Otherwordly Odyssey: A Sci Fi Recap – Nightflyers

There wasn’t a lot of Sci Fi on TV this week, but Syfy’s Nightflyers more than made up for it. I had high expectations and this show did not disappoint. First, I’ll give you a little rundown of the episodes that aired this week, and then I’ll give you some thoughts, particularly on the ending.

1.6 – The Sacred Gift

The crew comes across another ship and is surprised to find survivors living there. We quickly learn that all is not right and that the group of women aboard the drifting ship are hungry for company. The boarding crew manages to escape, but Thale warns that this is just the beginning of the strangeness they’ll encounter as they pursue the Volcryn. In a final moment, D’Branin learns that Dr. Matheson has been keeping a secret as well.

Pictured: Jodie Turner-Smith as Melantha — (Photo by: Jonathan Hession/SYFY)

1.7 – Transmission

Eight months later finds the ship within range of the Volcryn, but the closer they get, the more difficult it gets for the crew. Thale has found a way to bond with the crew, but Agatha is worried it will backfire. D’Branin has been failing to learn anything new about the Volcryn, and Rowen is busy nesting with Tessia in preparation for the birth of their baby. Lommie’s retreating further and further into the world she’s created inside the crystal matrix, and it seems like Mel is the only one keeping her head straight. Thale and Dr. Matheson are having difficulty keeping their telepathic abilities in check the closer they get to the Volcryn. A health emergency forces Tessia to deliver early, and their stillborn baby brings an unexpected crisis to the ship.

Sam Strike as Thale — (Photo by: Jonathan Hession/Syfy)

1.8 – Rebirth

Agatha and Thale are struggling as the ship nears the Volcryn. Rowen is frantic to find out what happened to his baby and save Tessia, and the crew is having trouble staying on task. Mel is trying to hold things together while Karl is distracted by visions of his daughter. Rowen discovers that the baby was consumed by a kind of mold, but when it can’t be contained, they’re forced to take drastic action to ensure the safety of the rest of the crew, revealing a secret that even Roy didn’t know. Augie continues his devotion to Cynthia Eris, But Lommie finds herself in big trouble when Cynthia finds a way to trap her in the crystal.

1.9 – Icarus

Things are getting out of control as the ship approaches the Volcryn. Rowen is not handling Tessia’s death well, and his makes his rage clear to Agatha. Karl pushes Thale to contact the Volcryn, and it’s so much more than expected.  Cynthia, now in charge of Lommie’s body, is wreaking havoc in an attempt to stop them from reaching the Volcryn. Arrival at the Volcryn brings violence and tears.

Pictured: (l-r) Gretchen Mol as Agatha, Angus Sampson as Rowan — (Photo by: Jonathan Hession/Syfy)

1.10 – All That We Found

Cynthia is a back, and with Augie’s help she wants to turn the ship around. Mel tries to make sense of what she’s learned about Roy and learning the truth turns out to be just as hard to handle. Thale tells Karl how he can reach the Volcryn and that they want him to come. As the ship builds towards an explosion, Mel comes up with a solution that just might save them all. But, Karl’s encounter without the Volcryn is much more than we expected.

Pictured: Maya Eshet as Lommie — (Photo by: Jonathan Hession/Syfy)

Thoughts

Wow, I really enjoyed this show. It was a little dark, so I’m watching a bit of the Great British Baking Show to lighten the mood, but I have no regrets. I have lots of

The characters were nuanced and intriguing. Everyone was very believable with responses that we could understand and sympathize with. Well, except the crazies on the ship they found; those women were insane. Cynthia was wonderfully manipulative and clever. Agatha was level, yet soft. I could never quite decided whether I wanted to hate or hug Karl, and I felt similarly about Thale. It’s interesting that the two men in Agatha’s life were a little bit similar in that their both keeping her at a distance but wanting her near. The development of the relationship between Roy and Mel was nicely done to show Mel’s vulnerability after setting herself apart as cool and aloof. Even Rowen and Tessie’s relationship, while not terribly developed, was lovely and heartbreaking, revealing the character of both. The showstopper for me was Lommie, none the least because of the actor’s talent in playing a character that had to be so restrained, yet passionate.

The story was so interesting and unpredictable. While relying on so many sci fi staples, everything was original and surprising. I found myself unable to predict what might come next, and that’s saying something because I consider myself quite good at sussing out what’s coming in a story. It was a very satisfying watch, and I think it benefitted from being released in a way that was built for streaming.

And that ending, those final scenes. Wow. That was very powerful. I had to sit with the ending for a day or two before I could decide how I felt about it, and I definitely like it. It’s so moving and emotional. Karl has a wonderful touching moment of discovery while the crew sits in utter peril. Amazing. I’ve read that, though it hasn’t been announced yet, season 2 is all but guaranteed. I hope so because I don’t know if I can stand to not have a resolution to that story.

What’s next

There’s not a lot of sci fi coming until the Doctor Who special on New Years Day, so there likely won’t be another column until then. I’ll see you in 2019!