“I think that people who have stuck with the show and who have spent the time to get to know the characters are going to experience a very big payoff on Friday night,” Smith said.
The mid-season premiere, titled “Space,” will throw the crew of the Destiny into a crisis situation and their first encounter with an advanced — and hostile — alien species.
Smith added that, while the producers certainly can’t make everyone happy, they are addressing significant needs like character development, which some fans of Atlantis found lacking.
“I think that was something that we tried to address with the show this year, especially with the first 10 episodes, is to say, ‘Ok, this is still going to be a show that is going to have action, adventure, and sci fi elements in it,'” Smith said. “‘But we’re going to take our time to really set up the chess board, and set up who these people are and what’s at stake for them in this situation.'”
But Stargate Universe is not just about the slower-paced character development. “We’ve gotten a lot of feedback from people saying, ‘That’s great, that’s fantastic, now I know who these people are,'” the actor added. “I just want to see where we go next. I want to see the gun to the head, and see the crisis situation. … [And] the aliens are coming. Like Louis said, that was in the book from day one.”
Those communication stones may prove troublesome to Colonel Young (Ferreira) when SGU returns this Friday.
Ferreira said he thought that the show’s creators took a big risk in doing a Stargate series so markedly different from the past 15 seasons, even putting Stargate‘s built-in audience at risk. “To take that risk was something that made me feel personally that this was kind of neat, from that perspective,” the actor said. “To watch it unfold, and to watch Brad [Wright] and Robert [Cooper, series co-creators] execute their plan has been really positive for all of us.
“One of the things that we have really noticed is that we are keeping those fans, and for those we are grateful. But we are also hopefully attracting people that might not have come to a sci-fi type show in the past, and go, ‘Hey this is just a good drama set in space.’ So I think that was part of their intention as well. It’s kind of nice to feel that as much as we are part of a franchise, we are on our own sort of unique, original show.”
Though SGU is different, he also thinks that long-time Stargate fans will be pleasantly surprised with what’s in store in the second half of the season.
“People will notice in the back 10 [episodes], the growth of the show,” Ferreira said. “And it was always their plan to sort of establish things initially. Ten episodes have just grown, and there seems to be that growth just happening from this moment on. I think the old fans who might have said, ‘It’s not the same show,’ might be surprised in fact with what’s coming.”
Check out the full interview now at MediaBlvd, and don’t miss the mid-season premiere this Friday at 9 p.m. (8 Central) on Syfy! Read more from Ferreira and Smith’s digital media phone interview at io9. In Canada, “Space” airs at 10 p.m. on SPACE. You can read more about what’s coming up in GateWorld’s episode guide.
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“People will notice in the back 10 [episodes], the growth of the show,” Ferreira said. “And it was always their plan to sort of establish things initially. Ten episodes have just grown, and there seems to be that growth just happening from this moment on. I think the old fans who might have said, ‘It’s not the same show,’ might be surprised in fact with what’s coming.”
I will not fall for your spin again. Sorry guys but i cant trust you, even though the trailer rocked (i seriously need to know who edits the trailers, he must be a god).
"One of the things that we have really noticed is that we are keeping those fans"
Talk about living in a fantasy world.
It took 10 Episodes to say that Lt. Scott had Tiger Woods Syndrome, Chloe Wanted to cry at the drop of a hat, Rush was a Phsychopath, Young was a masochistic coward and Greer was a Maniac? No Really, After 10 Episodes, this is what the writers wanted to drag out through 10 Episodes? Funny, Atlantis Episodes "Vegas" and "Enemy at the Gate" had material for atleast 2 episodes each, but was shoe-horned into a Sardine can of 1 episode?
After all this "Character Development" (Their words, not mine), and singing "Getting to know you, getting to know all about you, Getting to like you.. etc", Seriously, DO we really know, or more importantly, really care?
By fans, he's referring to the real fans that are excited to see how the series unfolds. You know, the ones that weren't bashing the show before it hit the air and continue to bash it because SG-1 isn't front and center. I'm looking forward to the last ten episodes of season 1 and the next 20 in season 2.
It's not like the actors would ever say that the first 10 episodes were for nothing. With all this talk about payoff they're admitting that these first episodes don't stand strongly on their own.
"By fans, he’s referring to the real fans that are excited to see how the series unfolds."
Yes, because obviously only the slobbering fans of this show are "real" fans. The rest of us who were fans of the Stargate franchise since "Children of the Gods" don't matter because we're not interested in SGU.
"...even putting Stargate’s built-in audience at risk."
Looks to me like he's talking about hardcore Stargate fans. A lot of those were very disappointed with the Universe episodes so far. You can't deny that, we've all seen the stormflood of messages from people that feel that way.
But you go ahead and feel better than all those people because you after all are a 'real fan'.
To me it's simply an insult that even though they are thoroughly aware of the s**tstorm they envoked they are now stating that they didn't lose any fans.
If by "keeping those fans" you mean downward sliding ratings, then yes, yes you are.
Seriously, how can anyone say anything about keeping viewers if the ratings have a downward trend?
"Yes, because obviously only the slobbering fans of this show are “real” fans. The rest of us who were fans of the Stargate franchise since “Children of the Gods” don’t matter because we’re not interested in SGU."
What about those of us who have been fans of the franchise for the past eight years (mid-season 6 SG1) and were happy to have given SGU a chance and have been pleasantly surprised thus far? Do I not matter in the same way you felt you did not?
I have been very vocal about my dislike of SGU due to what I think has been very poorly written and developed characters. But I am cautiously hopeful that the second half of the show will change my mind. I think back to the first two seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Horrible, horrible show. Then come third season they changed some stuff around, tweaked a couple of characters and the show became a huge hit. If SGU’s writers really are listening to the fans and are willing to adjust the show it may turn out to be a fantastic Stargate series.
I plan on giving it until the end of season 1. If I don’t feel it has adjusted course in a way that makes me like the characters then I’ll probably quit watching.
My suggestion to everyone is give the second half a couple of episodes to see if things have improved before bashing the show. For all we know things really will have improved and we might truly like the final product.
SGU – you got my attention. Please don’t get my hopes up again just to let me down a second time. I am yours to lose at this point.