There's the story. Then there's the characters. A great story will survive clumsy characters. Great characters you'll come back and watch even if the story is nonsense or the production weak. Particularly if the script has charm.
I think what we have here is an ensemble cast to give character focus to a global audience and a script that isn't too challenging.
No character takes dominance so we're watching a number of story arcs and time periods played with mixed ability. Some of the acting is not great - I mean acting = talking without blinking or disturbing the lipstick on my new trout pout, not great.
They've tried to do the same Expanse/Game of Thrones thing with a whole gang of fascinating people. But by and large the characters are a bit dull or as flat as a dehydrated alien.
So a brave attempt, but the doubters who said the books were unfilmable might have had a point. The things that made the original story was the occasional pauses to dip into interesting details and personal dynamics - like in the cultural revolution. But there's no time for that. We're skimming the fine detail to chase the story.
It takes most of the first book and hindsight over the story to begin to appreciate the aliens and what's happening. I think if you haven't read the books, then it's just a sequence of oddness. Like being dropped into the middle of a game where you have no idea of the rules.
Be a shame not to do Season 2, but I won't grieve.
I think what we have here is an ensemble cast to give character focus to a global audience and a script that isn't too challenging.
No character takes dominance so we're watching a number of story arcs and time periods played with mixed ability. Some of the acting is not great - I mean acting = talking without blinking or disturbing the lipstick on my new trout pout, not great.
They've tried to do the same Expanse/Game of Thrones thing with a whole gang of fascinating people. But by and large the characters are a bit dull or as flat as a dehydrated alien.
So a brave attempt, but the doubters who said the books were unfilmable might have had a point. The things that made the original story was the occasional pauses to dip into interesting details and personal dynamics - like in the cultural revolution. But there's no time for that. We're skimming the fine detail to chase the story.
It takes most of the first book and hindsight over the story to begin to appreciate the aliens and what's happening. I think if you haven't read the books, then it's just a sequence of oddness. Like being dropped into the middle of a game where you have no idea of the rules.
Be a shame not to do Season 2, but I won't grieve.