ALL SCI-FI

[Robert (Butch) Day]

From Wikipedia™ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_First_(TV_series)

The First is a drama television series created by Beau Willimon and starring an ensemble cast including Sean Penn, Natascha McElhone, LisaGay Hamilton, Hannah Ware, Keiko Agena, Rey Lucas, James Ransone, Anna Jacoby-Heron, Brian Lee Franklin, Oded Fehr, Norbert Leo Butz, Annie Parisse, Melissa George, Jeannie Berlin, and Bill Camp. The show portrays members of a team of astronauts as they become the first humans to visit Mars. The series, a co-production between American streaming service Hulu and British television network Channel 4, debuted on September 14, 2018 in the United States and on November 1, 2018 in the United Kingdom. On January 18, 2019, it was announced that Hulu had canceled the series after one season.

Premise

The First follows "the first human mission to Mars, while exploring the challenges of taking the first steps toward interplanetary colonization. The story focuses not only on the astronauts, but also on their families and loved ones, as well as the ground team on Earth."

Cast and characters

Main

Sean Penn as Tom Hagerty, one of five astronauts chosen to be the first people to visit Mars.

Natascha McElhone as Laz Ingram, the CEO of commercial launch provider Vista. Julia Badinger portrays a young Laz in a recurring role.

LisaGay Hamilton as Kayla Price, one of five astronauts chosen to be the first people to visit Mars. Mikaela Kimani Armstrong portrays a young Kayla in a guest appearance in the episode Cycles.

Hannah Ware as Sadie Hewitt, one of five astronauts chosen to be the first people to visit Mars.

Keiko Agena as Aiko Hakari, one of five astronauts chosen to be the first people to visit Mars.

Rey Lucas as Matteo Vega

James Ransone as Nick Fletcher, one of five astronauts chosen to be the first people to visit Mars.

Anna Jacoby-Heron as Denise Hagerty, Tom's daughter. Eden Grace Redfield portrays a young Denise in a recurring role.

Brian Lee Franklin as Lawrence

Oded Fehr as Eitan Hafri

Norbert Leo Butz as Matthew Dawes, an astronaut killed while leading a previous mission.

Annie Parisse as Ellen Dawes, Matthew's wife.

Melissa George as Diane Hagerty, Tom's wife.

Jeannie Berlin as President of the United States of America Cecily Burke {One reference is that she is the President of the United States of North America!}

Bill Camp as Aaron Shultz, a journalist.

Recurring

T. C. Matherne as Jason

D. W. Moffett as Robert Cordine

Tracie Thoms as Nancy

Fernanda Andrade as Camila Rodriguez

Patrick Kennedy as Ollie Bennett, Sadie's husband.

Anthony Marble as Engineer #1

Kelly Murtagh as Engineer #2

Amber Patino as Amanda Ingram

Alex Rubin as Devon Ingram

John "Spud" McConnell as Senator Thibodeaux

Scott Takeda as Todd

Sharon Omi as Edith

Miguel Najera as Mr. Castillo

Sol Miranda as Mrs. Castillo

Billy Slaughter as Vista Lawyer

Cara Ronzetti as Myk

Devyn Tyler as Samantha

Fallon Katz as Charlotte Dawes

Marcus Lyle Brown as Launch Director

Galen Lee as [i]Aiko's Son #1

Asher Lee as [i]Aiko's Son #2

There were only 8 episodes. Full details at Wikipedia™.

All the rockets used in the series were model rockets. The rockets were provided by the Condfederation of Model Rocketeers of Canada.

IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7412482/

Official site: https://www.hulu.com/series/the-first-54d5d84a-95e6-4f0e-b22b-a3cec5fd1242

trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngl2W_VLp1o

At IndieWire ( The Best and Worst Follow-Ups To Classic TV Series
https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/best-and-worst-tv-follow-ups/ ) had this to say:

After putting Netflix on the map as a content producer with House of Cards, Beau Willimon tried to do the same for HULU. Far from the Machievellian backstabbing of Washington, D. C., this space drama explored the lives of astronauts planning a mission to Mars, and the toll it took on their families. Reviews were relatively positive; no House of Cards, but far from other disasters on this list. But the show was canceled after one season, likely done in by its high budget. Like Aaron Sorkin’s Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, a show with this high of a profile requires a very large cultural impact to survive.

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Until now I've never even heard of this series. Was it any good?
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Common Sense ISN'T Common