The OP's sentiment may have been a bit harsh, but it is somewhat correct. The few people on this board who liked the series must see that, from the other comments, many fans of the SG community did not like "Universe" at all.
For one, it was far too grim--almost morbidly so. I watch no television at all. What entertainment I do watch is hand-picked from online offerings. And I prefer to watch shows that entertain with at least a nod to real-life situations. And human character being what it is, even the grimmest situations bring humor, even if it is only dark--or black--humor.
Let's face it. SGU took itself too seriously. Worse yet, it seemed to completely ignore the reactions, or expected reactions of its core audience base. Coming as they did from the existing SG fan base, the people most likely to watch the series, at least at first, would expect to have an SG "feel" show being offered. But such was not the case.
I, too, was completely put off by the relentless, soul-sapping blackness of every episode. The characters were darkly humorless, their situations were hopeless or worse (if that even seems possible), and the story arcs, while long-term, did nothing to relieve these anxieties in the short term. If I want grim, hopeless reality, I need only to turn off my computer--or change "channels" to the news websites. I watch shows to escape this grimness. But with SGU this was not possible.
I cannot recall watching a SINGLE episode that was imbued with hope of any kind. And the only characters on the show who had ANY hope for happiness were the ones who ditched the ship for life on a planet that SEEMED like a paradise, but with all of the mysteries surrounding its mere existence and ultimate purpose, it could have been, in truth, Hell, for all they knew. At least they had a chance for more positive emotions than those to which the viewers were exposed.
In fact, due to the unrelentingly negative grimness of the show, I simply stopped watching it during mid-second-season. And I have no desire ever to return. And with the exception of "Farscape," which turned out to be simply too silly for me, that otherwise has never happened. If I put in the time to warm up to a show, especially after a season and a half, I invariably finish watching the series...no matter how challenging may be the premise. The fact that SGU surpassed every other show that I can ever remember watching, both in hopelessness and seeming futility, alike--for both the characters and the audience--says it all.
And while everyone's tastes differ, I am hard-pressed to imagine what type of personality would find unrelenting, utter hopelessness entertaining (perhaps apocalyptic, conspiracy-theorist, doomsday "true believers"? But that is simply wild speculation...). Perhaps they are people who have far too much happiness in their own lives? ...Or the exact opposite? Who can truly say? All that I know is that, at least on other boards, the ones who liked SGU the most seemed to be abusive, bitter, narcissistic loners. Not that my observations apply here, but again, who can truly say?
All that I know for certain was that merely watching SGU was so unpleasant of an experience that after each and every episode I felt like I needed a drink and a comedy show viewing just to offset the negative impact of every episode. It felt like coming home from a funeral after each viewing. It was that terrible of a feeling. Is it any wonder that I cannot tolerate the thought of ever watching another episode? And judging by the comments that I have read both here and elsewhere, I am far from alone in my feelings about SGU. As sad as it is for the entire Stargate franchise, thank God it was cancelled when it was. You know, before it had time to destabilize governments and grossly affect the suicide rate, planet wide.
I truly hope that there will be, someday soon, a new entry in the Stargate franchise. Hopefully, it will be uplifting and occasionally humorous. Until that time, though, I will have to entertain myself with reruns of the other Stargate franchise entries. Based on the feelings of happiness and feelings of hope that the other entries engendered, I will have to enjoy the reruns until something new and, hopefully, even better comes along. However, if that never happens, I will have to be content with what already exists until something different and just as exciting is created...if ever.
Just drive down that road, until you get blown up --Patton, to reconnaissance troops
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Naoyusimi
9 years ago
It's indeed fascinating to have someone else's perspective on the show. You've written a long piece about why you don't like it, and that explains your feeling on the matter. I won't respond with an equally long piece, but a couple of points. You and I would not get along entertainment-wise, because you dislike two of my all-time favorite shows: SGU and Farscape, one of which you think is too dark, and the other too silly. And while I might be considered by some to be bitter, I'm not abusive, nor am I (I think!) narcissistic.
I do understand your concern about unrelenting darkness, and I think it was ameliorated at times, but there were some stretches of episodes that could have used something more uplifting More clues about Rush's interest in Ascension, perhaps, though maybe the creators didn't want to focus on that too much because SG1 had done so, and were trying to set this show apart.
I rewatched SGU recently, and I'm trying to remember which episodes where I thought something similar. It was particularly slow-moving and dreary some episodes into the first season, IIRC, and I think that hurt the show. However, they were finding their groove, and, if you ever read Joseph Mallozzi's (writer and producer on the Stargates) website, the viewership was on the climb in the second season. (Graphs about a third of the way down the page.)
https://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2014/03/29/march-29-2014-the-houseguests-t-v-graphs-howd-the-stargates-fare/
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timfxf
8 years ago
Random thoughts... SGU was a great idea. Poorly executed. The idea of that ship was fascinating and exploring it could have lasted several seasons.
Way too many unlikable characters.
The love triangles were a drag on the real plot -exploration.
I can't think of who was the franchise's most annoying SG character, Eli or Rodney McKay.
Annoying stuff like; why, with all those scientists on the ship, would a senator's daughter go on off-world expeditions.
Anyway, frustrating that they left it with that manchild on the observation deck, grinning like an idiot.
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undead9786-3-22019
8 years ago
I thoroughly enjoyed it with the other Stargate shows but I think focusing on exploring the ship for several seasons would get boring fast. I enjoyed the fact that it was so dark because if you think about it SG-1 and Atlantis all teams went in knowing there would be life and death risks/came as prepared as they could/had the perfect team hand picked for the job while Universe you had people who were never supposed to go/were never prepared themselves/were not prepared to go at all period. Off the bat in my mind I was ready for a different Stargate show that wouldn't be the same and I actually wanted that.
We had 10 years of SG-1 and 5 years of Atlantis which were both great shows (except last 2 seasons of SG-1 in my opinion but that's because I hated Mitchell and if they weren't going to continue with O'Neil they should have left it at that) so to continue with the same exact formula in another location I feel would just have been a lazy attempt to grab more money.
As for the characters I hated Rodney McKay at first but half way thought Atlantis my opinion of him changed and enjoyed the dynamic of the group but Eli I liked from the start.
As for the senator's daughter they explained in the 1st episode that the senator got the funding for the project and wanted to see the fruits of his funding labor and his daughter worked for him. It was even mentioned by her how she is useless which is why I think they did all that have her be half alien stuff to keep her relevant since hooking up with the 2nd in command wasn't enough.
What I hated were the filler episodes but thankfully there didn't seem to be that many but when they showed up oh man did it slow down everything.
All the Stargate shows had their ups and downs. I am re-watching SG-1 and there are some episodes where I just want to smack myself in the head. For example there was an episode in the 1st season where a girl had a stargate bomb in her and Carter decides to stay and die with her *smack in the forehead*. Cmon Carter you spend what 24-48 hours with her and you're willing to give up your life just so she won't die alone and you had a "feeling" she wouldn't die? Now if she brought her down and then said she wasn't coming back up because she had a theory that it wouldn't explode and she didn't say anything because no one would have believed her I would have found plausible.
I just wish they made a movie closure but knowing that season 2 wasn't even released on blu-ray it would be a lost cause which is unfortunate.
Hopefully with the reboot will come a new outlook and if all goes well maybe a reboot of the series as well and not just the movies.
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JLHunter-2
8 years ago
Sorry for the delay, but I do appreciate your thoughtful answer. It is sometimes difficult these days to find differing opinions on any particular subject that don't veer off into a war of words, or even worse...
As for your response, as ever, opinions differ widely, as do tastes. And, I suppose, that's one of the things that makes the world go 'round.
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