Mars

This new series has definitely caught the attention of millions of people, I believe. As a National Geographic Series, it's obvious that the series is scientifically accurate. And the adventure part is really intriguing. Everyone will enjoy these parts. The Mars environment, the astronauts looks really awesome. I would give it 8.0 based on that.

Wait, there's more to it. The series has the decades-long history behind Mars Exploration. Who, where, how, why - all things are there. The documentary lovers like me will definitely appreciate this part for sure.

Overall, I would suggest everyone to try the show. It really does showed the struggles of the astronauts/ relevant people in these explorations.

Thanks to National Geographic.

However, I think sometimes, they are showing too much history. Most of the times, it's okay. But, I do not really understand why you have to go into history, when a dramatic "tension" moment is building up. It really change the mode of the audience. After all, it's a adventure/sci-fi drama, right? not a history documentary?

All in all, although I loved the history part here, my overall rating would not go beyond 7.0, for bad timing of the history parts.

Good luck :)

I like the comment where someone said this isn't science fiction but science future. It does take relevant clips and interviews from the past and present which provide educational information and sometimes opinions.

Will we go to Mars? Hell yes. Do we need to? No. Should we? Hell yes. Think how much the world benefited by the challenge we faced by going to the moon and how much technology was developed from doing so.

Going to Mars is just a first step and there is so much to learn from taking on the challenge. We may very well learn to solve some of the present or future problems that we will be facing here on earth by looking for solutions to living on Mars.

Now my comments on the story side of the show.

I am a fan of Elon Musk but why do I get the feeling like this is a one big commercial for the SpaceX program? I have to agree with some comments in that the story line is weak in that much of the planning and contingency planning that would normally be done is not represented in the show. So far with two episodes I have given up on questioning why things are happening as they do and just accept it at face value for the entertainment aspect.

The budget for the show may be limited but National Geographic is providing some great links for the show as well from http://natgeotv.com/mars which includes cast information and interviews, recaps, online viewing, and the Before Mars episode to get folks engaged with the actors.

I think it was a very good series, albeit a little slow. As for the "preachyness", if you're going to make a realistic series about Mars colonisation, climate change and corporate greed are topics that are unavoidable. Climate change is not "left wing", it's just a fact. In fact, far too many movies and TV shows tip-toe around the issue, so it's refreshing someone actually having the balls to address the issue. And the politicised science usually are the one trying to disprove man-made climate change, not the other way around. The only thing that bugged me about the show, was the use of lights inside the helmets, which would impair their vision because of all the reflection. But it seems the norm for most Hollywood movies, so I guess it's forgivable. But all in all a good watch, unless you're too sensitive about the reality of climate change.

So don't go into this show expecting a Hollywood-style drama series.

The focus here are not character development or some plot twists, it's about something humanity has dreamed forever and bringing this in a realistic and at the same time entertaining way to the screen.

The documentation parts also really fit the fictional mission and are mostly on point and not too long. Many emotional goosebump-moments, at least for me.

Don't watch it if you don't care about space or deep questions and are only looking for easy entertainment, for everyone else this show is a 10/10

I loved the premise of the show in season 1 but now it seems to be a pulpit for activist. The story is getting more political and left-wing fringed then it is enjoying.