New Stargate Universe trailer" Survival"

[wraithfodder]

This 49-second trailer for Stargate Universe was shown during Stargate Continuum last night, but is now available at

http://www.scifi.com/universe/

There are some clips from the shows (including from White Sands), plus sound bytes from

• Robert Carlyle
• Lou Diamond Phillips
• Brian J. Smith
• Ming Na
• Elyse Levesque

When all the news first came out, as well as the first two trailers, I coudln't help but think... they're trying to compensate for the loss of the Stargate franchise and Battlestar Galactica but combining the qualities of both shows. So far, I think the only aspects of Stargate that are making it to the series is the Stargate, and the name Stargate, which isn't, er, a lot. I'm still definitely on the fence on this show.

The darkkness, the shaky camerawork, all is indicative of Battlestar. I'm pretty sure (you can correct me if I'm wrong) that Mallozzi said they were shooting it in documentary style, but I've recently watched some documentaries, and none of their cameramen seemed to have ingested a dozen expressos ;)  And *cough* as i've joked before, the character-driven stuff might be the sex scenes ;)

While I'm very curious about the show, and will check it out, I don't have the 'oomph' I've had in the past with other shows. Opinions?.

Comments

[strange-magic.livejournal.com]

I pretty much feel the same. I guess we'll just have to give it a try and see what happens. *shrugs*

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm sorta 'meh' on the show. I like the actors, but, alas, no real spark, nothing that goes 'whoa' like it did with Hewlett and Flanigan and Shanks...

[ga-unicorn.livejournal.com]

I'm going to give the show a try (after all, I was the one who was sure that the Rodney McKay character would absolutely ruin SGA). But the weird camera work and the obsession with sex were two of the reasons I didn't care for BSG. And, no, I'm not a prude - I like sex a LOT! but find it boring to watch on screen. Love on the other hand...

[jedi40.livejournal.com]

I may or may not watch the pilot..but from what I have seen so far it just does not have that stargate feel to it.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

One of that things I liked about Stargate is the wonder... exploration, etc. I'm just not feeling that so far.

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

One of that things I liked about (the early) Stargate was that it has no ships in it!

So, what shall I think of a show that is set on a ship? But since they now have RDA and AT and who else in there I guess I'll check it out also... whether I will stay is another question.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

like sex a LOT! but find it boring to watch on screen.
Yes! If I want sex, I have a husband. ;-) I can't just run off through the nearest Stargate for adventure, though. And you can never have too many friendship/team shows. I want a sense of team!

[aelfgyfu_mead]

What struck me immediately was the actors talking about what SGU is not--apparently, the other Stargates, But SG-1 was my favorite, and I watched SGA for five years (and still hope for a movie)--why are they dissing what got me into the franchise and kept me there? Don't they have anything positive to say about their own show? Strange, and I have to think they were prompted to say these things. I mean, did they all as preparation for SGU sit down and watch the other two shows and independently decide they didn't like them?

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

True. It will be interesting to read all the critics' take on the show once they get review copies.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I loved the team stuff on SG1/SGA; didn't like it when the writers broke it up every now and then for whatever reason. Ah, thank god fanfic exists!

[supamikeymon.livejournal.com]

I thought Lou Diamond Phillips died on that gay island with all the other celebrity survivor rejects

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I do get the feeling all the actors were definitely prepped on what to say (or not to say) and it does seem they're pushing it as Stargate, but NOT Stargate (new and improved!)

[tavabean.livejournal.com]

I am trying to distance myself from my angst at the cancellation of SGA and look at the trailer from an objective point of view - would I plan on tuning in if I wasn't so invested in the Stargate world?
I honestly don't think so.
The camera work, the BSG-like feel to the action, the lack (from what I can see)of age-appropriate thunkable guys, and the "sexier" comment with the smooching are all combining to make a fairly negative impression on me.
Unless I see something a bit more promising in a future trailer, I'm fairly sure I won't become a fan of this show.
That makes me sad. :(

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Even when SG1 bored me in the latter years (with some episodes), I still tuned in and recorded it and bought the DVDs, and it's hard to conceive that with SGU, it won't bother me to set the VCR and watch it later and not 'live.' But if it doesn't do much for me, that's where I may be - a casual viewer.

[cimmerdeux.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry but they're just trying way too hard. All I could think of when watching this is that I'm seeing the 'first' of the BSG rip offs, right down to the cut of the Marine (?) uniform LDP was wearing. Their emphasis on real people in 'real' situations just rant false. Being stuck on a space ship is not a real situation and it's silly to try and get the audience to put themselves in these peoples' shoes. Stargate is escapism not Tolstoy.

Did anyone else thing that compared to the sets of BSG and even Sanctuary that these looked a little 'cheap'? There was something kind of plastic or toy like about it or maybe it just had the production value of Syfy's typical Saturday night movie. I was just expecting more because of the hype about the ship. And I realize that was a very brief trailer but it looked, well, boring; even the 'dramatic' bits. I have to say, even if I didn't know this was SGU or anything about it, there was nothing about it that really caught my eye or made me go 'wow, cool'. It's never a good sign when the trailer doesn't make you sit up because supposedly you put your best stuff in the trailer. If that's the best they got, say good night Gracie. LOL

[rasmizar.livejournal.com]

they were shooting it in documentary style
well, if it's about "real stories and real people with real concerns" (to quote LDP) isn't that kinda documentary? ;-)

And *cough* as i've joked before, the character-driven stuff might be the sex scenes ;)
*bwahaha*

Yeah, there doesn't seem to be much Stargate in it, but that isn't really a selling point for me. I think some of the scenes look interesting, but with trailers you never know...; however, what usually really brings me to a show are the actors / characters, and so far I've seen no one on SGU who could win me over (rather on the contrary).

Aside from that, I'm on principle very reluctant to "like" SGU because of how SGA was cancelled...

[cimmerdeux.livejournal.com]

And no, I guess I can't spell. LOL

[these-dark-ages.livejournal.com]

You're kinder than I am because I can think of one word that describes what I've seen so far: Lame.

But then again I never watched BSG or Firefly or any of those other shows. I'm a Stargate Atlantis/SG-1 guy. But I'll give the show a chance.

[the-other-sandy.livejournal.com]

I remember the shaky "realistic" camera work from the first season of Homicide: Life on the Street. Even though I liked the show, I had to stop watching it because the shaky picture was making me motion sick.

[jedi40.livejournal.com]

Me either.

[the-scary-kitty.livejournal.com]

Blech. Well, I'm even less enthused about SGU than I was before I watched the trailer.

Oh, I am so looking forward to seeing what kind of spin/damage control they're going to try to shovel out at Comic-Con in July. *snerks*

[star-climber.livejournal.com]

i really am still not so excited about this show...but will try it out...
and this trailer,nothing interesting in it....nothing!

[kethry47.livejournal.com]

My problem with that "character driven" nonsense is that SciFi usually drives its characters into depression after depression, until the characters are barely salvagable. If I want to get depressed, all I need to do is switch on the news. I want my TV shows to be fun. SG1 and SGA were fun, even the eps I didn't like usually had something for me to enjoy. BSG - IMO - started out interesting and quickly turned into a lot of cr*p. These constant comparisons of SGU to BSG certainly don't help sell SGU to me. Quite apart from the fact that I still haven't forgiven TPTB for killing off SGA. I'd be much more open towards SGU if SGA would still be on the air with new eps, so the franchise wouldn't depend on their experiment with SGU. Their implied negativity towards SG1 and especially SGA doesn't sit too well, either. Suddenly 15 years of success are nothing and this is what they wanted to do all along!?! Oh, puhlease. Mid-life crisis anyone? aaarrghhh no, I won't rant again. Ommmmmm! :)

[ionaonie.livejournal.com]

I have to say, if there is nothing else happening at ComicCon when the SG:90210 panel is on, I'm probably going to go and see how they spin it.

If they can spin it and what the reaction of the crowd is.

I am wondering, too, if there will be such a line of people waiting this year, too.

[ionaonie.livejournal.com]

It's like everything they say to try and sell the show just succeeds in making me hate it more.

There is nothing they are saying or showing me that is making me want to watch this.

Massive fail on their part.

[fififolle]

Thanks for the link. I totally agree with the whole merge BSG/SG thing. And LOL to the espressos. Documentary, haha.
I dunno, I like the look of it. But I'm easily pleased :P

[mercury973.livejournal.com]

I will most likely not watch. Ooh, stuck on a spaceship? I'm not a 15 year old boy. Where are the middle aged men snarking? That is what I came for. If it's on, I might tune in, but I'm not going out of my way to watch it.

[miso-no-tsuki.livejournal.com]

Watches video.
Oh dear.
"These are real stories about real people"?????
Riiight. Absolutely. More of TPTB's favourite trope about how we can relate to these people because they're from the present day.
*Sighs* Perhaps someone could tell them that the whole point of Sci-Fi is to examine and explore the human condition under every imaginable condition? Can't say that the trailer was inspiring, it could have been any military-based series currently airing. The Marine Corps version of "Lost", anyone?
Now Robert Carlyle is a damn fine actor (IMHO) and I have been a fan of his since the wonderfully off-the-wall "Hamish McBeth" series on UK TV. If they give him something meaty to work with it might work. My money is on them killing him off (like Robert Patrick/Col Sumner) in the Atlantis pilot, because he would be too expensive to keep as a permanent character.
I'll watch the pilot but I'm not hopeful here. :(

[cimmerdeux.livejournal.com]

I actually think he's on the payroll for the duration or at least the first season because as soon as he goes so goes a big chunk of audience. He's SGU's version of RDA. My money is on Lou biting it. Carlyle said one of the characters commits suicide in episode 6 and we know it probably won't be the 'cheap' actors. LOL

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I sorta thought LDP's character was a Sumner-clone. TIme will tell...

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I couldn't really watch any of the promos because they made be think of SGA, that SGA is gone, and that made me sad.

I'm really neither here nor there on Universe. I don't already hate it, but I doubt I'm going to watch it just because it'll probably make me want to watch SGA. The same thing happens when I watch SG-1 - I end wanting to watch SGA. Plus I really don't want to get invested in too many new shows, especially shows that are going to aim for being as dramatic as they can possibly be. What I loved about both Stargates was the excellent way, I thought, they balanced humor with drama.

But I need to be careful, because it's usually the shows I say I'm not going to watch that I end up loving to pieces. When I saw the promos for SGA, it didn't interest me at all and I was certain that I'd never get into it.

Now I think back on that and laugh at myself.

[tashirasbubble.livejournal.com]

You are right - that is soooo un Stargate.... *shakes head*

[rasmizar.livejournal.com]

Heee, I thought it was appropriate... *g*

(it's from wearmyhat)

[baranyandi.livejournal.com]

I'm not even watching the trailer. I was young and naive with SG-1 and not much less young or naive with SGA, and they broke my heart. I'm done with the Stargate franchise, apart from the possible movies.

If I watch SGU, it will definitely not be live, but many years down the road when we know its fate. That happened with Farscape, and I was spared the heartbreak of cancellation, but got one of the best shows in history.

[jessica7070.livejournal.com]

I agree with you 100% on this one.

Alright this is going to sound a little silly, but I wonder who will be the hot one on SGU?? I liked Daniel on SG1, but Mitchell often won me over as well. :D On SGA I DIE over Sheppard (he'll always be my no. 1,) although I must admit McKay has his moments too. Sure without knowing the characters yet I don't feel much anything, but I want and need that allure from them as well.

To me just because they say it's sexier doesn't always mean it's sexier. In fact the very few intimate moments Sheppard had on SGA made me develop a bond with the character in which when it seemed like his character may get cozy with a girl I felt... nooooo he's cheating on me. Although in other shows I don't mind the sex scenes with Joe Flanigan actually I LOVE them. ...sounds crazy...I'm sane I promise. :)

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Well, looking good is a plus, but if the actor doesn't have chemistry with the camera, or other actors, it's, well, not there.

As for which character may be the 'hot one'? Wow, good question. I'm thinking, just looking at photos, maybe Brian J. Smith? Just a guess.

[jessica7070.livejournal.com]

Hmmm.. you might be right.

[tavabean.livejournal.com]

Sadly, Brian J.Smith is just too young for me to get a full-on squee over. :(
Maybe 15 years ago...

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Sorta know the feeling. Nah, I like my guys more, er, seasoned.