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New sci-fi–Outcasts

Update: Further thoughts on Outcasts here.

I’ve only seen the pilot of Outcasts but am loving the ambition of the show. Bold, crazy, post-apocalyptic universe, Jamie Bamber making an appearance with his native British accent*, big budget BBC drama, Roz from Spooks, staggeringly striking sets in South Africa… so many good ingredients.

It saddens me that there have already been negative mutterings about its ratings and its been shifted to a graveyard slot – probably with a doubtful future. Why set these shows up on a pedestal? It’s sci-fi! For some reason, with rare exceptions, these shows always attract what the BBC controller describes as a “loyal, core audience” and rarely hit the mass-market mainstream – so why expect otherwise? I guess SFX budgets still don’t come in cheap, and everyone’s hoping they write a BatGal or a Star Trek.

Still – even if it doesn’t do great here, the BBC didn’t do much for its chances to do much better overseas with its weird series formats. 8 episodes? What is that?? An American half-season is 13 episodes – a length which gives you more time to get into a story or a universe, and which gives time for things to evolve to a point of genuine goodness.

Sigh. Well, if it gets cancelled, I’ll hope that it gets worse by episode three and I won’t regret its demise. But I’m not hopeful – I enjoyed the pilot. Check out the trailer here:

 

*I swear I thought he was American, he must be a good actor because I thought his English accent in Outcasts was unconvincing after seeing him on BatGal for years!

Posted in Television.

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90 comments

By Armand – February 23, 2011

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  • Dave

    “Screw the haters, this show rules and the latest episode was a real cliffhanger.”

    Rob,

    By “the haters” can I assume you mean the people whose opinion varies from yours? Did you learn nothing from the show? clearly you would be wanting to kill the AC’s then!

    Cliffhanger – plot device to make people come back to see what happened because the quality of the writing isn’t good enough to pull them back. Dan Brown has made a career out of it!

  • Dave

    Oh, one more thing, then I’m going to bed.

    The best science fiction NEVER requires suspension of disbelief, it only ever requires an open mind.

    If you’re thinking “oh, well, that couldn’t happen” they’ve already failed.

  • Phillip

    Just saw the last episode and I would be very disappointed if there wasn’t a second season.

    I just want to know what the authors have in mind for the manipulative Julius Berger…

  • James Hayes

    brilliantly compelling, l to have jusr watched episode 8 and am looking forward to its continuance. Over to you auntie. The underlying philosophy is superb.

  • steve kendrick

    A note to the BBC . Remember .TORCHWOOD. it took time to kick off . but the last 5 day series was great ? Please Learn . Outcasts could go the same following . you make ground breaking Idea’s . ( which we pay for ) give outcasts a chance . PS . you could make another winner with Torchwood ,,, you sold that one ?

  • Adso

    Please make Series 2. My son and I love this show. We stayed up late to watch the final episode.

    Don’t forget that Star Trek TNG Series 1 and 2 weren’t well received but that programme went on to win Emmy awards.

  • Suzy

    Really enjoyed this program. Please BBC bring it back for a second series.

  • http://www.sky.com Robert Blakemore

    Here we go again. The BBC finally come up with a Sci Fi drama that’s been well worth watching (No silly monsters or people carrying ray guns whilst wearing wellingtons painted silver). So what do they do., stop the series (not end it) with the whole brilliant storyline up in the air. Will they make a second series to finish it off? I really hope so, but knowing the BBC they will probably shelve it to make room for some cheap reality show or yet another depressing soap. Do the BBC really think that the licence payers only want programs where they don’t have to think? The BBC should remember “Star Trek”. When that started here in the 1960s all the TV critics panned it, but it became an award winning classic. Please, just for once, when the BBC get something this good, finish off what they’ve started.

  • Donna

    AB FAB!!! Left me wanting more. Well done BBC – in true tradition well made, well acted. I’m a true sci fi fan and love all of the Star Trek and star wars films but I loved the way that the writer took a realistic view of what we can expect as a possible future taking into account scientific evidence. BBC don’t you dare leave us wanting more and by the way when can we expect Torchwood back on TV screens – Love it, love it, love it.

  • Homer

    Please BBC lets have a secod series as this is going to be another Dr Who succuses

  • Emily

    I have been competely engrossed in this series, and have just watched the last episode which was ended in such an unsatisactory way i’m left really disappointed. I’m begging you – please finish the story!

  • Vickie

    well I’ve loved watching it and hope we get a second series. I didn’t believe that just because it was put into a late night slot meant the BBC thought it was no good, I just assumed they wanted to air the other new series that have been a made. Its meant I have had to watch it on Talk Talk catch up the next day but I do that anyway if ITV have something good on at the same time.

  • Tony 25 from newcastle

    best sci fi show on tv me wor lass loved it watched every episode didnt relise it was the season finale but its left us wanting more and with plenty of questions to be answered hope they make season 2 and i hope we dont have to wait ages for it and please dont shelve it like you did with survivors that was a great remake of the original tv series and that too has plenty of questions that wont get answered also to the bbc will you please pick up the amrican tv show persons unkown the british public will love it and were they have stopped the show could go on for another few seasons

  • Alan

    This show is a refreshing look at scifi . as was stated in a previous reply no silver boots .. just good gritty survival with some amazing shot locations . This show should continue as it has a good storyline and excellent acting .. it beats the constant rubbish of never ending soaps and cooking programmes that we are bombarded with these days.
    i for 1 would relish a second a second and third season

  • joyce

    i hope that there will be a second series as i really enjoyed this. i watcht it on the I player becaucse my hubby is not a s f van

  • Ian Probert

    Someone please tell me! Is there going to be a second series?

  • Dee

    in a radio times interview Hermione N said they were in South Africa for 5 months.
    Surely that means they have filmed another series? Where is it???!!

  • Annie

    I’ve loved this show from the beginning. Had to watch the last 2 shows on iPlayer – I can’t stay awake beyond 10 pm these days – but I’ve watched them at my earliest opportunity on Mondays and I really hope they make a second series and don’t leave us all just hanging!

  • graham

    we both loved outcasts thought it was great something different from the usual rubbish please somebody do a second series

  • pritchi

    Brilliant. And as always in good sci fi the sci fi is just the vehicle for the social observance, politics, ethics and comment on current society. PLEASE BBC see the depth of this series and keep it running.

  • D J P

    really enjoyed Outcasts, hope another series is planned soon.

  • Dave

    Sorry guys, not sure if you know this (and it does depend on the validity of the source) but there will be no season 2!
    http://www.denofgeek.com/television/808656/outcasts_episode_8_review_series_finale.html

    I was devastated as although some of the episodes I felt were left wanting, on the whole I felt the series was heading in an interesting and compelling direction. Now we will never know what becomes of the residents of Forthaven and the AC’s. I was deeply disappointed when I read season 2 was not being commissioned.

  • John

    Every decade the BBC manages to produce a classic SciFi drama:
    Old Dr Who (60s/70s)
    HGTTG (radio version) (1978)
    Red Dwarf (80s)
    Missed the 90s
    New Dr Who and Torchwood (2005)
    Is the Outcasts destined to be as memorable? I don’t know, but give it a chance – there are some good story lines and characters. Give it a chance to develop.

  • Alex Jones

    Loved Outcasts. A follow up is needed to tie up the many loose ends.

  • Diane Costar

    What a cliffhanger. The BBC cannot leave us in suspense. Series started slowly but as the characters developed we got positively hooked. Another series is a must for us addicts

  • Snark

    Please BBC don’t l;et us down .. series 2 is vital I need to know what happens next !!!!

  • Helen

    Please please please don’t leave Outcasts there but make another series (or more!). I absolutely love this intelligent drama – there is so little on at the moment that is either innnovative material or sci fi of any kind. Yes there are plot holes (e.g. where do the ACs get their clothes and munitions from?) but there are so many compelling themes and strands to the story. It has made me go to bed pondering how human society really would survive on another planet and what rules it would choose to live by. I too love Dr Who and Star Trek but this is both far more grown up than the one and obviously more British than the other. I actually found the whole scenario eerily “realistic” and taking time to build up the atmosphere was all part of that. I would pay decent money to see another series of this.

  • Christopher Sewell

    Where and when can we see an answer from the BBC? I’m one of the vast majority who have been captivated by this outstanding new sci-fi story. (This is my second contribution here.)

    We need a reply to the question raised several times: WILL we get a second series – or even a third and fourth? The original concept was inspired – and clearly was designed to be an ongoing narrative over many more than a meagre 8 episodes!

  • Kapila

    I’m so sad the show’s been cancelled….tears freely flowing!! :’( Why were there so many haters?! I thought the characters, storylines and plots were all complex, fairly well integrated; the scenery and settings were unique… seeing these episodes reminded me so much of the flavours of ST:TNG. Far better than BSG IMHO. BBC – Please bring Outcasts back!!!!! Hellllllllllppp!

  • Mark

    Excellent first series (I say first as we want another!) Great story but better still great characters which make the show so compelling. When you start talking at the TV you know you’re emotionally involved!

    As others had said be brave and keep writing. This could be another landmark BBC series…

  • mel

    this was fantastic what is happening with the bbc i would rather watch outcast anyday than eastenders they get rid of good programes and give us repeats or total crap we pay for a tv license why cant the viewers have a say to what we want to watch

  • http://albert2@talktalk.net lync

    please come back with series 2 my husband and I really enjoyed outcast right to the end.
    you just can not leave it there…

  • Daniel Taylor

    Devastated that there will be no second series. One of the best things on TV I have seen in ages. Certainly better by far than most of the reality/soap/repeats that seem to hog the schedules. Outcasts had a good plot, premise, acting, sets. The BBC killed it prematurely by moving its time slot. They should have just put it on BBC2 at 9PM on one day of the week rather putting it in contention with the dross that seems to attract the multitudes of people who seem to have no capacity to appreciate some good storytelling and would rather watch cheap, quick buck, documentaries. A book is needed at the very least to answer all the question and wrap up such a compelling story.

  • Sloorg from Planet SciFi

    Make new series or we will clear White City Shephers Bush to make way for a Vogon strip club

  • Mr Blake

    I just have to say this was much better than LOST and I followed that show for 5 Years. top class production, good acting, fantastic locations, (not some disused open mine in Kent (Dr Who?).

  • Rosie

    I’m right with you there Mel. All I watch on the BBC are The Politics Show, Andrew Marr and BBC New 24, and until recently Outcasts. Everything else just leaves me utterly uninspired or entertained and diving for the remote to either change channel or turn the telly off. I’m getting pretty p’d off with tthe drivel I have to pay for the privelege of avoiding.

    As a fully paid up member of the license fee brigade I am formally announcing…………

    SECOND SERIES BBC – YOUR EMPLOYER HAS SPOKEN!

  • j walsh

    Typical of this country the ratings are great for peanut brained fans of eastenders stupid progs like big brother and other such celeb crap, its a pity only a small section of the human race has any imagination and even a trifle of intellect, human beings in general are such sheep , of the human population of the planet only about 25% are real people all the rest are just there to fill out the numbers, bit like some of the explorers and ACs really lol
    Put the bloody thing back on or I wont be paying my license fee next year in protest

  • Rosie

    There’s a petition on Facebook if anyone’s interested;)

  • Pingback: Interview with Outcasts’ creator, Ben Richards | division6

  • Christopherhockley

    im still waiting for second series as it was the best adult scifi to date

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