I’ve been extremely relaxed about keeping this site updated over the past month, something I’m kind of annoyed about because I didn’t want this site to become so stagnant!  One of the things that I’m going to have trouble with from here on is balancing my free time with all the TV shows I want to watch.  There are a LOT of new shows starting up recently that deserve a look, and here are the top 3 in my mind.

Stargate: Universe

Robert Carlyle as Dr. Rush

I’m a major nerdo loser and as such I’ve always loved Stargate in both its original form and its spin-off, Stargate: Atlantis.  In comes the new series in the Stargate franchise, Stargate: Universe.  This series has taken a much grittier approach than it’s predecessors and has a couple of big names attached (Robert Carlyle and Lou Diamond Phillips).  Add to that the fact that there is no longer any other Stargate to satiate the fans and you have a recipe for a potentially successful show.

I should say that the show so far looks to be a little unsteady and if you are expecting to get into this one just be careful not to get your hopes up.  The acting isn’t brilliant (aside from Robert Carlyle, but even he is slightly off on occasion), the editing seems a little frenetic and tough to follow, and the plot is… well, slow.  Barely anything has truly happened in four episodes (counting the two hour premier as two episodes).  That being said, I’m willing to stick by this one and see where it goes – it does have a lot of potential but it has dauntingly huge shoes to fill so the ride from here could be bumpy.

FlashForward

FlashForward: Not a documentary

Shunned by some viewers for its casual disregard for realism (it’s a sci-fi about everyone in the world simultaneously passing out and having premonitions, come on people how much realism are you really after here?) I am taking the “lets wait and see” approach to this one as well.  Similar to Stargate: Universe it doesn’t exactly have a stellar array of actors, but the show’s premise alone is intriguing enough to impress and leave this observer wanting more.  If you are immediately drawn out of shows with bad acting and the occasional plot hole you might want to give this one a miss.  That being said, I’m in the school of people who think that many of the plot holes are actually deliberate mysteries waiting to be covered in later episodes.

At least do yourself a favour by giving the pilot episode a look.  The final scene alone will leave you with a near irresistible urge to find out what the fuck is going on.

Dollhouse

Eliza Dushku is hot and also an actor in Dollhouse

Okay so this one isn’t technically a brand new show, but season 2 is starting up and I’ve only just found out that the show even exists.  If you haven’t seen this show you should check out the first season and see what you think while the second season is still young.  The cast is fantastic and a little off-beat in that deliberate “we’re not taking ourselves seriously” kind of way.  On that subject, I think that is the main reason this show appeals to me.  It stays fairly light hearted while maintaining an uneasy edge to it that keeps you engaged and genuinely interested in what’s going to happen next.

The premise of this show is a little strange, and hard to wrap one’s head around since it just seems a little bit silly.  The “Dollhouse” is a place people go to have their memories wiped completely during a process whereby they are turned into “Actives”. These Actives are then like a blank slate (the show refers to this state as “tabula rasa”, a neat little nod to John Locke that makes incredible sense given the context) that can have any personality implanted into them, complete with memories and knowledge.  Rich folk then hire these Actives for various purposes – the main draw being that the Active remembers nothing of the ordeal afterwards.  At any rate check this one out, it’s neato.