'Virtuality'...sort of a Lost in space

POSTED BY: TrainBandit
UPDATED: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 23:38
VIEWED: 4940
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TRAINBANDIT

Saturday, June 27, 2009 5:26 AM

Well, I just saw "Virtuality." It looks good, and yes, that heading was a pun, hur hur. Anyway, there seems to be a good mix of character background, science, and conflict. Loved the slingshot around Saturn. It's a good mystery in space. I suspect Jean, the female Hal (see "2001: A Space Odyssey"), as the subversive element, but it could be the shrink. I look forward to future episodes and revelations. What do you think?

DAVESHAYNE

Saturday, June 27, 2009 12:50 PM

It was far more enjoyable than that much pastiche should be. There's a lot of 2001, a bit of TNGs hollodeck stuff, a page or two of Max Headroom, the "you are here" unsteadycam vibe from firefly, and just lots and lots of other things I probably didn't even notice all thrown into a blender.

As a series I think I would probably really like it which almost ensures that it'll never be picked up as a series. The channel that used to be SciFi would be the most natural home for this but they seem to be more invested in that Caprica thing that looks to cover a lot of the same ground. Reality vs Virtual reality and potentially malignant (potentially in the case of Virtuality at least. I think we all know AI is malignant in Caprica) AI. Which leaves FOX which didn't even order six of this for a fall replacement of the late and almost lamented Terminator:TSCC and a bunch of networks that won't even look at science fiction pilots much less pick them up as series.

Edit: I forgot to mention Dark Star. Seriously among the other bits from SciFi's past futures they've snagged a plot point and a good deal of atmosphere from Dark Star.

David

'Begone, sugar-free candy antichrist!' - Nathan Rabin.

'Geeks can't admit that anything worthwhile was invented before 1981. Soon, "making cocoa" will be called "milk hacking."' - Lore Sjoberg

http://xkcd.com/386/

"Don't worry. Captain Hammer will save us." - Penny.

I has myspace - http://www.myspace.com/daveshayneforpresident

WHOZIT

Saturday, June 27, 2009 6:06 PM

http://tvbythenumbers.com reports it got horrible numbers, don't expect it back. Sorry.

TRAINBANDIT

Sunday, June 28, 2009 2:50 AM

People so dumb. No give chance! Grrr.

TRAINBANDIT

Sunday, June 28, 2009 2:54 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by daveshayne:
It was far more enjoyable than that much pastiche should be. There's a lot of 2001, a bit of TNGs hollodeck stuff, a page or two of Max Headroom, the "you are here" unsteadycam vibe from firefly, and just lots and lots of other things I probably didn't even notice all thrown into a blender.

As a series I think I would probably really like it which almost ensures that it'll never be picked up as a series.

Yes, it was a mish mash. However, they did okay by it all. I think they made a lot of that 2001 stuff new and somewhat less creepy (although creepy was what made 2001 great, IMO). And yes, I have been lamenting the slashing of Real Good Stuff ever since "Twin Peaks" got removed by silly people who didn't get it.

edit: the link below has some interesting things to say about fan support - sound familiar?

http://www.salon.com/ent/tv/review/2009/06/25/virtuality/index.html?so
urce=newsletter

DAVESHAYNE

Sunday, June 28, 2009 12:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TrainBandit:
edit: the link below has some interesting things to say about fan support - sound familiar?

http://www.salon.com/ent/tv/review/2009/06/25/virtuality/index.html?so
urce=newsletter

That was the way I found out about this. An article on a blog two days before air time. Apparently FOX ran out of reality programming so they threw this on instead.

David

'Begone, sugar-free candy antichrist!' - Nathan Rabin.

'Geeks can't admit that anything worthwhile was invented before 1981. Soon, "making cocoa" will be called "milk hacking."' - Lore Sjoberg

http://xkcd.com/386/

"Don't worry. Captain Hammer will save us." - Penny.

I has myspace - http://www.myspace.com/daveshayneforpresident

MUTT999

Sunday, June 28, 2009 1:38 PM

I wanted to like this show but when all was said and done, all I could think of was how much I missed Firefly. Put in "Out of Gas" and was happy again.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

TRAINBANDIT

Monday, June 29, 2009 11:54 PM

Quote:
That was the way I found out about this. An article on a blog two days before air time. Apparently FOX ran out of reality programming so they threw this on instead.

Well, thank the void that we were spared another one of those! I only hope they aren't sitting up there in their large offices dreaming up another reality thing. Sadly, they probably are, since this show only filled one two-hour slot. Drat.

By the way, who IS the sugar-free antichrist?

TRAINBANDIT

Monday, June 29, 2009 11:58 PM

Yes Mutt, the only thing Fox seems to have learned from Firefly is that fans could, at any moment, rise up and demand things, so they're waiting to see if anyone does that for Virtuality. That's what I call strong leadership...

DAVESHAYNE

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 1:19 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by TrainBandit:
Well, thank the void that we were spared another one of those! I only hope they aren't sitting up there in their large offices dreaming up another reality thing. Sadly, they probably are, since this show only filled one two-hour slot. Drat.

Yes, I fear our reprieve has proved sadly all too temporary.

Quote:
By the way, who IS the sugar-free antichrist?

Not so much who as what. It's from this report of the 2009 candy expo http://www.avclub.com/articles/all-candy-expo-2009-back-to-the-candy-s
tore,28366/1/ The quote pertains to this item "Asher's Sugar-Free Low Sodium Peanut Butter Truffle Bar" it's on page two.

David

'Begone, sugar-free candy antichrist!' - Nathan Rabin.

'Geeks can't admit that anything worthwhile was invented before 1981. Soon, "making cocoa" will be called "milk hacking."' - Lore Sjoberg

http://xkcd.com/386/

"Don't worry. Captain Hammer will save us." - Penny.

I has myspace - http://www.myspace.com/daveshayneforpresident

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