Intergalactic (TV series)
British sci-fi series about convicts on the run.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Intergalactic is a British science fiction series from creator Julie Gearey. It aired its first episode on Sky One on 30 April 2021. The story centres on a group of hardened female convicts who escape from a prison transport ship and flee across space. Sky cancelled the programme after a single series in August 2021.
Set in 2143, Earth has been devastated by climate change. A pseudo-democratic government called the Commonworld controls the surviving cities, which are largely rebuilt under new structures. Ash Harper, a Commonworld police officer played by Savannah Steyn, is falsely accused of stealing a rare energy source called new aurum. She is put aboard the prison transport ship GCC Hemlock, bound for an off-world prison. When the inmates stage a mutiny, they threaten to kill Harper unless she pilots them to safety.
The main cast includes Eleanor Tomlinson as Candy Skov-King, an Aurean alien indebted to another inmate; Natasha O’Keeffe as Emma Grieves, a former Commonworld scientist and resistance member; Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Tula Quik, the mutiny’s planner; Thomas Turgoose as guard Drew Bunchanon; Imogen Daines as hacker Verona Flores; Diany Samba-Bandza as Tula’s cyber-enhanced daughter Genevieve; Craig Parkinson as Commonworld leader Dr. Benedict Lee; Parminder Nagra as Arch-Marshall Rebecca Harper, Ash’s mother and head of Galactic Security; Oliver Coopersmith as space pirate Echo Nantu-Rose; Hakeem Kae-Kazim as Yann Harper, Ash’s father and a war hero; and Phyllis Logan as Candy’s mother Phoebe Skov-King. Supporting roles include Neil Maskell as Sergeant Wendell, Samantha Schnitzler as Captain Alessia Harris, Emily Bruni as the voice of the Hemlock, and Lisa Palfrey as crime lord Zeeda.
The eight-episode series was executive produced by Iona Vrolyk. Kieron Hawke directed the first five episodes, and China Moo-Young directed the remaining three. Sky cancelled the show on 26 August 2021.
Internationally, the series premiered on 1 May 2021 in Australia on Stan, on 13 May 2021 in the United States on Peacock (later airing on Syfy from 10 November 2021), on 18 May 2021 in New Zealand via Sky Go and Neon, and on 31 May 2021 in Italy on Sky Atlantic and Now.
Reviews were mixed. Empire’s Ian Freer gave it two out of five stars, praising the diverse female cast and ambitious story but criticising the writing, performances, and lack of originality. N
- Creator
- Julie Gearey
- Premiere date
- 30 April 2021
- Network
- Sky One
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Genre
- Science fiction television series
- Number of series
- 1
- Cancellation date
- August 2021
Lore & Background
Set in 2143, the series depicts a ravaged Earth controlled by a pseudodemocratic government called the 'Commonworld'. Sky cop Ash Harper (Savannah Steyn) is framed for a crime and placed aboard a prisoner transport ship, the Hemlock, bound for an off-planet prison. She is thrown into a mutiny stirred up by a band of hardened female criminals who threaten to kill her unless she pilots them to safety.
The main cast includes Savannah Steyn as Ash Harper, Eleanor Tomlinson as Candy Skov-King, Natasha O'Keeffe as Emma Grieves, Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Tula Quik, Thomas Turgoose as Drew Bunchanon, Imogen Daines as Verona Flores, Diany Samba-Bandza as Genevieve Quik, Craig Parkinson as Dr. Benedict Lee, Parminder Nagra as Arch-Marshall Rebecca Harper, Oliver Coopersmith as Echo Nantu-Rose, Hakeem Kae-Kazim as Yann Harper, and Phyllis Logan as Phoebe Skov-King. Supporting cast includes Neil Maskell, Samantha Schnitzler, Emily Bruni, and Lisa Palfrey.
Production was led by executive producer Iona Vrolyk. The first five episodes were directed by Kieron Hawke, the following three by China Moo-Young. The series was released internationally on various platforms, including Stan in Australia, Peacock and Syfy in the United States, Sky Go and Neon in New Zealand, and Sky Atlantic and Now in Italy.
Reader's Guide
Intergalactic received mixed to negative reviews from critics. Empire's Ian Freer awarded two out of five stars, complimenting the diverse female cast and ambitious story but criticising 'up on-the-nose writing, blunt performances and an overwhelming sense of déjà vu,' describing it as derivative of older franchises including Star Wars, Firefly, Blake's 7, and Alien. NME Australia's Ralph Jones also gave two out of five stars, noting that visuals and expensive CGI were offset by poor dialogue and story. The Independent's Sean O'Grady gave three out of five stars, commending the straightforward plot but criticising a lack of 'human emotions and motivations.' Stuff's James Croot gave a mixed review, calling it a female-led, futuristic version of Con Air, criticising lack of novelty and insufficient action scenes and special effects, but commending makeup, costumes, production design, and performances of Savannah Steyn, Parminder Nagra, Eleanor Tomlinson, and Natasha O'Keeffe. Liam Maguren of Flicks gave a favourable review, praising the female ensemble cast for defying stereotypes of 'strong female women' as heroic and faultless by featuring flawed characters. The series was cancelled after one series in August 2021, limiting its legacy to a single season.
Did You Know?
- The series was created by Julie Gearey.
- Sky cancelled the show after one series in August 2021.
- The series premiered on 30 April 2021 on Sky One.
- The series was described by one critic as a female-led, futuristic version of Con Air.
More in Television series set in the 22nd century 1-24
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