The best public broadcast/network sci fi series on television this year, Threshold is a hardhitting, high tech, but character developed sci fi series about a strange invasion of aliens using sound to infect us. This is a 24-like high octane, focused series that contains good science-technology babble, strong plots with some emotional twists, and a mystery, thriller, suspense series that beats the competition hands down.

I think I'll have to agree with you on this one. The supporting cast is incredible. I'm not a huge Carla Gugino fan, so dudes like Peter Dinklage had to pick up the slack, and I believe they do. The story is pretty cool. I like the politics/sci-fi crossover. More practical than X-files.

I just watched the first episode tonight...

The visual effects are cool and some of the aspects of the plot are interesting (Though not that original). The problem is, I can't get past some of the dialogue. "You'll find that under the heading 'What to do if we're screwed!' "

Also, most of the characters carry around these huge egos. Ego-driven writing is what makes it impossible for me to watch CSI: Miami.

I've seen the first 5 episodes or so... Don't worry about the ego thing. The humility of the characters comes through in short order. I'm lookin' forward to next week? (Do I have a life to be looking forward to a TV show next friday night? Hell no)

quote:

Post by Bobthespirit:

The problem is, I can't get past some of the dialogue. "You'll find that under the heading 'What to do if we're screwed!' "

Also, most of the characters carry around these huge egos. Ego-driven writing is what makes it impossible for me to watch CSI: Miami.

It is actually some of the big egos that I find attractively entertaining - they represent the every person - some the intelligent feminist leader, the rugged intelligence super op, the two nerds who play off each other, and the science man. The caricatures on television allow us to easily identify with and have fun with their lines - this is true entertainment mixed along a intense serious, mystery thriller allowing us some breathing space instead of having to get so screwed up with anxiety. The characters mixed together with the plot are a great blend for good television.

quote:

Originally posted by tabuno:

quote:

Post by Bobthespirit:

The problem is, I can't get past some of the dialogue. "You'll find that under the heading 'What to do if we're screwed!' "

Also, most of the characters carry around these huge egos. Ego-driven writing is what makes it impossible for me to watch CSI: Miami.

It is actually some of the big egos that I find attractively entertaining - they represent the every person - some the intelligent feminist leader, the rugged intelligence super op, the two nerds who play off each other, and the science man. The caricatures on television allow us to easily identify with and have fun with their lines - this is true entertainment mixed along a intense serious, mystery thriller allowing us some breathing space instead of having to get so screwed up with anxiety. The characters mixed together with the plot are a great blend for good television.

There have been too many shows where the team members all get along great and are 100% behind the mission. When you have characters that have their own ideas and bring their personal opinions into the mix, it makes the stories more realistic.

Threshold balances a fine line between cooperative team members and disgruntled team members. In Threshold, you have team members thrown together much as in the movie Sphere 1997 more for their expertise than there personality. Probably a more realistic and excellent movie of this same nature was Andromeda Strain 1971.

Brent Spiner's character has been a strong one and his devastatingly tragic violation of Threshold policy in an earlier episode was one of the best this year. I think that Threshold brings characters with their own ideas and personal opinions due to the very nature of the script plot making this series dynamic and exciting.

Hmm..I agree that everybody shouldn't necessarily just get along great and be 100% behind the mission..

But it's very easy to go too far in the other direction, and make the characters come off as childish. Or, at least, lacking the discipline that trained military or federal officers would have.

Maybe I'll give it another chance next Friday. (But if it stays on Friday I won't be watching it regularly. I like Numbers, but I can never watch it because it's on against Battlestar Galactica!)

CBS has decided to move Closer to Home to Fridays in an attempt to strengthen the timeslot after The Ghost Whisperer, thus Threshold will be moving to Tuesdays beginning November 22nd.

Considering the forced nature or drafted nature of the Threshold team, the typical eccentricity of specialists in their field, crisis-nature and life and death intensity of the story concepts, the likelihood of personality conflict is in reality quite high under real circumstances. The cynical humor that comes out in each episode is also quite on target.