First of all - I'd say most of the review made on here are by people that I think only watched just the first couple of episodes. Really this was a show that you had to stick with to get the full benefit - you'll never see the story and character arcs with just an episode...if you stick with this its worth it (then you'll be gutted it was cancelled).
In regards to its cancellation, it should be noted that this was the BBCs biggest budget show to date when made. So they obviously had faith in it. By the time Outcasts was aired though, the recession was really starting to bite and the BBC had massive cuts in its budgets. The BBC simply couldn't afford to make another season so buried it, never properly promoting it and having an ever changing time slot. Fans struggled to keep track. All BBC drama suffered at this time btw, Dr Who episodes numbers were culled, Torchwood axed despite being popular and Being Human barely scraped through. Its a shame because this is a gem of serious sci-fi.
The premise is smart, an off world colony of what is the last of humanity trying to survive on a planet that seems to not want them there - perhaps a world/entity with an awareness of the human parasites that have set up home on it. With every lifeboat of people that arrives, the worst of 'civilisation' starts to infiltrate the already shaky colony (capitalism, religious power, old world hierarchy etc). This plot clearly had a lot of thought behind it and the story arc was moving into seriously interesting territory by the season end.
The cast is great (tho too many Brits considering this is supposedly the last of humanity). Don't get me wrong the actors are top notch though. I thought Eric Mabius was an odd (lightweight?) choice since he'd just finished Ugly Betty, however he turnout out to be the stand out performer in this and up against those 'well respected' thespian Brit Actors (just can't believe he's now doing those Hallmark movies tho - a real waste of talent based on how superb he was in this).
I loved Outcasts when it was first shown on tv. 10 years later I decided to finally watch the dvd version I'd picked up a few years back. Im not disappointed. If you like pew pew pew action sci-fi then this is not for you. If you like stuff thats a little slower and more cerebral this is right up your alley...theres a lot happening in this and if you're not paying attention you'll miss whats really going on....
In regards to its cancellation, it should be noted that this was the BBCs biggest budget show to date when made. So they obviously had faith in it. By the time Outcasts was aired though, the recession was really starting to bite and the BBC had massive cuts in its budgets. The BBC simply couldn't afford to make another season so buried it, never properly promoting it and having an ever changing time slot. Fans struggled to keep track. All BBC drama suffered at this time btw, Dr Who episodes numbers were culled, Torchwood axed despite being popular and Being Human barely scraped through. Its a shame because this is a gem of serious sci-fi.
The premise is smart, an off world colony of what is the last of humanity trying to survive on a planet that seems to not want them there - perhaps a world/entity with an awareness of the human parasites that have set up home on it. With every lifeboat of people that arrives, the worst of 'civilisation' starts to infiltrate the already shaky colony (capitalism, religious power, old world hierarchy etc). This plot clearly had a lot of thought behind it and the story arc was moving into seriously interesting territory by the season end.
The cast is great (tho too many Brits considering this is supposedly the last of humanity). Don't get me wrong the actors are top notch though. I thought Eric Mabius was an odd (lightweight?) choice since he'd just finished Ugly Betty, however he turnout out to be the stand out performer in this and up against those 'well respected' thespian Brit Actors (just can't believe he's now doing those Hallmark movies tho - a real waste of talent based on how superb he was in this).
I loved Outcasts when it was first shown on tv. 10 years later I decided to finally watch the dvd version I'd picked up a few years back. Im not disappointed. If you like pew pew pew action sci-fi then this is not for you. If you like stuff thats a little slower and more cerebral this is right up your alley...theres a lot happening in this and if you're not paying attention you'll miss whats really going on....