Otherworld (1985) User Reviews

A Really Good Show That Didn't Make It

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 24 July 2009]

Seeing 20 user comments for Otherworld is a pleasant surprise for me. I really thought I might have been the only one who remembers this unique and fascinating science fiction series. Sad that it only ran for a few episodes. I attribute that to poor marketing. With all the cable outlets now, Otherworld definitely could have survived. I can see it being a staple on the SyFy network now.

The show involves the American Sterling family touring Egypt where they wander into the labyrinth of one of the pyramids and when they come out find they're in a different dimension. And of course they stand out in this Big Brother Orwellian type of planet. The idea was for them to get back home somehow.

It's a thinking man's version of Land Of The Lost. The few episodes there were and I saw were intelligently written and acted by the players who were cast as the Sterlings. Father Sam Groom, Mother Gretchen Corbett, and children Tony O'Dell, Chris Hebert, and Jonna Lee were all just fine in the parts.

Too bad this show didn't catch on. Everyone should write in to the SyFy Channel and beg them to buy these episodes.

CBS didn't know what they had

[sscheiber · 8/10 · 2 February 2007]

This show tried to take a different road from most. A story of a family who fell through a "hole" into an alternate reality, it took that premise in directions that most have never tried. It contained some of the most sophisticated writing that science fiction television had seen up to that time, with a deceptive subtlety couched in satire. Part allegory, part drama, part family, with frequent "winks" to the audience (characters spouting lines that seem to convey that they know more than they are supposed to, but the lines that follow add a more consistent context). CBS never knew how to promote it. "Rock and Roll Suicide" (in which the kids -- stuck in a place where the entertainment is REALLY boring -- invent rock and roll) is a sociological commentary on non-conformance with several stabs at dogmatic religion (the Church of Artificial Intelligence to be precise). "Mansion of the Beast" is essentially a retelling of that fairy tale. The show is not completely successful. Series television is inevitably a crap shoot. You try your best. But its fresh outlook, intelligent scripting, and tongue-in-cheek humor put it a cut above most. It deserved more of a chance. Also, although the episodes as they ran on the Sci-Fi channel were deftly cut, some of the humor was lost. Pity. I recently learned that there are 5 episodes that never aired. Let's bring this one out on DVD with the missing episodes included.

I loved this show

[Plumpkin · 7/10 · 19 January 2004]

I loved this show. I was in high school at the time, and I can't believe I actually remember that Tony O'Dell was the actor who played the boy. Everytime I see the actor that played Kroll, I remember him with the scar and how evil he was.

I remember the Rock and Roll episode, and my dad complained that they went from playing the Beatles to modern rock way to quickly and they should have had the music evolve more slowly and naturally.

I remember the dad selling something like Tupperware called like, Burpoware or something like that. It was the episode that auctioned off the son, and the women were the 1950's type men.

There was an episode where everyone wore white, but I don't remember much about it (they were maybe in a spa of some sort?)

I was so sad when it never returned to the air.

80's strangeness at its best.

[HyperPup · 23 September 2000]

Of all the shows to come and go during the 80's, Otherworld established itself as a series that needed better. Perhaps time and the powers that be could'nt save this show, but it definately had a storyline that could have really been spectacular. Filled with alternate universe strangeness, tinges of cultural mirroring and a 80's futuristic feel and look that permeates it right down to the pseudo Tangerine Dream soundwork of Sylvester Levay, the series progressivly reached highs and lows with some of its stories, however that was not totally unexpected. Audiences back then were not very tollerant of sci-fi programming like they are now, and the world created by Mr. Taylor was definately in need of more time and a better litmus test before it could fully become a hit. At last, it was not to be, but it still lives in the hearts and minds as one of the more interesting series to come about during the rocky road of sci-fi programming.

For those unfamiliar with the series, it was the on-going saga of the Sterling family who find themselves trapped in a alternate universe during a visit to Egypt during a planetary conjunction. The world they now wander has many provinces each with their own unique twist. Sarlax: with its population completely comprised of androids. Adore: where society is based upon female control or Metraplex: A society controlled the MacroElite with MicroWorkers being the underclass. Futuristic sights and sounds pervade this strange world as they seek the province of Imar and a way to get back to Earth but its not an easy task as every place they go has an unexpected danger, as well, hot on their heels is a commander in this worlds armed forces known as Zone Troopers who will stop at nothing to capture the Sterlings and restore his honor that they took from him.

The series is currently owned by SciFi/USA networks so it will undoubtedly show up from time to time on possibly both channels. If you are fortunate to catch it, view with an open mind and an unassuming heart and you might just be surprised.

Interesting but Not Outstanding

[elcutach · 6/10 · 5 May 2006]

This series combines elements of Lost in Space, assorted time traveler shows and The Fugitive. The cast is competent but none of them ever became stars. The two whom I remember are Gretchen Corbett, who was a regular for awhile on The Rockford Files, and Johnathan Banks, who is still active and makes his living with guest spots as various menacing types-gangsters and other unpleasant persons. Herein he appears as a Zone Trooper in pursuit of the hapless family.

In each episode they change provinces. The gimmick is that each province is of an entirely different socio-economic system in which the family of fugitives must attempt to conceal themselves. The major premise being that the fugitives are on an alternate earth: all the provinces vary in time periods based on earth history, which means there are no elaborate special effects, space ship sets, etc.

Chep enough to make, this series still did not get high enough ratings to warrant renewal; this was a hole filler until something better came along. Still worth watching for the clever bits, but it will never even rival the erstwhile Buck Rogers seres which hung on for two seasons..

Lost Classic

[Mark-129 · 10/10 · 26 July 2005]

If Otherworld had gone into production 5-7 years later, it might have enjoyed a long run and been regarded as a classic of the genre.

The series revolved around the Sterling family, Hal, his wife June and their children, Trace, Gina and Smith, who while touring the pyramids of Egypt, found themselves whisked to the "otherworld," a parallel world with pockets of civilization or provinces, separated by a forbidden zone where only the "Zone Troopers" are allowed to travel. All this is ruled from the capitol province of Ymar (e-mar) where a portal back to Earth was said to exist.

What follows in the 8 filmed episodes are the adventures of the family as they travel from province to province, on a journey to Ymar, always hounded by Kommander Nuveen Kroll, the sadistic Zone Trooper leader the Sterlings ran afoul of upon their arrival.

Created by Roderick Taylor, a musician, Otherworld always maintained a surreal quality with music and effects, where everything is just off kilter, maintaining the feeling of another reality. Each province had it's own character, from a colony of androids to a repressed 50s style city, ripe for the introduction of Rock n' Roll.

There was no resolution to the series which disappeared after the last (and best) episode, "Princess Metra" faded out with the Sterlings continuing their journey home. This was a surprise, since Taylor had said in newspaper interviews, the network had commissioned 13 episodes, even describing a couple of upcoming episodes (the Sterlings encounter duplicates of themselves was one), but the series was apparently canceled before the full production run.

Still, there are rumors of several lost episodes that were never broadcast. So, who knows?

Too bad CBS never gave the series a fighting chance, choosing to bury it on Saturday nights. Stories were always, well written, entertaining and pro-family. Repeated often was the refrain that family was always the Sterlings main strength. Otherworld might have found a bigger audience with more promotion and a better time slot, but, in my opinion would have found great success in the kinder, gentler television of the 90s.

Ambitious attempt

[bgaiv · 7/10 · 19 February 2022]

I saw this first run back in the day and liked it. Partly because there was a dearth of science fiction on tv back then.

I can't say it was fabulous because of 8 episodes, at least 2 were total clunkers -- weird motorcycle one where the parents seemed to forget they had a small child, and even worse the beauty and the beast episode. Stooping that low that early is pretty bad, so it looks like they couldn't get enough writing support.

But the premise was solid and the family was well written and played. It was nice to see that they were all intelligent and believable. No cheap caricatures. And Jonathan Banks makes the most of his role as well.

Otherworld was my all time favorite show as a child, etc.

[wingaddict · 10/10 · 13 February 2000]

Ah, if only it would have met a similar longevity and cult status as Star Trek or Dr. Who. Yes it was cheesy 80's; yes often the acting was bad. However, I admire the boldness of the producers to do something different in the midst of an era when sci-fi was nearly extinct on prime time TV and sitcoms ruled. I as a child with Asperger's syndrome loved this show so much that it became one of the most influential shows in my life. It later attracted me to the Dr. Who series, which I was highly addicted to in middle school. I was able to get a friend to tape a couple of the episodes replayed on USA network as I lived in the country and he had cable. However, he had an ancient C-band satellite dish with a rotten descrambler.

I spent a full nine years of my life looking for the final episode (#8) that I missed as the stupid local fake TV Guide said that it wasn't showing but a Garfield episode instead (I couldn't check b/c my parents had taken away my TV privileges due to my damn abusive 5th grade teacher who I still haven't fully forgiven). Finally, in my very first experience with the modern HTTP internet (not the old FTP and telnet stuff) I browsed the Sci-Fi channel's site and to my surprise found all eight episode's airdates in their series collection. I bought the highest quality standard VHS tapes that I could buy and now have all the episodes to enjoy all over again (unfortunately they edited out some parts, like when Smith Sterling was playing with the air gun (it shot commander Kroll in one of the last scenes- which WAS included)). Now I would like direct film transfer copies to DVD, but have been unable to attain them (I could digitally enhance them someday:)

Currently, my favorite show is Stargate-SG1. It is otherworld to the max, but with a 90-2k's twist. As the social part of my brain is finally maturing in my mid 20's, I find some of the roles over-simplified and predictable, but overall, this series continues to improve with time. I get fed-up with its scientific inconsistencies like all the Star-Trek series, but overall it has top priority on my VCR.

interesting show

[patricknijland · 9/10 · 11 October 2006]

For it's time it was a interesting show. It tried to center on different cultures (the zones) and show its weaknesses and straights. Too bad that it didn't get the time to grow to a show with a lot more potential. 8 episodes isn't much time to get the actors and the idea (which is more complex than it originally anticipated: showing a lost in space idea on earth.) to such a degree that they are able to get the message across about different cultures. Maybe it is best to compare it for a bit with sliders. Sliders tried the same concept and shows that such a series can get a solid audience. In all a show worth watching so you can get an idea how a little idea can form a basis for a nice TV series. (the music is also worth mentioning: if you'voe heard it once, you will remember it forever. great music for it's time!!)

Serious, family-oriented drama with good sci-fi

[PaxD75 · 10/10 · 8 July 2021]

July/2021: Just finished watching the entire 8 episode series. The premise of the series is to return home. In the attempt, the family moves from one province to another (within 'Otherworld') encountering adventures along the way.

The final episode had me asking the question... can the family do better in life than to have Gina as princess and (essentially) benevolent absolute ruler of one of the provinces? Even the entire family was treated like royalty - respected and honored.

It seemed to me like a great life. Plus, they seemed to have much better tech than 1985 earth. I can't imagine that life on earth could even begin to compare. It would be interesting to edit the final few minutes - most of it was simple voice-over anyway.

Instead of the father, Hal Sterling, stating that they were moving on - have a 'voice double' state that they were staying in the province. "We found our new home", "Home is where our family is", etc.

Staying in this province would have worked against the premise. I'm sure that at the time, they had every intention (hope?) of a continuation of the series. Today (2021), 36 years later, the re-edit would create a great series ending (and closure).

Regardless... great series with the varieties of provinces acting like different worlds within "Otherworld".

Interesting premise marred by poor writing.

[Java_Joe · 5/10 · 22 January 2023]

This is an example of a series with a reasonably clever premise. This family winds up thrown into another world where they're chased by a zealous police officer and must find a way home. Pretty standard stuff when you get down to it but there's a twist, no two episodes are quite the same.

You see when they arrive in this "Otherworld" they're stopped by a police officer of sorts. They manage to overpower him, steal his car and control crystal and make their way to the closest town. It looks like normal America with people, stores, homes and the like but there's something off about it. The stores just sell cans of food with generic labels on them. The mother gets sick. And it's revealed everybody is an android due to the high levels of radiation there. And this sets the stage for every new city or area they visit. Different cultural norms exist. In one women are the dominant sex. In another everybody is a Mad Max kind of biker. In a third it's like the 1950's and everybody is repressed and boring.

That right there makes it interesting. In doing this they're able to explore certain things and it's not always the same story. But the writing on these things was inconsistent. Or there's just big old holes of logic that make no sense. Like in the 1950's world the two kids bring rock & roll with them as they perform this at the high school talent show. A world without rock & roll still has modern drum kits and electric guitars? How does that even work?

While this could have been given a little time to find it's footing the ratings were never that good and it was cancelled after, I think, only a dozen episodes. You can find them on Youtube if you really want.

Thought it was cool

[LepricahnsGold · 23 May 2003]

When this show was on the air, I was in high school. I thought the show had lots of imagination. Some episodes worked, others didn't. But when they worked, they were great! I just wish there had been more episodes produced. I think there were only like 8 episodes made.

Other world

[dohdohb · 8/10 · 2 April 2007]

OMG can't believe i've found it at last i watched this series every sat as a kid.Could never remember the title until now,please bring out a DVD!!!!I would love to watch it again but where do i find a copy????? I've always loved things about Egypt and "otherworld" made my imagination run wild,its bugged me for years and years.I can't believe they cancelled ,it was on one minute then just stopped without warning i was gutted.I always hoped they'd do re-runs but never saw any,some one said that it was shown on the sci fi channel. Would be great if it could be shown again just for old times sake.well it must of been good as it was shown over here in england and i know other friends my age who liked it!!!!!!!!

Family Trip to the Alternate Dimentions

[hellraiser7 · 8/10 · 5 December 2014]

Family Trip stories have always been about the possibility on what would happen when the family unit encounters certain situation outside their own comfort zone, beyond the control of the usual practical problems their use to dealing with. One great thing those situations always do is they always teaches the unit to be a family. This is another one of those under the radar sci-fi TV shows that caught my eye; it's not quite a classic but it could of been, I personally felt had potential to go even further with itself, but never did which I felt was a real shame.

This show obviously predates the graphic comic book series "Black Science" and TV shows "Fringe" and "Sliders" (another under the radar gem), all also explore the aspect of alternate universes. I really loved the idea of the show which was no doubt ahead of it's time, on alternate universes which I honestly felt isn't tackled much on live TV or movies. It's your typical family adventure story only instead of getting lost in the woods or road, it's in other dimensions.

Production value I thought was on par for television of the 80's, they used the locations well, certain effects might seem dated but like I said this show was in the 80's what do you expect. The theme song is decent, and so are the characters they serve their functions their not what I would say deep characters but their sympathetic because their all ordinary people that just want to come home. But we're in this show for the adventure and to me that's the real star of the show.

I really like the worlds that they explore and to me that was always the joy of alternate world stories because they always leave a creative freedom where anything can happen and anything is possible.

Each of these worlds all are fascinating on their own but are potentially flawed. What make it really interesting is how each of the family members have a deep affect on these, because they all possess one thing they all lack common sense and good human wisdom; which drives the family to do what they have to do to both survive but most importantly guide each of the people in these worlds the right direction. Most of the people in the worlds aren't bad people their heads are just in the wrong place.

And there are some memorable episodes, one where there is a colony living on asteroids, another where rock n' roll was never invented until the family came, a post apocalyptic world ruled by medieval biker gang, and my favorite which was the last episode of the show was the daughter becoming a princess and actually stepping up to becoming a fair ruler.

I even like this revolving subplot which is your typical fugitive subplot just to keep the suspense for the family up, as their being hunted down by some fascist force called the Zone Troopers. That's also a cool idea, having some sort of opponents that want to do the opposite of the family, and that is to conquer. Though one thing about them that is a bit daft is how they handle their guns where for some reason they always have to fire their pistols holding them upside down. Though the plight of the Zone Troopers isn't really built on enough which is one of the weaknesses of the show, their main plight is just to simply take the family out of the picture for traveling dimensions but it never seems to cross their mind, to somehow use that family to find their realm and conquer.

I even like how the show does have a good message just like with the TV show "Sliders" it shows that one or a small group of individuals can make the biggest difference and that things can always be better.

The only bad things about the show are there are times when it can be a bit preachy, but then again this was also a family show so life lessons are inevitable. We also never entirely know how this family got lost in the dimensions in the first place, just that they somehow inadvertently activated a portal in Egypt. But to me the real bad thing is simply that this show didn't have a chance to go far enough with itself, there was just so much that could of been done and explored, after all the concept really does leave things open to infinite possibilities.

I feel this show has potential to be revived. We could see some other worlds do something fun like seeing a world run by ancient Egyptian culture. Or even go into darker territory where we could see a world run and ruined by aliens that invaded at some point in history (like with the "Resistance" video games). May'be even build greater depth on the revolving plot of the Zone Troopers, see how many other worlds they put under their occupation and targeting the family world next, and then the family realizing they have to step up and retaliate against them, start up some sort of resistance from other dimensions. May'be even explanation/depth as to how the family activated the portal to get them lost in the dimensions; make it ancient alien technology they uncovered. I don't know but you see my point, and I feel like every possibility it should at least be considered.

Overall it's a solid sci-fi that is worth a try, like any strange and new place this is a trip worth taking.

Rating: 3 stars

Vague memories.

[TKramar · 9/10 · 24 October 2014]

Funny thing, I heard the song "Modern Love" and was reminded of this show. It played on one of the episodes when it was still a fairly new song. Took some effort to find out what it was called--if I hadn't remembered that one character was called Praetor, I probably wouldn't have been able to find it.

The only episode I can remember much of is one where rock and roll was banned. Reminded me of the premise of Styx's Mr. Roboto album, and makes me wonder if Mr. Roboto ever got a film or stage interpretation.

All in all, I remembered that I enjoyed this show very much. Couldn't find it at Netflix, but maybe I can find a DVD of this show to watch it again.

Next level stuff here ahead of its time

[wolflupo-20039 · 10/10 · 10 January 2024]

Very easy show to get into didn't really give it a chance and soon as I put it on I just been watching it it has that excellent Vibe of the 80s TV show genre I was watching something on YouTube about how the show got canceled CBS didn't give him a chance this could have been big time in the right hands not everything makes it even if it is a classic it is funny how the first episodes the family know how to fight use weapons they beat up that soldier guy which is played by Mike from Breaking Bad and took his futuristic ride and then the soldier guy was like all these are highly skilled people be careful it's just a family and their kids.

If you liked Sliders, you'd probably have liked Otherworld

[eno2000 · 12 January 2003]

Although the characters and the plot was different, the premise is very similar: a group of people (a family this time) are on a parallel world trying to get back to their own. Instead of sliding from one universe to the next, they travel extensively on the world they originally entered. Each "province" they travel to is as different as the worlds that the Sliders visited.

Fun to re-watch and realize how bad 80's special effects were

[twaj-468-220238 · 8/10 · 8 July 2016]

This show was one of my favorites in 1985, when I was eight years old. One mistake many reviewers make when looking at such sci-fi shows is to think they were intended for an adult audience. Otherworld was family TV, about a family getting sent to a parallel universe. Modern sci-fi is considerably more sophisticated in terms of plots and special effects, but shows like Otherworld and Voyagers were really interesting, whereas others like Battlestar Galactica 1980 were awful. It's great to see Johnathan Banks ('Mike' from Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul) 30 years younger and playing a bad guy. Perhaps if this was filmed 15 years later, with a Malcolm-in-the-Middle-esque Bryan Cranston as the dad and Banks as the evil android Gestapo stalker, it would have done better.

Been a long time

[proudtoserve · 8/10 · 17 April 2019]

I seem to remember an episode where a villain says he never forgets a face; there's a case with severed hands for trophies or maybe heads???

One episode in particular....

[Rust-3 · 6 December 2002]

I remember one episode where the older brother and sister became pop-super-stars after performing a cover of the Beatles' "I Wanna Hold Your hand" to All the teenagers in one of the zones where the TV programs and music totally sucked. They became bigger and bigger covering music from our dimension and passing it off as their own. I vaguely remember one scene where, with their new-found riches, they go on a shopping spree and end up finding side-by-side barbie-and-ken-like dolls of themselves. Of course, when their pursuers catch up to them, they have to leave the fame and glory and high-tale it to the next zone, but not after they start a "rock-n-roll revolution". This show was consistently the weirdest thing I remember watching on television. I was about eight and I remember watching this on USA-cable network. The only other episodes I have vague recollections of were the first one with the androids and the last one with the hack- beauty and the beast story (with the mother as "Beauty"!)

It Was Worth A Try

[Thor2000 · 21 April 2001]

One part Sliders and one part Lost in Space, this show was too hard to understand and too brief on TV. Creativity unleashed, the series was wild and fantastic with a knock-out babe of a daughter, a Ken doll perfect son and an annoying little brother who with their parents found themselves trapped in a quantum reality which our world could have been - separated even more by social, political and religous boundaries. Maybe it could have survived as a Saturday morning show, but like the castaways and the Robinsons, we had to leave them left behind.

Awesome Show, But Then Again, I Was 10.

[Sacrifice · 14 March 2002]

While the show is now only a fuzzy memory to me, I can vividly remember loving it. It had an interesting concept. It is unfortunate it was not given time to make at least some type of a mark in TV history.

We should start a letter writing campaign to CBS to get the show back on the air. If we succeed, I am sure we can make also make it into the Guiness Book Of World records.

Interesting, in a "Logan's Run Meets Sliders" kind of way.

[B.Thayer · 1 August 1999]

The Sterling family was transported to another dimension, exactly like ours... but... different! The military is hunting them down for some crystal as they race from city-state to city-state, each with its own laws, customs, and so-forth.

Each show was set the same way. Find the crystal/have the crystal, run, hide, screw up the laws in the current place, escape strange punishment rituals or military trap. Move on to next town. I won't beat around the bush, there's a REASON this show was cancelled. It's not exactly the BEST series to hit the airwaves, but by far not the worst. Worth watching just for the fun of its predictability.

Good idea wasted!

[bigdinosaur · 3 May 2005]

My main concerns with this series are that it lacked decent characterisation and plot line. The family was far too 'normal' for the show to be exciting. And the plots seemed to be similar with a couple of exceptions.

Some comic-relief type character (along the lines of Dr. Smith from 'Lost In Space') would have added so much to this series. And the younger boy did absolutely nothing! They could have at least had him stir up trouble, get lost, or whatever now and then.

It seemed they tried to imbue a seriousness that just couldn't be carried by the plot or actors. Kroll and his sim-Nazi goons were way too obsessed with getting the Hardin family (or whatever the name was---I think they changed it frequently) to be believable. I mean they weren't leading a rebellion or anything. (Now, had they started a rebellion against the Zone Troopers, the show might have been much more interesting.).

Personally, I enjoyed watching these, but not nearly as much as 'Sliders' or 'Lost In Space'. My wife particularly liked the 'beauty and the beast' and the 'princess from the balloon' episodes. (I can't think of the real titles right now.) I had recorded these on VHS and dug them out the other day. Much to my regret, I couldn't find my favourite episode...the one where they have the motorcycle duel and the biker guys all take some powder drug. Seems I only have 6 episodes left.

As with any opinion, mine may not necessarily be consistent with our readers'. But, if you really liked stuff like 'Lost In Space', 'Sliders' or 'Dr. Who', you might like this series. I rate it a generous 6/10.

Poor characterization, poor writing.

[wingsandsword · 23 March 2005]

I saw this show when it was on, for it's very short run, when I was a little kid, and even then I could see the huge plot holes.

A "typical American family" touring Egypt finds a local boy who offers to show them an unauthorized tour of the Great Pyramid, on the day of an eclipse, and the boy suddenly stops in the middle of the pyramid and demands more money. When the family refuses, he extinguishes the light and leaves them alone in the Pyramid, where the eclipse happens and they are mysteriously sucked through into another dimension/world.

Now, at this point it seems vaguely akin to Sliders or Stargate SG-1, which treated the concept of other worlds and ancient Egyptian space/dimensional travelers much better, however here comes the big problem.

They are barely arrived in this new dimension, where they land in a huge desert with a single road going through it. A futuristic car drives up and out of it comes some strange official-type person, who tries to arrest the family and is quickly beat up, looted of some strange crystal, and the family flees.

Apparently this official was a very, very high ranking leader of the "Zone Troopers" this world, and that crystal was a huge, powerful command permit that gives its wielder nigh-unlimited authority over the computer and governmental systems of this world, which turns out to be huge set of vastly different "zones" with different cultures and peoples, all policed by the "Zone Troopers". Also throw in some bit about how they are trying to go home by following a series of obelisks that have the "eye in the pyramid" sign found on US Dollar bills on them that leads to a mysterious capital city they hope can send them home.

This is all in the first 10 minutes of the pilot. This leader will be a recurring nemesis as he follows them trying to get his crystal back, but like Colonel Decker of A-Team fame, he's always 3 steps behind.

Now, in one of the episodes the son does poorly on a test at school and is promptly drafted into the Zone Troopers. Bad, but it's worse when he finds out that conscription is for life, unless he can excel at the training program so well he's made an Officer and is allowed to resign immediately.

Suddenly, that crystal goes from being able to shut down massive power grids, rewrite any computer file, open any lock, override any command, and being nigh-godlike in the system to being ignored. The dad just says something about "I can't use that to get you out of every little problem you get yourself into, you have to take care of these things yourself." The dad just arbitrarily decides to let his son be drafted, probably for life, on an alien world just because he failed a test at school, and decides not to use the plot-device uber-permit (mainly because it would completely shortcut the episode) but it makes the dad look like a real jerk.

So the show sets up that the main characters don't have to worry about the bureaucracy of the new world they find, which they decide to arbitrarily ignore early on, and make the main characters look either incompetent or uncaring. They couldn't make it 8 episodes without completely backpedaling on one of the main concepts of the show?