Stargate Universe

:

Season 1
  • Network: SyFy
  • Series Premiere Date: Oct 2, 2009
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
6.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 498 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 282 out of 498
  2. Mixed: 33 out of 498
  3. Negative: 183 out of 498
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  1. SomeBody
    Nov 8, 2009
    3
    It's like the original SG1, but without the fun.
  2. KarlL
    Nov 7, 2009
    6
    Needs more swashbuckling adventure, exploration and comedy. Right now its just boring emotional crap about characters we haven't known long enough to care about. Completely different to, and not as good as the previous 2 shows.
  3. jwitt
    Nov 7, 2009
    1
    the ONLY show i have ever recorded where I fast forward through 1/3 of the episode, each episode. i wonder why i record it - it only makes me wish i didn't. i am not sure i could make a more annoying and grating and useless show, if i tried. it is so bad that i honestly think the positive reviews are by paid MGM folk....
  4. WillP
    Nov 7, 2009
    1
    I really was hoping this would be good because I love Stargate, SGU has a lot of potential but the truth is the writing is just bad.The characters have ZERO depth, the only character that has a little depth is Rush, but only for the obvious reasons. The bottom line is the whole thing is forced, it's like the writer's don't know how to grow a story naturally, so characters I really was hoping this would be good because I love Stargate, SGU has a lot of potential but the truth is the writing is just bad.The characters have ZERO depth, the only character that has a little depth is Rush, but only for the obvious reasons. The bottom line is the whole thing is forced, it's like the writer's don't know how to grow a story naturally, so characters end up doing things they most likely wouldn't; if you have any decent level of intellect you'll find yourself saying "Why the hell is that happening" a lot. A prime example is this, in an early episode you see a lieutenant and some other SGC member having sex, now this already seems like it's only done to make the show seem intense, but whatever. In a later episode you have the math wiz kid starting to get close to and getting feelings for some girl, the next eposide, she is having sex with the lieutenant from earlier, and from the dialog they are in a full fledged relationship, but they never interacted in anyway prior to this episode. That's just bad writing, they just moved him from being with the other girl to this new one for what looks like the sole purpose of adding some sort of conflict for the math wiz kid... that's terrible. You'll find many scenes like that in SGU which makes it very hard to watch. It's like the writes don't know how to develop their thoughts and just throw out what they wanted the end result to be. It's the same with all the forced dramatic scenes others have commented on. Build up the character first and then a scene will be dramatic because we care about them, playing dramatic music an making two people the audience views as strangers cry is not dramatic... or good.… Expand
  5. JerS
    Nov 6, 2009
    0
    I guess I'll just be rehashing what others have already said, and what I found out: SG-U is nothing but Battlestar Galactica. That is, it's a complete soap opera taking place on a starship. It's easy to hate all of the characters (except for Dr. Rush, who was pretty damn intelligent), and that's mostly because of how dark and gritty they're acting. It fits the I guess I'll just be rehashing what others have already said, and what I found out: SG-U is nothing but Battlestar Galactica. That is, it's a complete soap opera taking place on a starship. It's easy to hate all of the characters (except for Dr. Rush, who was pretty damn intelligent), and that's mostly because of how dark and gritty they're acting. It fits the atmosphere of BSG perfectly. While some may not have wanted another rehash of SG-1 or SGA, it would've been better to see something at least /remotely/ similar. The only similarity this has with the other SG series is the Stargate itself. Period. I hope to god that either most of the crappy characters will be killed off, or that the series will make a turn-around for the better.… Expand
  6. PaulI
    Nov 4, 2009
    2
    Tries to be Lost meets Star Trek but fails miserably (Lost in Space anyone?). Mediocre acting (Carlyle excepted), cardboard characters, bad scripts and poor direction. Episodes 1 to 3 should have been wrapped into just two. Boring and longwinded but can be forgiven as scene setting for the show. Episode 4 actually quite good. Entertaining. Carlyle starts to flex his acting muscles and Tries to be Lost meets Star Trek but fails miserably (Lost in Space anyone?). Mediocre acting (Carlyle excepted), cardboard characters, bad scripts and poor direction. Episodes 1 to 3 should have been wrapped into just two. Boring and longwinded but can be forgiven as scene setting for the show. Episode 4 actually quite good. Entertaining. Carlyle starts to flex his acting muscles and Eli's character is toned down a bit to make him more bearable. As the comic relief he is just annoying. Ship loses power and pops up in a star system supposedly so its passengers can head for nearby inhabitable planets but Oh No!..They're heading straight for a star! Hands up who realised immediately that it was the ships intention in order to refuel itself harnessing the stars power somehow..yup..nearly everyone. Will the writers acknowledge that its audience is reasonably intellligent and not spring this as the "surprise" conclusion to episode 5? Episode 5. Nope..they think we don't know. Oh dear. Perhaps an interesting side story will appear. Yes. A group can survive by heading for a planet on the shuttlecraft. Colonel young decides on a lottery system to choose. If you expect a group of humans to end their days alone on a planet you need a balance of men and women for obvious reasons. This could have been turned into an entertaining and comic vehicle for the actors and viewers (who gets the gal with big bazooms? etc), but no, as about 14 men and 3 women board the craft I knew within a year most of the men would have clubbed each other to death fighting over the women. When Dr. Rush realises what is really happening he explains the power loss is due to the ship diverting all its power to the shields in order for it to enter the star and reenergise itself. So how did the shuttle manage to leave the ship with its shields at full strength? Episode 6. Water is disappearing so the ship pops up at an icebound planet so the passengers can get more water. Colonel Young decides to head a 2 man team with second in command Scott in tow. Hang on!? In the last episode Young takes himself out of the lottery of survivors as he is crippled and weak and wouldnt survive the arduous nature of survival on a barren planet. This week he's going on a mission to carve up and transport chunks of ice to the ship. A task requiring great physical strength and endurance. Two of his strongest grunts would have sufficed for this one. One more of the shows inconsistencies in plot development. Bet next week he's back on his crutch , hobbling around the ship. Seems the writers threw in this one to as an excuse to put Lt. Johansen in charge and deal with the aliens discovered aboard the ship. Seems a swarming group of particle sized aliens are taking thousands of litres of water at a time. How? How do these tiny aliens take the water. Absorb it? they don't have the body mass! Why do they need it? Such small creatures with simple anatomies probably exist by photosynthesis, turning sunlight into energy. There was no water on the desert planet they originally came from so if they need water to survive wouldn't they have died out on that planet? How did Johansen get them into the barrel? They obligingly swarmed in and that was it? Also, with the ship reenergised they can simply dial Earth using the Stargate and go home. Hurray! No. The ship only got 40% power back. Why? And if the ship is partially sentient, constantly sensing the needs of its passengers and obliging by popping up wherever its needed, why doesnt it sense their need to return home, head for a star, get full power and let them use the stargate? All these inconsistencies and more make this show a real loser. It underestimates its audience on every level. Where is the science in this science fiction? The lazy writers need a science advisor desperately. Any 12 year old in any education system in the world will do... This should have been so good but is so bad! Enoughs enough for me. Can't see this getting any better. Time to jump ship I'm afraid.… Expand
  7. MurrayB
    Nov 4, 2009
    1
    I would have rated it 0 but it is better than "The Starlost" which was a 0. Even though I have followed Stargate from the original movie with Kurt Russell and was a regular viewer of the TV series I was unable to finish watching the first SGU episode. Not only was it slow and dark it was very boring. It is also more anti-science fiction then sci fi. BSG is also anti-science where the bad I would have rated it 0 but it is better than "The Starlost" which was a 0. Even though I have followed Stargate from the original movie with Kurt Russell and was a regular viewer of the TV series I was unable to finish watching the first SGU episode. Not only was it slow and dark it was very boring. It is also more anti-science fiction then sci fi. BSG is also anti-science where the bad guys are the product of human science. Strangely, the good reviews on every forum I have looked at are all written by the same authors. Two or three people posting rave reviews under many different names. What is up with that?… Expand
  8. StevenH
    Nov 3, 2009
    7
    I think SGU is the right direction for SG. The other shows were too corny. I like the realism this brings to the franchise.
  9. jeremybrown
    Nov 2, 2009
    8
    If you are looking for a continuation of SGA then you may be disappointed by SGU. However, if you are interested in characters who take several episodes or even seasons to get a bead on you'll like it. Just like Lost and BSG all of the characters are flawed and why will only be revealed in time.
  10. RobbieC
    Nov 1, 2009
    10
    It is a new direction, slower in pace but still exciting in a different way. It is far more stimulating mentally then SGA or SG1. However only time will tell if stargate universe will be able to acheive the same heights of its predecessors.
  11. JulieB
    Nov 1, 2009
    8
    Very few complaints so far. Writing and acting are top-notch.
  12. PedroS
    Nov 1, 2009
    3
    The only thing even remotely related to the Stargate mythos this series has is the stargate they use to reach planets... that's IT! There is no overarching story (yeah their are on a spaceship, destiny unknown, but we know THAT since day 1), each episode is a one-off "we need food", "we need water", "we need energy", "we need mineral X" kind of quest. There is little or no action, no The only thing even remotely related to the Stargate mythos this series has is the stargate they use to reach planets... that's IT! There is no overarching story (yeah their are on a spaceship, destiny unknown, but we know THAT since day 1), each episode is a one-off "we need food", "we need water", "we need energy", "we need mineral X" kind of quest. There is little or no action, no tension, no sympathy for the characters, no nothing. Each episode I hope things pick up, that something interesting will happen, and each and every episode I'm disapointed! It's seems they intended to add a more serious tone to this series (heavily inspired by BSG, almost copy-cat like) but they failed miserably, this series is a compelete waste of time, don't bother with it! What were they thinking! My bet is this doesn't live to see a second season.… Expand
  13. amib
    Oct 31, 2009
    1
    Goodbye Stargate series, it was fun. Now it's not anymore, it sucks big timr. Who care about Eli playing with his balls?
  14. Scott-LeeN
    Oct 31, 2009
    7
    This show needs abit of a boost as it seems to be very slow but have a feeling that this is leading to an explosive finish to the 1st season.
  15. jackow
    Oct 31, 2009
    4
    The initial plot building has been so slow that the first 4 episodes or so could have been condensed into about 2. I mean, an episode starts with the need to find material to scrub CO2 build-up and almost nothing happens until they find it an hour later... c'mon that could have been interesting in a 10 or 15 minute segment.
  16. PauloC
    Oct 24, 2009
    10
    I have been a fan of all the Stargate series. And I insist all the fans give this series some credit stop comparing it to BSG. On its own it has enormous potential and I am certainly enjoying every episode! Great Work!
  17. CarlA
    Oct 23, 2009
    4
    The 4 rating is purely for the potential this show may have and that I desperately hope for. Otherwise, wake me up when something exciting or interesting happens. I'll be watching SG Atlantis for the 6th time, and loving it!!
  18. KamP
    Oct 22, 2009
    0
    The characters are awful. They have no depth and they are very annoying plus the actors can't act to save their life. I am actually rooting for them to either freeze to death or the show to get cancelled. Although the idea is good the execution is the worst. I've seen 3 episodes and I am not interested to see anymore. I loved the first 3 seasons of SGA why not bring that back.
  19. eliasc
    Oct 20, 2009
    8
    SGU will take time to find an audience but it just might do it. SGU takes the SG franchise in a new direction. This is often a dangerous move because it tends to alienate the fan base and SGU seems to be taking baby steps instead of going full bore with a total re-imagining of the SG series. But I like what I see so far and will keep with it. SGU is a sort of BSG set in the Star Gate SGU will take time to find an audience but it just might do it. SGU takes the SG franchise in a new direction. This is often a dangerous move because it tends to alienate the fan base and SGU seems to be taking baby steps instead of going full bore with a total re-imagining of the SG series. But I like what I see so far and will keep with it. SGU is a sort of BSG set in the Star Gate universe. Characters are troubled, they make bad decisions, they argue, they bicker. The ship, like Battlestar Galactica, is dark and dismal and constantly in threat of falling apart. The humans try desperately to survive and don't seem to understand that the ship, like all Ancient SG ships, knows better how to survive than its human stowaways. Unlike the other SG series, the main character's personal flaws are emphasized and we learn more about these people in a few short episodes then we every did in a year of the previous series. SGU has a lot of potential. I have always felt that the SG series should have been terminated long ago. This new take on the Stargate universe may be worth the viewing. We will know soon enough. Will the producers continue to emphasis human conflict and survival, or will we once again retreat into the more fan popular villain of the week?… Expand
  20. DeniseL
    Oct 18, 2009
    0
    Are they kidding? I hope that they all freeze to death.
  21. BruceH
    Oct 18, 2009
    1
    This new show focuses more on interpersonal drama than exploration or discovery. It's nothing more than a soap opera set on a spaceship. This is not the Stargate I watched, and it is not a show I will continue to watch. It may win awards, but I believe this is the show that kills the franchise.
  22. EikC
    Oct 18, 2009
    4
    For each episode I watch, I hope that they've now done away with the near-constant personal tragedies and crying that happens every single moment for some reason. Well, 3 episodes in and they haven't. Why do they make characters the viewers don't even care about yet go all-out emo in the first episodes?! Something tells me these characters are gonna be paper-thin and dull For each episode I watch, I hope that they've now done away with the near-constant personal tragedies and crying that happens every single moment for some reason. Well, 3 episodes in and they haven't. Why do they make characters the viewers don't even care about yet go all-out emo in the first episodes?! Something tells me these characters are gonna be paper-thin and dull when they're laying it on that thick right off the bat. They can still salvage this if they throw the emo chick and half the cast out an airlock accidentally, and stop the constant wannabe-dramatic atmosphere which they pretty much nicked off of Battlestar Galactica. Speaking of constant drama, what's with the gamer dude? He is clearly comic relief, but this is Battlegate Universica, so how do you expect him to make light of anything with the constant drama you've imposed?… Expand
  23. ColinB
    Oct 18, 2009
    9
    A superb new series. I loved Atlantis and this looks like it's setting up to be just as quality. I do agree to an extent with some of the people saying it hasn't quite come together yet, but then they are thrust onto an alien spaceship - so it's bound not to be as solid as the others in the SG series just yet. I love the atmosphere of it and particularly Robert Carlyles A superb new series. I loved Atlantis and this looks like it's setting up to be just as quality. I do agree to an extent with some of the people saying it hasn't quite come together yet, but then they are thrust onto an alien spaceship - so it's bound not to be as solid as the others in the SG series just yet. I love the atmosphere of it and particularly Robert Carlyles character - great acting. I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy this one immensely.… Expand
  24. RobertK
    Oct 18, 2009
    10
    I think this could be the best stargate series yet. I've loved every minute of it so far.
  25. GabrielaA.
    Oct 17, 2009
    10
    It's perfect! After SGA I was very sceptical... common, after 12 years of Stargate what can be new? The answer is: almost everything! Congrats!
  26. AlexT.
    Oct 17, 2009
    9
    I wasn't too impressed after the first episode, but after having watched the next two episodes, I'm intrigued. I'm not really digging the Battlestar Galactica feel (simply because BSG BLOWS), but I'm hoping that with some humor and character development, that this show can become classic just like the rest of its counterparts. Give it time, don't get too pissed I wasn't too impressed after the first episode, but after having watched the next two episodes, I'm intrigued. I'm not really digging the Battlestar Galactica feel (simply because BSG BLOWS), but I'm hoping that with some humor and character development, that this show can become classic just like the rest of its counterparts. Give it time, don't get too pissed off yet people, we'll have to wait and see how this one turns out. If it doesn't pull people in, I doubt they'll give it a second or third season because you know this one is costing a ton of money to produce.… Expand
  27. TimO
    Oct 17, 2009
    10
    Yes this show has some similarities with BSG (camera angles are similar, characters are not black or white), but this series has a different pull, instead of fighting cyborgs or aliens across the universe, where faced with a broken down BSG looking ship thats failing as the people are on it. Instead of jump to new stargate, solve the problems of the beleigered inhabitants, and jump back; Yes this show has some similarities with BSG (camera angles are similar, characters are not black or white), but this series has a different pull, instead of fighting cyborgs or aliens across the universe, where faced with a broken down BSG looking ship thats failing as the people are on it. Instead of jump to new stargate, solve the problems of the beleigered inhabitants, and jump back; we are presented with a group of completely dissimilar individuals who all are completely stuck on a ship they know nothing about, with no way to get off. Ity's a different premise that is refreshing and combines several good ideas from different shows into a great idea. I especially like the keno recordings and the visits through the Ancient stones which both give you a feeling for the individuals history and their personalities.… Expand
  28. zULUeCHO
    Oct 17, 2009
    2
    The biggest flaw of the show is it tries to take itself seriously using characters which don't have much depth by adding lots of useless melodrama.
  29. GlynnF
    Oct 17, 2009
    8
    Good show with a good premise and group of actors/characters. Can't for the life of me figure out how people are comparing this to lost it's completely different through the fact that the know where they are just not where they're going. More comparable to Sliders than anything else. Admittedly the first planet was a flop but they probably blew their pilot budget on the Good show with a good premise and group of actors/characters. Can't for the life of me figure out how people are comparing this to lost it's completely different through the fact that the know where they are just not where they're going. More comparable to Sliders than anything else. Admittedly the first planet was a flop but they probably blew their pilot budget on the ship and special effects in the first two parts of the show. So here's hoping for better planets in the coming episodes.… Expand
  30. AndrewS
    Oct 17, 2009
    8
    Another incarnation of the Stargate narrative with plenty of room in which to impress us. I look forward to see what they come up with.
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Awards & Rankings

62
#62 Best TV Season of 2009
1
#1 Most Discussed TV Season of 2009
34
#34 Most Shared TV Season of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    50
    Stories aren't particularly dense or surprising, and some of the conflict feels quite contrived
    Read full review
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Marc Bernardin
    67
    Hopefully the story itself, which finds a band of alien-attack victims jumping blindly through a Stargate and landing on a mysterious spaceship billions of light years from Earth, will eventually transcend this premiere's BSG-lite-ness.
    Read full review
  3. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    80
    With 19 episodes remaining in this season, there's plenty of time for all this drama to intensify and the characters to sort themselves out as good and not-so-good.
    Read full review
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