VIRTUALITY was a TV movie that aired with little fanfare this last summer on FOX.  It was a pilot for a series they decided not to pick up.   It is a strong little movie and I would have loved to see where Ronald D.Moore would have went with this as a series.   Shortly after, ABC started airing DEFYING GRAVITY which also dealt with a spaceship crew.   It was cancelled unfortunately.  

Both series focused on crew dynamics.  VIRTUALITY focused on the crew and their present while DEFYING GRAVITY looked at the long term space mission from the crew and mission control past and present.  VIRTUALITY had high stakes with a spaceship travelling to the nearby Epsilon Eridani on a ten year mission.   They have virtual reality to keep them company on a long cramped journey in a big spaceship.   The crew have two main problems.  Their mission is important because it means they may save Earth due to the planet predicted to become not very livable within a century,  The other problem is a mysterious man is trying to kill or hurt the crew through their virtual reality sims.

VIRTUALITY is a promising pilot.  Too bad it wasn't picked up and had no fanfare to advertise it.  I do think the film does hold up on a second viewing and even improves.  The characters are ones I could live with from episode to episode.  I do think having a guy in a wheelchair as part of the crew is pushing believability (given how I think they would recruit people who could walk and in top physical conidition).  The set design and special effects are stellar.  I really do want to see where VIRTUALITY goes next.  If you're a sci-fi fan or a fan of BATTLESTAR GLACTICA (who is wiating for CAPRICA to begin, you should check VIRTUALITY out.

this DVD review is (c)11-4-2009 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com