Well, it’s that time of year again, when all the network shows are on break until January, and the only fresh programming being rolled out are holiday specials or mini-series. So, our early Christmas gift from the SyFy Network is a three-part space exploration mini-series, Ascension.
Set aboard a spaceship that has been traveling 51 years into the galaxy on a quest to reach a distant planet between two suns, Ascension proves even in space there are bad guys. The show opens when one of the passengers/colonists/explorers (you decide) gets murdered, and, apparently, this kind of thing is not commonplace! It sends ship’s Captain William Denninger (Brian Van Holt, Cougar Town) and his crew into a frenzy as they attempt to keep a lid on it. So, yeah. This show pretty much turns into a whodunit in space.
And, what’s the point of taking a story like this off Earth, and into space? I don’t know. I guess that’s why there’s three parts, and not just one.
Oh, wait. There’s this subplot where the story keeps flashing back to life on Earth, and the government group that put this very mission together, and there is DEFINITELY something shady going on with that.
One problem I have with this show is the lack of a driving force. They’re stuck in space, floating around, and so the show doesn’t seem to move along at all. Also, although there’s a large amount of supporting characters, no one in particular stands. Viondra (Tricia Helfer, Battlestar Galactica), the captain’s wife, is horribly underused, and so I assume she was cast for her fanboy appeal? I hope I’m wrong and that she plays more prominently into the story later.
As I continued watching this sci-fi movie, wondering where the sci-fi movie elements were, the ship passed through a radiation storm that brings about a turn, not only plot-wise, but action-wise as well. I will also admit that the twist at the end, although annoying, was also equal parts interesting and original.
Am I convincing any of you to watch this show, or are you just tuning out? The fact that this is only a mini-series means maybe it’s worth your time if you’re into sci-fi. If, however, you’re spending you holiday break trying to catch up on all the shows you’ve fallen behind on, I’d let this one pass. 2.25/5 Gas Masks