Intergalactic (TV series) explained

Creator:	Julie Gearey
Country:	United Kingdom
Language:	English
Num Series:	1
Num Episodes:	8
Executive Producer:	Julie Gearey Paul Gilbert Richard Foster Tony Moulsdale Matthew Read Frith Tiplady Iona Vrolyk
Producer:	Bryony Arnold Simon Maloney
Company:	Motion Content Group Moonage Pictures Tiger Aspect Productions
Network:	Sky One

Intergalactic is a British science fiction television series created by Julie Gearey for Sky One. The series follows a crew of fierce convicts who break free and go on the run. The series premiered and ended on 30 April 2021, with a total of 8 episodes within 1 season.

On 26 August 2021 it was announced that series was cancelled by Sky.^[1]

Premise

In 2143, climate change has wrought the planet and the world’s cities, now mostly under new structures, are controlled by a pseudodemocratic government called the "Commonworld". Sky cop Harper (Savannah Steyn) is framed for a crime and placed onboard 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 if she doesn’t fly them to safety.

Cast

Main

• Savannah Steyn as Ash Harper, a police officer with the Commonworld Police, framed for the theft of aurum, the critically dwindling energy source for Commonworld
• Eleanor Tomlinson as Candy Skov-King, an inmate on board the prison transport ship Grand Commonworld Carrier (GCC) Hemlock, an alien from the Aurean galaxy in debt to Tula
• Natasha O'Keeffe as Emma Grieves, an inmate on Hemlock, former lead scientist of Commonworld, founding member of the ARC, a resistance movement against Commonworld's environmental damage to other planets
• Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Tula Quik, an inmate on Hemlock, planner of the prison break
• Thomas Turgoose as Drew Bunchanon, a guard on Hemlock
• Imogen Daines as Verona Flores, a cyber-hacker inmate on Hemlock
• Diany Samba-Bandza as Genevieve Quik, a cyber-enhanced fighter inmate on Hemlock, Tula's daughter
• Craig Parkinson as Dr. Benedict Lee, Leader of the Commonworld government
• Parminder Nagra as Arch-Marshall Rebecca Harper, Head of Galactic Security for the Commonworld and Ash’s mother

• Oliver Coopersmith as Echo Nantu-Rose, a space pirate who joins the group on Hemlock
• Hakeem Kae-Kazim as Yann Harper, a war hero, an ARC leader and Ash's father
• Phyllis Logan as Phoebe Skov-King, Candy's mother

Supporting

• Neil Maskell as Sergeant Wendell, Ash’s supervising officer, a member of the ARC resistance who frames Ash for a major theft, serving Yann Harper’s plan to reunite with his daughter
• Samantha Schnitzler as Captain Alessia Harris, a member of Arch-Marshall Harper's Galactic Security
• Emily Bruni as the voice of the Hemlock
• Lisa Palfrey as Zeeda, a ruthless crime lord

Production

Iona Vrolyk serves as series executive producer. The first five episodes of the eight episode series were directed by Kieron Hawke, the following three by China Moo-Young.^[2]

International release

In Australia, the series was released on 1 May 2021 on Stan.^[3] In United States, the series was released on 13 May 2021 on Peacock,^[4] and was later broadcast on Syfy debuting on 10 November 2021. In New Zealand, the series was released on 18 May 2021 on Sky's Sky Go and Neon streaming service.^[5] In Italy, the series was released on 31 May 2021 on Sky Atlantic and on Now streaming service.

Reception

Empire Ian Freer awarded the series' two out of five stars. He complimented Intergalactic diverse female cast and ambitious story but criticised what he regarded as the "up on-the-nose writing, blunt performances and an overwhelming sense of déjà vu." He also described the series as derivative of older franchises including Star Wars, Firefly, Blake's 7, and Alien.^[6]

NME Australia's Ralph Jones awarded Intergalactic two out of five stars, opining that the series' visuals and expensive computer generated imagery were offset by its poor dialogue and story.^[7]

The Independent Sean O'Grady gave Intergalactic three out of five stars. While commending the series' straight-forward plot, he criticised its lack of "human emotions and motivations."^[8]

Stuff's James Croot gave Intergalactic a mixed review, describing the space drama as a female - led, futuristic version Con Air. While criticising the series' lack of novelty and what he regarded as its insufficient action scenes and special effects, Croot commended the series' makeup, costumes, and production design. He also praised the performance of cast members Savannah Steyn, Parminder Nagra, Eleanor Tomlinson, and Natasha O'Keeffe.

Liam Maguren of the NZ entertainment news website Flicks gave Intergalactic a favourable review, praising its female ensemble cast for defying the film industry's stereotype of "strong female women" being heroic and faultless characters by featuring strong female characters with flaws.^[9]

Notes and References

1. Web site: 'Intergalactic' Not Returning for Season 2 at Sky . 26 August 2021 .
2. News: Hill-Paul . Lucas . Intergalactic EP admits challenges of bringing sci-fi world to life in new Sky One series . . 1 May 2021 . 1 May 2021.
3. Web site: Perry . Kerry . FIRST LOOK STAN CONFIRMS AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE DATE FOR SCI-FI ADVENTURE . TV Blackbox . 8 May 2021 . 31 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210331021358/https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2021/03/31/74148/. 31 March 2021. live.
4. Peacock Original, "Intergalactic," Will Premiere on Thursday, May 13. Peacock. The Futon Critic. 7 May 2021.
5. News: Croot . James . Intergalactic: Neon's new space drama simply a female-led, futuristic Con Air . 20 May 2021 . . 18 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210519181309/https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/stuff-to-watch/300306526/intergalactic-neons-new-space-drama-simply-a-femaleled-futuristic-con-air . 19 May 2021. live.
6. Web site: Freer . Ian . Intergalactic Review . . 1 May 2021 . 1 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210430192041/https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/intergalactic/. 30 April 2021. live.
7. News: Jones . Ralph . 'Intergalactic' review: so-so sci-fi held aloft by its bright young stars . 21 May 2021 . . 30 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210505153951/https://www.nme.com/reviews/tv-reviews/intergalactic-review-sci-fi-2931384 . 5 May 2021. live.
8. News: O'Grady . Sean . Intergalactic review: This sci-fi series has a severe shortage of wacky creatures . 21 May 2021 . . 2 May 2021.
9. Web site: Maguren . Liam . Move over Doctor Who, Intergalactic is the new space-travelling British sci-fi to watch . Flicks . 21 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210518011826/https://www.flicks.co.nz/features/intergalactics-here-to-fill-the-space-doctor-who-cant/ . 18 May 2021 . 18 May 2021 . live.