A 'Stargate Universe' producer takes issue with criticism of the show. Here's my response
In October, I published my review of "Stargate Universe," and subsequently on Twitter, I also expressed my disappointment with the Syfy show. In my recent review of "V," I mentioned a couple of prominent genre shows that had premiered this fall, including "FlashForward" and "Stargate Universe." My comments about the latter show weren't complimentary.
That prompted "Stargate Universe" executive producer Brad Wright to leave the following comment on my "V" review:
"Maureen, I find people who write 'I have no axe to grind' are often the ones most likely to grind axes. Taking the time to slam 'SGU' in your review for 'V' is not politically tinged, it's just petty. I really wish you hadn't given up on our show so quickly. I was surprised, considering your past (occasional) support of the franchise. You can't have seen a finished version of 'Darkness' or 'Light' because the weren't even closed to being finished at the time of your review. I don't know what the network sent you. 'SGU' seems to be a love it or hate it sort of show. You obviously fall in the latter camp, but fortunately there are enough viewers and reviewers who think 'SGU' is neither boring, poorly plotted, or sexist to keep us on the air long after 'V' is just a letter in the alphabet again."
Brad, given that you posted your reactions to my comments in a public forum, I thought I'd respond in a public way. Online discussions about "Stargate Universe" have been getting pretty heated, and this is my chance to set things straight on where I stand.
First and foremost, I can't think of anyone in the mainstream media who, before "Stargate Universe" premiered, was more predisposed to give it a chance.
I've watched every episode of "Stargate SG-1" and probably about half of "Stargate Atlantis," and I've done multiple features and reviews on both shows. And I've watched and championed many dark, multilayered, complicated dramas such as "The Wire," "Battlestar Galactica" and "The Shield," among others. I wish I had a dime for every time I've used the word "gritty" or "ambiguous" in a review.
So the idea of a show that combined elements of the "Stargate" franchise with the kind of morally complex storytelling we saw on those shows certainly sounded good to me on paper.
After I watched the first three hours of "SGU," well, you could say I had reservations. At that point, I asked Syfy for additional episodes. So before I wrote my review, I'd seen a total five hours of the show ("Air," Parts 1-3, "Darkness" and "Earth"). In other words, I went out of my way to see as much of the show as I could before writing about it.
I remain a fan of the performances of David Blue and Robert Carlyle. As for my response to the rest of "Stargate Universe," well, my thoughts are in my review. I also agree with quite a few of the people posting comments on that review, with many of the commenters at Television Without Pity's "SGU" board and with Dan Owen's rundown of what doesn't work for him about the show.
If I seem passionate in my disappointment in "Stargate Universe," that's only because, in my experience, people are more intensely disappointed by things they had high hopes for. I'm not demanding that "SGU" to be a clone of past "Stargate" shows nor am I secretly expecting it to be another "Battlestar." I just wanted "SGU's" characters and stories to emotionally or intellectually engage me. That's all I ask of any show. That hasn't happened.
You are of course entitled to your opinion of my "Stargate Universe" review and my comments about the show in the "V" piece. But people who have seen the show are also entitled to their opinions. I wish I got the sense that those who who have problems with the show were being truly heard by the "Stargate" writer/producers.
In talking to and emailing with other people who've seen "Stargate Universe," and in looking at comments about the show on my site and on other online forums, the overall sense I get is that there are a number of people -- a significant number -- who eagerly tuned into "Stargate Universe" and were let down by it. Some people like it, of course, and I have no problem with someone sitting down to watch a TV show and feeling as though their time has not been wasted.
But I keep seeing comment after comment along the lines of "I've given the show a lot of chances, but now I just have to give up."
Many of the people sharing disappointed critiques of the show come off as smart, thoughtful, open-minded and perceptive viewers (and I don't pay much attention to the ones who can't express themselves in a rational and calm way). Sure, snarkiness might creep into some comments, but that's the nature of the online beast and sarcasm is often a vehicle for feelings of disappointment and dismay.
If there's anything I have a problem with, it's an idea promulgated by some of the show's defenders -- that people who don't like "Stargate Universe" just don't get it. I am stunned by some of the condescending attitudes I've seen. It's frankly laughable to me, this idea that people who have issues with "SGU" just aren't smart enough to appreciate qualities such as complexity and ambiguity.
I and many other viewers get what the show is going for. We're not failing to understand its intentions. We think "SGU" is, in many key respects, falling short of its own goals.