The First

While this production has high production values and an excellent cast the show is way too boring to watch unless you want to watch something while you drift off to sleep. Why... because for 6 of the 8 episodes nothing happens... NOTHING!!! If you watch episodes 1 and 8 you not only have the whole story but also the high points of the story. In general the show suffers from labored pan shots that go on way too long, labored close ups that go on way too long, and a script lacking in energy and entertainment. If you simply want a visual distraction that doesn't draw the eye too acutely then this is the show for you. Like I said, good for drifting off to sleep.

I use IMDB frequently to help guide my viewing selections and, I must admit, sometimes find myself looking for confirmation of my own opinions based on critics and viewer ratings. When there are a substantial number of ratings for a film or show on IMDB, I believe the average ratings generally become a reliable reflection of the quality of a film or show.

However, with The First, I think the divisive ratings aren't providing an objective evaluation. When you look at the written user reviews, numerous individuals are reviewing the series based on what they THOUGHT it would be like (surprise, it wasn't), and not on what it is. It is indeed important to note what the series isn't - typical sci-fi. But either stop watching and leave it be, because it's not the kind of exploration you expected, or adjust your expectations and review the creation for what it is - a unique exploration of the human elements of interplanetary space travel with some exceptional genuine, emotional, and very believable performances from the actors and characters in the story. It also contains some very realistic, very possible near-future technology. I equate some of the narrow-minded "disappointed" user reviews to the same kind of reviews on Amazon where the reviewer gives a product a poor rating because the box was damaged - that's not a review of the product!

The First is definitely not for everyone, and as one critic put it, it requires an ambitious audience. A few of the middle episodes certainly provIde some discomfort and are visually experimental. Nonetheless, I've really enjoyed watching the series as a whole and would rate it up with some of the other very good Hulu and Amazon originals - in my opinion, it really should have an average rating in the range of 7 to 8. Hopefully with some more objective reviews, it will eventually get there, and get some of the credit it truly deserves.

Im a huge Sci fi fan. This is not that but it is actually a really great series about a man who is trying to juggle some extreme issues at home while trying to hold together an extreme job. The acting is outstanding, I don't get why people are hating on the character of the daughter. She has real issues that I'm sure alot of people have had to deal with first hand or been within the destructive orbit of her issues. Although Mars might be the destination ( I haven't seen all the episodes) the show is about Penns character and his personal journey. If you're looking for a Mars Sci fi space struggle I'd say still give it a chance its actually quite good

This seems to me like a bait for SciFi fans, 95% drama and 5% SciFi, and that is really fair percentage estimation. Since there is really not much of a SciFi in it at all, rather something that is achievable in science today!

Wow what a mess. Firstly this is NOT sci-fi. The entire plot could be overlayed with Sean pen being a doctor in a 1980's hospital series, say a submarine cpatian -- or for that matter a truck driver -- or a partner in a dental practice who is juggling home n work. There is no US of the science or futuristic aspects, no major thought challenge theme from it. it is just there.

All this series is is a pedestrian drama. And it is one that literally uses every single worn out trope and cliché one has ever seen. I challenge any reviewer to even name a single original aspect -- or even well done cliched one in this series.

And really, I get that Sean Penn thinks he is a military vet after playing one in a film, but "the First' clearly makes him imagine he is a film writer since he has acted in films as he is apparently responsible for the post production adding of the bizarre pauses with haiku like voiced overs. Terrence Malik can do that Sean -- you can't without appearing desperate to save this mess. Really Sean, the dirt and the stars are made from the same stuff? Wow, that is heavy. newsflash: Democritus told us this two THOUSAND and five hundred years ago. It's not news.