Am I the only one who loves SGU? - Page 3

Kaijima · March 1 2012, 09:05 PM

I thought SGU was the best sci-fi show I'd seen in years, so yeah, I loved it.

Looking back with some hindsight, I feel a lot of people just have an allergic reaction to whatever they dislike, so the fact that the show wasn't happy-go-lucky automatically made it "NuBSG" to a lot of viewers, except no, it really wasn't. It was realistic. A realistic scenario is going to share similarities with other such scenarios, but in no way was SGU "NuBSG" at the core. It was something a lot better in fact, that had some real vision, and was revealing itself layer by layer to be the most serious stab Stargate had ever taken at significant science fiction, as opposed to "science fantasy" or "pew pew lasergun adventure".

I feel that all of the meaning and impact in the second half of season 2 wouldn't have been there if it weren't for the long, patient set up of everything that came before it. That doesn't mean it was perfect. There were filler episodes here and there, but not as many as people claim. I was sold on the show from the opening trilogy of episodes, and was more or less shocked at how many people were damned and determined to not get the show or what it was trying to do.

The only real missteps that he show made for me, besides a couple of absolute filler scripts, were in taking a little too long to settle in to a dramatic rhythm - concepts like musical montages were not bad in the abstract, but they were used haphazardly and sometimes too many instances were used back to back to back.

But it got really strong by the end of season 2 and had found its footing.

If it had to die before its time, I did appreciate the ending that the team had time to assemble. Bittersweet as hell, but open in just the right way, with a fantastic final scene.

Robert Maxwell · March 1 2012, 10:03 PM

I did this post a while back, detailing how the show might have worked better with fewer filler episodes, getting us roughly to the midpoint of season 2 by the end of season 1. Were I inclined to give it more thought, I could do a full timeline for both seasons, but eh. I think you get the point: SGU wasted a lot of airtime on crap.

CAPTAINMAX · March 1 2012, 10:08 PM

samalex wrote:

I've watched a few Stargate episodes over the years, but I hadn't just fallen in love with any of them until SGU. I watched the first couple of episodes when they originally aired then as goes life I just didn't make it a priority and fell out of it. I'm now watching them on Netflix and am about 10 episodes from the end of season two, which I guess is all they made.

But from reading the comments about SGU it seems that most die hard SG fans don't care for the show. Why? I'm totally digging the storylines and character development, and given I loved TNG, DS9, and Voy, I see elements of all three in SGU.

I will be honest the idea was good and the first couple of episodes were good but i lost interest after that.

Agent Richard07 · March 2 2012, 03:49 PM

Gary7 wrote:

Anyway, the thing is... we really don't quite know if Eli DOES know how to fix the chamber. That's what's so great about the ending. There's this uncertainty... did he really believe he could do it, or... did he sacrifice himself so that no one else would have to?

Knowing that the show was supposed to continue, there isn't much uncertaintly about what would have happened to Eli.

TiberiusMaximus · March 2 2012, 07:04 PM

Agent Richard07 wrote:

Gary7 wrote:

Anyway, the thing is... we really don't quite know if Eli DOES know how to fix the chamber. That's what's so great about the ending. There's this uncertainty... did he really believe he could do it, or... did he sacrifice himself so that no one else would have to?

Knowing that the show was supposed to continue, there isn't much uncertaintly about what would have happened to Eli.

That's true, but the very fact that the show didn't continue means the suspense is still valid. Of course they wouldn't kill Eli, but the way it ended kind of negates that point.

RoJoHen · March 2 2012, 07:14 PM

TiberiusMaximus wrote:

Agent Richard07 wrote:

Gary7 wrote:

Anyway, the thing is... we really don't quite know if Eli DOES know how to fix the chamber. That's what's so great about the ending. There's this uncertainty... did he really believe he could do it, or... did he sacrifice himself so that no one else would have to?

Knowing that the show was supposed to continue, there isn't much uncertaintly about what would have happened to Eli.

That's true, but the very fact that the show didn't continue means the suspense is still valid. Of course they wouldn't kill Eli, but the way it ended kind of negates that point.

I'm probably in a minority here, but I was getting the distinct impression from the show that these characters would never get home. All this talk of "destiny" and the fact that their situation just keeps getting more and more dire as they are forced to get farther and farther away from Earth...I dunno, I almost didn't want them to make it back. I think there is a much more interesting story there.

So yes, I'm actually okay with the way it ended. Maybe Eli dies. Maybe not. In my mind, none of them were ever going home again anyway.

The Wormhole · March 2 2012, 07:42 PM

Agent Richard07 wrote:

Gary7 wrote:

Anyway, the thing is... we really don't quite know if Eli DOES know how to fix the chamber. That's what's so great about the ending. There's this uncertainty... did he really believe he could do it, or... did he sacrifice himself so that no one else would have to?

Knowing that the show was supposed to continue, there isn't much uncertaintly about what would have happened to Eli.

Actually, the Eli remaining was how the ending was re-written after they got the cancellation word. The original ending to the episode, had they believed the show were going to continue would have had everyone in stasis except for Young and Rush. The two would agree to a coin toss to decide who would go into stasis and who would remain outside. The episode would have ended with the result of the toss not being revealed, thus being the cliffhanger.

I'm serious.

Gary7 · March 2 2012, 07:58 PM

The Wormhole wrote:

Actually, the Eli remaining was how the ending was re-written after they got the cancellation word. The original ending to the episode, had they believed the show were going to continue would have had everyone in stasis except for Young and Rush. The two would agree to a coin toss to decide who would go into stasis and who would remain outside. The episode would have ended with the result of the toss not being revealed, thus being the cliffhanger.

I'm serious.

Thank you for this, wormhole. VERY interesting stuff.

Part of what we crave in entertainment is to see life as we would like to live it, or as we would want it to be for others. SGU didn't paint a rosy picture. Many of the characters were flawed in a number of respects. Not every day in life is entertaining. Not everything fits together so that we feel like the status quo is upheld. This is what I think worked well for SGU. Some of the unintentional flaws worked, tying into the whole trying and difficult situation.

I agree with RoJoHen. The Destiny crew would never get home. They had the luxury of being able to keep virtually in touch, but that was all. This was a whole new life in a galaxy far, far away. Their ultimate destiny was to be separated from the hive of human civilization forever. But, their importance to humanity would be so great. The information they would relay back home would help Earth and humanity survive all the present day obstacles, giving the human race a chance to one day have a shot at ascension.

Agent Richard07 · March 2 2012, 08:35 PM

The Wormhole wrote:

Actually, the Eli remaining was how the ending was re-written after they got the cancellation word. The original ending to the episode, had they believed the show were going to continue would have had everyone in stasis except for Young and Rush. The two would agree to a coin toss to decide who would go into stasis and who would remain outside. The episode would have ended with the result of the toss not being revealed, thus being the cliffhanger.

I'm serious.

Looks like that idea was only a pitch, not something that was dropped due to cancellation.

As for the Destiny crew not making it home, I figured that Rush would have been the only one who didn't make it. I think he would have found whatever he was looking for which didn't include going home.

TiberiusMaximus · March 2 2012, 09:57 PM

Rush had no reason to go home. He had absolutely no interest in returning home, which is ironic, since if anyone could get the rest home it would be him.

You could almost view the whole "Novus" arc as foreshadowing that they won't "make it home" but instead "make a new home" on Destiny.

AJ86 · March 2 2012, 11:54 PM

I think that by the end of the series that getting home would have been a hope that had been abandoned. As the series went on the character's links to Earth were eroding, while their ties to each other were getting stronger and the profundity of the mission was starting to dawn on them. I think the AU flashbacks in Twin Destinies were especially telling. Chloe vowed to stay without even looking to see what Scott was doing, and Volker (who was going insane on the ship earlier on) almost looked like he had just had an epiphany, and was the second to volunteer.

MacLeod · March 3 2012, 08:35 PM

TiberiusMaximus wrote:

In general, people who liked the other Stargate series didn't seem to like SGU, and people who didn't like the other series seemed to like it. Of course, there are exceptions to both sides.

I didn't really like it at first, but it grew on me and Season 2 was mostly excellent. SGU also had an amazing finale.

I must be one of the exceptions as I liked all three. Just as SG:U had flaws so did SG-1 and SG:A

DWF · March 3 2012, 10:48 PM

I too like all three series although it's bee na while since I've seen SG1 and Atlantis. I have started rewatching Universe on DVD and I like it better in a condensed form, as with alot of serialized shows it runs better if you can see the entire series as a whole, not on a weekly basis.

stonester1 · March 5 2012, 05:52 AM

I've ordered what's available on DVD, I'll be letting you know my take soon.

RoJoHen · March 5 2012, 06:42 AM

This thread has inspired me to watch the show a second time. I started this morning, and now I'm on Episode 7.

March 1 2012, 09:05 PM	#31
Kaijima Captain Location: United States	Re: Am I the only one who loves SGU? I thought SGU was the best sci-fi show I'd seen in years, so yeah, I loved it. Looking back with some hindsight, I feel a lot of people just have an allergic reaction to whatever they dislike, so the fact that the show wasn't happy-go-lucky automatically made it "NuBSG" to a lot of viewers, except no, it really wasn't. It was realistic. A realistic scenario is going to share similarities with other such scenarios, but in no way was SGU "NuBSG" at the core. It was something a lot better in fact, that had some real vision, and was revealing itself layer by layer to be the most serious stab Stargate had ever taken at significant science fiction, as opposed to "science fantasy" or "pew pew lasergun adventure". I feel that all of the meaning and impact in the second half of season 2 wouldn't have been there if it weren't for the long, patient set up of everything that came before it. That doesn't mean it was perfect. There were filler episodes here and there, but not as many as people claim. I was sold on the show from the opening trilogy of episodes, and was more or less shocked at how many people were damned and determined to not get the show or what it was trying to do. The only real missteps that he show made for me, besides a couple of absolute filler scripts, were in taking a little too long to settle in to a dramatic rhythm - concepts like musical montages were not bad in the abstract, but they were used haphazardly and sometimes too many instances were used back to back to back. But it got really strong by the end of season 2 and had found its footing. If it had to die before its time, I did appreciate the ending that the team had time to assemble. Bittersweet as hell, but open in just the right way, with a fantastic final scene.

March 1 2012, 10:03 PM	#32
Robert Maxwell Cherry Chassis Location: The Track	Re: Am I the only one who loves SGU? I did this post a while back, detailing how the show might have worked better with fewer filler episodes, getting us roughly to the midpoint of season 2 by the end of season 1. Were I inclined to give it more thought, I could do a full timeline for both seasons, but eh. I think you get the point: SGU wasted a lot of airtime on crap. __________________ Your crash was, like, spectacular! My world simulation project! Also: Women and Men: Self-Image and Rape Culture

March 2 2012, 09:57 PM	#40
TiberiusMaximus Fleet Captain Location: A ship, a living ship, full of strange alien lifeforms.	Re: Am I the only one who loves SGU? Rush had no reason to go home. He had absolutely no interest in returning home, which is ironic, since if anyone could get the rest home it would be him. You could almost view the whole "Novus" arc as foreshadowing that they won't "make it home" but instead "make a new home" on Destiny. __________________ "Quite possibly, the five Jem'Hadar could turn Data into a collection of four spasming limbs, one helpless torso, and one head that shouts insults at them like the Black Knight from the Monty Python sketch." -Timo Saloniemi

March 2 2012, 11:54 PM	#41
AJ86 Captain	Re: Am I the only one who loves SGU? I think that by the end of the series that getting home would have been a hope that had been abandoned. As the series went on the character's links to Earth were eroding, while their ties to each other were getting stronger and the profundity of the mission was starting to dawn on them. I think the AU flashbacks in Twin Destinies were especially telling. Chloe vowed to stay without even looking to see what Scott was doing, and Volker (who was going insane on the ship earlier on) almost looked like he had just had an epiphany, and was the second to volunteer.

March 3 2012, 10:48 PM	#43
DWF Vice Admiral Location: Columbus, Ohio	Re: Am I the only one who loves SGU? I too like all three series although it's bee na while since I've seen SG1 and Atlantis. I have started rewatching Universe on DVD and I like it better in a condensed form, as with alot of serialized shows it runs better if you can see the entire series as a whole, not on a weekly basis. __________________ The greatest science fiction series of all time is Doctor Who! And I'll take you all on, one-by-one or all in a bunch to back it up!" --- Harlan Ellison, from his introduction to the PINNACLE series of Doctor Who books

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March 5 2012, 05:52 AM	#44
stonester1 Rear Admiral	Re: Am I the only one who loves SGU? I've ordered what's available on DVD, I'll be letting you know my take soon. __________________ "New and stirring things are belittled because if they are not belittled, the humiliating question arises, 'Why then are you not taking part in them?' " - H. G. Wells

March 5 2012, 06:42 AM	#45
RoJoHen Awesome Location: Wherever life takes me	Re: Am I the only one who loves SGU? This thread has inspired me to watch the show a second time. I started this morning, and now I'm on Episode 7. __________________ I am the Quintessential Admiral. Get ready to grow your EQUINOX BEARD!