Missions

This French Sci-fi drama follows the first manned mission to Mars; as they arrive in orbit they learn that they were overtaken by a mission sent by an American concern. However contact with that crew is lost so our protagonists are ordered to investigate. They find what appears to be a survivor; he wasn't one of the American crew though... he appears to be Vladimir Komarov, a Cosmonaut who died re-entering Earth's atmosphere in 1967! Over the course of the series the crew, in particular Jeanne Renoir the ship's psychologist, try to find out who or what Komarov really is. They are also concerned about how they will ultimately leave the red planet.

If you want lots of action in your sci-fi this might not be for you but if you want intelligent and intriguing science fiction then this should keep you gripped. There may not be action but there is plenty of tension when various things go wrong. Things turn interesting when Komarov is found; there is a real sense of mystery about whether it is really Komarov or something else altogether. I liked how they incorporated the very real story of the first death in space into the plot. There are some weaknesses of course; particularly when a rather aggressive second US team arrives. The cast do a solid job; with Hélène Viviès standing out as Jeanne. The ending does leave things open for a second season; I'd certainly watch if one is made. Overall I'd certainly recommend this series to fans of the genre.

These comments are based on watching the series in French with English subtitles.

Missions 1-2-3 I don't know if the writers had physicists as advisers but some of the aspects of quantum physics concerned the particles and parallel worlds are imagined in a magic narration. Some scenes could be found in Star Trek's multiple episodes concerning space-time on one hand and quantum physics currently proposed theories, on the other hand without any coherence all along with the episodes. Technically well done, well played, brilliant actors... All these to say what? Human beings are genetically unadaptable to live in a transcendental space civilisation. At the end of the last episode (3rd series), the action taken proves that we are not able to think about others, other living beings... I enjoyed watching the 3 series and hope for the 4th next year! Who knows?

Camera, audio, and montage levels are really astonishing.

First two seasons have good story.

But third season went from Sci-Fi into an action soap opera. Only drama, screaming and running. Turned into a total disaster.

An interesting story. It weaves and wanders a bit, but keeps you hooked. I was hoping to find out the source of all the occurrences after the second season, but the third season threw a curveball.

There is closure at the end, but no clear answers. I hope there's a third season.

Watch this if you really enjoy a well developed sci fi series. There does not need to be lots of cgi or sex to make it good. Very different to standard shows which turn into soap operas or monsters of the week.