SGU Stargate Universe

UPDATED THROUGHTOUT

The third entry in the Stargate oeuvre (after the original SG-1 and Atlantis) is already over.  I opted to watch this show because it started right after my beloved Battlestar Galactica ended and I desperately needed a weekly fix of sci-fi programming.

I also already knew what the Stargate at the center of the show was all about because I had watched, and liked, the 1994 movie by the same title.  And while I had never watched a single episode of SG-1, I had tried watching Atlantis but gave it up when I couldn’t get over how unnerving and annoying the character of the resident genius was.  He totally got under my skin every single time he was onscreen, which was constantly, being one of the main characters.

That character, apparently present in each incarnation of the show, is skillfully played in SGU by Emmy nominated actor Robert Carlyle.  Actually, he’s flanked by a second, younger and smarter, resident genius in this series, smartly played by David Blue.  Carlyle’s character often butted heads with the commander, a very good Louis Ferreira, who also saw his leadership challenged by both the military (Lou Diamond Phillips) and civilians (an excellent Ming-Na).

The premise: after a devastating alien attack on a key world outpost, a small number of survivors escape via the Stargate to the Destiny, a previously unknown ancient ship (pictured below) built by the same alien race that built the Stargates themselves.

The Destiny travels on autopilot through the universe on a path set up by “seed” ships, smaller versions of the Destiny, whose only job was to find habitable planets on which to place Stargates for the Destiny’s crew to step through.

While at first the crew has virtually no control over the ship’s instruments, they slowly gain more and more understanding of their inner workings.  Destiny’s mission is also a puzzle for a very long time, but eventually things start to become clearer.

Interstellar planets are explored, alien enemies valiantly fought, countless things discovered and learned.  In short, one hell of an adventure even though the likelihood of ever going back home grows smaller and smaller with the passage of time.

The show quickly grew on me and was stunned when I heard that it had been canceled after only two seasons.  Sure, not every episode was a winner, but the acting was very good, the action was enjoyable, the writing was good, the visual effects excellent, and the overall quality of the production quite good.

I actually found out the series had been canceled at the beginning of the year (apparently it was too costly to produce for its ratings) and figured the production knew and would prepare a good sendoff, but the series finale was really a season finale, with a nice cliffhanger, but certainly no closure or conclusion in sight.  As a season finale it was actually quite good, nicely setting up the usual “what’s gonna happen!?!” scenario, but I was a little disappointed because, naturally, we will never know.

Ultimately, having only watched this series, I cannot compare it to the others, but I thought it was pretty good.  If you’re a sci-fi lover, you might want to give it a try.

Grade: 8

If Only ...

A beautiful pro-gay, pro-tolerance, pro-acceptance video for Singapore’s Pink Dot Festival.

From Towleroad:

LOL x 10!!

This video made me laugh till my belly ached:

A good day for Delaware’s LGBT citizens

Today, Delaware’s Governor signed a Civil Union bill into law.  It’ll take effect on January 1, 2012 and will allow gay and lesbian citizens to move one giant step closer to the full equality enjoyed by their straight counterparts.

From Towleroad:

Tonight, with the signing of this law, we say to any Delawarean regardless of sexual orientation - if you’ve committed yourself to someone, and you’ve made that pledge to spend your life together in partnership, when life or death decisions come, we honor your right to make those decisions together.

Tonight, we say to loving and committed couples across the state who want the law to endorse the promise that they made long ago in their hearts - 'Your love is equally valid and deserving, your family is now equal under the law.'

And tonight, we say to children of gay and lesbian parents in committed relationships all over our state – and there are so many wonderful kids, including many here tonight, growing up in those families all over our state – we say to you: It doesn't matter if your parents are gay or straight. The people you love and look up to and that are dedicating their lives and love to raising you – those are your parents. You are a family. And while we’ve known it, and you’ve known it for years, tonight, that equality becomes real under law."

Hopefully this will be a quick stepping stone towards full marriage equality.

Utter nonsense

Yesterday I read a post in my Tweeter feed that made me do a double take, because I had to verify whether it was from the satirical site The Onion or from the news site Breaking News.

It said:

Breaking News (@BreakingNews)
5/10/11 1:30 PM
Sons of bin Laden accuse US of violating legal principles by killing an unarmed man, in statement to nytimes nyti.ms/m5CIOR

And this is the article’s opening paragraph:

The adult sons of Osama bin Laden have lashed out at President Obama in their first public reaction to their father’s death, accusing the United States of violating its basic legal principles by killing an unarmed man, shooting his family members and disposing of his body in the sea.

I didn’t even bother reading the rest because in my view that accusation is utter nonsense.

Osama bin Laden was a terrorist who, by his own admission, plotted and carried out the killing of thousands, which included not only unarmed men, but women and children as well.  Furthermore, the vast majority of his victims and targets were all innocent, regardless of whether they were armed or not.

In my view, when you become a terrorist, you give up any right to legal principles and legal protections.  You’re on your own and, if they catch you, you deserve to be unceremoniously killed.

End of story.

A Cold Heart, by Jonathan Kellerman

My first Kellerman novel and the first of the Alex Delaware series was a very good find.

Kellerman is a deft writer who creates multidimensional characters who live in such interesting worlds that you can’t help but crave for more.

A Cold Heart sees Delaware helping the police investigating a series of murders in the art world that might be linked together even though at first they all look like separate incidents.

A Cold Heart, so nicely written and with a cohesive narrative was a refreshing change from the last book I read, Meltzer’s The Zero Game.

Definitely recommended.

Grade: 8

Spartacus: Gods of the Arena

After having contracted cancer, Andy Whitfield, the handsome star of Spartacus: Blood and Sand, had to drop out of the successful gladiators Starz show, causing a big delay to the production of the series’ second season.

In order not to leave the fans of the show without new episodes for 2 years, which would have likely doomed the series, Starz greenlit Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, a prequel to the original show that turned out to be just as good, if not better.

Gods of the Arena takes place several years before Blood and Sand, at a time when Batiatus has just taken the reins of his father’s ludus, a training school for gladiators.  His father is still alive, but ill health has forced him to move to Sicily.

What makes Gods of the Arena even better than its predecessor is that the kinks from the original have been smoothed over and worked out, which bodes well for Blood and Sand’s second season.

Furthermore, it’s always nice to find out more about the past of the main characters of a show, how they got to be who and where they are, and that’s exactly what we get with Gods of the Arena, a lot of backstory to fill that void.

         

Well pumped muscles, flesh, fights, and goriness obviously abound, as well as intrigue, cunning, political maneuvering, and loss of main characters.

If you liked Blood and Sand, don’t miss Gods of the Arena.  It’s a nice addition to the overall Spartacus universe, even though the Spartacus character isn’t in it.

Grade: 8

Big Love

I followed this HBO show from its inception to its recent conclusion and it once again proved that when you’re looking for high quality TV programming, you don’t have to look any farther than on HBO.

Big Love followed the everyday life of a polygamist family trying to balance the necessity to keep a low profile (since polygamy is illegal) and the desire to feel and be treated like any ordinary American citizen out there.

The show’s last season followed the family’s outing from the season 4 finale, which capped what is universally considered to be the show’s weakest and most bizarre one.

Fortunately, season 5 was well developed, with good story lines and plausible occurrences.  The most important plot lines were effectively brought to conclusion and the show ended on a positive, albeit sad note.

Overall, a highly recommended show that for a while shined a spotlight on a controversial marital practice that although illegal in the US is still practiced in a few states.

Season 5 - Grade: 8

Show’s Overall Grade: 8

Musica Alma Sexo

I got tickets to see Ricky Martin live for Ray’s birthday, since he really likes him, and we both enjoyed the show very much.

Neither of us had every seen him perform live, but Ray has all his records and Ricky’s music brings back countless memories from the time when we first met and started living together in Turin, Italy, 15 years ago.

The concert was good, with lots of rhythm, lights, and images.  A real feast for the eyes, besides the ears.  I especially enjoyed the video projected halfway through the show on a huge cloth encompassing the entire stage!!

Knowing his audience, Ricky showed plenty of skin as well, which is always a plus when such a handsome guy is involved.

The part of the concert I loved the most was when he paused halfway through a ballad to soak in the waves of love his fans were sending his way.  The touching, heartfelt expressions on his face spoke volumes of the appreciation he had for all that love, as well as the promise to give it all back.

I was also very pleased to see that he has a really nice and powerful voice as well as countless good dance moves, and his closing number, the beautiful The Best Thing About Me Is You, was great!!

Speechless

Lady Gaga’s new album, Born This Way, is only a few days away from being released, so what better time to post one of my favorite songs of hers from her previous effort?

Watch the Gaga perform Speechless with only a piano to accompany her voice:

This video blows all the criticisms about Lady Gaga being all about image out of the water.

Clearly, she can sing.  Clearly, she can play.  Clearly, she’s a legitimate artist.

Go Gaga!!