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Hellfrost's avatar

What do you think of the new Stargate show Stargate: Universe?

Asked by Hellfrost (166 points ) October 23rd, 2009

The Sci Fi Channel (I refuse to call it SyFy. Sounds like some kind of weird disease) has a brand new show in the Stargate franchise called Stargate: Universe. The plot is as followed:

After the secret of the Stargate’s ninth chevron is discovered, a team of explorers from Earth travels to the unmanned starship Destiny, which was launched by the Ancients centuries ago as an experiment. The new crew, not able to control the Destiny’s navigation, is forced to complete its original mission. They travel far out into the universe, encountering new races and enemies.

What is your expert opinion on this show?

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31 Answers

evegrimm's avatar

It’s boring as hell—or at least, the first several episodes have been.

I adore SG-1 and will soon start watching SGA again, but seriously…SGU needs to amp it up.

I think part of it is that they don’t have any really likable characters (they do on SG-1 and SGA). I don’t care about them, which is either bad writing or bad acting.

(The show also feels about 3 times as long as it is because it’s so boring—I’ll hold out for another few episodes, however, to see if it gets better.)

drdoombot's avatar

I actually find it quite enjoyable. All the previous incarnations of the Stargate concept made me cringe (except for the original movie). Maybe it’s because Robert Carlyle is on the show, maybe I just miss Battlestar Galactica, but I’m liking it so far. Don’t know how long it will last though…

asmonet's avatar

I freaking love Stargate.

I fucking hate SG: U.

And I wanted to so bad. I tried, I really freaking did. But I cannot accept it.

Hellfrost's avatar

See that’s what I have been hearing everywhere. It’s been 50/50 for good and bad. Personally I think the show needs a LOT of work but it could become a gem. I see good and bad things about it. The fact that they pulled someone into the stargate program because he solved a game sounds ridiculously farfetched to me. Also, the ninth chevron being earth, how is that possible? But there are also good things about it, the struggle to survive, the unpredictability and the wicked space ship that has been battered worse than a beaten up Volkswagen after a demolition derby.

I loved how they showed the reactions of the people stranded on the ship in the episode Darkness. “ I don’t want to die out here.” A emotion never expressed on the other stargates but one we all knew they had.

drdoombot's avatar

I feel the concept is pretty rich. We don’t know what the mission of the ship is, there are all kinds of technology to be discovered on the ship, plus there is the potential for interaction with many different alien races at the stops the ship makes at different Stargates. The food/water issue hasn’t been resolved yet. There’s also something of a mutiny brewing. There really is enough conflict to sustain the show for a season or more.

Hellfrost's avatar

Exactly! But evegrimm has a point. The episode do seem to contain a lot of filler and seem stretched. I for one will give this show a chance to convince me in the first 10 episodes. That should give them enough time to get a proper baseline started.

One thing that will probably make me quit watching and has been the best theory about how they will create a master bad guy race is if one of the scientists stumbles into a lab where they create replicators. The replicator kills the scientist and takes his form thereby creating Stargate: Galactica.

Sarcasm's avatar

So far, I’m not very impressed.
I’m trying so hard to love and support it. I’m a huge Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis fan (and Sanctuary, which has quite a few of the same behind-the-scenes folks from Stargates). SGU is just too damned different. I feel like so far it has absolutely nothing to do with the entire Stargate, well, universe. It’s not about exploration throughout galaxies, meeting new alien races.

I really don’t care about all of this relationship crap onboard. I don’t care that the main guy was raised by priests, or that the Senator’s daughter can’t figure out which cast member she has a crush on [though I did care about when Dr. Jennifer Keller couldn’t figure out whether she had a crush on McKay or on Ronan], or about whatever the hell mischevious things Dr. Rush is up to.
I want to see them gate into other worlds and show me awesome cultures. Specifically, Furlings and more Unas.

drdoombot's avatar

@Sarcasm Maybe they’re trying to attract a new viewer base by messing with the Stargate formula. If I’m a typical example, their ploy is working successfully.

CMaz's avatar

Seems like a reconstituted Voyager.

The_Compassionate_Heretic's avatar

The deep space survival theme is an interesting take on the franchise.
It seems a bit more visceral in this one. That is interesting.

Bugabear's avatar

My opinion is exactly the same as the first people. And whats the deal with geeky kid? Its like hes straight out of a teen comedy or something. I think they’re trying to make the who stargate franchise apeal to a wider audience. And is it just me or is it more similar to the new battlestar galactica than the other stargates?

julia999's avatar

I agree, so far it’s been rather dull. Not necessarily cliche, just not exciting. It’s like they’ve recycled older themes and presented them in the most boring way possible.

Three episodes, and I still don’t empathise/care about ANY of the characters.
Too much like Battlestar for my taste, I hope it picks up.

BBQsomeCows's avatar

they are writing themselves into a corner quickly

Hellfrost's avatar

I am still waiting on the master bad guy race. They usually are what makes the stargate shows good. The Goa’uld, Replicators, Wraith and Ori made the shows a succes. So I am going to stick with the show till they have at least a good foe.

Is it just me or does it seem like they are still in a streched out pilot? I mean they are still getting their stuff together trying to set up some kind of base. Seems very much like they are in a looooooooong version of a pilot.

mrentropy's avatar

It sounds like Stargate: Voyager to me, but then I’ve only recently started watching SG-1 on Hulu (I’m on the 2nd season). Before that I’ve only seen the movie.

Hellfrost's avatar

@mrentropy It’s not really Stargate: Voyager. The thing the shows have in commen is that both feature people being stranded in a space ship on the other side of the galaxy. But that’s about it. It’s more Stargate: Galactica.

mrentropy's avatar

@Hellfrost I haven’t seen the new Battlestar Galatica either, but I think there was a lot more conflict on that show than on SG:U. Right now, at least, it’s all about discovery of their situation and character development.

I think the purpose behind ST:V was to get back to the roots of Star Trek, which was to explore strange new worlds, etc., and it looks to me like SG:U will eventually turn into that, as well.

asmonet's avatar


Your social life is about to crash and burn.
Sadly, it may never recover. :)

evegrimm's avatar

@Hellfrost, it’s been said in several places that there isn’t going to be a master race of baddies. (I know, right?)

I think they’re trying to make it so that the “baddie” is the discord between the different members of the crew (that and the aging/broken down ship).

How long will he have to wait before they use the Stargate again? Seems odd for a show named “Stargate”.

The CGI is much, much better than in the other 2, though. (Pretty bad when one of the high points of the show is the CGI, eh?)

Hellfrost's avatar

@evergrimm no master race of baddies? Not a single one? Wow… that would make the series a lot less entertaining. I guess it would be pretty hard to create a master bad guy race for this show. It would become kinda lame if every time they stopped to use the stargate they would gate into a master baddie controlled system. Having the baddies follow them around would become a bit stalker-ish afer a while…

But conflict internally… well there already is enough of that. Seriously, I am not a racist. Not at all. But (yea, I know. There is always a but) they seriously need to kill off that agressive steroid rage black dude. I am sure the gentlemen who plays him is a fine actor but his character is just not done in the stargate world and is a extremely bad fit for the show. The Stargate program is supposed to only have the best of the best. Not some overagressive idiot.

drdoombot's avatar

I didn’t like Greer at first, but he’s really grown on me. And I knew they were going into that star for a recharge, not to die.

And I have no idea what you guys are talking about when you go on about “master bad guy races.” Good or bad thing?

Sarcasm's avatar

@drdoombot How’d you know that it was for a recharge? Just by the fact that the ship was headed there, and it never does things accidentally?

I found the “ultimate bad guy” Goa’uld/Wraith annoying. But I would like to see a few recurring enemies, like the Genii in SGA or the NID in SG-1.

mrentropy's avatar

@sarcasm That’s what did it for me. I didn’t think the ship would miscalculate, didn’t think the ship gives a hoot about who’s on it, and was hoping all the characters I didn’t like would end up on the shuttle.

Hellfrost's avatar

@drdoombot a master bad guy race is a good thing. Imagine SG-1 without the Goa’uld or the Replicators. Or SGA without the Wraith… it would ebcome really boring.

@sarcasm, I thing exactly the opposite of what you just said. I found the Gennii extremely annoying. They where a backwater plannet and shouldnt have been able to do as much damage as they did. As for the NID, i get that politics has to be a part of the stargate shows, but I did find the episodes they heavily featured less good then the other ones.

oratio's avatar

I love the Stargate shows. They are really great. This… seems like a boring version of Star Trek: Voyager. I hope they prove me wrong.

janat's avatar

They took a really great show (I have all the episodes of SG-1 and SGA, and all the movies) and turned it into a sci-fi soap opera. I can’t stand it, and I’m no longer watching it. Let me know when they come up with something I can watch without gagging.

Sarcasm's avatar

@janat I enjoyed “Time”, which was from 3 weeks ago I believe. But that’s about it so far. I’m hopeful tonight’s episode will be good. I don’t expect it, but I do hope…

Stargater's avatar

I love it, especially because it’s a lot darker and deeper than SG1 and Atlantis, Rush literaly keeps me on my toes i can’t figure him out but after this weeks mid season finale i’m gripped to see how and when and why (not gonna drop in any spoilers). I’ve got to wait at least three to four weeks till i get to see it again….... oh well i have the others on DVD so can pull a few all nighters watching those :)

Rufus_T_Firefly's avatar

I wish they’d actually do something instead of hopping from planet to planet digging up resources and angst. I want to see some action for a change. They spent the first four or five episodes introducing the characters. So far, I’d have to say that it’s only redeeming factor is that Richard Dean Anderson occasionally makes an appearance, but that fact alone may not be enough to save it.

mrentropy's avatar

After watching all ten seasons of SG-1 and five seasons of Atlantis along with the two direct-to-video movies I can say I’m even more disappointed in Universe than I was before.

Dr_Dredd's avatar

I seriously miss Atlantis. Why did they have to screw with a good thing?

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