Diana Welch

REALLY??!! Are there any writers in Hollywood that can even google? If so, they could have researched the rigorous training that astronauts go through. Do they know that a military structure and strict chain of command is adhered to on all NASA missions? That mental health screening is substantial and would have weeded out the petty. sophomoric, mutinous Russian and Chinese crew members? Ridiculous trope by the way. Just once, I would like to see a NASA space crew portrayed as the functional, professional adults they are. This otherwise well-acted, polished, yet slightly tedious and mostly predictable show was mostly watchable until they added the childishly contrived conflict. It is not 90210 and they are not in high school. So the good reviews surprise me. I would give 2 stars for the acting and production value. The special effects were quite good. The technical aspects were pretty horrendous. Most of us know cell phones wont work without serious delay... but I suspended disbelief for timing and moving the dialogue forward. Other issues were not so easily dismissed. I suppose they couldn't afford a technical advisor after paying Hillary Swank's salary. My biggest problem is the writing. Basically, they ruined what could have been a 5-star rating when a bunch of writers sat around the table and said, "Let's have the Russian and the Chinese crew be openly mutinous and talk behind the commanders back. That will spice it up." That was just the FIRST episode. The contrived and ridiculously implausible interactions between characters actually gets worse. If you like soap operas you might like this show. Otherwise, skip it.