Outcasts (BBC) series 1 discussion thread

[Starkers]

That's interesting. Probably no help cos the BBC seem to have made their decsion here irrespective now, but would be interesting to see what the iPlayer figures were like (although I'm never sure if the BBC give more creadence to actual at the time figures)

 

[Bob The Skutter]

That's interesting. Probably no help cos the BBC seem to have made their decsion here irrespective now, but would be interesting to see what the iPlayer figures were like (although I'm never sure if the BBC give more creadence to actual at the time figures)

They're very big on iPlayer stats now, and plus 7 viewing figures. But Overnights seem to be the great judge of popularity.

 

[Count Zero]

Well, that was intriguing, especially the end, though there might be an overly complicated plan afoot which would have no chance in reality (and I dislike those immensely).
I really want to know what the deal is with the hominid finds. Will it be resolved this season at least? I guess, what we got to see in the end is the supposed main story line for season two.

 

[Pauln6]

The characters need to connect more - the tiny snippets we're getting aren't enough when you compare them to the amount of meandering the plot tends to do.

I'm a bit irritated by the level of carelessness over resource management. I'm guessing that they don't have high tech manufacturing plants (paper manufacturing seems likely given the number of files floating around and metalworks to make bullets). Given the increasing importance of recylcing as a current issue I'm astounded that people are smashing stuff up and chucking it off cliffs pretty much every week. And did they explain how the ACs became so heavily armed?

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

I was wondering if the former inhabitants of the planet went through a technological singularity (like in Vinge's Marooned in Realtime), and they are now encoded in the energy fluxes. Not sure why they'd take all the other complex life forms with them, nor why there doesn't appear to be any fossil evidence of those life forms, nor why they choose to manifest themselves as they do via adjusting the mental states of selected people. Lots of room there for a deus ex machina resolution.

The multiple, close-orbiting, large moons (one lazily being an image of our Moon), inconsistent phases thereof, lens flares, and so on are a minor annoyance.

 

[Starkers]

The characters need to connect more - the tiny snippets we're getting aren't enough when you compare them to the amount of meandering the plot tends to do.

I'm a bit irritated by the level of carelessness over resource management. I'm guessing that they don't have high tech manufacturing plants (paper manufacturing seems likely given the number of files floating around and metalworks to make bullets). Given the increasing importance of recylcing as a current issue I'm astounded that people are smashing stuff up and chucking it off cliffs pretty much every week. And did they explain how the ACs became so heavily armed?

The ACs took guns from the Expeditionaries in the second episode...

 

[Angel4576]

That's interesting. Probably no help cos the BBC seem to have made their decsion here irrespective now, but would be interesting to see what the iPlayer figures were like (although I'm never sure if the BBC give more creadence to actual at the time figures)

They're very big on iPlayer stats now, and plus 7 viewing figures. But Overnights seem to be the great judge of popularity.

Ordinarily the problem with Live + 7 is that people are more inclined to FF through the ads. Hence they're less attractive to advertisers and thereby are considered 'less' important by the broadcaster. Obviously in the Beeb's case that's less of an issue, hence they may place more emphasis on Live + 7 as it gives a better indication of the total reach.

That being said, I can't see the HD and iPlayer numbers adding too significantly to the overnights (or Live + 7). They'd probably push it back over 3m but not by much.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

That's interesting. Probably no help cos the BBC seem to have made their decsion here irrespective now, but would be interesting to see what the iPlayer figures were like (although I'm never sure if the BBC give more creadence to actual at the time figures)

They're very big on iPlayer stats now, and plus 7 viewing figures. But Overnights seem to be the great judge of popularity.

Ordinarily the problem with Live + 7 is that people are more inclined to FF through the ads. Hence they're less attractive to advertisers and thereby are considered 'less' important by the broadcaster. Obviously in the Beeb's case that's less of an issue, hence they may place more emphasis on Live + 7 as it gives a better indication of the total reach.

That being said, I can't see the HD and iPlayer numbers adding too significantly to the overnights (or Live + 7). They'd probably push it back over 3m but not by much.

The biggest shows on iPlayer can pull in a million or more, I think it's more like 200k or slightly higher on the big shows on HD... oh, on looking at BARB figures it can be close to 1m viewers on HD for popular shows.

 

[Starkers]

Another cracking episode, and I really am wondering now if we're likely to see Jamie Bamber's character again!

 

[Zulu Romeo]

I caught up with the show so far today, including the latest episode, having gone into it on the back of the frigid reception the show seems to have received in some parts.

I'll say it straight off: I am enjoying every damn minute of this show.

Maybe it's one of those shows that has to be seen in a whole block of episodes in one go (as I did) to fully get into the spirit of things. I honestly didn't find any dull moments or parts where my mind wandered, and I could focus well on the plot, the enjoyable characters (although I'm still in two minds about Hermione Norris's Stella) and the setting. Many parts were stilted and clunky with some idiot ball moments, but it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the show. Some parts of the series so far were even quite moving.

Perhaps I was put off a little by the TV trailers prior to the series premiere, but even from episode 1 I felt like this was a show I could grow to like, and as each episode went those thoughts were reinforced. It would be a shame if these 8 episodes were all that there will be of the show. The potential is there for something very interesting.

 

[O'Dib]

Has everyone else been noticing the myriad Lost parallels, so far?

 

[wamdue]

Has everyone else been noticing the myriad Lost parallels, so far?

and we are probaly not going to get a good answer to half of them, this time either.

 

[Starkers]

I caught up with the show so far today, including the latest episode, having gone into it on the back of the frigid reception the show seems to have received in some parts.

I'll say it straight off: I am enjoying every damn minute of this show.

Maybe it's one of those shows that has to be seen in a whole block of episodes in one go (as I did) to fully get into the spirit of things. I honestly didn't find any dull moments or parts where my mind wandered, and I could focus well on the plot, the enjoyable characters (although I'm still in two minds about Hermione Norris's Stella) and the setting. Many parts were stilted and clunky with some idiot ball moments, but it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the show. Some parts of the series so far were even quite moving.

Perhaps I was put off a little by the TV trailers prior to the series premiere, but even from episode 1 I felt like this was a show I could grow to like, and as each episode went those thoughts were reinforced. It would be a shame if these 8 episodes were all that there will be of the show. The potential is there for something very interesting.

I don't think I can disagree a jot with any of what you say. Yeah at times it's clunky, and there are stupid bits (but frankly name me a show that doesn't have them?) but there's a really strong core at its heart, it plays the story stright without a knowing wink to the camera in a "Its ok we're only doing sci-fi folks." kind of way. It has a great cast and a really interesting ongoing story. I agree there have been some really moving bits, and at times it's had me on the edge of my seat.

Like Wamdue says, it's a shame we're never gonna get to know a fraction of what's really going on on Carpathia.

I can accept some of the faults people have with the show, but I really do think some people are being hyper critical, and I genuinely believe that in a few years Outcasts will be looked back on fondly.

 

[Starkers]

Anyone know what the figures were for last night by the way?

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Part six was better than the previous few episodes, especially part four, but I doubt that will save it. I expect that the figures will be well down given the late Sunday timeslot -- a foregone conclusion really.

 

[Starkers]

Yeah the numbers are gonna drop, though is Being Human can get a million and a half viewers at that time who knows?

 

[Pauln6]

This week's episode was the strongest one so far. Still, like SGU, if you meander too much before buidling some pace, too many casual viewers will have given up by then.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

This week's episode was the strongest one so far. Still, like SGU, if you meander too much before buidling some pace, too many casual viewers will have given up by then.

There is much truth in that. Many people probably gave up after the first couple of episodes.

What happened to the XP woman's doppelganger? Did she simply vanish into thin air? They didn't appear to make any attempt to look for her. Not bothering to spoiler code this as no-one else seems to do so in this thread.

 

[Count Zero]

I think she just vanished and I believe I heard someone mutter a half-sentence in that regard on the show.

 

[wamdue]

I thought the female XP was Helen Cutter (of Primeval) at first.