OK, I managed to get past my “It’s gonna suck, because it’s on CBS” thing… (I’ve never forgiven them for producing such drivel as ‘Touched by an Angel’…)
So far it’s been a good show. Val and I Tivoed the Premier, and watched it recently. Brent Spiner’s actually decent in his non-Lt. Commander Data role… 🙂
We enjoyed the 2 hour premiere, then watched the 1 hour 2nd epi immediately thereafter…and…there’s something about it that I’m working hard to get past.
The beginning of the second episode used a dialog technique that grates against my nerves…
These days, if you have to get the new-viewer up to speed, TV shows use quick snippets from past shows… “Previously, on ‘DALLAS'”…
Threshold used an “As You Know, Bob” dialogue between the two main characters… *ugh*
“As You Know Bob”
A pernicious form of info-dump through dialogue, in which characters tell each other things they already know, for the sake of getting the reader up-to-speed. This very common technique is also known as “Rod and Don dialogue” (attr. Damon Knight) or “maid and butler dialogue” (attr Algis Budrys).
Hated that part.
the premiere was crap! It was like a hokey x-files episode… but without mulder and scully! Some friends and I sat and watched it and at every commercial break we were like “ok… so far its pretty crappy, the dialog is stunted, the acting is a bit shallow from most of the characters and the story is typical… we will give it a bit more to see if it can redeem itself” and you know what? it kept that same pace throughout the entire two hour premiere. No… I will not stand for mediocrity. Threshold = teh crap.
</rant>
You watch the Sci-Fi channel, and roleplay a bit, to boot, don’t you…Your setting your expectations too high.
It’s on *CBS*, FFS!
Yes, in fact, this *is* your father’s Oldsmobile. For a Sci-Fi show on CBS, it’s not bad… Firefly or Farscape, it ain’t, I’ll grant you that. But for Sci-Fi aimed at Rural Iowa…it’ll do. 🙂