Space Above and Beyond - A Hidden Sci-Fi Gem
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- Опубліковано 3 лип 2024
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Kicking off a new series of videos about Hidden Sci-Fi Gems, lets talk about the unfortunately cancelled, Space Above and Beyond and why it's great.
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This is one of the rare shows that could work in a rebooted format today. Several of the issues it tackled are still relevant.
That would be amazing.
Not in this woke culture, reboots that are even half decent are very few and far between these days.😕
That's the crazy thing about reboots and remakes. There's so many thing that could be rebooted with tons of potential, but they only reboot things that people know the name of, even if the reboot makes no sense. Like why do people keep trying to make Jack Ryan an updated thing? That property makes no sense outside of a cold war context. SAAB could have tons of potential, but sadly very few have heard of it. But angy birds, though, that gets a movie.
I wish it would... Straight to VOD movies or something would be great! It would kill on Netflix.
Given how Hollywood, Netflix, and other industry giants have been destroying much loved franchises with forced "Woke" politics, I'm afraid that any re-imagined/reboot of this hidden gem would only end up in the trash fire that is "Woke Production".
"Who monitors the birds" is without doubt one of the sci-fi genre most iconic character explorations ever depicted. It is clever, elegant, and sympathetic.
VERY! well written!
I still remember when the news hit that a Russian sailor had been arrested for Espionage after being caught trying to take a picture of one of this show's Ships/fighters that was sitting on a dock. It was a TV prop but he didn't know it and thought he was getting a picture of America's newest Fighter.
That's a great story but the KGB wasn't that stupid.
During the filming of "The Fifth Missile (1986)" the buzz was that the Soviet Navy kept a close eye on the full scale nuclear submarine mock-up.
Hah, and believed that story.
They probably never sailed it more than a few miles out of port, for safety reasons obviously.
@@AudieHolland Well, you say that but I know of a very amusing tale...
During the 70's there was a series in the UK named "Warship" that was filmed using actual Royal Navy frigates and destroyers with fake names, insignia and pennant numbers painted on the sides and the stern as well as fake cap tallies to go on uniform caps and hats. This also extended to having the ship's helicopters painted into fake markings too. Around the time that Series 1 was finished filming various ships going round and round, it was discovered that the Soviet Navy was trying to work out how the hell the same ship kept appearing in different parts of the world within two days or so and thought there was a massive new propulsion system we had - the Soviet naval vessels and "trawlers" kept radioing the sightings in to Moscow. When the Royal Navy heard about this they laughed their heads off and had more ships painted over with the fake stuff.
It wasn't until the Soviet Naval Attaché happened to see an episode that Uncle Joe figured it all out.
My favorite episode was alwas "The angriest Angel", where Colonel McQueen goes fully ape and the show hit an emotional turning point. It's a double episode and the one before it has to be watched in context, but the angriest angel is just so amazingly throughout. The music was pretty good as well and played a big part in some of the episodes. "Nevernomore" is still in my ears when I think of Space above and Beyond. And it's really been too long. Got to rewatch :)
I was obsessed with this show when it aired, didn’t know anyone remembered it
Yeah I was well into it too but they aired it late at night and i always fell asleep before the end. 🤣
Oh damn I do and I was so sad when I learned, there was nothing more to come...
Me too!!
Once I attended a Sci-Fi convention which will remain anonymous, and during the Q&A guest speaker who I really can't remember from Hollywood was talking about upcoming shows and cancelled shows anyway when I asked about space above and beyond you could hear the record scratching sound and the room almost became silent and I actually heard some distant giggling and some people actually turned and looked at me with that " why are you asking about that show " anyway long story short if my memory serves me right the guest speaker mentioned something about expensive to produce and low ratings, but anyway in my opinion space above and beyond was really underrated!!
I am a devotee to this style of show. This was the most perfect show of its kind. It had a great concept and achieved it's storytelling goals. It was also the most diverse cast even making two of the white guys hated minorities. The white guy gets separated from girl at the beginning was cheesy but after that the whole show is great. Acting like a black man in Jim crowish circumstances I appreciated. There was an actual black woman and Asian man who were just people. You didn't normally see that. The black commanding officer was just a commanding officer. These were amazing for representation without fanfare.
As a kid I loved this show. It was so different from the scifi that was being made at the time, I really enjoyed the more human and darker side of conflict they explored. Great little series, shame they didn't commit to the full run.
Definition of underrated, or rather unlimited potential. I was a weekly watcher of SAB when it first aired. I was so disappointed when the show was cancelled. Eventhough the 1st season had a few standout episodes, the full season was really a introduction/get to know the characters. Upon watching the final episode your like "alright! Now we can really get started" I remember feeling that. And anticipating what was to come next. Learning that the show was originally slated for 5 seasons, damn, what could have been. Even 3 for that matter. A lot of shows dont find their audience in the 1st season. If the execs would have given it another season to find its footing. I have no doubt ratings would have climbed dramatically. What could have been.
As a veteran Marine, I loved this show. Yes the show was ahead of its time. I think it would be successful it it is aired today instead of back in the day. I remember there were lots of complaint about show being too violent for the prime time TV and some say that is why the show was cancelled. I didn't think it was all that violent, instead it made more exciting to watch and make you want to glued to the television.
well, its a Hollywood war. nothing like the real thing. i was ROLAF in land fights, not a pilot but dogfights seemed very unreal for me. not to mention basic drills as wearing your space sout when in cockpit, or carrying grandes as standard in your combat gear. no smoke covers whatsoever. no covering fire. no flanks. space travels takes no time, alien enemy knows human psychology incredibly well, no combined battle and hardly any heavy weapon, pilots are wasted as infantry and in most battles troops hide in cover with no enemy movements eye contact. they are always so clean - even after 3 month behind enemy lines - apparently other planets have no dust nor dirt - and dont forget the girls great morning hair! btw, if were on it - no military haircuts... and nun of our heroes ever get shot... wasn't it great if all wars were like that?
i did liked Battlestar Galactica though. that was a bit more alike in the military ship tradition.
@@golight1 The space travel taking no time is at least explained. FTL travel exists and is even spoken of very briefly during the show. Travel between star systems is achieved through predictable windows in which wormholes can facilitate transport between star systems. Its a shame this is never actually shown on screen, even more so because the primary reason for the Chigg's early success in the war was because they had the ability to use some alternate form of FTL travel that did not adhere to the wormhole windows and thus took earth forces by surprise repeatedly.
I really liked the show too but throughout the run I just couldn't stop thinking that you are either a fighter pilot or a ground pounder but you are NOT both.
Are you kidding me, the Hammerhead is up there with the Starfury imo, love that fighter craft. Its such a shame this didnt more seasons, one of my faves.
Once a Hammerhead was spotted being transported on the back of a big-rig flat bed.
News speculation was it had to be an advanced prototype before the studio confirmed it was for the TV show.
I liked how the cockpits "dropped" into the ships....lot to like about this show.
@@akaBoG There was a functional reason for that too, it was an ejection pod. It wasn't just because it looked cool.
@@pezdispencer113 I totally forgot that...haven't watched in years.
I like seeing the "functionality" of the items in sci-fi......makes it feel more "real."
@@DaveNarn It was on the back of a freighter taking them to Australia for shooting and it was Russian fishermen.
I loved this show. Always hoped it was one of the many shows being re-imagined / re booted. Shame it hasn’t been yet. Great episode really enjoyed it. Thanks.
Yeah this is one of the rare properties which could benefit from a reboot. Or perhaps the writers could make a new show to tackle similar material.
@@RowanJColeman Starship Troopers has any similarities. But SAAB is more relatable antagonists. Aliens who actually speak instead of just bugs.
@@RowanJColeman My dream reboot/re-imagining would be "buck rogers in the 25th century", loved the premise, less goofiness, keep the funk and better FX.
THIS really would be a great IP to reboot since it is quite obscure and because it was cancelled there's actually a story to tell without repeating it. Theoretically, you could even set the reboot series after the original series. The actors are all still alive and with modern CGI/de-aging you could do a Pilot movie to explain the intermittent decades after the last orig. episode.
@@vincentvoillot6365 I love that show especially because of it's campiness, because it doesn't take itself too serious. The 2nd season is disappointing, except maybe for Hawk.
Loved this show too. Bought it on DVD as soon as it was available. Great show gone too soon. One my favorite scenes was in the episode where Wang mocks McQueen as a plumber. "Gonna be a real knife fight. I'm going to utilize a pipe wrench...and maybe a plunger.."
I remember watching this show when it first aired in 1995. I LOVED IT. And, I was so disappointed when it was cancelled. It's the most underrated Sci-Fi Show and one of the top overall underrated TV Shows.
One of my favorite scenes was in the last episode. Wang on the crippled APC manning the gunner position and blazing away at the enemy chig fighters, knowing he was a dead man and shouting "GET SOME" as they make a final run, destroying the craft. Certified badass!
This was the most incredible show. Created by the people who brought us The X-Files. It was the BattleStar Reboot, before the BattleStar Reboot. It is so good to know I am not the only one who watched this show.
I think the amount of people who watched and enjoyed this show, are more that both of us can imagine. I believe the show was cancelled foe other, more obscure reasons.
Yes, Battlestar got all the press, but it largely seemed to ripoff SAAB.
It was aired at 11 pm around here and I have fond memories of staying up late to watch it and it wreaking a bit of havock on my next school day once a week. :D
i could never forget the moment in the show when the humans found a chigs hatchery. An alien “mother” trying to explain with gestures not to harm them simply picked up dirt on the ground and gestured between both the human and the alien. The human got the message: “we come from the same source...” darn that was deep.
"Shuffle up the wild cards and deal 'em." Loved this show.
Easy as eating pancakes
SO over the top and shamelessly melodramatic!
@CHIGGS 58TH I laughed for five minutes at that line when I saw it on TV. It was just as funny years later when I watched it again on DVD!!!
I remember being apart of a group on the internet that tried to get the show renewed. I forget the name we had for ourselves, but in the final episode, a support squadron with that groups name was ordered into battle to help out the Wild Cards. It was a nice call-out to fans.
@@NotContinuum Space Ready Reserve, named for the show's fanclub
i remenber watching this show, i'm feeling old. So many 90's tv shows disappear without a second season (or second chance), like "john doe" or "now and again"
i love that the writers of john doe spilled what was happening after
I remember this show in my mid 20’s it was a different era. Pretty good show and I liked Kristen Cloke.
Even then I didn’t think we would have big space carriers by 2063.
Remember Viper?
I’d throw in ’VR.5’.
I loved this show back in the day and would love to see if get a reboot.
That would be fantastic. Provided is not a woke shitfest.
@@RoyCyberPunk exactly!!!
But not by Disney saves us Good
10-4 that. Been waiting a long time for that.
no reboot. the actors who were in it owned their characters. I can't see anyone else in those roles.
Space Above & Beyond was a very well thought out, yet under rated sci-fi series. An over looked hidden gem it was & is today.
One of the most memorable moments in this tv show was for me when one of the protagonists was stranded on a planet and had to hide from alien patrols.
In one scene he was afraid they would find him sooner or later and decided to strike first against one of the patrols, but as he was aiming at one of the aliens something unexpected happend.
The alien stopped walking and watched some sort of bird. Nothing was said in this scene, but the protagonist lowered his rifle and let the alien go about his business..
P.S.: I didn't wait to the end of the video to write this.
I watched it back then when I was about 16 (in Germany it was called "Space 2063"). My parents didn't like it much but I found it great and never missed an episode.
on Vox :-)
I loved it...
in my cellar is a box with videocassettes of all episodes and a recorder... ;) i hope they still work when i get them out there someday in the future...
Damn that was a great show. Was really bummed years later that it was cancelled.
I live in Poland so it at one point showed up and then disappeared without any conclusion to final episode for me.
For years I had no idea what happened or hell I even didn't remembered the shows name.
Farscape was a great show.
if you didn't get last episode it summed up all the rest stupidity of war chaos of war powerful pushing war human cost of war
U nas leciało pod tytułem "Gwiezdna Eskadra" o ile mnie skleroza nie myli ;-)
It finished, and the ending is Awesome. It's not what anyone would expect. . .
. . . Mat, have you ever heard about a FREE program called "FrostWire"? You might want to check it out.
A great series! So underrated. I’m friends with Morgan Weisser. A great guy! Intelligent and sharp sense of humour
My favorite thing about the show was how it centered on the crew, not the commanders. The lives of people below decks, who would be throw-away "red shirts" on Trek were the most important people in this show. MUCH more dynamic and far more believable than the Captain and XO being boots on the ground!
The episode "The Angriest Angel" has stuck with me, ever since it aired.
Definitly one of the best two-parters in sci-fi history.
Ray butts, The river of stars, pearly and sugar dirt also great episodes but yeah angriest angel 2 parter best of the best.
"Never No More" always got me. And it's also what started my love of Patsy Cline. Their choice of music for this show was always great.
Just watched this again about a month ago for the firrst time in about 20 years. It's still great episode.
Yep loved it, chiggy von richthofen was a Boss!
Wow, can't believe it's been 25 years already, still have this series on VHS.
One of my two favorite SF TV shows, the other one is Babylon 5.
Space Above and Beyond had allot of references to Vietnam and and the first Golf War.
This used to be my favorite show for a long time. To this day I haven't given up on a continuation of the story after that sad but open season finale.
I also had a crush on Shane Vansen, although my favorite character probably was Lieutenant Colonel Tyrus Cassius McQueen. And of course I loved the opening score, which imo is one of the best tv (or movie) themes of all time.
So many years later, I’m hoping for a reboot
Loved this show when it aired. I still say "Easier than eating pancakes." at work.
Same! And all the blank stares are worth it.
Yeah … loved that episode !! loved the line "The Wild Cards ?!! you guys where at the Battle of the Belt !!!" West's reply: Yeah... we know … We were there ;0)
@20 trillion 2020 Heck yeah .... " Its easier than Flipp'in Pancakes !!!"
@20 trillion 2020 That and " You guys are the Wild Cards ?!! ... You were at the battle of the belt !! ..... Yeah we know .... WE WERE THERE !!!"
Stupid tank!
One of the BEST sci-fi shows ever! It amazes me that no one really talks about this show. Thank you for this video.
Love this show and the complicated character interactions, and let's raise a glass to Tyrus Cassias McQueen.
One nit-pick: I thought the AI's were called "Silicates".
Great analysis of an underrated show. Thanks!
You are correct. I have watched this series about ten times. Definitely silicates.
"The River of Stars" is my favorite episode. I watch it every Christmas morning. (You'll understand why when you watch it.) Glad to see that so many people remember this show! Oh, and Colonel T.C. (Tyrus Cassius) McQueen is my fave character!
My favorite episode from this show. I'll have to watch it soon. It's Dec 16th.
McQueen and the commodore tied for my fave.
SAaB always has been one of my favorites. I really wish for a resume of the story with the original characters and actors, even if takes the story 25 years into its future.
I feel like another honourable mention is earth 2, I watched both these sci-fi's around the same time, both cancelled, both amazing!! Especially space above and beyond, great tribute vid, thankyou!
Earth 2 was great had a good story and good characters.
was that the one with Majel Roddenberry? it was ok, but kinda felt under-cooked.
Farscape was a great show.
Tim Curry had an interesting role in Earth 2.
@@kruleworld You're thinking of Earth: Final Conflict.
Yay! Someone remembered this never talked about show from a time when "seasons" had 22+ episodes in them. Never knew it was planned for 5 seasons, that would have been quite a ride.
Now if **someone** would recall an even more obscure show named VR.5, also from Fox Network.
Ah yes VR5.....what is that?
It had all the 90s top TV talent: Will Patton, Louise Fletcher, Anthony Head, David McCallum...and starring as every hacker's (and telephone line repairman's) fevered dream date: Lori Singer. The things she can do with a telephone modem...
Someone Noone from what I remember it was a semi detective show with VR used as a semi-psychic psychedelic fever dream investigation into each mystery and the overall story.
I vaguely remember VR5. In fact, had you not made this comment I probably would never have never thought about it.
This was one of my all time favorite shows. I got the complete DVD set one it was out. I think there was so much story to be told. And an awesome universe to tell it in.
"...And if they lay us down to rest, tell our mothers we did our best."
And they did.
Btw, I like the ending. Its not the end they/we wanted, but where the show ends is very fitting for a war story.
I love this series, have it on DVD, but for those wanting to watch it it is available on UA-cam although obviously the quality isn't as sharp. I agree it was way ahead of it's time and dealt with some very deep and occasionally dark subjects. The acting is very good and I feel James Morrison is sometimes overlooked as the cool, quiet CO of the Wild Card squadron. His performance along the way is very emotional, more so for how as a Colonel he tries to hide it and yet through his eyes you can see the inner turmoil he feels sending these young kids out to fight.
Yeah Morrison is terrific in the show.
I thought "Sugar Dirt" and the afore mentioned "Stay With the Dead" were probably the 2 episodes I liked the most, especially near the end of Sugar Dirt, when Tucker Smallwood stands in the entrance to the 'diner' , and you can see (and hear) how emotional he is. And then that little scene at the end where they are all wake at a certain time, and the camera then focuses on Vance's face. Also, James Morrison when he admonishes the radio operator on the Saratoga.
Jim Morrison from The Doors?
I thought that he was long dead by then. :-D
Farscape was a great show.
Thanks i never looked for this. :) i found space 1999 and Blakes7 series on UA-cam.
One of my favourite Scifi shows.
So much so that I own Rodney Rolands Jack of Spades helmet from the series!
GRIMMBLINGIBBON that’s awesome!
I recommended Space: AAB to several of my friends when it was still on the air, including the one that got me back into Babylon 5 after I didn't keep watching after the original pilot. I used to describe it to people as "closer to Starship Troopers than Starship Troopers". Of course that was after the Starship Troopers movie and well after I had actually read the book. Still, it had a real future to it if Fox hadn't dropped the ball and cancelled it so quick, as they always seemed to do.
One of the best sci fi shows with depth, great and complex characters, awesome story telling, intelligent and astonishing with a lot of subtle tones. Why was that show cancelled after only one season while so many low level trash gets 4-5+seasons is above and beyond me!!
One of my all time favorite shows. I wish they could have finished it.
Lol we said almost the same thing.
Agreed, it would have been great to have more episodes to watch but at the same time the memory of this show has been unsullied by cheap sequels and reboots like so many other IPs, so maybe it’s for the best.
Keith, they did. If you haven't seen it, its one of the most important episodes. . . The last one "Brings it all home", and it's NOT what you Only THINK you expect. . . Heck, they may even have it here. . ?
Cyi Absalon
I don’t think it brought it all home, the end of season 1 had heaps of things left up in the air that we never got to find out. A lot of the story behind the reasons for the war were revealed but nothing was resolved.
Dale, maybe I saw it in a different light. . . That colony they set up, happened to be the 'chigger's graveyard, and with us going there, it was desecrated by us. They didn't like us, because of our smell. To them we were lower than a snake belly in a wagon rut, and had to be put in our place, right? But then they were totally alien to us, and unknown in every way, so we had no idea the reason for the attack. Then the war, as war is went as war does, and we humans, the warring tribe of the galaxy cleaned their cocks, and fixed their little red wagon for them. Even yet, there were those who still held onto what we call "Humanity", and during one "deep raid" we encountered a group of them. . Civilians so to speak, and urged them to run and hide to protect them selves from the upcoming fire fight. but alas, who they encountered was on of their high ranking priest/official/politician, and they took it as some sort of taunt of ours to urge them to fight harder. escalating things to a Last-ditch effort throw-down with us.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, that person. . . uh. . "V" something, she told of meeting up with some civilians, and telling them to flee away from the fighting, disobeying the direct order to kill everything in sight, as well as one of the 'chiggers had been captured and somewhat interrogated elsewhere, which "V" didn't know about. We were told by the chigger what they thought of the encounter, and our Big-Wigs got all pissy, and wanted to smack some one for it, so they nailed "V" to the barn door for her reluctance to "Kill Everything in sight". Thus proving the cause for just about all our wars is mostly a simple misunderstanding, lack of communication, pride, and on our side of things. . . Well, us hairless apes simply love war for its self, regardless of season or occasion. .
Practicing kindness is not allowed when we are at war, and will be harshly dealt with. .. Us humans can never practice what we preach about peace, and apparently no one else can, ether. It's simply a hopeless cycle of conflict forever.
Did that come out right? . . .
(Now, where did that damn "Frag" roll off to?! I'm going to miss out on the opening assault if I can't find it soon!)
@@cyiabsalon9720 I've seen how they ended it but that was the rushed ending when they knew the show was canceled. I wish the original intent of five seasons could have been completed.
The only thing I remember about this show is "Chiggy von Richtofen".
Uncertain Future Great pair of episodes!
Omg that "make peace with your make"r line from McQueen promises to drink a bottle of scotch like its Richtoffen's blood! That was cold as hell!
That is very much how squaddies nickname both friends and foes, with irony.
"Abandon all hope"
Chiggy the chig the inspiration for the cylon ship scar?
Angriest Angel and Who Monitors the Birds were 2 of my favorite episodes.
The show just started to hit its stride, and then got cancelled. So sad.
Hawkes: Now I know how she felt, her whole life.
Sadder that a Bean Counter had the power to do it too..
"The show just started to hit its stride, and then got cancelled."
That happens all too often. The first series of anything is usually a bumpy ride, as the players settle into their characters and the writers iron out some of the more glaring plot holes that weren't addressed during concept; and then fans don't come - yet. And in the second half or near the end of that first series, things start to take off. By which point the studio idiots have counted their beans and cancelled it.
@OPT Steve Yes, we were really getting to see the Chig point of view when they cancelled it. I recently bought it on DVD.
One of the big problems, I felt, was how Fox kept moving the show around. I remember it being on Friday Saturday and Sunday. Sometimes it would happen around the X-Files. Sometimes it would be right after Sunday football which created its own problems. Sometimes the football game would go long and Fox would cut into SAAB. If the audience can't find the show, it can't watch the show.
I loved this show. Playing Ramones right before entering a space battle was the shit
the first thing i remembered about this show was blitzkrieg bop being used in the promo trailers before it came out.
This song often plays in my head when dogfighting in Elite Dangerous.
@@MrDonovanFrost did not someone play Johnny cash before a space battle ?
@@Badastro59 If I remember correctly, Johnny Cash was played in the episode when their transport ran out of power and they ended up slingshotting a comet to get back to Human space? I was stoked to find the show on DVD, still gutted they didn't make a proper ending.
Ay! Oh! Let's go!
I actually have this show on DVD. Couldn't agree more with your assessment.
I do, too. Good thing I bought the albeit pretty lackluster season DVD as soon as it came out in Germany because it's now out-of-print and goes for several hundred Euros.
One of my favorite shows. I remember waiting and waiting for it to come back. And whenever anyone brings a show not getting the ending it should have this is my go to. Other than Firefly, Babylon 5 and DS9/Next Generation it's probably my favorite science fiction series.
I absolutely love this show and was obsessed as a kid. Now I own Tucker Smallwood's scripts from the show. So interesting to see his notes. As a veteran of Vietnam he provides a deep understanding.
As a Wing Commander fan as a kid I loved this show when it came out. Wished it had a longer run it really had legs.
Btw your analysis is amazing, you’re point about it being a trial run for the Battlestar Gallactica reboot is spot on!
This was a great show - Was crushed when it got cancelled.
Me too. I cried. Lol
So was I like wtf everyone at my job was like "did we miss it because how Fox moved it around " shame excellent show.
How could they not cancel it. It wasn’t in a consistent time slot from week to week. I remember it being on Thursday at 9, then Saturday afternoon, then Friday night
This was and still is a show that just grabbed me from the get-go. Episodes like "Angriest Angel" and several that I forgot the titles of, heck, the entire show had me glued to the TV when it ran.
This show also wasn't afraid to throw in an episode dealing with sort of a christmas miracle.
And that episode where Hawkes was dropped on a hostile planet for a solo sniper mission, and encounters death... hewck, Hawkes' "Who monitors the birds" as you mentioned, too... both were gems.
Edit: Another episode that returns to memory right after I placed this comment... "Farthest from home" also a gem.
I remember seeing this show. And also having a crush on Kristen Cloke.
"But much of the craft here (in S:AA) aren't as sleek or cool looking" he says, while showing us a squadron of Hammerheads.
Loved the show; I usually end up rewatching it every 2-3 years.
I wish there was more 'grounded' military-scifi shows/movies, afaik -I've pretty much exhausted the supply.
We need tv series about "Forever War" or "Starship Troopers" gritty and dark and realistic war depiction.
Films and remakes those two coming though. But yeah, some gritty and dark sci fi would be good. All we have to cover that is the expanse really
Fuck yes. The Forever War needs an adaptation soon. I’m kind of afraid what Hollywood is going to do to it though, I’ve heard rumors that Ridley Scott is directing a movie for the Forever War, and Channing Tatum is set to play William Mandella.
Forever war is great, and I’d welcome an adaptation-if it can be done sans gender swapping/lecturing.
Scottlp2 yeah, The Forever War already has enough social commentary as it is, it doesn’t need any extra. The whole book is a social commentary through a sci fi lens.
Forever War, The First Casualty, The Parafaith War, Hammer's Slammers.
I really enjoy this series. I bought in on DVD years after seeing the last episode. As a Marine I really enjoyed the fidelity to many Marine themes in the show. It treated USMC traditions very respectfully. Made me believe they had some real Marines doing some consulting on that stuff.
The BSG reboot had obvious ties to S:AaB. I miss this show so much. It definitely deserves another chance.
Ya. Sci fi bought the rights to steal the effects. The shows could have merged beautifully instead of a prehistoric earth.
“Who monitors the birds” is my favourite episode.
Robert Evans The Emmy nominated episode.
I loved that episode.
Sad thing is it was too far ahead of it's time. People didn't quite know what to make of it
I dunno...great ep, surely...but I love Never No More
@bludrk returns Yeah, the Angriest Angel.
So, one of my favorite scenes in all Scifi is from the "Angriest Angel" episode Where Col. McQueen is dressed and flight suit ready to hunt down Chiggy von Richthofen and he is stopped near a bulkhead by Commodore Ross and the "Wildcards" Squadron who have just finished a burial in space for a comrade.
The dialog written for James Morrison and executed by him is some of the best writing and acting I have ever seen in a scifi show or movie.
ua-cam.com/video/FOb6V9gzrKM/v-deo.html
This one scene was so etched in my memory from the first time I saw it in 8th grade that i tried hunting it down and eventually just bit the bullet and bought a boot legged copy of the show from ebay that was burned on CD. the quality was just horrible but i watched this scene over and over again getting chills each time.
What a waste of an amazing show. If there is any show that should be brought back it is this one.
YES!!! My favourite episode. I watched that one over and over.
Having just left senior school, that one episode helped further fuel a passion I've had all along. I came to realise there was something to be said about the older gent. Not only was McQueen tough as nails, he was smart, sympathetic, loyal to his friends and demonstrated a really dry sense of humour and those eyes and voice and the workout sequence, oh my god. Having rewatched it recently as 42 year old, without a doubt I'm still smitten. Tye is fine AF. The episode itself was beautifully written to showcase what is ultimately his humanity and I was gutted when we lost Winslow who had proved and awesome character through her developing episodes. The Angriest Angel is a legendary episode, especially for this eternal McQueen fan girl 😍
Never no more
@@davidtaylor9900 The Angriest Angel. I think Never No More preceded it.
@@lyncat @ Lynn Carcero, yes it did...it was like a 2 parter... It's ironic u know, up until those 2 episodes, I hardly paid the character of Winslow much mind...but those 2 episodes really brought her character some light..I was happy to see that..
I own this whole thing, love it. One of my very favorites, every single episode was fantastic, especially the one with the ace baddy... what an amazing single season.
imaging in 1995 you somehow turned on the tv in the middle of the night and RDM Battlestar Galactica was on. and no one else was watching this amazing show. thats how watching this felt. it was star ship troopers and the new BSG in 1995. but not with 1995 production quality (mostly)
that was pre nerds are a value exploitable market era. Its hard to imagine with the love it gets now but even B5 back when it aired had very little hype. I remember new episodes of the early seasons aired at like 5 on a Saturday... not the hottest spot
@@BGRANT777X When B5 was airing, my local channel broadcast it at 1130pm on Wednesday nights. The number of times it just got randomly cancelled so they could instead show golf or tennis was infuriating.
I remember watching this on BBC 2 on Friday night. Angriest Angel is my all time fav episode.
Love McQueen's showdown with Chiggy von Baron. Such an awesome sequence.
Chiggy von Richthofen ;)
The way they mixed that final fight, the funeral, and the Beethoven was masterful.
Was that the episode where they put pancakes out the airlock?
@@waldanealladin8754 Nope, that was Ray Butts. Ol' Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
I loved this show!! I would record it on my parents VHS, so I could watch it later since it played at night.
Loved this show. I recall after it cancelled each of the main stars would end up as characters in some X-Files episode, and I think I knew at that point there was no way they were coming back.
Spot on! This is still one of my "Oldies but Goldies" that almost no one else knows about. By the way, R. Lee Ermey and Dale Dye being in your show? That's high level approval right there!
Yes, but also the least of what the story had to offer.
@@jean-paulaudette9246 I'm sorry, what? Your comment didn't make much sense in relation to mine.
I meant to say, yes, they showcased an excellent stable of actors, but I felt the writing was a more admiral achievement than the cast.
@@jean-paulaudette9246 Indeed. It was a well written show that didn't get it's due.
You're absolutely right about this show, and particularly about the down time scenes being some of the best throughout. One of my favourites was Joel de la Fuente impersonating James Morrison as a plumber. I remember laughing so much
"It's ok to be scared."
"Hard to follow a dog act."
This was such a good show. Man, I miss this. Sucks how it ended.
Really glad to see this series being brought up. Me and a friend used to watch the heck out of this back when it aired here in Sweden in the 90's. Enjoyed it a lot, but, it's one of those shows that seems to get overlooked a lot of the time despite being good.
I loved Space Above and Beyond... I'd love to see this show rebooted, however I am concerned they'd try and "modernise" it too much and just destroy what made it special in the first place...
Loved this show, still do! Own the Original Release DVD's. I remember during its run on FOX it had a set showing on Sundays, then sometime during the middle it got cut by Football Games & other crap & would show up on random days of the week, making it impossible to keep up. Shame, as I really fell in love with this Series.
Yeah just a scheduling mess because they didn't know what to do with it.
@@timschmidt8786 Oh, Yeah, they really pulled out all the stops to give Firefly all the Fanfare of an Infomercial!
This. Fox continually moved the show around or let games run over and then they wonder why the ratings were bad.
Fox was absolutely horrible with that in the late 90s. They lost so many well reviewed and occasionally even popular series due to their shuffling, never giving a show a chance to get its legs. I remember it being a running joke at the time
I loved this show because you could relate to the characters and the struggles they faced.It was realistic in the sense that it could happen that way.
I loved this when it first came out. I was lucky to find the DVD set a few years back. R Lee Emery was great as the drill instructor. I would just note that several actors in this were ex military and were very respectful in their portrayals. This was a day to day look at young people at war, at the time the US was not at war. Then a few years later we were. It was just a bit ahead of time.
This show was a few years ahead of it’s time.
Going to show my true colors here - these were MARINES! Not soldiers. Okay, now that I have that out.
This was a true hidden diamond in the rough that didn't get it's proper due. Fox had it placed originally on Sunday's after football games and that meant inconsistent time when it would air. It wasn't guaranteed to play right at 6pm. Then at some point I believe Fox moved it to Tuesday night which was the final death blow to this under appreciated show. I think that today it would have a much better opportunity as a streaming service original than back in the day with Fox.
My biggest issue with this show (speaking as a Marine) was how the Hammerheads were a mix of fighter pilots and then also grunts. Granted, Marines are known for their "Every Marine a Rifleman" but I thought this show took it a bit far. Granted it did make for a more diverse storyline and broader range of situations that the squadron had to adjust to, it just wasn't - from this modern era of Marines - for them to be mixed in as ground grunts. Especially a whole squad of officers doing grunt work. It just doesn't happen outside of officer training courses.
So let's look past the slight "military" mistakes. This show, again, was way underrated and in a horrible time slot. I would really enjoy seeing a streaming service offer this and let the public take it in again.
They did that to the V reboot. Tried to mix it in with the Olympic games.
I think that they had tried to make them kind of like air cav or mechanized infantry. You are right, if you see a squad of officers crawling through the mud irl then the s*it hit the fan, the fan is on fire, and there are plenty of weapons on the ground.
BWHAHAHA.
4th Battalion Parris Island myself so you get a thumbs up from me.
I'm not even in the military but I remember as a kid even then thinking it was kind of silly that you had fighter pilots who were also functioning as infantry. But hey if Star Trek can get away with using science officers and engineers as grunts then who's to judge XD
Otherwise you'd need a much bigger cast in which case you run into the issue of trying to shoehorn in character development in a limited amount of time so that the audience is emotionally invested in the outcome.
One episode of the show has a character mention that it would be unlikely for the Marines to keep a squadron of officers together for long.
This is one of my favorite scify shows of all time. It was a spectacular show. Wish that hollywood would make more like it.
SAAB's SA-43 hammerhead is still one of my favorite fighters.
I saw this show the first time around, really annoyed when they cancelled such a brilliant show.
This show was great and I hoped for years they would bring a book tie-in concluding the storyline (in whatever way). As you said: this show asked questions - something most shows, even science fiction related, don´t do.
I loved this so much when it was aired in my country back in the 90's, They kept repeating the first season for many years and I was always hoping for a second season. SAAB really had a good following in Europe and I would love to see a reboot of this show. I would buy the rights if I had the money
I loved the show. Great writing, great cast, and just the right mix of action and story building. I mean, how can you not like Marines in space. Semper Fi, you Mighty Awesome Devil Dogs.
This was a great show. Never missed an episode when it was airing back in the 90s every Sunday.
This series broke the mold, without their risk taking we might not have got the BSG we did get, and BSG coloured everything that came after.
CPU UK absolutely! I left a comment saying the same thing. You can see BSG got their style from SAAB. And the new set of Star Wars films copied BSG
I loved this show, and anyone I ever met who knew about it, loved it too. It was perplexing to me how it got cancelled. I loved all the things that were listed off at the start of this video "not as leek or cool looking". The military uniforms, the aircraft, the cultural references - the lot - made way more sense to me as a teenager than onesie-wearing galaxy hoppers. The Ramones 'Blitzieg Bop' will always remind me of Space: Above and Beyond
This is one of those shows I still think about from time to time and wonder what it could have become. I loved it.
I love space above and beyond it took me years to track down the DVD series there are so many good episodes if you watch it enjoy its amazing especially pearly
I wish they'd do a reboot it would be awesome. although I think people and charities they portray make a show .and how can best those immortal line semper fi my friend
Babylon 5amazing show for all ages and Sheridan's my best carictor
I finally tracked down a second hand DVD series but it had two disc 3 lol, so I’m missing 4 episodes 😂
I hate reboots like poison. Are you crazy! Reboots are what people make when they are trying to milk any remaining money out of existing intellectual properties. They almost never live up to the original!
I'm glad you covered this show, I have such a vague memory of it I half thought I imagined it. But I remember liking it for the most part. Another show I liked a lot (but haven't watched it in a few years so IDK) Is Earth 2, it only lasted one season. I know its not well liked but for some reason I like it. I just wish they hadn't mucked up the ending, I guess they thought they were going to get a 2nd season and then when they found out they weren't they had to quickly wrap up the story line. Not to mention I believe when it aired it suffered the same fate as Firefly and the last few episodes were aired out of order.
There is a full Playlist of Space Above and Beyond series if you want to watch it again.
I loved this show, soo many great episodes with deep meaning. It was shocking to find out who the bad guys really were and great to see them find this out as the series whent along. I too never knew anyone who liked this show, never had anyone to talk about it.
Sugar Dirt was the episode that for me epitomized the series. You have 5 mins of glorious battle and then the episode settles down into a "soldier's tale." Much like the novel Starship Troopers, it allows you to witness the toll that the mission takes on each member of the squad and how it tests their loyalty and their commitment. "If you can't run then I won't either." Just remembering that line makes me a little misty all these years later.
I need to re-watch this great series. If I remember correctly it didn't end with a proper ending. It also didn't help that the network just kept shifting the time slots around.
They had an ending, but I'm not sure if you would consider it proper. Short version; The Wild Cards had been relieved of duty and were scheduled for court martial. A "big, hairy fur ball" of epic proportions erupted and the Captain of the Saratoga decided, against orders, that the Wild Cards were needed on the line. The squadron fought a gallant last stand battle with West and Hawkes (the tank) being the only survivors. West, by the way, did find and rescue his girlfriend. When the credits rolled, the final thing to appear on the screen was "AMF"...a Marine Corps acronym for "Adios, mother f****ers!" I'm sure that was meant for the network execs.
Binging this show is as easy as eating pancakes.
Michael Gutierrez I always loved that line.
Well said !
I see what you did there. ;)
I was such a huge Wing Commander fan that when this show came out, it immediately became a must-see for me. I was so upset that it didn't get renewed, as I truly enjoyed the grittier, more realistic (in my opinion) take on the subject matter.
I have it in DVD, its complex characters and world building were impressive at the time. The fact that the revelations in each episode destroy the hopes and dreams of the characters. The episodes about backstories and secret events behind the scenes are great like the election one. I hope that someone does bring it back, at least major film to close the story.
My only problem: You don't spend years training a pilot to have them go out and play infantry on the regular. I just couldn't suspend my disbelief that much.
Tank Soldier I love they even try to address that in the “EVERY MARINE A RIFLEMAN!” scene. Id bet they put that in because of viewer mail.
Yes, Yes. Yes. 1000x yes. This ALWAYS bothered me. it costs millions to train a pilot now and i cant imagine what it would cost in the future I was always like THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN!!!!
Not to mention an infantry unit of all officers. Even in WW1, training a pilot was costly.
"Every marine is a rifle man first" is more a mindset, not a good battle plan.
This. Even seeing this as a kid I thought it was weird that they could be both space fighter pilots AND ground assault troops.
That bothered me at first but once I got into it, it was just a way of telling classic tales of war, conflict, and brotherhood with 40% fewer actors to save money.
Yeah, I've been pushing this show for years as a reboot candidate on every questionnaire I encounter asking what show should be rebooted.
My wife got me this series on DVD because of mentioned this show is passing a few times. Even though she is not a fan of science fiction. That is why I love her. She doesn't get why like something, but she picks up it is important to me. I loved this series. I watched it as a teenager before I joined the military. After I joined, I remember driving across the country to my wedding, stopping after 13 hours in the road at a rundown hotel to get a few hours of sleep. This show was on and I just had to watch it knowing I had to get up in 5 hours to drive another 12 hours. After 911, I related to this show and the similarities of how these service members had the same questions I did. Now, in my 40s, I love to see a reboot of this show.
I absolutely loved this show as a kid. Remember my best friend and I would geek out to this and x-files....
Brings back memories of a far better time.
Wish this show had lasted a while longer. I agree it was way ahead of its time.
I remembered when in the first episode when the whole production took over the RAAF Williamstown airbase here in Australia.
Well it was a Fox TV production so yes naturally Australia production would take place you had the quality actors that can imitate any accent of North America come so I say yes Australia is the best place to film Lee production is a lot less lot expensive and you got a stable talent pool that you can put the work immediately
One of my postings 2000-2005. 😁 Great show.
I love Space: Above and Beyond! I really wish it had continued. It's actually one I'd love to have re-booted. If they did though, I'd hope they'd stay true to the original story.
Loved this show. Was very disappointing when it was cancelled.
I just received my dvd box set and am rewatching this. Finishing the expanse made me want to rewatch this series.