Invasion

[EastEnder]

Saw the first 2 episodes last night. Marginally more promising than the utterly terrible Lost. Initial impressions - how many different ways are there of reinterpreting the body snatchers premise?

Have a feeling I'm going to get bored/annoyed rather quickly with this one. In the unlikely event that it shows some true originality and genuinely clever plot twists, then maybe I'll run with it. More likely though, it'll descend into the increasingly implausible - with characters either being infuriatingly moronic (completely oblivious to the blindingly obvious) or so far fetched they lose any shred of credibility.

 

[Reno]

There is another new sci-fi show starting on ITV2 tonight called Surface. Anybody seen any of it ? Apparently it's about a new species of mysterious aquatic lifeforms.

 

[mentalchik]

I've been tempted to get this, is it really that good?

Yes it is !

 

[belboid]

American Gothic didn't cancelled because of complaints. Like most shows it got the axe because of poor ratings.

and because of concerns about complaints - which meant that they pulled entire episodes from US viewing, and changed screening times and dates - all of which led to.....poor ratings!

The first episode of Invasion bored the arse off me. Doubt I'll bother going back.

 

[dogmatique]

Isn't this just a remake of the sixties series of the same name?

If it's anywhere near as tedious as the original, I'll give it a miss.

 

[Reno]

Isn't this just a remake of the sixties series of the same name?

If it's anywhere near as tedious as the original, I'll give it a miss.

That was called The Invaders and it was remade in the mid-90's.

 

[sorearm]

god after watching the X-files and Invasion I feel like my head is exploding with dullness..... Invasion was tedious, the 'plot' unoriginal, done to death loads of times and very obvious. Characters were not well developed either.

One to miss for me I'm afraid

*goes off to look for battlestar galactica on tinternet*

 

[dogmatique]

That was called The Invaders and it was remade in the mid-90's.

That's the badger. Mind you, the plot is exactly the same in this one too...

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

and because of concerns about complaints - which meant that they pulled entire episodes from US viewing, and changed screening times and dates - all of which led to.....poor ratings!

What were the complaints over?

 

[belboid]

What were the complaints over?

cant remember well, twas all so long ago.....but, you can probably guess the kinda thing - iirr, the series pissed off the religious right who made noises. And there were comlpaints about it being incomprehensible too, I think.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

I'd also agree with that. Most sci-fi series have paper thin characters and poor dialogue. Battlestar Galactica is the first show set in outer space that I've seen that in terms of writing and characterisation can compare itself to something like The West Wing. It also has some unusually strong female characters that act as more than mere set dressing. Mary McDonnel (Donnie Darko's mum) is particularly good as the president and both the new female Starbuck and Boomer are considerably more complex than your average sci-fi action babes.



Yes, but make sure you start with the 3 hour mini-series which isn't part of the first season box-set over here. It serves as a pilot and sets up the characters and situation.

You sound like a potential Babylon 5 fan. It's universe is worked out to a remarkable degree, intricate plots, politics, alliances and empires rising and falling and that holy grail of real drama; main acters dying or leaving!

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

You sound like a potential Babylon 5 fan. It's universe is worked out to a remarkable degree, intricate plots, politics, alliances and empires rising and falling and that holy grail of real drama; main acters dying or leaving!

I liked B5 as well, but that seems to have disappeared from the box

 

[Reno]

You sound like a potential Babylon 5 fan. It's universe is worked out to a remarkable degree, intricate plots, politics, alliances and empires rising and falling and that holy grail of real drama; main acters dying or leaving!

I might have to disappoint you there. I could never get into Babylon 5 for the same reason I can't get into most sci-fi on television (and I quite like sci-fi). I found the dialogue poor, the acting bad, the aliens silly and the sets wobbly. I understand it is admired for it's ambitious plot arcs, but I gave up after a few episodes into the first series.

I'm generally more into character driven shows like The Sopranos, The Wire, The Shield or The West Wing. The reason why I like Battlestar Galactica is that because apart from being a smart and complex allegory about the post 9/11 world we live in, the writing and acting is good enough that I can engage with the characters on a level that compares to the kind of shows I generally watch. It also manages to avoid many of the cliches set up by Star Trek that so many other sci-fi shows followed. No bumpy headed aliens with attempts at an intricate culture made to look silly be budgetary restrictions, no techno babble and when a lead characters get injured, they're not fine by the next episode but take a while to recover.

 

[dlx1]

As LOST is just ending I hope this to be a good replacement

* watches the skyes

would be good to have a rerun of V

 

[mk12]

Seemed like a grown up version of "the faculty" to me.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

As LOST is just ending I hope this to be a good replacement

* watches the skyes

would be good to have a rerun of V

Yes, brilliant series. Might as well stick on Alien Nation as well

 

[binka]

didnt see the first two episodes, but caught the third one last night. found it quite boring and went to bed before it finished.

 

[teecee]

You sound like a potential Babylon 5 fan. It's universe is worked out to a remarkable degree, intricate plots, politics, alliances and empires rising and falling and that holy grail of real drama; main acters dying or leaving!

That would be a good description of Farscape too

The thing that kept bugging me while watching Invasion was that the Park Ranger Dad is too much like Dr Jack from Lost

Hmmm three episodes in and I have no idea what the Park Ranger Dad's name is , which does not seem a good indication that this new series has me in it's grip yet.

 

[pogofish]

Might as well stick on Alien Nation as well

Try ITV4!

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Try ITV4!

A bit stuck in the dark ages re: television viewing. Only have the normal five channels

 

[paolo]

Well, I'm up to episode 10 of Invasion now.

I'd agree the alien thing is very US stereotypical basis for a plot, but I think it's developing ok. There were one or two flat episodes, but mostly the plot is developing steadily, and there's definitely alot less filler than Lost.

Following the posts above I've now got American Gothic "on order"... which sounds very intrigueing indeed.