The opening sound of a woman's
terrified voice on a cassette tape, speaking in Russian and insisting that
"the world is the wrong way around,"
sets the tone for Apple TV+'s Constellation. This enigmatic statement, while
unclear in meaning, adds to the series' unsettling atmosphere.
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| Noomi Rapace in 'Constellation' APPLE TV+ |
Throughout the eight hour-long episodes of the season, strange occurrences abound: time goes missing, reflections act independently, the dead briefly return to life. Astronaut Jo Ericsson (Noomi Rapace) struggles to make sense of these events, adding to the show's eerie appeal. However, while the initial vibe is captivating, the lack of satisfying answers leaves the series feeling somewhat stagnant by the end of the first season.
Constellation grabs your attention
from the start, with an opening that throws you right into the action.
Astronaut Jo and her daughter, Alice, are seen speeding through snowy Swedish
hills in a car, hinting at a mysterious urgency. Upon reaching a cabin, they
encounter strange occurrences, such as the sound of Alice screaming for help
from the woods despite being asleep in bed. The series then jumps back five
weeks to the International Space Station, where Jo's troubles begin after a
catastrophic accident.
These early episodes blend the tension of "Gravity" with the eerie dread of a haunted house, creating a captivatingly spooky atmosphere. Director Michelle MacLaren skillfully portrays the crew's terror after the crash, with unsettling visuals like blood suspended in zero gravity. Jo is left alone to find her way home, experiencing inexplicable phenomena like strange noises and shifting corridors.
As Jo returns to Earth, she is
confronted with a reality that seems altered. Small differences, like the color
of her car, and significant ones, like her forgotten affair with Magnus,
suggest that her life has changed. However, her claims are dismissed as
madness, leading her to believe that something more significant is at play.
Henry, a scientist fixated on the CAL, hints at a deeper mystery. References to
quantum physics, changelings, and celestial beings suggest a complex web of
connections that challenge the characters' understanding of reality.
The series raises intriguing questions about who is concealing the truth and why, as well as more profound inquiries about the nature of reality itself. These mysteries hint at a larger conspiracy that could fundamentally alter the characters' understanding of the world.
However, as the series progresses,
it becomes more focused on Jo's personal journey, which limits its scope. While
maintaining its eccentric tone, the show increasingly centers on Jo's emotional
struggles. On a more grounded level, Jo's challenges with her family stem from
the guilt of being absent from her child's life and realizing they are no
longer as connected. Stripped of its sci-fi elements, Jo's professional battle
mirrors the story of a woman dismissed as crazy for revealing truths others
refuse to acknowledge.
The issue arises when the fantastical elements are removed, leaving the interpersonal drama feeling shallow. While Jo's crisis is relatable in a general sense, the series fails to provide a deep understanding of Jo's character or compelling reasons to invest in her story.
Her relationships with Magnus and
Alice are similarly vague. Jo herself notes that this version of Magnus and
Alice feels different from the ones she remembers, adding to the ambiguity.
This ambiguity leaves viewers investing in relationships that the characters
themselves struggle to grasp, without a clear understanding of what it means
for Jo to lose the Magnus and Alice she remembers.
While Constellation sets up a
narrative designed for multiple seasons, the lack of resolution for many of its
mysteries is disappointing. Even the answers it does provide fail to land as
significant revelations, often confirming what viewers have already deduced.
Jo's story begins with intrigue but concludes on a somewhat underwhelming note.
