OTHER SCIENCE FICTION SERIES

Defying Gravity cancelled

POSTED BY: MANGOLO
UPDATED: Saturday, November 14, 2009 07:31
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 6453
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Sunday, September 27, 2009 1:13 PM

MANGOLO


Feelings either way?


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Sunday, September 27, 2009 1:17 PM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.


Nope. I knew it wouldn't last when they waited so late into the summer to start it.



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Sunday, September 27, 2009 3:54 PM

CYBERSNARK


As folks on ExIsle have been saying; it was too sci-fi for the "Grey's Anatomy" people it was marketed to, but not sci-fi enough for the sci-fi people.

Pity, because the last episode (the one that only aired in Canada) was one of the best eps they've done.

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

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Sunday, September 27, 2009 6:31 PM

CALHOUN


what was the last episode you refer to? episode 9?

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Sunday, September 27, 2009 9:08 PM

TRAVELER


The problem I had with this show is its focus on one mission. They spend episode after episode focusing on the personal issues of the crew and occasionally we get a long shot of the ship to remind us they are in space. Half the scenes are flashbacks of their experiences on Earth. This is not a science fiction show, but a soap opera. I don't have a problem with crew members having personal problems, but to drag it out week after week does not make for exciting viewing.

A series that wants to create a feel for space travel in the near future has to keep moving. Cut out the time it takes to travel to Mars or Venus and simply state, "six months later", and keep the story moving. Have a personal issue and deal with it in a single episode. Personal issues make situations more interesting if combined with a conflict with the mission. Both the mission and personal crisis can be resolved together and keep the pace of the series moving. Next week you have a new mission and new crewmember with a problem and it makes the episode fresh.




http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28764731
Traveler

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Sunday, September 27, 2009 11:04 PM

MANGOLO


Traveler, you hit the nail on the head....if you're not a story editor in Hollywood, they should hire you.



http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=86085840444

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Thursday, October 1, 2009 4:06 AM

CLJOHNSTON108


It's actually "not quite" cancelled...
http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=8293
http://www.airlockalpha.com/node/6696
http://www.sliceofscifi.com/2009/09/15/update-gravity-not-cancelled/

And since it's a co-production between CTV, BBC, and a German network, with ABC only distributing it in the U.S., the show could continue.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defying_Gravity_%28TV_series%29
Quote:

Scheduling

On June 30, 2009, ABC announced that it had ordered the program for a summer 2009 broadcast in the United States. It was aired on BBC 2 in the United Kingdom, ProSieben in Germany, and both CTV and SPACE in Canada.
CTV moved the scheduled airing of the show from Sunday to Friday nights on August 26, 2009, and speculation began about the possibility of the show being canceled. On September 14, 2009, online sources noted ABC's apparent cancellation of the series, with most having reported the eighth episode as the "series finale", while others reported it as the "season finale". The show's publicist, Nicole Marostica, issued a statement on September 14, 2009 that ABC is not in fact canceling the show but that management is deciding on a time slot to air the remaining 5 episodes of season 1.
CTV aired episode 9 "Eve Ate the Apple" on September 18, 2009, but did not have Defying Gravity on its schedule for the following week. Episode 10, "Deja Vu", will air on October 2, 2009.


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Thursday, October 1, 2009 7:34 AM

SUASOR


Agreed, Ep 9 really advanced the story, and was quite good at it (even the flashbacks). But, as LOST learned, you get too tied up with the flashbacks, and don't keep the plot moving, people get bored. I got bored during the first eight eps, and I otherwise liked the cast and production values. But what I really wanted was some plot movement.

Ep 10 is being broadcast in Canada tomorrow. Should be available as a Torrent, for all us non-Canadian criminals.

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Thursday, October 1, 2009 2:03 PM

TRAVELER


I don't see "Defying Gravity" on HuLu, and Fancast has a few episodes, but not #9. I guess we are not worthy.


http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28764731
Traveler

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Sunday, October 4, 2009 1:59 AM

CLJOHNSTON108


Quote:

Originally posted by Suasor:
Ep 10 is being broadcast in Canada tomorrow. Should be available as a Torrent, for all us non-Canadian criminals.


I was gonna say that it's not been posted as a torrent, 'cause I was checking all day yesterday, but I just took another look, and a single solitary file was posted about 7 hours ago.

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Sunday, October 4, 2009 2:12 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


never saw it.



The T.Rex they call JANE!


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Sunday, October 4, 2009 4:35 AM

SUASOR


cljohnston108. it showed up a little after your post did.

http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/5109280/Defying.Gravity.S01E10.Deja.Vu
.XviD-err0001.avi

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Sunday, October 4, 2009 7:05 PM

MANGOLO


I watched Voyage to the Planets (VttP) on which Defying Gravity was loosely based. I say loosely because VttP was really a science show with a window dressing of drama. Defying Gravity decided to drop the science part altogether and make the drama melodramatic.

This whole no communications time lag thing on Defying Gravity bugs the crap out of me- color me with geek, but that's the way I see it.

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Sunday, October 4, 2009 9:05 PM

SIGMANUNKI


Actually Traveler, what you're complaining about is what Sci-Fi really is. Namely, slow development of character, atmosphere, etc, etc, etc. Unfortunately, in today's ADD world, that has gone away replaced with action movies/shows in space that sound/look "Sci-Fi". It's sad really. What people consider Sci-Fi to be today is something along the lines of high tech thingy's in the future or some such. Very very sad.

What would have happened if this show wasn't cancelled is a progression of the plot and a related increase in pace as well. Kind of like what a book does. It's about long term story telling, not instant gratification. And that was exactly what was happening.


Quite frankly, if people actually read books, then I highly doubt the pace of this show would have been a problem. But, as it sits, there was too little "wiz bang" in it to keep the kiddies eyes fixed on the screen. Not to mention that the show required one to actually retain information. God forbid these characters would not be one dimensional and require some form of back story. God forbid plot arcs that go beyond one episode. God forbid...

----
I am on The Original List (twice). We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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Monday, October 5, 2009 1:37 PM

TRAVELER


Hello SigmaNunki:

I read. I have volumes of books stacked all over my apartment. I read about everything. I read science fiction and classics. I read about history and science. I have read stories as long as J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" and as short as John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men". I joined a book club to widen my reading experience. None of this alters my view of how "Defying Gravity" was handled. You can have on going story arcs, but I felt the arcs on this show were to dominate. There are plenty of shows with plots that are developed over years, but each episode has its own story and a conclusion.

"Fringe" is a good example. There is an on going arc. There are questions that won't be answered for probably years, if the show has a long life. I hope it does. The people have personal problems and they effect their performance. But each episode has a new conflict and it is dealt with and resolved within the episode. The idea of a evil force behind some of these conflicts is brought up, but it does not dominate the show. As far as personal problems, all the main characters have them. Walter has the most severe, but it is not looked on week after week as a drag. They actually put some joy in Walter's life when he asks for cotton candy in the middle of list of lab equipment. Walter is healing. They had one episode where Walter had to return to the mental hospital, so we could grasp his fear and torment, and then they moved on. And his relationship with his son is also moving on. It is not made to be a drag week after week.

This thread asked our opinion and I freely gave mine. It is mine alone. If you disagree, fine. I stand by original post.

Since you enjoy reading, may I recommend "The Memory of Running" by Ron Mclarty and "The Spiral Road" by Jon de Hartog. I found these two books a pleasure to read. If you prefer science fiction then let me say "The Forever War" by Joe Haldeman was a fine read.


http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28764731
Traveler

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Monday, October 5, 2009 1:50 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by Mangolo:
I watched Voyage to the Planets (VttP) on which Defying Gravity was loosely based. I say loosely because VttP was really a science show with a window dressing of drama. Defying Gravity decided to drop the science part altogether and make the drama melodramatic.

This whole no communications time lag thing on Defying Gravity bugs the crap out of me- color me with geek, but that's the way I see it.



Yup, and yup. Voyage to the Planets was informative AND entertaining, with more emphasis on the informative. Defying Gravity was neither. And if you're going to try to do "science" in a "sci-fi" show, either explain the lack of time-lag on communications, or have a time lag. It should get longer as they get further from Earth, for those who might not have figured that out... ;)

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Monday, October 5, 2009 2:09 PM

MANGOLO


The time lag is actually a great aid in adding dramatic tension- not knowing what is going on at the other end for first just minutes and then hours- to fail to see that is a major fail on the writers.

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Monday, October 5, 2009 3:48 PM

SIGMANUNKI


There wasn't time lag, but that was probably a yet thing. If you really kept a good eye, over the course of the eps, there was some pixelization starting during the communication with Earth.

EDIT: Being general comment:

Btw, for those that haven't figured it out, the show wasn't about the Science. It was about the interpersonal relationships, the thing they had on board (which they were starting to figure out what it was - ya, I watched that last ep that wasn't aired in the US), and what the other "things" were, what they were going to do, etc. The really sad part is that the show was just getting going. But, because people today need explosions and tits shown every minute or so to satisfy there ADD, they can't wait for things to get setup before the show gets to the good stuff. It's instant gratification or nothing.

What I find really really irritating, is seeing such a piece of crap like Dollhouse get on airtime, yet actual story-telling in a non-wizz-bang way gets tossed to the wayside. It says something about the mental capacity of todays population when they constantly need shiny objects dangling in front of them to keep them entertained.

EDIT: End general comment.

Hello Traveler:

That's a pretty long post to say nothing.

----
I am on The Original List (twice). We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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Tuesday, October 6, 2009 7:54 AM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by SigmaNunki:
There wasn't time lag, but that was probably a yet thing. If you really kept a good eye, over the course of the eps, there was some pixelization starting during the communication with Earth.



Okay, were they at Venus yet? Close? If so, there WOULD be time lag.

Quote:


EDIT: Being general comment:

Btw, for those that haven't figured it out, the show wasn't about the Science. It was about the interpersonal relationships, the thing they had on board (which they were starting to figure out what it was - ya, I watched that last ep that wasn't aired in the US), and what the other "things" were, what they were going to do, etc. The really sad part is that the show was just getting going. But, because people today need explosions and tits shown every minute or so to satisfy there ADD, they can't wait for things to get setup before the show gets to the good stuff. It's instant gratification or nothing.



Probably one of the big reasons I quit watching Dollhouse as well.

But wait - then there's one of my OTHER favorite shows: Mad Men. It's a show in which it seems like almost nothing ever really happens on screen; it's all alluded to, hinted at. It's very "French" in its storytelling. And no tits or explosions at all.

So why would I watch that? And yet, I can't take my eyes off it.

Quote:


What I find really really irritating, is seeing such a piece of crap like Dollhouse get on airtime, yet actual story-telling in a non-wizz-bang way gets tossed to the wayside. It says something about the mental capacity of todays population when they constantly need shiny objects dangling in front of them to keep them entertained.



Sorry, but you've already negated your own argument. Dollhouse's big problem is the same as Defying Gravity's: It's just a shitty show, poorly written, poorly executed, with nothing to keep my interest or keep me watching. Sorry that your imagination is so weak that you need a McGuffin (or some hidden "thing" as you put it) to keep your interest in a show, but some of us would rather watch a show that's actually going somewhere, rather than one in which any resolution is always nebulous and just beyond the horizon - forever.

Quote:


Hello Traveler:

That's a pretty long post to say nothing.



As was yours.

By the way, I don't confuse television for reading. If I want to explore a story deeply and watch characters unfold, a book is pretty much always going to be better than a movie. A good series, though, can do it pretty well AND keep the viewer interested at the same time. Television is a far more "passive" medium than reading, and as such needs to hew to a different set of values and rules. If you don't agree, then why don't you go produce a TV show of someone reading a book on screen?


Mike

The percentage you're paying is too high-priced
While you're living beyond all your means;
And the man in the suit has just bought a new car
From the profit he's made on your dreams

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Tuesday, October 6, 2009 5:48 PM

SIGMANUNKI


Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:

Okay, were they at Venus yet? Close? If so, there WOULD be time lag.




Yah, because it's not like tech advances over time. Go back even 10 year and try to transfer 1G and see what happens.

Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:

But wait - then there's one of my OTHER favorite shows: Mad Men. It's a show in which it seems like almost nothing ever really happens on screen; it's all alluded to, hinted at. It's very "French" in its storytelling. And no tits or explosions at all.

So why would I watch that? And yet, I can't take my eyes off it.




Never liked that show. It tries to hard to be something that it's not. I mean, it tries, but misses the mark because it's trying too hard.


Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:

Sorry, but you've already negated your own argument. Dollhouse's big problem is the same as Defying Gravity's: It's just a shitty show, poorly written, poorly executed, with nothing to keep my interest or keep me watching. Sorry that your imagination is so weak that you need a McGuffin (or some hidden "thing" as you put it) to keep your interest in a show, but some of us would rather watch a show that's actually going somewhere, rather than one in which any resolution is always nebulous and just beyond the horizon - forever.




Defying Gravity actually has good writing. It's just that they aren't always talking about some grand big bad or something. THAT is what Dollhouse is doing. "Oh, the big bad dollhouse and the exploited people." Etc, etc, etc. It's the same thing over and over again. Defying Gravity on the other hand actually has this thing called progression. People didn't know about Beta, now they do, now they are dealing with it. That also brought up other questions like why that one chick couldn't see Beta. Etc.

Dollhouse, the hole never gets deeper. Defying Gravity, every step provides a more rich history of the characters and/or provides more questions about what's going to happen.

Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:

As was yours.




Actually, I said quite a bit. At least far more than beating my own chest about how much I read. Kinda a difference there ya know.


Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:

By the way, I don't confuse television for reading. If I want to explore a story deeply and watch characters unfold, a book is pretty much always going to be better than a movie. A good series, though, can do it pretty well AND keep the viewer interested at the same time. Television is a far more "passive" medium than reading, and as such needs to hew to a different set of values and rules. If you don't agree, then why don't you go produce a TV show of someone reading a book on screen?




Just because a TV show is typically something doesn't mean it can't be something else. Or that it hasn't been something else before/currently. Don't be so narrow minded.

EDIT: Btw, Defying Gravity DID have something resolved every episode. I would suggest that you go back and actually watch the show.

----
I am on The Original List (twice). We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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Wednesday, October 7, 2009 2:10 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by SigmaNunki:
Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:

Okay, were they at Venus yet? Close? If so, there WOULD be time lag.




Yah, because it's not like tech advances over time. Go back even 10 year and try to transfer 1G and see what happens.



Go forward 10 years and see if the speed of light has changed. That's one of the weakest arguments I've seen you try to make.

Quote:


Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:

But wait - then there's one of my OTHER favorite shows: Mad Men. It's a show in which it seems like almost nothing ever really happens on screen; it's all alluded to, hinted at. It's very "French" in its storytelling. And no tits or explosions at all.

So why would I watch that? And yet, I can't take my eyes off it.




Never liked that show. It tries to hard to be something that it's not. I mean, it tries, but misses the mark because it's trying too hard.



Funny, I thought the same thing about Defying Gravity. Apparently, viewers and critics agree with ONE of us...


Quote:


Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:

Sorry, but you've already negated your own argument. Dollhouse's big problem is the same as Defying Gravity's: It's just a shitty show, poorly written, poorly executed, with nothing to keep my interest or keep me watching. Sorry that your imagination is so weak that you need a McGuffin (or some hidden "thing" as you put it) to keep your interest in a show, but some of us would rather watch a show that's actually going somewhere, rather than one in which any resolution is always nebulous and just beyond the horizon - forever.




Defying Gravity actually has good writing. It's just that they aren't always talking about some grand big bad or something. THAT is what Dollhouse is doing. "Oh, the big bad dollhouse and the exploited people." Etc, etc, etc. It's the same thing over and over again. Defying Gravity on the other hand actually has this thing called progression. People didn't know about Beta, now they do, now they are dealing with it. That also brought up other questions like why that one chick couldn't see Beta. Etc.

Dollhouse, the hole never gets deeper. Defying Gravity, every step provides a more rich history of the characters and/or provides more questions about what's going to happen.



Sorry, but I just found it dull, with dull on top, and a side order of dull. The hole didn't get deeper; it got duller.

Quote:


Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:

As was yours.




Actually, I said quite a bit. At least far more than beating my own chest about how much I read. Kinda a difference there ya know.



I didn't see you actually SAYING anything, except to be overly condescending to others. By the way, wasn't it YOU who was beating your chest about how much you read, and how if any of us ever actually READ sci-fi, we'd be oh-so-much-more-impressed by that shitty Defying Gravity show?


Quote:


Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:

By the way, I don't confuse television for reading. If I want to explore a story deeply and watch characters unfold, a book is pretty much always going to be better than a movie. A good series, though, can do it pretty well AND keep the viewer interested at the same time. Television is a far more "passive" medium than reading, and as such needs to hew to a different set of values and rules. If you don't agree, then why don't you go produce a TV show of someone reading a book on screen?




Just because a TV show is typically something doesn't mean it can't be something else. Or that it hasn't been something else before/currently. Don't be so narrow minded.

EDIT: Btw, Defying Gravity DID have something resolved every episode. I would suggest that you go back and actually watch the show.



No thanks. Been there, done that. Tried it. It sucked. Dull, dull, dull. And why would I want to go back and watch it again NOW? I mean, it's canceled, so it's not like there's ever going to be any resolution NOW, right? Just more dullness.


Mike

The percentage you're paying is too high-priced
While you're living beyond all your means;
And the man in the suit has just bought a new car
From the profit he's made on your dreams

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Thursday, October 8, 2009 7:59 AM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by traveler:
If you prefer science fiction then let me say "The Forever War" by Joe Haldeman was a fine read.


That was great. Mezmerizing. I'm still shocked no one's ever made a motion picture out of it...


The laughing Chrisisall

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Thursday, October 8, 2009 2:49 PM

TRAVELER


Hello Chrisisall:

"The Forever War" was recommended to me buy the owner of a book store I haunt. He noticed my buying habits and suggested it. And I agree, this would make a good film.


http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28764731
Traveler

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Thursday, October 8, 2009 2:56 PM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by traveler:
And I agree, this would make a good film.


In the right hands (Joss or a Kubrick-inspired Speilberg, not Michael Bay) it would be on of the greatest SF movies ever.
IMO.


The laughing Chrisisall

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Thursday, October 8, 2009 8:47 PM

SIGMANUNKI


Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:

Go forward 10 years and see if the speed of light has changed. That's one of the weakest arguments I've seen you try to make.




It's not a weak argument. You're just missing the point. New tech and new physics are always on the horizon. If you can't see how that might change things, then I don't know what to tell you.


Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:

Funny, I thought the same thing about Defying Gravity. Apparently, viewers and critics agree with ONE of us...




And on a related jumping off a bridge issue...

EDIT: Just popped in my head that you're kind of defeating yourself being on a FIREFLY forum and all.


Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:

Sorry, but I just found it dull, with dull on top, and a side order of dull. The hole didn't get deeper; it got duller.




There's a difference between you not liking where they where taking it and the hole not getting deeper. In other words, did we learn more about the characters, there interactions, get more questions than answers regarding the past/future, etc? Yes, we did. Whether one likes it or not is an entirely different question.


Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:

I didn't see you actually SAYING anything, except to be overly condescending to others. By the way, wasn't it YOU who was beating your chest about how much you read, and how if any of us ever actually READ sci-fi, we'd be oh-so-much-more-impressed by that shitty Defying Gravity show?




Reading what I wrote and reading into what I wrote are two very different things. You did the latter.

Also, I never went on about how much I read. I just mentioned that if people read, that the pace of Defying Gravity wouldn't be such an issue. It was Traveler that went off about how much and what (s)he read. Being exceedingly condescending on his/her own accord I might add. I just made a general comment (I did not use the word "you", I used the word "people"), whereas (s)he directed a comment at me specifically. You can go back and re-read the posts if you want to confirm that. They are right above.

I will not take responsibility for Traveler's insecurities.


Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:

No thanks. Been there, done that. Tried it. It sucked. Dull, dull, dull. And why would I want to go back and watch it again NOW? I mean, it's canceled, so it's not like there's ever going to be any resolution NOW, right? Just more dullness.




Kwicko, missing the point again.


Defying Gravity had everything but a fast pace. And because of that people are saying things like the acting was bad, which is so far from the truth it isn't funny. Similarly for everything else. So, I'm going to just leave it like that.

Oh, and mention that we can now bask in the glow of the good new shows like FlashForward where an example of bad acting can be found in any scene that has the main character in it. There's also the poorly written and directed Eastwick (which is too bad, I really like Paul Gross). Etc.

Hurray for the lowest common denominator!!!



EDIT 2: Funny how the show actually hasn't been cancelled:

http://thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=8293

And those last eps that have been filmed are continuing to air in Canada.

----
I am on The Original List (twice). We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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Thursday, October 29, 2009 3:55 PM

TDBROWN


You can watch all 13 episodes of DG Here:

http://ch131.com/

Look under TV Shows. I've really gotten hooked on this show. I hope someone picks it up and carries it on. But alas, I fear it will have a Firefly-like fate, without a DG Film.

"Might have been the losing side, still not convinced it was the wrong one." -Mal

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Thursday, October 29, 2009 3:58 PM

SIGMANUNKI


True. It was left with so many questions unanswered. And I found out a little bit ago that the set was torn down.

*sigh*

----
I am on The Original List (twice). We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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Thursday, October 29, 2009 4:04 PM

TDBROWN


http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Defying-Gravity-DVDs-Announced/12882

Looks like it will be on DVD, which is good.

"Might have been the losing side, still not convinced it was the wrong one." -Mal

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Thursday, October 29, 2009 4:31 PM

SIGMANUNKI


Beauty

----
I am on The Original List (twice). We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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Sunday, November 8, 2009 3:16 AM

IMNOTHERE


Quote:

Originally posted by SigmaNunki:
Quote:

Originally posted by Kwicko:

Go forward 10 years and see if the speed of light has changed. That's one of the weakest arguments I've seen you try to make.




It's not a weak argument. You're just missing the point. New tech and new physics are always on the horizon. If you can't see how that might change things, then I don't know what to tell you.




No, you can't predict where technology will go in 10 years - and the 20th century has certainly seen some ideas go from first principles to reality in frighteningly (esp. when the "reality" is a radioactive crater) short times.

However, if you are speculating then some developments are far less likely than others. The idea that information can never travel faster than light is a fundamental and very well tested tenet of modern physics. Don't confuse the light barrier with the sound barrier (or older pundits who speculated on the Victorian equivalent of chat shows that humans couldn't survive abouve 30mph). Newton might get the crew as far as Venus, but if Einstein is wrong then Mercury ain't gonna be where they think its gonna be .

FTL travel and communication is a bit of a stretch even for far-future stories like Trek - but in that case they have had a few hundred years to re-write the physics books, with help from friendly aliens (note that in Babylon 5, all the magic tech like jumpgates and artificial gravity has been acquired from aliens).

In a show which attempts to depict a plausible near-future, having FTL communication is a lapse. Especially since dramas spend so much time contriving reasons why someone can't just pick up the phone and sort it all out: you'd think they'd grab at a legitimate reason to make communication difficult for their protagonists.




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Sunday, November 8, 2009 3:09 PM

SIGMANUNKI


You're aware that the first part of your first sentence completely defeats your argument, right?

EDIT: What I find funny (in a bad way), is that both the wife and I (PhD Theoretical Physics and BSc Mathematics respectively) have zero issues with anything in DG. But, the pop novel readers who over analyze everything to death do. What's the difference? Pop novel people can't see the forest for the trees.

At any rate, I'm done with this thread. You guys want to conjecture that this stuff isn't possible, go ahead. I'll just keep saying that it is possible, and more importantly, IT'S A FUCKING TV SHOW.

----
I am on The Original List (twice). We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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Monday, November 9, 2009 3:05 AM

CLJOHNSTON108


Quote:

Originally posted by Mangolo:
I watched Voyage to the Planets (VttP) on which Defying Gravity was loosely based. I say loosely because VttP was really a science show with a window dressing of drama. Defying Gravity decided to drop the science part altogether and make the drama melodramatic.

This whole no communications time lag thing on Defying Gravity bugs the crap out of me- color me with geek, but that's the way I see it.


Well, they covered the time lag in Voyage to the Planets, but it seems they placed more emphasis on it with the outer planets than they did with Venus.



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Monday, November 9, 2009 3:18 AM

TDBROWN


I have to agree with Sig on this; Who cares if there are slight errors in the science? It is not a Documentary. It's entertainment. For me personally it was extremely entertaining and intriguing. That's no small feat, and I will miss this show. I feel saddened that they never even got close to completing the concept.

(BA in Anthropology, btw)

"Might have been the losing side, still not convinced it was the wrong one." -Mal

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Monday, November 9, 2009 4:33 AM

CLJOHNSTON108


Quote:

Originally posted by TDBrown:
I have to agree with Sig on this; Who cares if there are slight errors in the science? It is not a Documentary. It's entertainment. For me personally it was extremely entertaining and intriguing. That's no small feat, and I will miss this show. I feel saddened that they never even got close to completing the concept.

(BA in Anthropology, btw)

"Might have been the losing side, still not convinced it was the wrong one." -Mal


Absolutely. And I have to give kudos to the actors, especially Ron Livingston & Andrew Airlie, for being able to take such space-science procedural material and make it seem lived-in.
I know Ron Livingston is a big fan of my favorite spaceflight simulator, Orbiter < http://www.orbitersim.com>, and it showed, particularly during the scenes in the Venus lander.

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Saturday, November 14, 2009 7:31 AM

IMNOTHERE


Quote:

Originally posted by SigmaNunki:
You guys want to conjecture that this stuff isn't possible, go ahead. I'll just keep saying that it is possible, and more importantly, IT'S A FUCKING TV SHOW.



I think the problem is, a near-future SF show, apparently based on a science documentary* rather raised the hope of SF fans that they'd get some Hard SF on TV for once - instead of the usual Fantasy Space Operas (even good ones, like Firefly).

Even if it is possible that instantaneous communication is discovered in the next decade or so, it would represent a major technological leap (and cleaning up the resultant mess would make lots of work for theoretical physicists - so you're all right, Jack!)

It would have huge implications for spaceflight (even if all that brand new physics didn't also result in the invention of warp drive).

For instance, there's already a major debate as to the value of expensive human exploration vs. robotic probes. Time-lag is a major obstacle for robotic probes - if it takes minutes or hours for a message to get from the earth then they are reliant on their on-board programming and can't react to unexpected dangers or opportunities: it would be much more effective to have a human "on the ground". But what if you didn't have a time lag? That means you could operate robots from earth in real-time. Could you justify the expense of sending humans on long-haul tours of the planets when you could put on a VR suit and take part in a methane snowball fight via your robot avatar on Titan?

In Hard Science Fiction, exploring those sorts of implications is part of the fun - as is picking holes when they get it wrong or miss something!

In Hard SF, ignoring some huge plausibility gap in the science without at least "hanging a lampshade on it" ( http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LampshadeHanging) is as unconvincing as Agatha Christie having Miss Marple suddenly turn into Dirty Harry and pop a couple of caps into the perp (which is possible, just not plausible) - or suddenly turn into a giant alien wasp (oh, hang on, that one's been done!)

* Edit: Except "Voyage to the Planets" was a SF show, except rather than try and work the exposition into the plot, they had documentary spots from actual scientists. Maybe thats the way to do hard SF on screen.

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