What an excruciatingly painful TV series; it's melodrama, not sci-fi
This first season is 2 episodes of what you came to see, and 6 of something else. I should say I feel like it could have been 3 episodes shorter, but overall even though it was a bit slow at times, it's still a show I would recommend...
If you didn't see too much of the marketing material and aren't hyped about seeing "a series about going to mars", but rather just see it as a story about human struggle (in multiple ways), then this is a pretty good show.
The first and last episodes are good. I mean "crying from excitement/dreading a future without this/wanting this for humanity/loss" good. Maybe I'm just a sucker for tales about human exploration, especially with the space part in it, but I really liked them. I feel like you could maybe make a 3-episode edit with E01, E08 and some cuts about the MAV fuckups/various political stuff and it would make a great tale about a possible future for humanity. The family relationship drama doesn't ruin it per se, but it definitely disappoints expectations you might have going into it.
I am so sorry this show isn't getting the love it deserves. Powerful acting, character driven plot, set in the not too distant future. Loving the setting, smart devices and believable technology. The music is amazing... and I am enjoying the story.
Slow boil admittedly... but I like that it is taking the time necessary to develop its characters. Easy to root for the protagonist in any series... but I am 3 shows in and I actually care about most of these folks. Worried with ratings this low it won't have the staying power to really develop and come into its own.
If you came for sci fi adventure... I think it will come... but the beauty of this show is in its human drama and characters. Please, please, please Hulu ignore the ratings and bring us more!
You can easily sleep through episodes one to eight and you wouldn't miss a thing.
Considering the cast this show is disappointing. Maybe it can get better in season 2, if there is one?
Congratulations, Hulu!
You just successfully made the most boring TV show ever.
The dialogues are pointless. The characters are just watching each other eating, crying or being bored.
Sean Penn seems the most bored of all of them. I actually agree with him. It can be really painful to play that empty role. He does nothing else then looking at people with sad bassett hound puppy eyes, saying absolutely nothing constructive or helpful.
I'm sorry, Sean, you have to survive this season somehow. Be strong! Fortunately I can turn the TV off, but you can't.
I stopped watching this show today after the second episode. It caused serious pain in my brain. I wish I could forget this experience forever. I swear, I'll try to.
Oh, and, Sean! Please put a shirt on. We've already seen your biceps in those small T-shirts. Thank you.
How have they made this show so boring? Why am I still watching it?
quite boring actually. I agree no sci-fi at all.
Loved this show. Beautiful cinematography that is on experimental side, and haunting soundtrack to match it. The story is slow, but purposeful, and focuses on human struggle. A very believable portrayal of near future. I think they missed with marketing, trying to catch a greater audience, hence the lower ratings. I hope they don't cancel this show because of it, because it is one of the most unique out there. The First will forever be one of my favourites.
I fell in love with this show. Maybe it's nothing groundbreaking, and perhaps it treads too closely to Golden Age cliche, but what it's doing is right up my alley. It's a mood-driven show. Big themes, big ideas; emotional. It's beautiful to look at, the score is intoxicating (if divisive — I heard someone call its horns the "horns of importance"). Watch it on a big screen in a dark room if you can.
I was more interested in the space aspect than personal stories, and did drag a bit, had potential
Total crap. Slow soap opera with glimpses of sci-fi. Not what I came for. What next Sesame Street crossed with the Wire.
Review by TimBlockedParent2018-09-19T09:08:53Z
I was disappointed at first. Then it blew me away!
Possibly the worst marketing for a tv show ever. In the first season we won't follow a crew's journey to Mars like everyone thought, but we will instead see people preparing to go there. Their struggles, problems and everything in-between. We won't see what we thought we'd see. Because of that, I was disappointed, but one episode later, I saw the real beauty of this show and what makes it (in my eyes) worth watching.
Having binged it in two sittings, I won't deny that this is a slow show or that - at times - not much happens. But what I won't say is, that it's boring. At the core, the story is about the characters and how they're dealing with the fact that they are actually going to Mars. How it affects not only their lives, but also the lifes of and the relationships to their loved ones.. It surely is more drama than sci-fi, but not in a bad way.
Along the way you'll start to care about the characters and you'll realize how well-acted this show is. With a great cast, the show tells a compelling story. You'll see incredible cinematography not many shows have. You'll appreciate the variety of music throughout; epical, magical, partly eery and mysteriosly beautiful music.
To me, this show was a real surprise and I give it a 9/10. I'm really hoping for a second season!