MovieChat Forums > Surface (2005) Discussion > I know I'm going to get flamed, but...th...

I know I'm going to get flamed, but...this show sucked!

posted 16 years ago by colank-1
25 replies | jump to latest

I have to say this...

SURFACE SUCKED!!!

I borrowed the DVD from the MWR library here and I'm through almost all of it and unless somthing substantive and interesting happens this thing will be a complete waste of time!

--The acting is not terrible but certainly below average.

--The dialog is silly and cliche--listen to any of the exchanges between Miles and that would-be girlfriend of his or any of the teenage characters...it reminds one of Dude Where's My Car only lamer because this show is trying to be taken seriously.

--The storyline is a mediocre blend of environmentalist whacko conspiracy theory nonsense and anti-corporation leftist ideology (the villain is a Pharmaceutical Company that is being assisted by a secret government cover-up). When compared to other shows that depend on one large story (e.g. Babylon 5, 24, Lost) it is no wonder that people found this show wanting to say the least. A little of the ET-angle is thrown in for good measure when a young boy finds and raises a young dangerous animal and tames it.

--The special effects are cheap and obvious (again compared to contemporary breakthrough hits like Battlestar Galactica)

--Not to be pedantic but even the technical aspects of the show call for a serious suspension of disbelief. Characters traverse the country in a matter of hours and reappear like magic back where they need to be (one of the characters manages to drive from California to Louisiana and back again all in the same 24 hour period). Not to mention a hilarious scene where stranded at the bottom of the ocean (I think 5000 feet down) two of the heroes manage to get back to the surface using a life raft with only 7 minutes worth of air. No bends, no decompression, no nothing. Not to mention it takes them a half hour to get down and 30 seconds to come back up again.

All in all...this was an utter cheesefest and waste of film. I feel like a Nimrod for having watched it all.

If I'm wrong in any of this I invite criticism.

[–] Pam0004 16 years ago

**Contains minor spoilers**

I agree. I really don't know why people seem to love this show so much. I bought the DVD set when it came out because I had heard good things about it. I thought the first 3-4 episodes were great. They focused mainly on the creatures and the mystery surrounding them. However, after that, the series went spiraling downward.

The next few episodes consisted mainly of Miles' and Nimrod's adventures, with Nimrod getting into mischief in grocery stores while being chased around by Miles and his friend. Something that seemed more suited for a Saturday afternoon cartoon than a series about sea monsters.

Everything involving Rich and Laura became increasingly unbelievable and ridiculous. Their collective IQ seemed to be falling, and although Laura could still spout out fun scientific facts I began to wonder how these two morons could function without hurting themselves.

The origin of the creatures is a topic that could have been handled so many ways, there were a few hints of it being something really cool in the earlier episodes, but when it was finally revealed I found the explanation very disappointing.

I know that you need to suspend disbelief at least a little bit while watching a fictional series, but it just got too hard to not be put off by all the inaccuracies and unrealistic situations. Overall, what started out as a promising series was ruined as the situations, characters and dialogue became more and more unbelievable and vacuous.

[–] einTeufel 16 years ago

Yeah, the show just wasn't that great... but that is why its no longer in production...

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] toretto-1 16 years ago

Yeah dude, you like Battlestar Galactica where people fly in huge ships through the space and you criticize Surface where characters travel to fast from one point to another in short time periods. I don't know which one of the shows is closer to reality and yet, they are both sci-fi.

[–] Pam0004 16 years ago

Are you serious?

[–] devv1988 16 years ago

All of your points - other than the one about the story - are well founded. I completely give them to you. The storyline problem, however, I must unfortunately deny you. If you'd like to know what this show was really about, and why it does "depend on one large story", see the Q&A or "The flower thing..." thread for several of my posts. They'll clear things up for you.

[–] prydain17 16 years ago

I can't say I *completely* disagree with the original poster. Back in 2005 I was looking forward to this show a great deal, and I watched it every Monday or five or so episodes. I liked the show well enough, but...compared to other shows it was just "ok" and I finally stopped watching it.

I don't think it's a HORRIBLE show however.

The acting, yes, was mediocre. The dialogue needed some work. The effects were better than what you see on cable and they were certainly ambitious. Given their budget I found the effects just fine.

This was geared to be a family-friendly (within reason) show though, one that wasn't bloody and violent and filled with sex. And, while I watch and enjoy a lot of adult shows, everything from Desperate Housewives to Supernatural to Lost to CSI, I can appreciate this show for being geared towards families and therefore those other aspects aren't as big a deal.

And while it's unfortunate for the hardcore fans that it got canceled, I was much more upset by the other sci-fi/fantasy casualties of that season: Threshold, Night Stalker, and Invasion, which were all top notch, in my opinion.

www.after-darkness.com - Discuss Supernatural, Smallville and general sci-fi stuff.

[–] jamasian_man 16 years ago

I really liked Threshold. I thought that show had potential. It was really creepy. Haven't seen sci-fi like that since the X-files. I also enjoyed invasion. but after the first say 12 eps it became kind of lame.

[–] ThePikey 16 years ago

You're right...

Cliches are standing in line, plotholes are infinite...
We are talking serious amateur-hour here, even for sci-fi tv.

[–] colt_89 16 years ago

I watched half an episode tonight on tv here. Oh it was terrible. I might have actually given half a cr*p if they could act.

[–] counterrevolutionary 16 years ago

Thanks. I just watched the first episode on Neflix Instant and was wondering if it got any better (for example, if the Standard-Issue Government Conspiracy killed off the Standard-Issue Annoying Teenagers).

Now I know I don't need to bother watching any more.

--
http://scotches.home.comcast.net/

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] devv1988 16 years ago

How the hell can you think that Invasion was awful? Fichtner was masterful in that show, and - in contrast to the continuously failing quality of Heroes - stuck to its themes.