Stargate alums light up ABC’s Defying Gravity

The best summer show you might be missing is Defying Gravity, a new science fiction drama on ABC.  The alphabet network has quietly put the 13-episode series on Sunday nights at 10 p.m., but failed to do much in the way of advertising.

Set less than 50 years in the future, the show tells the story of the Antares and its crew on a 6-year mission to visit seven planets in our solar system, starting with Venus.  The show stars Ron Livingston (Office Space), who nails the unassuming but troubled American hero, Maddux Donner.

Defying Gravity films in Vancouver, B.C., and the large ensemble cast includes no fewer than five Stargate alum.

Christina Cox co-stars as biologist Jen Crane.  Stargate fans most recently saw her in the Stargate Atlantis episode “Whispers,” as Major Teldy, the leader of the all-woman SG team.  Before that she was the alien T’akaya in SG-1‘s “Spirits,” and Lieutenant Kershaw in “The Sentinel.”

Laura Harris plays geologist Zoe Barnes on the show.  She played Nola in “The Game,” in Atlantis‘s third season.  (Before that, she starred as Daisy Adair on MGM’s dark comedy Dead Like Me.)

Ty Olsson plays former mission commander Rollie Crane. On Stargate SG-1, he played Colonel Barnes in Season Nine’s “The Fourth Horseman, Part 1” and a Jaffa all the way back in Season Three’s “Point of View.”

Zahf Paroo plays engineer Ajay Sharma. Back in the first season of SG-1, he played a villager named Jamala in the episode “The First Commandment.”

Finally, Defying Gravity fans might recognize actor Andrew Airlie.  Airlie, who plays ISO mission director Mike Goss, appeared in a pair of very different roles on Stargate SG-1.  He played the Orbanian man Kalan in Stargate SG-1‘s “Learning Curve,” and the S.G.C.’s Dr. Carmichael in Season Eight’s “Avatar.”

The show was created by James Parriott, who previously worked as a producer on Sons of Anarchy, Ugly Betty and Grey’s Anatomy.

This show is smartly written, beautifully shot, and movingly acted. We think it deserves a look from anyone looking for solid sci-fi drama.

Defying Gravity airs Sunday nights at 10 p.m. on ABC in the United States.  Those interested in checking out the show can also find all six aired episodes on Hulu!