Defying Gravity, the ABC network space soap opera, has had its series finale, having been cancelled due to poor ratings before the last filmed episode had aired. It was inevitable, of course, as Defying Gravity defied logic.
Defying Gravity, for those who never watched it, and that would be most of those reading this, was a series about an interplanetary voyage that planned to visit most of the planets of the Solar System in six years. That straight away tells one of the lengths the series took to ignore science.
Since interplanetary voyages tend to be boring, even when things occasionally go wrong, the show’s writers had to invent improbable things to happen for the time the ship was between worlds. This usually consisted of soap opera, personal relationship nonsense, coupled with a mystery involving something called “Beta” and the “true purpose” of the mission. Lots of air time was eaten up with pointless flashbacks to the training regime for our intrepid crew.
So Defying Gravity shed viewers as an ascending rocket sheds stages and fuel. The series was cancelled with no immediate plans to air the unaired episodes six days away from Venus, the first destination.
Defying Gravity had a good initial premise; do a show set in the near future about an interplanetary voyage of discovery. But the execution, as is too often the case, fell very short of the mark.
Here are some tips for anyone wanting to do a similar show and do it right.
First, choose one destination. Mars has been done to death. I suggest the Saturn system. Saturn has lots of interesting moons to visit, which would take up a lot of air time.
Second, sit down with a lot of scientists, astronauts, and futurists and plan out what the mission is going to look like, who the crew will be, and what they might find at their destination.
Third, make sure that a few of these people you consult read your series bible and every script. That way you will adhere to some semblance of scientific and technological reality.
Fourth, do not pull out the hoary old “secret conspiracy” device to try to make things interesting. This too has been done to death.
Fifth, do not rely too much on sex to drive your show. It is a heavy temptation to throw it the green eyed monster to raise tension, but really, if NASA or whatever agency is sending this mission has planned it right, the crew will be chosen in part to be too professional to bang each other over the head with pipe wrenches over who gets what nookie.
Finally, plan out what your future society is going to look like in advance. Defying Gravity was set in the 2050s, but it looked like 2009 except abortion is illegal. Think about how things might change in the next thirty to fifty years and you’ll find things that will drive your story arc in more interesting and original ways than sex, secret conspiracies, and technobabble.
Comments
I agree things seemed to have problems in the earlier episodes, but last night you presented a new aspect that may well have added another attraction to the series and then you decide to kill the series without letting us know what is coming. I have space technology interests and this last item would likely add interest to the show. Termination at this point is pitiful.
Funny. I only watched a couple of episodes of Battlestar Galactica...but it seemed to break every one of your rules above, yet was highly successful.
Looks like DG will go the way of Firefly, another series I wish wasn't cancelled prematurely. At least we got a cool movie out of that one...
This show was actually becoming interesting, but ABC never actually gave it a chance by throwing it on in August and not even bothering to do any advertising for it. I wonder if we'll get to see the last 5 episodes online?
Funny that "Fear" (episode 7) had the highest ratings for the show to date but yet its "Shedding viewers".
1st: Why only 1 destination? That has been done to death. As has Mars, which is why they were going to Venus first.
2nd: you assume they didn't? Mars looked like it should. The ship IS a NASA design for future space flight and Venus hasn't been seen to comment on. as for the crew, the plot has its own reasons.
3rd: Besides the fact its fiction, and has aliens, what isn't scientifically possible? What, the artificial gravity? Pardon a show for not wanting to have a budget in the billions by filming an entire series in "the vomit comet". Its a necessary device.
4th: Keeps thing interesting. besides, by ep 8 its not secret anyway.
5th: Outside a plot point and a gag there has been very little "sex" on the show. and no jealousy to speak of. and its been established they didn't choose the crew.
Finally: we've only really seen a bar. things don't change that much.
Too bad...I discovered the series on HULU and then used my DVR to record it and watch it later; therefore I didn't 'count' in the ratings. I wonder how many other viewers were also not counted?
They don't seem to count the three people in my household that love the show either.
It's the one show I watch right now via Hulu.
Seems like people at ABC have that short attention span problem I keep hearing about.
I find this article to be a bit rediculous given some (most) of the negative remarks apply to every sci-fi space show out there.
Star Trek? hmm Reality based.. yeah riiiight. They tried to kill Star Trek for years. Why don't they listen to the fans and stop making up these lame duck articles to cover thier bad decision.
hopefully the unaired footage will show somewhere. Ive followed the show since it started and think we are entitled to view its conclusion
The problem as I saw it was very simple: boredom. It simply didn't move at a reasonable pace. Too little action, but then space is basically boring. Too slow to get to the main idea of beta. Apparently the whole show was nothing more than playing hide and seek with beta with no story once it was revealed.
I watched the first five with enthusiasm, then got tired of rehashing old facts. When will writers learn? You can't capture a sophisticated audience with continuous repetition. There has to be an unfolding story that has something to say, not something to say again and again and again .....
Another Show killed before it's time. Getting better as it went along & then to not even bother showing the final 5 episodes? Come on ABC let the rabbit grow, AT least until the final filmed episode.
every time a new show comes along they kill just as you get interested in them.
I think the show is a victim of starting in August, when no one is looking for new shows. I saw it for the first time on 9/13 and liked it and starting asking my friends about it and none of them had heard about it.
I fell in love with the design of the ship. It did feel realistic and while their explinaton of atificial gravity through magnetic nanites was a bit weak, it was at least plausable and they did a decent job showing no gravity when that system went offline. Few shows bother with adressing gravity so I give DG points for it.
i know the writers thought they had a clever way of showing that fat useless guy as useful occassionally, thus justifying his ride. BUT really? It wasted so much air time over a guy who says hock a lugy in your suit, thus saving the blond who went out space walking. They had too many characters develoed too soon. they should have had them aboard, made us aware of them then moved to them as we got used to the main characters. Good show, poor execution..
Yet again ABC pulls the plug before giving a series a chance to take off ("Life on Mars" & "October Road" anyone)?
I think I'll stick with the other networks from now on. ABC never learns.
1, 2, 3 and 5: 2001: A Space Odyssey, Arthur C. Clarke (the book, not the movie) (4. fits to, of course)
Interesting sidenote: Arthur C. Clarke commented that going to Saturn was a mistake, and that Kubrick made the right choice (in the movie 2001) by going to Jupiter. That's why his novel 2010 (the sequel) focusses on the Jupiter moon Europe.
While I think your remarks on the show are mostly correct, the plot you outlined is the oldest of them all...
He's a critic. Its hip to bash on things that get canceled. I too was a little apprehensive knowing it was from the dreaded Grey's Anatomy Producer. Don't let that get in the way of an interesting concept and well acted story (Ron Livingston is awesome). When will studio's learn that sci-fi has rabid fans that don't care about the little things critics and the average joe get hung up on. We, like in Shakespearean plays, suspend our disbelief and enjoy the ride and just want good stories. This has potential as Firefly (not compairing but both sci-fi cut before its planned run) before it also had. I too unfortunately just discovered the show two days ago and have furiously watched every episode on Hulu, and unfortunately other less reputable sites that carries the episodes hulu doesn't. I was just left after the last episode with many questions that hopefully will get picked up by another network...
I agree that ABC cut the show too soon. I really enjoyed the show and I am sorry to see it canceled. I am so tired of hearing that shows need to be reality based. Reality shows have been overdone. I watch TV to relaxe, be entertained, and get away from reality.
Yeah the show was a little slow in some ways but it was building up to what is going to be in this next episode. I was really hoping to see what was in the hatch. I'm so sick of shows getting canceled before they had a fair shot.
I second what j said. I was thinking most of that while reading the review. Quite frankly it seems like it's just digging for things to dislike. I was a good show.
Stupidest move ever, I'll be boycotting ABC from now on, to hell with LOST as well. meh!
This always happens. I start to get interested in a show, go back and watch all the episodes I missed, get really excited about the show....and then it's cancelled! Pitiful.
Mark Whittington, here's a news flash for you: It takes more than six years to tour the solar system, and martial arts masters can't fly around the room either. It's not a documentary, it's fiction! And I liked the back story because it gave be a better understanding of where the characters were coming from.
The show didn't even get a chance, it's a little early to say that it was flawed when it was not given time to develop into something better. The networks are too quick to pull the plug on shows with a different approach (Firefly) and too quick to develop yet another lame "reality" show.
ABC, I just found the show on it's apparent last night, if you want more viewers you have to do a better job of getting the word out about the show. What's the point of developing a show and then not promoting it???
I'll take innovative or quirky SciFi over "reality" tv any day.
It might also be intelligent to research the show you're going to critique a little bit better than you obviously have sir. First off, this was AIRED on ABC, it was NOT an ABC produced show. It will still air on CTV. That said, ABC dropped the option of showing it, they didn't -cancel- the show.
Secondly, you seem not to grasp the idea of a space drama as opposed to a sci-fi driven show. The whole idea of the show is built around the interesting stories of the characters not around whether or not the scientific equations that allow there to be gravity on the ship, or let them go from point a to b in x years are mathematically sound. If you must watch something that's factual to a fault, perhaps the Discovery Channel is more your cup of tea. at least 2 million people every week disagree with you.
If you look at the numbers, the fan base was starting to grow, not shrink, which is actually amazing given the fact that while ABC hosted the show they did NOTHING to advertise it.
Baby Boomers Kids!
ABC has to look to the future. Our baby boomers kids are having kids and they unfortunately are short sighted, they look to the fantastic and have no patience for the epic novel. Sad for the rest of us but money drives us all. ABC is just looking toward the future to protect thiers.
I liked the pace and content of the show for the most part, a little tone down on the sexual appetites and this show was a winner for me.
objeans@gmail.com
I really like this show and just when it was getting good. BAD MOVE, ABC. I'm going back to CBS.
Great show...with far more imagination than ABC has...Terrific mix of science and soap, which I found extraordinarily interesting...Donner and Zoe were perfectly cast...Sure hope the show gets picked up by another outlet...BTW, with the mindset shown by ABC, it's no wonder "network" TV is fast losing advertisers and their dollars to cable outlets!
Mark Whittington, here's a news flash for you: It takes more than six years to tour the solar system, and martial arts masters can't fly around the room either. It's not a documentary, it's fiction! And I liked the back story because it gave be a better understanding of where the characters were coming from.
The show didn't even get a chance, it's a little early to say that it was flawed when it was not given time to develop into something better. The networks are too quick to pull the plug on shows with a different approach (Firefly) and too quick to develop yet another lame "reality" show.
ABC, I just found the show on it's apparent last night, if you want more viewers you have to do a better job of getting the word out about the show. What's the point of developing a show and then not promoting it???
I'll take innovative or quirky SciFi over "reality" tv any day.
canceling the show was a huge mistake from abc the writers any show needs time to develop there actors and let the show to mature this show could have went in many directions even introducing out of system aliens, the gaining of new technology worm holes the find of a dooms day event that would put the whole planet system into danger
the gaining of super powers through that beta thing the fools that canceled the show should have hired me to be there writer
because of some dum ass exec at abc not being pationt or finding replacement writers to fix the probelm yes there was too many flash backs but showing a duel growth progression show (from 2 views) is hard to do. ok so cut down on the flash backs increase the action and issues and discovery ...... because people like scifi because it lets them dream and think and develop there own ideas if it was not for good scifi shows we would not have cell phones today (thank you Gene R) abc spent the money already screw it keep going!! dont qu
I really enjoy science fiction and hope that this series can be continued by a cable channel. It is pure escapism and not to be analyzed, just enjoyed for what it is...fun for the imagination. I hope it is picked up and continued.
This was a great Sunday night show. It required a little stretch of the imagination, a little of your attention, a little disbelief, a little suspension of reality, a little open-mindedness. For any one who reads science-fiction you'll see that the story was somewhat trite and cliched, but who cares? It was fun and kitchsy as well - and ENTERTAINING!. Now all we'll have is that Calista Flockheart gabber-flab of smarmy pap and library paste. Yeeesh!
BIG MISTAKE ABC at cancelling "Defying Gravity".
This move further illustrates how uninterested ABC is in developing or maintaining a base of educated viewers who care about something other than reality television.
The show was a bit slow sometimes, but it was good. At least they had more updated clothes than star Trek crew:)
For all fans of "Defying Gravity", it looks like CTV (Canadian Television) will still be airing 3 more episodes this season... and lucky for us, these can be viewed on their website the day after they air (September 18, 25, and TBA)!
So, If Defying Gravity was unrealistic, improbable and nonsensical then what is LOST? I thought DG had the potential to become a solid show with a solid fan base. Boo on you ABC. Booooo.
It just kept getting better and better, and the finale was terrific. What ABC has taught us, is to NEVER watch any of its first season shows. I hope their new fall season shows all crash and burn. With any luck a cable network picks this one up and ends up with a hit (and makes ABC look like a bunch of idiots).
Oh yeah...Boo on you too mark. Boooooo.
This sucks, this was the only good show on ABC the past two years. I hope it can get picked up somewhere.
I wanted to like this show but the endless flashbacks, ongoing crew hallucinations, and for some reason crew menbers who kept doing things they were not supposed to, put the series into the realm of the stupid. Any space agency would probably put more care and attention into crew selection than was seen here. To bad it was cancelled though.
I actual found this show on Hulu.com from the 3rd episode and have been addicted to it ever since. It is one of the few shows programmed on my DVR to record. This is a smart show that is original, interesting an has a great cast. The time of the show is bad. Most smart people try to start the week of right and get to bed early. Not to mention, it competes with Sunday Night football and the Baseball game of the week. These sporting events are staples in many households. How, do you expect a new show to compete with that? ABCis a bunch of idiots...keep pumping out the mind numbing reality shows which I refuse to watch! We see ABC is gearing it's nework towardpeople with less then a 100 IQ ...I expect more from you Disney!
It's not an ABC descision at the end of the day. ABC are airing it in America, but CTV, the BBC and a german network produced and paid for it
Wow the guy that wrote this article is a douche bag. This show is amazing. This kind of stuff always happens to the good shows(Jericho, Firefly, and now Defying Gravity).
This was a great Sunday night show. It required a little stretch of the imagination, a little of your attention, a little disbelief, a little suspension of reality, a little open-mindedness. For any one who reads science-fiction you'll see that the story was somewhat trite and cliched, but who cares? It was fun and kitchsy as well - and ENTERTAINING!. Now all we'll have is that Calista Flockheart gabber-flab of smarmy pap and library paste. Yeeesh!
BIG MISTAKE ABC at cancelling "Defying Gravity".
I liked the show & am sorry it was cancelled here where I am. I don't usually like SciFi either, so it made you 'pay attention'.
Good to hear that it isn't canceled like you wrongfully stated.
Disappointed. Sure, it could use a tad less estrogen, a tad more adventure, and a tad faster pace, but it was more intriguing than most of network TV. (And I attribute the pacing to allowing audience members coming in late to pick-up the characters and plot.)
I've come to have pretty low expectations of television (networks and most cable). Still, if the SciFi, uhh, SyFy Channel is trying to rebrand to be more female-friendly, then this show might work for them. Is the multi-national production group still planning to produce the show after ABC bails?
ABC NEEDS TO READ SOME OF THESE COMMENTS AND KEEP THE DECENT SHOWS AROUND, INSTEAD OF ALL THESE REALITY SHOWS (SICK OF THEM). DG LET YOUR IMAGINATION RUN WILD.....BRING THE SHOW BACK ABC!!
Cancelled? Aww man! I was just getting into this show and it's backstory when I was surprised by the season finale. I really need to know what was in pod4!
C'mon . . . give 'em a 2nd chance! At least run the rest of the episodes online for those who are interested. The money's already spent, right?
not sure about the unrealistic nature of the show should be planted as truly suspect. Most shows are unrealistic and that varies show by show. The science in Defying Gravity wasn't the best, but it was far from being bad. The writers liked to lightly sprinkle it from episode to episode. The science yet again doesn't make a piece of science-fiction great, it is the human response to great and seemingly impossible situations that have - hence why most of the most celebrated sci-fi literature hasn't always used some great piece of technolgy as a driving force but texploited the human condition.
We liked the show and started watching it from the beginning. Before it aired, it was advertized as being from the producers of Grey’s Anatomy. So we called it, “Grey’s Anatomy in Space.” We watched it and liked it okay, but did notice the scientific inconsistencies that others have mentioned. I think that today’s viewers are sophisticated enough to know when things are believable or not.
In the Star Trek: The Next Generation series, you know the thing that were happening were not real. However, many things were based on technical or scientific ideas, and it was presented in a believable way, so the viewer could accept it.
Also, I think that some are taking this way too seriously. This is entertainment. Just because it’s on television, doesn’t mean it’s great. It could have been a good show. Some of the conspiracy ideas, and the strange Beta thing seemed a bit tedious. The same kind of sexual antics that occur in Grey’s Anatomy were presented in this Space program c
Whoever wrote this article doesn't understand the point of a TV show. It is supposed to be unrealistic and fantastic, that's why people sit down and watch it. You want something realistic, go watch a documentary about NASA.
save your worthless critique for your schoolyard bbf's....you're a tool and should be criticizing hallmark cards.
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