What happened to space opera?

[CaptJohnSheridan]

I was never interested in science fiction until I played Mass Effect at the recommendation of a friend. I thought the Battle for the Citadel scene was epic! Now I hunger for a TV show like it. Mass Effect is a space opera. Space opera shows were prevalent in the 90s and early 2000s with Star Trek, Babylon 5, Farscape, Firefly, and Battlestar Galactica but now there is no TV show on right now that has intergalactic adventure, cool spaceships, and epic space battles.

Why did the space opera genre died out on TV? And do we need more space adventures on TV?

 

[Zontar]

The space opera genre is doing fine, there are a few series going on right now. The issue is that they aren't the big name properties that people are familiar with but instead newer and smaller IPs.

Plus it's always easier to look back on previous periods for the works of a genre due to the nature of the medium making the past always seem like there's more of a certain type of show, even if that type of show is dominating the airwaves.

 

[TakerFoxx]

Like all genre trends it comes and goes. It'll be back eventually.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

I always assume Space Opera was the more "Fantasy" side of Science Fiction.

Star Wars and Warhammer 40,000 fits the genre in my eyes.

Mass Effect to me is more straight up Sci Fi then Space Opera in my opinion.

 

[Dizchu]

Star Wars happened. It's had the monopoly on the space opera genre ever since it came out. Even Mass Effect was developed by people who previously did a Star Wars RPG.

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

It's doing fine in Japan. Star Ocean 5 is awesome and will be out here too soon enough.

 

[mduncan50]

Space opera: a novel, movie, or television program set in outer space, typically of a simplistic and melodramatic nature.
I personally would add game to that definition, but that's just me.

As for current, SyFy (of course) has KillJoys and The Expanse, and there's a Canadian show called Dark Matter based on a comic book series. Hope that helps. Oh, and of course the new Star Trek show is coming soon.

 

[Wrex Brogan]

It's Sci-Fi (well, Sci-fi subgenre, before any purists come at me). Makes it really hard for networks to pick it up. Hell we were lucky to get the ones you listed given the number of times they themselves were cancelled and uncancelled.

It's like as soon as you involve space the networks go 'alright, how soon should we cancel this thing? A whole season? Half a season? 3 Episodes?' even if the show is popular and making money. Doesn't stop there being some small-name shows and that around (and Space Opera is still alive and well in novel format), it just makes it fucking hard to break out and not get cancelled/get your episodes shown out of order then cancelled.

 

[Hawki]

I was never interested in science fiction until I played Mass Effect at the recommendation of a friend. I thought the Battle for the Citadel scene was epic! Now I hunger for a TV show like it. Mass Effect is a space opera. Space opera shows were prevalent in the 90s and early 2000s with Star Trek, Babylon 5, Farscape, Firefly, and Battlestar Galactica but now there is no TV show on right now that has intergalactic adventure, cool spaceships, and epic space battles.

Why did the space opera genre died out on TV? And do we need more space adventures on TV?

Farscape and Firefly are hardly space opera. They're more in keeping with space westerns. I also wouldn't call Star Trek space opera - it's somewhere between space opera and space westerns.

Now, if your criteria for space opera is shows set in space, you have Killjoys, Dark Matter, and The Expanse to choose from, provided you can get access to them. If you're after "intergalactic adventure, cool spaceships, and epic space battles," then as far as TV goes, you're kind of out of luck.

As far as games go, Mass Effect is one, StarCraft II is another (at least in the scope of WoL to LotV, NCO most certainly isn't space opera), Star Ocean 5 is coming out, and so on. I think space opera is probably more prevelant in games because it gives in-universe predecendence for a plenthora of game mechanics.

 

[Queen Michael]

I always assume Space Opera was the more "Fantasy" side of Science Fiction.

Star Wars and Warhammer 40,000 fits the genre in my eyes.

Mass Effect to me is more straight up Sci Fi then Space Opera in my opinion.

I wouldn't say it's fantasy, so much as the part of science-fiction that doesn't focus on the tech. It's more about people than about the science. For instance, Poul anderson's book Tau Zero is as far from space opera as you can get in my opinion.

Short version is: Hard science-fiction says "Here's some tech. How would its existence affect people and society?" Space opera says "Here's a world that doesn't exist yet, but might someday. Let's see what the people in it are doing."

 

[mduncan50]

I always assume Space Opera was the more "Fantasy" side of Science Fiction.

Star Wars and Warhammer 40,000 fits the genre in my eyes.

Mass Effect to me is more straight up Sci Fi then Space Opera in my opinion.

I wouldn't say it's fantasy, so much as the part of science-fiction that doesn't focus on the tech. It's more about people than about the science. For instance, Poul anderson's book Tau Zero is as far from space opera as you can get in my opinion.

Short version is: Hard science-fiction says "Here's some tech. How would its existence affect people and society?" Space opera says "Here's a world that doesn't exist yet, but might someday. Let's see what the people in it are doing."

Yeah, it's basically science fiction that focuses more on the fiction and less on the science. I think one thing that is getting people hung up is the "opera" part, so they think that means it is supposed to be huge and epic; however it actually comes from soap opera, so it is more about being simplistic and pulpy. So yeah, Star Trek counts,as does Firefly.

 

[Thaluikhain]

I wouldn't say it's fantasy, so much as the part of science-fiction that doesn't focus on the tech. It's more about people than about the science. For instance, Poul anderson's book Tau Zero is as far from space opera as you can get in my opinion.

Short version is: Hard science-fiction says "Here's some tech. How would its existence affect people and society?" Space opera says "Here's a world that doesn't exist yet, but might someday. Let's see what the people in it are doing."

I'd disagree, a lot of science fiction of that kind isn't about science, they are dealing with things known to be totally impossible (that is, flat out magic), but just gloss over it. Or worse, pretend it's science.

 

[rcs619]

I was never interested in science fiction until I played Mass Effect at the recommendation of a friend. I thought the Battle for the Citadel scene was epic! Now I hunger for a TV show like it. Mass Effect is a space opera. Space opera shows were prevalent in the 90s and early 2000s with Star Trek, Babylon 5, Farscape, Firefly, and Battlestar Galactica but now there is no TV show on right now that has intergalactic adventure, cool spaceships, and epic space battles.

Why did the space opera genre died out on TV? And do we need more space adventures on TV?

It is kind of lacking at the moment, but I think it'll come back into style eventually. Game of Thrones may actually wind up being the biggest help in that department. TV tends to lump sci-fi and fantasy together as unprofitable genres, and here's hoping the success of that show makes some execs more willing to take a risk. There's plenty of good sci-fi out there to adapt. Fantasy isn't the only genre with sprawling episodic stories

Now, if you like to read, the space-opera is still very much alive and well. Note: Some of these may not technically be space-operas (since labels are a funny, often somewhat subjective thing) but I still recommend them all the same.

- "Revelation Space" (and the sequels Redemption Ark and Absolution Gap) by Alastair Reynolds.
The technology is really interesting too. Some of it is massively advanced, but they've never invented FTL stardrives, so the only way to travel between stars is using a lighthugger, type of gigantic (usually ancient) starship designed to make decades-long voyages between star systems traveling just below the speed of light. Cybernetic and genetic augmentations have also fractured humanity into dozens of different factions, a lot of which dislike each other to varying degrees. The main badguys of the series are also pretty dang intimidating.

- "The Reality Dysfunction" (and the sequels The Neutronium Alchemist and The Naked God) by Peter F. Hamilton.
One of the most interesting series I have read lately. The setting Hamilton develops and all the different factions of 2600's interstellar humanity are really interesting, and really well thought out. The primary characters are all fairly endearing and the secondary cast ain't bad either. The badguys though, when they actually appear the entire story changes. They are creative, interesting, and pretty damned scary at times. Since the mystery of "WTF are these things?!" is a huge part of the first book, I will not even go anywhere near spoiler territory. So good though D:

- Valor's Choice (and the 5 sequels) by Tanya Huff.
This series is just a lot of fun. It follows the life and adventures of Torin Kerr, a gunnery sergeant in the Confederation Marines, an organization composed of humans and two other younger space-faring species recruited to protect the titular confederation, which is made up by older more "enlightened" species who have become so peaceful that they are completely unable to defend themselves. That peacefulness became an issue when they ran into a coalition of various alien species who were not a bunch of pacifistic space-hippies. The characters are fun and endearing, the setting gets more interesting with each book, and it's got a great since of humor while not being afraid to get dead serious when it has to.

- "On Basilisk Station" (and the 12-odd main series sequels) by David Weber.
Okay, the Honor Harrington series comes with the caveat that it starts to meander and drop in quality some after book 8 or so. I still say the first 8 books make for some great, fun sci-fi though. This series follows the life and career of Honor Harrington, a captain in the navy of a small trade-focused star system, and how she consistently winds up involved in events far beyond her pay-grade. The setting is very well thought out, and I like the characters, but like I said, after book 8, you can kind of tell the plot wasn't as thoroughly planned-out as the early books. I don't think it becomes a "bad" series, but definitely not as good as the early books. Some of the side-stories and spin-offs are kind of bad though. Quality varies there.

 

[DrownedAmmet]

Space opera: a novel, movie, or television program set in outer space, typically of a simplistic and melodramatic nature.
I personally would add game to that definition, but that's just me.

As for current, SyFy (of course) has KillJoys and The Expanse, and there's a Canadian show called Dark Matter based on a comic book series. Hope that helps. Oh, and of course the new Star Trek show is coming soon.

I came here to recommend those three shows, it's amazing that SyFy actually has a number of science fiction shows out now, and they're actually good!
(Well, Dark Matter is the only one I've seen, and I thought it was average until halfway through the first season I kind of fell in love with the characters and the setting. I've heard good things about the other two, though!)

 

[Cowabungaa]

I can't vouch for the TV adaptation, but the Expanse books are wonderful space opera if you ask me. Space operas might get a revival on TV, I certainly hope so. SyFy is trying to get there it seems.

Short version is: Hard science-fiction says "Here's some tech. How would its existence affect people and society?" Space opera says "Here's a world that doesn't exist yet, but might someday. Let's see what the people in it are doing."

I'm not so sure, the two don't really exclude each other. I think space operas are to sci-fi as epic fantasy is to fantasy. Space operas have sweeping, large-scale plots, high stakes, big drama. Very much a 'larger than life' kind of affair. So you can have hard sci-fi space operas. Case in point; The Expanse.

 

[Hawki]

Yeah, it's basically science fiction that focuses more on the fiction and less on the science. I think one thing that is getting people hung up is the "opera" part, so they think that means it is supposed to be huge and epic; however it actually comes from soap opera, so it is more about being simplistic and pulpy. So yeah, Star Trek counts,as does Firefly.

You're equating soft-sci fi with space opera. However, the two aren't interchangable. Saga of Seven Suns is soft sci-fi space opera. Battlestar Galactica is hard sci-fi space opera. As authors have pointed out over time, the barrier between "hard" and "soft" sci-fi is hazy, but space opera, as a term, isn't automatically based on the level of realism, but more on the feeling. So, by that metric, Firefly isn't space opera, because it's not an epic, it's based on the literary concept of the frontier (hence the space western genre).

I came here to recommend those three shows, it's amazing that SyFy actually has a number of science fiction shows out now, and they're actually good!
(Well, Dark Matter is the only one I've seen, and I thought it was average until halfway through the first season I kind of fell in love with the characters and the setting. I've heard good things about the other two, though!)

I haven't seen The Expanse - read the first four books, and I've pretty much given up on the series.

Dark Matter I can reccomend, for the most part, but it's actually funny how it's on the opposite end of the spectrum from Killjoys in regards to its strengths and weaknesses. IMO, Dark Matter has good characters and plot, but lacks worldbuilding (i.e. there's vague references to the "Galactic Authority", but I don't have a sense of scale in the universe, or where humanity actually stands). On the other side, there's Killjoys, whose plot veers into cliche a lot, but has a well developed setting, with its few worlds each having their own traits. I've actually seen some people theorycraft that they're in the same setting, and truth be told, I'd like it if they were.

I'd also like Killjoys to be released on DVD so I can finish watching the damn thing, but hey, go figure.

 

[mduncan50]

Yeah, it's basically science fiction that focuses more on the fiction and less on the science. I think one thing that is getting people hung up is the "opera" part, so they think that means it is supposed to be huge and epic; however it actually comes from soap opera, so it is more about being simplistic and pulpy. So yeah, Star Trek counts,as does Firefly.

You're equating soft-sci fi with space opera. However, the two aren't interchangable. Saga of Seven Suns is soft sci-fi space opera. Battlestar Galactica is hard sci-fi space opera. As authors have pointed out over time, the barrier between "hard" and "soft" sci-fi is hazy, but space opera, as a term, isn't automatically based on the level of realism, but more on the feeling. So, by that metric, Firefly isn't space opera, because it's not an epic, it's based on the literary concept of the frontier (hence the space western genre).

Again, the "opera" part of the term comes from soap operas, not huge, high production value plays. It has nothing to do with "epicness".

 

[Tiger King]

For me space opera was lain to rest with the passing of the author Iain m banks.
Every so often I re-read one of his books and I feel so sad that this wonderful universe he created with so much potential to explore will not be touched ever again.

I'm sure there are other fantastic science fiction series out there, I've just not gotten around to looking at them yet.
As for TV shows, I don't really watch much telly but I hear what the OP is saying. There was a lot of sci fi series on telly when I was young.
Babalon 5 (never really watched it but I thought the prequal episode explaining the war where the humans were getting there arses handed to them was epic!)
Stargate
Firefly

I think fantasy is the in thing right now. You have game of groans and there are a few wannabe cloans about too.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

The Star Trek TV shows are not "space opera". They were hard sci fi, and more about showing actual day to day events in that universe. Politics, eating a meal, faulty gadgets, etc. BSG similarly is not a space opera. It was a gritty reality with the need to refuel, struggle to survive, political squabbling and so on. It wasn't a grand adventure with clear good vs evil and climactic battles in which the hero saves the day. There were some of these elements, but "space opera" only applies to a handful of things (star wars films and ME games chief among them). Most of the quoted examples are just sci fi.

 

[rcs619]

The Star Trek TV shows are not "space opera". They were hard sci fi, and more about showing actual day to day events in that universe. Politics, eating a meal, faulty gadgets, etc.

While 'harder' sci-fi than Star Wars, as a continuum Trek really isn't hard sci-fi and rather continuous wanders back across the line between space opera and hard sci-fi. Well, maybe if you limit it to TNG alone, but even then...

Star Trek is more concerned with traveling around and having space-adventures than it is actually exploring its own world. We only ever see the setting through the eyes of a few officers in what is basically a military (although a shockingly ineffectual one), usually in distant reaches of space far away from where humans actually live.

The technology in Star Trek is basically whatever it needs to be to drive the plot. There's no firm, actual technological constraints to deal with, and the series is entirely uninterested in exploring how that technology works or the deeper implications a lot of it has.


Trek isn't bad sci-fi by any means, and it certainly has some interesting ideas every now and then, but it's extremely silly and definitely on the softer end of the sci-fi scale. My issues with Trek mostly comes down to style and tone. Trek just always seemed way too sterile and clean for me. Everyone exists in harmony and Earth is some kind of post-scarcity utopia where there's no religion, no nations, and no one even uses money anymore while everything is provided for everyone.

Where's the conflict? Where's the tension? Gimmie and little bit of grit and some flawed aspects of the human condition for the characters to play off of.

That's why I think Janeway really was the best captain. She was an arrogant, impulsive, flawed woman who torpedoed her way across half the galaxy like some kind of warlord. She was great