Stargate Universe : "It's not a gumball machine, Eli."
"It's not a gumball machine, Eli."
Spoilers galore below the cut.
I suppose the fact that I'm still thinking about it an hour after watching it in 42" glory with loud surround sound is saying something.
The Producers aren't joking when they said this wasn't your father's Stargate.
I've read a few reviews that have made it very clear that there was no humor in this incarnation. We must not have been watching the same show then because pieces of this were hysterical. And its that humor that will keep me coming back for more. Eli is the new Jack O'Neill. a geeky, not nearly has handsome Jack O'Neill. Seriously. He and his reaction to things that happen are hysterical. Chloe has an amusing moment during the dinner, but after that, its all Eli. I knew I'd like him.
Rush is the perfect grey character. He's not good and he's not bad. You see a sensitive side of him after the Senator dies and he's comforting Chloe (after she knocks him to the floor, which is a great moment in and of itself) and when he's in his quarters on Icarus and looking at a photo of his wife. Other than that, he's pretty much a mystery. I like mysteries and I do believe I'll enjoy watching him from week to week.
Ming Na's character doesn't really have much to do here. You get a bit of info about her being a representative of the IOA and a mysterious conversation with TJ. She is very much out of her element. Unfortunately, that carried through to the believability of her acting. I wasn't impressed.
TJ, or as I can't help but think of her as the 7 of 9 clone, was another that didn't stand out as a character I would at all care about. She had a lot of screen time and it bored me. The medical scene and the pumping of the chest was so unbelievable that everyone watching with me made a comment. I hope we don't have another Keller on our hands..
Chloe impressed me completely. I didn't think I'd like her but she comes across with a good, solid head on her shoulders. Her emotional scenes are very emotional. And the actress can act. Very well.
Greer was all over the place and I found that pretty jarring. I'd I didn't like his character's attitude at all and maybe that was the point.
Young was just - there. Nothing special to write home about with him either. He was a powerful character but nothing really stood out about him that interested me.
As everyone likely knows by now, the Senator dies and there is a moment between Chloe and Scott that is very touching. "He died so I could live. I want to know more about him." Was probably the best line, other than Eli's humorous lines..
That's the characters and my first impressions of them. Did I miss any? Now on to the plot . . .
It was very interesting, engaging and completely kept my interest. But I've always loved the Ancients and finding more about them and how they existed in the galaxy is interesting to me.
The shooting style wasn't too jarring. It didn't pull me out of the show, it put me right into the middle of it. The shooting order, however, was a bit confusing as it went back and forth from the past to the present. It worked fine from a storytelling perspective but may be confusing for some.
Other than the exterior design of the Destiny itself, and the cute little kinos, I wasn't impressed at all with the 'Ancient' design of the interior of the ship. I like steam punk but I was hoping it would be more reminiscent of Atlantis Ancient design.
The score was lovely and fitting for the show. It didn't contain, so far as I could tell, anything modern. And the vfx were spectacular.
People have been speculating on GateWorld for a while now and below are answers to some of the questions. I'll likely add to these once I've watched it again.
1. They don't know who attacked Icarus but the speculation aboard the Hammond is that it was the Lucian Alliance.It looks like they're all destroyed when the planet blows.
2. The people couldn't be beamed out on the Hammond because of the special shielding on the base.
3. O'Neill is not on Icarus when its attacked. He is at the Pentagon.
4. Carter, after they get away, contacts O'Neill there and we find out there are 80 people missing and that they didn't get back to Earth.
5. Rush uses the ancient stones and takes over Doctor Lee's body, but its very quick and for those who don't understand what they do, its a completely confusing scene. I also remember those body swapping stones being attached to some big Ancient designed device . . . that isn't the case here. They're sitting on what looks like a little white light box. It was odd.
6. There is no engagement ring on Carter's finger I just can't see it. And I zoomed the dvd in pretty hi-def 42 inch goodness..
7. They went to Icarus on a ship because the gate on Icarus is only 'outgoing' due to the special properties on the planet.
8. Daniel is in it only in an 'instructor' capacity. Have you seen the Chinese guy on Lost who is telling you what the hatches are for? Insert Daniel.
9. Carter's hair is noticeably darker than her normal blonde look.
10. There is a sex scene involving Scott and a female member of the team that makes it through the gate. Made me wonder if they have military representation on the show because, really, would they be doin' it in a storage closet?
Spoilers galore below the cut.
I suppose the fact that I'm still thinking about it an hour after watching it in 42" glory with loud surround sound is saying something.
The Producers aren't joking when they said this wasn't your father's Stargate.
I've read a few reviews that have made it very clear that there was no humor in this incarnation. We must not have been watching the same show then because pieces of this were hysterical. And its that humor that will keep me coming back for more. Eli is the new Jack O'Neill. a geeky, not nearly has handsome Jack O'Neill. Seriously. He and his reaction to things that happen are hysterical. Chloe has an amusing moment during the dinner, but after that, its all Eli. I knew I'd like him.
Rush is the perfect grey character. He's not good and he's not bad. You see a sensitive side of him after the Senator dies and he's comforting Chloe (after she knocks him to the floor, which is a great moment in and of itself) and when he's in his quarters on Icarus and looking at a photo of his wife. Other than that, he's pretty much a mystery. I like mysteries and I do believe I'll enjoy watching him from week to week.
Ming Na's character doesn't really have much to do here. You get a bit of info about her being a representative of the IOA and a mysterious conversation with TJ. She is very much out of her element. Unfortunately, that carried through to the believability of her acting. I wasn't impressed.
TJ, or as I can't help but think of her as the 7 of 9 clone, was another that didn't stand out as a character I would at all care about. She had a lot of screen time and it bored me. The medical scene and the pumping of the chest was so unbelievable that everyone watching with me made a comment. I hope we don't have another Keller on our hands..
Chloe impressed me completely. I didn't think I'd like her but she comes across with a good, solid head on her shoulders. Her emotional scenes are very emotional. And the actress can act. Very well.
Greer was all over the place and I found that pretty jarring. I'd I didn't like his character's attitude at all and maybe that was the point.
Young was just - there. Nothing special to write home about with him either. He was a powerful character but nothing really stood out about him that interested me.
As everyone likely knows by now, the Senator dies and there is a moment between Chloe and Scott that is very touching. "He died so I could live. I want to know more about him." Was probably the best line, other than Eli's humorous lines..
That's the characters and my first impressions of them. Did I miss any? Now on to the plot . . .
It was very interesting, engaging and completely kept my interest. But I've always loved the Ancients and finding more about them and how they existed in the galaxy is interesting to me.
The shooting style wasn't too jarring. It didn't pull me out of the show, it put me right into the middle of it. The shooting order, however, was a bit confusing as it went back and forth from the past to the present. It worked fine from a storytelling perspective but may be confusing for some.
Other than the exterior design of the Destiny itself, and the cute little kinos, I wasn't impressed at all with the 'Ancient' design of the interior of the ship. I like steam punk but I was hoping it would be more reminiscent of Atlantis Ancient design.
The score was lovely and fitting for the show. It didn't contain, so far as I could tell, anything modern. And the vfx were spectacular.
People have been speculating on GateWorld for a while now and below are answers to some of the questions. I'll likely add to these once I've watched it again.
1. They don't know who attacked Icarus but the speculation aboard the Hammond is that it was the Lucian Alliance.It looks like they're all destroyed when the planet blows.
2. The people couldn't be beamed out on the Hammond because of the special shielding on the base.
3. O'Neill is not on Icarus when its attacked. He is at the Pentagon.
4. Carter, after they get away, contacts O'Neill there and we find out there are 80 people missing and that they didn't get back to Earth.
5. Rush uses the ancient stones and takes over Doctor Lee's body, but its very quick and for those who don't understand what they do, its a completely confusing scene. I also remember those body swapping stones being attached to some big Ancient designed device . . . that isn't the case here. They're sitting on what looks like a little white light box. It was odd.
6. There is no engagement ring on Carter's finger I just can't see it. And I zoomed the dvd in pretty hi-def 42 inch goodness..
7. They went to Icarus on a ship because the gate on Icarus is only 'outgoing' due to the special properties on the planet.
8. Daniel is in it only in an 'instructor' capacity. Have you seen the Chinese guy on Lost who is telling you what the hatches are for? Insert Daniel.
9. Carter's hair is noticeably darker than her normal blonde look.
10. There is a sex scene involving Scott and a female member of the team that makes it through the gate. Made me wonder if they have military representation on the show because, really, would they be doin' it in a storage closet?