Several reviews start off with the notion of not understanding why someone would like or not like the series. So I thought I'd highlight some areas of warranted and unwarranted critique.
First off, the series is best viewed binged. In the early episodes the plot focuses a lot on the family situation so just viewing a few episodes is not enough to feel the overall plot moving. So after just watching a few episodes the series is still in the starting pit, you really have to give the first season a chance by giving it time to unfold.
Secondly, the story is focus on family development in season 1, so of course the family starts out in shambles. The mother has been solely in charge of taking care of the family for years. She has had to make difficult and bad decision just to keep her family together. However, now the father is back and trying to get his place back in the family. However, what many reviews seem to ignore and dismiss as "a dysfunctional family" is that he deceived his family; he wasn't drafted, he volunteered to leave them and they resent him for it. They still love each other and over the first season work to get their relationships back together. Season two is on the other hand more focused on individual character's development and has a more action packed plot.
Thirdly, this is a reboot only by name and some premises, so all those who want a modern copy of the 60's series will not get it - for better and for worse. Some characters might be portrayed differently but they are not bad. The actors are really good. Maxwell Jenkins is amazing as Will and Parker Posey is so brilliant at being a sociopathic Dr. Smith that I can't stand watching her just as much as I can't stop. From other reviews you get sense that the reviewer loved the original so much that they can't get over that Judy is adopted in this version and that the characters are not just straight up geniuses, but smart at some things and flawed went it comes to other things.
Fourth, you can feel the quality put into the series; especially when it comes to SGI and quality in actors. Some complaints have been raised about the humbug-science in the series but not even CSI-shows use real science. Shows make things up all the time. The question should just be about how well they get away with it, and this series is a sci-fi about other planets so they can get away with things not working like on earth pretty well. The quality is leaps above titles like The Orville, Start Trek and Stargate SG-1, and those are good shows so I have no complaints. However, those shows have had years to develop.
Fifth, yes, they make stupid decisions which could have been solved better. This is common in all series though to push the plot in more eventful directions. The question is whether this it is an empty plot devise or help the characters' developments. Is the decision stupid to all or plausible for the individual character's state of being? It is surprising how many reviewers seem to get stuck on things that feel illogical to them rather to whether it is illogical to the character or to the premises of the planet the characters are on. So far, the stupidity is not more prevalent than in any other show and something that even happens to geniuses
Final thoughts: What draws me in more than anything is Will's and the Robot's relationship, but also finding out more about the part they play in the whole scheme of things. After seeing the first season my imagination ran wild with anticipation and possible plot developments and what the developers put forth did not let me down. The second season was above my expectations. Now my imagination is running wild again with anticipation for the third season and I hope to see even more sides to the human nature be explored.
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