The First

This is a genially well made and well acted series that feels more like art house movie that your typical TV series or movie. The science fiction elements are mostly in the back ground and credit should be given because they are done in a very subtle, and believable way. The focus is on the relationships of the astronauts but it doesn't mean we don't also get a look at the preparation but it is looked at from a personal perspective. For example there is a problem with the unmanned MAV they previously sent to Mars and if they can't fix the problem it could effect funding for the mission as well as their survival odds of the astronauts and it is shown how that effects the people on the show along with the other events that take place during preparation. At the end of the day the show is mostly about the people that are left behind and primarily about the daughter of the potential commander of the mission and how his relationship with his daughter could effect the mission.

Most science fiction fans would have preferred the focus to be on the mission but there are some merits in this approach as well. My recommendation is to watch it with no expectations and be patient this is definitely taking a leaf out of the 2001 A Space Odyssey school of film making but like 2001 the slow pace is designed to ground the story in reality something that few TV shows and movies dare to do these days, this is not a failing of the show but a failing of viewer attention spans.

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.

This show has left me stunned and haunted. It is absolutely beautiful, and achingly raw, sad and honest. Don't let anyone convince you that it never "got off the ground" as I see some reviews stating. That is flat wrong. Every single character is complex, human, flawed and totally relatable. Each character's story is developed so carefully and each story line refuses to be rushed. We are so used to 30 second sound bites and immediate gratification in our culture that many people want to be entertained without having to think, go deep and reflect on how the TV show or movie make us feel. This show refuses to cater to our need for rushed results, like fast food for the senses. Be prepared to settle in and take a gorgeous, heart wrenching, heart pounding and stunning journey with each character. Don't expect one-dimensional characters or CGI action scenes. This is an intelligent, thoughtful, beautiful show and every actor in it deserves an Emmy for their performances. I hope this show catches on ignites our imaginations for what humankind can accomplish (with a new and empathetic understanding of the sacrifices required to move the human race into the great unknown). Bravo! I'm hooked and can't wait for more.

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!

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.