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Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Ben on November 23, 2013, 09:58:11 AM

Title: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: Ben on November 23, 2013, 09:58:11 AM
I just started watching "Defiance". It was on my Netflix recommendations, so I put it in my queue, and it was on "very long wait" for a very long time. Just got the DVDs this week, and was shocked to learn it's a SyFy original. It's actually quite good. Set in the mid-21st century, after a bunch of aliens come to Earth when their sun went nova. Different species from the same star system(s?). Earth didn't want them, so war broke out, including terraforming.

A peace is reached in the mid-21st century, and everyone is trying to get by on what's left of Earth. I'm seeing elements of Babylon 5 (aliens) and Firefly (old/new tech mix, and an over-reaching govt body called the Earth Republic). Anyway, I'm liking it so far. Season one is on Netflix, and there is a season two, either on now or being filmed for 2014.
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: RoadKingLarry on November 23, 2013, 10:03:57 AM
I've been trying to watch it but I just can't quite get into the groove with it. It's isn't bad, and it's better than the revolting tripe that is Revolution.
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: Ben on November 23, 2013, 10:11:41 AM
I've been trying to watch it but I just can't quite get into the groove with it. It's isn't bad, and it's better than the revolting tripe that is Revolution.

It took me the first few episodes before I got sucked in. That happens to me a lot. I couldn't figure out what all the hype was about for "Breaking Bad", because I actually fast forwarded through parts of the first half dozen episodes, but then got sucked into that too.

One of the things I like about "Defiance" that hasn't been the case for TV Sci-Fi in like the last ten years, is no focus on annoying kids or sappy parenting lessons that make me want to stop watching, like on Terra Nova. There is a Romeo and Juliet thing going on, but the characters are so far not overwhelming the rest of the show.
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: TommyGunn on November 23, 2013, 11:24:10 AM
Is that the show set in future St. Louis where that arch is still there (sorta) and a radio station operates from the top?

If so, yea, saw it on Sy Fy I guess as it was originally broadcast.  Lost track of it....isn't it between seasons ...or was it canceled?   
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: Ben on November 23, 2013, 11:37:29 AM
Is that the show set in future St. Louis where that arch is still there (sorta) and a radio station operates from the top?

If so, yea, saw it on Sy Fy I guess as it was originally broadcast.  Lost track of it....isn't it between seasons ...or was it canceled?   

Yup, that's the one. As far as I know, Season 2 is coming out. Don't know if there will be a season 3.
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: dogmush on November 23, 2013, 11:54:29 AM
SyFy puts out entertaining shows pretty regularly between installments of Sharknado and Ice Spiders.
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: TommyGunn on November 23, 2013, 12:02:13 PM
SyFy puts out entertaining shows pretty regularly between installments of Sharknado and Ice Spiders.

Yea but everybody only pays attention to Sharknado.


There is (or was?) a new one; Stonenado.  I saw an advertisement for it awhile ago .... I think I missed it.


Anyway I pray I missed it ...... ;/
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: dogmush on November 23, 2013, 12:05:30 PM
It's a horrible movie.  But my wife and I were both entertained for two hours by Sharknado.  Kind of like our own little private MST3K.  Cuddle up on the couch and laugh at the movie.
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: Sergeant Bob on November 23, 2013, 01:27:16 PM
I just started watching "Defiance".

Hey, it doesn't stink like schtaco!
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: Perd Hapley on November 23, 2013, 01:42:18 PM
I watched the first few episodes, until Hulu suddenly yanked the one I was in the middle of. Seemed like a pretty good series. Wouldn't mind getting my hands on the DVD set sometime.
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: seeker_two on November 23, 2013, 01:59:45 PM
It's a must-watch for me. Of all the post-apocalypse stuff on TV so far, it's been the best.
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: gunsmith on November 23, 2013, 08:28:34 PM
I saw half of first season last year I think-pretty good-I like the biker/aliens
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: Jamisjockey on June 29, 2014, 07:19:39 PM
Defiance is back!
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: dm1333 on June 29, 2014, 09:19:29 PM
Is The Last Ship SyFY or TNT?  Either way, it sucks.
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: onions! on June 29, 2014, 09:32:16 PM
Is The Last Ship SyFY or TNT?  Either way, it sucks.
But they've got Jane!! =D
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: freakazoid on June 29, 2014, 09:54:50 PM
It's a horrible movie.  But my wife and I were both entertained for two hours by Sharknado.  Kind of like our own little private MST3K.  Cuddle up on the couch and laugh at the movie.

http://www.rifftrax.com/live
 =D
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: Sergeant Bob on June 29, 2014, 11:32:37 PM
Is The Last Ship SyFY or TNT?  Either way, it sucks.

I put it on my DVR list, just in case. Kinda figured it would be similar to "The Last Submarine"(or whatever it was called, which *expletive deleted* and horribly).
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: MechAg94 on June 30, 2014, 09:13:28 AM
I watched the first several episodes of Defiance.  I stopped watching though. 
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: erictank on June 30, 2014, 09:35:30 AM
Is that the show set in future St. Louis where that arch is still there (sorta) and a radio station operates from the top?

If so, yea, saw it on Sy Fy I guess as it was originally broadcast.  Lost track of it....isn't it between seasons ...or was it canceled?   

Starting up for the new season any time now, according to SeeFee.

That channel is a mix of surprisingly-good, terribly-bad, and "WTF???" They're getting back into showing decent genre movies and TV now (at times), as well, after not doing so at all for many years. I've heard good reviews for Defiance, but have not watched it myself. My whole family likes 'Face Off' (TV/movie makeup effects challenge show) on that channel, and this past year's 'Jim Henson's Creature Shop' was also good.

On the bad side of things, I hear that there's a new SeeFee Original movie coming out - well, more than one (yes, 'Sharknado 2' is coming as well), but...

'Sharktopus Versus Pteracuda'.  ;/
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: makattak on June 30, 2014, 09:41:58 AM
'Sharktopus Versus Pteracuda'.  ;/

Just the name was enough to send me into fits of laughter. Sounds like a must watch!
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: JN01 on June 30, 2014, 04:03:31 PM
For every Battlestar Galactica, you get a hundred Mansquitos and 'rasslin.   [barf]

Haven't seen Defiance, I may have to give it a look.
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: SADShooter on June 30, 2014, 04:12:54 PM
I seem to recall there was some doubt Defiance would get renewed. It's not mind-blowing, but still a cut above a lot of the reality/network stuff out there. I'm ambivalent about the new show in the following time slot, Dominion, aka The Good Angels, the Bad Angels, and the Apocalypse..
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: dogmush on June 30, 2014, 09:04:18 PM
I've only watched the first episode of Dominion, but I'll watch at least one more. Jury's still out.

Defiance is getting steadily better in season two.
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: 41magsnub on July 06, 2014, 02:50:49 PM
I've been watching Defiance as well, really liking it so far.
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: Ben on July 06, 2014, 02:52:47 PM
Argh. I'm all wishy washy on if I should watch it now and FF through the commercials, or wait six months to watch all the episodes in a non-commercial marathon. :)
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: Perd Hapley on July 06, 2014, 06:30:03 PM
The funny thing is, in this dystopia, St Louis is actually a much better place to live.
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: Jamisjockey on July 06, 2014, 06:38:28 PM
The funny thing is, in this dystopia, St Louis is actually a much better place to live.

 :rofl:



Seriously, though, it's fun sci-fi.  Earth isn't the same place it used to be.  Solid 1-2 generations of those who have been born on the new earth.  Also, at the beginning of the war, the alien races tried terra-forming earth to their liking, which is why it's all *expletive deleted*ed up.  Oh, and as a result of getting their alien asses kicked, there is an epic amount of trash in orbit that comes down from time to time.  And nasty alien critters and *expletive deleted*it that have been brought to earth, too.
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: KD5NRH on July 07, 2014, 06:49:56 PM
It's a horrible movie.  But my wife and I were both entertained for two hours by Sharknado.  Kind of like our own little private MST3K.  Cuddle up on the couch and laugh at the movie.

I'm probably going to have to get Sharktopus vs Pteracuda on DVD.  I figure if a date can make that truly entertaining, nothing will ever be too much for us to handle together.
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: dogmush on July 07, 2014, 06:51:48 PM
SWMBO and I will be cracking some beer and/or cider and watching Sharknado 2.  It's comedy gold.
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: TechMan on July 08, 2014, 06:26:11 AM
Defiance Season 1 is available for free to Amazon Prime members.
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: KD5NRH on July 08, 2014, 09:49:45 AM
A peace is reached in the mid-21st century, and everyone is trying to get by on what's left of Earth. I'm seeing elements of Babylon 5 (aliens) and Firefly (old/new tech mix, and an over-reaching govt body called the Earth Republic).

You forgot "whore that would be worth some serious money."
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: fifth_column on July 09, 2014, 03:12:58 PM
So, being a Prime member, I thought I'd check out Defiance.  Within the first fifteen minutes, the main character has to shoot some wild alien animals.  He shot 14 times.  He drew the handgun with his left hand, the first eight shots were with his right hand, the next two with his left, the rest with his right.  Apparently, which hand he used was determined by which camera he was facing.  These are the kinds of things that bug me.  Hopefully there aren't too many more of them . . .

(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi847.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab39%2FRunnin_Wolf%2F308127c7-f487-4586-b718-5d68e4b103c1.png&hash=d584f140f568fdb880464f59d39b67fda0b0f10a) (http://s847.photobucket.com/user/Runnin_Wolf/media/308127c7-f487-4586-b718-5d68e4b103c1.png.html)

(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi847.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab39%2FRunnin_Wolf%2F2a075513-c9fc-49ff-970b-d252693cf1f3.png&hash=e2414dbcf0aca4f335d5f1cd3964bd8cb2b05876) (http://s847.photobucket.com/user/Runnin_Wolf/media/2a075513-c9fc-49ff-970b-d252693cf1f3.png.html)
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: roo_ster on July 09, 2014, 03:54:28 PM
So, being a Prime member, I thought I'd check out Defiance.  Within the first fifteen minutes, the main character has to shoot some wild alien animals.  He shot 14 times.  He drew the handgun with his left hand, the first eight shots were with his right hand, the next two with his left, the rest with his right.  Apparently, which hand he used was determined by which camera he was facing.  These are the kinds of things that bug me.  Hopefully there aren't too many more of them . . .

(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi847.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab39%2FRunnin_Wolf%2F308127c7-f487-4586-b718-5d68e4b103c1.png&hash=d584f140f568fdb880464f59d39b67fda0b0f10a) (http://s847.photobucket.com/user/Runnin_Wolf/media/308127c7-f487-4586-b718-5d68e4b103c1.png.html)

(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi847.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab39%2FRunnin_Wolf%2F2a075513-c9fc-49ff-970b-d252693cf1f3.png&hash=e2414dbcf0aca4f335d5f1cd3964bd8cb2b05876) (http://s847.photobucket.com/user/Runnin_Wolf/media/2a075513-c9fc-49ff-970b-d252693cf1f3.png.html)

Mirror images?
Title: Re: Who Knew SyFy did good Sci-Fi?
Post by: KD5NRH on July 09, 2014, 04:06:22 PM
Mirror images?

Definite possibility.  In shots like that, it can be hard to tell unless the character has some significant asymmetry, and it's an annoyingly common cop-out on continuity issues even when it's fairly obvious. (On the occasions anybody bothers to give a crap about continuity anymore.)