Space operas, or lack thereof

[iOSYS]

I don't know if anyone else has been as bored with the recent scifi lineup/scifi tv in general lately, but I think I could really do with some new space opera.

I mean, There is an infinity of scifi shows with some neat concepts, probably good story lines, etc. But It's a little annoying to have nothing but these budget saving earthbound character shows/model showoffs! It's not just that there are no fx shows, or action shows... Bsg, Star gate, all good fun. I mean more something a little less specialized. Not some person/people with mystical super powers (kyle xy, the 4400, Smallville, Terminator, many others. ) or the highly restrictive lone ship without help storyline (Voyager, Bsg, Farscape, Andromeda, many others.)

I would really love to see a new space opera with aliens, space ships, villans. Something like Trek, or Babylon 5. Even Space Battleship Yamato, or something like that. Not yet another characters only highly terrestrial sci fi, especially a family oriented one like Kyle xy. The fact that Stargate became more and more space operay towards the end is what made me like it so much, in fact. Don't get me wrong, I love the ol' team using nothing but the gate episodes, but as I said... I wish there was something which was not highly specialized/restrictive.

Something with governments, and alien plots, and... All that good stuff. It seem long overdue. As I've been saying, I love Farscape, those kind of shows, but I miss the kind of open endedness and drama that comes from storyline about interstellar wars and such.

Does anyone else feel the same thing? That while it's fine to have a bunch of modern day people with special powers, or... superman as a teenager teen-dramas, there really needs to be a sci fi that actually has ships, aliens, and governments again? Maybe one that isn't reruns, or a bastardized evolution about an original gate based concept :P

[Falin]

yea, i think the tides turning, we had the Operas, then we had "eye candy", then operas again, no we're back in the eye candy stage, so I expect in about 2 years we'll see another opera like show pop up. seems like only 1 or 2 can exists at atime, but I expect ones in the plannning stages to be released soon.

[JDR]

Problem is most good space operas kind of happened by accident. Its very hard to do one by design that has the required scope, depth and tone. That, and everything's been *done* already.

I'd rather see more interesting REAL sci-fi shows, things that don't cop out and add heaps of utter fantasy in. Something that focuses on social, technological and environmental themes rather than merely transplanting a standard pulp story into some future era.

[mattc]

The other problem is that the attention span of your average movie goer has dropped significantly.

[Freak]

Originally Posted by mattc

The other problem is that the attention span of your average movie goer has dropped significantly.

It been going down hill since the mid 90’s maybe even before that.
To be honest I am getting board of these films. I would like to see something with a bit more intelligence, that make you think after you have seen the film. Unfortunaly films like these don’t make money when realise, they become cult films and start making there money in the long run. Blade Runner is a perfect example of this. But the studios don’t look at the long term only the short term and how quickly they can get there money back and make a profit.

@JDR ST:TOS did that and they did it well, after they did have the first interracial kiss. (which got Banned or reedited for the South US, I can’t remember which.)

I would to see a space opera dealing with today issue, like Trek did back then, maybe touch on some real taboo stuff, that other show won’t touch.

[mattc]

Originally Posted by Freak

I would to see a space opera dealing with today issue, like Trek did back then, maybe touch on some real taboo stuff, that other show won’t touch.

Galactica tried to.....and see how much whining and finger pointing that caused.

People really don't like criticism these days. They prefer to have their lives sugar coated because usually, the truth is somewhat inconvenient.

M.

[Freak]

^ Ture but they delt more with the war on terror then anything else. there are more subject out there that can still be touched, even stuff that was around in the 60's.

[chrono]

Originally Posted by iOSYS

I don't know if anyone else has been as bored with the recent scifi lineup/scifi tv in general lately, but I think I could really do with some new space opera.

Legend of The Galactic Heroes?....

/thread over/

[juanxer]

What I'd like to see is more scope, biggerness, the feeling of playing in a really big stage. This "things going on in five or more planets at once" plus opening vistas and seeing your Ringworld landscape into the horizon.

I want a Culture miniseries! (new book this February)

[ClaysGhost]

Originally Posted by juanxer

I want a Culture miniseries! (new book this February)

I think the best to hope for with your favourite written scifi (whatever it might be) is that Hollywood never sees it.