ABC’s drama department is a strange place to be finding this season’s new Sci-Fi show, but since the Sci-Fi channel’s decided to rename itself “SyFy” anything’s possible. I haven’t quite gotten through the first episode, but it seems alright so far, like an updated Apollo 13. Perhaps it may even get the public thinking about space exploration again.
As for the believability of the series. It looks like the writers are going for a “Grey’s Anatomy in space” rather than a series science fiction series. Time will tell whether it works. Science-wise my only issue is the timeline. It’s 2052 and yet there is no sign of a human presence in space beyond an ill-fated mission to Mars some years before. The ship was launched from Earth, not an orbiting space station or moon base; two much more practical platforms for launching extended missions. It seems like the series will focus much more on the human element, which is fine, good even. I just hope it doesn’t go the way of Grey’s Anatomy. With only 8 characters there are only so many ways they can sleep with each other.
considering this is the future, where tolerance and sexual freedom prevail, there will be be at least 8 choose 2 ways for them to sleep with each other (notably more when one considers polyamory). thus, it should be able to run for at least 28 episodes before they have to start threesome drama.
I’m glad someone’s crunched the numbers on it. Now we need to factor in the probability of each one being open to same-sex relationships and their likelihood of cheating on their current partner (if such a partner exists).