"Defying Gravity" (2009) TV series

Creator:

James D. Parriott

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

2009 (Canada)

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Eight astronauts living aboard an international spacecraft on a mission through the Solar System, as the world watches from billions kilometers away.

Plot Keywords:

Astronaut | Solar System | Space Mission | Secret Relationship | Ex Lover

Cast

Ron Livingston	...	Maddux Donner (13 episodes, 2009)
Malik Yoba	...	Ted Shaw (13 episodes, 2009)
Andrew Airlie	...	Mike Goss (13 episodes, 2009)
Paula Garcés	...	Paula Morales (13 episodes, 2009)
Florentine Lahme	...	Nadia Schilling (13 episodes, 2009)
Karen LeBlanc	...	Eve Weller-Shaw (13 episodes, 2009)
Eyal Podell	...	Dr. Evram Mintz (13 episodes, 2009)
Dylan Taylor	...	Steve Wassenfelder (13 episodes, 2009)
Christina Cox	...	Jen Crane (13 episodes, 2009)
Laura Harris	...	Zoe Barnes (13 episodes, 2009)
Ty Olsson	...	Rollie Crane (12 episodes, 2009)
Zahf Paroo	...	Ajay Sharma (11 episodes, 2009)
Maxim Roy	...	Claire Dereux (11 episodes, 2009)
William C. Vaughan	...	Arnel Poe (11 episodes, 2009)
Peter Howitt	...	Trevor Williams (8 episodes, 2009)
Lara Gilchrist	...	Sharon (6 episodes, 2009)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA | Canada | UK | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Canada:14+ (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Fox Television Studios

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Paul O'Grady Show: (2009-10-21)" (2009)

Silly but lovely

I had no expectations for this show. I'd never heard of it till the week before its eighth (and maybe last) episode. I have no television: I watch shows online. I was looking for something with Ron Livingston in it, after watching "Band of Brothers".

The science and junior-high atmosphere are ridiculous, of course, but I enjoy the slow pace and the wonderment of space. In one narration Donner says, "How the hell did I get here?" I think, if I were aboard Antares as a trained astronaut, I would wonder how I got there, often. After an all-hands meeting, Mintz suggests that they take a moment to remember where they are, then he lowers the light so that they may gaze on Earth and the Moon. That was a nice moment. I think I would alternate between gazing in awe at what surrounds the ship, and cringing in fear at what DOESN'T surround the ship: air.

The mystery of Beta is lovely. I don't care what it is, it's enough that it makes it okay to add weirdness to the story. I'm not familiar with Laura Harris, but she is a lovely and talented actress, and makes a nice foil to Livingston's Donner. Livingston does an extraordinary job, particularly when he reacts with fear and confusion to his hallucinations.

The episodes have improved as the show progresses. At this writing the show has stopped after episode eight, and may not resume. I will be sorry not to see the remainder of the season.