Stargate Universe – Air (parts 1 & 2)
Air, Parts 1 & 2
As I mentioned in my previous post, we went to see Mike Birbiglia on Friday. Unfortunately, the timing of the show was such that I didn’t get to see the premiere of Stargate Universe. Fortunately, the show was on Syfy[a], so it’s been on several times since then, and between one showing that started at 11pm (too late for me to watch through to the end) and another that started at 5pm (too early for me to get there for the beginning), I was able to catch the show before this week’s episode.
I’m a fan of the Stargate universe[b], especially Stargate: Atlantis, and I was looking forward to the new show with some skepticism. It sounded a bit too much like Star Trek: Voyager, with a bit of the darkness of the new Battlestar Galactica thrown in.
Actually, at first glance, the Voyager comparison is probably unnecessary, since the more relevant comparison would be to Atlantis. Like Atlantis, the crew is stuck on an Ancient ship, cut off from their allies and Earth, and left to survive on their own (Travel to Pegasus and back did eventually get easier, but it was impossible at first). Unfortunately for the Universe crew, the similarities end there. The Destiny is at least an order of magnitude older than Atlantis, and it hasn’t been hidden at the bottom of the ocean protected by a shield, either. Power issues aside, Atlantis was in pretty good shape. Destiny is not.
Plus, the Atlantis crew brought supplies with them and were able to establish relationships with other worlds. At this point, the Destiny crew doesn’t seem to have the ability to choose where they dial their gate at all (the one wormhole we’ve seen open was opened by the ship, not by the crew), and the fact that they’re travelling and different Stargates are in range at any given time would seem to preclude the ability to establish lasting relationships.
Finally, the Atlantis crew was prepared for their mission, more-or-less. The Destiny is crewed with refugees from a base that was about to be destroyed, and much of the expedition team that was supposed to actually come through the wormhole is seriously injured or killed (not to mention that they didn’t get much of the supplies). They don’t have a doctor, and they certainly don’t have the advantage of having Rodney McKay (or even Zelenka) around, so they’re going to be in pretty rough shape when it comes to fixing up this ancient Ancient ship.
Anyway, with one episode down (or two, or two-thirds of one, depending on how you choose to look at it), I’m definitely sticking around for the new episodes, but I’m still a little annoyed that Atlantis was cancelled for this.
Spoilers and general comments follow.