A few people have asked us for our full review of Stargate Universe, seeing as how the press kit arrived a few days ago (story). While we work on the complete review, we thought we should share some informal first impressions of the new series right away.
In no particular order:
IT’S DIFFERENT, YET FAMILIAR. Much has been made about how the show is going to be unlike what has come before it, and long-time Stargate viewers will certainly be struck by how different SGU is. The difference in shooting style, the focus on characters and relationships more than a driving plot, and a very different approach to music may stand out in particular. It’s not just the next Stargate show; it’s a different kind of Stargate show. It is done beautifully, and for us it is a welcome change.
There’s a ton that is familiar, though — and we don’t just mean the big, spinning ring. In spite of the differences it still feels like Stargate. Not least of all is the world that the characters inhabit. The faces, the technology, the set design, the subtly updated sound effects, the humor mixed with fantastical circumstances and emotion … it’s Stargate.
NO BAD GUYS, PER SE. We heard rumblings of this early on, and it seems to be working out nicely so far. There are enemies, to be sure, and the Destiny will encounter alien species. But the pilot doesn’t set up a primary antagonist like the Goa’uld or the Wraith. Instead, the show is about the Destiny crew and their struggle to survive, to learn what they are made of and who they can count on.
DAMN GOOD ACTING. There are a whopping nine cast members, and every one of them is very good at their craft. Everyone gets moments to shine, and after three episodes it feels like we know a bit about who they are and what makes them tick — and where they have personal flaws. There are a few stand-outs, but we are eager to see the spotlight shone on everyone in turn.
One of the very first feelings we got when watching “Air, Part 1” was that these characters have history, and history with each other. Most of them aren’t meeting one another for the first time. They already feel “lived in;” we get to drop into the middle of their story and figure out what kind of people they are. That’s a credit to the writers (who are clearly writing for an audience that is smart, and doesn’t have to have every plot turn or relationship pointed out with banal dialogue), and it is a credit to the actors.
IT MAKES YOU THINK. Shoot-em-up action and plot-driven fun is great. But because many of the characters on SGU have a history with one another, you may miss something if you’re not watching closely. Our second pass through the pilot revealed over a half dozen clues to characters and potential future scenarios that we didn’t catch the first time around. Thus …
IT PLANTS SEEDS. A large portion of what is hinted at throughout the pilot does not come to fruition at the end of the three hours. The pilot shows a concerted effort to establish that this is going to be a marathon journey — one that will be rewarding to the viewer — than a solo sprint every week.
Our full review of “Air” will be online next week. Why wait so long? Press kits do go out weeks in advance, to give television writers ample time to watch and write. But there’s a reason why most of the mainstream media reviews you will see in the days ahead won’t be published until Friday, October 2: For viewers who aren’t sure if they’re going to watch, that final week and final day are the most critical for publicity.
We’ll have lots more to say about “Air” and Stargate Universe as we count down these final days to the show’s premiere, as well as after the rest of the world has seen it! To make sure that we don’t miss a beat, we have already recorded podcast discussions for the show’s launch week, for “Air” Parts 1 and 2, and for “Air, Part 3.”
Stay tuned for all that and more, and watch the premiere of SGU on October 2!
You paint a positive picture of the show. I know you are vested in the series, but not to the extent of say an NBC employee who would only point out the positives.
With that in mind, I appreciate the effort at putting some of us at ease. I have had concerns that the show would diverge too far from what we have come to love about Stargate. I think you have helped with this small article.
I don’t think the ptb need to worry about gettin an audience for the premier. I’m sure many will tune in just to see how good or bad it is. The true test will be whether it continues to appeal after the first 5-6 episodes and from reviews so far I find it disconcerting that some reviewers feel we need to hang in there to really be able to judge how good the show will be. What are premiers for if not to bring in viewers. If an audience doesn’t like what they see in the premier they wont come… Read more »
It didnt help me at all. I was actually very excited about this at first, and was not bothered by the idea of a younger cast, which was probably the first thing we heard about the series. But as the premiere has gotten closer I have become less and less excited with every bit of new information. I’ll wait and watch it to be sure, but I really dont have much hope left. These are some of the things that worry me: -“the focus on characters and relationships more than a driving plot” -“the pilot doesn’t set up a primary… Read more »
[…] GateWorld Stargate Universe: First Impressions […]
I feel vaguely insulted, so I’m not smart cause I liked SG1 and SGA? I’m sure you didn’t mean that though. But it’s all part of why SGU disturbs me; the frequent insinuations that everything about this new show is better than something that I’ve loved for years. Makes me feel like a second class citizen.
No matter what people say; I’m really excited about the show! I’m a big fan og scifi and I’ve enjoyed SG1 and SGA, and the fact that Universe is a characterdriven show is great news! I can see why many people are scared by the “no-plot” thing, but come on… We have this large, incredible universe that is Stargate and we get a show that is focusing on a group of people whom are lost and need to rely on eachother. This just ups the ante: Stargate has always been a kind of “realistic scifi series” beacuse of the fact… Read more »
“so are fans of the original SG writing style stupid?” …sigh. Yes, you are a complete idiot because you liked SG-1 and SGA. I’m SURE that’s what they’re trying to tell you here. Seriously, these “complaints” are getting pathetic. It seems as if with every positive review that comes out, with every unfounded argument against SGU that gets refuted, the anti-SGU crowd desperately try to make up for it by coming up with new complaints and arguments (because they WANT to dislike SGU, not because they have a legitimate reason to) and making less and less sense as they do… Read more »
So far everything I am hearing about this show just sounds brilliant from the cast, the many scenes which have I have read about, the depth of characters and character histories something we lack. They seem to be using more modern story telling techniques. More modern look.
So far SGU seem to be fixing the flaws that were obvious in SG1 and SGA. I love that we are having a darker side of the Stargate universe, I am personally fed up of the light side so that ought to be great.
Sounds good!!
+ i don’t believe the intent is to say fans of SG-1 are stupid + this is a step up… in fact i think it very much implies that Stargate fans are smart + the writers are playing to that. That being said i would be o so very happy if the level of writing managed to rebound from SGA. To be sure there were some good episodes + Season 5 of SGA might be my favorite since the first but it was certainly less consistent than SG-1, @ least in my opinion.
Why do people have to twist things around when something is said in an article? Originally posted by Sylvia: “I feel vaguely insulted, so I’m not smart cause I liked SG1 and SGA? I’m sure you didn’t mean that though. But it’s all part of why SGU disturbs me; the frequent insinuations that everything about this new show is better than something that I’ve loved for years. Makes me feel like a second class citizen.” Actually, if TPTB are smart and all, I hope it is better. (Although, it is primarily a different take and a different direction for Stargate.)… Read more »
I also just want to say that while SG-1 and Altantis had flaws, they also had strengths that made them awesome. All shows are flawed, unfortunately. (Whether there are plot holes, etc.)
Even the commenters are not nice to those of us who liked the old shows :(
No, they’re not being nice to you because you’ve somehow gotten this crazy idea in your head that the producers of SG:U have decided that the “old” stargate sucks and plan to drastically change everything about it. Thus, you have the “us vs. them” attitude that is impossible to understand. If you like SG:U, it doesn’t mean you somehow love SG-1 and SGA any less. And let’s be honest here… it won’t bring them back, either. Look, I’m a HUGE fan of SG-1 and SGA. I’ve seen every episode, many more than once, and it has, hands-dowwn, some of the… Read more »
There are a lot of lessons to learn about a third series. Taking Star Trek into account you can argue that staying with canon brought down the franchise (or at least stopped it). Voyager had a great deal of promise, but clinging to traditional writing made it lack in some ways. SGU has the potential to correct itself if the “lite plot” thingy doesn’t pan out. Much like VOYAGER, the crew will no doubt be focused on getting home while dropping by strange new worlds and perhaps making new friends. This is what I hope for the most. New and… Read more »
I for one am above and beyond excited for “Stargate: Universe”! I love this franchise and I’m so much looking forward to seeing a new chapter in the “Stargate” mythology and watch “SG: U” build on the foundations previously laid down by the amazing “Stargate SG-1” and “Stargate: Atlantis” whilst also being a distinctive show in and of itself! It’s gonna make it’s own mark with the main lead characters, the situation they’re all in, and the friends/enemies they’ll meet and those are all things I’m looking forward to get to know! Suffice it to say…if it has “Stargate” in… Read more »
“Even the commenters are not nice to those of us who liked the old shows”
Playing victim now? Gimme a break. You know damn well that every commenter on this page is here BECAUSE OF the old shows. Everyone here is an SG-1 and/or SGA fan. Some of us just happen to realize that this is a reason to welcome another Stargate series, not dread it.
[…] and a very different approach to music may stand out in particular. It’s not just the next Stargate show; it’s a different kind of Stargate show. It is done beautifully, and for us it is a […]
So…. nothing there that isn’t amazing/wonderful/BestTVShowEver made? the whole thing is flawless? no weaknesses? Wow. Guess I should be impressed and excited…
but I’m not surprised…
@Ugly Pig I’ve never been a victim in my life and I’m not about to start now. But I am SICK to death of people telling me I have to be happy about SGU. I am NOT. How does that affect anyone but myself? I said what I think and feel. I don’t know why this inspires the kind of anger and snide comments that are made to those of us who aren’t all gung-ho over the new show. Why does anyone even care enough about what I think or say that they respond to it? I did not ask… Read more »
Thanks heaps Gateworld team :) This is going to make me tell all my friends about it and get some of the newbies into the Stargate Franchise. If they like it so much I’m sure they are going to want to go back and buy the DVDs of SG1 and Atlantis.
Now…if only they would screen it on aussie tv :(
@Sylvia – we’re not telling you you HAVE to be excited about SGU. You’re acting like it’s the plague that’s about to befall all mankind, and I think a lot of us are just trying really hard to UNDERSTAND it, is all. I mean, our two Stargate shows got cancelled, and then there’s news of this NEW Stargate show they’ve been working on. Isn’t that supposed to be exciting? Isn’t that what we WANT? It’s kinda like the new Star Trek movie… yes, it was a different approach to Star Trek. Was it better or worse than the previous approach?… Read more »
Wow, generalization much? Sylvia was actually very articulate and reasonable in her feelings against SGU. SOME ppl are acting like SGU is a plague, but not everyone who isnt excited does so. For a lot of us thats all it is, a lack of excitement. And its true, the announcement of a new SG series was a very happy day. But eventually, after enough information was released, I realized that it wasnt the SG I loved anymore. But if the things that you love about SG are still present in SGU, I am very happy for you. The release of… Read more »
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. If some think SGU will be awesome then good for you, but the constant need to attack posters who give their honest opinion about the show not being for them is uncalled for. The old style Stargate lasted for 15 years so it couldnt really have been that flawed and kept audience coming back for more. I doubt SGU will bring in any more numbers once it gets past its first season. There was nothing wrong the previous Stargate except uninspired writing and lack of imagination. I find it amazing that these same writers… Read more »
@Sylvia I don’t have a problem with you not being too excited about SGU. But if you are so sick of being told that SGU will be great and you’re going to love it, why do you enter a Stargate fansite and read about the show? Just so you can spew some crap about how you feel insulted and attacked? I’m sorry you feel that way, but I agree with Ugly Pig, it really sounds as though many people just WANTS to dislike it. I guess that’s your problem, but please don’t mak it ours (we who actually look forward… Read more »
I feel that at this point, before I see the show, that if they say the actors will have an established history, then how come we never saw them during SG1 or SGA ? Thyey are going to manufacture relations, histories, and the past…
after more than 10 years of SG history, they wil just put these character sin front of us and say they were in the buidling next door andf never crossed paths with SG1? Yet they knew everyone and wer part of it all?
???
how will they pull this off??
I will give it a 1-season chance and see if its (hopefully)much better than the dissapointment of Atlantis was. My biggest hope is for aliens that look alien and arent the same cliche rubbish that seems to only end up in the TV/film world, I want to see stuff that isnt at all earthlike whatsoever, and thats a challenge cos theres some weird stuff on our own planet (just look have a look in the ocean!).
‘Then how come we never saw them during SG1 or SGA ? Thyey are going to manufacture relations, histories, and the past…’ ¯(º_o)/¯ What do you expect them to do? The writers aren’t prescient gods with the ability to see a decade or so into the future :) Any past history stuff -like with Rush and Daniel- will be dealt with the same way they dealt with a plethora of characters before; in little flashbacks. Anyway, as i understand it most of the chars are Stargate nooblets and aren’t experienced SG team members or were stationed on Atlantis for years.… Read more »
@blackhawlk; @Sylvia, You guys are my heroes. @Greg Dean; Orion Coran, and that Ugly Pig. Where the heck did all this sudden writing inspiration come from? (No not you, the writers for the show). They could only come up with “plagues” for the Atlantean Crew, or at best, a McKeller as a character development? But they had to discard an established show, and Start writing a brand new show to show off their new “creative juices” that just started to flow abundantly like the Niagara Falls? “Damn good acting”.. oohkaay, so maybe I’m not a talent scout, but what the… Read more »
“Yet they knew everyone and wer part of it all?” That’s one of my – many – problems with this premise. Rush should be THE expert on Ancient technology, even bigger honcho than Carter and McKay but we never EVER heard of him before. If he was AN expert, one of MANY, I could understand that. I mean, we had Zelenka, Kavanagh, Lee… But he’s described as the top of the top of the top of the cream which is ridiculous – McKay at least had a past with Carter and was her equal (once he swallowed his arrogance) so… Read more »
Sylvia: I never said you “have to” be happy about SGU (nor have I seen anyone else suggest that, ever). I don’t CARE if you like SGU. I really don’t. It’s perfectly okay to genuinely not be interested. What bothers me is what you and others write in comments sections such as these, with complaints that don’t even make sense – it really does appear to me that you folks WANT to dislike the show, and want to make darn sure everyone KNOWS you dislike the show. “I did not ask for feedback,” you say, but you sure don’t have… Read more »
God I love watching fans argue. Very amusing :P
Cant we all just agree to disagree?
Another Universe thread, another comment section devolved into fanboys foaming at the mouth over dissenters. Just another day at Gateworld eh?
Very true and it confirms for me more than ever that SGU has been geared to a certain demographic which is rather odd as it seems to be narrowing the audience instead of increasing it. I don’t see many others besides fanboys who seem to be interested in this new version of “Stargate”.
I agree completely with Clemontine.
I will give the show a shot sure but it just sounds to different to be good (or as good).
I know this has been said before but the old show was PERFECT and you can’t change perfect and it still be perfect, the way I see it when something is 100% every change can only make it worse and it appears they changed a lot with SGU so chances are it will be worse.
I dont think its fair to judge the interest of the show based only on Gateworld. I mean, it a big site but mostly for larger fans of the shows. I for one cannot wait for SGU. But I see no point in arguing about it. Its an exercise in futility. No ones gonna win. I think the show will be a success. Kepping audience interested and the show fresh is going to be the challenge.
I wasn’t particularly excited about SGU when it was announced and the more I hear the less interested I am becoming. My initial disinterest stemmed from the way the PTB appeared to sacrifice SGA for SGU, that may not be how it was but that’s certainly how it looked like to me. I was sad to see SG1 end but at least they ran SGA in parallel so everyone could get used to the new show before the old one ended. I’ve listed a few things in this article that make me even less likely to watch this show. IT’S… Read more »
@retireddat44: Because we don’t see absolutely everything that happens in the 12 years of Stargate that is revealed to us. There are likely to have been hundreds of missions that we didn’t witness, just for SG-1, not to mention the dozen or so other SG-teams. We are not privy to their personal lives (for the most part), and we don’t know the entirety of their past. McKay was a character introduced in the middle of the series, but was said to be a brilliant man who was well known in the scientific community. Why didn’t we hear of him until… Read more »
Give Stargate Universe a chance, if you dont like the sound of it dont watch it, plain and simple. Ig you think its ‘Too BSG’ and you loved BSG what are you complaining at? If you didnt like BSG but are a fan of SG. Stop moaning and go watch classic Gate on DVD or Hulu or whatever you watch it on. I for one will be tuned in on October 9th (or 6th)on Scifi TV Australia ready to watch ‘Air’ because i believe (and hope) its gonna be fantastic. Just because something sounds different doesnt mean its bad.
FINALLY: Some high quality acting from the WHOLE cast and not just 2-3. (Don’t even get me started on poorly written dialogue).
“intelligence” is relative, and while SGA/SG-1 had plenty to think about they never took a deep ‘serious’ approach to the philosophical aspects of the show.
This is where BSG shined – and even if it was overly dark – it sure as heck made you think about all aspects of humanity.
BRING IT SGU!!!
I forced myself to watch a few episodes of BSG but just couldn’t get past that weird camera movement thing they had going on. I guess it was either a poor steady cam operator or it was meant to make you feel like you were there with them, whatever the idea I ended up suffering from motion sickness! I don’t think BSG is a good example of how you retain previous viewers, I loved the old show but was put off with the way they had drastically changed some of the main cast members (Boomer and Starbuck). I know they… Read more »
@Byza I’m not trying to moan about SGU, how can I without seeing it? I was highlighting why I and probably quite a few others are disinterested in SGU.
LOL @ Ugly Pig. Jeez ugly pig, I bet you didn’t debate in high school or College. What “oh you look so pretty today”, would imply is, you look better than yesterday or the day before. But as the old addage goes, If Your momma is fat and ugly in her old age, and your elder sister does too, that is a sure possibilty that you will turn fat and ugly as well. (That’s just logic, not a personal comment directed at you :) ) So if SGA and SG-1 had flaws and was getting tired (and old and fat:),… Read more »
Seems you missed my point entirely. I thought I was pretty clear. I won’t bother to repeat myself.
You know what? This bickering is getting old. Let’s everybody group hug!!
…no? Fine, I’ll just hug myself then.
“If you think its ‘Too BSG’ and you loved BSG what are you complaining at?” That these writers don’t have the talent to pull off a BSG style show? That the writers’ idea of dark and mature looks to be lots and lots of sexual situations, some of them nonconsensual? That the producers talk about how much Universe will be character driven and nonepisodic and intelligent like BSG and yet they somehow couldn’t pull that off on their previous shows? Different isn’t bad. But if a chef can’t prepare simple dishes consistently then of course some diners are going to… Read more »
@Imitation Tofu: hahaha, I just laughed my ass off at the Haute Cuisine crack. good times.. Bah, we are all too serious about this stuff, a good laugh was just the medicine. We bicker and argue, while other people get rich.
For the love of God, just please don’t let this series turn into a soap opera in space (ala Battlestar Galactica).
@Kosh:
Almost every single review so far has stated it will not be a BSG copy, but instead will find a nice balance in between. (The others that haven’t stated SGU will be a BSG copy simply didn’t state anything about it.)
So, obviously, we are gonna see something closer to SG-1’s early seasons, but with a bit of modernization for 2000’s. :P
I’m watching it. As for the rest of you, I could give a rat’s ass if you watch it or not. If you don’t like it, that’s your problem and your loss. All this arguing is stupid anyways, its the internet, nobody cares whether you’re for or against this show.
@Kosh: Space Opera doesn’t have to be bad. Ie. “the commonwealt saga”, “void trilogy”, and “nights dawn trilogy” by Peter Hammilton
Tastes like New Coke to me.