The Man Who Fell to Earth

There's so many ways this could go wrong, but so far, so good. It gets a little hokey and that's ok. The tongue-in-cheek humor is light and done well.

When I saw it was a Showtime series, I was like...meh, they'll find a way to mess it up, and they still could : P

Chiwetel Ejiofor does some amazing things. The dude is awesome.

I hope this series stays on an even keel, because sic-fi, alien-comes -to-Earth is so overdone and almost always irretrievably bad. For sure, there's going to be a mess of reviews that complain WOKE...because it has a non-whites in it...and he's an alien. It's impossible for people to help themselves. : D.

So far, I think it's great 4 episodes in! Most original series I have seen for years. Screenplay and characters are original and first class. I am all in!!

This show definitely has promise.

Without giving anything away on plot.

Great acting by all and the added bonus of Bill Nye is going to make this interesting.

Looking forward to episode 2.

I have watched the show unlike some who have not and given it a poor rating.

You see, this is a sequel. It seems most reviews missed this. A fresh and respectable one at that. Just don't call it woke, for that would date and degrade its artistry. Yes, Bowie's character appears here. Thomas (Jerome) Newton, played quite well with his spidery William S. Burroughs dead ringer look by Bill Nighy. I'm sure if Bowie were still alive, he'd be appearing here. Nice, classy touch titling each episode after a Bowie tune. Solid acting by the leads, decent cinematography, though not on the sublimely high level of the great Nic Roeg, and dare I say a bit more surface clarity in its storytelling than the movie. I do deeply miss Rip Torn though. I think the brilliant author Walter Tevis, one of the finest and most monstrously underrated sci-fi writers of his generation, would surely endorse this repurposing of his work. It is quite imaginative and inventive. Also, deft use of comedy where you wouldn't necessarily expect it. I expected this interpretation to fall flatly on its face, instead the experience was rather uplifting. Kudos to those responsible. Who doesn't like surprises?

An unusually talented cast, the mind of Kurtzman and a reliable core-concept, what could possibly go wrong? Well ... nothing actually, this is a fabulous start to this novel/movie adaptation/sequel told from a fresh perspective.

Chiwetel Ejiofor is exceptional as the wide-eyed, genius child with a sense of naïve wonderment, beautifully portrayed with rictus grin, uncoordinated movement and simpleton dialogue. As the Yin to his Yang, Naomie Harris plays his street-smart, big-hearted sidekick.

The effects are awesome, they are hardly noticeable and completely credible, dovetailing with gorgeous cinematographic choices.

Overall, a fine first episode with great promise, well worth a watch!