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Ascension

  • TV Mini Series
  • 20142014
  • 3h 51m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
18K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,450
733
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Brian Van Holt, Tricia Helfer, and Brandon P Bell in Ascension (2014)
Watch a trailer for the Syfy series "Ascension".
Play trailer0:31
4 Videos
72 Photos
  • Drama
  • Sci-Fi

A young woman's murder causes the subjects of a century-long mission to populate a new world to question the true nature of the project as they approach the point of no return.A young woman's murder causes the subjects of a century-long mission to populate a new world to question the true nature of the project as they approach the point of no return.A young woman's murder causes the subjects of a century-long mission to populate a new world to question the true nature of the project as they approach the point of no return.

IMDb RATING
7.1/10
18K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,450
733
  • Creators
    • Adrian Cruz
    • Philip Levens
  • Stars
    • Tricia Helfer
    • Gil Bellows
    • Brian Van Holt
Top credits
  • Creators
    • Adrian Cruz
    • Philip Levens
  • Stars
    • Tricia Helfer
    • Gil Bellows
    • Brian Van Holt
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 191User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations

    Episodes3

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated
    1 Season
    2014

    Videos4

    Trailer
    Trailer 0:31
    Trailer
    Series Trailer
    Trailer 0:59
    Series Trailer
    Trailer
    Trailer 0:30
    Trailer
    Ascension (German Blu-Ray/DVD Trailer)
    Trailer 1:00
    Ascension (German Blu-Ray/DVD Trailer)

    Photos72

    Ascension (2014)
    Tiffany Lonsdale in Ascension (2014)
    Brian Van Holt and Tricia Helfer in Ascension (2014)
    Andrea Roth in Ascension (2014)
    Andrea Roth and Amanda Thomson in Ascension (2014)
    Brian Van Holt in Ascension (2014)
    Al Sapienza in Ascension (2014)
    Ryan Robbins in Ascension (2014)
    Jacqueline Byers in Ascension (2014)
    Brad Carter in Ascension (2014)
    Al Sapienza, Ryan Robbins, Brian Van Holt, Tricia Helfer, Tiffany Lonsdale, and Brandon Paul in Ascension (2014)
    Al Sapienza, Ryan Robbins, Andrea Roth, Brian Van Holt, Tricia Helfer, Jacqueline Byers, Brandon P Bell, Tiffany Lonsdale, Brandon Paul, and P.J. Boudousqué in Ascension (2014)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tricia Helfer
    Tricia Helfer
    • Viondra Dennigeras Viondra Denniger
    3 episodes3 eps • 2014
    Gil Bellows
    Gil Bellows
    • Harris Enzmannas Harris Enzmann
    3 episodes3 eps • 2014
    Brian Van Holt
    Brian Van Holt
    • Captain William Denningeras Captain William Denninger
    3 episodes3 eps • 2014
    Andrea Roth
    Andrea Roth
    • Dr. Juliet Bryceas Dr. Juliet Bryce
    3 episodes3 eps • 2014
    Brandon P Bell
    Brandon P Bell
    • Aaron Gaultas Aaron Gault
    3 episodes3 eps • 2014
    Jacqueline Byers
    Jacqueline Byers
    • Nora Bryceas Nora Bryce
    3 episodes3 eps • 2014
    Tiffany Lonsdale
    Tiffany Lonsdale
    • Emily Vanderhausas Emily Vanderhaus
    3 episodes3 eps • 2014
    P.J. Boudousqué
    P.J. Boudousqué
    • James Tobackas James Toback
    3 episodes3 eps • 2014
    Brad Carter
    Brad Carter
    • John Stokesas John Stokes
    3 episodes3 eps • 2014
    Ryan Robbins
    Ryan Robbins
    • Duke Vanderhausas Duke Vanderhaus
    3 episodes3 eps • 2014
    Wendy Crewson
    Wendy Crewson
    • Katherine Warrenas Katherine Warren
    3 episodes3 eps • 2014
    Lauren Lee Smith
    Lauren Lee Smith
    • Samantha Kruegeras Samantha Krueger
    3 episodes3 eps • 2014
    Al Sapienza
    Al Sapienza
    • Councilman Roseas Councilman Rose
    3 episodes3 eps • 2014
    Ellie O'Brien
    Ellie O'Brien
    • Christa Valisas Christa Valis
    3 episodes3 eps • 2014
    John Ralston
    John Ralston
    • Robert Bryceas Robert Bryce
    3 episodes3 eps • 2014
    Amanda Thomson
    Amanda Thomson
    • Lorelei Wrightas Lorelei Wright
    3 episodes3 eps • 2014
    Jessica Sipos
    Jessica Sipos
    • Jackieas Jackie
    3 episodes3 eps • 2014
    Aliyah O'Brien
    Aliyah O'Brien
    • Eva Marceauas Eva Marceau
    3 episodes3 eps • 2014
    • Creators
      • Adrian Cruz
      • Philip Levens
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Ascension is an ambitious original drama following a covert U.S. space mission launched in the 1960's that sent hundreds of men, women and children on a century-long voyage aboard the starship Ascension to populate a new world. Half way into their journey, as they approach the point of no return, the mysterious murder of a young woman causes the ship's population to question the true nature of their mission. The series features the confident and capable First Officer Aaron Gault, the eponymous ship's Captain William Denninger, and Viondra Denninger, the captain's beautiful, manipulative and dangerous wife (who also serves as the ship's Chief Steward). Also included are Chief Astronomer Emily Vanderhaus, the ship's head doctor Juliet Bryce, the doctor's daughter, Nora Bryce, and Nora's love interest, James Toback. —ahmetkozan
    • infidelity
    • outer space
    • altered american flag
    • space sci fi
    • space opera sci fi
    • 9 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Sci-Fi
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Christa's last name is Valis. Valis is the name of one of Philip K. Dick's last novels, the first of an unfinished trilogy, and stands for Vast Active Living Intelligence System, Dick's gnostic vision of one aspect of God.
    • Goofs
      Throughout the series we see the occupants of Ascension apparently experiencing normal Earth gravity. In deep space there are only two ways to simulate the effects of gravity; either you build a ship that rotates around a central axis, where centrifugal force gives the appearance of gravity at the rim, or you rely upon thrust from the engines. Since Ascension is clearly not cylindrical (all through the series we see flat floors and a deck layout along the axis), the apparent force of gravity must therefore be provided by thrust from the engines.

      To approximate the gravity of Earth, the engines would need to provide a constant acceleration of 9.81m/s2. At this acceleration, the ship would reach 97% of the speed of light in just 2 years and the journey to Proxima Centauri (Ascension's quoted destination) would take roughly 5.2 years. In the show, the ship has apparently been en route for over 50 years, almost 10 times as long as the journey should take.

      Such a speed would not be possible for a ship of this type in any case, as it would need a huge shield against interstellar material and an impossibly large fuel load.

      All of this is simple math and physics and could be questioned by any reasonably well-educated person in the 1960s; it's inconceivable that none of the crew or other people on board would not have questioned this inconsistency.
    • Alternate versions
      Syfy Channel originally aired the show as three 2-hour episodes (with commercials). But Netflix has divided the series into six 43-minute episodes.
    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Sci-Fi Shows That Deserve a Second Chance (2017)

    User reviews191

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Better than expected
    I enjoyed Ascension a lot more than I thought I would, and am genuinely surprised by the negative and lukewarm reviews it has received - and yet, I do have to acknowledge that most of the actual critiques are correct.

    The first installment is slow, and not particularly interesting until you get to the final twist. From there, the next two installments move quicker. Also, the ending doesn't feel like an ending. Even BSG, which of course had been setting up for a series, let the initial miniseries end on a note that at least felt like an ending. There are a number of characters in Ascension who don't have satisfying arcs, and a number of subplots that aren't resolved at all. And yes, the show does have a very soap opera-ish feel to it, but not without reason: the laws of the ship restrict procreation, so sex became a currency like drugs in a prison.

    The series is compelling in a way that not a lot of new shows are. The central idea, while highly implausible, is nonetheless fascinating, and opens the door to a lot of possibilities. SyFy has been introducing mostly fluff over the last few years so this had a much more mature feel to it.

    I hope this does become a series, though I am skeptical as to how long the premise can hold before it gets old. The writers should have tried a bit harder to make the miniseries feel more self-contained. Still, the unique premise of the show and the complexity of the plot warrants a view, especially for science fiction fans.
    helpful•25
    10
    • Dances with Werewolves
    • Dec 21, 2014

    FAQ2

    • Why did Ascension air as a miniseries without a final act?
    • Will there be a Season 2 for Ascension?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 15, 2014 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Vesmírná loď Ascension
    • Filming locations
      • Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
    • Production companies
      • Levens
      • Blumhouse Productions
      • Sea to Sky Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      3 hours 51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9 HD

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    Brian Van Holt, Tricia Helfer, and Brandon P Bell in Ascension (2014)
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