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Dumbest Space Operas Of All Time!

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Meirelle
05/09/09

In reply to Dumbest Space Operas Of All Time!
I still want to see "Event Horizon," even though people tell me it's the most disturbing movie ever, and it's also horribly bad, a disasterous combination.
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Ellroy Blake
05/09/09

In reply to Dumbest Space Operas Of All Time!
I can't be the only one that remembers the Saturday morning cult classic, Jason of Star Command?

Or can I?

Sid Haig as Dragos!
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Charlie Jane Anders
05/09/09

@Ellroy Blake: Actually... I was a huge Jason Of Star Command addict. And I almost included it on this list. But then I forgot...
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tekoneiric
05/09/09

In reply to Dumbest Space Operas Of All Time!
I think your totally off the mark with the original BSG, Buck Rogers and Starchaser. Sure they were a little campy but they were products of the times. When you discount the modern special effects, the original BSG is superior to the knock off in almost every respect. Just because the new version was gritty it doesn't make for a better series plus all the glaring holes and crappy ending makes it way worse that the original.
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ManchuCandidate
05/09/09

@tekoneiric:

You might be the only one who thinks that way. I loved BSG and Buck when I was a kid. I actually forked out money for the DVDs. To say they are good and have some sort of intellectual depth? No. Not even close.
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Evil Tortie's Mom: R.O.A.C.H.
05/09/09

@ManchuCandidate: He's got good points:

1. Dark 'n gritty isn't automatically better.

2. the nuBSG effects will look just as bad in 30 years

3. aiming at different audiences

4. made in very different times for both the world and TV
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Klebert L. Hall
05/09/09

In reply to Dumbest Space Operas Of All Time!
"The worst space operas are not just campy or silly. They're idiotic and braindead. They're so intent on cramming the cliches of Westerns or adventure serials into an outer-space setting that they not only leave behind even the most basic space science, they actually strip the danger and excitement out of space travel itself."

You realize that that is an almost perfect description of the entire original Star Trek? Heck, that's almost how they sold the script to the network...

Sure, there were some very good episodes. They were the exceptions though - most episodes were dreadful.

-Kle.
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Evil Tortie's Mom: R.O.A.C.H.
05/09/09

@Klebert L. Hall: "Wagon Train to the Stars" is how Gene pitched it to the dubious execs. He managed to jam in some social commentary after.
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NotArthurPDragon
05/08/09

In reply to Dumbest Space Operas Of All Time!
I'm pretty sure if we slapped Joss Whedon's name on everything here you'd praise it as nothing less than the greatest work ever. The helmets on the original BSG was part of the Egyptian motif that was a part of the conceit that tied them to ancient earth civilizations. That it gets dismissed with a simple "dorky" description makes me wonder if even that lame show was too smart for your. Whereas hiring a person programmed to be a hostage negotiator than hiring an actual negotiator is the height of brilliance. And that Battle Beyond the Stars was The Seven Samurai in space also seems to have escaped you. I shouldn't visit this site when drinking...
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Evil Tortie's Mom: R.O.A.C.H.
05/09/09

@NotArthurPDragon: I know. Corman even said BBTS is Seven Samurai/Magnificent Seven in space. He was all "well, this story works, let's put it .... IN SPACE!"

The original BSG helmets were and still are cool.
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Evil Tortie's Mom: R.O.A.C.H.
05/08/09

In reply to Dumbest Space Operas Of All Time!
I'm gonna come right out and say that Space:1999 is worse than Buck Rogers and original BSG. Larson knew he was making goofy light entertainment, while S1999 had delusions of grandeur and self-importance.

Also: better-looking casts, both male and female.
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alphanumeric1971
05/08/09

In reply to Dumbest Space Operas Of All Time!
Oh, and no mention of "Andromeda?" you know the show that lasted one season longer that BSG? ;)
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Evil Tortie's Mom: R.O.A.C.H.
05/08/09

@alphanumeric1971: Not dumbest enough to be on this list, maybe?
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lightninglouie
05/08/09

In reply to Dumbest Space Operas Of All Time!
Based on the plot description alone of Starslayer, I am shocked --shocked, I tell you-- that Chris Claremont had nothing whatsoever to do with it.

Also, that cover would make an awesome poster, if Charles Band ever made a low budget adaptation of Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun.
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lightninglouie
05/08/09

In reply to Dumbest Space Operas Of All Time!
When I was a kid, I always hoped when the BSG crew finally got to Earth, it would turn out to be the Earth of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. (Naturally, Twiki would be killed by the Colonials in a tragic misunderstanding.)
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pyramidsfan
05/08/09

In reply to Dumbest Space Operas Of All Time!
Space operas that make sense? Catch [www.pyramidsofmars.com.] Even when it doesn't make sense, like the best of them it's fund enough that you don't care. Come on, a main character that hollows out an alien and wears its skin like a disguise? Perfect!!! You gotta love Gorman!
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lightninglouie
05/08/09

@pyramidsfan: Kneel before Sutekh!
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Elizabeth Weinbloom
05/09/09

@pyramidsfan: Hey you, with the trolling. I'm watching you.
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James7344
05/08/09

In reply to Dumbest Space Operas Of All Time!
On Space 1999, they once opened the windows.
A moonbase, airless environment, and somebody installed windows that would open, just in case some alien ever came around and installed an atmosphere.
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KhaiJB
05/08/09

@James7344: the window had already blown out when the atmosphere was pumped in, so the Tech Dept replaced it with one that opened. that they had in stores. for a moonbase......yeah. that works. OK? ;)
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hapeximendios
05/08/09

In reply to Dumbest Space Operas Of All Time!
Not for nothing, but I hardly think Event Horizon was a "space opera." Wasn't it just a haunted house movie in space?
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syafiqjabar of Mars
05/09/09

@hapeximendios: It was also sort of based on Warhammer 40k, in which FTL travel requires travel through a dimension of pure chaos.
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braak: You are, as usual, completely correct.
05/10/09

@syafiqjabar: Was it based on that, or was that just a reasonable coincidence?
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Doug Nelson
05/08/09

In reply to Dumbest Space Operas Of All Time!
So your definition of "space opera" is any story involving space travel?
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Charlie Jane Anders
05/08/09

@Doug Nelson: Nope... we actually posted a definition of space opera the other day. But basically, spaceships, uniforms, space battles adventures, captains, heroes, etc. etc.
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crashedpc - Haifisch
05/08/09

In reply to Dumbest Space Operas Of All Time!
*puts on asbestos suit* I'm not well versed enough in most of these to throw in an opinion, but the flaming that will occur will probably be strong enough to affect me tangentially.
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Magicant
05/08/09

In reply to Dumbest Space Operas Of All Time!
My mind can't reach back that far, but wasn't Starslayer Mike Grell's way of re-doing Warlord but with full ownership and creative control?

Are you saying everyone in the future WON'T be wearing bathing suits as battle gear?
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Charlie Jane Anders
05/08/09

@magicant: Yeah that makes all kinds of sense, re: Grell.... and yes, bathingsuits are actually the perfect costume for space battles! Especially if they're made out of jingly coins!
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crashedpc - Haifisch
05/08/09

@magicant: Damn, there goes my excuse to walk around in a Speedo all day.
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