Pioneer One (2010–2011) User Reviews

As long as you enter with the correct expectations . . .

[urutsini · 6/10 · 14 January 2011]

$6000 budget entirely donated by fans. Small amateur crew. Released for free through various sources, in particular supporting that swear word in the industry . . . BitTorrents.

So far, I'm seeing this as a fan-made response to the X-Files. Two government agents, a male and a female (complete with all that sexual tension we know and love from that famous TV series), investigate a strange phenomenon involving a space capsule. The plot so far is fairly text book, as far as an X-Files ep is concerned, but the seeds have been sown for something significantly more involved as the series progresses . . . Time travel, aliens, conspiracies, war, twisted history or some good old-fashioned espionage . . . any or all of these story lines is possible with what has been hinted at so far.

While the plot and script are keeping me watching for now, they're not perfect. The acting isn't believable, especially from the civilian characters, but again it isn't so bad that I don't want to watch any more. There's a couple of nice cinematographic moments and it's all cleanly filmed and edited. And they do a good job of cliffhangers, I genuinely want to see more.

The most important aspect of this whole production is that this is the future of entertainment distribution. As the title suggests, this production is *the* Pioneer of what's to come. The first of its kind.

I'll follow

[anatole-klapouch · 6/10 · 30 March 2011]

Very interesting plot, but, unfortunately, the very low budget is obvious at first glance.

I think that it would be a lot better if the producers invest just a little bit more in camera work and illumination. It's a little disturbing.

The bad acting is somewhat acceptable. A little distracting, but, I can live with that. Afterall it's "pioneer" stuff...

I wish good luck for "Pioneer One". I agree that this kind of production is the future. And hopefully this market will get more and more professional and we viewers will be less distracted with secondary things like camera work and be more involved with the plot itself.

Interesting and reasonable well done

[phelix-josie · 7/10 · 26 January 2020]

Maybe there are other stories out there like this, but I haven't run across any with these particular details. It's intriguing, fairly well-paced and feasible (to an uninformed civilian like me).

The acting is a little hollow but generally believable enough to not be distracting. There is a reasonable amount of character development. But I get the impression that someone, at some point, exclaimed "where's the humanity?!!" or the like.

Then they wrote in the blond nurse from the childrens' cancer ward and the pissed off convenience store girlfriend. And farmed the parts out to crushes, girlfriends or granddaughters. The scenes with the childrens' nurse are unwatchable and taint every actor that shares a scene with her. They stand out so starkly, I wish they could be edited out... and replaced with characters summarizing any pertinent information around her character's interaction with the subject. As it is, I just fast forward through them.

Generally good submission from what I assume are less experienced writers, director and actors, at a very low budget. It would be nice to see them in future productions, with more resources, to get a better idea of what they're capable of.

Keep it coming!

[puliqueen · 9/10 · 26 February 2011]

I got the chance to see this pilot at the New York Television Festival, and I'm not surprised it won for Best Drama. Other pilots with at least twice the budget were uninspired and predictable, while this pilot was brave in presenting its audience with questions, and no promises as to when they would be answered.

Yes, the HD didn't do some of the scenes justice (in particular, the way the first scene was lit hurt my eyes...I wonder if they just used the fluorescents that were already there, which I think is a pretty bad idea for filming). Yes, the actors' performances twitch and on a rare occasion falter. But the finished product won me over.

I hope that they forge ahead in making their entire first (only?) season, and I appreciate that they've made sure to keep all episodes as available as possible, and their fans as updated as possible (Vodo, Vimeo, timely posts on their sites, etc.). I'm following them on Twitter, I'm a fan on Facebook, I enjoyed the second episode, and I really can't wait for March when the third episode comes out.

Good job, guys. You prove that, when using the web as a tool, successful low-budget screen production is still possible.

Deserves more credit

[zulu9812 · 9/10 · 23 December 2011]

Other have already spoken of this series as a "pioneer" for a new model of funding, so I'll focus on the dramatic and entertainment merits of the show.

First of all, the production is surprisingly good for it's low budget (reportedly $6k for the the pilot). There are some instances where the low budget becomes apparent - e.g. when the characters see something that's clearly meant to be amazing or shocking, we see it in the actor's reactions rather than the thing itself - but low budget is the card that the series has been dealt and the team work around it very well.

What surprised me the most was the quality of the acting. Sure, some of the fringe roles are a bit ropey - but the central cast are excellent. If anything, the lack of mainstream TV experience of the stars is a boon - it's refreshing to see characters on screen who behave in a normal human fashion, as opposed to the hyper-emotion that's become standard these days.

There are some clichéd moments that serve to convey character relationships and something more inventive would have been nice - but it's a 6-episode series, so there's less room for subtle development. On the other hand, one of the hallmarks of low-budget film making is that the director is often more interested in a specific moment or shot and less interested in how to get there. Thankfully, that's avoided here and the plot advances in a logical yet organic way.

As with the acting, the low budget actually helps with the special effects. In mainstream TV sci-fi, we're used to slow motion action, big red fireballs and CGI backdrops. This series' low budget means that they couldn't do any of that. Instead, the SFX is quick and brutal and the main focus is on the people dealing with the aftermath - just as it is in real life.

The writers have a belter of a sci-fi concept here. I'd love to see this series come back for a second season. The danger is that more money for season 2 might move the show in a different direction - but I hope that the show runners remember that Pioneer One's greatest strength is its humanity.

Why it's hard to make a TV series without money.

[cherold · 3/10 · 21 March 2018]

There is a reason TV series generally cost a lot of money to make. Even a bad one needs to pull together a bunch of professionals to put something onscreen that goes beyond a couple of people talking in an office. But that's pretty much what the pilot of Pioneer One is; two or three people have a discussion in a remarkably spare office, and then maybe one of them takes a phone call, and then there's something in a different office. And that's how it goes for a half hour.

Perhaps this would work if the dialogue was gripping, or the performances were remarkable. But neither is the case. The acting isn't really bad, but no one stands out or brings anything to life. The dialogue conveys information, but that's about it.

There are moments of personality here and there, but this is just not an interesting show. But with money for better actors, directors, writers, and set designers, I guess maybe this would have potential.

Assuming all these 10-star reviews are friends of the cast and crew, since there is no way any disinterested party would give this 10 stars.

More to come

[joaopft · 10/10 · 11 February 2011]

This show is the future in many ways. As resources in the planet dwindle, the "more with less" approach is sure to invade every aspect of economy, including the production and distribution of entertainment.

This show has a tiny budget (less then $10000/episode), and yet the production is technically clean and actor work, while not exceptional, is competent. Since capital investment is so small, the production has to rely on the bag of tricks of the old school of (theatre) drama: first of all good writing (no special effects to distract us from bad lines, like -- from "The Hunt for Red October" -- "listen, I'm a politician which means I'm a cheat and a liar, and when I'm not kissing babies I'm stealing their lollipops"), competent acting and a thinking viewer. We've seen some excellent attempts from the industry to move in this direction, but the audiences are not quite there yet. But the days of watching flashy entertainment are numbered.

Another Amazon Prime Disaster

[Snootz · 3/10 · 29 March 2020]

I am not one impressed by "made on a low budget". Okay, if someone makes a great film on a few thousand, that is impressive... but only if it's a great film. It's not an excuse for making a film with a high-school-theater level script, acting that would make a teacher wince, and is obviously straight out of the fan film closet.

I made it through the first episode... the first slow, plodding episode, tolerated the cliche characters, the cliche overbearing government bureaucrat, the cliche inept "how did they even get hired" support staff, and the bad acting... and then with the very last line decided I was "abso-f*ing-lutely" done with this series (that uttered by a supposed PHD because of course, he had the mentality of a 15 year old and had nothing more intelligent to say).

I'm a sci fi fan with eclectic tastes. I try to give fan films the benefit of the doubt. What I don't give is stars for shows that don't deserve them, and I'm not part of the "friends of the family" groupies who give such drivel ten stars when five would be generous. Rating a film should be based on its quality, not the reviewer's desire to promote the film. This is another PRIME dud that can be given a skip.

A Step In A New Direction

[fitsofgiggles · 10/10 · 13 May 2011]

So I found this new web series when I was researching distribution for my web series in development. It was being offered through bit torrent on VODO. The set up was interesting. I downloaded the first episode and watched it. I was hooked.

Best line (for Canadians): Can someone get us some coffees from Willie Hortons... Genius! Pioneer One does a great job of presenting a great story with real characters and a minimalist set. The camera work made me feel part of the action without being obvious or invasive to the scene. The lighting was real and I did not feel like I was watching a polished setup. It was rough and raw and real.

The two leads come across dynamic and alive, absolutely believable three dimensional, as do the supporting cast.

This is a great program to watch. The story is tight and develops at the right pace. The first season of 6 episodes will pull you in.

My suggestion is to download, donate, and distribute!

Couldn't finish it . . .

[ethicalfan · 1/10 · 10 June 2012]

I saw this prominently featured on Kick Ass Torrents and I love most SciFi and have a pretty high tolerance for cheese. After the first 10 minutes I was just bored with the amateur acting and writing. Pioneer One is being touted as the future of television by the anti-copyright "filesharing" movement. This is a great example of why copyright is so valuable. Copyright allows the profit motive to function which allows creative people with vision to get investors and partners to enable them to afford to pay talented writers, cinematographers and actors. You get what you pay for. With no copyright law like "filesharing" proponents propose, there is no way to pay back investors, so there is no way to pay for talented writers, cinematographers and actors, so we get stuff like Pioneer One.

Proving independent media has a place on on the web

[joekohr · 9/10 · 21 January 2012]

Pioneer One has proved that independent media can compete with traditional markets. More and more people are looking at web series as a way to distribute shows and build an audience. I like the idea of independent media sidestepping the traditional studios and using the internet to reach an audience.

Pioneer One has an engaging story. The music is amazing. For being produced for less then $10,000 I'm surprised how good it looks. I'm hoping that the creators will be able to produce all the episodes that they've planned for the series.

I suggest that everyone watch this series with an open mind. This wasn't produced by a studio with a big budget and computer effects. Yet, it tells an interesting story.

Amazing Plot Must See

[drsamonline · 10/10 · 28 March 2011]

I downloaded it due to curiosity and didn't watch it for 3 months but when i started watching it OMG i cant stop thinking about how amazing the plot it has and a good storyline which causes you to go on a roller coaster ride of mind bending sci-fi thriller i will say that it is must for a scifi fan or a physics lover or those who like sherlock holmes stories try this new thing it tastes good i am patiently waiting for the next episodes to come i have seen 3 episodes and it made me hungry for more let it come for a homemade series with low budget this has good actors and i would recommend anyone to see this...

don't want to spoil the fun of thrill and suspense so there are no spoilers in this review..

SCAM of An Idea

[MennoMan · 1/10 · 8 December 2015]

When this series started nearly all of the dedicated SciFi fans had great expectations for this venture... After all good SciFi no dependent on a network which in the past has killed really great series over profit margins (Star Trek, Farscape, Firefly).

The idea? Everyone donates a few bucks and this allows the series to continue.. and At First.. this appeared to be the truth... but then reality started to set in.... 1st.. long periods between episodes 2nd.. short seasons then.. promises of the next season if only you donate....

It has now been over 4 YEAR and no new episodes.. In fact there seems to be no accountability of the money. What is found on the Website is more request to donate and even NEW SPIN OFF if you wish to donate there.

In the mean time.. other fan based project have been funded and produced... Rating HIGH.. could have been, but who in there right mind would give there greatest episode ever produced (these were not) a high rating if it was know the episode was just a RIP OFF money making scheme ?? (For those thinking it was not a scheme.. jokes on you.. the money is gone)

Fantastic.

[money_for_nothin · 10/10 · 21 January 2012]

Although it has a lower budget than cable/network TV sci-fi shows, it still gives more of an exciting storyline than I've seen in popular sci- fi shows.

I love Stargate. It's a fantastic show - but it's extremely predictable.

Pioneer One is so new and so unique, that it's unpredictable to even the writers. The concept is so simplistic, yet so mind-blowing that it trumps so many other shows purely by being basic and going back to the fundamentals of television.

Despite what Paul Shephard, also of Perth, thinks, the low budget and average acting only serve to emphasise the fact that the small idea, the brainchild of the minority, has risen to the heights of the great through the purity of dialogue and the lack of opposite point of view (which only serves to pique the interest of the curious).

Pioneer One is a must watch, for any one REMOTELY interested in sci-fi, the unknown, space, or for people who are tired of the recycled, regurgitated fesces that Hollywood excretes.

I cannot wait for Season 2. I have already contributed.

Until we live on Mars,

Xavier

Interesting plot, enthusiastic acting, average directing and camera work.

[shephardfp · 1/10 · 9 January 2011]

I decided to watch Pioneer One after reading the plot outline and seeing the reviewers ratings were over 6.

What a mistake that was. Despite the actors trying valiantly it was awfully bad. Something distracted me from involving myself in the interesting plot. Perhaps it was the acting, the camera or the overall direction.

It was comparable to myself (a financial planner) getting together with some friends and making a TV show. It was as if Dirk Diggler and Roller Girl were playing the lead parts and i was just waiting for some 70's twang and grooves to kick start some rompy pompy action. Unfortunately this didn't happen and i was just about to flick the switch when Laurence Cantor (Frank) came on the screen. I thought i'd give him a chance to turn things around but alas it just didn't get there.

I was going to rate this 3 out of 10 for the enthusiasm the actors showed and the fact it was better than i could do myself however the high reviews despite the poor showing forced me to rate it 1 out of 10 to bring down the average so others aren't mislead into watching this one.

Worth the time for hard sci fi fans

[BarnabusRex · 9/10 · 1 February 2018]

I just got finished watching Marvel's Inhumans, reputedly the highest budgeted TV series ever. It had possibly the worst script, worst editing, worst characterisation, worst sets and worst costumes I've ever seen alongside some pretty awful acting, a completely nonsensical storyline and Science Fiction concepts straight out of an Irwin Allen series.

I mention this because the first thing to say about Pioneer One is that it was crowd funded and clearly produced on practically zero budget. And yet, in practically every single way, it succeeds in ways that Inhumans didn't. In fact, in many ways the lack of budget actually adds to what is here.

That said, it's not for everyone. It clearly never got to a second series and there's zero action. This is hard sci fi, parleyed mainly by people standing around in non-descript offices having scientific conversations about things that have happened off screen. It therefore relies on three things. Concept, Dialogue and Acting.

Concept. Absolutely fantastic. A satellite has come down in Canada and released dangerous radiation. The US is investigating. The human pilot of the satellite is dying. Is this a Russian satellite? A piece of secret tech? Or is it something from much further away? All the evidence suggests it has come from Mars. But that's impossible right?

Not only do we have the sci fi concept, but our small team of intrepid heroes, are completely rooted in the real world. Bureaucrats trying to deal with the diplomatic repercussions of p*ssing off the Canadians and Russians, trying to do the right thing but shut down by their bosses at every opportunity, scientists randomly pinched from around the US, having their whole worldview validated and then running into the brick wall of bureaucracy. Young agents finding themselves having to explain to the white house why their boss isn't at the computer 24/7. Everyone waiting on someone else to finish their job before they can begin theirs. Everything is rooted in the real world, or at least as real as possible. It even references and builds on real scientific discoveries of the past decade prior to filming and that makes it feel really special.

Dialog. This could all easily come crashing down around our ears. Hard science + bureaucracy? Boringest show ever. But the script traces a very fine line between maintaining the seriousness of the situation and injecting it with some of the driest humour ever as people simply try and rub along with other people they don't especially like, and try to do their jobs when their bosses shut off every avenue of doing them. With many tv shows it's easy to watch and end up shouting at the tv when it's clear what course of action a hero should take and they don't, or they throw in a side quest to pad the running time (or like Inhumans, the entire eight hours). In Pioneer One, the genius is that at no point is there any clear course of action for anyone. Everyone is just trying to muddle through as best they can, just like in real life. The end of episode one contains the best line of script I have ever heard, it's just so true to life. This will by no means be for everyone, but I am loving every minute of this.

Acting. I'm not going to claim that this show has the greatest performances you will ever see. But the performances are certainly not below par and there's no dud performances here. The actors are solid and enjoyable to watch. And because it's slow paced and mostly dialogue, you can really understand the frustrations these characters go through.

Highly enjoyable for Hard Sci Fi fans and people who value thought and ideas over budget and don't mind the shortcomings. Not for people looking for action and superpowers and who aren't prepared to listen to the nuances of every word. It won't be easy to get a copy of this little gem, but it'll be worth it.

Extremely bad choices for actors.

[jamalking15 · 3/10 · 14 May 2020]

Non of the actors even closely fit the character they were trying to play. Just bad acting and bad choices for actors.

Happened upon this ; blown away

[theknownames · 9/10 · 8 May 2020]

I think this series was made with a small budget I got chills during the first episode effectively hooking me in for the duration. It has yet to disappoint. I love the premise so far and of course I feel compelled to give my initial thoughts and of course will follow up when I finish the series which will be soon because I can't stop -

Okay yes !

[theknownames · 9/10 · 10 May 2020]

There are so many wonderful actors and stories yet not enough make it to the 'big screen. Then of those that do - few find their way to my home. This show had me at episode one. I thoroughly enjoyed the pilot. Wanting to learn more after getting into the middle episodes ( as it did not disappoint ) i learned it was a web series made with donations from fans , the budget was like $ 6000 ?! Some incredibly talented people put this together. I thank them and the fans who made it happen !

Perseverance?

[lawrencekaneshiro · 3/10 · 1 July 2020]

This is such a unique and novel idea. A foreign government sends astronauts to another planet without the world especially the USA not knowing about it. How is this even possible? Could this really happen? The Cold War ended in 1991 with the desolation of the Soviet Union. But what if, the USSR was able to send a manned mission to a planet in our solar system, say Mars without anyone knowing about? That is the premise behind the story written by Josh Bernhard and Bracey Smith for the crowdfunded limited series "Pioneer One".

I just binged watched this little gem on Amazon Prime. The series was made in 2010 starring a bunch of unknown actors and shot on a non-existent budget. Although everything about this six-part series was amateurish the story was not bad. Three episodes in I was ready to give up because the acting was so bad. Not so much the actors themselves, but the directing and the script heft a lot to be desired. In any event, the story was so intriguing I had to watch this to the end.

The story or the idea of some country, other than the USA, with the ability to send people to Mars, is so intriguing. I want to know more. I want to see how this can be done especially in the 1980s. In the 1960s and 70s America was able to put men on the moon and then abruptly stopped. But the old Soviet Union or even China would have the technology and the will to want to continue their respective space programs. So, it would be totally plausible for these superpowers to accomplish their exploration of space without the blessing or the help of the USA.

Pioneer One is supposed to have a second season. That did not materialize, and perhaps we do not need a second season. From what the last moments of episode six showed us, it appears that this story will go off into the preverbal "cat & mouse" chase that has ruined so many promising Sy-Fi dramas. What I would rather see is this story fleshed out into a motion picture much like "The Martian" "Interstellar" or "Ad-Astra". These are great films based on real science. I am not so sure about "Pioneer One" but certainly seems that this could be possible. Historians remind us that in the early days of the space program in the Soviet Union, safety and was not a priority one. Nor was it a priority to humanly conclude their animal experiments. It is sad to think this way but, it would be entirely possible that the Soviet Union would have sent people on a one-way trip to Mars during the last three decades of the twentieths century. And just suppose that these brave souls would have survived.

Wow, this short series with the less than perfect production value makes you want to think, hummm! Why not? Let's not think about the impossible, after all in the early 1800s pioneers headed West into the unknown and made great discoveries. Discoveries that would not have happened without the bravery, perseverance, and the will to go into the unknown.

Creators: Josh Bernhard, Bracey Smith Writers: Josh Bernhard, Bracey Smith Stars: James David Rich, Alexandra Blatt, Einar Gunn

Captivating

[al-71720 · 9/10 · 12 April 2020]

Pioneer One may have been a low budget production but it made up for it by being so well written. I had never heard of this until I was desperately trying to find something interesting to kill some time with during the recent coronavirus pandemic. I immediately recognized the low budget nature of the story because of the lack of explosions, gunfights, and expansive use of computer graphics. But the story was engrossing and believable, something that is mostly missing in other films. I binge-watched all six episodes. Surprisingly my wife even enjoyed it, which is rare for her. We were both very disappointed when it ended.

I have never written a review before but felt the quality of this story deserved my time, and I hope that somehow the people involved in this production can learn that their efforts are appreciated.

I liked it

[solonche-637-153706 · 9/10 · 7 April 2020]

I liked it. The writing was smart, acting not bad. I appreciate the effort of all involved. Thank you for good stuff. Too bad it wasn't able to continue.

Listen to the dialogue

[karenthomas61 · 10/10 · 20 June 2020]

This 10 part series was made on a shoe string budget and it shows in the sets and the props. However, the acting and story were compelling. Due to the budget constraints, the actors had to carry the plot forward with with dialogue and convictions instead of action shots or special effects. Good science fiction should be called speculative fiction, because it is platform to discuss ideas. Spoiler alert: **** The Soviet Union of the 1980's could have sent cosmonauts to Mars in secret, then abandoned them after the fall of the Communist regime. Their system did not value human life. This series was definitely worth my time and held my attention. Real science fiction fans will appreciate this series.