Space: Above and Beyond

This was a fantastic little sci-fi series. It pioneered the use of CGI on TV shows. It had some great acting from all the leads and relied heavily on parallels with WW2. Created by James Wong and Glen Morgan (of X-Files fame) it draws parallels with the X-Files in terms of lighting and story. The idea of the entire war between Humans and Chigs being an entire corporate plot is classic X-Files. The story-lines are compelling and the graphics are great. It's great for WW2 enthusiasts as a lot of military history is used in the story. It's great for Sci-fi enthusiasts as the sets and story are great. It's just great period! I only wish another season had been commissioned because this is great viewing. Here's hoping a DVD release will soon be forthcoming.

Space Above and Beyond was a great show I'll admit I didn't watch in when it was first on mainly because it kept getting moved around for football and the super bowl and stuff. Unlike shows like star trek this show was completely about war so practically every episode had flashy effects, big explosions, and enough action that is lacking in practically every TV show now. The view of the future was very different from what we've been fed. Humans don't fight with lasers in this, the ships aren't always well lit, and we aren't politically correct towards the enemy. Now I can only watch repeats on Space and always think once and a while `Why did Fox cancel this show.'

If there is justice a 2nd series would be in the planning stages, you'd think everyones preoccupation with war recently and S:AaB 'Vietnam' like scenario would fit in very nicely.

If you can remake Battlestar Galactica, then someone rake together a few quid to fund this beauty of a series. Liked not seeing much of the enemy race till right into the series, and OK the CG of the space battles where a little rough round the edges, but to think of how so many other Space Ship gun fight series have now got it just right - that could probably get sorted nowadays.

Great cast of reasonably unknown actors too, it was good to see Mr Robinson (aka in Neighbours) get some work even if he was to die 5 Min's in. All i have to do now is wait for a UK DVD release and sit and hope people get back into it again.

It seems that any show I feel is truly worth watching gets cancelled. So you better hope I don't start watching the shows you like! S: AAB was outstanding. Excellents writing, acting, special effects. A space-war-soap opera-type feel that just seemed to drag you in. The way I understand it, it is getting exceptional ratings on Sci-Fi Channel and if we bother them enough, they may do more shows or TV movies for S:AAB.

HOO RAH!

I saw this in its first run in 1995-96 and was a huge fan. I used to look for it every week (because Fox moved constantly instead of letting it find an audience).

The premise of the show was fairly straightforward: Humanity begins reaching for the stars as technology has evolved, and we believe we are alone in the universe. Shortly after the first two human colonies are established, unknown beings from another planet attack and Earth is forced to muster defenses to fight an alien force.

But from there the plot diverges. Executive Producers Morgan and Wong take us on a season long journey that allows us to examine the military industrial complex, racism, drug addiction, political conspiracies, and attempt to answer the question "why we fight." The back drop is the war which is not a depicted as a "rah rah" atmosphere, but as one that is harsh and somewhat graphic in its depictions of the consequences of battle (see the episode "Stay With the Dead").

In sum, the show was innovative and tried to answer old questions in a new way. The good guys were not always good, and from the outset, the bad guys are not necessarily bad, nor are they all that different from us.

While the portrayal of the military required one to suspend disbelief, the overall product was done quite well...

One of my top ten.