Space: Above and Beyond
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Space: Above and Beyond was a short-lived 1990s American science fiction television show, created and written by Glen Morgan and James Wong. It ran a single season, 1995-1996. It was criticised for its depiction of military forces, which was surprisingly unrealistic even for popular television. The show, set in the year 2063, focuses on a group of United States Space Marines (the 58th squadron, the Wildcards) who are based on the spacecraft carrier USS Saratoga, and act as infantry and also fly Hammerhead spacecraft.
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Plot
In the years leading up to 2063, humanity has gradually colonized other planets. Suddenly, a previously unknown and mysterious alien species, the Chigs, attacks and completely destroys two colonies. The military forces of Earth sent to confront the Chigs are also destroyed and in desperation unproven and under-trained forces like the Wildcards are thrown against the Chigs. Although the human forces come under the control of a reformed United Nations, the UN has no military of its own and navies such as the U.S. Navy and the British Royal Navy operate interstellar starships.
The Space: Above and Beyond milieu includes an underclass caste of artificially gestated humans who are born at the physical age of 18, and are collectively known as in vitros or sometimes, derogatorily, 'tanks'. The in vitros have replaced the previous underclass group used by humanity, which are artificial intelligences known as silicates human-looking, walking personal computers, who have rebelled, formed their own societies and wage a guerrilla war against human society. Originally designed to only serve and not question orders, a human hacker infiltrated their mainframe and entered in the idea of taking a chance. It was said in the show that by taking a chance, they were then allowed to choose; thus allowing them to realize their state and fight against. They are identifiable by their eyes, which are not normal looking, but have crosshairs instead of irises. The silicates are also suspected of having some involvement with the Chigs.
The show lasted one season on Fox before it was cancelled. The final episode ends in a major cliffhanger, where T. C. McQueen is badly injured and most of the major cast is apparently killed, although Cooper Hawkes and Nathan West are unhurt. It was shown in the United Kingdom on BBC2.
Characters
- Commodore Glen Ross (captain of the USS Saratoga) - Tucker Smallwood
- Lt. Col Tyrus Cassius "T. C." McQueen (head of the squadron, an in vitro) - James Morrison
- Captain Shane Vansen - Kristen Cloke
- First Lieutenant Cooper Hawkes (an in vitro) - Rodney Rowland
- First Lieutenant Paul Wang - Joel de la Fuente
- First Lieutenant Vanessa Damphouse - Lanei Chapman
- Lieutenant Nathan West - Morgan Weisser
- Feliciti OH - Kimberly Patton
Episode list
- Pilot (1)
- Pilot (2)
- The Farthest Man from Home
- The Dark Side of the Sun
- Mutiny
- Ray Butts
- Eyes
- The Enemy
- Hostile Visit (1)
- Choice or Chance (2)
- Stay with the Dead
- The River of Stars
- Who Monitors the Birds?
- Level of Necessity
- Never No More (1)
- The Angriest Angel (2)
- Toy Soldiers
- Dear Earth
- Pearly
- R & R
- Stardust
- Sugar Dirt
- And If They Lay Us Down to Rest... (1)
- ...Tell Our Moms We Done Our Best (2)
A DVD release of all episodes is tentatively scheduled for Summer 2005.
External links
- SAAB information, resources & FAQs (http://www.web-worthy.com/saab/)
- Category at ODP (http://dmoz.org/Arts/Television/Programs/Science_Fiction_and_Fantasy/S/Space_-_Above_and_Beyond/)
- S:AAB Ready Room - multimedia & resources (http://www.space-readyroom.de)
- "Space: Above and Beyond" (1995) TV-Series 1995-1996 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112173/)
- The Space: Above and Beyond (http://www.crazyabouttv.com/spaceabovebeyond.html) page at Crazy About TV features trivia, a plot summary, cast list, and episode titles for the series.de:Space 2063