Defying Gravity: The Season Finale?
September 14, 2009 by Cynthia
I know TV seasons are getting shorter but eight episodes do not a season make. Still, ABC slapped the season finale label on last night’s episode of Defying Gravity, despite the fact that there should be thirteen episodes in the run.
That label, coupled with the fact that the show has been pulled off the TV schedule, indicates cancellation, but Futon Critic says it isn’t so – sort of. According to them, a rep for the ABC series denied the cancelation, saying Defying Gravity was always due to go off the air this week to make room for the new season of Brother and Sisters. As for the remaining episodes, they say they’ll be aired. . . . some day.
Pushing Daisies comes to mind but instead of waiting until next summer, I’d prefer to see those final episodes included in a DVD box set. Particularly now that we’ve been left with a huge cliffhanger and no answers to the questions.
What is the thing in Pod 4? From the looks on their faces, I thought it was God himself, but maybe I’ve been watching too much Supernatural.
This week’s episode, “Love, Honor, Obey” was all about following orders even if it means pain for you, your comrades, or even certain death. This was one of the few episodes where I actually watched the flashbacks because I’m fascinated by those kinds of psychological experiments. In the training sessions, they had to play a Simon kind of color-matching game and if they made a mistake, zap, electric shock. Next level, make a mistake and your partner gets zapped. It was all about doing what you’re told to do, no questions asked. Only it all went out the window when the group decided to buck orders and find out what’s hidden in the pod.
I thought the whole solar flare incident was very tense and exciting and I went back and forth on thinking it was a fake since the timing was so perfect. I didn’t understand the significance of the tomato plants gone wild but when they said fractal pattern all I could thing about was the TV show Threshold.
I also had Big Bang Theory flashbacks when Donner was trying to fix the space toilet!
So Ted finally breaks down and agrees that his crew should know the truth. The thing in the pod grants them access. The doors open and they are all in awe of the bright light that pours out of the chamber. We, of course, see nothing. End episode. End series, at least for now.
Given the fact that this entire series premise hinges on the secrets and lies handed down by those in charge — I gotta wonder if the person who put out the ABC “it’s not canceled” press release was Mike Goss.
(ABC/SERGEI BACHLAKOV) RON LIVINGSTON, CHRISTINA COX, FLORENTINE LAHME, DYLAN TAYLOR, PAULA GARCES, LAURA HARRIS, MALIK YOBA (OBSCURED)
Either
That sucks!! I actually really liked this show. I didn’t realize that this was supposed to be the ‘finale’. Here’s hoping they do at least release the remaining episodes on TV, DVD or hulu.com. (They released the rest of The Listener on hulu.com when NBC cancelled it. I wish they would do that for these too!)
I can’t believe what the people in charge of programming at ABC do to perfectly good original shows. Maybe we can convicne them to let the SciFi channel air the entire season?! And soon.
The full 13 episodes are still scheduled to air on CTV and the Space Channel in Canada. Since they’ve been filmed for a while, it really doesn’t make any sense not to show them.
In regards to a second season, I think the show has a good premise and a lot of potential. Once the true mission is found, I believe that the story will pick up and become more interesting. In addition, I enjoy the flashback sequences. It’s great way to develop each character’s perspective while not taking away too much from the plot.
Perhaps they (ABC) will show the rest for over the winter break? If not, you can always ask one of your Canadian friends for a recap!
It’s still being aired on Canadian TV so if you don’t want to wait until ABC gets its stuff together you could torrent it. Of course, this could mean essentially killing the show if nobody returns to watch the end of the season once its aired in the US.
It appears that most TV execs don’t know how to run TV networks…
Thanks fmo and StarkRG for pointing out it will still air in Canada. I have hope then the episodes will be online somewhere!
You’re welcome Jenn! It really irks me when shows are “stopped”, “cancelled”, or “postponed” mid-season. If ABC wanted to use the timeslot for something else, then they could have “easily” moved it to another spot. Perhaps earlier on Sunday, such as 7pm etc. If they had checked, and found that it is still being shown in other countries, they would have realized they would lose viewers upon its “return” like StarkRG said due to torrent, etc.
In any case, after all this, I hope the following episodes are good!
This really really sucks! I loved the show and just adore Ron Livingston. This is the second show he’s been in that’s been canceled and he’s been awesome in them both. The first was the 06-07 police drama, Standoff. What’s up with ABC??? Get a grip and keep a great show running!
OMG, that’s where I know him from! I kept thinking I’d seen him on something else. I loved Standoff and that was yanked after only a few episodes, wasn’t it? I’ll never understand how networks decide what to keep and what to cancel.
Update: CTV no longer lists it on the schedule. This just leaves SPACE.
I saw that!! I did manage to catch the last episode that aired on CTV (someone posted it online). I hope SPACE at least doesn’t cancel it either. I read on wiki that they will possibly resume episodes in October.
ABC continues to make me laugh with their far-out programming decisions. This was a wonderfully written show, seemed interesting, actors were a good choice of top notch canadians and some known americans. Too many dumb people wanting to watch dancing with the stars or the forgotten. To have me get into a show and then pull it after 7 shows is insane and i find it quite rude to not air the remaining episodes. They are showing the remaining shows in canada on CTV and their SPACE channel. ABC you have plenty of space with re-runs and crap-ola shows taking space you could try another time slot, i do remember LOST moving all over the place in the beginning. TV is truly getting horrible thats why I mainly watch HBO shows, they are better in general, no commercials, and always get more awards than the old boys club. I rather pay to watch good shows with no BS commercials than pay with my time as a second rate company makes crap half the time, and the other half when they have something good, they either ruin it or take it off the air because some analyst, try another time slot or day.
ABC has a lot of nerve stopping this show at all, if anything midseason. It really says FU to all the people who sat and tried this new show out. It is a suspense show and all the background info we sat through to stop airing when we were about to see the beta in cargo #4???? ABC you can go sit and spin, executive jerk who cares nothing for the viewers who are their customers….
Please make a second season of this show. It is so great…I can’t believe that they say the viewers are low! I actually love this show and will watch it faithfully until the end…(and I hope its not soon)
Saw the finale tonight–they called it the season finale–loved it! I’m hoping rumours are wrong that it will be cancelled. Someone said another network might pick it up…
Most people I’ve asked hadn’t even heard of the show. Promotion was terrible. The show deserves better treatment.
Crap. I like this show… A lot…. I got attached to the characters and the storyline. I torrented the rest of the episodes and they are good, but I had really hoped for a season 2. This sucks. It is almost embarrassing how upset I am that I am not going to find out how the storyline plays out, especially after the cliffhanger on Venus.
i saw the last five episodes online. they are amazing. Episode 8 is not the end ,it’s the beginning of when it gets good. i’m scared that if i post the site’s name it might get shut down.
I think this whole “regular tv” crap has turned into a joke. Every time there’s a new show on, they advertise the hell out of it and then air it, and then cancel it. Its a complete waste of time giving them any of our time to watch a show that for all intense and purposes will be cancelled before ever being given a fair chance. I watched all 13 episodes straight through… The only thing was that I had to watch it via a Canadian channel online. Its gotten so bad that my wife & I are watching more DVD’s these days that ever before. And so are alot of people that we know as well.
Its a joke… plain & simple… A Joke.
ABC has no testicular fortitude at all. Both “V” and “SGU” are a complete fail. Defying Gravity had a great season finale! I’m so glad that I don’t pay for cable anymore. haha
I would just like to say i am VERY disappointed in the the people who decide what stays and what go’s. every time i fine some thing that looks good and hooks you in they go and cancel it. and we are stuck watch some crappy reality tv show… if i wanted to watch to watch something i real life i would go out to watch it. i wish they would have their own brain and instead of following the other sheep (other tv networks) off a cliff. im not sure why but if it keeps i just may go the way of reality tv. cancel cable and go see it my self!
hope this make it to the top of the tv net work!
your truly
MR. F.