 August 6, 2014 - 9:07pm | picked up the first season at the library, was looking forward to binge watching a sci fi series but..... not hooked by the pilot. and now I wikipedia it and learn that there are a total of 8 alien races to keep track of ... not sure I'm going to watch this series in fact episode 2 is about to be shut off and I'll just go to bed. Anyone else have the same lack luster reaction to this series? I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 August 6, 2014 - 10:08pm | Not me. The series is about characters, not action. The main character's charm is a large part of the story. The girl's character is still developing, but she will be given an important role soon, if you keep watching. The pilot is a 3-episode arc. They blew their wad on cast and writers, so the set and the CG leave much to be desired, so you have to bite that bullet, though the final battle of the opening story is not too bad on the CG. It's a little more refined after the pilot. However, the series is not my cup of tea for an entirely different reason. I simply am trying to keep my thinking clean. There's a bit of skin in the show. I prefer my entertainment to be a little more clean. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
August 7, 2014 - 3:43am | However, the series is not my cup of tea for an entirely different reason. I simply am trying to keep my thinking clean. There's a bit of skin in the show. I prefer my entertainment to be a little more clean. Thats because everyone is mindful of the success of HBO's Rome which had a lot of skin while being seriously popular. So its like everyone is copying each other's recipe and that recipe includes a little skin for a little titilation. There was enough action but they fell prey to the classic Star Trek complaint of "forehead of the week" with their aliens Most of the acting in the pilot was good enough but something was off with the story not sure what to lay blame on- I really didn't like the forehead of the week and the rubber mask aliens and since there are 8 different species its not like I can talk myself into turning a blind eye to it. CGI effects were not bad for a TV series at all though for a feature film I would have thought they were low buidget. Ill give it another try I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
August 7, 2014 - 6:03am | Star Trek is one of the things I would compare it to. I would also compare it to Terra Nova and Alien Nation. The forehead of the week thing did hit me as well, but you have to consider the budget restraints. The only way to go beyond forehead of the week is to either provide practical effects aliens on strings or CG aliens. Two of the aliens, the vulge and Gulanee, are CG, so forget forehead of the week for them. This at least puts them ahead of Star Trek. That leaves 6. Though, you have to admit, Sensoth (Orangutan man) and Liberata (Ugnaught) are pretty good. On Star Trek, they only featured aliens of that sort when they set aside the money in the budget. This series features them in every episode. I also like the biomen. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
 August 9, 2014 - 7:27am | One thing about Defiance is that it is not a show. Yep it is part of the new attempts by the Television world in general to get you hooked and keep you coming back. Defiance is one part TV show and one part Online game. But there is also alot of online content (background, shorts, game contests, forum) that while not necessary to keep the main plot if you really want the full game you need have alot more. The idea is an evolution of online chat rooms and fan fiction but a way for the networks to have more control of it so they can show advertizers how big the show is and charge more. Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
August 9, 2014 - 11:38am | Sorry, a bit ambigious. Can you define what it means "that it is not a show" and yet is "part TV show and one part Online game"? I realize they have an online game, but it did not appear essential to the TV show. What you're describing appears to be holistic cross-marketing to maximize profits. But I'm not sure how that makes it any less of "a show". Also, is there proof that they are charging more? Because, really, TV marketing requires Nelson Ratings demographic figures regardless of popularity in other media. If they do not have the figures, they cannot charge the advertisers extra, no matter how popular their online content is. The fact is, Defiance actually has a large following, in fact, an underground with cosplayers and all. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
August 9, 2014 - 5:20pm | OK here is my verdict while episode 4 plays: individual episodes are not as bad as the pilot. As to the issue of whether its a game vs a show: its obvious that it was developed as both a show and a game at the same time which is not anthing new in that My Little Poney and Transformers did pretty much the same with side by side marketing of a TV show. If you dont like My Little Pony then dont buy it and if you dojnt like Defiance the game then dont play it. I'm actually enjoying the show more since Ascent talked me into giving it a second look at it. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
August 10, 2014 - 6:58am | The show recently introduced cosplaying humans which is different. The modern TV show does not really do well on its own. Look over the list of shows cancelled and many were critically acclaimed but did not attract an audience (nothing new) but some shows with better tie ins that did. Marvel: Agents of Shield is one example. It was not doing well on its own but its tie ins with the movie franchise meant it was going on. Defiance is the same way. The show is doing well on its own but its total success is being measured by its tie ins to the online game and by the amount of traffic it is recieving through the websites. Take movies these days. Movie companies know how a movie is going to do on the day it is released Instead of the old way of waiting for opening weekend box office reciepts. How? Online preorder ticket sales give the first indicator but it is the Twitter and other social media outlets which spread the word(and are monitored by the movie companies) and either increase or decrease the ticket sales. It is the monitoring of online response which causes the next phase of marketing. Oh and the amount charged for advertizing is complicated but the more you can show some demographics are watching the more you can charge. Comedy Central is a good example. The channel has never had a large audience but can charge more because its audience is mostly in the 18-25 year olds the demographic advertizers are looking for. To add to the fun demographics do seem to be changing. The failure of many male action movies (except for the Expendables) and the popularity of female action lead movies (Lucy, Divergent, Hunger Games) is changing movie line ups. And we can not forget the Baby Boomers are getting old. All the commercials for products for older people show the market really opening up to the retirement age crowd. Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
August 10, 2014 - 10:08pm | rattraveller, I don't know what you read about Agents of SHIELD, but the show has been an unprecedented success for a show of its genre on ABC from the very beginning. It was lower ratings than Arrow for its first season, but it was the second highest rated show on ABC for the season. I don't like to put people on the spot, but you often come up with things that are contrary to what I know to be true. Can you give me some links where you're getting your information? Again, I did ask for proof that they were relying upon the online content to upcharge advertisers for the TV show, but instead, you have now broadened your statements to the entire industry, and I would like to see the proof. I wouldn't say you are wrong. I just need to see the data. Ordering tickets for a movie is quite different than judging a TV show audience based upon the participation in an online game. It makes no sense to rely upon anything other than the Nielson ratings. By the way, I do not know what you are talking about with the show introducing cosplay humans. I was talking about cosplayers showing up to conventions. We'll avoid the demographics discussion. I'm already calling you on enough. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
August 11, 2014 - 5:40am | http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/marvels-agents-of-shield-season-one-ratings-30009/ http://www.ismyshowcancelled.com/article/2014-05-08/abc-renews-agents-of-shield/ Above are three sites out of the many stating Marvel: Agents of Shield was not a very high rated show. The buzz was it might be cancelled because it was not a rating grabber. Look at the above article. Here you will see why your beloved Nielsen ratings are only a part of the picture and why it varies with Networks since raw data can be used in so many different ways. http://www.indiewire.com/article/television/dave-howe-interview-syfy-and-chiller http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-05-16/defiance-syfys-ultimate-transmedia-adventure The above sites discuss SyFy Channel and what they call the transmedia experience. This is the new way they are going with their shows. Now Ascent here is your homework. Look into a little know movie called "Sharknado" and see how that movie became a little bit bigger. The Nielsen rating was not a big part of it. On second thought you probably need some help so here is one site for you Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
August 11, 2014 - 7:57am | I relied on a truly reputable source: tvbythenumbers.com, which is the goto source of ratings and analyzes the Nielson ratings accurately, but not just for traditional TV, but for online live viewership as well. It also depends more upon the overall numbers, not just the 18-49 demographic. (Though that demographic at 2.0 is not too significantly lower than NCIS at 2.6. What was the total viewership for Agents on premere night? 12.2 million. On finale night? 5.45 million. That is nothing to sneeze at. Agents is also counted among the top 25 shows. However, some of the shows on that list have been canceled because their budgets exceded the advertising budget. It's not NCIS, but considering that Agents was up against NCIS, it did quite well. It is because it was up against NCIS that it is not doing as well as it could in another slot. American TV stations are terrible about trying to compete in a slot. In fact, NCIS had significantly less viewership from the year before, and the upticks and downticks in NCIS seemed to correspond to downticks and upticks in Agents, which suggests they are both vying for the same demographic. Marvel would not be ordering an offshoot ("Agent Carter") if they thought the show was failing. There is much more to consider than just "is it doing spectacular"? There is a big difference in what an armchair critic's opinion of what the ratings mean and what the ratings actually mean. Your links on the Defiance multimedia experience do not actually discuss ratings nor advertising. Yes, SyFy is pleased, and yes, they get a lot of online attention, but nothing in any of those articles suggests an upcharge to advertisers, nor an uptick in viewership as a result of online activity. I know the popularity of the not-so "little-known" movie called "Sharknado". I saw it, it was brilliant and hilarious. But advertisers like "eyes-on" their advertisements. If they do not get the eyes-on, they are not interested in how big the online content gets. They will pay separate fees for online content because they are two separate mediums. You still have not proved any of your points, except that some armchair critics think this or that regarding ratings they have no qualifications for interpreting. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
August 11, 2014 - 6:27pm | I have decided to accept that you have based your views on things you have actually read or seen, regardless of whether they are right or wrong, or whether they have sufficient supporting evidence, or of the conclusions you drew from them. So I can simply count it as a difference of opinion. Though the upcharge to advertisers comment was never actually addressed. They were strong claims, so I felt critical reasoning was called for. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
 August 11, 2014 - 9:47pm | I like Defiance myself. It is very character driven and that keeps my interest. The plot overall is with the Arks and the accident that caused all of the issues that they haven't really touched on yet. I think the races are not supposed to be so divergent from us so that we can relate and to show us different aspects of ourselves. So far my favorite race though is the Gulanee.They are pure energy and the suit they used in the recent episode was great CG. I believe the cosplay that was refered to was both the cosplay in real life and in the show some humans cosplay the aliens as a form of identity crisis. One other part of the story that I appreciate is the father daughter relationship of the main character. Probably because I am close to my daughters. |
