User reviews

This show started off a little slow, setting up the premise for the show and introducing us to the characters. The last few episodes were very interesting...even exciting. And then, the show just ended. I think this show got a bad deal. This show had a lot of potential. I think what killed it is that the first few episodes were a bit slow and dull. But it really took off after that. Another good show cancelled. Add it to the likes of Jericho, The Event and Under the Dome.

I am a science fiction lover and really did enjoy this show, BUT when I see "miniseries" I expect it to end after the 3 parts. That being said I found the story line to be believable and interesting with enough twists and turns to keep it that way. Now I cant wait for the next installment. :) I liked all the different characters, the back stories, all the interesting questions to ponder, all the cool recreational choices. I am 71 years old ,started my science fiction/fantasy journey with the great Isaac Asimov when I was 12 and can see a little of his influence in the story line. I hope the continuation of the series occurs quickly.RB

This show is not what you think. I will not give away any details. But if you watch the first episode, thinking that this is about a space adventure, you may want to quit watching. Don't.

The second episode will develop the story a bit more, and the third episode, if you are looking for a space adventure, will give you what you were looking for.

This show is a roller coaster ride, with multiple surprises, twists and turns. The acting is believable, the special effects are good. Just enough to make it realistic, although there are some iffy spots.

I don't know that I am allowed to post links here. But look up some of the early American and Russian spaceship cockpit layouts. I assume there are some online. This is directed to the reviewer who said the tech was not realistic to the period. That is thoroughly explained, and if you compare those images to what you see in this show, it ought to be pretty close.

This miniseries is really about what the project, as explained in the show, says it is. The future of the human race and finding a way into space. You will see for yourself, and understand just what is going on by the end of the third episode. You will get an idea of just how deep the rabbit hole goes.

I am sure there are more surprises to come and I for one am looking forward to them. I am glad I looked through the reviews and found the one advising me to watch to episode three. That was very good advice. You can safely ignore the negative reviewers. It is unlikely they made it past the first episode, so they do not know what they are talking about.

I am giving this a 7, though I am leaning more towards a 6. I think a 7 is fair for now, and if I can adjust it later after I have finished this miniseries, I will.

This show is very good but doesn't have a real ending since it was not picked up after the first 3 episodes.

It has a great unique premise and cast but sadly all you get is a small glimpse of what could have been a seller multi season show.

We really enjoyed this series, and we'd like to see SyFy pick it up as a weekly show. There were a couple of good plot twists that took us by surprise, one at the end of the 2nd hour, and one at the very end of the mini-series. The dilemmas faced by the second and third generation of this multi-generational space colonization mission and the way the crew is handling those dilemmas are well developed. The potential for growth and development for both the characters and the plot are excellent. If you liked Battlestar Galactica, Stargate and its spin-offs, Babylon 5 (if you're old enough) and other shows like them, it is worth taking a look at this show. We'd say it's a good choice for space travel fans as well as those who enjoy human psychology, anthropology, and sociology.

I watch a lot of sci-fi programs and movies.

I think the story line was good, a great miniseries, I would love to see more of this show if they decide to make more.

I think this would make a great addition to the sci-fi series.

Pray that they do decide to make more in the end, would be very interesting to find out what happens to the characters in this. In my years of watching sci-fi stuff i have yet to see something like this and would like to see something like this done again but far longer if the sci-fi channel do decide not to bring it back.

Reason for 7/10 is that i found a few flaws about this, not many but any flaws is enough for me to lower the rating.

Great Story, Definitely worth the watch if you get the chance.

As I read some of these other reviews I have to wonder if I watched the same miniseries as they did. This little series was a true gem. It delivered an actual story rather than relying on a ton of (bad) CGI. Something that doesn't happen in this genre much anymore.

The entire concept was fascinating. The shocking reveal at the end of hour 2 was perfectly played. The characters are believable. The 60's environment frozen it time is fantastic. The conspiracy theorists websites and people were spot on! Loved it.

This however, is a series for thinkers. If you need to turn your brain off to enjoy a series Ascension will not be for you. I'd suggest Transformers (gag).

I was intrigued enough to tune in and to make sure I didn't miss anything - some shows have to find their way and it's not always apparent whether they will right out of the chute. If this is a backdoor pilot and they make more, I'll check it out to find out where the writing goes. If this was meant to stand alone, it has some tracking problems and that's all I'll say about that. The production value is good and the "otherness" of their world is interesting. Further into this page, a link mentions a short story by J G Ballard published in 1962 called Thirteen to Centaurus. I wonder if that is the title an earlier reviewer, Recurring Nightmare, was trying to remember. Maybe it's based on that looking for a life of it's own beyond the short story and mini-series formats.

After the first 20 minutes of the first episode, I wanted to turn it off. It was unrealistic, stupid, and not worth my time. I'm so glad I was wrong.

The premise of large distance space travel has always intrigued me thus drawing my attention to this show. The show starts with a murder mystery after 50 years of tranquility. Nobody on the ship knows how to investigate a murder and the investigation becomes part of something larger than one person. The story quickly broadens to include the 600 or so people on-ship and the process they go through to survive a deep space mission. Its 60's-esque theme coupled with technology that aids in space travel seemed strange to me, but as the show goes on, it becomes much more clear why. If you can let go of your expectations of what the show should be and what is "realistic" or not, you'll find this show enjoyable.

After the ending to part 3 of the mini-series, I am very excited to continue watching this show if it goes beyond these first 3 parts. The surprises 'Ascension' has in store for viewers are pretty dang good. Watch until the end of Part 3!!!

I have watched the first six episodes (broadcast over three evenings by SyFy) and I would tune in if this show became a series.

First you have to forgive a large plot hole, something some viewers will not be able to do. But once you get past that, the show is full of interesting characters and parallel story lines.

It starts off as a mystery. A young woman is apparently murdered while aboard a multi-generational mission from the Earth to another star system. As the story drags the viewer into the culture onboard the ship (which is full of interesting, original concepts) and the politics of the ship's layered society, we find there are many mysteries. By the end of the first episode, the first big twist is introduced. There are more to follow.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, other mysteries unfold.

The sets are fun to see. The acting is somewhat uneven--not consistently good. I found the acting style of Gil Bellows to be annoying at first--flat, as if on sense-dulling drugs. But by the end of it, he grew on me.

Viewers will find references to many sci-fi novels and films, but "Ascension" is original enough to merit watching. I counted at least six major mysteries that unfold during the three nights of viewing. And the show ends with an obvious lead-in to a sequel.

I enjoyed watching this. I loved the twists and how everything was not just black and white , evil and good but had so many shades and sides to it. It had some very strong characters with a good performance of the actors. The story surprisingly believable and it had a clear and explainable setting. The audience is not forced on a certain opinion or view point of what is going on and many things I normally wouldn't pay a lot of attention to actually kept me on the edge of my seat. It's one of those shows, that even if is not your cup of tea when you watch the ending of an episode you will want to watch the next one. It is also very easy on the eyes, be that because of the actors or the 50 shades of space. I really liked the interior of the ship which is what puts me off in a lot of sci-fi series because they can appear very monotonous. Personally I keep my fingers crossed it won't get canceled and will be given the chance to grab the attention of a wider audience with new episodes. Highly recommended and if you don't like it, well it's just a mini series. It won't take too much of your time.

Don't worry - no spoilers here -- nothing to spoil! So my husband I found this show right before Thanksgiving on Netflix and got hooked really, really fast! We couldn't watch the last three episodes until Thanksgiving company departed. So they did, we did and then it ended -- What in heavens name? I have repeatedly said that TV shows should not be allowed to air their finale until I have reviewed it and put the Humans of The Earth stamp of approval on it. Very, very disappointing. It was left wide open for a Season 2 which was not considered. DO NOT WATCH IT. You will be so disappointed! There was nothing the least bit satisfying about the ending -- don't tell me to use my imagination -- that is what you all get paid for! Disappointing show. Just have to sit and pout until Stranger Things comes back (but if it doesn't at least it ended well -- That gets my Humans of the Earth stamp of approval.

I enjoyed Ascension a lot more than I thought I would, and am genuinely surprised by the negative and lukewarm reviews it has received - and yet, I do have to acknowledge that most of the actual critiques are correct.

The first installment is slow, and not particularly interesting until you get to the final twist. From there, the next two installments move quicker. Also, the ending doesn't feel like an ending. Even BSG, which of course had been setting up for a series, let the initial miniseries end on a note that at least felt like an ending. There are a number of characters in Ascension who don't have satisfying arcs, and a number of subplots that aren't resolved at all. And yes, the show does have a very soap opera-ish feel to it, but not without reason: the laws of the ship restrict procreation, so sex became a currency like drugs in a prison.

The series is compelling in a way that not a lot of new shows are. The central idea, while highly implausible, is nonetheless fascinating, and opens the door to a lot of possibilities. SyFy has been introducing mostly fluff over the last few years so this had a much more mature feel to it.

I hope this does become a series, though I am skeptical as to how long the premise can hold before it gets old. The writers should have tried a bit harder to make the miniseries feel more self-contained. Still, the unique premise of the show and the complexity of the plot warrants a view, especially for science fiction fans.

clumsy in parts though and first i found it a little boring and to glammed up for my taste, but whoever said in previous reviews, that one should watch until the end of part 3, is absolutely right..

i now think that they've got something bigger in store. the show got me interested and i am looking forward to how it continuous and develops. as far as i can say now, it deserves at a minimum a rating similar to REVENGE or ONCE, even though they are hardly comparable to be honest.

the show might not become a major hit but i find it has a pretty decent story, is well played and directed. so far i had 4,5 hours (6 episodes in 3 parts) of entertainment and i give it a cautious 7/10, mainly because it got me hooked in the end and for some LOSTish feels.

Sy Fi has a hard time renewing great shows while keeping only the repetitive and bland. This is a great show that ends on a cliffhanger. The only issue I have with it is, as always these days, graphic sex. How are young people supposed to be exposed to great sci fi and fantasy genres if it's not suitable for them to watch? I grew up watching all sorts of sci fi and fantasy programs that sparked my interest in science and engineering. This is just a sad situation all the way around.

All in all I enjoyed Ascension, but not as much as I had hoped to. I was very excited when I heard SyFy was returning to its roots and airing actual science fiction shows instead of hunting ghosts and featuring reality faux-stars.

The plot twists were great. The acting was great. The sets and costumes were excellent. They struck a good balance between the real 1960s look but not coming across as dated in their outfits.

But it was too long. While the acting was good, they tried to do too much with this elongated pilot. Some minor characters could have been introduced in the inevitable sequel or series. I had to convince myself to sit and watch at times. You have to sit through some silly, and ultimately pointless, subplots so you don't miss a significant plot development.

Overall a good effort to get back into real science fiction programming. Space adventure done right can be a lot of fun. And this was fun.

I'm not quite sure why this has such mixed reviews. Some people read too much into minor plot holes. I personally thought it was a great.

I won't post any spoilers, however, just as the season took a dramatic turn (episode 6) the series was over! So many unanswered questions remain that could turn this into a great series, such a shame it wasn't continued.

Absolutely love the first 3 episodes. My whole family is excited and hoping for more episodes in the future. Very interesting and has an awesome story line! I rated a 10 and I am writing a review to help vote for more episodes. Haven't yet been so interested in a TV-series, this by far has been the most exciting and most interesting and we're hoping to see more very soon. Will be checking back to see when and if more episodes will be released. Please continue to make new episodes. It is very interesting and we would love to see more to the story and what will happen next. Has an awesome amount of action and keeps the people watching interested and curious for what may happen next!

There is an intriguing concept at the heart of Ascension, although since I only watched the first episode then gave up, I don't know how well it was handled (although I did find out what happened through wikipedia). But based on the first episode, that intriguing concept is less interesting to the series' makers than its soapier aspects. The episode had a good deal of sex and intrigue, a chunk of mystery, and just a little sci-fi. I'm also skeptical about the show's world-building. The idea of sexy stewardesses and a sexist society frozen in amber seems unlikely. The show would have been better off either creating a somewhat satirical exaggeration of a society created in the mid '60s or an honest exploration of how people would have altered their environment to reflect a natural desire to refashion the world and make it their own. And that, I think, is a main problem with Ascension; it has a cute idea, but it doesn't exhibit the sci-fi author's desire to really ponder how a closed-in society would evolve. The result is watchable but unsatisfying.