User reviews

I was really looking forward to this series. Like "Red Planet" and "Mission To Mars" but without the fictional hooey. Like "The Martian" but in grander scale, with many scientists doing their thing, not just one. Bah; I was quite wrong.

Apparently, in the year 2033, we've completely run out of scientists, and instead sent a bunch of backstabbing, whiny hipsters to Mars. If they had any formal training in science, they forgot it all. They certainly don't mention anything scientific in their dialogue with each other. They do not even appear to be doing any scientific work once they arrive - just bickering over their mission, and passive-aggressively hiding useful information from each other, causing bonehead accidents.

What can you do, when you see great frontiers being explored, and cool hardware brought to bear, and you want to smile and enjoy it ... but the people doing it are always upset, depressed, or appallingly unobservant?

Three episodes in, and I quit, because I realized I was actually _dreading_ the next episode, not anticipating it. I was just waiting for them to have their next unnecessary argument or make their next totally avoidable mistake.

How could man's next great frontier be so ... joyless??

The new mini-series MARS is not like most science fiction films or TV entries. Instead it is more like "science future" rather than science fiction – an extension of existing knowledge and techniques to the near future. More specifically, the authors envision what it would be like to travel to Mars in 2033. Because it is "science future" and not science fiction, most of what we're watching seems familiar.

Each episode looks like a documentary made in 2033 about the pioneers of the Mars movement. So we see interviews of people like Elon Musk and they talk about the Space X program. Then it switches to real time and we see the trials and tribulations of the first people to land on Mars.

As clever as the science future element is, there is a fictional story here as well, concerned with troubles that happen on the approach to Mars and the landing and the subsequent attempt to colonize the planet. This part of the series is lacking, not merely in character development, but also in action. It is slow going, but probably not unlike what it would be if you were there.

Among the most interesting elements are the decisions that have to be made about the program and comparisons between this future project and major exploratory projects of the past.

This series is definitely worth watching.

I like the comment where someone said this isn't science fiction but science future. It does take relevant clips and interviews from the past and present which provide educational information and sometimes opinions.

Will we go to Mars? Hell yes. Do we need to? No. Should we? Hell yes. Think how much the world benefited by the challenge we faced by going to the moon and how much technology was developed from doing so.

Going to Mars is just a first step and there is so much to learn from taking on the challenge. We may very well learn to solve some of the present or future problems that we will be facing here on earth by looking for solutions to living on Mars.

Now my comments on the story side of the show.

I am a fan of Elon Musk but why do I get the feeling like this is a one big commercial for the SpaceX program? I have to agree with some comments in that the story line is weak in that much of the planning and contingency planning that would normally be done is not represented in the show. So far with two episodes I have given up on questioning why things are happening as they do and just accept it at face value for the entertainment aspect.

The budget for the show may be limited but National Geographic is providing some great links for the show as well from http://natgeotv.com/mars which includes cast information and interviews, recaps, online viewing, and the Before Mars episode to get folks engaged with the actors.

WOW WOW WOW, watched the first episode of "Mars" and totally loved it. It's mind blowing to even start to think that in my lifetime (I am 36), I could be witnessing something as HUGE as the first mission to the Red Planet. I mean : WOW ! I totally disagree with the previous comment. The mix of fiction and documentary works really well. Sure this is not your average Netflix series, but hey it's Nat Geo, so it had to have a strong documentary foothold. No ? It gives credibility to the whole thing. I am now going to follow carefully Space X. What they are doing is just incredibly visionary. Can't wait for episode 2. Strongly recommend.

Was interested to see what Grazer & Howard helped create with this very noble, albeit relatively inexpensive mini-series narrative docudrama, perhaps, created to encourage a renewed interest in what used to be a very successful, highly-supported and admired, if not revered, space program made popular by NASA.

Certainly, the American public is not so adrenaline-addicted that it isn't capable of appreciating a normally- or slow-paced televised program such as MARS or RECTIFY. Episode 1 of any new series, mini- or otherwise, always has the challenge of putting enough story out there in an interesting, if not new, fashion, in order to attract a broad audience to tuning in to view an Episode 2.

I, personally, am not so spoiled that the presence of A-List Actors, overactive CGI or overly-creative sets-props-camera work (a la Abrams' new STAR TREK franchise) are necessary to keep me interested in a good story. After all, an actor's entire reason-to-be is simply to tell "a story".

I enjoyed the time-travel roller-coaster, as well as the real-fiction mash-up. That change-up was as interesting as the space fiction was evenly-paced. Diversity is important in all sorts of venues and mediums; most certainly in our electronic and digital viewing options.

A change-of-pace from 2016-styled television, where mystery and supernatural now run amok, denying viewers good, simple stories about boring and real Reality and Science.

Thanks National Geographic!

So don't go into this show expecting a Hollywood-style drama series.

The focus here are not character development or some plot twists, it's about something humanity has dreamed forever and bringing this in a realistic and at the same time entertaining way to the screen.

The documentation parts also really fit the fictional mission and are mostly on point and not too long. Many emotional goosebump-moments, at least for me.

Don't watch it if you don't care about space or deep questions and are only looking for easy entertainment, for everyone else this show is a 10/10

One of the best TV series I have seen. Couldn't stop watching it! Only bad part is having to wait till Spring 2018 for the season 2.

This new series has definitely caught the attention of millions of people, I believe. As a National Geographic Series, it's obvious that the series is scientifically accurate. And the adventure part is really intriguing. Everyone will enjoy these parts. The Mars environment, the astronauts looks really awesome. I would give it 8.0 based on that.

Wait, there's more to it. The series has the decades-long history behind Mars Exploration. Who, where, how, why - all things are there. The documentary lovers like me will definitely appreciate this part for sure.

Overall, I would suggest everyone to try the show. It really does showed the struggles of the astronauts/ relevant people in these explorations.

Thanks to National Geographic.

However, I think sometimes, they are showing too much history. Most of the times, it's okay. But, I do not really understand why you have to go into history, when a dramatic "tension" moment is building up. It really change the mode of the audience. After all, it's a adventure/sci-fi drama, right? not a history documentary?

All in all, although I loved the history part here, my overall rating would not go beyond 7.0, for bad timing of the history parts.

Good luck :)

I think it was a very good series, albeit a little slow. As for the "preachyness", if you're going to make a realistic series about Mars colonisation, climate change and corporate greed are topics that are unavoidable. Climate change is not "left wing", it's just a fact. In fact, far too many movies and TV shows tip-toe around the issue, so it's refreshing someone actually having the balls to address the issue. And the politicised science usually are the one trying to disprove man-made climate change, not the other way around. The only thing that bugged me about the show, was the use of lights inside the helmets, which would impair their vision because of all the reflection. But it seems the norm for most Hollywood movies, so I guess it's forgivable. But all in all a good watch, unless you're too sensitive about the reality of climate change.

I have enjoyed this hypothetical drama of the exploration of Mars. Season one was very enjoyable. At the time I gave it an 8 out of 10. I was very excited for season two, only to find that the amount of preachiness was significantly amped up. I can't get past the preachy aspect of season two, so I have dropped my review down to a 6 out of 10. Hopefully season 3 goes back to the glory of season 1.

I really like the drama. Also the documentary part exploring all the sociological implications as well as the technology and the science needed to create settlements on Mars.

Oh dear, where do i start? While i was really excited for the premise of a mars colony series, this isn't what i was hoping for.

At first the documentary-style segments give it an authentic feel. Yet after a while it really interferes with the pacing of the story. Whenever the situation gets dramatic, there is a cut to Elon Musk or Neil Degrasse Tyson blue-balling us with another scientific explanation. They should have stopped this after the first episode, as it really comes across as filler after that.

What i also couldn't take was the huge character discrepancy between the real life astronaut and his fictional counterparts. While Scott Kelly is a warm and controlled guy, who takes the one-year- separation from his family in a laid-back "it's my job"-attitude, the protagonists of the series seem to get emotional at the slightest mishaps. Add to that the fact they act more like teenagers than professionals with decades of experience.

And finally this seems like the worst space voyage in human history. A blind and hesitant ground control, hardly any reserves, moronic hiring philosophy... If any real mars trip would be happening like this, they would fire the management and drop the whole project.

I thought this was horrible. I love The National Geographic Channel, they have some amazing programs. This is not one of them. To be fair, I have only seen the premier episode but from slugging through that I am not 1 bit interested in watching another episode.

They tried a new concept of mixing present day education of space travels past, present and possible with a fictional drama of an actual mission to Mars. The show bounces back and forth from documentary or classroom to fiction moving from past present to future, it's very disjointed. I think I would quite enjoy the documentary part on it's own. I would not enjoy the fictional drama on it's own because it's just plain bad. If you want to see a fictional mission to Mars there are several good Hollywood movies that cover this subject and they do a much better job, watch one of those instead.

The dramatic part of the show is incredibly slow moving, things move along so slowly I had trouble keeping my eyes open, it made me want to take a nap. The filming of the dramatic section was weird, the camera was too close to the actors, I suppose the director thought that would impart a feeling of claustrophobia and cramped spaces, I could have gotten the same idea if the camera had been pulled back. Being so close to everything kind of creates a dizzying effect and made me even more uncomfortable watching.

I was so excited to see this series so when I actually saw it and how bad it was it was extra disappointed. I felt like the Drama part was very unrealistic, it seemed like they got a lot of things wrong, I never felt like the actors were actually on Mars, it looked and felt like they were in a desert in Arizona or some such place.

With the Emotion and Sad surprises within this episode, brifly felt my spirit soar around Mars it-self, for a Few Instances and felt myself smashing into the Martian Dust.

If you love this type of Documovie, then go make a Brew, Sit back, Relax and Bing eatch the Two Seasons. It's a little slow after the first episode, though it does reel you in.

I came across a comment, someone whom I have to believe typed before thinking, Has they said,..." Would be better without all the Political BS" ?

To the comenter, Sadly, We Humans are still at a point where Bureaucrats and Political BS goven ever part of,... Not just your life, but everylife you've known.

They will go on to do so as long as we don't Evolve our Hearts and Minds, in otherwords, Sir.

We are all still children and will go on as such,... Until we put aisde our DDifferances and Start to work together as one.

Never mind the "reviews" insinuating politicization. It is a show that basically shows how, if colonization was feasible (which is the premise not a promise), Earth issues and conflicts of profit, law, regulation, politics etc will follow us there.

A great mix of science (and I actually have a PhD in the natural sciences) and story that unlocks the imagination and forces thought on how we lack perspective on our own current planet.

It has some entertaining points and some feel good points but you have to get through a hell of a lot of liberal/message bs and you are not going to see any American flags. You anti-American liberals will absolutely love it.

I cannot believe how well done this mini-series was. I desperately hope there will be more episodes; a continuation of the series; or whatever it ends up as. I would love to see this go on until we actually get there. The work that goes into this must have been monumental. Also, the "2016" documentary parts with Robert Zubrin (and others like Elon Musk, etc) adds a great deal of credibility to this work. I cannot help but feel the wonder and amazement the astronauts will feel when we first go and this series is just like looking into the future. So, if you want an early glimpse on what it will be like going to Mars (from both the astronauts as well as those of us left on earth) - you will get your fix here! And, I really think one day history will look back and call this momentum we all have towards going to mars, the "Zubrin Effect". Watch it - you will love it!

I loved the premise of the show in season 1 but now it seems to be a pulpit for activist. The story is getting more political and left-wing fringed then it is enjoying.

"Mars" is an interesting blend of drama and documentary, featuring commentary by many who currently work on the SpaceX project. A cynic might write the whole series off as a commercial for Elon Musk, but it's a compelling story. In fact, linking the fiction to fundamental facts about human existence and possible extinction gave me a feeling of dread.

That is not to say that all viewers will feel the same way. Some will probably feel exhilaration about the adventure to Mars. But the entire project is explained as necessary to eventual human survival.

In the first two episodes, the voyagers are exposed to the hazards and exertions of take-off, space travel (209 days) and landing. They encounter exigencies and failures. The acting is fine, but I haven't felt that much was demanded of them so far. Especially since they wear helmets much of the time.

"The Martian" was an enjoyable drama about the journey to Mars and its colonization. "Mars" is a similar story, but it's augmented by the technical comments of scientists, Musk, and his team. Anyone who wants to understand the real-world considerations of planning such a mission will probably appreciate these interjections. Others may find them distracting.

The show raises a good question: Is there a sort of "Peter Principle" of Exploration at work, where man will always try to explore one step beyond what he is capable of?

The series itself is interesting, but the scientific interludes are very one sided and biased. A bit of moderation would have made this a much better series overall.