Stargate Universe - Seriously

We have always been Stargate fans in this house. Now, certainly, we have favorites within the milieu, but we've enjoyed them since Paul introduced us to it years ago.

This year we see the new entry into the Stargate story, Stargate Universe (SGU).

I've already described this series as "Stargate meets Battlestar." So, what do I mean?

While the stories in Stargate: SG1 and Stargate: Atlantis were adventures, there was always a lightness to the drama. One of the wonderful aspects, in fact, of SG1 was the playful interactions of the main characters -- no situation was so dire that the team could not find a way to lighten it.

SGU is different. Oh, there is a character who provides some comic relief, but the situation and the characters are quite serious. So far, the show has also been serious about its science (as the best SG1 SG:A were) but it's really the tone, the mood, that is reminiscent of Battlestar Galactica.

The similarities don't end there. Battlestar had Baltar as its resident genius scientist who was somewhat less than trustworthy, and who annoyed others. SGU has Dr. Rush a scientist who doesn't even seem to want people to like him. Battlestar had people throw together needing to cooperate to survive, but who still didn't get along. Same for SGU.

I know we're only three episodes into it, but I like what they've done so far, and I am curious to see if they can keep the tension without making it tedious, and if they can be as successful as Battlestar was at creating deep characters with real reasons to have interpersonal conflict which will affect the storylines.

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[Written in advance of my long trip.]