Earth: Final Conflict (beware spoiler)

Discussion in 'Science Fiction & Fantasy' started by theblitz, Nov 22, 2012.

  1. theblitz

    theblitz Commander Red Shirt

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    I just finished watching the first season of Earth: Final Conflict. I was kinda surprised (super-understatement) that they killed off Boone. Does it screw up the next seasons or it is still watchable? (no spoilers please). I understand that they kill off others as well.
     
  2. Lindley

    Lindley Moderator with a Soul Premium Member

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    Every season takes a somewhat different tone. The general consensus is:
    Season 1: The best
    Season 2: First half too many cliches, second half pretty good
    Season 3: Fine but unmemorable
    Season 4: Strong finish
    Season 5: Wait, why is there a season 5?
     
  3. Sindatur

    Sindatur The Gray Owl Wizard Admiral

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    Yea, I enjoyed all of the first 4 seasons pretty well. Boone's replacement for me, was a fine replacement, and didn't do any damage to the show. The next major cast member replaced, I actually prefer the replacement.

    Season 5, was a bold decision for a twist, and if well executed, I think it could've been really great. The execution, however, wasn't so great, and S5 definitely suffered for it, but, I was able to find some stuff to enjoy in Season 5
     
  4. theblitz

    theblitz Commander Red Shirt

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    Probably gonna start season 2 tonight. So will soon see.
     
  5. MacLeod

    MacLeod Admiral Admiral

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    DMany will say the show started to go downhill post Boone.
     
  6. The Wormhole

    The Wormhole Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    EFC fans are usually split into two groups: those who only accept season 1 and those who also enjoy seasons 2-4. The only thing everyone agrees on is that season 5 is crap.
     
  7. Morpheus 02

    Morpheus 02 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I concur...2nd season especially had sci-fi cliches including time travel, parallel, universes, etc.

    Season , to me, felt like they were REALLY trying to get back to the season1 feel.

    I think that's one of the reasons why season 5 felt so horrible..
     
  8. DeepSpaceWine

    DeepSpaceWine Commander Red Shirt

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    There was a thread of someone reviewing the series episode by episode (I forget the topic name but the reviewer was The Habs Fan).

    This. Season 1 has many fans, many who stop right there and hate the rest of the series. Those who go on find something decent in most of the rest of the series. Some even say it does have something Season 1 is a bit weak in (the action, the schemes) but everyone does agree overall, Season 1 has the highest quality. Season 2 early on feels like a sci-fi variety pack (trying out every idea from time travel to alternate realities, B-movie bugs, devolutions, etc) but does get better later on. Robert Leeshock, despite being a cheapo replacement does manage to become a watchable lead. Some people have it (Liam Kinkaid, Duncan MacLeod, Hercules, Xena, Mulder, etc) some people don't (Renee Palmer, Highlander: Raven actress, et al). Season 4 tends to be seen as the 2nd best. Many who actually stayed with the series long enough to get there feel that way. Season 5, all EFC fans hate it and many feel it's among the worst seasons of sci-fi ever. Watching Season 5 is an interesting experience. I tried in 01-02, but ended up only half paying attention at times, missed a few episodes, some sent me into a nap, though I did come to for the last few episodes. If EFC weren't such an overlooked show, Season 5 would be legendary in how bad it is.
     
  9. theblitz

    theblitz Commander Red Shirt

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    I have now got as far as the first few episodes of season 2.
    I can see what you mean by a bit of everything.

    Sometimes I get the impression that the really had no plan of where they were going with the story. Sort of made it up from week to week.

    Compare this to DS9 with its obvious long-term planning and you can definite see the differences some planning ahead makes.
     
  10. Morpheus 02

    Morpheus 02 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Did the first couple seasons of DS9 have a lot plotted out? DOn't get me wrong 00 i loved it (like Duet -- amazing episode).but i thought they just had a strong scenario (i.e. Bajor in the process of joining the Federation; dealing with the aftermath of a foreign occupation)... but not the big story arc that Babylon 5 had (and i wonder if EFC had a long term arc....we know that Andromeda, another Tribune tragedy, actually had one)
     
  11. Sindatur

    Sindatur The Gray Owl Wizard Admiral

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    Nah, DS9 S1 and S2 weren't planned long term. And actually, even when they started planning in S3, I think they only planned 1 season ahead (Same thing with Buffy and most other shows). B5 having a plan all the way through from the get-go (though it morphed) was a rarity
     
  12. The Wormhole

    The Wormhole Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I'm fairly certian EFC probably had its seasons mapped out to some degree. Maybe not as extensive of certain other shows, and I doubt there was anything long term planned.

    In the case of the second season I think they wanted to start off with several stand alones to introduce the audience to Liam Kincaid before they launched into the big story arc of the season.
     
  13. The Habs Fan

    The Habs Fan Commodore Commodore

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    I think you will enjoy the second half of Season 2. Just stick with it past the bad episodes in the first half.
     
  14. Christopher

    Christopher Writer Admiral

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    The original developer, Richard C. Okie, did have a long-term plan, but of course this was a Tribune show so naturally the original showrunner was fired and his replacements took it in directions he never intended. In fact, they set a record for firing the developer on this show; Okie was let go halfway through the first season, and you can see some changes in approach starting to set in during the back half of season 1, with Zo'or (a character created by Paul Gertz, who took over from Okie as head writer) becoming a recurring player and the original ambiguity of Da'an starting to give way to a more simplified good Da'an/evil Zo'or dynamic.

    So yeah, they were pretty much making it up as they went after the first season. If there's one thing not to expect from a Tribune show, it's creative consistency.
     
  15. Morpheus 02

    Morpheus 02 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Did Okie ever post up his plan for EFC? By the way -- as i remember it, Season 4 FELT like they were heading back to the feeling of season 1....and that got me excited about Season 5. ooops.
     
  16. The Wormhole

    The Wormhole Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Season 4 was one seaosn which seemed to have consistent direction to it, what with the core energy shortage and the Taelons facing extinction.
     
  17. Christopher

    Christopher Writer Admiral

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    Back on one of the old Andromeda fan boards, he once made a brief post about his plans, but nothing very detailed, and I'm afraid I don't remember what he said.

    I'd lost interest by season 4. In season 3, it had become focused on Liam and Renee, and the only character development either of them seemed to get was that they kept getting progressively blonder. And then there was Zo'or getting obsessed with getting rich, which was a tragic descent from the fascinating alienness and ambiguity the Taelons originally had.
     
  18. theblitz

    theblitz Commander Red Shirt

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    I managed to struggle (and I erally do mean struggle) my way through the first 4 seasons. Was very difficult!

    There was a bit more order to the 4th season but it still ended ratehr abruptly. Suddenly the Taelons and the Jeridians were friends.

    Just started season 5. Funnily enough, I am actually enjoying it a bit.
    Maybe I am a sucker for punishment!
     
  19. Mr Light

    Mr Light Admiral Admiral

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    Season One was by far the best. S2 was pretty bad. S3 was neutral. S4 actually managed to get pretty good again and made a great ending to the series. Just stop there and don't watch S5 :lol:
     
  20. jayceee

    jayceee Commander Red Shirt

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    Season 5 seemed to be a completely different tv show.