Why do they keep canceling good sci-fi shows? Oh that's right! We need more room for The Housewives of Whatever, and The 19 Year Old But I'm Tired of Playing the Field Bachelor and Who Hasn't Got any Talent But Desperately Needs Affirmation From Total Strangers reality show. (sigh) I am just going to buy all my favorite shows in DVD boxed sets, cancel cable, and hole up in my darkened living room till the aliens come. This was a really good series with a good story line, complex characters, good sub plots, lots of scheming and deception and actually really good acting. I just found this on Netflix and was convinced that it was too good to stay on the air, so I checked IMDb and low and behold.... Sure there were some holes, like how have they managed to establish such a sophisticated society in only 10 years? And how do they get hi-tech medical equipment? They can't possibly have the technology on site to build it. But OK, overlook the pesky details that really have no bearing on the overall story, and you've got a good show. Which is why it is no longer on. BLAST YOU VILE TV EXECUTIVES!

I had high hopes that 'Outcasts' would follow the lead set by the Dr Who revival and show that British scriptwriters and producers had learnt that science-fiction a la Blakes Seven is not good enough for the twenty first century. Alas my hopes have been dashed.The special effects and sets are passable, and worthy of some credit, but the scriptwriting is puerile, the characters one-dimensional stereotypes and the plot-lines are worthy of a budget soap-opera such as Holby City. The acting (if that is the word) reflects the inadequacies of the script and gives meaning to the word wooden.The music deserves better and at times, thankfully, is loud enough to drown out the dialogues.

Production values are pretty good for this series but it plods. The first six episodes really provide background exposition but even then it's not complete. Episode seven gets off on a tangent and episode eight doesn't really provide a conclusion as someone must have hoped there would be a second series but the series was canceled because of poor viewer ship. Eric Mabius is the epitome of unctuous and makes for a good villain. If you do decide to watch then you have to watch the first two episodes to get the basic background but when you get to the end and there is no real resolution there is a sense you have wasted eight hours.

The absolute only problems with this show are the lack of quality definition and the casting in part...The truth of it is that Outcasts will most definitely join the likes of Star-Trek: The Next Generation and Battlestar Galactica (2004) as one of the more intriguing science fiction shows ever made. The writing and casting are nearly the absolute best while showing of signs of improvement as anyone could see at the end of season one. However, the seasons run shorter than I would like. I would love to see at least 15 episodes per season but this show only had eight for season one. When the show starts out it gains the audience attention right away with dramatic villainy and wonderful action. Developing through the season the show pays good attention to the development of the characters in a manner similar to the writing behind BSG 2004. And as with BSG and any other great drama it leaves you with an imminent attack and multiple facets to a great cliffhanger. I cannot wait to see what happens in Season Two next year. May this show get signed up for the development of at least four or five seasons if not more.