Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv
Subject: Time Trax: Counterpoint
From: mschmitt@eagle.wesleyan.edu
Date: 26 Jan 93 21:55:43 EST
Organization: Wesleyan University

	I'm afraid I must concur with those that don't think that Time Trax was
the greatest pilot ever.  On the other hand, I wouldn't call it the silliest
of the new show pilots either - the first ep for Space Rangers was intensely
silly (it's gotten better, but that first ep - whoa).
	There were some things in TT that were good.  Points that hit me over
the head, but seem to have glossed by others.  For example, Selma has the
appearance she does for a specific reason.  At the beginning, Darien holds a
picture of his mother, who actually abandoned him, in effect (admittedly, it's
a brief and not terribly clear shot, but it's there).  Selma (all right, so the
acronym's a bit corny) bares a striking resemblance to that picture, part of
the reason Darien's so taken aback.  But after all, she _was_ programmed for
him specifically.  This is one example that came up in a discussion I had on
another BB - since I haven't followed this group too closely, so my apologies
if I'm beating a dead horse.
	Anyway, the acting was often kind of wooden, but the recurring
characters had their moments of insight, and that will develop with time.  I'd
place that on about  par with the TNG pilot.
	The effects...  All right, so they were a bit sub-standard.  But this
is not going to be an effects driven show.  I imagine that they didn't want to
develop whole departments just for one ep, and ep that by rumor didn't get a
whole lot more budget than the cost of 2 eps.  So I can overlook it a bit, as
long as what they do in the future is done well.
	Which brings up the main point - the pilot was, I think, _very_
different from all other episodes that will follow.  All of it takes place in
this time now, and it will be a matter of tracking down these criminals, using
some nice high-tech methods, in combination with whats available today.  The SF
element will probably be rather diminished, and the action one emphasized a lot
more.  Diminishing the SF element will not necessarily be a bad thing - how
prominent is it in Quantum Leap?  This show may be similar in that respect,
although in this case there's no changing of time, and there will be a bit more
action over thought as compared to QL, most likely.
	Also, for a moment, think about who the show is targeted at?  IMHO, it
is _not_ targetted at the hard core SF fans, but at the general populace, with
a wider appeal.  It will most likely disappoint the hard core SF fan, if they
can't let go a bit.  But if it's well written, Time Trax could be a very
enjoyable hour of action programming.  All you need to do is a little
suspension of reality, and it looks like it'll be quite a ride.
	Summary (sorry so long!): the pilot could have been better, but don't
trash the series until you've seen a few regular episodes - the majority of the
pilot is most likely very different in attitude and tenor than the series.

/-------------------------------------------------------------------\
| Matt Schmitt                | BABYLON 5 - Science fiction TV done |
| Astronomy Major             | in a whole new way.  No cute kids,  |
| Wesleyan University         | no cute aliens, EVER.               |
| mschmitt@eagle.wesleyan.edu | B5 premieres this February.         |
| ms@pacnet.pac.wesleyan.edu  | <=email here for more info on B5    |
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Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv