'Constellation' Review: Noomi Rapace struggles to salvage dragged-out sci-fi mystery series
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN: 'Constellation', now available for streaming on Apple TV+, introduces us to astronaut Jo Ericsson (played by Noomi Rapace), whose life takes a dramatic turn after a space accident leaves her hanging between life and death.
The death of her colleague, the discovery of a dead USSR cosmonaut floating in space, and the dwindling oxygen supply set a gripping stage for viewers to stay engaged.
Upon her miraculous return to Earth, Jo is surprised to find certain aspects of her life altered. She notices changes in her daughter's scent and behavior, and her relationship with her husband seems different from before she embarked on the space mission.
Meanwhile, the narrative also delves into Henry Caldera (Jonathan Banks) from NASA and his CAL experiment gone wrong, introducing the concept of parallel universes and weaving a complex storyline.
'Constellation' tests our patience with lingering mystery
While the genre and premise are captivating, the mystery soon becomes overly drawn-out and unnecessary, causing one to lose focus.
It isn't until Episodes 5 and 6 that the mystery begins to unravel, but by then, many sci-fi enthusiasts may have lost interest and abandoned the show midway.
At times, it feels like a low-budget horror series, with the overdone mystery around, "Where is Alice?" and two Alices roaming everywhere.
The recurring theme of the daughter-mother dynamic becomes tiresome, and the plot delves too deeply into the overused trope of multiverses, blurring the line between reality and interpretation.
The reliance on quantum physics as a storytelling foundation is commendable, but the excessive use of thriller elements makes the concept exhausting.
One needs to have some knowledge of quantum physics to actually understand the mystery. Meanwhile, it also requires full attention because if you lose it even for a minute, you might fail to stay connected with the unravelling mysteries.
Noomi Rapace saves the sinking boat
Noomi Rapace and Jonathan Banks deliver powerful performances, anchoring the show amidst its confusing plot. Rapace's portrayal is particularly noteworthy, holding the series together with her acting prowess.
While 'Constellation' boasts meticulous attention to detail, it struggles with complexity. It has a lot of potential and unwraps extremely slowly. It requires patience and attention to be finally appreciated.
In conclusion, while it may appeal to audiences craving intricate sci-fi narratives, 'Constellation' falls short of its potential due to its convoluted storytelling and lack of clarity early on.
It had the potential for a great film, but the eight-episode series feels overly dragged out.
'Constellation' is now streaming on Apple TV+.