SGU vs Caprica (Spoilers!)

[MeanJoePhaser]

Despite Caprica being the BSG spin off, it has an identity all of it's own, whereas SGU is a lazy ripoff of BSG's style.

SGU at least still has aliens.

The alienless universes of Moore and Whedon sucked some the wonder out of space based sci-fi. (Not that their shows would've improved with Bumpy headed aliens, but the mere lack of mention of even the possiblity of non-human/non-earthlike lifeforms existing seems bizarre...given our fascination with the concept.)

Humans bickering and space monsters are not mutually exclusive.

 

[Scotty]

Despite Caprica being the BSG spin off, it has an identity all of it's own, whereas SGU is a lazy ripoff of BSG's style.

SGU at least still has aliens.

The alienless universes of Moore and Whedon sucked some the wonder out of space based sci-fi.

That is exactly why I prefer Caprica over SG:U. Caprica is a drama show first, sci-fi show second. BSG proved that you don't have to have any aliens to make a compelling science fiction show. Caprica has its flaws, but not having aliens isn't one them.

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

Caprica has its flaws, but not having aliens isn't one them.

Not faulting Caprica for that, as it follows NuBSG's universe, but I will fault NUBSG for being so human-centric that the mere idea of alien life never crossed their lips...everything was either human or cylon in origin...even in uncharted space. And no, it's not what that show should've been about at all (nor FIREFLY). But there's something unhuman about humans in deep space not every mentioning the possibility, the mere idea of non-terrestrial style lifeforms is alien to them.

 

[Herkimer Jitty]

That's because in reality, when you're flying around in something like the Galactica as opposed to something like the Enterprise, your chances of running into alien life are so incredibly, mind-boggling slim that it's just not going to happen. It's like the odds of you being hit by a meteor this very second.

 

[Yoda]

I'm not convinced that Caprica will be great or anything, but it's much better than SGU. That show will never be particularly good, because they've built it on a strong foundation of stupid.

It's such a strange concept. They put the characters on this roller coaster ride ship that they have little to no control over, which forces them to visit new planets every week without revisiting old ones... While a bit nonsensical, it seems like the perfect premise for light hearted space adventure of the week. Instead they're doing this dark and gritty wannabe stuff that's just falling flat on its face.

All of the conflict with the cast feels forced. When they go back to Earth via the swappy stone plot devices it's even less interesting. It's just... bad storytelling.

 

[The Comedian]

Each show has its pluses and minuses, really.

 

[3D Master]

SGU is awesome. Rush rules, and the colonel can go suck a donkey dick. And it's got drama, honest to god drama, instead of the meaninglessness of the first two shows.

Caprica, I don't even bother watching. The pilot of GINO soured me on that pile of shit universe, never watched another episode, so Caprica can't be any better.

It's such a strange concept. They put the characters on this roller coaster ride ship that they have little to no control over, which forces them to visit new planets every week without revisiting old ones... While a bit nonsensical, it seems like the perfect premise for light hearted space adventure of the week. Instead they're doing this dark and gritty wannabe stuff that's just falling flat on its face.

All of the conflict with the cast feels forced.

You mean, people are trapped in a tin can they have virtually no control over, is half falling apart at the seems, can't even get everywhere, several billion lightyears from home? That's actually the perfect vehicle for drama. That's exactly what they're finally doing right, this stuff golden.

 

[Yoda]

SGU is awesome. Rush rules, and the colonel can go suck a donkey dick. And it's got drama, honest to god drama, instead of the meaninglessness of the first two shows.

Caprica, I don't even bother watching. The pilot of GINO soured me on that pile of shit universe, never watched another episode, so Caprica can't be any better.

You're a Galactica truther... oh boy. Kind of sad, since the things you're praising about Universe were done a thousand times better in NuBSG.

It's such a strange concept. They put the characters on this roller coaster ride ship that they have little to no control over, which forces them to visit new planets every week without revisiting old ones... While a bit nonsensical, it seems like the perfect premise for light hearted space adventure of the week. Instead they're doing this dark and gritty wannabe stuff that's just falling flat on its face.

All of the conflict with the cast feels forced.

You mean, people are trapped in a tin can they have virtually no control over, is half falling apart at the seems, can't even get everywhere, several billion lightyears from home? That's actually the perfect vehicle for drama. That's exactly what they're finally doing right, this stuff golden.

It's not the perfect time for mutiny, and crap about civilians controlling the military. It's the perfect time for survival mode... not the nonsense that's going on. There's drama that makes sense in their contrived situation, but what they've been showing isn't it.

 

[Brent]

I'm a HUGE Stargate fan, have been from day one, but SGU is boring me, and isn't grabing me like the previous series. It has potential, just like Atlantis did, but nothing is happening. Right now, I'm bored, I watch it cause I'm a fan of the franchise, so I'm hoping it will get more interesting.

Caprica has surprised me, I did not think I would get into it, but I've been watching it, and it is interesting, I want to see where it goes next. I think that is the key right there, I have interest in wanting to see where Caprica goes next, but with SGU, I don't have that same "what's coming next" interest.

For me, and this is strange to be honest for me to say this, +1 to Caprica right now, and -1 to SGU. I will continue to watch both though.

 

[3D Master]

SGU is awesome. Rush rules, and the colonel can go suck a donkey dick. And it's got drama, honest to god drama, instead of the meaninglessness of the first two shows.

Caprica, I don't even bother watching. The pilot of GINO soured me on that pile of shit universe, never watched another episode, so Caprica can't be any better.

You're a Galactica truther... oh boy. Kind of sad, since the things you're praising about Universe were done a thousand times better in NuBSG.

Nope, Galactica didn't really have any real drama. They just spent their time pulling the next idiotic downer they could think of out of their ass. It result in a show that had no drama, just emo.

It's such a strange concept. They put the characters on this roller coaster ride ship that they have little to no control over, which forces them to visit new planets every week without revisiting old ones... While a bit nonsensical, it seems like the perfect premise for light hearted space adventure of the week. Instead they're doing this dark and gritty wannabe stuff that's just falling flat on its face.

All of the conflict with the cast feels forced.

You mean, people are trapped in a tin can they have virtually no control over, is half falling apart at the seems, can't even get everywhere, several billion lightyears from home? That's actually the perfect vehicle for drama. That's exactly what they're finally doing right, this stuff golden.

It's not the perfect time for mutiny, and crap about civilians controlling the military. It's the perfect time for survival mode... not the nonsense that's going on. There's drama that makes sense in their contrived situation, but what they've been showing isn't it.[/QUOTE]

It IS the perfect time for mutiny and for civilians controlling the military, if that military spends their time attempting to kill the civilians, and shutting down any attempt to get this mission on the road, and instead just sit there, "Home. Home. Let's go home! Must find a way home!" Instead of actually claiming the ship properly, repair it, properly, install a more modern FTL drive, and then fly the whole thing home.

 

[Professor Zoom]

I stopped watching SGU. Dumb. Boring. Couldn't stand any of the characters. I wished the ship realized it and just opened an airlock. Someone said it well upthread: they are trying to take the elements of BSG that made it unique and apply them to Stargate...but the creators of the show don't quite get it.

Caprica, I'm still intrigued by, mostly because of the Greystone story line. I sorta wished they had never included the Adamas into Caprica.

 

[Herkimer Jitty]

I would watch SGU if more than 2 of its cast members were actors.

 

[crouteru]

Ironically, before they both aired, I was looking forward to Caprica but not Universe. Now my opinion is reversed.

Caprica has taken 10 episodes to get to a mid-season finale with events that should have occured in episode 2 or 3. In other words, it's very slow going with it's storyline and is sometimes a chore to watch.

Universe may borrow many elements from NuBSG, but it's focus on character development and setting in a distant part of the universe I find far more interesting.

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

Granted, I haven't watched either of these shows. But the prevalence of 2 such allegedly depressing shows is what makes me despair of the current state of TV sci-fi and make me run screaming into the escapist comfort of Doctor Who. Hell, even when the cast of Torchwood were being assholes, they were at least FUN assholes.

BSG proved that you don't have to have any aliens to make a compelling science fiction show.

It also proved that you don't have to have likable characters in order for your show to get renewed season after regrettable season.

That's because in reality, when you're flying around in something like the Galactica as opposed to something like the Enterprise, your chances of running into alien life are so incredibly, mind-boggling slim that it's just not going to happen. It's like the odds of you being hit by a meteor this very second.

OW! Hey! Where'd this hot rock come from and why is there a hole in the ceiling?! Anyway, you were saying...

 

[Dusty Ayres]

I can't bother with the premise of Caprica. There's just anime that has done similar things in a more interesting manner.

I'll see you 'anime that has done similar things in a more interesting manner' and raise you this; Caprica, like Galactica, is afraid of sci-fi to the point where it can't depict a different civilization convincingly (it's got guys wearing fedoras, speaking ancient Greek, walking around cities that are basically just Vancouver, and cars that are from France!) If you don't want to spend the money creating a believable future civilization, then don't make the motherfracking show! At least anime can depict a believable future world; Caprica, like Galactica, can only depict the starships well, and nothing else. That's why I have a hard time watching this show; I might not have if the Twelve Colonies were colonies of Earth, and not what they were shown as in 'Daybreak'.

As it is, I'd rather watch Star Trek TOS, TNG, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Enterprise, Doctor Who, Torchwood, Stargate Atlantis, and Farscape; at least, they look like sci-fi shows should look like.

 

[stonester1]

It also proved that you don't have to have likable characters in order for your show to get renewed season after regrettable season.

The only thing "regrettable" would have been if it had not gotten renewed.

Screw "likable". Give me interesting.

 

[Agent Richard07]

As it is, I'd rather watch Star Trek TOS, TNG, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Enterprise, Doctor Who, Torchwood, Stargate Atlantis, and Farscape; at least, they look like sci-fi shows should look like.

Scifi can look however the author/creator wants it to look. And the fact that BSG didn't do what everyone else does is a big part of the show's appeal for me. The look made the show stand out from the crowd, it made it look more sophisticated and it provided for some good discussion and speculation about their culture and how it related to Earth.

 

[3D Master]

it made it look more sophisticated

There's nothing sophisticated about cheap, just use Earth, when you're depicting an alien civilization. On the contrary, it's anti sophisticated.

And standing out from the crowd is a bad thing when you stand out by being abysmally bad.

and it provided for some good discussion and speculation about their culture and how it related to Earth.

Which all proved false as it didn't relate to Earth at all; they existed before Earth after all. Pure coincidence (and bullshit) that it looked exactly like the US.

 

[Agent Richard07]

it made it look more sophisticated

There's nothing sophisticated about cheap, just use Earth, when you're depicting an alien civilization. On the contrary, it's anti sophisticated.

Televised science fiction has always tended to look cheap and amateurish with unconvincing sets, costumes, effects and whatnot. BSG did away with a lot of that by not attempting things that wouldn't look authentic on a TV budget. The end result is that the show does look more naturalistic and it's why I said it was more sophisticated.

and it provided for some good discussion and speculation about their culture and how it related to Earth.

Which all proved false as it didn't relate to Earth at all; they existed before Earth after all. Pure coincidence (and bullshit) that it looked exactly like the US.

An in-show explanation was provided by Moore (unconsious memory passed down through the ages) and was touched on in the show itself (this all happened before and will happen again) and I personally find that these ideas work.

 

[3D Master]

it made it look more sophisticated

There's nothing sophisticated about cheap, just use Earth, when you're depicting an alien civilization. On the contrary, it's anti sophisticated.

Televised science fiction has always tended to look cheap and amateurish with unconvincing sets, costumes, effects and whatnot. BSG did away with a lot of that by not attempting things that wouldn't look authentic on a TV budget. The end result is that the show does look more naturalistic and it's why I said it was more sophisticated.

Except that it does not look naturalistic, quite the contrary. An alien civilization must look like an alien civilization to be naturalistic. If it looks like Earth, it looks false, unnatural, cheap, lazy, and more such negative adjectives.

and it provided for some good discussion and speculation about their culture and how it related to Earth.

Which all proved false as it didn't relate to Earth at all; they existed before Earth after all. Pure coincidence (and bullshit) that it looked exactly like the US.

An in-show explanation was provided by Moore (unconsious memory passed down through the ages) and was touched on in the show itself (this all happened before and will happen again) and I personally find that these ideas work.

Of course, and all the African, Native American, Asian, Russian, European, Indian, and Aboriginal cultures and civilizations, they're all just too stupid to understand their unconscious memory. Also known as: bullshit.