SGU 1.01 "Air Part 1" Episode Guide

Précis

An evacuation from Icarus Base during an attack leads soldiers, scientists, and civilians to be stranded on an Ancient starship billions of lightyears from home. Back at Homeworld Command, Lt. Gen. Jack O'Neill must determine what happened to the 80+ evacuees who were expected to come through the Stargate to Earth, but never arrived.

Guide | Transcript

MGM/SciFi.com Official Summary

After unlocking the mystery of the Stargate's ninth chevron, a team of explorers travels to an unmanned starship called the Destiny, launched by The Ancients at the height of their civilization as a grand experiment set in motion, but never completed. What starts as a simple reconnaissance turns into a never ending mission, as the Stargate Universe crew discovers the ship is unable to return to Earth, and they must now fend for themselves aboard the Destiny. The crew will travel to the far reaches of the universe, connecting with each of the previously launched Stargates, thus fulfilling the Destiny's original mission. Challenges will arise though as the ship comes into range of Stargates placed centuries ahead of the Destiny and the crew is unable to control the ship's navigational schedule. If someone is left behind, there is no way to go back for them, adding to the drama of encountering new races, enemies and adventures.

Spoiler Summary

• Solutions: Stargate Universe Character Breakdowns Revealed, September 17, 2009
• Solutions: SGU Auditioning Commences, September 30, 2009
• Solutions: SGU Audtion Sides Reveal Characters, Technology, November 21, 2009
• Solutions: SGU Casting, Ship Design Close to Final, December 10, 2009
• Solutions: Stargate Universe: Different in Look and Feel, December 19, 2009
• Solutions: Additional Casting Calls for Stargate Universe, January 9, 2009
• Solutions: SGU Spoilers: Series Premiere "Air", January 10, 2009
• Solutions: New Recurring Character Adds More Conflict, January 23, 2009

Cast

• Robert Carlyle as Dr. Nicholas Rush
• Louis Ferreira as Col. Everett Young
• Brian J. Smith as 1st Lt. Matthew Scott
• Elyse Levesque as Chloe Armstrong
• David Blue as Eli Wallace
• Alaina Huffman as 1st Lt. Tamara Johansen
• Jamil Walker Smith as MSgt. Ronald Greer

Guest Stars

• Michael Shanks as Dr. Daniel Jackson (possible cameo)
• Christopher McDonald as Senator Armstrong
• Ona Grauer as ???

List is not confirmed:

• Curtis
• Airman Darren Becker
• Palmer
• White
• Poole
• Michael Smith
• Emily
• Franklin
• Sgt. Riley
• Kim
• Grearson
• Volker
• Marion
• Jack (Marion's son)
• Brody
• Phillips
• Hearst
• Henry
• McDonald
• Park
• Maj. Peterson
• Lt. James
• Dr. Damji
• Spencer
• Boone

Production

• Written by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper
• Directed by Andy Mikita

Related Articles

Keywords

• Ancient Shuttle
• Ancients
• Destiny
• Earth
• Homeworld Security
• Icarus Base
• International Oversight Advisory (IOA)
• Stargate

Other

• Stargate Universe: Season One
• Next: SGU 1.02 "Air Part 2" Episode Guide

Related Links

Official

• MGM Official Website: Search Results for "{{{MGM_search}}}"
• Syfy: 1.01 "Air Part 1" Guide

Fan

• Solutions News and Spoiler Blog
• Solutions at LJ: Universe Tagged Entries
• Solutions Universe Forum

Galleries

• Sci Fi Wire: Exclusive: Stargate Universe Concept Art!, October 24, 2008.
• Stillnoname: Stargate: Universe (location shoot), February 20, 2009.

Production Notes

• "Well, I’m off to read the very first draft of the very first Stargate: Universe script, compliments of Brad Wright and Robert Cooper…" — Joseph Mallozzi (November 10, 2008).
• "Originally planned as a two-parter, Brad and Robert quickly discovered that there was simply too much story for such a tight frame, so the series opener is now looking like a three-parter." — Joseph Mallozzi (November 11, 2008).
• "Rob and Brad have put out the first draft of the opening three-parter, Air..." — Joseph Mallozzi (December 5, 2008).
• "Of the first ten episodes broken, we have a grand total of 0 forested planets. I’m not saying we won’t, eventually, come across one but, for the time being, the emphasis is on the ship and some locations atypical of Stargate. As a matter of fact, Executive Producer Robert Cooper and Director Andy Mikita are in New Mexico as we speak, scouting a cool-looking alien setting." — Joseph Mallozzi (December 19, 2008)
• "I’m off to re-read the opening two-parter (technically a three-parter but whatever)." — Joseph Mallozzi (January 5, 2009)
• "I talked to [executive producer] Brad Wright a couple of weeks ago, and he asked me if I’d be interested in doing a cameo in the Universe pilot, and I of course said I would be. And there’s a great deal of talk about [it]. … They’ve got a script going and everything like that." — Michael Shanks, Sci Fi Wire (January 26, 2009)
• "Yet another version of Air 1, 2, and 3 came out yesterday as well." — Joseph Mallozzi (January 30, 2009)
• "As another week draws to a close we inch ever closer to our first day of principal photography. We had the costume fittings on Monday and then the super-secret closed-door invitation-only cast read thru on Tuesday. Yesterday was the stage tech survey for Air #1, #2, and #3 while the production meeting for all three episodes was held today. It was followed by the Safety Meeting which, I‘m disappointed to say, fellow writer/producer did NOT attend on our behalf. Given that we is the writing department’s appointed Safety Representative (in addition to Official Synopsis Writer, Food Taster, and Chairman of our Green Initiative), he really should have been there taking assiduous notes on things like the restriction on open-toe sandals and the indiscriminate use of helium cryogenic-system cooled super magnets on set. What the hell are we supposed to do now? Use our common sense?! The all important Hair and Make-Up Tests tomorrow will be followed by a second cast read thru and, if all goes as planned, the weekend." — Joseph Mallozzi (February 12, 2009)
• "So, we’ve got our first three episodes on deck - Air #1, #2, and #3 - and veteran director (and cyrogenic-system cooled super magnet collector) Andy Mikita will be doing the honors." — Joseph Mallozzi (February 12, 2009)
• "I think we’ve got a terrific and incredibly talented group and I look forward to that first day of principal photography…Which happens to be tomorrow! First up, Rush and Eli on Stage 3 followed by the first of several familiar faces. On the lot Wednesday, but heading out on location Thursday and Friday." — Joseph Mallozzi (February 17, 2009)
• "Today marked the start of production on Stargate: Universe and, while most were down on Stage 3 watching/participating in the action, I was up in the production offices, pacing the corridors as I’m wont to do when working on a script revision. ... All indications are things are going swimmingly on set. Brad and Rob are very happy with what they saw today and I look forward to checking out the first batch of dailies tomorrow. Special Features Producer Ivon Bartok had a conversation with Robert Carlyle and can’t say enough good things about the man. After lunch, I swung by the trailers to say hello to our guest star. We ended up chatting away until we got the call from set. Just like old times. It made me kind of nostalgic." — Joseph Mallozzi (February 18, 2009)
• "Well, today the production was on location so things were fairly quiet at The Bridge. Watched our very first set of dailies and the show looks awesome. Rush - Eli. Eli. Eli - Chloe." — Joseph Mallozzi (February 19, 2009)
• "Tomorrow, we’re back on the lot as we hit Icarus Base." — Joseph Mallozzi (February 22, 2009)
• "What a day! We were on Icarus Base shooting a couple of HUGE scenes featuring Rush, Young, Scott, Chloe, Eli, Telford, Senator Armstrong, Dr. Damji, Lt. James, Sgt. Riley, Park, Brody, and Franklin. The set is spectacular, I’m loving the new gate set-up, and, surprise surprise, really loving those Icarus military uniforms. Stylin’!" — Joseph Mallozzi (February 23, 2009)
• "Andy Mikita, directing the three-parter, is running a tight ship - but everyone is enjoying themselves immensely. I got some nice behind-the-scenes pics of Bobby and Justin along with “the actor playing Telford” (not sure if his identity has been announced yet but I have to say - and did say - I’ve enjoyed his work, especially his performance in my very favorite Mark Wahlberg movie. And, no, it’s not the movie you’re thinking of. Or the next one. Or the one after that.)." — Joseph Mallozzi (February 23, 2009)
• On Brian J. Smith: "Monday saw him delivering a tough and very emotional performance that he nailed not once, not twice, but five times, every one as strong as the one before. After the fifth take, I glanced over at Exec. Producer Rob Cooper who was looking back at me with a knowing smile, well aware of exactly what I was going to say: “He‘s great!” A wide-eyed Exec. Producer Carl, sitting to my left, concurred with an enthusiastic nod. I predict a long and successful career ahead of him." — Joseph Mallozzi (February 24, 2009)
• On David Blue: "Well, I’m happy to report that David is doing a wonderful job as our Eli Wallace (kicking off production with some terrific scenes opposite Robert Carlyle) and seems to be having a good time doing it. He’s a very funny guy and a real pleasure to talk to on set. Although I wasn’t on set today to see it, Carl reports that he was hilarious in the big mess scene." — Joseph Mallozzi (February 24, 2009)
• "A pretty hilarious guy in his own right is actor Justin Louis who did a really nice job opposite Ona Grauer in some heartfelt scenes earlier this week. I told him: 'You guys are eventually going to get tired of hearing it but - we are loving the dailies!'" — Joseph Mallozzi (February 25, 2009)
• "Finally, late yesterday, Robert Carlyle delivered a performance in a key scene that was so outstanding it blew the doors off Stage 3 - and the entire crew away! 'Masterful' would be one word to describe it. 'Extraordinary' would be another. But I prefer to simply go with 'Wow!'" — Joseph Mallozzi (February 25, 2009)
• "Joe, I can’t believe how amazing the SGU film crew is. The production feels more like filming is being done for the big screen than for a TV production, but they’re doing it at TV production speed. It was great to watch Andy, Rob, yourself, and John (and Bill, Vince, Trevor, and the crew) all doing their jobs with machine like precision with half a million extras running about. As far as fans saying this is going to be 90210 in space…I just didn’t see it at all. I don’t want to make comparisons to anything because it might give something away, but 90210 in space or the like, nope, it’s not that. It is new, exciting, and yes, highly dramatized, but if it wasn’t, what would be the point of watching it? All I can really say is that the fans are going to love the show!! ... Oh, and don’t worry, I won’t clog up your comment board every time I am on the show, (which looks like it will be a lot the next few weeks). Have a great weekend." — User herbertsommerfeld on Joseph Mallozzi's weblog (February 26, 2009)
• "The action moved to Stage 2 today for more Icarus Base intrigue. Later, we fire off the BIG GUNS! ... I was outside this afternoon, hanging around the crafts service table, talking to the actors between set-ups: Brian, Jamil, and the actors who play James, Spencer, and Curtis (Yes, they have real names but I have no idea when they will be made public.). Lovely, lovely people, all very excited about the show and the general good on-set vibe. Then, back in the production offices talking to the lovely Alaina (aka Tamara), discussing chocolate, dim sum, and what a brilliant job she did on a very tough scene the other day. We also dropped by the Stage 4 Destiny set - all lit up! Holy crap is it big! And impressive! I’ve got a backlog of pics, everything from design and construction to the finished deal, just waiting to be posted…" — Joseph Mallozzi (February 27, 2009)
• "I think I’m going to start getting up a half hour earlier so that I can get into work a little sooner as this week, we finally start shooting on the Stage 4 Destiny set. Excitement abounds! I know that some of the actors have been holding off on visiting the set so that when they first lay eyes on the ship interiors, they’ll be lit and ready to roll. If I’m early enough, I’d love to catch the look on their faces when they first step onto what will be their home away from home for (hopefully) the next 6+ years." — Joseph Mallozzi (March 1, 2009)

Further Reading

• Joseph Mallozzi's Blog
• SCI FI WIRE: Michael Shanks has a surprise about Stargate Universe, January 26, 2009.

---

--DeeKayP 14:12, 14 February 2009 (PST)