Defying Gravity: "H2IK" 8/16 - Grading & Discussion

[The Cutest of Borg]

The realities of TV production conflict with the realities of manned space flight, but at least the producers have tried to give us logical explanations for why we can't have true zero G effects shots every time we see the crew. I would guess the hairspray needed for a six year mission takes much less room than the amount of booze consumed by Adama and Tigh in the 4th season of BSG.

There is nothing logical about magnetic hairspray. Even aside from the fact that there's no practical benefit to making your hair behave as if it has weight when it actually doesn't, all those tiny magnetic particles would get into the equipment and short out the systems and kill everybody. It's not just unnecessary, it's an insanely bad idea.

What they should've done was just cut everyone's hair short, or at least have the actresses wear their hair in tight buns while in the "weightless" parts of the ship. What they've done is to put glamour over good sense.

When all is said and done, this is a TV show, and glamour will always win out over good sense. I stand by my earlier kudos to the writers trying to balance the obvious limitations of a serialized TV show with the realities of space travel.

On an unrelated note, I just read Ex Machina last month. I liked the follow up to FTWIHAIHTTS, and it was a nice peek into the lives of the TMP crew. Thanks for the ride.

 

[Professor Zoom]

I've watched all the episodes so far, and I'm done. It's awful television.

I can't stand many of the characters--all of the women on the ship are just annoying...especially Zoe (a low rent Kirsten Dunst) and quickly followed by Paula.

The Bearded Physicist--clearly a bone to "sci-fi" fans--"look, one of you made it on board!" But for the life of me, I don't know why, and I don't know why the rest of the astronauts aren't asking, "How did this fucker get on board?"

And I also find AJ just a little insulting. Kudos for having an Indian character who isn't Apu, but, man, talk about swinging the pendulum the other way...can't we have a REAL character.

I like Ron Livingston's character, Ted, and the other commander--the one who "Beta" didn't like.

The show is slow, we should be in the middle of the story now, not still meandering around showing how kooky life is in space and how hard it is to not fuck each other madly all the time...gosh, being an astronaut is hard...

Call me disappointed...

And I'm off to remove it from my DVR...

 

[tenmei]

I'm watching and enjoying.

Amazed at some of the ripping it's got both here and on other boards for some of the science (the magnetic hairspray) when the discussions are going on on Star Trek and Doctor Who boards, both shows which have much more far-fetched science as part of their basic premises.

And the fact it's set over forty years in the future so some technology is going to have changed and improved - there was criticism of the visor on the space suit not having a filter we percieved on the outside when future technology could mean that there's something we can't percieve that could filter the light out (something akin to one-way window thing they have in police stations, possibly).

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I can't stand many of the characters--all of the women on the ship are just annoying...especially Zoe (a low rent Kirsten Dunst) and quickly followed by Paula.

The Bearded Physicist--clearly a bone to "sci-fi" fans--"look, one of you made it on board!" But for the life of me, I don't know why, and I don't know why the rest of the astronauts aren't asking, "How did this fucker get on board?"

And I also find AJ just a little insulting. Kudos for having an Indian character who isn't Apu, but, man, talk about swinging the pendulum the other way...can't we have a REAL character.

I like Ron Livingston's character, Ted,

My sentiments exactly. They should have forgot about worrying about nano-gravity suits and put far more effort into the casting and writing. The best science in the world couldn't have saved this turkey.

I hope Ron Livingston gets another show and I never have to see any of the rest of the cast, or the writers, ever again.

 

[IndyJones]

Amazed at some of the ripping it's got both here and on other boards for some of the science (the magnetic hairspray) when the discussions are going on on Star Trek and Doctor Who boards, both shows which have much more far-fetched science as part of their basic premises.

There's in difference between accepting a universe where warp drive is possible and accepting a universe where it makes sense to accept that they spray magnetic particles right into the air.

 

[Hyperspace05]

Yeah but I think the criticism of this is going overboard. People bitch about not enough space-based SF on TV... And when something arrives that is a bit different than they expected (or hoped for), all the do is try to tear it down.

I admit it isn't highest quality television, but I like it enough. And the idea of a show chronicling a "grand tour" of the solar system has always intrigued me. So sue me.

 

[23skidoo]

I have to make a comment about those saying the show is moving too slowly.

Why is that a bad thing? Are we not capable of enjoying a show that only moves along a bit at a time, like a complex novel? Or are we (and by we I mean North American audiences; British viewers don't seem to give a damn) so used to stuff like 24 that we've developed collective ADD?

It's like someone who posted to the Doctor Who board about how much they hated Genesis of the Daleks -- a classic story and a classic piece of SF -- mainly because the storyline moved too slowly, especially when compared to the frenetic pace of the newer DW episodes.

So far I'm loving this show. I like the flashbacks (I didn't expect to) and the Beta storyline is intriguing. And in terms of the whole "magnetic hair" thing ... what some call stupid I call one of Laura Harris' cutest moments since Dead Like Me.

If the show is cancelled, then the US doesn't deserve it. It'll continue on BBC and CTV, so we win. Just like Merlin - I don't expect to see season 2 on NBC given its poor ratings in the US, but it's a big hit in the UK and season 2 is coming regardless...

Alex

 

[Tomato]

^

I love the slow pace too. I love the feel of the show especially with Ron Livingston, and Laura Harris. I love that whenever I watch the show I get a sense of wonder and how it takes me back to a child when I wanted to be an astronaut.

But everything they do right, they have some stupid "drama" piece get in the way. Paula Garces and the stupid nerd, they should airlock them right away.. Boooring. The cheesy music, nix it.

I don't think the show is moving slowly at all. I watch B5 and just remember it was until 3 or 4 seasons later I understood WTF was going on.

I don't know I think us sci fi nerds want to bitch at something so we find anything to complain about.

 

[roguephoenix]

quick question: is this a canadian show? the stars seem to be mostly canadian actors known for guest appearances on various canadian productions.

 

[firehawk12]

It's an international co-production between several countries, it seems.

 

[roguephoenix]

It's an international co-production between several countries, it seems.

which one of the actors on the show is not canadian?

 

[Aragorn]

^ The two leads (Ron Livingston, Malik Yoba), at the very least. Also Paula Garces and Florentine Lahme.

 

[firehawk12]

Ron Livingston is probably the big name cast to attract an American studio to pick up the show. Although, then again, several other CTV shows have aired on American networks recently with strictly Canadian casts.

 

[IndyJones]

quick question: is this a canadian show? the stars seem to be mostly canadian actors known for guest appearances on various canadian productions.

It is filmed in Vancouver.

 

[roguephoenix]

ah so it's like stargate where it's meant for u.s. (primarily) but filmed in canadan hence the major canadian cast.

 

[Aragorn]

At least it's not like Smallville where they try to depict Detroit with major Vancouver landmarks in the background.

 

[Count Zero]

The Virtuality attempt at this concept was strange, but so far, I'd rather be watching that one, as it at least managed to set up some compelling plot lines to start with...

Same here.

I have to make a comment about those saying the show is moving too slowly.

Why is that a bad thing? Are we not capable of enjoying a show that only moves along a bit at a time, like a complex novel? Or are we (and by we I mean North American audiences; British viewers don't seem to give a damn) so used to stuff like 24 that we've developed collective ADD?

It's not necessarily a bad thing. I'm not American but I, too, think that while I still think the show is interesting it's also a bit boring. Probably because there's a lot of stuff happening I don't care about. All this faux drama is boring me. It seems as if the writers think that huge mental issues and relationship drama equal character development. And I could even buy it in some capacity (I think Zoe's abortion storyline and the failed mission to Mars are interesting ideas), but everyone being more or less unfit for the mission? That's really stretching credulity and also makes the show lose focus. Not to mention the myriad of malfunctions.
I wish they would have concentrated on fewer subplots. To me, it feels like they want to do everything at once. It also leaves very little room for showing us new insights into the characters in later seasons.

 

[Pingfah]

If the show is cancelled, then the US doesn't deserve it. It'll continue on BBC and CTV, so we win. Just like Merlin - I don't expect to see season 2 on NBC given its poor ratings in the US, but it's a big hit in the UK and season 2 is coming regardless...

Alex

Unless this show is some kind of insane mega-hit on the BBC, which won't happen, I seriously doubt there'll be a season 2 without the backing of an American network.

I'd hope there will be though, although the show has many faults, it is also jam packed with potential. It'll not meet it's potential though unless it is able to forget about pandering to the American network audience and drop the purile space sex nonsense.

Hey, even if they kept it, at least if it wasn't pandering to an American network, the purile space sex could at least have some actual sex in it

 

[Professor Zoom]

I'm watching and enjoying.

Amazed at some of the ripping it's got both here and on other boards for some of the science (the magnetic hairspray) when the discussions are going on on Star Trek and Doctor Who boards, both shows which have much more far-fetched science as part of their basic premises.

Bolding mine. Exactly. Doctor Who and Star Trek are NOT examples of realistic science fiction. They are far fetched, they are out there--the "science" can be more unreal.

But Defying Gravity is selling itself as something more realistic, grounded to the here and now.

It's ridiculous science is distracting.

And, in reality, if everything else was good to great, the bad science would be ignored. But, at it's best the show is mediocre.

Yeah but I think the criticism of this is going overboard. People bitch about not enough space-based SF on TV... And when something arrives that is a bit different than they expected (or hoped for), all the do is try to tear it down.

People don't want just any old space based show--well, I don't. I want something compelling. I want something I'm sucked into.

Just because it has the trappings of sci-fi and space travel doesn't mean I have to love it or even like it.

People who like science fiction can have likes and dislikes too.

I have to make a comment about those saying the show is moving too slowly.

Why is that a bad thing? Are we not capable of enjoying a show that only moves along a bit at a time, like a complex novel? Or are we (and by we I mean North American audiences; British viewers don't seem to give a damn) so used to stuff like 24 that we've developed collective ADD?

Alex

It wouldn't be a bad thing if there WAS a complex story being told. We have characters who annoy, a mystery that doesn't move and music montages.

I wouldn't mind a slowly paced show, where the story TRULY unfolds slowly--like B5, but this...ugh...it's stuck in the mud.

 

[Tomato]

Just to sum everything up. Is that there a lot of distractions. But at the same time even though this was the best written show out there and fixed every little thing we have been nit picking, this show will still not rake in the viewers.

I saw a poster for DG with the tag line, "The coldness of space is going to get a lot hotter." Ughhh........