[TV] Outcasts

[karohemd]

When Outcasts was first announced, I had high hopes for this original (as in produced by the Beep, not in the sense of an original idea) Sci-Fi series on the BBC because the trailers looked good and the premise interesting if basic (after Earth goes boom, colonists find a new home on another planet). What it turned out to be was a boring, turgid mess, stretched across eight episodes. The first half was shown at prime time on Mondays and Tuesdays but when the ratings dropped, the last episodes were shifted to Sunday nights at 10:30.
It wasn't quite as bad as The Deep (of which I only managed to watch two episodes) but it just wasn't exciting. I stuck with it because there was a little bit of plot in each episode that made me wanting to find out more. Now that it's over and there won't be a second series, I shouldn't have bothered because it ended in a cliffhanger that didn't resolve anything. None of the questions were answered and even more came up. Another problem was that I didn't really feel for any of the characters which is always a bad sign, the only exception was hate for the main baddie.

I think they could very easily have condensed the "plot" into two or three parts and it could have been an entertaining, brainless Sci-Fli flick.

The locations (filmed in South Africa) were stunning, though, and the production values reasonable (even if the guns looked like airsoft cast-offs), just a shame the rest was a waste.

In contrast, Marchlands on ITV about a haunted house, set in three time frames (60s, 80s and present day) was really rather good. Nothing really original there, either, but done well with some high suspense and some truly creepy moments and it all made sense at the end.

Comments

[fithefaerie.livejournal.com]

am watchin it just now. i started watching it when it started n it seemed to have possibilities. it just didn't live up to em. it sorta kept floundering about.

still, ill watch the last ep just cos.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

*nods* There were far too many loose ends that were brought up once and never touched on again.

[fithefaerie.livejournal.com]

annnnd....nowt. no answers, no resolution, fuck all. was there supposed to be 2nd season?

oh well. at least tipper lived, i liked him.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

There was but it's not going to happen now.

Yep. :o)

[derekct.livejournal.com]

I thought yes a chance of a decent UK sci-fi show, but the problem is, after the first half-an-hour I was bored with it. Instead watched the "Promise" which was very interesting.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Haven't seen the last episode yet... I will do, although this post and the comments make me suspect I will be annoyed by it.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Having now watched it, I thought it was pretty good actually. Of course there is a load of stuff that was left hanging into the second series we now won't have, which is a bit of a shame: but apart from that, I think they set things up nicely. Pity.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

I agree that it was a reasonable episode but it was too little too late. As I said above, compacting the whole thing would have helped a lot.

[themadone.livejournal.com]

I've watched 3 episodes and based on what you've said and what I've seen it looks like it's going to pan out like that show that on was last year, set on a spaceship travelling around the solar system. Whose name I totally can't remember at the moment. Which I stopped watching after a few episodes cos it too was really really boring.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know which one you mean but I can't remember the name, either. They sort of went outside the solar system and it ended just when it could have become interesting.

[sherbetsaucers.livejournal.com]

This fortnights Private Eye SLATES the program.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Not surprised...

[toxicpixie.livejournal.com]

We were most impressed with Marchlands! Very creepy...

I did quite fancy watching Outcasts but the trailers looked ropey, and the reviews reckoned it was even more so...

Nathan, the Toxic Pixie

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Marchlands was an excellent example for what you can do with a relatively simple setup (there were hardly any special effects, just effective camera angles) and good writing. All the slow reveals as the plot unfolded in the various timelines worked really well.

[toxicpixie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I really liked the low key, quiet nature of Marchlands and the freedom from gore/shock horror/reliance on effects that most 'horror' things employ these days. Also not much plot blindness/character lobotomy, which was refreshing!

Although 'Askor', and then Ruth having to write it down did make me cringe.

Nathan, the Toxic Pixie

[wyrdness.livejournal.com]

From the tiny (and I mean tiny) bit I've read about Outcasts, it makes me think someone was trying to make an updated version of Earth2. Though I suppose there's only a certain amount of ways you can do pioneers in space.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

throw in some Caprica (the BSG prequel series) and Lost and you have the basic premise. The planet they settled on is even called Carpathia.

[sea-cucumber.livejournal.com]

I really like Outcasts, but due to other people who watch it not being around at the same time as me, I haven't had a chance to watch the last 2 parts yet on the sky box so I am intrigued to see how it ends :D

But then I liked the Deep as well :)

And agreed about Marchlands, brilliant slightly creepy stuff!