What I’m watching: Netflix sci-fi series, ‘Another Life’Date: 8/14/2019 What I’m watching: a new science fiction series on Netflix.
On Netflix: Another Life
Netflix has become essentially a television network, although one unfettered from the demands of the traditional marketplace and FCC rules and regulations.
Any Netflix subscriber will tell you some of its many original series and productions can be very, very good or just the opposite.
I recently tried to watch the most recent product from a deal Netflix had made with Adam Sadler “Murder Mystery” – that reunites him with Jennifer Aniston. I couldn’t get through it, as the first 15 minutes just seemed so formulaic and unappealing.
Clearly though, I have the minority opinion as according to media reports, Netflix execs revealed that in its first three days on being offered the movie was viewed by 30.9 million households. Someone must like formulaic comedies.
The new science fiction series “Another Life” is as compelling a view as “Murder Mystery” was a bore. If the show has one major problem it is that every episode is crammed with conflict, sometimes too much.
The series follows the events that take place when a massive alien artifact lands on Earth sometime in the future. The artifact is not communicating with humans, which alarms the government. The solution is to send a team of astronauts to the planet from which they believe the artifact came. The plan is to seek a diplomatic solution to the issue of why the artifact is on Earth.
Despite being set in a future that has faster than light technology, there is little in common between this show and many other TV science fiction series. The Salvare has a human crew and an AI computer that can makes itself into a hologram that looks human.
From the moment the crew is awakened out of an extended sleep, there are problems. The second in command Ian (Tyler Hoechlin) hates the commanding officer Niko (Katee Sachoff) and the crew is divided in their loyalties.
Niko is committed to the mission, but has made a sacrifice by accepting it. She has left her husband, who is the lead scientist studying the artifact, and young daughter on earth.
With every episode the crew of The Salvare must face problems with the ship and technology as well as outright fights between the crew.
This certainly isn’t Starfleet.
As the crew travels further away from Earth and loses contact with this planet, behaviors seems to become more and more erratic – so much so that at times I was wondering if everyone was actually doing their jobs. Distance from home and increasing adversity affect the crew in interesting ways.
This show is not very family friendly. There is violence, some gore, plenty of profanity and some sex. Just be aware the kids should not be in the room.
I found that the parade of emergencies, attacks, and arguments faced by the crew could be at times overwhelming. The series’ writers obviously wanted to pack as much as they could into every episode.
The series star is Katee Sachoff, who made a name for herself with her role in the remake of “Battlestar Galatica” and “Longmire,” besides many other roles. She is just fine here as a very conflicted commander who is dedicated to her task but is haunted by events that took place in a previous mission. The role plays to her skills as a performer in portraying a person of strength who is none the less very human.
Science fiction fans should give “Another Life” a try.
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