Sci-Fi Review: Space Above & Beyond, First Half

I mentioned back in January that I would be looking through some 'old' sci-fi shows. At the time, I had just started making my way through the series Space: Above and Beyond.

I'm halfway through the limited series now and it has been interesting. The overall storyline follows the 'Wildcards', members of the United States Marine Corps who get caught up in a war between a violent alien race (dubbed 'Chigs') and Earth. The initial attack wipes out some of Earth's first colonies on other planets.

One colony ship was supposed to carry Nathan West and his girlfriend, Kylen. Nathan is pulled from the crew and the ship comes under attack approaching its destination planet. A continuing theme throughout the series so far has been Nathan's quest to find Kylen again - believing she was not killed in the attack on her ship.

The main conflict in the series is between the humans and the Chigs. From their initial attack, the war has not gone well for humanity. Few victories are witnessed and even our hero characters have hard times overcoming the enemy. One thing the series is able to do is bring us down into the dirt and show us the fight and realistic emotions affecting our characters.

Only twelve episodes in, the series has opened up several other storylines. One involves the 'Silicates', androids or artificial intelligence. The Silicates end up helping the Chigs, acting as mercenaries and they also play an important part in Capt. Vansen's past as they killed her parents in front of her when she was a child.

Another story arc deals with the 'In Vitroes' who are artificially gestated humans, but treated as a lower class. An In Vitro took Nathan West's place on the colony ship, while main characters Lt. Hawkes and Col. McQueen are both In Vitro's. Hawkes' story arc takes him through learning about what it means to be human.

Then there is the conspiracy theory story arc which surrounds Aero-Tech and its influence over political parties and decisions on Earth. There's some connection there that isn't fully explored at this point but we are led to believe that they knew about the Chigs before colonisation of other planets began.

The series so far has provided some interesting episodes. Although the effects and props let it down to a fashion by looking quite dated by our current standards, there is a realism to be appreciated in the unfolding of events and experiences of our characters.

Notably, the special effects were ahead of their time in the mid 90's when this show first aired but are hardly outstanding today. I wonder if other shows around the same time would also look as dated? In particular, one of my favourites, Babylon 5.

Looking forward to the remaining half of the series...