Which raises the question, why are the Galactica reviews a week behind? Further, why no StarGate reviews on b42?

Three cheers for the good sci-fi to come.

Which raises the question, why are the Galactica reviews a week behind? Further, why no StarGate reviews on b42?

Happy? : )

Here's one you can use for every episode ever: The stargate team goes to an alien world where everyone speaks modern american english. They get captured, escape by blowing something up (preferably something central to the local culture) and everything is wrapped up nicely in the last 10 minutes, resetting all the parameters.

Hey, I saw that one too, it was ok.

Damien

So long as we're using the sarcasm meta-tags :)

Hey, I saw that one too, it was ok.

Damien

I really liked the part where Te'alk said, "Indeed."

So long as we're using the sarcasm meta-tags :)

As for the always speaking English thing, it's just the way it goes. They don't get to use the hyper-futuristic Trek universal translator to explain things away, yet they can't spend half the episode of every trip to learn the language (and they wouldn't get half the audience if you had to rely on subtitles).

Since Daniel's death a couple of seasons back (sorry for the mini spoiler, those who are watching season by season on DVD) and, at about the same time, Richard Dean Anderson's decision to reduce his screen time, the show hasn't been nearly as good (and I haven't watched regularly in about two years). Watch the first four seasons in order, though, and I think it's a pretty fun ride.

As for the always speaking English thing, it's just the way it goes. They don't get to use the hyper-futuristic Trek universal translator to explain things away, yet they can't spend half the episode of every trip to learn the language

(and they wouldn't get half the audience if you had to rely on subtitles).

Americans really read that bad? That's sad. And since it always happens, before someone says "you can't read subtitles and watch the program at the same time" - that'sj ust an excuse as well, take the scandinavian countries, they subtitle everything, from soaps to drama, on tv and in the cinema, and millions from 10 to 90 read it without any problem, its as undistracing as listening to the sound while watching the picture. Its a practice thing.

Now consider the US. It's possible to drive for several DAYS and never run into anyone who doesn't speak English. So when you say it's "a practice thing" it's also a necessity thing. Americans aren't exposed to as many people who speak languages other than English so there is no need for subtitles here other than as assistance for the deaf.

Also consider that shows like Stargate have something like 20 episodes per season. Let's assume that 1/3rd of the episodes encounter new races/cultures with what should be their own distinct languages although most should speak some form of Goa'uld as lingua franca. Over the 8/9 seasons that's more than 56 new languages that have to be created and studied by the actors for what amounts to less than 30 minutes of on screen time. That's a lot of money being spent for what payoff exactly?

Now consider the US. It's possible to drive for several DAYS and never run into anyone who doesn't speak English.

Also consider that shows like Stargate have something like 20 episodes per season. Let's assume that 1/3rd of the episodes encounter new races/cultures with what should be their own distinct languages although most should speak some form of Goa'uld as lingua franca. Over the 8/9 seasons that's more than 56 new languages that have to be created and studied by the actors for what amounts to less than 30 minutes of on screen time. That's a lot of money being spent for what payoff exactly?

As for the always speaking English thing, it's just the way it goes. They don't get to use the hyper-futuristic Trek universal translator to explain things away, yet they can't spend half the episode of every trip to learn the language (and they wouldn't get half the audience if you had to rely on subtitles).

They could have mentioned at some point that all the SG team members learn that language, and do a little switcharoo where we, the audience, hear as english the parts of each world's dialect that the SG teams can understand. Then only very rarely would any language barrier need to be addressed. Mostly just a few moments here or there as Daniel figures out that the new culture of the week rolls their r's more or reverses verb-object order.

Here's one you can use for every episode ever: The stargate team goes to an alien world where everyone speaks modern american english. They get captured, escape by blowing something up (preferably something central to the local culture) and everything is wrapped up nicely in the last 10 minutes, resetting all the parameters.

Three cheers for the good sci-fi to come.

Which raises the question, why are the Galactica reviews a week behind? Further, why no StarGate reviews on b42?

Three cheers for the good sci-fi to come.

Which raises the question, why are the Galactica reviews a week behind? Further, why no StarGate reviews on b42?

Read the last BG review for the answer... the reviewer in Canada which is behind the US one week which is behind England a season....Just when you think the US was 'worse' off than UK, Canada goes and proves us wrong.

Atlantis is actually pretty decent. But yeah I've noticed if I check and it's deep into the story and there is 10 min left that it's super fast wrap up time.

But yeah I've noticed if I check and it's deep into the story and there is 10 min left that it's super fast wrap up time.

Still, it's not bad to put on in the background, as you don't really have to pay attention and you can still pick up what's going on

Three cheers for the good sci-fi to come.

Which raises the question, why are the Galactica reviews a week behind? Further, why no StarGate reviews on b42?

Read the last BG review for the answer... the reviewer in Canada which is behind the US one week which is behind England a season....Just when you think the US was 'worse' off than UK, Canada goes and proves us wrong.

Yeah but they reviewed Andromeda for a while too ...

Atlantis is actually pretty decent. But yeah I've noticed if I check and it's deep into the story and there is 10 min left that it's super fast wrap up time.

... the episode they meet an ancient, they talk, they come to atlantis for a visit, they have sex and then... nothing. Not even a call...

I've been watching every episode as they come on and I don't remember them meeting an ancient. Which episode is that?
Did I somehow miss one?

I remember the amount of vitriol that was being spewed over the 'remake' of battlestar and it amazes me that the new series is actually doing well. Personally I have nothing against the series (no sci-fi) so I'll be waiting for dvd's. Just an idle comment.

The lesson is: Pessimism leads to good surprises. Expectations lead to disapointment ;-)

I remember the amount of vitriol that was being spewed over the 'remake' of battlestar and it amazes me that the new series is actually doing well. Personally I have nothing against the series (no sci-fi) so I'll be waiting for dvd's. Just an idle comment.

I think that the low expectations are part of the equation in the level of amazing quality they pulled off. The same way that the SW prequels are such a let down: Our hopes were so high, and he's so far beneath what he's prequelling. For this our hopes were low, and it's so far above the originals (who were so. damn. cheezy), that it makes us overexcited. Kinda like what happened with the Xmen movie, I was really expecting something quite lame, and it turned out quite good, therefore enhancing the enjoyment.

The lesson is: Pessimism leads to good surprises. Expectations lead to disapointment ;-)

They're using the same kind of model that HBO uses for most of its shows.

13 episodes == 1 season

Personally, I think that makes for tighter storytelling and more amped-up drama. With a 22-24 episode season, there's too much need for filler eps because no one can seem to keep the tension going that long. Even B5 had filler eps.

It also means they have the time to film the entire season before airing a single episode, which is another good thing, IMO, as it allows for better structuring.

As I recall, a season usually contains around 24+ episodes.

For a more extreme example from basic cable in the US: look at USA's The 4400, which had 5 episodes in its first season.

You can look at it again next week on SciFi starting Tuesday night - I missed it before, so I'll be taking a look.