It’s strange to me what shows networks decide to stand firmly behind during the Upfront announcements, like those from a couple of months ago. ABC, for example, is putting a lot behind such new shows as Eastwick, Fast Forward and V. So far I’m wondering why they haven’t made more of a push behind another new show, coming in August, called Defying Gravity. From what I’ve seen of the show’s first two hours, it’s damn good.
I’ll quickly summarize the plot for you. The year is 2052 on Earth, and a mission aboard the ship Antares is about to be underway. This ship will take eight astronauts (four men, four women) from five different countries on a six-year mission to visit seven of the planets of our solar system. We learn about each of the people assigned to this mission through present day (well, present to 2052) observations as well as from flashbacks to their initial training and past missions.
Sounds pretty basic, right? Well, it’s not. There’s an underlying mystery going on that is so subtly wedged into conversations that you might very well miss it if you don’t know about it ahead of time or aren’t listening closely enough. Throughout the first hour there are many references to “it” making decisions for them, and “it” is causing certain things to happen. Only select, higher-up personnel know about this “it,” (I doubt it’s a scary clown) and most of the crew aboard the Antares are completely oblivious to whatever this thing is and that this something is influencing the mission.
What I liked about the show right away is that, for the most part, this future feels realistic. The ship looks a lot like something you could see in our future, not something like the Starship Enterprise; it’s more along the lines of something from 2001: A Space Odyssey, along with spinning pods to simulate gravity in the ship when the occupants aren’t wearing special suits that allow them to “cling” to the ship and not float around like other objects. Purists may not be satisfied with the accuracy of the science behind the show, but it certainly should be something they can live with.
As I said in the title of this post, there appears to be a numbers game at play here that may or may not be intentional. Eight astronauts. Seven planets. Six years. Five countries. Four of each sex. I’m not sure yet where the “three” will come in, but it’s possible we learn what “two” is in the second hour — I just won’t get into that possibly spoiler territory here, but you’ll see. “One” could mean the ship Antares itself. The numbers along with the mystery of what this “it” is — and what the true intent of this inter-solar mission is — is going to be the subject of lots of talk from fans, and it’s something I’m always a sucker for.
Defying Gravity stars Ron Livingston (Office Space, Band of Brothers) as Antares flight engineer Maddux Donner, Laura Harris (24) as the ship’s geologist, Zoe Barnes, Malik Yoba (New York Undercover) as Antares commander Ted Shaw, Christina Cox (Blood Ties) as biologist Jen Crane, Florentine Lahme (Impact) as pilot Nadia Schilling, Paula Garces (The Shield) as pilot, scientist and on-board documentary producer Paula Morales, Eyal Podell (24) as psychiatrist and medical officer Evram Mintz, and Dylan Taylor (House Party) as theoretical physicist Steve Wassenfelder. The cast on planet Earth is led by Andrew Airlie (Reaper) as Mission Control commander Mike Goss, Karen LeBlanc (ReGenesis) as scientist Eve Shaw, Zahf Paroo (Battlestar Galactica) as grounded flight engineer Ajay Sharma, and Maxim Roy (MVP) as flight surgeon Claire Dereux.
Check out the two-hour premiere Sunday, August 2 at 9 PM. It’s definitely a strong contender for the new season. I will say, though, that if the first hour doesn’t hook you, you might not find what you’re looking for in the second (though the second does end with a big WTF scene that I can’t wait to see more explanation into) — it’s a bit slower, though continues to bring us very slowly into the mystery behind the series. I plan to write more about this show here after it premieres.
Clacked by Keith McDuffee 
on Jul 18, 2009 @ 13:07 EST5EDT
Definitely something I’l be watching. Is it pretty serious? I’m not wanting to hear any Ferris Bueller music if you get my drift.
*POST AUTHOR*
No, there’s really no humor in this, at least not of the Ferris Bueller ilk. None of what I call plucky Grey’s Anatomy-like humor, as I call it. I use “plucky” to refer to when a show will insert songs with violins plucking in scenes where they want to indicate “HUMOR SCENE HERE! LAUGH!” I hate plucky.
I will say, though, that if you’re worried at all about “family friendliness” of the show, there’s a couple of somewhat sexual scenes that might make you wary if you’re that sensitive about it.
*POST AUTHOR*
bsgfan: I just caught your drift after catching up with ep#2 of Warehouse 13. Yikes!
I thought the previews looked fantastic, and I’m wondering why it wasn’t big news at the up fronts. Did I miss it’s entrance, and permanent place on the lineup? Are they “trying it out” or is it an actual entry?
What’s the scoop!?
What what I understand this is a multi station/network from different countries that are funding the show. This show sounds awesome and I haven’t heard a damn thing about it. It’s clear ABC is just using it as a filler and that’s a shame, sounds awesome.
I saw a CTV logo in the end credits, and it’s filmed in Vancouver, so it’s probably one of those joint productions as a result of the writers strike where there’s tonnes of good Canadian show waiting to be developed and the Americans had the money to spend to fill air time cheaply.
Sounds like something along the lines of the underrated SUNSHINE. I love that movie, so I’m definitely looking forward to seeing this show! Thanks for the heads up!
Wow, Keith was right… The Pilot was outstanding. As he mentions, the show is building to something, but it takes its time in doing so, which, frankly, draws me in more and more.
I like the way they built the relationships between the characters, and the way that they subtly laid in little pieces of backstory about some of folks that they just couldn’t spend much time with in the first hour.
I’m really looking forward to the show now!
I’m encouraged by the good word of mouth I’ve been reading here and there although honestly I was not impressed with the trailer or the way ABC has been promoting it in the states. Plus the fact that on paper it reads a lot like the failed FOX pilot from Ron Moore, Virtuality, keeps me wary. Have you been able to compare the two? I believe it aired on Hulu and few weeks back and might still be there.
In any case I’m hoping for the best in August.
*POST AUTHOR*
Lori — I haven’t seen the promos yet, but I admit it worries me that there’s not more push behind this show. It definitely doesn’t have the feel that Virtuality had in that it doesn’t feel hokey and the whole reality show in space thing isn’t done, though they are broadcasting their mission to Earth, just not with added drama.
The *one* thing that I didn’t like about the first two hours was how quickly they put together another flight into space. I won’t get into details to prevent spoilers, but I guess it could be excused as being the future and sending a shuttle into space is a lot easier and cheaper then.
Missed it last night. Will it be re-ran?
I did notice that the network didn’t put much effort into advertising. If the ratings are low they are the ones to blame. The show is really good and the setting is extremely interesting. I hope it does get picked up for another season because I would hate to see a good show like that go.