Ascension (Syfy space travel miniseries)

[Spider-Gnome]

I called it. Maybe if those commercial breaks didn't mention secret, I wouldn't have been looking for it. It makes sense and I get how it will piss everyone off. But I may check it out to see how it goes.

 

[queenkale]

I'm a little on the fence as to whether or not I'll watch the other two episodes. Saw the ending coming from about 1/2 thru the episode, some of the technology leaves me scratching my head, and all the soap drama is a bit tasking, but I am curious as to why? Are they trying to breed mutants or something, why are they the last hope of mankind?

 

[The Question]

I kind of hate everything about this. I'll put my reasons in spoilers, even the ones that don't mention specifics, just so no one figures it out from my inference:

Spoiler

1: This basically throws the show's genuinely interesting concept right out the window.

2: It's adding a twist to a sci-fi setting/concept that doesn't need one. I hate this practice on principal, because it pretty much always sucks.

3: It does answer some questions about the science and logic of the narrative, but in doing so it raises further questions. It's kind of like the voodoo curse in Jaws in that respect.

4: It doesn't help that the show had already just breezed bast the genuinely interesting stuff about its setting (the isolated community, the divergent culture perpetually stuck in the early 60s, the political and class structure that developed based around assigned ships duties, all of it seemed under explored and rushed through). The twist just makes it seem even more likely that those things will be under explored.

5: I was just generally stoked about the notion of exploring this enclosed ecosystem with a culture stuck in the 60s and a completely divergent history and rate of technology on this grand mission that no one knows about and may not even be necessary. This twist feels pointless and kind of missing sight of why the show seemed like a good idea to viewers in the first place.

 

[Sithborg]

Yeah, too bad that they revealed the secret this early. Though, with all the Gil Bellows stuff, it was a bit telegraphed.

Still, it was some good sci-fi. Some great concepts that would be ripe for exploration.

 

[The Question]

I'm a little on the fence as to whether or not I'll watch the other two episodes. Saw the ending coming from about 1/2 thru the episode, some of the technology leaves me scratching my head, and all the soap drama is a bit tasking, but I am curious as to why? Are they trying to breed mutants or something, why are they the last hope of mankind?

Spoiler

Well, with climate change and the still present but oft ignored threat of nuclear war, plus the issue of over-population which will be here even if those other two problems manage to go away, there is probably a genuine need for interstellar colonization at some point in the future. Running tests to see if it would work isn't an inherently terrible idea in of itself.

 

[queenkale]

5: I was just generally stokes about the notion of exploring this enclosed ecosystem with a culture stuck in the 60s and a completely divergent history and rate of technology on this grand mission that no one knows about and may not even be necessary. This twist feels pointless and kind of missing sight of why the show seemed like a good idea to viewers in the first place.[/SPOILER]

I agree whole heartedly, it's disappointing.

 

[The Question]

Spoiler

What really sucks is that it's going to be a loooooooong time before someone will be able to take something close to that concept and execute it fully without seeming like a "rip off."

 

[queenkale]

Spoiler

Well, with climate change and the still present but oft ignored threat of nuclear war, plus the issue of over-population which will be here even if those other two problems manage to go away, there is probably a genuine need for interstellar colonization at some point in the future. Running tests to see if it would work isn't an inherently terrible idea in of itself.

Yeah, but isn't that a bit cliche? If I want to see that, I'll watch Wall-E.

Spoiler

And if that's the case, what's with the girl? Why is she able to know they are watching them? Or that they shouldn't go to that galaxy, but another one that can sustain life. Another reason I think they are breeding towards something is the mention of how they were paired, and that weird film with the guy and the 'M' on his back? What did that mean?

 

[The Question]

Yeah, but isn't that a bit cliche? If I want to see that, I'll watch Wall-E.

Spoiler

And if that's the case, what's with the girl? Why is she able to know they are watching them? Or that they shouldn't go to that galaxy, but another one that can sustain life. Another reason I think they are breeding towards something is the mention of how they were paired, and that weird film with the guy and the 'M' on his back? What did that mean?

Spoiler

You may be right, there may be some dumb psychic ******** going on with the little girl.

As for the movie, it's on old German crime thriller called M. The implication was that it was where the Lieutenant guy got the idea to track the boyfriend's movements through the ship by giving him an article of clothing he could identify on the monitors.

 

[queenkale]

Spoiler

You may be right, there may be some dumb psychic ******** going on with the little girl.

As for the movie, it's on old German crime thriller called M. The implication was that it was where the Lieutenant guy got the idea to track the boyfriend's movements through the ship by giving him an article of clothing he could identify on the monitors.

Gotcha, I missed that part, I just came in when the guy turned around to see the 'M.'

 

[Spider-Gnome]

They basically traded one premise for another premise. And if you were pissed off, think about those born and raised on Ascension would feel.

 

[The Question]

They basically traded one premise for another premise. And if you were pissed off, think about those born and raised on Ascension would feel.

I'm not sure how that suddenly makes it a good narrative choice.

 

[THUNDERSTRIKE]

so not too good, huh?

 

[The Question]

so not too good, huh?

I didn't like it, but of course that's just me.

 

[THUNDERSTRIKE]

I didn't like it, but of course that's just me.

seems to be the general consensus here tonight... that'll save me from wasting my viewing time...

 

[Sithborg]

I am torn. I really, really, really liked what they were setting up. Exploring the world of Ascension would have been some great sci-fi. But the ending sets up something else. I will still watch, but my expectations are lowered.

 

[The Question]

Spoiler

I'm really wondering what the point of it being a twist ending was. Why not just lead with the fake space colony as your premise? It's what the Truman Show did.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Even before the ending I didn't think it was all that good. Too many characters, for one thing. The POV character is Oren Gault (Brandon P. Bell) who serves as the audience's eyes and ears but the story is not about him in particular. It's about the dead girl but she's mostly not even on-screen because she's dead.

 

[The Question]

Even before the ending I didn't think it was all that good. Too many characters, for one thing. The POV character is Oren Gault (Brandon P. Bell) who serves as the audience's eyes and ears but the story is not about him in particular. It's about the dead girl but she's mostly not even on-screen because she's dead.

Oh I agree, it was weak from the very start. Poorly introduced characters, horribly rushed pacing, a very awkwardly constructed cold open, not enough time spent on establishing atmosphere and a sense of the world, it was a pretty shoddy job all the way through. The twist just makes it infinitely worse, in my opinion.

 

[Harry Dresden]

Really have to question the twist. They had a solid TV show, an original premise that most people would be interested in, and a chance to create a whole new world. Then they tossed it all down the drain.

When they showed modern-day Earth I was already a bit annoyed since the trailers made it seem like we wouldn't see Earth.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

I was letting myself get a little distracted by my phone while watching, and posted some things on messageboards during the commercial breaks...which is never a good sign. And that was before the big ol' bait-and-switch premise.

If this was a full TV series instead of a mini-series, I'm fairly certain I would have checked out entirely and stopped watching after this episode. But somehow knowing there's 2 parts to go I may keep watching. On a scale of 1 to 10, 5 is average on my scale. And episode one would be below that bar.

 

[The Question]

Also, the fact that they kept doing "next time on…" bits during the commercial breaks was obnoxious as hell.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Haha yeah, wth was up with that? I deliberately had to look away. Just let people watch the show. We don't need it in clip form during the breaks.

EDIT: I used to also look away / skip when Battlestar Galactica would put those right at the beginning.

 

[The Question]

I think I'll have to file this away under "completely wasted potential."

 

[Sawyer]

They basically traded one premise for another premise. And if you were pissed off, think about those born and raised on Ascension would feel.

1. If the audience is pissed off... bye. It's one episode. They're at least being forthright. If you don't like it, hit the bricks.

2. If those on Ascension are pissed off... well, then it'll make for good drama.

The only thing about it is, I don't see how much longevity they get out of it, post-twist if they do intend for it to become a series.