I watched
Pandora and it was great in a cheesy 'they don't make them like this anymore' kind of way(much like
The Outpost).
Here is rough collection of my thoughts as I watched it:
- What is this music? It has this driving energy but on top of that is some flute or something and then it transitions to some tinkling chimes and a brief wannabe Trek hopeful swell before dropping that and back into high energy mode. And then it changes again! I've rewound and rewatched this now 4 times, I don't think I've ever been so distracted by a score for anything right out of the gate, the first 40 seconds or so of this episoe sure are something.
- Oh shit that title card is excellent.
- This music! It has now settled comfortably into heroic 90s syndicated sci-fi. Seriously, I'm 5 minutes in and I think this might have the most unique score on television, nothing sounds like this anymore(maybe The Orville? I don't know I gave up on that ages ago)
- Oh my, a girl with a purple wig, pink top, yellow skirt, yellow socks, red boots, and metallic silver backpack.
- If my hearing is correct, main girl is Jax(Jacks?) and the girl of many colors is Atreia(sp?). Those are some sci-fi names if I've ever heard them.
- And now we have world-building and character building that is coming fast and hard. Our group of characters are now at the Peach Pit After Dark or whatever and we got one guy who is hoping to get placed on an exploratory vessel as a medical officer, a guy who is aiming to be pilot, alien ambassador's son who no one likes(because of a past war), Atreia(purple hair girl) isn't actually considered human, she is some type of clone-slave. Oh and pilot guy is also a telepath(and telepaths were created by the humans and aren't naturally occurring). Too much too soon, Pandora.
- New character, is a robot I think. I am in love with this sci-fi dorm room. Yes please, holographic shower curtain.
- What is this scene, what is going on, where are they going?
- Oh my god...is this a college aged Space Cases?
I think I am going to love this show. Much like
The Outpost it feels like a throwback to the sensibilities of 90s syndicated genre television(which I love) just with a stronger serialized focus. And also like
The Outpost, I like how this show just goes for it with regards to its high concept nature. Sure, the cgi isn't great but I would rather a show do what its going to do even with subpar cgi rather than having to navigate what it can and can't show.
Pandora showing those dumb looking aliens even if they look dumb gets a nod of approval from me.
This isn't something like
The 100 where I would recommend it to everyone just because it is excellent, but between the low budget charm and the weird nostalgia it kicks up in me, I quite enjoyed it and recommend it to all who might be of a similar bent.