Another Life Netflix Original Season One Review
Major Spoilers are included in this season review. Please read with caution.
Another Life is a difficult one to process. And also a difficult one to review without sounding incredibly harsh. Let’s start with what the series is about… that’s hard to nail down as one progresses the season. The series is about unknown alien tech landing on Earth, and the dream team lead by top-notch astronaut / space traveler Niko (Katee Sackhoff), who leaves her husband and daughter behind on Earth.
While the first episode started off strong with a mutiny lead by the original leader Ian Yerxa (Tyler Hoechlin), that’s where the hype ultimately ends.
Afterwards, the writing and plot suffered as the episodes relied too heavily on too classic tropes we’ve seen before in Sci-Fi like Star Trek and Dark Matter plus more I’m sure. I don’t watch too many Sci-Fi movies / shows, and even I noticed this trend. However, the actors on this series did their damn hardest to make the writing work in their favor.
The science wasn’t explained clearly either, and at times, I found myself questioning all the plot convenient sci-fi technology that helped the Niko’s crew survive whatever they faced.
Niko (Sackhoff) had the most compelling story that was sadly meshed with whatever the plot threw at her and the rest of the crew. Niko’s centric episodes about her PTSD and her family, albeit using familiar tropes to be honest, were really sympathetic. The supporting characters oddly revolved around her as their stories weren’t that interesting or explored nearly enough.
Yes, I did enjoy some of this, but I couldn’t binge-watch it. It was like an episode every two days type deal. Overall, if the show receives a season two renewal, the writers and the actors have a lot of work to make it worth something. Another Life was a disappointment, but it did have its moments.