Reviewer Rating: 5/5.0
5
Who says you need aliens and ray guns to have a thriving Space Odyssey series? Not the Ark! This show doesn’t need CGI gimmicks to tell incredible stories with characters who feel like friends.
This is the epitome of the ending. From start to finish I was on the edge of my seat, completely mesmerized. Hats off to Dean Devlin and Jonathan Glassner. It’s a roller coaster of a finale.
Ark has taken many chances with its story this season, and despite some pitfalls, it will only be remembered for the plot and choices that left a lasting impression.
This ending is the perfect balance between opening up for the future and soft closing in case Ark doesn’t get updated.
After the finale, though, it would be crazy if Syfy didn’t pick up another season!
‘Ark’ trades CGI goggles for real, relatable moments
What sets Ark apart from other sci-fi series is that the creators took every opportunity to blend characters and a plot-driven story together.
The show trades CGI special effects for real, relatable moments between characters. While some characters don’t always have substantial arcs, it’s still comforting to see the core cast.
If you’ve read my previous reviews, you’ll know that one of my main gripes with Ark Season 2 was that Angus had nothing to do. He is an emotional supporter.
It’s great to see this character back in action. As I learned from the Ryan Adams interview, the actor who plays Angus is a very likeable guy.
However, it’s likely that he’ll be part of the set that fans keep with them until a promising third season arrives. As you may see at the end, Angus dug up a slab of stone while surveying the Trappist soil.
Although the Trappists have yet to discover intelligent life, the tablets contain a foreign language for other life forms. Notice I didn’t say “alien”? Because people on earth are all aliens!
We thought we wouldn’t see aliens in action at all! As for the tablets, this could be Dean and Jonathan’s way of slowly introducing other life forms. Or it could be an ancient human.
If everyone jumped off a bridge, would you think it was the hive mind of brainwashed civilians?
Instead of exploding planets, Ark makes a nice change from the apocalyptic events of the season 1 finale, making the plot more controlled but no less unsettling.
I don’t know about you, but I’m always horrified by “body snatcher” stories. Oh, and don’t even get me started on the idea of “join us” to learn about the swarm. Come join us.
Absolutely not. You can help me sign up for the first space shuttle to return to space. I’m going to get electric space tentacles and become an interstellar pirate.
Seriously, populating the planet with mind-controlled civilians perfectly embodies that “no place to play” feeling. Mom, I’m sweating!
Do you know what happened when I was watching the finale? This is random, but if Felix (Pavler Jelinek) is the security chief and a combat freak, why are Bryce’s arms noticeably bigger than his?
I’m just saying it seems like an oversight. At least Felix finally got his daughter, because I couldn’t stand him coming so close to rescuing her just to have another season of searching.
The apple falls very, very far away from the psychosis tree
We’re far enough into this review that I ask, who else’s mouth hit the ground when Kelly (Samantha Glassner) snapped Maddox’s neck? I was stunned! Of course, I only have myself to blame.
Throughout Season 2 of Ark, I kept saying how much I wanted to see Kelly and Maddox reunite. Well, I got my wish and then some.
The people behind the series did an amazing job in the finale! Every time I thought they were going to zigzag, they zigzagged! I’m going to give myself some props here, though. I called it.
I’ve been saying all season long that I feel like Maddox (Jelena Stuplyanen) is going to be back in a big way. I probably got a hint of this from my first interview with Dean Devlin and Jonathan Glassner.
That’s probably why they tried so hard to avoid my questions in our second interview. Anyway, the callous psychopath got her back and then walked away happily.
In Kelly’s defense, it was self-defense and Maddox was kidnapping Felix’s daughter after mind-controlling the entire colony. Seeing this situation, her ending was considered a happy one.
When I saw the shot of Kelly bringing Felix’s daughter to him, I couldn’t help but feel that Kelly had completed her redemption arc. The only question is, where will posthumanity go from here?
Now that “Ark One” has found its home, there are endless possibilities.
No matter where Ark ends up, it will always be home to the crew and the fans who love them
I’ve been asking for some time, “What happens once Ark One finds its home planet?” I initially thought Sharon and EF would abandon the Trappists and find their own planet.
However, this is a better solution! Having Sharon (Krysty Burke) return to space to find other Arks is neat. It elevated Ark One from a transport ship to a beacon of hope.
It sounds like space needs some hope, with distress cries pleading with Ark One not to save them.
Hope is the central theme of the series. Is it a coincidence or the product of careful planning? If Ark is renewed, I may have the opportunity to consult with the show’s producers again.
For example, would there be a divergence between the story of Ark One and the story that takes place among the Trappists? As soon as the series returns, I’ll need to use crazy language to explain that board.
If nothing else, I’d also like to see Ian (Rhys Rich) and Sharon together. I don’t want to tarnish Ryan’s memory, but the show did a great job of quickly integrating Ian into the core team.
From “Another You” to “The Original You”, the second season of Ark presented one wonderful episode after another. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that this series continues for a while.
However, I’m not good at predicting things like this, so if Ark doesn’t come back, this will be a fantastic journey into space with characters I’ll never forget.
The Ark was more than just a ship. This is a home, and home is where the heart is.
Were you shocked that Kelly killed Maddox?
If Ark is renewed for a third season, what would you like to see on the show?
Leave a comment below and let me know what you enjoyed about this or any other series, and join me again as I review all of your favorite new and returning shows!
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