Peaks in episode 6-7 (Sn 1), then feels unfinished I loved this show. It's smarter than anything I've watched recently, probably even outdoing the average Christopher Nolan film. I would have been more attentive in the beginning, except I assumed everything was going to get much clearer. It does, and it doesn't. Don't get me wrong - I love that it challenged my brain. I just wasn't expecting it.
My biggest confusion at the end is which "universe" in which the CAM exists. She speaks Swedish with her daughter and about the experiment before the accident, then later she still remembers speaking Swedish with her daughter, but doesn't remember the CAM experiment? Maybe I'm mis-remembering the beginning. I'm sure a second viewing might clear it up, but, and I can't believe I'm saying this, I just wish they'd spoon fed it to us a bit more. I really liked that the perspective was bent, though, defying biases, which I think was the point.
It's already established that the universe with the CAM experiment is the one in which Paul lived and Jo died. But, it also doesn't seem to be a simple split, either, as they appear to be switching identities, especially when they're both alive (as in Henry / Bud). So, maybe that explains the mix up, since the CAM does seem to be the center of it all. The concept of superposition in quantum mechanics is referred to more than once, so we get that is the premise pretty early on. But, there's also this plot line where these switches / splits have been happening as long as space travel, long before CAM. That part seems a bit hokey to me, like are we ever going to get an explanation for that?
I do really appreciate the strong female characters, even the astute daughter (played by twins which adds brilliantly to the spookiness). James D'Arcy's character (the husband) is pivotal for keeping perspectives grounded as the most neutral bystander. On that topic, why is the daughter, who never went to space, or the people with the "ghost tapes" able to see or hear the others? These parts are more mysterious and unexplained. I don't mind a few loose strings in writing, but too many make me start to lose faith that the writers have it worked out themselves.
Since this hasn't been renewed for another season at the time of writing this, I'm going to give the benefit of the doubt that there's some explanation for these holes. And, I hope that they get the opportunity to fill out the story. Of course, I don't want to leave out that Banks is amazing. He adds a wonderful dichotomy to the Henry / Bud character that is integral to the show.
Episode 6 was definitely the "a-ha" episode that answered many questions. But, at the same time, the above issues still lingered. And, the final episode does nothing to clear them up. Instead, it goes in a completely different direction. Just when her colleague gives her a way out, she gets scared and stays, which seems very out of character. Then, there's the mysterious double she sees upstairs. What? Also, the cosmonaut woman offers insight that she understands and believes her, but expresses that trying to undo it is pointless. Yet, she simultaneously is clueless about there being an actual double of herself? It feels less like a cliffhanger than the story was just interrupted. However, the many angles to think about are still there, so I think it's still ok. It will definitely be better to see more, though.