Well so much for all the hope and praying by longtime “Stargate” fans that the SyFy Channel will see the error of their ways and dump “Stargate: Universe”, because it’s now official: the cable channel has given the much-derided “Universe” a Season 2 commitment, along with handing out a third season to its original series “Sanctuary” starring former “Stargate” alum Amanda Tapping.
“Universe” is currently on its first mid-season hiatus, and will return in April of next year with its slate of second half first season episodes. Once it finishes that run, Season 2 will commence in the Fall with a full 20-episode order. Likewise for “Sanctuary”, which will feature a 20-episode Season 3. No doubt the SyFy Channel was heartened by steady ratings for both shows, with “Universe” averaging 2.6 million viewers when 7-day DVR data is included, and 2.2 million for “Sanctuary”. That may not seem like a lot, but consider that these are pay basic cable channels.
On the renewal of “Stargate: Universe” for a second season, producer Robert Cooper promises more serialized storytelling, less cutaways back to Earth, and — gasp! — an actual, honest to goodness alien on the show that isn’t just some cloud dusts, etc. But before you get too excited, Cooper adds:
“The show was always intended to be a drama and about people who are struggling to survive. There is a sci-fi element, but it was never going to turn into the “alien of the week.” However, there is a big story point coming up that does introduce an alien race that’s a very cool CG alien. It’s more along the line of a “District 9″-type of alien. Our interaction is handled in a very “Universe” way — they’re not the typical “Stargate” alien bad guys.”
There is an interview with Cooper at THR, in which he addresses a lot of issues fans and non-fans have brought up in regards to the show. Mind you, not that he actually answers all of them, but he does take them head-on.
Although it’s interesting to note that while he acknowledges the issue of characters taking over someone’s body on Earth, and then using those bodies to do, er, various things with them bring up lots of ramifications, I get this feeling it never occurred to the writers when they first introduced the concept. Go figure.
