Like other genres, space opera has also taken a beating on television this year, with Doctor Who facing a minor backlash for being too scary and continuity-driven, Stargate Universe ending that long-running franchise, and Caprica getting canceled in favor of Blood and Chrome, another spinoff of the “reimagined” Battlestar Galactica (“BSG”).
I’m surprised that the producers of science fiction shows haven’t learned from the experiences of Star Trek and Babylon 5 (“B5”). Both Star Trek: the Next Generation and Stargate SG1featured humanity’s best and brightest exploring a dangerous galaxy (not to mention the original 1960s Star Trek). Like B5, their sequels, Deep Space Nine and Atlantis, respectively, took place on remote space stations surrounded by war.
However, the next wave — Star Trek: Voyager, Babylon 5: Crusade and Legend of the Rangers, and Stargate Universe — all “darkened” the tone of their respective universes with postapocalyptic themes and wandering ships without the inspirational heroes and occasional humor of their predecessors.
The newer BSG also followed that trend in its melodramatic makeover of the 1970s series, while Andromeda, Firefly, and Farscapetried to balance heroes and antiheroes and were quickly canceled. (I am, however, cautiously optimistic about Doctor Who spinoff sequel miniseries Torchwood: Miracle Day, but Doctor Who and Torchwood are more about time travel and conspiracies than space opera.)
Like Star Trek: Enterprise, Caprica was a BSG prequel that filled in backstory that we either already knew or that wasn’t as engaging as the main exploration and conflicts. That’s not to say that each of these programs didn’t have compelling moments and good actors — they all did — but they didn’t hold onto audience goodwill or ratings with obviously rehashed plots or continuity conflicts.
On the other hand, Star Wars: Clone Wars shows that a space opera prequel can be done well. Initially dismissed as entertainment only for children who like George Lucas’ inferior movie prequels, the computer-animated Clone Warshas redeemed Episodes I through III with intertwined plot threads, actual character development, and blazing action in keeping with the tone of the entire saga. Sure, Season 3 had its share of heavy-handed political episodes, but they provided a context for the Sith’s schemes and Republic’s battles.
I know that human spaceflight hasn’t captured the public’s imagination as it did during the Cold War, but I think that the concepts of unity, exploration, and adventure are as valuable as ever. As a fan of serials from the 1930s Flash Gordonthrough Clone Wars, I hope that good space opera continues to find a place on TV. What do you think?
I had already dropped Undercovers and Nikita and was somewhat surprised that the latter (the fourth version of the waif turned assassin) got renewed. Spy spoof Chuck, which I’ve kept watching just as I stuck with Smallville, managed to avoid the axe one final time, and we’ll see whether the Charlie’s Angels remake is any good.
In related genres, conspiracy dramas V, The Event, and Survivors joined Flash Forward and Dollhouse in cancellation. I had kept up with the V remake, although the alien invasion plot took a long time to develop suspense. Speaking of aliens, Spielberg’s Falling Skies and time-travel Terra Nova are getting a decent amount of prelaunch hype, but we’ll see if they can avoid similar disappointment.
Comedic procedural Psych and related caper shows Burn Notice, White Collar, and Leverage are similar to Castle but no doubt managed to hang on because they’re on cable, which has more modest audience expectations. Breaking In, which featured Reaper and V‘s Bret Harrison, wasn’t so lucky.
Genre television has experienced a virtual bloodbath in the past few weeks, with numerous shows getting canceled. Granted, many were doing poorly in the ratings, but that’s partly because broadcast and cable TV haven’t caught up to the increasing use of DVRs and Netflix for time-displaced viewing. It’s also a tricky niche.
Of the shows that are ending, I’ll miss The Cape and No Ordinary Family, which tried to capitalize on the popularity of superhero movies. Like Heroes, they had difficulty balancing the perspectives of ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances with showing more and more metahumans (and exhausting limited special effects budgets).
Unlike the surprisingly successful Smallville, most of this recent batch of superpowered shows got bogged down with increasingly complicated and implausible scenarios. Of course, comic books often have the same problem of mistaking melodrama for character development. I’d contrast this with the retro, campy, and episodic fun of the also-ended Spectacular Spider-Man and Batman and theBrave and the Bold.
Speaking of Smallville, it’s hard to believe that what many critics originally dismissed as “Superboy meets Dawson’s Creek” became the longest-running live-action superhero show on U.S. TV. As David I.S. and I have discussed, Smallville wisely made the transition from “kryptonite monster of the week” to the larger DC universe as its characters and audience matured.
The show was far from perfect, with erratic villains, dropped storylines, and much-loathed bans on “flights and tights” and cameos by Batman and Wonder Woman (because of movie rights). I know that some fans will be disappointed by Superman’s rare computer-generated appearances in flash-forwards, but the Kirk Alyn serials from the 1940s also used animation for the tricky flying sequences.
On the other hand, Smallville(even up to its finale) provided new insights into the self-doubting young Clark Kent (played by Tom Welling), his nurturing human parents (played by John Schneider and Annette O’Toole), and his friends and foes.
I thought the supporting performances of Alison Mack as Clark’s pal Chloe Sullivan, Justin Hartley as colleague Oliver Queen/Green Arrow, and Erica Durance as rival/love interest Lois Lane were all strong, despite inconsistent writing, often silly costumes, and slow individual arcs. Michael Rosenbaum was one of the best Lex Luthors ever, with able assistance from John Glover as his domineering father Lionel and Cassidy Freeman half-sister Tess Mercer.
In addition, the show paid homage to its predecessors with cameos by Chris Reeve, Margot Kidder, Terence Stamp, Helen Slater, Dean Cain, and Teri Hatcher. Like Stargate SG1, many young actors like Amy Adams got their start thanks to Smallville. I’ve been fortunate to meet several cast members at various conventions over the years.
Although I’m more of a fan of most Batman incarnations than of Superman, I think Smallville deserves to be considered alongside the George Reeves, Dean Cain, and Bruce Timm-animated versions. Let’s hope that Zach Snyder’sattemptto reboot the first true modern superhero on the big screen is successful!
Coming soon: More SFTV turnover and how I would revive Wonder Woman!
After enduring xenophobic attacks on Earth, two alien explorers and their human allies were embroiled in megacorp intrigues in the Lemuria orbital city and the Lunar Free State. The group then visited Mars and obtained a starship in the Asteroid Belt from the Olvar Star League. After negotiating a trade agreement at Tyche and getting a drop ship at Titan, the scouts set out for Alpha Centauri and Oasis Station….
>>”Vortex” Team 1 (5a), crew of the “Blackbird,” as of spring 2011:
-“Syzygy” [Brian W.]-Trinoid (trilateral amphibious alien) xenologist with an organic laboratory and a pet cat named “Mr. Sniffles”
-“Tela” [Sara F.]-female Tharian (winged reptilian humanoid alien) escapee from the Encegulans, engineer
-“Chris McKee/Agent Prometheus” [Josh C.]-male North American Terran cyborg human sniper working for eugenics conspirators at Black Box Security Co.
-“Aughest-vor…” [Jason E.R.]-male human from the Lemuria orbital city, onetime dilettante, solar-sail racer, pilot
-“Lt. Kevin Reese” [Bruce K.]-male Terran human, burned-out officer and explorer in the Interplanetary Patrol
-“Gombo Shisel” [Rich L./absent]-male Mongolian/Martian human, former horse rancher and wilderness survival expert
-“Dr. Bucket” [Non-Player Character]-United Earth Authority astromech robot assigned to the Blackbird
“15 to 19 September 2194 A.D./C.E. or 0 Terran Galactic Era:” The Blackbird prepares for its first faster-than-light (FTL) journey, from the Sol system to Alpha Centauri, a trinary star system. Aughest-vor… sets a course around gravity wells, while Tela activates the biomechanical ship’s REM drive.
Syzygy sets intraship monitors to observe his human crewmates during FTL travel, and Lt. Kevin Reese joins Aughest in the cockpit. Chris McKee keeps a watchful eye on Dr. Bucket, whom he doesn’t trust, and Gombo Shisel stays in his cabin.
Each person aboard the experimental vessel experiences differently altered perceptions! To xenologist Syzygy, all of the Blackbird‘s systems appear completely organic, like his laboratory. In engineering, Tela sees Mr. Sniffles float by, round like a puffer fish, but the artificial gravity is still on.
Kevin looks around, and everybody looks to him like an Olvar (mammal-like arboreal alien), perhaps because the Morifaiwet was obtained from the Olvar Star League. Aughest-vor enjoys the sensation of flying rather than piloting, as his senses merge with that of the starship.
Chris seems immune to the strange visions of his companions, possibly because of his cybernetic implants. He finds Gombo in his quarters happily surrounded by spider-like drones. The adventuring party meets in the galley to compare notes, and Syzygy looks to the others like a cartoon human. After focusing their concentration, the crew members are again able to perceive normally.
Syzygy retires to sleep, having entered Transit-level space numerous times. Tela returns to her hammock in engineering to watch the microfusion generators, afterburner capacitors, and REM drive. The humans, now the fastest in the Milky Way galaxy, are too excited to sleep during their shakedown cruise.
Aughest-vor scans Alpha Centauri A and B, two yellow stars 24 A.U. with red dwarf Proxima Centauri in a more distant orbit (1 Astronomical Unit = 93 million miles). Alpha Centauri A is close to Sol in size and luminosity and has three planets: rockball Chiron, earthlike Toliman, and outer world Cassida. Newton and Alphane orbit dimmer Alpha Centauri B, and gas giants Eldritch, Shedar, and Furon orbit Proxima.
Lt. Reese studies records of Terran interstellar exploration. Of the 50 solar systems within 5 parsecs (1 parsec = 3.26 light-years or 31 trillion kilometers/19 trillion miles) of Earth, Alpha Centauri is the closest. The slower-than-light Zheng He was intercepted by the U.E.V. Bellerphon shortly after First Contact. The passengers of the generation colony ship now plan to refit it with FTL capability en route to Alpha Centauri.
The Bellerphon then dropped off Tiger Squadron on Toliman. The Blackbird‘s mission from the United Earth Authority is to check on the North American Aerospace Marines stationed at Camp Alpha after they requested aid.
After about a Terran day of subjective travel, the Blackbird arrives at Alpha Centauri. Aughest-vor expertly guides the scout ship through gravitational and magnetic currents and past automated defense buoys. Lt. Reese hails Camp Alpha and is greeted by Maj. Walt Vanderbilt, the acting commander.
Syzygy and Gombo are excited to find signs of life on Toliman, and Tela wonders if other extraterrestrials have recently visited. Agent Prometheus climbs into the gun turret and scans for other ships in the system but finds no evidence of any.
After the group decides not to take the Dragonfly drop ship, Aughest takes the Blackbird through Toliman’s methane-carbon dioxide atmosphere to Camp Alpha, which is a cluster of domes with some Raptor-class fighters [think of Space: Above and Beyond‘s Hammerheads] on the landing pad.
An elevator takes the Blackbird down for decontamination, which Syzygy assures his friends is mostly unnecessary. After bay is repressurized, the explorers disembark, leaving woozy Gombo and Dr. Bucket on the ship. Robots begin unloading ammunition and other supplies.
Among the armored space marines present is “Capt. Robin Buckley” [Jason E.R./Non-Player Character], a communications expert and onetime paramour of Kevin. Maj. Vanderbilt invites the landing party to talk privately in his office. He explains that squadron commander Lt.Col. Hollis Shelman vanished during a routine patrol.
The major also tells Lt. Reese that some of the marines say their leader’s disappearance is connected to attacks on Toliman’s surface. Troops have been ambushed by Tolimanian “mantiles,” vaguely reptilian/insectoid pack hunters, and they want to retaliate for their fallen comrades.
Syzygy gains permission to examine a dead mantile, and Tela lets Mr. Sniffles explore the base. Kevin finds Robin in the commissary, but she coldly rebuffs him, saying that their time together in the Martian outback was adulterous to his late wife, Heather. Aughest chats with Delphine (“Uplifted” dolphin) astrogator “Lt. Misawa Onizuka” [Sara F./N.P.C.] before calling it a night.
Chris drinks with Sgt. Kurt Schriever, a gruff Chim (“Uplifted” chimpanzee) gunner. Kurt, Misawa, and Spaceman Peter Jones, a British android, are eager to go hunting. Against their better judgment, Syzygy and Tela join Kevin, Chris, and the space marines in a foray into the violet jungles of Toliman.
Lt. Reese drives the Tiger Hawk Sandstorm, which is faster than the marines’ mech suits and closer to the ground than their Raptors. Near a pond, Syzygy observes a pack of mantiles attacking what looks like a moss-covered boulder. It happens to be close in size to a mech or the Tiger Hawk Sandstorm.
Some of the carnivores notice the ground-effect vehicle and approach, and Lt. Misawa and Capt. Buckley fire machine-gun bursts. However, they attract the attention of more predators, which swarm the intruders!
Robin hits a tree, which blocks an easy escape. Syzygy notices that the mantiles are coordinating their attacks subsonically, so the three-armed scientist dazes one with a sonic blast. Tela borrows a gun from Chris and blows off one xenomorph’s limbs.
Ignoring the pounding outside the vehicle’s turrets, sniper Chris efficiently dispatches two foes with well-aimed shots. Kevin runs over one mantile and shoots another before getting the team out of harm’s way.
Syzygy regrets the loss of life, and Tela worries that Ru’ulok (heavy-gravity reptilian alien) bounty hunters might use the mantiles to find her, even though the Trinoid tells the Tharian that they’re native to Toliman. Back at Camp Alpha, Maj. Vanderbilt orders Lt. Reese to take the search for Lt.Col. Shelman into Alpha Centauri space….
Josh, thanks again for organizing this past weekend’s cross-group cookout! I’m sorry that neither the Pathfinder/Skype: “the Vanished Lands” fantasy telecom game nor “Vortex” Team 2 met, but Damon F.P.’s visit went well, despite our plumbing problem (now resolved).
In the meantime, remember to let me know your availability for the next few weeks, and stay in touch as the Blackbird continues its exploration of Alpha Centauri and the crew of the Appomattox prepares for a heist of Ru’ulok FTL engines! -Gene
>>”Vortex” Team 2 (5b), crew of the Appomattox, as of spring 2011:
-“Gabriel Adams” [Paul J.]-male North American Terran near-human with telepathy, courier and pilot
-“Hector Chavez” [Beruk A.]-male Latin American Terran human, “burned” operative and communications expert
-“ARTHERR” [Greg D.C.]-Advanced Resonance Theoretical Heuristic Exploration and Research Robot created by megacorp Vimeco
-“Jasmine” [Sara F.] female Martian Felinoid (Synth, “Uplifted” tiger), former professional pit fighter
-“Dr. Richmond Garrett” [Dave S.C.]-male Southern American Terran human, space snake-oil salesman and social climber
-“Dr. Dieter Klein” [Rich L.]-male European Terran human, semi-retired physician, altruist and thrill seeker
-“Nero Bartholomew” [Non-Player Character]-male Terran human, former owner of the Fortune’s Fool, ship’s cook
Damon F.P. arrived by Megabus from New York on Friday, 13 May 2011. He and I have been friends since high school, for almost 30 years. I’ve been Damon’s best man three times, and he created some of the first Player Characters for my “Vanished Lands” fantasy campaign setting.
Soon, more people from Josh’s gaming groups arrived, including Bob & Ginger and Robin. My groups were represented by Beruk A., Brian W., and Brian’s wife Beth. Despite overcast weather, the potluck barbeque was a success, with some Nerf sparring and badminton. The cookout included roast chicken, pork, and sausages, as well as good conversations about politics, religion, pets, and of course, games.
Everyone got along well, and I hope that this nongaming social gathering (the first in a few years among our groups) is just the beginning! Damon was drowsy from some medication, but Janice and I later watched the gnostic episode of Doctor Whowritten by Neil Gaiman.
On Sunday, after Janice made a pancake brunch, I took Damon to Central Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Unfortunately, our toilet stopped functioning properly. It’s the third time where we’ve had problems during visits — no heat during David I.S.‘s January visit, a leaky washer during my brother’s trip, and now this. Damon and I had lunch at Four Burgers before he returned to New York. Now I’m just waiting for our landlord to send a plumber….
Gene's Worlds 