SyFy response to the cancellation

[46379.1]

The concept included them at each others throats as part of a military program. That's a flawed concept and they needed that because they had only themselves for the first year.

It's not believable. Modern military is very structured...

So there are no conflicts in the military?

Then part of SG-1 and SGA did not make no sense either, there was a lot of issues in the military how to use the Stargate and run the program.

...this should have been a civilian vs military issue since they have very different ideas of structure

And it was, the ongoing Rush vs Young in the first season + the episode where the civilians takes control over the Destiny.

 

[archeryguy1701]

yeah...that's why it was canceled....because it was just fine...

That concept needed a rework. Maybe not a major overhaul but definitely a rework. They CLEARLY needed more to do than just fighting with themselves for the first year, they failed to do much exploring of the MASSIVE ship they were on, The stones were a flawed concept too to base so many stories on and absolutely betrayed the peril they were supposed to be in.

Again, no. The concept was fine. The execution was flawed. Know the difference.

I know the difference. The concept included them at each others throats as part of a military program. That's a flawed concept and they needed that because they had only themselves for the first year.

It's not believable. Modern military is very structured, this should have been a civilian vs military issue since they have very different ideas of structure but I think the creators believed this would have made the show TOO much like BSG which seemed to tackle those kind of issues. Look what that created. The unbelievable plot resolutions they need to bring them back to square one at the finale and continue business as usual over turned the stories realism.


So as far as I can see...definitely a concept problem.

Ok, this is how I know we were watching different shows...... a very vast majority of the conflict was civilian versus military. In fact, the only military versus military conflict I can think of off the top of my head was with the druggy who ran out of drugs and the brainwashed Telford versus everyone. With the exception of the occassional minor issue, the military folks stuck together pretty well.

 

[Caliburn24]

The premise and concept of the show certainly made things more challenging from a writing perspective(and I hated the stones with a passion). You could never go back to where you had been before without some fancy footwork. Which made creating ongoing story-arcs tricky.

But it was the execution that really doomed things. Even the stones could have worked, if they had not been used as a crutch to jam typically weak Earth based B-plotlines into episodes. Which at the same time caused many an interesting episode to slow to a glacial crawl in terms of pacing.

The writing in general was sloppy. After the first few episodes of SGU I perhaps became overly critical. I started to tear apart episodes from a writing and editing standpoint just to help keep me awake during some of the snoozers of season one. The amount of repetition and pointless filler in many of those episodes is just amazing when you actually start deconstructing episodes. Earlier Stargates had used repetition a lot as well, but because of their faster pace there was generally something else going on in most scenes.

For example there was an episode where Eli has to go to Earth to visit his mother. There are three scenes in the episode where Eli's relationship with his mother is expounded on. The problem is that the 2nd and 3rd scenes add nothing. They are just repeating what was already established in the first scene.

By the end of season two things were picking up, and the writing was getting much less lazy. But it was too late by then.

 

[Saquist]

The concept included them at each others throats as part of a military program. That's a flawed concept and they needed that because they had only themselves for the first year.

It's not believable. Modern military is very structured...

So there are no conflicts in the military?

I'm sure there are but they are personal not command oriented because ultimately everyone just follows orders.

In SGU Telford at one point tricks Young into coming back to Earth so he can lead the crew in the weapons experiment. That's contrived. Just relieve Young by sending Telford.

And it was, the ongoing Rush vs Young in the first season + the episode where the civilians takes control over the Destiny.

Wasn't that really just a Rush vs Young conflict?
True, when Wray got invovled it did go there but that's not what is was at first they really only just touched on the issue and then when they actually did it...they just swept it under the rug.

In fact, the only military versus military conflict I can think of off the top of my head was with the druggy who ran out of drugs and the brainwashed Telford versus everyone. With the exception of the occassional minor issue, the military folks stuck together pretty well.

I quoted some of the issues above that really shouldn't have ever happened when you're in communication with hierarchy brass.

Some of my problems with SGU were execution of the plot and the contrivances like the order for the weapons test and Young trying to kill Rush....

But his issues with Rush weren't about civilian vs military it was personality conflict and trust issues. They really kinda beat around the bush with the Military Civilian issue.

I'm specifically referring to internal (non personal) military issues like people doing what they're suposed to be doing, following orders and such which SGU potrayed as very subjectional. Perhaps they were taking a page from SG-1 and SGA but those shows defied orders on the basis of moral and ethical grounds. Considering the nature of a top secret program such as this it always bothered me that they introduced this WRONG PEOPLE in the Wrong Place concept into SGU.

That was the concept, right?

 

[McDuff]

If Syfy want to slowly grow it's audience they must put aside their wish for the high ratings of the past. And act as a cable network which they are and hold on to quality Sci-fi production and let the audience grow from there. By expecting Warehouse like ratings for all their shows they are doing themselves a great disservice.

By trying to please everybody they end up pleasing no one.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Yes, your interest is the yardstick by which all storytelling is measured

It's the only yardstick I use.

And it's the only yardstick anyone around here uses. The difference is, I'm honest about it.

If Syfy want to slowly grow it's audience they must put aside their wish for the high ratings of the past. And act as a cable network which they are and hold on to quality Sci-fi production and let the audience grow from there. By expecting Warehouse like ratings for all their shows they are doing themselves a great disservice.

By trying to please everybody they end up pleasing no one.

SyFy's doing fine with its ratings. It's discovered that doing a USA show (you know the type, with quirky characters and breezy writing, and usually a law-enforcement angle) but in the sf/f genre, will lock in good sized audiences. Warehouse 13, Eureka, Haven and to some extent Alphas (especially with a showrunner from Eureka taking over) all fit that mold.

That, plus the cheapo "reality" ghost hunting shows and wrestling, is all they need to be successful for the foreseeable future. If they never want to do another Stargate or BSG show ever again, I could understand why.

 

[AJ86]

Sad but true. Those Syfy original movie cost about the same as an episode of SGU or Caprica, run for twice as long and were typically pulling in twice the numbers. It's a wonder they don't churn out more of them, if anything, ditto the reality shows.

 

[Saquist]

Yes, your interest is the yardstick by which all storytelling is measured

It's the only yardstick I use.

And it's the only yardstick anyone around here uses. The difference is, I'm honest about it.

If Syfy want to slowly grow it's audience they must put aside their wish for the high ratings of the past. And act as a cable network which they are and hold on to quality Sci-fi production and let the audience grow from there. By expecting Warehouse like ratings for all their shows they are doing themselves a great disservice.

By trying to please everybody they end up pleasing no one.

SyFy's doing fine with its ratings. It's discovered that doing a USA show (you know the type, with quirky characters and breezy writing, and usually a law-enforcement angle) but in the sf/f genre, will lock in good sized audiences. Warehouse 13, Eureka, Haven and to some extent Alphas (especially with a showrunner from Eureka taking over) all fit that mold.

That, plus the cheapo "reality" ghost hunting shows and wrestling, is all they need to be successful for the foreseeable future. If they never want to do another Stargate or BSG show ever again, I could understand why.

Look at it this way...their current plan is gear toward getting that bigger audience that could eventually properly support niche sci fi....Just like TNT is doing. They built theirs with police and detective drama's of all kind.