Omega

I just viewed Omega in its entirety after dismissing the series following the pilot episode many months ago. I wish I'd followed the weekly discussions and episodes because the latter half of this series contains content that's a rarity for YT and Machinima, a real attempt at dramatic storytelling.

Omega is flawed, there's no doubt about that. It's apparent that the budget was far lower than what this kind of alien sci-fi series calls for, though the production values and talents rank far ahead of what you would see on SyFy. The acting, aside from a couple performers, is barely passable, and the better actors are stuck in supporting roles for some reason. The visual effects are inconsistent and go from being fantastic Hollywood level quality to average and redundant. The writing feels rushed and our characters are not well developed until halfway through the series. Yes, the first several episodes of Omega are convoluted and somewhat boring, but they give way to fantastic pay off.

Episodes 5-10 of Omega present one of the most interesting and risky moves in episodic television. These episodes bring some shocking deaths and revelations, and though still not handled with absolute grace, they are ambitious, rather well acted, and very well presented. The visuals are great (pay special attention to an old church) and the plot evokes real emotion.

Despite its flaws, Omega is a very special series to me. A highly recommended watch, though you might not believe the praise upon viewing the first few episodes. My only advice is to stick with the show until it finds its footing, as is the case with most new series!