Night Sky (formerly known as Lightyears) is an American science fiction drama streaming television series created by Holden Miller and Daniel C. Connolly. Similar to Outer Range – also streaming on Amazon Prime Video – Night Sky is ostensibly a family drama dressed up in science fiction outfits. And the question we will answer for you dear faithful reader – is Night Sky worth binge-watching?
S P O I L E R S
No.
The series is poorly conceived and written with cardboard characterisations and a flimsy premise that is never quite fleshed out at all. To be fair, the premise seems intriguing at first sight, even on paper.
Franklin and Irene York (played by JK Simmons and Sissy Spacek), a couple who years ago discovered a chamber buried in their backyard which inexplicably leads to a strange, deserted planet, discover a strange visitor to their home, which will change their lives forever. (IMDb)
The more astute amongst you out there reading this may recognise that like Outer Range (and perhaps From), this series features a ‘mystery box’ which draws the viewer in, hoping for revelations that match the promise of the mystery. Unfortunately, like the other series, Night Sky never quite pans out and fails to live up to its promise, such as it is.
IS OUTER RANGE WORTH BINGE-WATCHING?
For one thing, the pacing is dreadfully slow and we spend most of the time in the real world rather than this fantastical alien planet that is teased. Not only that but apart from the Yorks, every other character is two-dimensional, unlikeable with barely discernible motivations. Even the obvious acting skills and chemistry of the leads are not able to distract the viewer from the fact that the plot is ridiculous.
Worse still, the series never makes clear what that alien planet is and who the secret society trying to capture Jude – the stranger who appears in the York’s chamber – and hide the teleportation chambers are. We feel as frustrated as Toni, the Argentinean teenager who has been kept in the dark concerning her terrible destiny by her awful mother. And do not get us started on Jude – the character is thinly written to begin with but Chai Hansen’s perpetual “deer in the headlights” performance is simply annoying.
Night Sky is a poor excuse for a science fiction TV series. Go and watch Dark instead.
Now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
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