SGU Week: 'Stargate Universe' is outta this world
Alaina Huffman, Brian J. Smith and Robert Carlyle star in "Stargate Universe." Syfy photos
STARGATE UNIVERSE
8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, Syfy
Tune in or out? 
out of four.
A ragtag group of untrained civilians and rookie soldiers stranded on an ancient starship struggle to find their way back home in Syfy's thrilling new series "Stargate Universe."
If you're about to say that you've heard this one before, stop right there.
"SGU's" use of the starship Destiny and its jump-to-other-places stargate might be familiar to sci-fi fans, but it is not at all a rip-off. It lands firmly in between the hokey optimism of "Star Trek Voyager" and the grimness of "Battlestar Galactica," two series with similar beginnings. It also pays homage to its franchise forebears "SG-1" and "Atlantis," but it looks and feels brand spanking new.
"Stargate Universe" boldly goes where no "Stargate" series has gone before.
You don't have to be a fan of the 15-year-old franchise or even of sci-fi TV to fall for "SGU." (Full disclosure: I'm a sci-fi fan who happens to like, but didn't love, the previous "Stargate" series.)
"SGU" marries many familiar sci-fi conventions with relatable emotional stories to create a non-genre spectacular. If you root for the underdog, you'll love this completely enthralling, heartbreaking and inspiring epic.
Each and every character in "SGU" is an underdog. The fact that this ambitious blockbuster is built with the intimate, personal stories of its characters is testament to the talents of Robert C. Cooper and Brad Wright, the writers/creators who are vets of the previous "Stargate" series.
Their dialogue crackles. Often emotionally intense, the script flips to more light-hearted moments with precision and adds layer-upon-layer to the story. Not one line rings false in the first three hours, entitled "Air."
Props also go out to director Andy Mikita, as well as the set creators and special effects folks, who constantly propel the story forward. Everything they show us looks real--from spooky reveals of the Destiny's mysterious corners to expansive views outside the ship to tight shots on the fearful faces of its new crew.
The stellar ensemble, of course, brings the emotions of "SGU" to life. Robert Carlyle, Lou Diamond Phillips and Ming-Na may be the most familiar names here, but no one in the cast gets lost behind their star power.
Elyse Levesque, Brian J. Smith and David Blue stand out in the "Air" episodes. But Louis Ferreira, Jamil Walker Smith and Alaina Huffman instantly and equally grabbed my attention. Even secondary cast members--and I call them that for lack of a better term--bring it.
I get the impression that by the end of the first season's 20 hours, Wright, Cooper and Co. will have peeled back so many details about these characters that viewers will be hard pressed to pick a favorite.
"Stargate Universe" is aptly titled, because it's focus on individual characters while still respecting its sci-fi roots opens the door--or in "Stargate" speak, the "pool"--to a universe of compelling stories.
"SGU" twists the "Stargate" mythos by adding a starship with, of course, a stargate.
"SGU WEEK"
I've been purposefully vague in this review for two reasons: 1. I want you all to experience "Air" the way I did, with only some knowledge of the show and its characters; and 2. If you want to know more, check in every day this week for details about all the main characters, interviews with cast members and more. Just click on this "SGU Week" link. Syfy has created an extended "SGU" sneak peek here.
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4 Comments
Marc Felion said:
The bastard child of Star Trek- Voyager and Battlestar Galactica? Sounds great!
Curt Wagner said:
LOL. Yeah, I guess that's a good way to put it. Seriously though, old sci-fi tropes or not, SGU sucked me in unlike the past Stargate series. Thanks for commenting Marc.
IGPNicki said:
Great review. It certainly sounds like you enjoyed it. I dunno, definitely welcome a more serious side to Stargate's storylines, I just hope that it's not at the expense of the humour that the other two series were well known for.
http://www.igp-scifi.com/stargate-universe.html
Curt Wagner said:
Thanks. I am just a little giddy about SGU. lol. I loved it, and I don't think that with the new tone it loses the humor. I laughed quite often as a matter of fact. I think the humor is different, for sure, and not coming from every character (which seemed to be the case in SG1 and SGA). Although I enjoyed the previous series, I didn't find them to be "cant-miss" TV. I won't miss an ep of SGU. You'll have to write again after you see it and tell me what you think. Can't wait to discuss with everyone. Curt
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