A new BBC scifi series started yesterday, called "Outcasts".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00x8fw4


Next episode is tonight.

Cast includes Jamie Bamber (Apollo from BSG), Hermione Norris (Spooks), Eric Mabius (Ugly Betty).

I wonder if this will be on BBC America eventually? I'd like to check it out and see Lee Adama again.

Might be good. Wish I'd watched Being Human on there from the start. My wife and I started watching the US version (which stars another BSG alum, btw) and it's really good. Has me curious about the original now that's further along.

Watched it, in two minds whether to watch episode 2 tonight. Probably will whilst ironing.
Not slick US style Sci-Fi, but not really gritty British style either, possibility of improvement...
SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT FOR BELOW















Most interesting characters killed by end of 1st episode, don't like remnants.

Yeah. Had some good ideas but felt a little like 'Spooks' in space, which I suppose was unavoidable considering it's by the same writers AFAIK. Like a lot of 'Grown up' Brit Sci-fi shows it was a little bit dull.

Mind you, there was enough in it to make me want to watch tonights episode, which is good because it feels like the only thing I've seen for the last couple of weeks has been 'Boardwalk Empire.'









*********************SPOILER***************************

Killing off Bamber's character in the first episode was strange. He was about the only one who had any real depth to his character. It's odd because he seems to be the one they chose to do all the PR for the show in the press. Hey, who knows, maybe he'll come back some how. Maybe flashbacks, maybe reborn with tentacles!

I'm thinking perhaps they'll tell the story in reverse now, at least with flashbacks.

Not sure how it'll progress or if I'll be interested enough to keep up.

I had the feeling most of the plot could have been dropped straight into other situations!

Cheers

By a "little bit dull" do you mean cerebral and having complex characters? I love shows like that.

Just an FYI, there's a button to put spoiler tags around text. It's the S with a diagonal slash through it. Hides what you want to say, but not everyone notices the button to do it.

woops

No, I mean they tend to be a bit grey and nondescript. It sometimes seems like British Sci-fi television gets embarrassed about being Sci-fi. I mean we have Doctor Who and all of it's spin offs, obviously, and sci-fi comedy like Red Dwarf or Hyperdrive which tackle the genre with glee but we don't seem to ever have any more sober sci-fi which seems comfortable with itself. It's like it frequently tries to be something else.

Far from being complex, the characters in 'Outcast' so far seem fairly one dimensional. More than one of the actors came across as rather wooden. It was only the first episode, though, They will hopefully get better. As for cerebral: well, it would be nice to think so but it didn't really come across as cerebral so much as cold and a bit stilted. This is exactly what I tend to notice about the bulk of British Sci-fi - not that we actually do terribly much of it, which has always seemed strange considering what a role Sci-fi once played in our TV and the truly great Sci-fi writers who have come from Britain.

There were things I liked about it a great deal. It is beautiful, really gorgeous - especially in HD. The shots of the colony ship in orbit were breathtaking, and there were a number of little touches that were great like the White outs caused by the arrangement of the planet's moons.

Having said all that, my favourite Sci-fi show just now is Misfits which is about superheroes. well, superidiots is probably closer to the truth. I'm quite taken with the one of characters whose super power was telekinetic control over dairy products. It reminds me very much of a strip in 2000AD back in the 80's called Zenith, (I think,) where the superheroes were portrayed as whiny, selfish egotists more concerned about getting sponsorship deals than saving humanity.

I think Outcasts will get better, and I think there is probably a great story being hinted at in the first episode. We shall see what tonight brings.

Thanks Raw Kryptonite, I never knew how that worked!

Definitely. My favorite by far from that distinguished group is Arthur C. Clarke.

the way it started I wondered if I had missed an episode or two. It did feel a bit like Spooks in Space and was waiting for the kid to glow at the end .... will be taping it tonight on HD over here.

My favourite too. I've always thought Rendezvous With Rama would make a great TV series. I know Morgan Freeman has been linked with a Movie of it for years now, but a TV show would give it room to explore the fairly major themes the book embraces.

I would absolutely love a tv mini-series based on Rama but I honestly don't see any US tv or cable network being interested. Maybe the BBC will do it?

A quick browse reveals it's available in the usual spots on t'interwebs for those furriners with no iPlayer access.

I might check it out. Poor old Jamie has to be more comfortable in this than in Law and Order: UK.

The success of the Doctor Who franchise has definitely galvanized the BBC to some extent, and 'Outcasts' certainly shows a willingness for them to push boundaries more than they did for a long time, but I think for something of the scale that Rama would require they would be unwilling to do it alone. Perhaps they could do something with HBO again. Personally I'm still waiting for more news of Sky's reboot of Blake's 7. That one seems to have gone awfully quiet.

I'm recording tonights episode. We shall see how it looks filtered through a couple of glasses of Rioja!

I watched ep1 just last night and was having "The Deep" flashbacks. The Deep was the 6 part sci-fi show the BBC ran last year which got a lot of people angry with it's questionable plot turns and improbability.

Outcasts seems to have similar plot misdirects which are so obvious they take-away from any drama, you're waiting for the rabbit to be pulled out of the hat. Then the other device The Deep used was the Deus Ex Machina right at the end. And characters who had no motivation to do what they did except to add more drama.

Kind of show that makes me angry at the TV. TV ruined my life...now THAT is a good show.

Didn't he play a cop on Law & Order: UK? If so, too bad he didn't play a lawyer. He got experience with that on BSG.

Having seen episode two, I'm still finding it very slow. Not sure yet if I will persist with episode three.

Cicero, that's an excellent summing up of british sci-fi, although it could be argued that it also applies to british TV drama in general.

With the mention of 'Rendevous with Rama', I thought I'd buy some Clarke sci-fi classics for my Kindle. Turns out that none of them are available in that format, just like every other book I've specifically looked up on Amazon.

Anyway, sorry for the hijack, but I haven't seen Outcasts yet.

"Rome" was an outstanding collaboration between HBO and the BBC so it can be done and done well!

Watching the clip reminded me of the buildings in "The Prisoner". http://www.amctv.com/originals/the-prisoner/


I wonder if it's the same location?

We need more Blakes 7 instead of this, Benedict Cumberbatch (Avon in the new audio dramas) is a brilliant character actor perfect for the role and he's already filming for BBC Wales (responsible for Outcasts and Sherlock).

I will watch ep3 just to get it over with. I can see it has some interesting intellectual points to make about the human condition transplanted elsewhere and how we'll just screw it up like we always do, however Outcasts fails to to this in an interesting or engaging way. At least BSG had space battles.

And, of course, Band of Brothers. The BBC had originally been planning to do a series based on a book called 'Battalion' by Alistair Borthwick (An old acquaintance of my father's in actual fact,) which was the Battalion history of the 5th Seaforth Highlanders from North Africa to Germany. It's a very good book but it's scope is such that it is quite hard to see how it could have translated into a workable TV series without some serious changes. I'm not sure how this ended up as Band of Brothers other than a suspicion that the size of the production scared the BBC into not wanting to commit to it alone.

Anyway, 'Outcasts'. I actually quite enjoyed last nights episode. Somewhere between the meaningful glances, the occasionally awful dialogue and the ubiquitous world wise teenager there were glimpses of a good story. I especially liked the hints about the colonists not knowing everything about Carpathia, and the little bit with the kiddie's picture in Tate's office...I reckon I'm in until the end. I thought the guy from Ugly Betty was great - very creepy in quite an understated way - but someone needs to tell Hermione Norris she is actually not legally bound to play a slightly emotionally cold technocrat in every single thing she's in.

It is improving, enjoyed last nights episode and a intresting "find", oh, and the usual "politics"

Though I am watching the series (purely as there is nothing decent on) it is average at best.

It is not bad, characters are starting to develop.
I just finished watching ep 3 and there is a good Faulty Towers moment.

There's a great story hiding there behind the mass of cliche. Last night's episode was pretty enjoyable. The young guy from Ugly Betty is great - unpleasantly creepy without being too hammy. The increasing animosity between Forthaven and the AC camp, the discovery and the slowly growing weirdness has got me hooked now.

Does anyone remember the early 80's mini-series based on Bradbury's 'The Martian Chronicles?' I'm beginning to think that is a better comparison than Battlestar but that might just be me......

I will give this show a viewing if it every makes here! unfortunately, I cannot watch the BBC in iplayer in the U.S.

Bah Humbug! The Beeb are moving it to a late night sunday slot at 10:20pm from the 27th Feb, there are another 4 episodes to go too.
Ratings dropped from 4.4 to 2.6 million, looks like it is not going as well as the BBC would like.

Not looking good,

http://airlockalpha.com/node/8270/bbc-buries-outcasts-in-graveyard-slot.html

I just watched ep 4 and it is getting interesting with some major twists.
On the character side they are developing well with some "love to hate" characters getting stronger.

I really don't like the security guy Cass, he is really weak and not a great actor, but the Scottish girl is nice.

Unfortunate it may be moving too slowly for the "instant crowd". It is way better than dross like V.

I agree, I'd rather a few more like this than the formulaic V.

However, the many one-star reviews on imdb do make for entertaining reading.

Shame - I thought the premise outlined in Ep.1 had a lot of potential.

Great show last night. Some good stuff happening. Definitely 'Chronicles' getting in tone...

You're from Glasgow and last nights episode just happened to have another Scottish character actor in it. Of course he was introduced to us in a bar demanding Whiskey and started a fight (another insulting stereotype, thanks BBC).

The story explores the question, are we hardwired to make the same mistakes? Well, I don't think there will be a second series so I guess it partly answers that one. But I appreciate the idea that people best placed to lead others, honest intelligent pragmatists are inevitably doomed to be usurped by greedy toe-rags. There's something Darwinian about our lot in life, its depressing (The Selfish Gene, Richard Dawkins). I'm not suggesting President Richard Tate is Mr wonderful, he's got his own dark heart. If Richard Dawkins was president he too would be swept aside by such forces.

Looking forward to part 6 despite myself.

Yeah, Gary Lewis I think his name is. He used to live upstairs from one of my GF's colleagues.

As for the stereotypes - well as stereotypes go I'll take the strangely poetical Pack over the usual collections of child abusers, wife beaters and gangsters in EastEnders that seem to always be played by Scots.

And remember that the cute cop Fluer (Sp?) is a scot as well!

Another Scot here, after running a bar for more than 20 years I didn't find it at all stereotyped
The show is getting better, I hope it manages to answer the questions it has raised esp. if there won't be a season 2
Grrr I have to wait until next monday to get episode 6 in HD over here.
Yeah Fleur seems to be a canny Scot played by Amy Manson

Just watched eps 5 and am starting to warm to it. A lot more variables and hints at possibilities of future plot developments.
There is still the feel of small budget production and weak dialogue but I am looking forward to the next episode.

If "Lost" could drivel on for what felt like a hundred seasons I think it has potential for a few.

Getting stranger, isn't it? Last night was just odd in places.

Fighting on 3 fronts now? Can't really see how they can bring a resolution to all the questions in another 2 episodes

Why does it need to be resolved in 2 episodes?

Because it only has two episodes left out of its 8 part run and I'd be amazed if it got greenlighted for another series.

Ah, ok. I didn't know that renewal seemed unlikely.

Yes i agree it will not get another shot at it. Its a shame really, good concept but as usual with a lot of BBC/ english makes, they need to dumb it down for what they portray as a conservative society. The BBC need to stop being politically correct nancy pants who are afraid of stepping on toes and put some bloody grittiness in their shows. Double that up with actors or scenes that are not out of eastenders and they could show the ability of british film making. But noooooooo.

It just annoys me, they have the talent but always choose crappy shots, limited acting potential and always sit on the safe road.

The last few episodes have production values of old doctor who.

Really upsetting.

Maybe us 'Mericans can do a remake of "Outcasts". We'll keep Jamie Bamber in the cast too.

And in the final episode, the last shuttle lands and out steps....Professor Quatermass. Oh what an ending that would be.

What this show needed to do was focus on a make-shift police force consisting of...

An hardened Australian chick, opportunistic, formerly bent, perhaps seeking redemption? (The Queen)
A naive American flight engineer, bitter about the past, secretive, guarded. (The Knave)
Gruff, totally non PC ex army copper who rubs everyone the wrong way. Rude and dim. (The Fool)
An old school educated English police detective running the whole show. (The King)

Oh, wait, that's Star-cops.

There is a not terribly good review of it in this weeks 'Private Eye' of all places.

Ooh, Star-cops! We were talking about this at work today. That's the series from the mid eighties isn't it? I seem to remember it concentrated so hard on the science it forgot the fiction. I think it debuted at about the same time as 'The Next Generation.' Bet that didn't help.

I'm actually quite liking this show now. A real cops and robbers episode (to quote Commander Nathan Spring from Starcops), I always preferred Sherlock Holmes to Dan Dare. And while this wasn't quite Holmes it was a half decent story about people.

I get the impression this is borrowed from the book of Moses for some reason. Tate came down from the mountains empty handed though. But maybe Moses is someone else? I don't know. For once I'm looking forward to the next episode quite eagerly. Wouldn't mind another series either.

(But I'd prefer a Blakes 7 reboot more)

It will.

"Coming soon": http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/426/index.jsp

Thanks for that info! I'll be checking it out.

It's all gone quiet on that front, hasn't it? Must be well over a year since I last heard anything about it.

One episode to go with rather a lot to pack in. It certainly seems to have been working to a multiple series storyline so you never know. I mean if '2 Pints of Lager...' can get 10 series I don't see why this can't.

I didn't quite get the last episode.

Interesting article here,

http://airlockalpha.com/node/8330/bbc-responds-to-criticism-over-outcasts-move.html

Had to use iPlayer to watch the last episode as I could not get any TV channels on the ancient tv that is in my house in Scotland. Still enjoying it and I hope they do make more of it.

Confirming it won't be back for a second season. Just when I started to get into it. I'd watch it again with different eyes.

http://www.cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/719-bbc-confirm-that-outcasts-wont-be-returning

Missed the last episode last night, was watching RED with the wife, will try and catch the BBC HD repeat tonight
Anyway, I have pre-orderd the Bluray of the series on Amazon

I'm annoyed about it getting axed. I know it's viewing figures had taken a hit but moving it to it's late night Sunday slot pretty much killed it. It had problems: the dialogue was extremely clunky at times; more than a few of the characters were one dimensional; one or two of the episode plots were little more than filler that only made sense if it had enjoyed a US style 20 odd episode season rather than an 8 show run. It didn't have the time to waste on things like last weeks 'domestic in space.'

But there were some neat ideas there, and the cancellation leaves us with some tantalising cliff hangers. Here is an interesting quote from the article Flexman linked too:



Unless, of course, it's Doctor Who I expect. No offence to that show but I want something else from my Sci-fi.

I really enjoyed last nights show as well. Never mind. Another month and 'Game of Thrones' starts. Different thing altogether but should be good.

Sat up late last night to watch it and it leaves a lot of questions unanswered and a great cliff hanger for a second season Ah well. Wonder if the writer will tidy it up in a book?

"Game of Thrones" Thanks for the heads up, didn't know this was coming on the telly.

Watched the last episode and find myself wanting more, not earth shattering but entertaining.
Wasn't there a Star Trek episode similar to this?

Although I was a bit bored by the first few episodes, Outcasts did improve and I'm glad I stuck with it.

Now I have to handle the disappointment of not having a weekly dose of Amy Manson on the TV. :-(

Amazon have just emailed me to say the Bluray of Outcasts has been shipped

Was watching this last night.

Seems much better second time though. Much easier to follow once you know what kind of show it's trying to be. Viewing in high-def helps, I missed a lot of background detail first time through since I mostly caught it on BBC iPlayer which doesn't have great resolution.

Didn't appreciate how visually rich it was except in some of the space shots, on blu-ray its eye rippingly sharp, white sands and mountain ridges. Quite unusual.

If it does well in international markets I hope Kudos get commissioned to continue what they started. At the end I really got into this all to short a series. For some it was all too long

Mine arrived today but not had time to watch it yet (1 export sale to Belgium )
Queued to watch..
1, Wings series (DVD)
2, Pride and Glory (DVD)
3, Pathfinders (DVD)
4, Outcasts (BluRay)