SCI FI Channel has aired three different video teasers to date that feature actual footage from the premiere episode of Stargate Universe. Now it’s time to take a closer look at them — especially the new SCI FI 2009-2010 brand spot, which includes several new (but very short) shots from “Air” — and see if we can figure out just what it is we are looking at!
Do beware of SPOILERS (and a dash of speculation) for “Air” in this report. As we analyze the shots below, we’ll spill the beans on much of what we know about the episode so far.
FIRST UP: SCI FI 2009-2010 Brand Spot. The new ad touts the channel’s original programming for this year and next, including several very short shots edited together from SGU, Caprica, Eureka, and other shows. View all screen caps.
This teaser actually was released last, but we’re looking at it first because it includes mostly scenes from earlier in the episode. Here are the new Universe scenes we spotted:
Welcome to the Icarus Base, Earth’s top-secret, offworld research facility. This is Chloe Armstrong (played by Elyse Levesque), aide (and daughter) to U.S. Senator Alan Armstrong. Senator Armstrong and Chloe pay a visit to the Icarus Base, perhaps for the purposes of a funding evaluation (see also: “Politics” and “The Ties That Bind,” two episodes of Stargate SG-1 in which the S.G.C. had to justify its existence to Senators who held the purse strings).
Senator Armstrong will be introduced to Dr. Nicholas Rush (Robert Carlyle), head of the secret project taking place at the Icarus Base. Rush has been tasked with figuring out how to use the Stargate’s mysterious ninth chevron, which Earth has never before accessed. A standard, 7-chevron address will dial the Stargate to a planet in our galaxy; and an 8-symbol address adds an extra distance calculation to reach another galaxy. So what’s that ninth chevron on the Stargate for?
Look familiar? The Gate Room on the Icarus Base is a remodeled version of the S.G.C. set. (See GateWorld’s new Vancouver Set Tour gallery for a closer look.) That’s Lt. Matthew Scott on the left and Colonel Telford on the right. More on them later.
Helping Dr. Rush in his ninth chevron project is a brilliant young tech wiz named Eli Wallace (David Blue). Here he gets a close look at the Icarus gate. Eli will be instrumental in making the ninth chevron work, allowing the team to dial to the Ancient ship Destiny in a distant galaxy.
Stargate Universe will be filled with many recurring characters, in addition to the ensemble cast of regulars. This is Lt. Vanessa James, played by actress Julia Anderson. (You might recognize her as Lucius Lavin’s wife Willa in the Atlantis episode “Irresistible.”)
Finally, meet Senator Alan Armstrong (Christopher McDonald). Here Armstrong appears to be arriving at the Icarus Base with Chloe … completely unaware of the fate that awaits them all when the base is attacked.
NEXT: The team reaches the Destiny in “Frantic”
How much of this is guesswork?
That is a good question… cause I would prefer it if Telford actually does make it through the gate to the Destiny. Though it would be interesting how they have him as a regular but only his consciousness is on the ship using that ancient device. I’m excited to see the premier.
Just a little thing, the opening line, “SCI FI Channel has aired three different video teasers to date that featuring actual footage”, shouldn’t ‘featuring’ just be ‘features’?
Can’t wait to see Robert Carlyle in action. One of the main reasons in watching this show.
good decription about icarus. i thought i was the only one out there who understood it. WOOT daren got it!!!!
looks like Battle Star Galactica just worse
not trying to be Mr negative
Shallowly, I am waiting for the hot guys…
I’m so excited ;)
Looks like a mix of ST:Voyager and BSG but I don’t expect people to come up with entirely new things. There’s simply too much there already.
This seems to be great <3
“It also may be a hint at the sort of location needed to dial a 9-chevron address. Fans are speculating that, due to power requirements, the base may be located on a moon, or perhaps a space station in near orbit of a star.” – Gateworld
I was thinking using the time-dilation devise, you could sit on the edge of a blackhole like the super gate.
Lot’s of guesswork I’d say. I only hope Col. Telford is NOT left behind. He needs to be a 24/7 presence. Phillips & Carlyle are the reasons I’ll be watching…
Sorry still not feeling the love, just leaves me cold. So far NOTHING, I have read or seen to date has even remotely changed my initial view.
I’ll stick to my first impressions, gonna give it a miss, I think I’ll just focus on geting season 5 box set SGA to complete my collection then I’ll be happy camper.
Robert Carlyle is the F man. Want to see him in action very bad. :)
I could see myself watching it only if Lou Diamond Phillips was one of the main cast, not just a recurring character – I’m a big fan of his.
And, uhm, we now get to ship senator’s children to space? Really? Ugh *head/desk* Shouldn’t this be, I don’t know, a TOP SECRET project?
All this doesn’t make me excited at all, to be honest. Actually, the more I read about it, the more I find the whole thing eye-roll inducing.
OH DEAR, no sorry but no, didn’t have very high hopes in the first place.
The trailers and some of the other interviews have not helped either.
BUT this OH DEAR, NO, NO NO NO!.
Just read also read Michaels Shanks interview and OH DEAR, NO!
After having read this, I think my minds now firmly made up and I will be giving this a miss. This is NOT the Stargate I have come to love over the years.
Nice thing this “analysis”. Here is my analysis;
First ditch 75 % of the characters and their relationships and add people from SG1 and Atlantis, Then maybee the show will be interesting. The SGU ideea is great BUT the current characters are NOT.
I am actually liking Vorcha’s idea, cause these characters so far aren’t grabbing me or piquing my interest.
But I’d LOVE to see my favorites from SGA and SG1 on the Destiny…
The idea of: Getting back to Destiny before if leaves or they’ll get trapped on the planet is kinda reminicent of what they did in Sliders.
I don’t know – seems to me that this team should run into trouble and all of SG1 and SGA would have to go to their rescue. I’d watch them. I’ll give this new crew a chance – but I’m not sure this is going to work with these choices of newbys. I miss SG1 & SGA a lot.
Indeed.
I’m curious how Telford managed to evade and survive the attack. The analysis confirms itm and Connell is right: all we need is Kate Mulgrew as Kathryn Janeway, and you’ve got Slidergate: Voyager. Pretty old concept guys…. These days the last thing anyone wants to see on TV is any representation of any kind of politician, real or otherwise, and this thing has two. Robert Picardo could get away with it on Atlantis because… 1. He’s Robert Picardo. 2. Although his backstory and image on SG1 & Atlantis was a shifty bureaucrat, he’s Robert Picardo and can believably change character… Read more »
That last concept would be great. They definetly need to do that although I would miss the SGC! I already miss the SGC!
OMG this thing is even worse than I thought it could be and THAT WAS ALREADY BAD!!!!!!
BACK BACK SGA
Only recently found out that Sga has been stopped, just checked out the trailers WHY SO DARK? and all that stupid screaming!, these are supposed to be professional people not a bunch of silly little girlies. This is horrible the above analysis wow , cant believe this. And Robert Carlyle WTFs that all about, didn’t he do enough with ruining 28 Weeks Later let alone Stargate.When’s Atlantis coming back, this has to be a joke. Everything has been nicked from other shows, straight from Space 1999, Sliders, Voyager, Lost in Space and Battlestar an gods knows what else. Wheres the… Read more »