Ron Moore's Virtuality on tonight
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I think it's an interesting premise, I responded to some of characters and I liked the plot threads, but I think Fox was right to be suspicious on this one.
First, doesn't feel like a series pilot to me - the first half of a long movie, a mini-series, maybe a six to ten episode limited series, but that's it. The plot arcs they presented feel like they would either resolve themselves rather quickly, get drawn out by the characters acting like idiots, or morph into some truly whacky "none of this is real" superplot.
Second, while I personally dig the hard sci-fi and documentary feel, I think it's probably going to come off as deadly dull to your average viewer. (Please don't flame me with comments about how we should be aiming higher than stupid space opera - again, I like it, I'm just saying this is the television viewing audience as I see it.)
I will say this, though - seeing an Orion drive depicted on screen made me giggle with glee.
First, doesn't feel like a series pilot to me - the first half of a long movie, a mini-series, maybe a six to ten episode limited series, but that's it. The plot arcs they presented feel like they would either resolve themselves rather quickly, get drawn out by the characters acting like idiots, or morph into some truly whacky "none of this is real" superplot.
Second, while I personally dig the hard sci-fi and documentary feel, I think it's probably going to come off as deadly dull to your average viewer. (Please don't flame me with comments about how we should be aiming higher than stupid space opera - again, I like it, I'm just saying this is the television viewing audience as I see it.)
I will say this, though - seeing an Orion drive depicted on screen made me giggle with glee.
I really liked it. Such a good group of characters and I'm fascinated by what the captain has done. Was it suicide? Murrrdder? How did he get onto his own program? Why is the creepy guy nonviolent towards the girl with the pregnant fantasy? The two conceits I thought would bug were the virtual reality stuff and the reality show. But they work so well.
Overall fun. I hope this gets a series order ala BSG. Now I'm off to watch Sunshine since I have a hankering for imperiled astronauts with looney psycholgists aboard.
Overall fun. I hope this gets a series order ala BSG. Now I'm off to watch Sunshine since I have a hankering for imperiled astronauts with looney psycholgists aboard.
It was interesting while I watched, but probably nothing I would stick with. I thought for sure whoever "guest star actor" was would bite it, but bumping off the top-billed guy for a pilot was a surprising way to go. Speaking of which, I guess the TV version of Aaron Eckhart should try to find a normal TV show if he wants a hit after New Amsterdam and Virtuality.
Also, Roger seemed genuinely surprised at what he saw Pike saying before his death, so even though they went out of their way to show he wasn't at the "TV production studio" helm at the time, making him the killer would be way too easy. But what would work would be crew suspicion of him.
The way they were talking about the corporation funding the whole thing and making a reality TV show out of it suggested to me that 1) the VR psycho glitch is their own creation, and 2) since the whole "the world will end in 100 years" news didn't break until after they were in space, I'm wondering if that's just fake news to keep the crew going.
If nothing else, this gives me hope that Peter Berg wouldn't direct Dune with all his shaky cam all-over-the-place intensity that he does for his other movies.
Also, Roger seemed genuinely surprised at what he saw Pike saying before his death, so even though they went out of their way to show he wasn't at the "TV production studio" helm at the time, making him the killer would be way too easy. But what would work would be crew suspicion of him.
The way they were talking about the corporation funding the whole thing and making a reality TV show out of it suggested to me that 1) the VR psycho glitch is their own creation, and 2) since the whole "the world will end in 100 years" news didn't break until after they were in space, I'm wondering if that's just fake news to keep the crew going.
If nothing else, this gives me hope that Peter Berg wouldn't direct Dune with all his shaky cam all-over-the-place intensity that he does for his other movies.
I thought it was a very odd show. It took a while to fully develop, so I think the average viewer would be turned off by its early "seeming dullness," but there was a lot to like there. The VR deal was executed well and I liked the HAL mystery subplot. But I hated the Clea Duvall character ... way too bitchy (ala starbuck). We don't need another shitty BSG character infesting this program. Overall though ... quite good.
I'm really curious about the ramifications of the ending, particularly with respect to Pike. If his fate is truly the way we think it is, sadly I doubt I'd want to continue to watch the show. But if it's more complex than that, Virtuality could have potential. Either way, it'll be tricky to find ways to make a show with a limited premise last in series format. But then again, knowing Fox, that may not be a problem for long.
I'm really curious about the ramifications of the ending, particularly with respect to Pike. If his fate is truly the way we think it is, sadly I doubt I'd want to continue to watch the show. But if it's more complex than that, Virtuality could have potential. Either way, it'll be tricky to find ways to make a show with a limited premise last in series format. But then again, knowing Fox, that may not be a problem for long.
Just finished watching it. Really interesting. I think it would have worked well as a limited series, or a Britsh style series. Shame it won't get that though.
Yeah, this would have worked well as a limited series... I can't see them doing something with this for five years though.
I suppose I understand the conceit of the virtual reality stuff, to show new settings and conflict, but it still felt as silly as Worf and Alexander fighting against Data in the wild west.
Ah well, it's all academic anyway.
I suppose I understand the conceit of the virtual reality stuff, to show new settings and conflict, but it still felt as silly as Worf and Alexander fighting against Data in the wild west.
Ah well, it's all academic anyway.
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Well since the computer controls the whole ship it's not like they could just ignore it like they could have in Star Trek, I suppose.
You mean in terms of the VR stuff? I suppose so. The ending with "someone's a killer" could be a red herring.
Well in the VR, and in the ship in general.
Since the VR is their only escape in this 10 year journey, they need to be able to use it. And I'm assuming the computer is to blame for the "death".
Though I suppose that could be just as obvious as the producer doing it. So it could just be a fake out. But it's obvious there's something going on with the computer, and they can't exactly ignore it.
It's aware... and it has a plan.
Oh well... unless someone decides to spill the plot, we'll never know if it was wacky robot AI or something as mundane as a jealous crew member... or it can go stupid like Sunshine and have some kind of weird alien embodiment of evil thing.
Or maybe the whole thing ends up being a holodeck adventure created by Will Riker to get over his Pegasus issues.
Oh well... unless someone decides to spill the plot, we'll never know if it was wacky robot AI or something as mundane as a jealous crew member... or it can go stupid like Sunshine and have some kind of weird alien embodiment of evil thing.
Or maybe the whole thing ends up being a holodeck adventure created by Will Riker to get over his Pegasus issues.
Of course, not being in America, I can't see it for five years, if ever, as usual.
So, I'll be hoping there'll be a download available soon; I'm really interested.
So, I'll be hoping there'll be a download available soon; I'm really interested.
Cylons projecting what it must have been like for the first generation intergalactic space flights...It's aware... and it has a plan.
Oh well... unless someone decides to spill the plot, we'll never know if it was wacky robot AI or something as mundane as a jealous crew member... or it can go stupid like Sunshine and have some kind of weird alien embodiment of evil thing.
Or maybe the whole thing ends up being a holodeck adventure created by Will Riker to get over his Pegasus issues.
wink wink I'm not American either nudge nudge...
Thanks for the heads up, I'll keep my eyes open. But I didn't hear nothin'!
My theory is the AI Killer was really a benevolent alien who was acting to make sure the ship decided to head onto Eridani to make contact with him so he could give them the means of saving Earth. He just had some really bizarre thoughts on his M.O. And when he "killed" the captain he was really just ascending him into his higher consciousness.
I just watched and I really enjoyed it. While I guess it's not very likely, I do hope this gets picked up, even if only for a limited run.
Oh and Sienna Guillory
P.S.: I knew I recognized Jean's(the ship AI) voice, it's Kari Wahlgren who did the voice of Ashe (Final Fantasy XII) and Elika (latest Prince of Persia).
Oh and Sienna Guillory
P.S.: I knew I recognized Jean's(the ship AI) voice, it's Kari Wahlgren who did the voice of Ashe (Final Fantasy XII) and Elika (latest Prince of Persia).
I really liked this one. It's a damn shame it probably won't be headed towards a series, because I thought it had a lot more potential and a lot more energy and wonder than was contained in Caprica. From the title, you'd believe that the show was simply about the virtual reality technology the crew uses to escape from the confines of their roles on the ship, but there's a lot more depth to the premise beyond that. Honestly, you could hang an entire series on just the reality show angle, or just the mission to save Earth.
Well, I hope it comes out on DVD with at least a commentary track.
And, since Michael Taylor wrote the teleplay and co-wrote the story with Moore, I think it's probably safe to give him more of the credit than Moore this time around.
Well, I hope it comes out on DVD with at least a commentary track.
And, since Michael Taylor wrote the teleplay and co-wrote the story with Moore, I think it's probably safe to give him more of the credit than Moore this time around.
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