Defying Gravity

:

Season 1
  • Network: ABC
  • Series Premiere Date: Aug 2, 2009
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 91 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 66 out of 91
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 91
  3. Negative: 18 out of 91
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User Reviews

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  1. DouglasB
    Aug 2, 2009
    3
    The show would have been great if they left out the religious stuff - I say no thank you to the Hindu teachings and we don't need that taught to us while watching a cool idea for a show.
  2. MiyaG
    Aug 3, 2009
    10
    It's been pretty intriguing for me somehow..a good one to kill time in this ....nice and hot summer time. Going to outerspace cools me down.
  3. MichaelS
    Sep 1, 2009
    10
    Great show It's all about the people.
  4. adam
    Sep 6, 2009
    9
    Perfectly fun "soft" sci-fi. it's pretty heavy too; abortion, climate change, and Israeli-Palestinian war are discussed.
  5. PaulW.
    Aug 11, 2009
    1
    In one word: pathetic... The acting and drama is worse than most daytime soaps, the poppy musical interludes just suck out the will to live and the continuous sexual nods surely don't belong in a series with this kind of premise. To top the cake they put in a terribly weak attempt at 'philosophy' in the trailer where a Hindu flight member gets caught up with his silly In one word: pathetic... The acting and drama is worse than most daytime soaps, the poppy musical interludes just suck out the will to live and the continuous sexual nods surely don't belong in a series with this kind of premise. To top the cake they put in a terribly weak attempt at 'philosophy' in the trailer where a Hindu flight member gets caught up with his silly superstitions when he is told to leave the mission. A bunch of blah blah that was old even before the human race moved out of Africa. In the end it's just an overproduced silly mess ubercheesed to the point of being banal and insulting. Can't believe anyone over 14 would want to watch this.… Expand
  6. SeanR
    Aug 10, 2009
    1
    All the filth you would expect from a hospital drama, now set in space. The stupidity of the show is second only to it's title; in outer space, gravity is not being DEFIED. Argh!
  7. karen
    Aug 10, 2009
    9
    I like it. I love the cool space idea... so much better than dark gloomy drug shows lately on tv. Only complaint I have.. the music is too loud. what should be background subtle blairs...can't hear the dialogue.
  8. CEE
    Aug 10, 2009
    9
    I'm not ready to jump out of the air lock yet. Like what I've seen so far and I'm always willing to give a scripted show a chance to find its way to greatness.
  9. JeremyC
    Aug 22, 2009
    6
    Too much Grey's Anatomy, not enough Battlestar Galactica. This show has room to expand but I'm worried that this will end up a horrifically wasted opportunity to explore the concept of realistic space flight as petty love interests take center stage.
  10. SueG
    Aug 3, 2009
    10
    Totally enjoyed the show. I love sci-fi and continuing storylines like this and enjoyed the variety in the cast. Going back and forth between space and the crew's training years is a fun plot device. Can't wait for the next episode.
  11. RyanL
    Aug 5, 2009
    9
    I am intrigued! This whole space soap opera thing is great. And the pool scene is filmed in my campus. How can I not like that. Eagerly awaiting the next episode.
  12. JonathanD
    Aug 5, 2009
    9
    This is good show. You can occasionally pick out the narrative devices directly from other shows. Lost and Grey's being the main sources of borrowed devices but that isn't a necessarily a bad thing. Left me craving more.
  13. Tim
    Aug 6, 2009
    9
    Great so far... hope it lasts.
  14. PerryT
    Sep 5, 2009
    8
    If you enjoy the twist of LOST, then you should enjoy this space version. Story can be a little weak, though nothing glaring, but strong acting keeps it enjoyable
  15. DavidW
    Jan 3, 2010
    8
    A great series of sci-fi action, with depth and visuals to please the geeks and the intellectuals. After a strong start DG gets a little slow and direction-less in the middle but the last four episodes are excellent with a fantastic finale.
  16. FayeL
    Nov 7, 2009
    5
    The premise and setting were enough to stir a vague sort of interest, and it was nice to see a fresh cast of faces (excepting Ron Livingston) since breakout shows usually feature breakout actors and actresses. Unfortunately, Defying Gravity doesn't know what it wants to be. Each of the dozen or so characters is given a little air time, leaving us not knowing terribly much about the The premise and setting were enough to stir a vague sort of interest, and it was nice to see a fresh cast of faces (excepting Ron Livingston) since breakout shows usually feature breakout actors and actresses. Unfortunately, Defying Gravity doesn't know what it wants to be. Each of the dozen or so characters is given a little air time, leaving us not knowing terribly much about the personalities of any of them, although it is clear that Maddux Donner is meant to be the hero of the piece, although it's disappointing that the programme stuck to the convention of the "girlfriend" role being awarded to the bright blonde whilst the "unscrupulous seductress" is played by the sultry brunette (who has obviously bewitched our Hero with her dastardly feminine wiles, or so Hollywood stereotype would like us to believe!). I've watched the first four episodes so far, and hardly anything has happened at all to progress the plot or the growth of the characters, let alone any earth-shaking scenes apart from possibly the scene at the very beginning where Donner is forced to leave his colleagues behind on Mars, but since they stiuck that in at the beginning we don't really know or care about this moment which should be an emotionally wrenching one. The dialogue is more full of trival chit-chat and small talk than searing one-liners or Shakespearean tear-jerkers. The show isn't absolutely terrible, but it's a long way from stellar quality.… Expand
  17. Nikhil
    Oct 3, 2009
    2
    The actors were good but not good enough to overcome stupid writing and and stupid characters. Tedious pop philosophy that belongs somewhere in the 1930s in the Boonies was not just boring - it was insulting.
  18. TomB
    Aug 11, 2009
    9
    So far the soap opera elements haven't intruded on the mystery of the science fiction. Let's hope that it stays more like Lost in Space, season 1 and less like Grey's Anatomy.
  19. AlanG.
    Aug 11, 2009
    1
    It's a "chic" show at best. Totally lame and unbelievable.
  20. LizA.
    Aug 10, 2009
    4
    This show started out pretty well - had good SciFi potential. I do get lost with all the flashbacks. Now the sex stuff has begun....DH goes to Venus. I'm pretty much finished with the show after the last episode. Pity.
  21. LenA.
    Aug 2, 2009
    8
    Like it...a lot.
  22. KellyK
    Aug 29, 2009
    0
    Unrealistic, horrible script, horrible stereotypical characters, the voyage makes no sense without a continuity or information of what area they are in and the progress of their voyage. It is worse than greys anatomy but they are all enclosed in a small capsule. And the team that is selected sound nothing and their career lines have nothing to do with astronauts on an epic journey. It Unrealistic, horrible script, horrible stereotypical characters, the voyage makes no sense without a continuity or information of what area they are in and the progress of their voyage. It is worse than greys anatomy but they are all enclosed in a small capsule. And the team that is selected sound nothing and their career lines have nothing to do with astronauts on an epic journey. It must have been written by hormonal women after watching an episode of star trek and even worse is the whole unprofessional stand of the crew and the mystery section in the aircraft !!! A zero is too high of a rating .... !!!… Expand
  23. EliasC
    Aug 30, 2009
    3
    After watching the first 3 uninspiring episodes, I decided to continue watching because, despite the lameness of the scripts, there was something beneath the surface. What I noticed was the the writers were lifting background ideas from the novels of Ben Bova and I kept watching because I wanted to find out if the producers will be brave enough to give the viewers a TV version of Ben After watching the first 3 uninspiring episodes, I decided to continue watching because, despite the lameness of the scripts, there was something beneath the surface. What I noticed was the the writers were lifting background ideas from the novels of Ben Bova and I kept watching because I wanted to find out if the producers will be brave enough to give the viewers a TV version of Ben Bova's future history of the 21st century. So far, after watching episode 5, I see no such trend. If you want to see what the potential of this series could have been. read any of Ben Bova's books in the 'Grand Tour' series, the 'Voyageurs' series, the 'Mars' series, or the 'Asteroid Wars' and see what a great near future SF drama could have been like. There is still hoope for this series, but with only an 8 episode run, I doubt it.… Expand
  24. ChelseaD
    Aug 4, 2009
    4
    Went from Bad to worse. Salon is right, this is the same as every other lame drama on network TV these days. I was hoping for a good Sci-Fi show for the summer, but I guess I shouldn't have expected much from the people who brought you Grey's Anatomy. Pass.
  25. DarrinT
    Aug 4, 2009
    7
    I was hoping for more. Lose the musical montages. I love Lost but this seems like a cheap rip off. I'll stick with it for a couple of weeks in hopes it gets better. We need more quality space stories.
  26. CurtisF
    Aug 4, 2009
    9
    Its like some did Star Trek: Enterprise without all the stupid Star Trek stuff. Im stoked for Scifi on network.
  27. TrevorG
    Aug 5, 2009
    8
    Intriguing start. A little ridiculous with all the flashbacks, but I like the potential. Finally Ron Livingston gets a TV show!!!
  28. BJ
    Aug 6, 2009
    10
    While I found a couple things a little silly (spit in your space suit to plug a leak - really?), I was able to suspend my disbelief (something we must always do with stories like this) and was overall intrigued and thoroughly entertained. Hope it sticks around. I'm tired of medical/cop drama.
  29. LoisC.
    Aug 9, 2009
    9
    Excellent -- far better than shows it is being compared to, like Grey's Anatomy -- for network TV...Now that Battlestar Galactica is over and it will be months before Caprica starts, there is a decent space drama to see. Good! Hope it is not canceled.
  30. BorisK.
    Oct 1, 2009
    1
    Vomitrociously poorly written claptrap, rivaled only by daytime soap Christmas specials. The creator of this overproduced and glossy insult to anyone's intelligence should consider a career in the food service industry. And all those meek sheep that vote this a ten..do these people really exist? Or have vote bots evolved to the point that they can actually leave written comments? I Vomitrociously poorly written claptrap, rivaled only by daytime soap Christmas specials. The creator of this overproduced and glossy insult to anyone's intelligence should consider a career in the food service industry. And all those meek sheep that vote this a ten..do these people really exist? Or have vote bots evolved to the point that they can actually leave written comments? I hope the latter is the case.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

80
#80 Best TV Season of 2009
16
#16 Most Discussed TV Season of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
54

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 15
  3. Negative: 2 out of 15
  1. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    60
    Defying Gravity is a perfectly decent bit of sci-fi soap - some cool “Star Trek’’ futurism, plenty of pretty “Grey’s Anatomy’’ ensemble melodrama, and a twist of eerie “Twilight Zone’’ mysteriousness when characters refer to the high-tech spaceship as if it has a will of its own.
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  2. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Paige Wiser
    75
    Defying Gravity is taking its time to get off the ground, but I plan to tune in at least until Saturn.
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  3. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Whitney Pastorek
    67
    The first ep feels ridiculous; maybe it's the fact that despite being on a futuristic space mission, everyone acts like they're on "Private Practice." Then again, it's summer, and at least this isn't another cop/doctor show.
    Read full review
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