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Only a few actors are able to ride and bridge the gap between comedy and drama successfully, and when you throw in space and the added task of creating a show, it becomes near-impossible. Steve Carell, however, is no ordinary actor and he manages to conquer this chasm, as General Mark Naird of the newly-minted Space Force.
I will be honest – similar to the time I heard about the formation of the actual force, I tried, unsuccessfully, to hold in a snicker when I saw the series show up on Netflix.
But with a cast like Steve and John Malkovich, I was pleasantly surprised. It is a slow burn to start and some characters, like the force’s social media director F Tony Scarapiducci (Ben Schwartz) and Mark’s daughter Erin (Diana Silvers) are an acquired taste.
Surprisingly, Space Force manages to go through its entire 324-minute runtime without mentioning Donald Trump by name, but the chaotic conditions of the current US administration are hinted at throughout, from the tweet storms to the rapid turnover.
The show starts with General Mark Naird being appointed as the head of the new Space Force by the Secretary of Defence John Blandsmith (Dan Bakkedahl). Mark’s wife Maggie (Lisa Kudrow) and Erin (Diana Silvers) join him in Colorado where he leads the team, while constantly being challenged by his chief scientist Dr Adrian Mallory (John Malkovich).
Throughout the season, they have different adversaries, both internal and external, on Earth and beyond, with one mission in mind: Boots on the moon.
This makes it interesting to decipher how much of the show is a parody and how much is a very possible thought experiment about how the Space Force actually operates. Online critics have complained about the show endorsing what it is supposed to be satirising, but I think you can do both, without diluting the other.
Yes, the name Space Force sounds like something out of Toy Story and the idea of a chimp trying to repair a satellite is bizarre, but humanity’s very real dependence on satellites and the threats to society that a small action in outer space can pose is all-too-real.
The one thing I didn’t anticipate was actually agreeing with the necessity of a space force being formed. But this is where good writing as well as Steve Carell’s acting made a lemon cake out of some really sour lemons.
Even though he is known primarily for The Office, Steve Carell really showed his dramatic chops with Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. And in this role, he plays Mark Naird, a vanilla all-American-hero type who likes to always do things by the book, even if there isn’t a book to which he can refer.
Mark is almost completely ignorant of science, while also having a deep understanding of human nature developed in the trenches. He is funny yet poignant, a smart yet overwhelmed father, a loving yet exhausted husband and a capable yet flawed four-star general.
Steve’s penchant for stretching extremely awkward moments and swimming amongst their cringe-worthy specifics is able to shine a damning light on these character traits. This is also where Ben Schwartz as F. Tony is ideal as a screen mate.
Ben is also known for his highly awkward moments from his days at CollegeHumor and House of Cards, and he brings that same energy here. And John Malkovich as Dr Adrian is the perfect pinnacle of all the awkwardness that is John Malkovich. For proof, please refer to every minute he has ever been on screen.
The biggest complaint I have is about the number of loose threads the show has. There must be a hundred storylines that are started and just deserted without any development. I understand that one must sow these seeds for future seasons but some of these feel like watch-bait or the perpetually hanging cliff hangers.
Or perhaps, it’s a smart commentary on the number of half-baked and semi-suspended initiatives launched under the current administration. Only the second season will tell.
Top 10 on Netflix in Bahrain
1. Vikings (Series)
2. Space Force (Series)
3. The Last Days of American Crime (Movie)
4. Baki (Series)
5. 13 Reasons Why (Series)
6. The 100 (Series)
7. Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (Limited Series)
8. Unknown (Movie)
9. Choked: Paisa Bolta Hai (Movie)
10. Resurrection: Ertugrul (Series)
