149 reviews
A lot of reviews here have really derided this show for being completely unrealistic, cheesy, and boring, and have basically labeled it "Grey's Anatomy in Space." I highly disagree. I address some of the concerns below:
1) Some reviews make the problem with the show one of being unrealistic. First off, IT'S A SCIENCE FICTION SHOW SET IN THE FUTURE. Who is really worrying about realism? And if you are, how can you worry about what's realistic when we have absolutely no way of knowing what is real IN THE FUTURE? Plus, it's simply TV...if you want realism, watch the discovery channel, or go visit Cape Canaveral in Florida, don't come looking for it on a show on ABC.
2) One previous review comments about the female Hispanic astronaut attempting to teach in space via video communication, and how she switched in and out of Spanish when talking. I kind of got offended at that review, as they said that she was simply making up random, nonsense words in Spanish when talking. I'm a native Spanish speaker, and all of what she was saying made complete sense. Second, why is the concept of multilingual teaching so hard to accept? The show is set 41 years in the future, and at the rate Hispanics are growing in this country, Spanish is fast becoming a critical secondary language in the US. Not to mention, various educational programs via the internet are doing the same thing, so it is far from nonsensical. It's simply a very bigoted view.
3) Before making assumptions about the show, or passing judgment on it, watch the episodes available from start to finish. Many concerns about plot holes are addressed in subtle ways that someone not taking any effort to pay attention to the show, and instead use it as mindless background noise, would definitely miss.
4) Yes, I understand the whole "why is there a music video in the middle of the show" concern. There are a couple of points where the show uses a musical "interlude" during emotional/emotion-evoking scenes. The question is, how else would you like them to show the love between a husband and wife, or the thrill of beginning space exploration? By talking about it? By cheesy dialog between the characters trying to say something of deep meaning, but not succeeding? Please. The show tried to appease individuals looking for that sort of thing by the whole "astronaut video diary" scenes. By the way, the scenes in question are about 6-7 minutes out of a 45 minute show. Get over it.
5) This isn't Star Trek. It isn't Star Wars. It isn't your typical science fiction set really far in the future, where anything and everything is possible. It's a show about what space exploration COULD BE like sometime in the next half century, but that doesn't mean that it's how things WILL be. People who have problems with this seem to think that space travel is either via Space Shuttle, or by the Starship Enterprise, and nothing in between. Keep your mind open.
It's a nice change of pace from medical drama shows, legal/police drama shows, "teen angst" shows, and family comedies. It's something a bit different. Plus, only two episodes have aired (both of which were pretty good when you simply sat back and enjoyed it for what it was worth, rather than trying to nit-pick apart the show for every little thing). There's plenty of the show ahead, so give it some time. Plot lines take time to develop and get better.
Obviously, not everyone likes every show. I know that there are definitely shows that I've despised through the years, and I'm sure everyone has their own shows that they feel that way about. All I'm saying is, watch the show, give it a chance, and allow it to be its own show, not something else that it's not, but that you or someone else would like it to be because you were comfortable with the previous show. Additionally, Ron Livingston is the man, so there's always that.
1) Some reviews make the problem with the show one of being unrealistic. First off, IT'S A SCIENCE FICTION SHOW SET IN THE FUTURE. Who is really worrying about realism? And if you are, how can you worry about what's realistic when we have absolutely no way of knowing what is real IN THE FUTURE? Plus, it's simply TV...if you want realism, watch the discovery channel, or go visit Cape Canaveral in Florida, don't come looking for it on a show on ABC.
2) One previous review comments about the female Hispanic astronaut attempting to teach in space via video communication, and how she switched in and out of Spanish when talking. I kind of got offended at that review, as they said that she was simply making up random, nonsense words in Spanish when talking. I'm a native Spanish speaker, and all of what she was saying made complete sense. Second, why is the concept of multilingual teaching so hard to accept? The show is set 41 years in the future, and at the rate Hispanics are growing in this country, Spanish is fast becoming a critical secondary language in the US. Not to mention, various educational programs via the internet are doing the same thing, so it is far from nonsensical. It's simply a very bigoted view.
3) Before making assumptions about the show, or passing judgment on it, watch the episodes available from start to finish. Many concerns about plot holes are addressed in subtle ways that someone not taking any effort to pay attention to the show, and instead use it as mindless background noise, would definitely miss.
4) Yes, I understand the whole "why is there a music video in the middle of the show" concern. There are a couple of points where the show uses a musical "interlude" during emotional/emotion-evoking scenes. The question is, how else would you like them to show the love between a husband and wife, or the thrill of beginning space exploration? By talking about it? By cheesy dialog between the characters trying to say something of deep meaning, but not succeeding? Please. The show tried to appease individuals looking for that sort of thing by the whole "astronaut video diary" scenes. By the way, the scenes in question are about 6-7 minutes out of a 45 minute show. Get over it.
5) This isn't Star Trek. It isn't Star Wars. It isn't your typical science fiction set really far in the future, where anything and everything is possible. It's a show about what space exploration COULD BE like sometime in the next half century, but that doesn't mean that it's how things WILL be. People who have problems with this seem to think that space travel is either via Space Shuttle, or by the Starship Enterprise, and nothing in between. Keep your mind open.
It's a nice change of pace from medical drama shows, legal/police drama shows, "teen angst" shows, and family comedies. It's something a bit different. Plus, only two episodes have aired (both of which were pretty good when you simply sat back and enjoyed it for what it was worth, rather than trying to nit-pick apart the show for every little thing). There's plenty of the show ahead, so give it some time. Plot lines take time to develop and get better.
Obviously, not everyone likes every show. I know that there are definitely shows that I've despised through the years, and I'm sure everyone has their own shows that they feel that way about. All I'm saying is, watch the show, give it a chance, and allow it to be its own show, not something else that it's not, but that you or someone else would like it to be because you were comfortable with the previous show. Additionally, Ron Livingston is the man, so there's always that.
- edbermudez16
- Aug 8, 2009
- Permalink
Okay, so I also agree that it is hard to conceive of how the producers will keep this alive given the trajectory of this program, but is the program really that bad? The sexuality between characters: were men to take horribly long space engagements it is believable that a level of sexuality might be tolerated; it is human nature after all. Suppress it for 6 years, I think not.
I like this show, and am enjoying it. I can't think of anything better to watch on television, really. My greatest fear is that like the X-Files, it will come to a speeding cataclysm of a wreck, with poor writing and insufficient funds. The problem is not in the drama, or the relationships. The problem is in maintaining Nielsen ratings, where more and more outrageous plot twists are added to attract viewers, which can be fun, but never realistically brought to a coherent conclusion.
I think folks should give this one a chance, but given their short attention, I'm fairly certain they will not. Just keepin' it real, monkeys.
I like this show, and am enjoying it. I can't think of anything better to watch on television, really. My greatest fear is that like the X-Files, it will come to a speeding cataclysm of a wreck, with poor writing and insufficient funds. The problem is not in the drama, or the relationships. The problem is in maintaining Nielsen ratings, where more and more outrageous plot twists are added to attract viewers, which can be fun, but never realistically brought to a coherent conclusion.
I think folks should give this one a chance, but given their short attention, I'm fairly certain they will not. Just keepin' it real, monkeys.
- spudhalvorson
- Aug 31, 2009
- Permalink
This show appears to be another evolving mystery like Lost. Right away, we are presented with a plausible near-future scenario. Yet, there are obvious hints that something of earthshaking extraordinary significance is lurking in the shadows.
The acting is acceptable. The characters seem too capricious for astronauts, but I say this with reservation. When Lisa Marie Nowak made her cross-country trip in a diaper, the image of the cool-headed, courageous professional was somewhat tarnished.
Their justification for filming primarily in a one gravity environment is a bit embarrassing. Star Trek's gravity plating would have been too advanced for this show, but the explanation they settled on is too problematic. It would have been better if they had adopted a revolving habitat like the space station in Kubrick's 2001. In their defense, they probably rejected a revolving habitat so that they could have more inspiring views through the ship's windows. In that case they should have adopted a ship that was constantly accelerating at one gravity. Then, they would only have to justify the large power requirements. They couldn't have the casual view back to earth, but they must sacrifice something in the way of art to make a show that will sit well with their presumed audience.
I definitely intend to follow Defying Gravity. The recent debut of the sigh-fie channel's noxious Warehouse 13 left me wanting. Perhaps this will make up for that disappointment.
The acting is acceptable. The characters seem too capricious for astronauts, but I say this with reservation. When Lisa Marie Nowak made her cross-country trip in a diaper, the image of the cool-headed, courageous professional was somewhat tarnished.
Their justification for filming primarily in a one gravity environment is a bit embarrassing. Star Trek's gravity plating would have been too advanced for this show, but the explanation they settled on is too problematic. It would have been better if they had adopted a revolving habitat like the space station in Kubrick's 2001. In their defense, they probably rejected a revolving habitat so that they could have more inspiring views through the ship's windows. In that case they should have adopted a ship that was constantly accelerating at one gravity. Then, they would only have to justify the large power requirements. They couldn't have the casual view back to earth, but they must sacrifice something in the way of art to make a show that will sit well with their presumed audience.
I definitely intend to follow Defying Gravity. The recent debut of the sigh-fie channel's noxious Warehouse 13 left me wanting. Perhaps this will make up for that disappointment.
- scottwallvashon
- Aug 2, 2009
- Permalink
"Defying Gravity doesn't" and other brilliant witticisms I've found in the press have compelled me to write this review.
I'm not sure what it is people expect from network drama. Are the physics poorly explained? Yeah. Is NASA really full of sexy astronauts that all happen to be dating each other? No.
But seriously people, is that what we want television to be? This may come as a shock, but ER, Grey's, House, etc. don't exactly approximate what it's like to be a doctor but a lot of people love those shows for what they are: entertainment.
There's a lot of excitement in this show. It actually reminded me of Armageddon. Romance, drama, secrets, and space. It's not the Soprano's, but there's definitely room for shows like this on my Tivo.
I'm not sure what it is people expect from network drama. Are the physics poorly explained? Yeah. Is NASA really full of sexy astronauts that all happen to be dating each other? No.
But seriously people, is that what we want television to be? This may come as a shock, but ER, Grey's, House, etc. don't exactly approximate what it's like to be a doctor but a lot of people love those shows for what they are: entertainment.
There's a lot of excitement in this show. It actually reminded me of Armageddon. Romance, drama, secrets, and space. It's not the Soprano's, but there's definitely room for shows like this on my Tivo.
I've just finished watching the first 2 episodes, and I must say, I was intrigued.
It's set in a near future (2052), and a team of astronauts are suiting up for what is going to be the trip of a lifetime; A 6 year journey through our solar-system, visiting all the inner & outer planets, and gathering as much information about our galactic neighborhood & scientific data as they can whilst they're out there..at least, those are the official mission-objectives. We are introduced to an unknown factor, a person or entity (Beta), who/which is somehow manipulating the mission, and known about by the higher ups, but never mentioned. Only the mission commander has been fully briefed and instructed to brief the crew, only after they've arrived at Venus.
It has somewhat of a "Lost"-vibe, in that it's very character driven and mysterious. However, this can be a bad thing..I personally lost interest in Lost, because of exactly that fact; There were too many questions, and the answers only brought up more questions & were not to my satisfaction to begin with. I hope Defying Gravity will not be taking the same route, because it definitely has potential.
It's set in a near future (2052), and a team of astronauts are suiting up for what is going to be the trip of a lifetime; A 6 year journey through our solar-system, visiting all the inner & outer planets, and gathering as much information about our galactic neighborhood & scientific data as they can whilst they're out there..at least, those are the official mission-objectives. We are introduced to an unknown factor, a person or entity (Beta), who/which is somehow manipulating the mission, and known about by the higher ups, but never mentioned. Only the mission commander has been fully briefed and instructed to brief the crew, only after they've arrived at Venus.
It has somewhat of a "Lost"-vibe, in that it's very character driven and mysterious. However, this can be a bad thing..I personally lost interest in Lost, because of exactly that fact; There were too many questions, and the answers only brought up more questions & were not to my satisfaction to begin with. I hope Defying Gravity will not be taking the same route, because it definitely has potential.
I really enjoyed the pilot and 2 episodes so far. I'm a Sci-Fi nut to start off with and my heads been in the stars since I was a kid, so when they start another space based TV show I'm all in.
Ron Livingston is a great actor and makes a fantastic lead in this futuristic space epic. His character is serious, yet relaxed, which I think makes him more likable. The other characters are slowly developing, but all seem to have their own side stories, which for most people will make the show.
Regarding the ship, they really put thought into the possible future techs that could be reality. The ship is definitely more realistic to what might be our first long term spaceship. Built sort of like the International Space Station, put together by component modules, it's long, cylindrical, and not light-speed. I'm sure we'll learn more about the ship as time goes on, but for now they've not really focused on it much. What we do know is that the ship has mysteries. There is a force that's guiding the ship, its crew and their mission to explore the solar system. Who or what this force is has left us guessing.
Overall, the show is off to a good start. It's got it's drama, suspense, and intrigue. Here's to hoping this one stays on the air for a long time!
Ron Livingston is a great actor and makes a fantastic lead in this futuristic space epic. His character is serious, yet relaxed, which I think makes him more likable. The other characters are slowly developing, but all seem to have their own side stories, which for most people will make the show.
Regarding the ship, they really put thought into the possible future techs that could be reality. The ship is definitely more realistic to what might be our first long term spaceship. Built sort of like the International Space Station, put together by component modules, it's long, cylindrical, and not light-speed. I'm sure we'll learn more about the ship as time goes on, but for now they've not really focused on it much. What we do know is that the ship has mysteries. There is a force that's guiding the ship, its crew and their mission to explore the solar system. Who or what this force is has left us guessing.
Overall, the show is off to a good start. It's got it's drama, suspense, and intrigue. Here's to hoping this one stays on the air for a long time!
I just viewed the opener and the first episode, I thought it was mediocre but then again, I hated the new BSG when it started, Now its one of my faves, (the same with Jericho and the 4400,) so i think its still too early to make judgments at least until the end of the 1st season, maybe as early as mid-season.
as for the tech, we see the tech that we have today is because the writers agreed that even though this show takes place in the future, its supposed to be Relevant to today (not to mention the budget costs). IF they wanted, they could have started guess how Quantum entanglement machines might be used, as its supposed to begin replacing electronics by around 2016, however its still too new to accurately guess what kind of impact it might have.
I think the main reason that this will will be disliked is because unlike all the other shows sci-fi or not, there are no real antagonists, thus far; no commies, galactic evil aliens, or laser rocket robots blowing up everything, that we have come to expect from TV/movies.
this show didn't have much of a start, but it has potential.
as for the tech, we see the tech that we have today is because the writers agreed that even though this show takes place in the future, its supposed to be Relevant to today (not to mention the budget costs). IF they wanted, they could have started guess how Quantum entanglement machines might be used, as its supposed to begin replacing electronics by around 2016, however its still too new to accurately guess what kind of impact it might have.
I think the main reason that this will will be disliked is because unlike all the other shows sci-fi or not, there are no real antagonists, thus far; no commies, galactic evil aliens, or laser rocket robots blowing up everything, that we have come to expect from TV/movies.
this show didn't have much of a start, but it has potential.
- arv_tor_tallen
- Aug 7, 2009
- Permalink
I had no expectations for this show. I'd never heard of it till the week before its eighth (and maybe last) episode. I have no television: I watch shows online. I was looking for something with Ron Livingston in it, after watching "Band of Brothers".
The science and junior-high atmosphere are ridiculous, of course, but I enjoy the slow pace and the wonderment of space. In one narration Donner says, "How the hell did I get here?" I think, if I were aboard Antares as a trained astronaut, I would wonder how I got there, often. After an all-hands meeting, Mintz suggests that they take a moment to remember where they are, then he lowers the light so that they may gaze on Earth and the Moon. That was a nice moment. I think I would alternate between gazing in awe at what surrounds the ship, and cringing in fear at what DOESN'T surround the ship: air.
The mystery of Beta is lovely. I don't care what it is, it's enough that it makes it okay to add weirdness to the story. I'm not familiar with Laura Harris, but she is a lovely and talented actress, and makes a nice foil to Livingston's Donner. Livingston does an extraordinary job, particularly when he reacts with fear and confusion to his hallucinations.
The episodes have improved as the show progresses. At this writing the show has stopped after episode eight, and may not resume. I will be sorry not to see the remainder of the season.
The science and junior-high atmosphere are ridiculous, of course, but I enjoy the slow pace and the wonderment of space. In one narration Donner says, "How the hell did I get here?" I think, if I were aboard Antares as a trained astronaut, I would wonder how I got there, often. After an all-hands meeting, Mintz suggests that they take a moment to remember where they are, then he lowers the light so that they may gaze on Earth and the Moon. That was a nice moment. I think I would alternate between gazing in awe at what surrounds the ship, and cringing in fear at what DOESN'T surround the ship: air.
The mystery of Beta is lovely. I don't care what it is, it's enough that it makes it okay to add weirdness to the story. I'm not familiar with Laura Harris, but she is a lovely and talented actress, and makes a nice foil to Livingston's Donner. Livingston does an extraordinary job, particularly when he reacts with fear and confusion to his hallucinations.
The episodes have improved as the show progresses. At this writing the show has stopped after episode eight, and may not resume. I will be sorry not to see the remainder of the season.
Very interesting story with a bit of a 2001 feel to it. Space reality, with a touch of otherworldly influence.
I watched this in HD and being a space junkie found it near breath taking. The visuals were so crisp and clear. Things were about as real as they could get. Everything seemed plausible minus the "divine interventions" shall we say.
It also plays heavy with philosophy, debating freewill vs fate. Are we predestined to achieve certain goals, or are we the creators of our future? What is the value of life? Are we just expressed genetics? Where does Biology end and humanity begin?
They've set out on a six year mission to cruise our solar system, will they make it past year one? Let's hope so.
I watched this in HD and being a space junkie found it near breath taking. The visuals were so crisp and clear. Things were about as real as they could get. Everything seemed plausible minus the "divine interventions" shall we say.
It also plays heavy with philosophy, debating freewill vs fate. Are we predestined to achieve certain goals, or are we the creators of our future? What is the value of life? Are we just expressed genetics? Where does Biology end and humanity begin?
They've set out on a six year mission to cruise our solar system, will they make it past year one? Let's hope so.
The first things I noticed about this series, of course, were the good acting and great CG effects. Then the funny stuff started happening - contemporary clothing and cars over forty years in the future, astronauts who wouldn't have made it past a preliminary interview, trite dialogue, made-up technical details like faster-than-light instant communication from Venus, and General-Hospital plots.
I feel badly for everybody involved with this series other than James Parriott. The people and the sets are very pretty. The music cues us to laugh when the comic relief arrives. We get long music videos twice an episode. For the most part sexual innuendo is completely skipped because it's too subtle - the characters talk constantly about sex because the writers don't know what else astronauts would talk about. The editors gave us lots of long, pregnant moments to give us time to consider the incredible implications of every emotionally charged moment. We're even given lots of "Let's do this" and "when you do this thing that we do" dialogue to remind us that we're watching true heroes, in case we've forgotten. And every episode ends with an honest-to-god "You see, Timmy..." eternal lifetruth.
Admittedly, the plot holes are sometimes pretty large, but that's normal for TV, right?
The whole problem here is that audiences are sometimes too smart. This series should be a rich emotional and philosophical stew but it's really a bowl of thin watery gruel. The "Grey's Anatomy" female demographic doesn't get enough to satisfy, and the sci-fi crowd gets what's left over after the bowl has been licked clean. Without women and sci-fi fans there weren't enough people left to watch this series, and that's too bad for everybody. It's especially bad for anybody who wants to make a sci-fi series for a major network in the near future, because this one will make it tough.
There's a quote from James Parriott that I think is worth including here. "I was reading in The New Yorker how stock market swings follow Pi, the fractal equation. And that's sort of a scary thing, that it just moves. You can plot the right dips and curves that it does indeed move fractally, and that just blows me away. There's just tons of stuff we don't know."
This quote explained loads to me. The problem is that Parriott didn't understand what he was reading, and he got it completely garbled, *and then, being a TV guy, he based a new TV series on his garbled version of what he thought he'd read.* Oh no.
Now, for those who haven't seen Parriott's reveal of where the series would have gone next season, I'll summarize (and no, I'm not making this up):
There's some good news about all of this that means a lot to me, even though it probably won't mean much to most people. This series has cured me of television for a while. And, as the script writers say, that's a Good Thing.
I feel badly for everybody involved with this series other than James Parriott. The people and the sets are very pretty. The music cues us to laugh when the comic relief arrives. We get long music videos twice an episode. For the most part sexual innuendo is completely skipped because it's too subtle - the characters talk constantly about sex because the writers don't know what else astronauts would talk about. The editors gave us lots of long, pregnant moments to give us time to consider the incredible implications of every emotionally charged moment. We're even given lots of "Let's do this" and "when you do this thing that we do" dialogue to remind us that we're watching true heroes, in case we've forgotten. And every episode ends with an honest-to-god "You see, Timmy..." eternal lifetruth.
Admittedly, the plot holes are sometimes pretty large, but that's normal for TV, right?
The whole problem here is that audiences are sometimes too smart. This series should be a rich emotional and philosophical stew but it's really a bowl of thin watery gruel. The "Grey's Anatomy" female demographic doesn't get enough to satisfy, and the sci-fi crowd gets what's left over after the bowl has been licked clean. Without women and sci-fi fans there weren't enough people left to watch this series, and that's too bad for everybody. It's especially bad for anybody who wants to make a sci-fi series for a major network in the near future, because this one will make it tough.
There's a quote from James Parriott that I think is worth including here. "I was reading in The New Yorker how stock market swings follow Pi, the fractal equation. And that's sort of a scary thing, that it just moves. You can plot the right dips and curves that it does indeed move fractally, and that just blows me away. There's just tons of stuff we don't know."
This quote explained loads to me. The problem is that Parriott didn't understand what he was reading, and he got it completely garbled, *and then, being a TV guy, he based a new TV series on his garbled version of what he thought he'd read.* Oh no.
Now, for those who haven't seen Parriott's reveal of where the series would have gone next season, I'll summarize (and no, I'm not making this up):
- Nadia turns into a man. - Donner's vasectomy reverses itself for the second time, so does Zoe's hysterectomy, and he gets her pregnant. - Wassenfelder becomes autistic, making him extra, extra smart, because everybody knows autistic guys are extra, extra smart. - Arnel loses his leg in training, forcing them(?) to recall Zoe. - Jen is forced to kill her bunny in order to have the guilt necessary to see the "fractal objects". - Eve realizes she's supposed to be on the ship, so they put her on a "resupply mission". - Rollie goes to jail again, but when it's necessary to get Eve to Mars Rollie leaves town in a big way. - Goss realizes the "fractal objects" made him a bad guy. - We never find out what the "fractal objects" are, or in fact, what makes them "fractal objects", because frankly, I'm a math guy, and I didn't see no "fractal objects". - Sharon and Walker may still be alive on Mars, but that wasn't completely decided.
There's some good news about all of this that means a lot to me, even though it probably won't mean much to most people. This series has cured me of television for a while. And, as the script writers say, that's a Good Thing.
- Turambar-3
- Nov 19, 2009
- Permalink
- nicksjames
- Aug 9, 2009
- Permalink
- walrusgumbo
- Dec 21, 2009
- Permalink
Pray ABC keeps this one on board. It's already an interesting drama/sci-fi/mystery and I'm really wanting to know who (I really suspect it's a "what") Beta is: the one that makes major decisions for the human astronauts but has remained in shadow so far...The cast is excellent and well seasoned (I do not mean old!) -- this automatically lends a trusted measure of character to the series. I rarely watch anything on a regular basis - but I have remembered to view "Defying Gravity" every week... and if you want to know the overall 'climate' of my other IMDb comments check the other posts attached to my account - always a good idea around here (O; .
- desertsunflower99
- Aug 15, 2009
- Permalink
- dicksmothersjr
- Aug 20, 2009
- Permalink
Well, this is my first review here, so I'm not sure if I will do well.
I am a huge fan of scientific fiction, so this series really grabbed my attention.
"Defying Gravity" happens by the year of 2059, in a mission to apparently explore Solar System and its mysteries. A crew of eight astronauts is chosen after intensive training to this mission of six years long (which makes me assume the series was firstly planned for six seasons). When they arrive at "outer space", nothing is like they really expected.
This is more drama than scientific fiction, in my opinion. It involves a lot of personal issues and the life in space, that's why I called this soft scientific fiction. Don't expect good explanation for everything "scientific" you watch, because you won't have, as for example, the artificial gravity explanation is very non-sense.
I was firstly hopping for this to not involve fringe/pseudo science, but I guess it will end up on that anyways, as it's making a lot of success in series like Lost and Fringe.
As I said before, this has a huge potential to become a very good program for sci-fi/drama lovers, but also has an incredible potential to fail.
I heard this series is already cancelled, so only the first season will be released. Quite sad, I wanted to see how it was going to finish.
I am a huge fan of scientific fiction, so this series really grabbed my attention.
"Defying Gravity" happens by the year of 2059, in a mission to apparently explore Solar System and its mysteries. A crew of eight astronauts is chosen after intensive training to this mission of six years long (which makes me assume the series was firstly planned for six seasons). When they arrive at "outer space", nothing is like they really expected.
This is more drama than scientific fiction, in my opinion. It involves a lot of personal issues and the life in space, that's why I called this soft scientific fiction. Don't expect good explanation for everything "scientific" you watch, because you won't have, as for example, the artificial gravity explanation is very non-sense.
I was firstly hopping for this to not involve fringe/pseudo science, but I guess it will end up on that anyways, as it's making a lot of success in series like Lost and Fringe.
As I said before, this has a huge potential to become a very good program for sci-fi/drama lovers, but also has an incredible potential to fail.
I heard this series is already cancelled, so only the first season will be released. Quite sad, I wanted to see how it was going to finish.
- lawgustavo
- Oct 20, 2009
- Permalink
I am admittedly a tech geek, but I do not expect "Science Fiction" to be "Science Fact". I like the current day look of the set, since the Antares has the same "flavor" of the ISS, but on a larger scale.
My only negative on the show was in the case of the Antares crew's "visions" which initially gave me the impression that the show was going to be an apparent Ghost story. But the "lapses", are apparently flashbacks to an earlier mission, at first I thought "Oh No here we go...'Poltergeists in space'", but thankfully that was not the case, or so I believe, only future episodes will show what that is going to become.
The wardrobe looks great, so far, the special effects are believable and overall, I give "Defying Gravity" two thumbs up, as a great near future Sci Fi show. Believable special effects combined with a bit of mystery and suspense and of course some comedy.
My only negative on the show was in the case of the Antares crew's "visions" which initially gave me the impression that the show was going to be an apparent Ghost story. But the "lapses", are apparently flashbacks to an earlier mission, at first I thought "Oh No here we go...'Poltergeists in space'", but thankfully that was not the case, or so I believe, only future episodes will show what that is going to become.
The wardrobe looks great, so far, the special effects are believable and overall, I give "Defying Gravity" two thumbs up, as a great near future Sci Fi show. Believable special effects combined with a bit of mystery and suspense and of course some comedy.
I have heard some of the bad press surrounding this television show, and I cannot understand it.
The show is set in the near future, where a group of astronauts are visiting the nearby planets in our solar system, with an added twist.
There is a lot of the show that is not realistic, but it is called science -fiction- for a reason, and I like that it is a lot closer to reality than many other pieces of science fiction. It is however very far from normality, of course, but it is the combination of the reality of relationships and the things that would happen down on earth, combined with the fiction on board the ship 'Antares'. However, there is also the realism of the natural gravity, which is a series possibility in space travel and the idea of their 'jump' that means the ship can move through space quickly which may be able to happen. There are so many other links with scientific fact and theories, so don't be too quick to judge without really knowing about astro-science!
It does, in my opinion, take a few episodes to really kick off. It starts out with the introduction of characters and their previous experiences, with detail flashbacks in later episodes to explain the story. I find myself glued to my television set every time I watch an episode, and after watching an episode I am eager to watch more.
The acting is another big positive. All of the cast perform their roles perfectly, and I have found myself gaining a real connection to the characters. Another positive is that the drama is played out so well that when you watch it, you really start to feel the characters emotions.
This show exceeded all of my expectations, and I am happy to say that I am an avid watcher of 'Defying Gravity' now, and will continue to be for as long as the show continues. I would highly recommend this to anyone, but if you like drama TV shows and also like to subject yourself to a dose of fiction (science fiction in this case!), this show is perfect for you!
The show is set in the near future, where a group of astronauts are visiting the nearby planets in our solar system, with an added twist.
There is a lot of the show that is not realistic, but it is called science -fiction- for a reason, and I like that it is a lot closer to reality than many other pieces of science fiction. It is however very far from normality, of course, but it is the combination of the reality of relationships and the things that would happen down on earth, combined with the fiction on board the ship 'Antares'. However, there is also the realism of the natural gravity, which is a series possibility in space travel and the idea of their 'jump' that means the ship can move through space quickly which may be able to happen. There are so many other links with scientific fact and theories, so don't be too quick to judge without really knowing about astro-science!
It does, in my opinion, take a few episodes to really kick off. It starts out with the introduction of characters and their previous experiences, with detail flashbacks in later episodes to explain the story. I find myself glued to my television set every time I watch an episode, and after watching an episode I am eager to watch more.
The acting is another big positive. All of the cast perform their roles perfectly, and I have found myself gaining a real connection to the characters. Another positive is that the drama is played out so well that when you watch it, you really start to feel the characters emotions.
This show exceeded all of my expectations, and I am happy to say that I am an avid watcher of 'Defying Gravity' now, and will continue to be for as long as the show continues. I would highly recommend this to anyone, but if you like drama TV shows and also like to subject yourself to a dose of fiction (science fiction in this case!), this show is perfect for you!
Having read a couple of other reviews on here, i have to completely disagree with the one that says this is greys anatomy in space. For a start there aren't any doctors in this one (well maybe one but hes no brain surgeon). Other comments go for realism and plot problems, well for realism this is SCIENCE FICTION and not a true story, for plot problems i thought that plots unfolded as the series progressed which this seems to be doing nicely. There are the back stories that have some holes but these are getting patched as we go through so commenting on bad plot is a bit premature.
On the whole a nice 42 minute distraction from present day, don't watch this for an insight into the human Psyche in space travel cos its made up. I like this and will be following it.
Oh just one thing to note, as this seems to be made up of actors from other shows how many fans now realise their shows are cancelled! Sorry.
On the whole a nice 42 minute distraction from present day, don't watch this for an insight into the human Psyche in space travel cos its made up. I like this and will be following it.
Oh just one thing to note, as this seems to be made up of actors from other shows how many fans now realise their shows are cancelled! Sorry.
- gladfan3-1
- Aug 27, 2009
- Permalink
I really wanted to like this one, but that was before i actually saw the episodes. My initial disappoint was that even though this is being billed as science fiction, there's no science in it unless you count name-dropping 'nanotechnology' every time there's something the writers can't explain - like the hair spray that causes hair to hang down in zero gravity. On top of that, it's not even futuristic: people in 2052 wear the same clothes, use the same cell phones, etc. as people in 2008.
What this is at the core is a soap opera. Apparently some committee decided that they could appeal to all viewers by copying parts of different genres and pasting them together at random. There's the relationship dramas cloned from "Grey's Anatomy", a space ship (uh, wait, make that a HAUNTED space ship), some action, some hints about a conspiracy by the powers that be, and occasional reminders of baseball. It may as well have been called "Defying Logic". Is it even remotely plausible that a multi billion dollar space agency would pick a bunch of astronauts for a six year mission whose personalities are absolutely guaranteed to clash?
What this is at the core is a soap opera. Apparently some committee decided that they could appeal to all viewers by copying parts of different genres and pasting them together at random. There's the relationship dramas cloned from "Grey's Anatomy", a space ship (uh, wait, make that a HAUNTED space ship), some action, some hints about a conspiracy by the powers that be, and occasional reminders of baseball. It may as well have been called "Defying Logic". Is it even remotely plausible that a multi billion dollar space agency would pick a bunch of astronauts for a six year mission whose personalities are absolutely guaranteed to clash?
- bluesquirrel2004
- Mar 11, 2018
- Permalink
Don't get me wrong - this series might get its followers as it has all the ingredients required for being emotionally involved without the need of brain use. But I can't stand this kind of BS anymore:
All in all, forgettable, unimportant stuff that is produced intentionally to keep you drugged with "entertainment", dumb, and numb. Time to wake up, turn off your TV and do something refreshing: take a long summer evening walk with someone, lie on a blanket in the park, or read a good book. It could even be science-fiction.
- Writers who get by without proper research, without even the slightest knowledge of what they are talking about (Hello! This is supposed to be astronomy, space flight, not a high-school setting);
- The consequential depiction of immature characters (astronauts? Forget it!) that struggle with the same old same old interpersonal problems and act like clueless teenagers, persons I wouldn't care to know;
- Abortion is illegal? A series that doesn't criticize this vehemently, or even condones it? A very good indication that the producers want to keep you in line, impose on you their ideological prison;
- And last but not least: the voice-over by one of the characters near the end of the episode, soaked in some smooth indistinguishable pubertal music, secreting some pseudo-wisdom that isn't even suitable for teenagers.
All in all, forgettable, unimportant stuff that is produced intentionally to keep you drugged with "entertainment", dumb, and numb. Time to wake up, turn off your TV and do something refreshing: take a long summer evening walk with someone, lie on a blanket in the park, or read a good book. It could even be science-fiction.