Requiem for Andromeda (the GOOD Andromeda) by Cybersnark

OTHER SCIENCE FICTION SERIES

Requiem for Andromeda (the GOOD Andromeda)

POSTED BY: CYBERSNARK
UPDATED: Sunday, June 19, 2005 10:34
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VIEWED: 3197
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Friday, May 27, 2005 4:22 AM

I'm posting this here 'cause I know there are folks who once loved the beginning of this show, and who merit some closure on what could have been. Them as already know this can skip the next few paragraphs; it's the link that's important.

Okay, so, to recap: years ago, a brilliant writer (maybe not Joss brilliant, but a close second) named Robert Hewitt Wolfe was brought in to take a handful of Gene Roddenberry's notes and turn 'em into a TV series.

The result was Andromeda. Wolfe's particular skill is in long-term plotting. The last few years of DS9, with the Dominion War? That was his. Andromeda showed every sign of being his masterpiece; tight scripting, complex characters ricocheting off each other on their journeys toward Destiny. . .

Then he got fired. I'm still a little fuzzy on the behind-the-scenes stuff; how heavily Executive Producer and Lead Actor (a nearly-always disasterous combination) Kevin Sorbo was involved, exactly who pulled what string, or if Sorbo was merely a mouthpiece for the network suits. When RHW left midway through the second season, he took most of his original notes with him. One by one, Wolfe's hand-picked core writing staff (Ethlie Ann Vare, Zack Stenz, Ashley Miller) were also knocked off, and the show spiralled into suckitude.

Now that Andromeda's finally (mercifully) ended, RHW has, as he promised a while back, posted some of his story materials over on his site.

http://www.rhwolfe.com/Insider%20Info.htm

Of particular note is the last one, the Coda, which explains everything about Trance's intended arc. You may have to read it a few times to let everything soak in. It's. . . Wow-inducing.

The audition scripts are also awesome (the second Rev Bem one gave me chills, and neatly encompasses Rev's entire existence), and the "Last Call at the Broken Hammer" stuff is also worth a read.

With this in mind, I can now realize exactly how much foreshadowing went into the S1 eps (Rommie telling Harper "Welcome to my mind," the Wayist quotation about how the universe is held together by Love, Tyr's sudden but inevitable betrayal. . .).

It also drives home how much it must've hurt RHW to start something like this then not be allowed to finish it. A sentiment I'm sure a certain other storytelling genius (and his fans) can relate to.

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We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Friday, May 27, 2005 5:01 AM

MAUGWAI

I agree, the first two seasons of Andromeda were great. Season three was ok. Season four had some redeeming qualities. Season five had apporximately two episodes that didn't suck completely. I miss the Magog.

I agree that RHW was great at coming up with interesting plots, but his attitude toward other writers was crap. On one of the DVDs I saw an interview with him in which he basically said that anythign that was wrong with the show was the fault of all the crappy writers he had on staff.

I thought that attitude may be what cost him better writers, and eventually his job.

"Dear diary, today I was pompous and my sister was crazy."

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Friday, May 27, 2005 5:30 AM

THATWEIRDGIRL

Holy..freakin…cow.

That was amazing. Just amazing. I wish it could have happened that way. I was an Andromeda fan from the beginning, but I lost my way after season three. Oh, I stuck with it, hoping it would redeem itself, but it never really did. I occasionally enjoyed it. But what Robert envisioned was beautiful. I always believed purple-tailed Trance was the real Trance. I didn’t like what she became.

Sigh.

The coulda beens.

Wow.

www.thatweirdgirl.com
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Can we not revel in our cyber-love?

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Friday, May 27, 2005 7:02 AM

CYBERSNARK

And can't you just imagine that "one last mission" as a movie after the end of the series?

Don't know about RHW's relationships with other writers, but I've read commentary by Ethlie and Zack saying good things though.

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We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Friday, May 27, 2005 11:04 AM

CHRISISALL

I was such a BIG fan of the first season, thanks, I owe you one for that link.
The second season didn't seem totally right, and at the time I didn't know exactly why...then came the third when I realized my show was dying.
It was RHW deficiency.

Rev Chrisisall

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Saturday, May 28, 2005 5:40 AM

RELFEXIVE

That's just... amazing.

If only the right choices had been made, we might of got a Not-So-Bad Future featuring a good version of Andromeda, rather than what it became.

Bummer.

"My God - you're like a trained ape. Without the training."

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Saturday, May 28, 2005 9:47 AM

INSANESPIKE

All I can say is WOW! Totally amazing. That one act blows pretty much all of season five away. A much more fitting ending to the series. Thanks so much for the link.

"How drunk was I last night?"

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Saturday, May 28, 2005 10:19 AM

THIEFJEHAT

A friend of mine turned me onto Andromeda this last winter by giving me copies of seasons 1-4. He warned me though...season 1 is great. Season 2 is just as good. Season 3 is AWFULLLLL and 4 isn't much better.

So I watched and watched. Indeed he was correct. The moment they found the new commonwealth at the end of season 2 the show jumps the shark. I mean...the instant they offically declare that the commonwealth exists again and the story arc of the transdimentional beings begins I can clearly see the Fonz jumping a shark in my head.

Season 3 ep 1 made me angry. I stared in utter shock at how stupid the show had suddenly become. I wanted to throw things at my computer screen but didn't because..well..I paid good money for that screen. Still though I forced myself to watch season 3 and became so bored and pissed I actually fell asleep during one episode. Which one? Man who cares. I finished season 4 and vowed to not again waste my time watching another episode of that stupid crap.

But seasons 1 & 2? Awsome. The storytelling was superb. And now that I read your link and see where the tale was intended to go I want to weep for the lost art and curse Sorbo and others for their short sighted ignorance. This subject underscores the greater problem of non-storytellers calling shots. Look what happens when you allow the artist to be involved...case in point Sin City. Frank Miller's co-directing led that film to a great place. What happens when other ppl try to steer? Well, that's when you end up with Catwoman. It's the same reason why Firefly got axed.

The people of power need to learn to leave the storyteller alone. It hardly ever happens.

Do not fear me. Ours is a peaceful race, and we must live in harmony.

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Saturday, May 28, 2005 11:23 AM

GUNRUNNER

WAIT!! The GOOD Andromeda ain't dead yet!! Two Novels have been published that I’ve read:
Destruction of Illusions by Keith R. A. DeCandido- a prequel to Season 1
and
The Broken Places by Ethlie Ann Vare with Daniel Morris- about Beka's Mother and a Human rebellion on Alpha Centauri.

Before you declare it dead read these two books! There are also four other books I haven’t been able to find in my local book stores: Waystation, Attitude of Silence, Paradise Drift and Through the Looking Glass I suggest you all go fire up Amazon.com right now!

EV Nova Firefly mod Message Board:
http://s4.invisionfree.com/GunRunner/index.php?act=idx
My Other Site:
http://www.utnhq.com/TLAM_Strike/index.htm

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Saturday, May 28, 2005 2:06 PM

CYBERSNARK

Oh, I've read Destruction of Illusions, The Broken Places, and Waystation (liked it, but not quite as good as the others IMHO), and heard of Attitude of Silence.

I'll keep my optics peeled for the others, but given the (nonexistent) circulation of the others I may or may not ever see them (not unlike Finding Serenity).

Plus I'm doing my own Andromeda Alternaverse fanfic (started at the end of S1 and went off in a new "what if" direction, currently writing S3). I'm relieved that I'm nowhere near where RHW was planning to go, so no more improper than any other fanfic.

*off to flesh out one of my new characters*

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We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Sunday, June 19, 2005 9:40 AM

FAHQ

The entire series was pure crap. Its obvious that while Hewitt Wolfe was at the helm of DS9, he had competent help/management. AnDUMeDUH was a sure sign of what he could do when in (or out of) total control......Clog a toilet.

Writing that could put a fresh smelly turd to shame with some of the crappiest acting ever combined to make 5 years of almost unwatchable drivel. All they did in firing him was discover that even worse writing existed. Remember-Two companies went bankrupt forcing that crap out of their sphincters.

The only reason why it was on so long was because the corporate "masters" kept throwing money at it, quite possibly for the "write off".

If there was a wet fart in an episode of Firefly it would have been better acted than what the entire Andromeda cast was capable of.

"My days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle."

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Sunday, June 19, 2005 10:34 AM

SPQR

The one GOOD thing is that it ended in a OK/fair way & now Sci-Fi channel is putting FireFly in it's time stop, in July.

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