Season 1.5 of Stargate Universe was released a couple of weeks ago on Blu-ray and DVD, and I’ve had a chance to catch up and review the DVD version.

SG-U is a different beast from the previous efforts. It tries to expand the plot that was the genesis of Stargate Atlantis – a team finds itself extremely distant from home at the other end of a one-way stargate trip, mostly in isolation. Whereas Atlantis was still able to receive supplies from Earth (and eventually solved the general problem between starships and the stargate bridge), the team this time is totally isolated except for the ability to use the consciousness transfer stones – which themselves bring up several plot points which are addressed in the series instead of simply ignored. This time as well, the “team” is a combination of military and civilian characters thrown together by circumstance rather than by mission, forced into that circumstance to escape an attack but also through the non-altruistic intents of Dr. Geoffrey Rush (Robert Carlisle), who would rather prove his theories and general greater intelligence than solve problems. And instead of a floating city, they are stranded on an empty Ancient ship (of ancient Ancient design ) called the Destiny, where they have very little control over the ship, and few resources.
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A little more news coming out of Comic-Con: Caprica will return in January for the second half of its freshman season (is it really still the same season if it airs a year after the first half?) and Ronald D. Moore is confident that with the plot picking up we will see a second season; and in Stargate Universe‘s second season, we can expect to see Dr. Rush (Robert Carlyle) return to his self-deterministic ways when he discovered the bridge of the Destiny; Eli get a new love interest and also visit his grandmother (in Carlyle’s directorial debut), and the discovery of a larger overall mission for the residents of the Destiny. Also interesting was a discussion about the unique shooting style, with multiple hidden cameras on set.

Just got the following press release:

Updated: Just added: John Scalzi, creative consultant on Stargate Universe and science fiction author, who won the 2005 Hugo Award for Old Man’s War.

JAMES MARSTERS TO ATTEND PHOENIX COMICON

“Buffy” alum joins other talented guests at Phoenix in May

Phoenix, Ariz.—James Marsters, breakout star of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and television actor on series such as Smallville and Torchwood will be appearing at Phoenix Comicon.

“James Marsters played some of the greatest characters on scifi television,” said Matt Solberg, Convention Director. “He was Spike on Buffy, Braniac on Smallville, and he voiced Lex Luthor in Superman: Doomsday. We are absolutely thrilled that he’ll be coming to Phoenix.”

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SyFy has renewed both freshman series Stargate Universe and second-year Sanctuary from its Friday night staple lineup, giving both series new 20-episode orders. Some insights into the upcoming SGU half-season as well include more serialized episodes, and less reliance on skipping back to Earth – and finally some aliens.