A high-level operation upends Saul's life. With emotions and expectations high, the probe launches into space as humanity enters a daunting new era.A high-level operation upends Saul's life. With emotions and expectations high, the probe launches into space as humanity enters a daunting new era.A high-level operation upends Saul's life. With emotions and expectations high, the probe launches into space as humanity enters a daunting new era.
- Anwar Suleiman
- (as Stephen Rahman-Hughes)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe Mission Director is played by Bobak Ferdowsi. He is a flight engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.. He became an internet sensation with his Mohawk hairstyle with stars shaved on the sides.
- GoofsDa Shi says that the probe was "moving faster than any man-made object ever" but at 80km/s it would have been going less than half the speed of the Parker Solar Probe.
- Quotes
Charles: Are you injured?
Saul Durand: I'm okay
Charles: I'm sorry
Saul Durand: You shot me with a sniper rifle! You're sorry?
Charles: Sorry, I didn't aim for your head. Then my mission would be complete and you would be free of yours.
Saul Durand: I'm already free of mine. I told the Secretary General I rejected the Wallfacer position. Your superiors wasted an assassin.
Charles: You're a funny man.
Saul Durand: I'm just telling you the truth.
Charles: You think you're clever. It's not your fault. I thought I was clever too, before I learned the truth.
Saul Durand: Which truth?
Charles: You call them "My superiors," but they're your superiors too
Saul Durand: If they're so fucking superior, why do they care if I live or die?
Charles: I don't know.
Saul Durand: You tried to murder a man that you've never met, on the directive of aliens that you've never met? Why! What the fuck is wrong with you?
Charles: I've gone to be a soldier in the Army of the Lord.
A group of friends, who were training as physicists but have subsequently diversified into different fields are drawn into the response of humanity to an invasion by an alien race, one that is announced, but won't take place for 400 years. The aliens currently have vastly superior technology and are capable of monitoring Earths response, even down to private conversations. There are also a covert group of humans eager to welcome the San-Ti to Earth and are carrying out their instructions in preparation.
I understand that there are many changes made from the source novel, both to change the Chinese characters into more of a worldwide structure and to simplify some of the science and theories that's utilised. It's still got quite a high concept though. Alien invasions are not a new story, but preparing to fight one in four centuries is, and the other ideas, like that the enemy knows anything that's spoken about, making planning almost impossible, are new too. It's not exactly an action-packed series, though there are a few murders and one very memorable set piece around the middle of the story, and I wonder if that might have been a contributing factor to the show not quite becoming a phenomenon. The idea that this one small friend group could be quite so integral to the defence of the world is a bit of a stretch, but also it's another conceit that makes the show accessible, the interactions between the characters provides an emotional centre to what is a show ultimately about rationalism.
It's actually quite a British production at heart. Both in the central characters and in especially in the (slightly odd) guest stars that feature in the video game segments; Mark Gatiss, Reece Shearsmith, Phil Want, Naoko Mori and the actor Kevin Eldon. As always, Benedict Wong is the MVP and brilliantly steals every scene he's in.
It's a shame that it's not done well enough to allow Benioff and Weiss to make all the seasons they had planned, but a return to conclude the story (if that is indeed what's happening) is welcome news, I'll certainly be back.
- southdavid
- May 20, 2024
Details
- Runtime57 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix