direction.)

That being said, I'm honestly interested in the concept of no return, it's like what Atlantis could've been, had they not reconnected with Earth. But if this is going to revolve around characters, I have very little faith in TPTB to deliver. Add in the fact they couldn't juggle characters on Atlantis (IMO) and that leaves me with no real hopes for the series.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

It did remind me of "Rising", only more panicky...

[amycat1959.livejournal.com]

"...it was dark. Did Mallozzi mean dark it was going to be dark, as in we're conserving energy and can afford only three lightbulbs?? I'm tired of the dark visuals in scifi shows."

Damn straight.

SO tired of stuff where I can't f*ckin' SEE what's going on!

Is this supposed to be "artistic"?

The tiny bit I could see of Robert Carlyle looked okay; liked the longer hair. Of course, one of my big disappointments with SG-1 was that they didn't keep MS/Daniel Jackson a longhair throughout.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I like Robert Carlyle, so I'll check it out for him, but the dark Cloverfield style camerawork is not endearing me to the show.

SGA thrown under the bus

[(Anonymous)]

Originally I thought Stargate Universe was an interesting idea...as long TPTB took care to let Atlantis end in a natural progression. They could have waited a couple of years to push Universe so that Atlantis could end beautifully and in a way that made sense...like a book series would. Maybe it required too much care and affection for their creation for them to be able to do that. Instead, because they couldn't wait to get Universe out there to mimic BSG or as you've said, Cloverfield, they threw Atlantis, the cast, and the fans under the bus using the economy as an excuse. I think the truth is that Brad Wright (and who knows who else) got bored with SGA and maybe the Stargate formula in general. The Stargate formula is what attracted the fans in the first place! It is something other science fiction programs don't have. I definitely think egos are involved now. They sold their souls to the ego gods and disrespected Atlantis as a product and the loyalty of the fans.

I will, however, continue to support the cast of SGA. I am eagerly awaiting their next projects...even if they go straight to DVD. I'm excited to hear that Joe Flanigan may be doing a project with David Hewlett. David said somewhere that he was surprised it didn't take much to convince Joe to get onboard. Friendship has its benefits. :) Joe and Jason Momoa say they are working on a project together (and writing). Whoohoo!! Love those two boys. Assuming it's different from David's project, there should be more than one project to look forward to in the near future. I hope everything works in their favor. I put my trust and loyalty in their current and future endeavors rather than in anything the Stargate "powers that be" will put forth from now on. The only thing I will thank TPTB for is casting Joe Flanigan in the lead role on Stargate Atlantis, despite some(one) wanting to go another direction. LOL! Can you imagine!? Joe Flanigan was the only reason I was loyal to SGA through the ups and downs. I love the rest of the cast and feel they were very important to the whole, but if Joe had ever left the show for any reason, I would not have felt as loyal to it. Having recently heard of Joe indicating his distrust of TPTB, I feel that my gut reactions have been confirmed.

So, in a nut shell, though I wish no ill-will towards the cast of SGU (and oh, what have they gotten themselves into?), I won't be tuning in to watch. It reminds me too much of AIG giving bonuses to their failed executives. I would not want to reward TPTB by watching the product that killed Stargate Atlantis.

-Diane

Re: SGA thrown under the bus

[sga4ever.livejournal.com]

Well said. The Stargate PTB seem to think fans have followed their shows (or in my case one of their shows. I could never get into SG-1) all these years due to their formula and wonderful writing. Hmmm. I can only speak for myself, but I watched SGA because of the actors and the way their portrayed the characters, not exactly because of their writing.

I'll continue watching Joe Flanigan in his future projects. I hope the projects with David Hewlett and Jason Momoa get a greenlight because I'd love to see them working together.

I won't be watching SGU. For me all Stargate ended with Atlantis.

[jessica7070.livejournal.com]

Wow.. what can I say? I thought the ad looked like an ok show, BUT I don't like the idea that the Stargate theme has changed. SG1's fans got on board with SGA because of the similar qualities the shows had in common. It will come as no surprise if fans lose interest.. and if that’s the case I’d rather the show completely end rather than become something lame. With that all said.. I too will give it a chance.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Very true. If they deviate too far from the tried and true, they're bound to lose audience.