Defying Gravity - "Grey's Anatomy in space"

[Jon Starr]

So I came across this one and seems... interesting. I'm interested because it's a Canadian and US series (CTV partnering with Fox), and because it's space. The reason I'm NOT interested is because it's described as "Grey's Anatomy in space." Never watched Grey's Anatomy, but I just know a bunch of women seem to love it for it's hunky guy and romantic relationship stuff.

Soooo... I'm not sure about this one. Plus the commercials for it don't exactly have me jumping up excited about this one. The "sci-fi" aspect of it seems very intriguing, a crew travelling through the solar system exploring the planets, but I have a feeling it may get too caught up in this romantic love engtanglement that it's trying to sell us on. But we shall see.

Oh and not too excited about the cast either... like Livingston... oh and the visual style is kinda meh... oh and... I'll just let you watch the promo:

http://vimeo.com/5518767

 

[Cassius]

This may be the first series involving people in spaceships that I will hate.

The overly faked "drama" looks exactly the same as all the other soap opera light stuff those networks pump out, except more expensive. The visual style I could go for if it weren't for that. If the promo tells me anything it's that there won't be any connection to reality or real human interaction, just more of what they always do.

But maybe it will help in the bigger picture, making scifi and space have a different audience opened to it. I just don't expect to be in that audience. Or to get along with anyone in that audience.

 

[Jon Starr]

To be honest, I think the concept is failed from the start. First of all, the estrogen enduced grey's anatomy loving crowd that this series is trying to appeal to are probably the same type of crowd that would stay away from anything sci-fi with a ten foot pole. At the same time, making a sci-fi drama that is all about romantic entanglements won't attract a sci-fi loving crowd.

It seems doomed from the start.

I'm going to watch it anyways, but looking at the promos, I'm ashamed that it's partly a Canadian series.

 

[Nektonic]

The "sci-fi" aspect of it seems very intriguing, a crew travelling through the solar system exploring the planets, but I have a feeling it may get too caught up in this romantic love engtanglement that it's trying to sell us on. But we shall see.

The show is based upon Space Odyssey: Voyage to the Planets, which I saw on the Science Channel a couple years ago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Odyssey:_Voyage_to_the_Planets

It was about a roundtrip mission through the solar system. It was actually pretty fascinating stuff, without aliens, robots, or the usual sci-fi staples. If Defying Gravity manages to have the feel of this show, then it could be great.

I agree with your concerns though. I'm not getting the kind of vibe I think a show with this type of subject matter needs. The Grey's Anatomy in space descriptions really begin to dampen my interest in this.

Here's a quote from one of the producers (a Grey's Anatomy producer to boot):

"Titled Defying Gravity, executive producer James Parriott, who previously worked on Grey’s Anatomy and executive producer Michael Edelstein who also worked for Desperate Housewives, have created a 13 part TV series inspired by Space Odyssey. Edelstein first took the idea to Parriott, a sci-fi enthusiast who worked on the original Bionic Woman and The Incredible Hulk. "Throw in a little bit of Grey's and Lost and you have a pretty good international TV show," he commented. Defying Gravity should air in late 2009."

Yikes. Also, I really hate it when Hollywood people try to pitch their wares with, "throw in a little bit of X and mix it with Y, and you have Z". It comes off as lazy and gives me the impression that they think that mixing a couple popular and successful shows or films together equals quality. Like it is just some equation with an specific right or wrong answer.

 

[Cassius]

It could be great if it were really based on that. Human interaction in these situations is a great source of drama. But not like this. It should be taken seriously.

Anyway, I came back to say that, while going through my 13 consecutive channels, I came to ABC. It was an advertisement for 'Cougar Town'. I don't have very high expectations for this particular network.

As for the quote above... I thought that was a joke at first.

 

[Sad Max]

I've always wanted to corner these a bit of x and a bit of y types in a restaurant, or doctor's office.

Tonight's special is the Pate de Foie gras blended with chocolate syrup and anchovy paste, topped with dried bonito flakes and baked en crout with a goat cheese-and-chopped passion fruit remoulade.

Or perhaps Here's your prescription for Viagra, which the pharmacist will be mixing with digitalis and psyllocybin plus a curare chaser.

 

[Jon Starr]

WTF was that?

So I just watched it and... not very impressed. To be honest, it was somewhat boring at times. I liked some aspects, and disliked many others.

Let's see (spoilers!):

So the main conflict with the main character (that dude from office space... now in outer space), happens to be that he was on a mars mission, some storm came in, and they had to launch leaving two people behind. Great... if it hasn't been done 5 billion times before. I can't help but compare it to BSG as it's sci-fi, and BSG often did these "morality conflicts", but they did it well, in a way that blended into the story seamlessly. In defying gravity is seems like they tried to shove it in there because it's sci-fi... and sci-fi needs morality conflict...

Then there's the lead comander dude with white hair on the ground. He keeps refusing to save people, like if it's his mission is to get everyone killed. If it actually is some secret mission, he's not doing a good job hiding it, if it isn't, he's not very good at his job, cause there was NO REASON to not go after the crazy dude with war paint sitting on the ship with a statue. If there was some sort of solar flare, or danger, then I'd understand... but the only obvious reason was to try and create conflict in the story. Wayyy too forced. Felt like a Michael Bay government asshole trying to stop the mission and create havok...

The "grey's anatomy aspect" feels a bit too... unnesacary? I'm with Cassius, it would be nice to see human interactions when they're stuck together for 6 years, but it's not even in space, it's back on earth. I mean they were beating around the bush with this vasectomy thing and who was the one that knocked up Zoe... it got tiring, reeaaaally tiring. I like romance as much as the next person, but c'mon, let's get some solar flares or equipment malfunctions or explosive decomps or something!

Which leads to the sci-fi aspect... which is pretty cool, sometimes.

I gotta say I HATE this excuse for gravity. Magnetic suits!?! WTF is that!?! First of all, their hair should be floating around like crazy, even if they have it in a pony tail (as in it shouldn't be down with gravity), and that german girl with long hair unsecured, i just kept thinking "what's going on?! This is not working for me." Kept pulling me out of the show. If they must introduce gravity in a realistic way, think 2001 space odessey, they had it scientifically correct 40 years ago, you'd think they would do it right now... Yes most shows don't explain it or they just say "gravity plating", but this show is based a lot on reality. Not to mention magnetic suits would create an array of all kinds of problems, plus make walking a bit difficult... but ANYWAYS... (why is it called defying gravity if they create their own gravity anyways?)

Everything else is kind of interesting, scientifically I mean. It makes me curious about the mission, how it'll be on Venus, etc... but if they don't get there soon I'm going to lose interest fast.

Now for the absolutely horrific part of the show, the "lost" aspect. (Hey they said add in a touch of lost, which I guess means mystery... great) They're carrying something secret... super duper top secret, so secret they have to mention it to us every 2 seconds without telling us what "he" is. Why "it, or he, or whatever" is choosing these people for the mission, why they're basing this entire mission on this thing, why no one would go on this mission if they knew about the real mission, why it chose this guy and why it gave these people medical problems, and why-- stop it!!! Jesus christ, give me a break! This "thing" is like an unwanted zit. I'm... kinda curious, but more annoyed than anything. I just imagine some box that speaks to them and says "go to venus now!" and then they do what it says... Oh and when people meet with it, the camera zooms super duper fast in on their awkward face to make it seem weird and "shocking."

Over-all, I think they should have just remade that space odyssey thing, rather than add a touch of lost and a touch of greys anatomy... cause those two aspects stick out like a sore thumb. It's like trying to fit a floppy disk into a CD tray, or mixing ice cream with Tabasco sauce... it just isn't working for me. If it was purely sci-fi, it would be far more interesting... if this exec prod knew how to create conflict in space. I watched an interview with this guy, and he said that he wasn't sure how to create conflict in a space ship, so he decided to follow the characters on earth during their training... bad idea IMO.

Anyways, I'm going to watch the next episode, maybe, just want to see what Venus is like... anyways, we shall see, if there's nothing else on.

 

[Nektonic]

I've always wanted to corner these a bit of x and a bit of y types in a restaurant, or doctor's office.

Tonight's special is the Pate de Foie gras blended with chocolate syrup and anchovy paste, topped with dried bonito flakes and baked en crout with a goat cheese-and-chopped passion fruit remoulade.

This one makes me feel like I'm watching Iron Chef.

Or perhaps Here's your prescription for Viagra, which the pharmacist will be mixing with digitalis and psyllocybin plus a curare chaser.

This one sounds like a wild night on the town, or a one way ticket to prison or an insane asylum. Maybe a little bit of all three.

 

[Nektonic]

WTF was that?

So I just watched it and... not very impressed. To be honest, it was somewhat boring at times. I liked some aspects, and disliked many others.

Same here. Remember BSG? The "miniseries" and then the fist official episode "33"? Both developed characters while being extremely exciting and engaging from the get go, especially 33. What a punch to the gut.

I can't help but compare it to BSG as it's sci-fi, and BSG often did these "morality conflicts", but they did it well, in a way that blended into the story seamlessly. In defying gravity is seems like they tried to shove it in there because it's sci-fi... and sci-fi needs morality conflict...

BSG destroys and will probably continue to destroy any new sci-fi TV series, except maybe Caprica.

The "grey's anatomy aspect" feels a bit too... unnesacary? I'm with Cassius, it would be nice to see human interactions when they're stuck together for 6 years, but it's not even in space, it's back on earth. I mean they were beating around the bush with this vasectomy thing and who was the one that knocked up Zoe... it got tiring, reeaaaally tiring. I like romance as much as the next person, but c'mon, let's get some solar flares or equipment malfunctions or explosive decomps or something!

They shouldn't bring in the back on Earth X number of years ago flashbacks yet. Once the show becomes more established, then yeah, that might be something the audience would want to see. Also, it just feels like another Lost element they threw in there for the hell of it.

I don't follow it, but I remember watching the Grey's Anatomy pilot, and it was much better and way more engaging than the pilot for this.

Yes most shows don't explain it or they just say "gravity plating", but this show is based a lot on reality. Not to mention magnetic suits would create an array of all kinds of problems, plus make walking a bit difficult... but ANYWAYS... (why is it called defying gravity if they create their own gravity anyways?)

The title Defying Gravity pretty much sums it up. Like saying Screwing the Facts. I can't see this show dwelling or focusing on the wonders of science and the solar system. It will probably turn people away and get in the way of the love triangles.

The one thing I'm not too harsh on space themed films and TV shows about not doing is zero gravity, due to budget constraints. Even the excellent film Sunshine, which hemmed very close to real science for the most part didn't do zero G and it didn't ruin the film.

Although, a show like this has a harder time glossing over or hiding the fact that they just can't portray space flight realistically on screen. A show like Star Trek or Battlestar can get away with fake gravity much easier due to being set in a more exotic time and place from the present or near future.

They could've easily went with a rotating torus design for the living and working quarters of Defying Gravity's ship. It would give them an interesting look that hasn't really been done before. Or they could have the ship itself rotate end over end. NASA has this as a possible solution for providing artificial gravity for proposed Mars missions.

Over-all, I think they should have just remade that space odyssey thing, rather than add a touch of lost and a touch of greys anatomy... cause those two aspects stick out like a sore thumb.

:thumbsup:

Did you feel like the visual aesthetics were kinda bland? Sure the effects of the exterior of the ship were good, but the visual look of the show seemed kinda bland to me. Probably because I'm spoiled by visually stunning and awesome sci-fi series like Farscape and BSG.

If you can, you should definitely check out the space odyssey pseudo-doc thing that the BBC did. It is pretty engaging. Also, the space odyssey program, which probably had a much lower budget, felt more real and had a more intense atmosphere and overall a more accomplished sense of style to it, even though it mostly looks like a doc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gdJeTNykY0&feature=PlayList&p=10B3D855C77AC142&index=0&playnext=1

It was released in the states with the title Voyage to the Planets and Beyond, which is a much cooler sounding title than Defying Gravity.

Anyways, I'm going to watch the next episode, maybe, just want to see what Venus is like... anyways, we shall see, if there's nothing else on.

I predict that they will barely show much of the solar system exploration aspects, that is if this show lasts long enough to do that in the first place.

LMAO on your review Jon. I missed some of the beginning, but saw the majority of this show. I completely agree with you. WTF?

 

[Jon Starr]

The one thing I'm not too harsh on space themed films and TV shows about not doing is zero gravity, due to budget constraints. Even the excellent film Sunshine, which hemmed very close to real science for the most part didn't do zero G and it didn't ruin the film.

I loved sunshine, but they didn't feel a need to explain it, which is why I just figured it's some gravity plating doohingy (plus they had fun with it at the end with the cube). If they tried to justify it like in Defying Gravity, which seems to be a show trying to base everything on real facts (unlike sunshine), they should have come up with a better explanation. Yes sunshine is less exotic than BSG or Star Trek/Star Wars, but they're trying to restart a sun with all the mined ressources on earth. They're far in the future, and stretching our imagination.

I'm waiting to see a sci-fi show or movie where they animate the hair of a person to literally "float" in space. I really want to do this if I ever do a big budget sci-fi film. Sure it costs a lot, but it makes it real. Never seen it yet.

:thumbsup:

Did you feel like the visual aesthetics were kinda bland? Sure the effects of the exterior of the ship were good, but the visual look of the show seemed kinda bland to me. Probably because I'm spoiled by visually stunning and awesome sci-fi series like Farscape and BSG.

They were pretty bland. Not as terrible as I thought they would be from the trailer, but seems boring. There's no style to it. I like the suits though... sort of. The antaris needs work though, seems like a copy of sunshine. Some great views of earth though.

If you can, you should definitely check out the space odyssey pseudo-doc thing that the BBC did. It is pretty engaging. Also, the space odyssey program, which probably had a much lower budget, felt more real and had a more intense atmosphere and overall a more accomplished sense of style to it, even though it mostly looks like a doc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gdJeTNykY0&feature=PlayList&p=10B3D855C77AC142&index=0&playnext=1

It was released in the states with the title Voyage to the Planets and Beyond, which is a much cooler sounding title than Defying Gravity.

I'm guessing it would be that name in Canada as well? I'll check it out for sure, maybe it'll fill this post BSG void I've been experiencing, even for a little bit.

I predict that they will barely show much of the solar system exploration aspects, that is if this show lasts long enough to do that in the first place.

LMAO on your review Jon. I missed some of the beginning, but saw the majority of this show. I completely agree with you. WTF?

Heh, thanks. Yeah, you didn't miss much, just him being forced to leave people behind on mars, and a disgruntled father, and more talking about "it" and more "he's cute" talk.

Yeah I'll still check it out because of my love for sci-fi and because of my facination with space, but man, if they stay on this vasectomy thing and wierd "it" object leading them around, I'm going to upchuck something.

One thing they really need to do though to add something to this is to really play up the "baby crying" aspect, make it creepy as hell. Right now it's just "meh, something in her head."

 

[Nektonic]

I'm waiting to see a sci-fi show or movie where they animate the hair of a person to literally "float" in space. I really want to do this if I ever do a big budget sci-fi film. Sure it costs a lot, but it makes it real. Never seen it yet.

Same here. I had an action/sci-fi/space opera that I initially thought I would attempt writing as a novel, so I figured I can have the crew of the hero ship floating around in zero G without budgetary concerns, but have since decided I'd rather write it as a screenplay.

I think that there are probably ways to portray zero G on film that would be cheaper and in-camera. But like you said, animating their hair and stuff, that could look cool and digital effects would still have to be used in conjunction with practical to make any of this stuff possible.

A space opera like a Star Trek or BSG could get away with economically having zero G on the ships, as long as they could keep major chunks of the show or film on a planetary environment or other locations like massive space stations with artificial gravity.

The other big one I'd like to see sci-fi filmmakers tackle is getting rid of the whole warp, jump, or star gate thing. Not for every space show, but it would be great to see a big budget space opera where time dilation and the reality of space travel across vast interstellar distances was done right. Ironically, if a ship were accelerated to a certain percentage of the speed of light, then the crew of the ship would actually get gravity from the g force of the spacecraft due to its extreme speed.

Either that, or someone needs to do a generation ship TV series where the ship is huge and the crew is a self propagating community that will possibly never set foot on the planet they are hurtling towards. No ship to ship battles, no time travel, no planetary romps with human looking aliens. Hell, that's a good idea. I might have to write that as a spec pilot.

One thing they really need to do though to add something to this is to really play up the "baby crying" aspect, make it creepy as hell. Right now it's just "meh, something in her head."

I don't know, it just reminds me more that they are chasing the Lost audience with all this "mystery" stuff. Which is fine really if they were doing something more mythic and stylized, but this is presented as a realistic space drama. The focus should be on the science and exploration, in addition to the character arcs and other obvious things that are staples of most TV shows. The mystery junk is just downright distracting to me.

 

[Jon Starr]

Same here. I had an action/sci-fi/space opera that I initially thought I would attempt writing as a novel, so I figured I can have the crew of the hero ship floating around in zero G without budgetary concerns, but have since decided I'd rather write it as a screenplay.

I think that there are probably ways to portray zero G on film that would be cheaper and in-camera. But like you said, animating their hair and stuff, that could look cool and digital effects would still have to be used in conjunction with practical to make any of this stuff possible.

A space opera like a Star Trek or BSG could get away with economically having zero G on the ships, as long as they could keep major chunks of the show or film on a planetary environment or other locations like massive space stations with artificial gravity.

Yeah, I agree. I've seen it done before though. Thinking about a show called Race to Mars, or was it Mars rising, can't remember, but it was Discovery doing a very scientific look at the first exploration to mars, and putting it into a fiction mini series. When it was zero G they used wires, and the women wore hats, but then they'd put their ship into rotation and adjust the gravity to that of mars to get used to it.

The other big one I'd like to see sci-fi filmmakers tackle is getting rid of the whole warp, jump, or star gate thing. Not for every space show, but it would be great to see a big budget space opera where time dilation and the reality of space travel across vast interstellar distances was done right. Ironically, if a ship were accelerated to a certain percentage of the speed of light, then the crew of the ship would actually get gravity from the g force of the spacecraft due to its extreme speed.

Either that, or someone needs to do a generation ship TV series where the ship is huge and the crew is a self propagating community that will possibly never set foot on the planet they are hurtling towards. No ship to ship battles, no time travel, no planetary romps with human looking aliens. Hell, that's a good idea. I might have to write that as a spec pilot.

You've got some great ideas.

Only, not a physics expert here, but wouldn't it need to be constantly accelerating to have gravity created by speed?