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gwaevalarinTo be honest, I didn't expect much from this show when I asked for the DVDs for Christmas. I only wanted it because it has Sebastian Roché in a leading role and I figured that even if it turned out to be a rather trashy scifi show it would probably still be entertaining.
Five episodes into the show, it turns out that, despite the rather ridiculous initial set-up and the not too great special effects, the show is actually pretty good. It has episodic storylines, that always add something to the big arc, it has interesting characters that struggle with this weird situation they're thrown into, the weight on their shoulders and their relationships with each other. It's a group of very different characters, thrown together by the cause of events. They have their differences, but they learn to trust each other and become a team.
Odyssey 5 starts with five people on the space shuttle Odyssey watching in horror as the Earth explodes right in front of their eyes, leaving them, the last of human kind, flooding through empty space without hope and with oxygen running low. When everything seems lost, they are saved by a mysterious being, calling himself The Seeker, who claims that the Earth shares its fate with 50 other planets and that he can send their consciousnesses back in time to give them a chance ot save their planet.
The five time travelers find themselves five years in the past, with an Earth to save, and no idea where to start, the only clue being one word: "Leviathan". Soon they have to realise that knowing the future can make things quite complicated and that everything they do will change events in unforeseeable ways.
Commander Chuck Taggart is a little rough around the edges but he can tell right from wrong and is the group's voice of reason. He's experienced, in control and keeps everyone on mission.
Neil Taggart is Chuck's son who finds himself from successful and respected astronaut back in high-school, the black sheep of the family, and in the shadow of his brother Marc.
Sarah Forbes is a reporter, driven mainly by her emotions and trying to right wrongs, but occasionally making things worse by doing so. Her main concern is to save herself from having to relive the nightmare of her little son dying from cancer.
Angela Perry: Smart, independent, honest and troubled by her somewhat corrupt politician of a father.
And, of course, last but not least:
Despite what you may think, I'm all for saving the world. I just want a little fun while doing it, that's all.
Dr. Kurt Mendel. Pretty much a human version of Balthazar. He has the same "We can't win this anyway, so let's blow coke and jump on the bed"-attitude, but just like Bal he can't turn away when his friends need him.
His introduction pretty much speaks for itself:
Sarah Forbes: Why does everything that comes out of your mouth have something to do with sex?
Kurt Mendel: Maybe because were riding in a three billion dollar phallic symbol. Don't quote me.
Sarah Forbes: If I started quoting you they'd shut down the space program.
But underneath his frivolous and nonchalant surface, he isn't really all about money and women and fun and maybe genetics. There's compassion in him, and once in a while it shines through, for example when he is forced to babysit a deaf little girl and surprises with how kind he can be. &hearts
Needless to say that, with Mendel being so similar to Bal, this show has my mind racing with where Balthazar's journey might take him, and how those more compassionate and kind moments would look if it was Balthazar directing them at Castiel. The possibilities, the potential... please show, don't screw this up.
Five episodes into the show, it turns out that, despite the rather ridiculous initial set-up and the not too great special effects, the show is actually pretty good. It has episodic storylines, that always add something to the big arc, it has interesting characters that struggle with this weird situation they're thrown into, the weight on their shoulders and their relationships with each other. It's a group of very different characters, thrown together by the cause of events. They have their differences, but they learn to trust each other and become a team.
Odyssey 5 starts with five people on the space shuttle Odyssey watching in horror as the Earth explodes right in front of their eyes, leaving them, the last of human kind, flooding through empty space without hope and with oxygen running low. When everything seems lost, they are saved by a mysterious being, calling himself The Seeker, who claims that the Earth shares its fate with 50 other planets and that he can send their consciousnesses back in time to give them a chance ot save their planet.
The five time travelers find themselves five years in the past, with an Earth to save, and no idea where to start, the only clue being one word: "Leviathan". Soon they have to realise that knowing the future can make things quite complicated and that everything they do will change events in unforeseeable ways.
Commander Chuck Taggart is a little rough around the edges but he can tell right from wrong and is the group's voice of reason. He's experienced, in control and keeps everyone on mission.
Neil Taggart is Chuck's son who finds himself from successful and respected astronaut back in high-school, the black sheep of the family, and in the shadow of his brother Marc.
Sarah Forbes is a reporter, driven mainly by her emotions and trying to right wrongs, but occasionally making things worse by doing so. Her main concern is to save herself from having to relive the nightmare of her little son dying from cancer.
Angela Perry: Smart, independent, honest and troubled by her somewhat corrupt politician of a father.
And, of course, last but not least:
Despite what you may think, I'm all for saving the world. I just want a little fun while doing it, that's all.
Dr. Kurt Mendel. Pretty much a human version of Balthazar. He has the same "We can't win this anyway, so let's blow coke and jump on the bed"-attitude, but just like Bal he can't turn away when his friends need him.
His introduction pretty much speaks for itself:
Sarah Forbes: Why does everything that comes out of your mouth have something to do with sex?
Kurt Mendel: Maybe because were riding in a three billion dollar phallic symbol. Don't quote me.
Sarah Forbes: If I started quoting you they'd shut down the space program.
But underneath his frivolous and nonchalant surface, he isn't really all about money and women and fun and maybe genetics. There's compassion in him, and once in a while it shines through, for example when he is forced to babysit a deaf little girl and surprises with how kind he can be. &hearts
Needless to say that, with Mendel being so similar to Bal, this show has my mind racing with where Balthazar's journey might take him, and how those more compassionate and kind moments would look if it was Balthazar directing them at Castiel. The possibilities, the potential... please show, don't screw this up.
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I'm aware that there's no way this doesn't look stalkery...since you don't know me but -
Date: 2011-01-05 02:04 pm (UTC)Odyssey 5 is my one true love TV show, and I really want Balthazar fans to find this show and
write me Kurt tying Neil to a bed fic because hey it's even canonjoin the fandom! Which is TINY. :( .Anyway yes, the initial set up has it's flaws but the show itself is fantastic. The characters are just so real and I love them to pieces.
(I don't know if you know this since you've not mentioned seeing the whole show but cliffhanger warning. It doesn't end with sparkly rainbows. You may shout at the screen. But it is worth the rest of the show!)
Now to leave in the vague hope that you don't think I'm a complete nutjob, just couldn't resist.
Re: I'm aware that there's no way this doesn't look stalkery...since you don't know me but -
Date: 2011-01-05 03:29 pm (UTC)No feeling stalked, don't worry. I'm always happy to meet new people who love the same things I do.
I didn't even know there was a Odyssey 5 fandom. I'll be happy to take a look if you point me in the right direction.
I watched the whole show in just the matter of a few days because I simply couldn't stop.
The cliffhanger was a big disappointment, and I DID shout at my screen. But I absolutely agree, it was still worth every minute and I'm very happy I stumbled upon this show.
Re: I'm aware that there's no way this doesn't look stalkery...since you don't know me but -
Date: 2011-01-05 04:56 pm (UTC)Ok, "fandom" is possibly too strong a word. There's no real activity anymore.
But I can copy and paste some recs for you. My favourite is Neil, which I suspect comes through and also, I like het, slash and gen so it's a mixed bag.
IKR? I knew it was a cliffhanger because I watched it in England and they aired it after it had been cancelled in the US (we got all 20 episodes straight off though, the US had to wait for two years to get everything after 'Skin') but still went 'What? No! Don't leave it there.' Manny Coto's commentary of the pilot is really interesting though. It tickles me that Jensen Ackles was second choice for Neil. I'd love to see that audition tape, though I personally think Chris Gorham is the better actor. But I might just be massively attached to the character.
I was really hoping a lot more of the Spn fandom would just to try and gain a little more support (and yes, fic!) but nothing yet that I've seen. Maybe if Balthazar turns up some more?
Re: I'm aware that there's no way this doesn't look stalkery...since you don't know me but -
Date: 2011-01-05 04:57 pm (UTC)December 23rd, 2002 (http://taraljc.livejournal.com/592974.html) by
Set after "Follow the Leader." Both times December 23rd, 2002 had rolled around for Neil Taggart, it had rained like a sonofabitch. (R rated).
This fic has Neil directly comparing the repeat of one day with it's predecessor. Neither are overwhelmingly brilliant. It's full of angst and really sums up beautifully Neil's feelings on the way his life is turning out (again).
Scientific Method (http://www.loony-archivist.com/o5/fiction/scientific.htm) by Tiriel
Set after "Half-Life". Neil has a lot on his mind. (Kurt/Neil. R rated.)
The Random Frantic Action that We Take (http://archiveofourown.org/works/32829?view_adult=true) by shift
"I wish you could remind me of who I was / because every day I'm a little further off." (Kurt/Neil, Angela/Kurt. NC-17 rated).
This was my gifted fic from Yuletide 2009 and I am convinced it is the best fic in the fandom. Set after the series finale (with spoilers), and set from Neil's POV you have him trying to seek comfort in Kurt but being screwed over and his attempts to deal with being in a seventeen year old's body again.
Living in Yesterday (http://www.loony-archivist.com/o5/fiction/yesterday.htm) by Kira
Kurt reflects on the mission's success so far and what sacrifices might have to be made in the future. (Kurt/Neil. NC-17 rated).
I'm not normally a big fan of first person fic, but this one really does work. Again it's heavy and angsty but I do still love it. :) Set after the end of the series and his scientifically-minded way Kurt watches everyone else and analyses the situation.
This is me Breathing (http://yuletidetreasure.org/archive/16/thisis.html) by estrella
Angela had been missing for over three years when she walked into the diner one late September afternoon. (Angela/Kurt. R rated).
There's a lot of Kurt in these fics - he seems to feature heavily in the very small fandom. But he's also fun to explore. Set after the end of the series (spoilers), Angela has been missing and returns. Kurt is delighted to have her back but is everything as it seems?
Fated (http://www.loony-archivist.com/o5/fiction/fated.htm) by Konstantine.
In the end they don't win. (Kurt/Sarah. R rated).
One thing about a smaller fandom is you'll try pairings that you won't normally. This isn't one I would have ever considered in a bigger fandom but it really works! Kurt and Sarah turn to each other because there's no-one else around that understands what they're going through.
Formica Bubble (http://www.loony-archivist.com/o5/fiction/formica.htm) by Suz
The day the world ended. Only not. (R rated).
Set after the series (and has spoilers for the whole of it) but this is Kurt and Chuck in the diner on the day the world was supposed to explode. A very melancholy tone and gives a satisfying conclusion to where each of the characters may have ended up.
The last one you will love if you like Kurt. Let me give you an extract to tempt you.
The day the world ended, Kurt had paté on toast for breakfast.
Not just any paté, of course. It was the rarest, most expensive paté he could find within a twelve-block area of his apartment. It didn't matter if it was an orgasmic experience against his tongue, or made his taste buds want to commit harakiri—the fact was that he was still Kurt Mendel, and there were certain expectations that came with that.
Also, not as a rec but I've got an Odyssey 5 bigbang story at
Re: I'm aware that there's no way this doesn't look stalkery...since you don't know me but -
Date: 2011-01-05 06:53 pm (UTC)To be completely honest, I'm not the biggest Neil fan. It's not that I don't like him, but I guess I just don't care as much about him as I do Kurt or Angela.
The Balthazar-part of the SPN fandom is rather small so far. And I don't know how many Bal fans even know about Odyssey 5. I had never heard of it before I actively started looking into Sebastian's previous work.
I'm sure a lot of them would like Kurt, considering he does share quite a few character traits with his angelic look-alike.
Thank you for the recs. I'm a big fan of apocafics, so I do plan on taking a look at your bigbang sometime.
Re: I'm aware that there's no way this doesn't look stalkery...since you don't know me but -
Date: 2011-01-05 07:29 pm (UTC)Aww, shame! I haven't been in the Spn fandom actively since whenever A3 was - 2009? Haven't seen any of S5 and only Balthazar's eps of S6. Because it was Kurt in angel form and just had to be done! Though it's important (for me) to remember that no-one knows what I mean when I call him Angel!Kurt.
You're welcome, I hope some of them at least take your fancy. :) My apocafic is all from Neil's POV but Kurt's in it a lot!
Re: I'm aware that there's no way this doesn't look stalkery...since you don't know me but -
Date: 2011-01-07 02:32 pm (UTC)A3 was in 2009. Did you go? Because in that case we actually may have met in real life without noticing. Why did you leave the fandom? Just curious.
Re: I'm aware that there's no way this doesn't look stalkery...since you don't know me but -
Date: 2011-01-07 02:46 pm (UTC)Ah cool! Yes, I did A1, A2 and A3 and swore that Rogue would never get another penny of my money because they're the worst run events I've ever been to. Did stick my head into the last one (A5?) and might be at the May one helping out a mate who's a dealer but certainly won't be paying. If you were at A2 I ended up working photoshoot distribution so we might have met then? But If I start on RE then I may never stop. :)
The fandom? Mostly because I stopped liking the show. I loved the whole 'saving people hunting things' and fight against YED in the first two seasons. It was fun, angsty and not the greatest show on the planet but I loved it. I think it takes itself too seriously now (I say now, I've only seen two episodes since the latter half of S4), and isn't as good as it thinks it is. I like my more mediocre shows to be tongue in cheek. :)
And then since I don't do incest or RPS at all the fandom wasn't all that welcoming. I got into Spn during a wank where someone posted that anyone who didn't Wincest might as well go die. *raises eyebrows* A chunk of my flist watch it and I do reminisce about the earlier days but in S6 the only characters I still liked were Bobby (♥ to him ALWAYS) and Balthazar. Oh, and Tess. She was kickass. Plus I had a moment for Robert Englund turning up (if your plan is to die and talk to death Dean? Let someone who is not Freddy Kreuger do it!)
But yes. I know I'm slightly unusual in this opinion but... *shrugs* There is always new shiny. I have so many fandoms anyway!
Re: I'm aware that there's no way this doesn't look stalkery...since you don't know me but -
Date: 2011-01-07 05:45 pm (UTC)Let me know if you help out your friend at A6. Maybe I can stop by the dealers room to say hi. :)
Supernatural is my favourite show and I love it to bits and pieces, but I do have to admit that it has its flaws, especially now in season 6. I did particularly enjoy season 4 and 5 though, mainly because I love the angel-part of the mythology and Castiel is pretty much my favourite tv show character ever.
I'm not into the whole Wincest and J2 part of the fandom either, so I usually just stick to my comfy, crazy little corner of the fandom.
But if you don't enjoy the show any more, that's just something that happens. You fall in love with shows, and sometimes you fall out of love again. Fortunately, there are enough great shows around to choose from.
Re: I'm aware that there's no way this doesn't look stalkery...since you don't know me but -
Date: 2011-01-07 10:59 pm (UTC)I haven't fallen out of love so much as just pretended that it ended at the end of S2. Where it rounded off so nicely. :) Some people do that odd thing where they fall out of love and seem to do a 180 and hate the whole show? That confuses me, the things I loved are still there, it's just that I don't find the characters are who I liked. And some of the developments (like the angel mythology though I know people like it and the whole 'line of hunters' thing just did not work for me. I refuse to believe that John wouldn't have realized in retrospect that Mary had been a hunter) bugged me.
There are some superscary J2 tinhats as well. Most of the ones I know are lovely but some? Someone at A1 was seriously insistent that Jensen was actually God. I may have run away quickly. Though the whole watching him get jumped thing was actually funny in a surreal kinda way. There was just this shout and flurry of fangirl. My mate (Andrew - hosted some of the panels at A1?) tried to pull her off. People are nuts.
Castiel is popular, the fandom seems to have gone nuts! I didn't have much Castiel love, but Misha is very cool. He was in one of my sections at CML and we got to chat a bit.
Odyssey 5 is my favourite. (Shocker) and I have this knack for completely falling for tiny shows that no-one has heard of and get cancelled after a couple of seasons (if they get renewed). Never mind, I always have plenty to choose from for
Have you thought about ficcing for O5? It's so tiny and needs all the fic it can get!
Re: I'm aware that there's no way this doesn't look stalkery...since you don't know me but -
Date: 2011-01-08 12:12 pm (UTC)Have you thought about ficcing for O5? It's so tiny and needs all the fic it can get!
I'm afraid, I'm not much of a fanfic writer. I've written maybe half a dozen ficlets in the last couple of years. I may write something at one point, who knows. But it's more likely that you'll find me writing an episode review/meta/character analysis sometime.
Re: I'm aware that there's no way this doesn't look stalkery...since you don't know me but -
Date: 2011-01-08 12:21 pm (UTC)Aww... sad face. Never mind, I'm not that good at it either but it's still fun. :D Character/meta is fun though - if you get around to writing any post it to
Re: I'm aware that there's no way this doesn't look stalkery...since you don't know me but -
Date: 2011-01-08 12:30 pm (UTC)