Andromeda (TV Series) Under the Night (2000) User Reviews

A good introduction

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 21 April 2018]

This science fiction series, based on an idea from 'Star Trek' creator Gene Roddenberry, is set thousands of year in the future where peace reigns in the Systems Commonwealth. It opens aboard the spaceship Andromeda Ascendant, captained by Dylan Hunt. The peace doesn't last long; they respond to a distress call and find themselves being ambushed by the Nietzscheans, genetically engineered humans who see themselves as perfect and object to a recent peace treaty. Overwhelmed Dylan orders the evacuation of his ship while he tries to escape in Andromeda by taking it very close to a black hole. He is caught on the edge of the event horizon and the ship is frozen in time.

Three hundred years later, the Commonwealth his collapsed and a salvage team are heading towards the Andromeda hoping to earn a fortune from its sale; they don't expect to find anybody alive on board and as the ship is pulled away from the black hole Dylan is even for surprised to learn that so much time has passed and the Commonwealth has fallen.

While this isn't one of the classic sci-fi series it gets off to a good start. The first half of the episode serves to introduce protagonist Dylan Hunt and Andromeda, the later isn't just the ship but also its AI system which has a human-looking avatar. Kevin Sorbo is solid as Hunt, the character does come across as a bit too perfect but it is early days and he may develop nicely as the series progresses. Lexa Doig also impresses as Andromeda; perhaps a bit sexier than an AI needs to be but I'm not complaining! The second half does a good job of introducing the salvage team and of explaining the changes over the previous three hundred years. This group are an interesting bunch although at this stage it is unclear which of them will become series regulars... although the amount of time spent with each of them does give a clue. There is plenty of action, although the CGI does look a bit dated now, it is still fairly exciting. Overall this was a good start to the series.

Great Intro

[wrcurtisjr · 10/10 · 22 February 2007]

I have watched many sci-fi movies and TV series. I myself am a writer of science fiction. The beginning to Andromeda is unparalleled. The first show was well done, but not the best of the shows. I would venture to say that as the season went on, it became apparent that Andromeda was going be a powerhouse. Under the Night was frightening and broad in scope. This made the show as good if not better than the epic that would come a few years later...the remake of Battle Star Galactica, one of my favorites from my younger years. I give a 10-10 to Andromeda the first episode...actually I'd have to say that season was a 20.

A great-looking travesty

[skinnybert · 2/10 · 20 May 2022]

It's hard to guess what anyone thought they were trying to do here. The first half plays as if somebody cut exciting moments out of half-a-dozen different movies and spliced them together into a single incoherent script. Science terms are accessed seemingly at random -- like reaching into a bag of Halloween candy and eating whatever you get. 10/10 for explosions and spaceship CGI, so there is that.

The second half improves by slowing things down a bit for character to happen, but lacks any idea of what the characters are supposed to be ... and then it looks like the makeup department created each one at random.

Like all TV sci-fi of its generation, everyone is in their 20s and many of them are tense and serious. Almost anything can happen and therefore does ... or doesn't ... there really is no cause/effect relationship, except what leads to the next melodramatic moment. When we want to study why so many people still prefer the earlier Star Treks, we can begin with asking, Why was Y2K sci-fi so dominated by melodramatic young people making power plays on each other?

Under the Night

[Prismark10 · 4/10 · 16 November 2023]

Based on the writings of Gene Roddenberry. Andromeda was developed some years after his death as a stark contrast to Star Trek.

While Star Trek came from an idealist perspective. The United Federation of Planets wanting to preserve harmony and order in the galaxy.

The first episode of Andromeda has Captain Dylan Hunt (Kevin Sorbo.) He is at the helm of the Commonwealth starship Andromeda Ascendant, with an AI system in the form of a shapely female called Andromeda.

The Systems Commonwealth has preserved law and order for centuries. They have recently signed a peace treaty with the warlike Magog. Only Hunt is betrayed by his first officer, a genetically engineered Nietzschean. They are not happy with the peace treaty.

Trapped on the edge of a black hole. Captain Hunt emerges from it 300 years later. In that time, the Commonwealth has disintegrated and chaos has taken over.

A crew from a salvage ship take over the Andromeda until they encounter Captain Hunt. He plans to band with them and strives to restore the Systems Commonwealth.

While the first episode establishes the premise of the series. This was a weak opener. Hunt was too much of a perfect leading man, the type of annoying one that US television shows like a lot. The main problem is Sorbo does not have the charisma or acting chops to make the character succeed.

With the shapely AI female avatar, some daft lines. This shows all the promise of a cheesy sci fi show with bad plots.