SGU Wraps Filming on Season 2

[JME2]

From Gateworld

Stargate Universe wrapped principal photography on its second season today in Vancouver, British Columbia. First unit filming concluded yesterday, with the second unit wrapping up today.

The last of Season Two’s 20 episodes will continue into the post-production process throughout the coming months, while the cast and crew wait to hear whether or not the series will be renewed for a third year. That news is expected in December or perhaps January, after the ratings are in for the rest of the first half of the season.

The mid-season finale, “Resurgence,” airs on Syfy on November 30.

Syfy has not announced just when the back half of the season will air, but last year the network held off for fourth months and started SGU back up in early April. Given the serialized nature of the show, however, many have suggested that a large mid-season break just isn’t a good programming strategy.

Season Two will conclude with “Gauntlet,” written by executive producer Paul Mullie. The episode promises another big cliffhanger in the fine tradition of Stargate. “Boy, that last scene … Dare I say it? Not a dry eye in the house!” fellow executive producer Joseph Mallozzi said on his blog. He called the cliffhanger “gut-wrenching,” and said that the finale is more “epic” than last year’s (“Incursion, Part 2″).

“This one’ll raise (and singe) a few eyebrows — and set the stage for some major Season Three developments,” Mallozzi said.

Shooting included a major new set, which executive producer Brad Wright has hinted might be a new area of Destiny which the crew discovers some time around episode 17.

If the show is renewed, the writing team will be back at work almost immediately breaking stories, with shooting to begin again in late February or early March.

Look, I'll be the first to admit SGU isn't a perfect show and it's ratings have suffered this season. But I'm still enjoying it and I'm hoping to see it go for at least another season.

[Adrian McNair]

Look, I'll be the first to admit SGU isn't a perfect show and it's ratings have suffered this season. But I'm still enjoying it and I'm hoping to see it go for at least another season.

I'd also like to see a third season, given that the second is now on a roll after a few unfortunate bumps in the road (Namely Intervention and Cloverdale). It's just that I can't shake the feeling that cancellation seems to be inevitable. The ratings haven't been record-breaking (let's be honest, they've been dismal). I hope I'm wrong on this score.

The season being split in half is predictable but I don't understand the reasoning for it. Forgive me for any ignorance on my part but wouldn't it be more logical to film the entire season first and then screen it uninterrupted (rather than air the first ten while they're filming the other half)? As I recall Caprica's hiatus didn't ensure its renewal.

[Slacker]

I've really enjoyed the show for the most part, and I hope it gets another season. As it stands, Scifi is rather bare of actual science fiction at this point, aside from SGU.

[Marcus Aurelius]

I've really enjoyed the show for the most part, and I hope it gets another season. As it stands, Scifi is rather bare of actual science fiction at this point, aside from SGU.

That's why they now call it 'SyFy'

[CaptJodan]

I'm going to add to the list of people who would like to see a third season. Beyond the fact that there is just not that much good sci-fi left on that channel (or any channel), I find I enjoy SGU for the most part. It's not without it's problems, but I consider it a step up from Atlantis. It's a shame so many SG fans hate it.

Doubt it'll see a third season, though. Caprica actually didn't deserve another season, but I think this show does. Also, if the finale of this season is really good, I'll be very disappointed if they don't finish it up. The only reason I wouldn't want it finished is if the show intends to find "god".

[PREDATOR490]

Unless this show drastically improves then the only dry eye in the house will be me if they get cancelled.

Spending fucktons of money on new sets dosent thrill me in the slightest unless they use them decently and intelligently. If this 'set' turns out to be some sort of stupid feature of Destiny like.... magic production facilities or hidden shuttlebays. I would only ask why the fuck has it taken the crew until NOW to find the goddamn things.
I'm guessing this new set might be the massive dome room we saw in Air. They discussed recently they were trying to repair it and convert it.

As for the mid-season break.
Naturally they will split the season into half box sets as they did before. Cant say I see the point to them myself since by the time the show re-airs the suspense of the cliffhangers tends to wear off and details fade.

Better shows than SGU have been cancelled and lesser shows have been pro-longed. The idea that SGU should go on just because its one of the few Sci-Fi shows around is hardly a ringing endorsement for it's quality. Although, the reactions and general viewpoint of SGU is less of it being a Sci-Fi show focused on characters and more Melodrama based in a Sci-Fi setting. I am not unsympathetic to that viewpoint nor to the SG fans that think this show is ultimately a pointless waste. This show wants to be a 'break' from the previous series much like DS9. Unfortunatly, I just dont see what the fuck SGU is trying to 'breakout' from.

We have had two series that deal with the fate of the universe and Earth
Now we have SGU that focuses exclusively on a bunch of nobodies stuck in a ship in the middle of nowhere... trying to get home
Maybe if they called it Farscape Universe...

[Manus Celer Dei]

How do SGU's rating compare to SG1 and Atlantis' ratings for their first two seasons? I think SGU's first season has been quite a bit stronger than either SG1 or Atlantis', neither of which were particularly strong showings aside from being new and shiny. Then again SGA's second season was pretty good and I don't remember bugger all about SG1's sooooo eh. I'd be surprised if SGU didn't get renewed.

[Adrian McNair]

How do SGU's rating compare to SG1 and Atlantis' ratings for their first two seasons? I think SGU's first season has been quite a bit stronger than either SG1 or Atlantis', neither of which were particularly strong showings aside from being new and shiny. Then again SGA's second season was pretty good and I don't remember bugger all about SG1's sooooo eh. I'd be surprised if SGU didn't get renewed.

Here are the ratings for Universe's second season.

(1) Intervention (Part 3) - 1.175
(2) Aftermath - 1.070
(3) Awakening - 1.222
(4) Pathogen - 0.974
(5) Cloverdale - 1.012
(6) Trial and Error - 0.967
(7) The Greater Good - 1.074
(8) Malice - 1.025

Suddenly the possibility of cancellation isn't so remote, is it?

[JME2]

No, it's not. And MGM's financial situation probably isn't helping, either.

[adam_grif]

Maybe if they called it Farscape Universe...

I thought the internet had achieved consensus and concluded that the show's alternate title was Battlestargate: Voyager

No, it's not. And MGM's financial situation probably isn't helping, either.

Is MGM financing the series? I thought this was some kind of SciFi funded show :S

[Adrian McNair]

No, it's not. And MGM's financial situation probably isn't helping, either.

And here are the figures for Atlantis' second season.

(1) The Siege (Part 3) - 2.2
(2) The Intruder - 2.0
(3) Runner - 2.0
(4) Duet - 1.9
(5) Condemned - 2.1
(6) Trinity - 1.9
(7) Instinct - 2.2
(8) Conversion - 1.9
(9) Aurora - 1.7*
(10) The Lost Boys - 1.7*
(11) The Hive - 2.0
(12) Epiphany - 1.6
(13) Critical Mass - 1.8
(14) Grace Under Pressure - 1.9
(15) The Tower - 1.9
(16) The Long Goodbye - 1.8
(17) Coup D'etat - 1.5
(18) Michael - 1.5
(19) Inferno - 1.8
(20) Allies - 1.8

* Episodes nine and ten aired back-to-back

So there's a clear difference between the ratings Atlantis had back then and the ones Universe has currently. I don't foresee Universe returning to these levels.

[JME2]

Is MGM financing the series? I thought this was some kind of SciFi funded show :S

MGM owns the franchise. They're providing most, if not all of the funding IIRC.

[PREDATOR490]

Maybe if they called it Farscape Universe...

I thought the internet had achieved consensus and concluded that the show's alternate title was Battlestargate: Voyager

Battlestar Galactica - I can see that as a valid point since nBSG seems to have been one of the major contenders in the new trend towards 'dark' series. Even more so with this supposed trying to find god pitch and the shows less than thrilling allusions to higher powers / fate / grand purpose blah blah.

Voyager - I wont say its THAT bad nor that similar. Voyager was Star Trek attempting to go back to TNG and failing miserably.
Stargate Universe is Stargate attempting to be DS9 and in a similar vein getting slammed for it AND being really weak.

I liked DS9 and never had the reaction some Trek fans have towards it and similarily the same reaction that is being made towards SGU by SG fans, That said, DS9 was rather poor during it's first seasons and had to change course to improve. So far SGU seems to be in that same boat because clearly they are trying to breakout from SG... but this show has done nothing to really define itself or seem like it has any purpose beyond being an overpriced indulgence in wild fantasy.

'Hey, we have shown the very fate of entire planets and universe in jeporday but who wonders what it would be like to be a nobody stuck in the ass end of nowhere in this universe'
'Lets base an entire series about that very concept !'

Farscape did it better and even THAT got shitcanned.

So far the figures make it seem audiences do not find this SGU appealing.
The amount of shows that have been getting shitcanned lately and the general environment make it apparant SGU is pretty fucked if they dont rapidly improve.
For DS9 that developed into the Dominion War arc which carried them all the way to the end. For SGU to mirror DS9, the end of this season has to introduce something significant or DO something.

[adam_grif]

The Voyager comparison is more based on the premise of being stranded far away from home with limited supplies and inter-crew conflict (although Universe has done the latter far better than Voyager) with the Lucian Alliance. I appreciate that structurally speaking, Atlantis was more like Voyager in that it was set in a remote place but still managed to be season after season of more of the same.

[Lonestar]

I'm actually enjoying it. While I do miss some of the humor that the two previous series had in them, the change of locale made the change in tone viable, I think.

FWIW I ocassionally have to double check when Col. Young speaks and I'm not facing the screen...he really is a poor man's Adama.

[Adrian McNair]

FWIW I ocassionally have to double check when Col. Young speaks and I'm not facing the screen...he really is a poor man's Adama.

I think you may be on to something here.



I believe that's the only time Young has worn glasses in the series. I did get significant Adama vibes from that scene (but only because he was wearing those shades).

[Vympel]

Syfy has not announced just when the back half of the season will air, but last year the network held off for fourth months and started SGU back up in early April. Given the serialized nature of the show, however, many have suggested that a large mid-season break just isn’t a good programming strategy.

If they want to greatly increase the chances of cancellation, a long mid-season break is a fantastic idea. Idiots.

[Zac Naloen]

Changing the day was a major mistake, just because you had success in the rerun season on that day, it doesn't really follow you'll have success during the prime season.


Also, didn't Stargate used to air during the "off period" like Warehouse 13 and the like, could go a long way to explain it's previous ratings success.

[JME2]

I liked DS9 and never had the reaction some Trek fans have towards it and similarily the same reaction that is being made towards SGU by SG fans, That said, DS9 was rather poor during it's first seasons and had to change course to improve. So far SGU seems to be in that same boat because clearly they are trying to breakout from SG... but this show has done nothing to really define itself or seem like it has any purpose beyond being an overpriced indulgence in wild fantasy.

The show's starting to get there with developments in the last two weeks. It's also worth pointing out that SG-1's first season was frankly, forgettable; Season 1 viewers couldn't have guessed where the show would go within a few years.

Part of the reason I'm watching is because I love Stargate; I love the concept of the gate networks, of present-day humanity being forced into this larger world. Another reason are the similarities to DS9 (which remains the only Trek I can stand rewatching): Darker installment, serialization, character-driven. This was part of the reason I started watching nBSG, because it seemed like a natural successor to DS9-style storytelling.

Now, I'm not calling SGU the next DS9 at this point. It has a long way to go and you're right, it needs to shake things up if it hopes to continue. But there's potential and I'd hate to see it go this early.

[Sarevok]

DS9 was set against the rich background of the ST galaxy. It took the backstory that was built up by TOS and TNG and fleshed it out and brought the ST galaxy to life as a living breathing universe. It had an ensemble cast and epic plotline comprising the fate of Alpha quadrant civilizations.

Problem is everything happening in SG:U comprises a bunch of people stuck in a ship. You cant have that DS9 kind of grand story telling. They are also cut off from the well known and fleshed out universe established in SG1 and Atlantis. So you cant advanced the plot threads established there either without cutting off the isolation element.

SG:U really wrote itself in a tight corner with it's premise. It worked for nBSG because the journey itself was our look into Colonial civilization and history of what has gone before. With SG:U we already know where all the interesting events and powerplay is happening and cant wait to go back for more of that instead of watching nobodies stuck in a ship.

[JME2]

DS9 was set against the rich background of the ST galaxy. It took the backstory that was built up by TOS and TNG and fleshed it out and brought the ST galaxy to life as a living breathing universe. It had an ensemble cast and epic plotline comprising the fate of Alpha quadrant civilizations.

Problem is everything happening in SG:U comprises a bunch of people stuck in a ship. You cant have that DS9 kind of grand story telling. They are also cut off from the well known and fleshed out universe established in SG1 and Atlantis. So you cant advanced the plot threads established there either without cutting off the isolation element.

SG:U really wrote itself in a tight corner with it's premise. It worked for nBSG because the journey itself was our look into Colonial civilization and history of what has gone before. With SG:U we already know where all the interesting events and powerplay is happening and cant wait to go back for more of that instead of watching nobodies stuck in a ship.

True points. Once the gimmick of the 9th Chevron had been solved, they did kinda shoot themselves in the foot.

The recent revelation of Destiny's mission is key to the show's survival. It's too early to compare it to DS9's initial foreshadowing of the Dominion, but again, it should give the show a massive shot in the arm -- and a step towards that kind of epic storytelling. It could be leading them to a threat more dangerous than anything the SGC has faced, a foe that threatens everyone, and which the Icarus survivors are alone against. That would kind of what I was expecting VGR to do, even if they hadn't run into the Borg.

[PREDATOR490]

If SGU was to attempt to find 'god' and it turned out to be a malevolent entity I.E like Reapers from Mass Effect or something.
That could easily be worth watching for the simple fact its going to be hilarious watching Earth take on THE God after they have been taking on FALSE Gods for years.

Unfortuantly, the 'lost in space' nature of this series makes it extremely difficult to have a war without excessive use of character shields around the ship and crew. This is the same situation that occured with Voyager dealing with the Borg. They reduced a perfectly powerful enemy to a whimpering mess to suit the plot and as a result the Borg gradually became a joke.

SGU: If a crew of nobodies can beat a powerful enemy in a ship that is falling apart. It does not bode well for them against the Milky Way which has more advanced Ancient / Asgard technology to play with.

[JME2]

SGU: If a crew of nobodies can beat a powerful enemy in a ship that is falling apart. It does not bode well for them against the Milky Way which has more advanced Ancient / Asgard technology to play with.

Again, good point.

This can be rectified, however, if there are cultures out there that are also struggling against an entity or force. Perhaps this is why the Blue Man Group and the Seedship aliens are so intent to seize Destiny and the Ancient fleet, for a technological edge. They could proceed with an enemy mine situation, but it would need to be handled carefully.

Anyway, this is just speculation of where they could be going with SGU. We'll have a better idea as the season progresses.

[Meest]

Pretty sad when wrestling shows do better ratings on a "scifi" network. Never cared for the show but didn't think it dipped under a 1 rating that's just bad for even a genre specialty channel.

[ThomasP]

I'd be a lot more interested in the "fingerprints of God" angle leading into some kind of existential threat if it was something that didn't involve the next Dragonball Z boss in the sequence of alien bad guys, and by extension wasn't something that our wily crew of misfits has to beat by overcharging the pew-pew lasers and maxing out character shields.

Of course that leads you right into the nBSG dilemma of hamfisted philosophizing or the religious proselytizing angle (which I don't have a problem with if done right, but the history of TV does not inspire confidence).

In any case, I'm cautiously optimistic and would like to give the show a chance to go where it goes.