io9 
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San Francisco, 5:22 PM
Tue Dec 1
30 posts in the last 24 hours
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10/14/09
10/14/09
10/13/09
A problem is that he was attempting to do this hugely ambitious, intricately imagined sprawling space opera in a drafty Vancouver warehouse for about twelve dollars after Kevin Sorbo's salary and the cuts of all our twelve billion producers were accounted for.
So things which seemed really cool in writing (the Magog! The Than!) ended up looking not-so-impressive onscreen, and we had to assemble space battles out fo stock footage and the like. There's a reason why the show was at its most successful when dealing with human looking AIs or more or less human looking Nietzscheans (although we exhausted the stock of good-looking, muscular Canadians who could act pretty damn quickly.) Still, I like to think that we did some engaging, fun science fiction television, especially in the first season and a half under Robert-- although Ash and I tried to stick to Mr. Wolfe's continuity as much as possible in our season three episodes as well.
Zack
10/13/09
10/14/09
I blame Tribune. I think anybody who knows the slightest little bit about what went on blames Tribune. And once they're done blaming Tribune, Kevin Sorbo gets it. And after Sorbo...the kittens!
Because it always ends with the kittens.
10/13/09
I'd actually recommend watching it up to part of the 5th season, and then read the "Coda" that Wolfe released. Its a great look at how a clever little idea can completly jump off the rails. (Plus, I just loved the ship names...)
10/13/09
Actually, I'd suggest not going past the end of the second season...at the midpoint of which Wolfe was given the boot and Trance was turned from the Purple Pixie into Little Gold Tart Trance. Understand that Trance was always a dark character, even in the pixie form; that was part of the point, just as the horrifying form of the Abyss and its agents was covering the function of the Abyss' purpose to be the avatar of Order (which was expressed basically through achieving entropy across the universe.)
The fourth season was a crock of shit, but looks good next to the fifth and final season where everything that made Andromeda what it was got thrown out, including the characterization of Dylan Hunt.
The final devolution of Trance was painful to watch. She was supposed to be an agent of chaos (and growth/development, and thus life) and a sun avatar, and what they turned that into in the final season was hideous.
So. Watch season one (with the exception of the "Sum Of His Parts" episode, which is a major turd), watch season two at least up to "Ouroubouros," and find a copy of WAYSTATION to read, as there's information in the book that's pretty much direct from Wolfe, thanks to a friendly connection high up at Tribune who relayed a lot of as-then unrevealed data to me (and wanted to get me writing at least one script for the series, but this unfortunately never happened.)
WAYSTATION also plays with some of the concepts behind Trance, including her mission, what she was, and what she was capable of. Trance fans should particularly enjoy it because there's Purple Trance, Gold Trance, and a bunch of other Trances along the way, plus quite a bit of focus on the Three Andromedas (main computer, holographic avatar, android; they all have different personalities.)
And so on and so forth.
10/13/09
10/13/09
10/13/09
Season 3 was hit-and-miss, nothing really seemed to be going on since the episodes became more stand-alone. Tyr was really the only interesting character, but, surprise surprise, he got the boot after season 3. I often compare Tyr to Kerr Avon from Blake's 7. Much like Avon, Tyr starts out as a character with questionable motives and you can never really tell if he's on your side. As the show progresses he bonds a little more with the characters but eventually he shows his true colors.
Season 4 was a step up from season 3 but still not season 1/2 quality. The episodes began to connect a bit more and the show started falling back into the mythology established in the first two seasons, all culminating in the best season finale since the first season. I only wish the show ended there because season 5 was...well...pointless is probably the best word.
I'm one of a few people who watched the show from start to end, even all the way through season 5. I can say that the show isn't as bad as most people say, but there was a ton of lost potential after season 2. I'm a sucker for space opera so I might have given the show more of a chance than I should have. I still enjoyed watching it. The best part of Andromeda is the universe it's set in. RHW did a wonderful job of worldbuilding and I found the Nietzscheans and the AIs the most fascinating parts of the show, so naturally any episode dealing with those two were awesome in my eyes.
The episodes by Miller and Stentz are the absolute best the series has to offer. Their episodes in the later seasons (such as "The Unconquerable Man") are pretty much the only gems in a sea of bad episodes. I'd say try to watch season one all the way through, there aren't any episodes that are truly terrible. Season 2 isn't so bad either though I disliked "The Prince" and "Be All My Sins Remembered" quite a bit. After season 2 ask yourself if you're still interested enough in the show to go on. As I said, the show drops sharply in quality during season 3 (and there are a lot more skippable eps there) so just consider that.
I think the show is worth a shot, especially if you're into space opera. The only real reason to watch the last three seasons is if you're really into the show/characters as I was.
10/13/09
[www.roberthwolfe.com]
10/13/09
10/13/09
There are some pretty, pretty people on this show. Tyr's habit of wearing vests and not shirts kept me very entertained. Pecs! Biceps!
10/13/09
Agree! They should bring that look back, along with leggings for the menz.
10/13/09
10/13/09
So, really, in answer to your plea, we say no. We like you too much to help in such a pursuit.
10/13/09
10/13/09
I tired enjoying it from a firefly, outlaws on the run view, terrible. Tried enjoying it from a babylon 5 rich alien culture view point, terrible. Tried from an alien boy loves alien girl view, terrible.
I tried and all I saw was a poorly executed syndicated sci-fi show. You want "good" crappy syndicated sci-fi try cleopatra 2025.
10/13/09
Incidentally, I've introduced two different boyfriends to the series, both of whom immediately started reading everything Nietzsche ever wrote.
10/13/09
I'm so sorry for you. No girlfriend deserves that.
10/13/09
10/13/09
is this show hercules in space ? or is it not ???
anyways the early episodes are a lot more intelligent than later so start it at the beginning and go as long as you feel like.
it does get pretty mindless by season 5