Andromeda Season (Series?) Finaly

[Ranger REG]

I have to ask, am I the only one who finds this show now painfully hard to watch? I used to quite enjoy the show in previous seasons. Recently though, it has become awful.

Between ENTERPRISE and SG-1, which in my area all three shows are aired at about the same time weekly (late Saturday night), I can stomach it over ENTERPRISE but SG-1 remain the top in my viewing list.

But you are right. The story direction and writing have been decreasing in quality and increasing in confusion. Of course, I expected that when the developer of the show (the guy who was able to make the show a reality using Gene's scribbled notes), Robert Hewitt Wolfe, departed in the second season. Even losing Tyr Anasazi as a regular character is considered an omen (you know that the show is heading to the can when the actor left the show for a soap opera gig).

 

[Orius]

Your post really should have a "spoiler" tag, for those people who might actually care about how the series finale pans out.

Wow, both of them?

You put your finger right on it. It's not just that the show isn't much fun to watch; it's actually very hard to keep up with. Last night's episode was a good example. I didn't know what was going on with the characters going in and out of the data-net deal, morphing back and forth into other characters.

I know what you mean. Pacing has been horrible all season long. The shows just jump right into a plot without any exposition at all. It's like the exact opposite of Star Trek, where Star Trek has too much boring conversation, this show has practically none. No wonder Beka and Harper always act like they don't know what the hell is going on.

In addition, the self-righteous ruthlessness of Hunt's character makes him pretty unlikeable IMO. He routinely commits fairly cruel acts in a very glib and pompous manner. If he were portrayed as an outright bastardly antehero, that could be enjoyable, but he's portrayed as this lantern-jawed savior of the universe while he's blowing up planets full of people.

More of Sorbo's ego I suppose. One of the worst scene was that episode from the middle of the season when one of the Triumvirs says, "You're my hero." Gag. Ego overload.

 

[Orius]

Between ENTERPRISE and SG-1, which in my area all three shows are aired at about the same time weekly (late Saturday night), I can stomach it over ENTERPRISE but SG-1 remain the top in my viewing list.

I know what you mean. Stargate is the only one of the three I look forward too. Also, Im lucky. Enterprise and Andromeda are both on on Saturday nights here, but Stargate is on Sunday night, so I don't have to worry about the other two shows conflicting with it.

are right. The story direction and writing have been decreasing in quality and increasing in confusion. Of course, I expected that when the developer of the show (the guy who was able to make the show a reality using Gene's scribbled notes), Robert Hewitt Wolfe, departed in the second season. Even losing Tyr Anasazi as a regular character is considered an omen (you know that the show is heading to the can when the actor left the show for a soap opera gig).

Yeah, it's a damn shame. I've always been curious to know just what Gene's notes on the show were and how Wolfe developed them. Tyr's departure was a low point, but I don't really blame the actor given how pointless the plots for him were in the third season. The way they

Spoiler

killed him off in this season

was even worse and very badly out of character for him. Replacing him with Rhade wasn't bad, but they made Rhade into a kind of stereotypical heroic Nietschean, instead of giving him much depth.

It's amusing, both Andromeda and Stargate have their lead actors as producers, yet Stargate hasn't sunk to the levels Andromeda has. Hell, Stargate been on like what, 7 seasons, and it's still going pretty strong. Sorbo could take some lessons from Anderson.

 

[Ranger REG]

Maybe, but then I figured Andromeda -- like her predecessor Earth: Final Conflict -- is only meant to go five seasons.

As for Telemachus Rhade, while I like the heroic persona -- which I believe is to redeem not just the Nietschzean race but his ancestor's failure -- he and his principles needs to be challenged. Otherwise, he's just a two-dimensional paladin. (Boring!)

Too bad they didn't bring in a Lancer as a regular (the same fault I see in ENTERPRISE when they temporarily assigned a team of MACO to deal with the Xindi Threat in the Delphic Expanse). It would have been nice to see the "marine" like character working alongside the Argosy personnel onboard such a large ship capable of carrying slipfighters. I mean the Andromeda Ascendant is practically a carrier ship!

 

[Hand of Evil]

It's amusing, both Andromeda and Stargate have their lead actors as producers, yet Stargate hasn't sunk to the levels Andromeda has. Hell, Stargate been on like what, 7 seasons, and it's still going pretty strong. Sorbo could take some lessons from Anderson.

I always got the impression Anderson was a fan of sci-fi, while Sorbo looked at it like a car, a means to get him someplace else.

 

[Swoop109]

I always got the impression Anderson was a fan of sci-fi, while Sorbo looked at it like a car, a means to get him someplace else.

From info that I heared at several cons, when Anderson got to a point of power in SG-1, he wanted more depth in the stories, plot arcs over several stories, and deeper development for all the central characters.

When Sorbo got power, he complained that he could not follow the plot concepts, did not like that Tyr was getting more screen time, and felt that the entire show could use more action.

You tell me, which actor has a better understanding of how to keep a show on the air, and who has a greater respect for their fans?

 

[Orius]

As for Telemachus Rhade, while I like the heroic persona -- which I believe is to redeem not just the Nietschzean race but his ancestor's failure -- he and his principles needs to be challenged. Otherwise, he's just a two-dimensional paladin. (Boring!)

Exactly my point. Rhade could be a much more interesting character but they haven't given him any depth or personality this season. And I say this season because he's seen Rhade -- both Gaheris and Telemachus (essentially similar characters or the same) -- portrayed with more depth in guest spots.

 

[Orius]

From info that I heared at several cons, when Anderson got to a point of power in SG-1, he wanted more depth in the stories, plot arcs over several stories, and deeper development for all the central characters.

When Sorbo got power, he complained that he could not follow the plot concepts, did not like that Tyr was getting more screen time, and felt that the entire show could use more action.

You tell me, which actor has a better understanding of how to keep a show on the air, and who has a greater respect for their fans?

Hmmmm, good points. I'd also add that Anderson also has more experience with working on television than Sorbo. Sorbo sort of achieved almost instant popularity with Hercules, and it seems to have gone to his head.

 

[Wycen]

Saw the first half of finale tonight.

Spoiler

So Dylan is Ao, or a fragment of the big guy, witnessed the birth of the universe.

Ridiculous episode.

 

[Ranger REG]

With Fireworks going out of business and Sci-Fi saying they cannot foot the bill to produce anymore seasons...does not look good for the commonwealth.

Well, looking at the closing credits, I no longer see the Fireworks Entertainment logo. As for SCI-FI, it happened with B5, going from syndication to cable (sucks for us non-cable viewers), it's only natural that it will happen to Andromeda. Sadly, I don't see a spin-off, nor the IP will be hot enough for licensing, such as a RPG line. It would've been nice, though.