Apple TV+ Series ‘Constellation’ Delivers Uncanny Thrills but Falls Short in First Season
Apple TV+ has released its new series ‘Constellation’, and it’s safe to say that this show is not for the faint of heart. From the very first moments, viewers are plunged into a world of uncertainty and unease, as a woman’s terrified voice on a cassette tape declares that “the world is the wrong way around.” This cryptic statement sets the tone for a series that excels at tapping into the uncanny.
Over the course of eight hour-long episodes, ‘Constellation’ takes viewers on a rollercoaster ride of time distortions, unexplained phenomena, and eerie encounters. Astronaut Jo Ericsson, played by Noomi Rapace, finds herself caught in a web of confusion and fear as she tries to make sense of the strange events unfolding around her. The show initially thrives on the unsettling thrill of watching Jo unravel the mysteries that surround her, but unfortunately, it falls short in delivering satisfying answers by the end of its first season.
The series wastes no time in grabbing viewers’ attention. The opening scene throws us into a car speeding through snowy Swedish hills, with Jo and her daughter Alice desperately fleeing from an unknown threat. Upon their arrival at a cabin, they are immediately confronted with bizarre occurrences. Jo can hear Alice screaming for help from the woods, even though she can see that Alice is fast asleep in bed. This sets the stage for a series of spine-chilling events that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
Creator Peter Harness takes us back five weeks to the International Space Station, where Jo and her crew experience a catastrophic accident. The nail-biting tension of ‘Gravity’ combines with the eerie dread of a haunted house as Jo navigates her way through the aftermath of the crash. Director Michelle MacLaren expertly captures the terror and isolation Jo feels as she hears unexplained noises and encounters strange sights. The line between reality and illusion blurs as Jo walks through corridors that transform before her eyes, leaving her questioning her sanity.
As the series progresses, it becomes clear that the real danger lies not in space, but on Earth. Jo returns home to find that her life has been altered in ways both big and small. Her car is a different color, and she has no memory of an affair that supposedly ruined her marriage. However, her claims are dismissed as madness, and she is left to navigate a world that feels foreign to her. It becomes apparent that there are those who know more than they’re letting on, and a conspiracy begins to unfold.
‘Constellation’ delves into heady concepts such as quantum physics and the nature of reality. It raises intriguing questions about who is hiding the truth and why, and whether there is a connection between supernatural phenomena and scientific principles. The series teases a grand conspiracy that could upend everything the characters think they know about the world.
However, as the season progresses, the focus shifts from the larger conspiracy to Jo’s personal journey. While this shift is not inherently problematic, the interpersonal drama lacks depth. Jo’s crisis is relatable on a broad level, but the series fails to provide a deep understanding of who she is as a person. Her relationships with Magnus and Alice are also underdeveloped, leaving viewers with little investment in their outcomes.
‘Constellation’ leaves many mysteries unresolved, which is to be expected for a show with multiple seasons in mind. However, even the answers it does provide feel anticlimactic. By the time they are revealed, they serve more as confirmations of what viewers have already deduced. The series starts with a bang but ends on a disappointing note.
In conclusion, ‘Constellation’ delivers thrills and chills with its uncanny premise and unsettling atmosphere. However, it falls short in delivering satisfying answers and developing its characters beyond their surface-level struggles. While the show has potential for future seasons, it leaves viewers wanting more from its first installment.