Netflix’ newest workplace comedy web series, Space Force, which is about a group of individuals tasked in establishing the United States Space Force is available on the streaming platform since May 29, 2020.
Should you skip it or watch it? Read on this review to find out.
Cast
Before you get all too excited, yes Space Force is a real department in the US but the show Space Force on the other hand is not. The show is more of a parody of not just the Space Force department but also how being a government employee works.
Top-billed and co-created by the one and only Steve Carell (General Mark Naird), Space Force is also a reunion between him and “The Office” show-runner Greg Daniels, also serving as co-creator.
Also included in the cast is Hollywood veteran John Malkovich (Dr. Adrian Mallory) in a role I don’t think I’ve seen him play before. Then there’s Ben Schwartz (F. Tony Scarapiducci) fresh off his success as the voice of Sonic in the 2020 film Sonic the Hedgehog, Silicon Valley star Jimmy O. Yang (Dr. Chan Kaifang), Tawny Newsome (Capt. Angela Ali), Friends alum Lisa Kudrow (Maggie Naird), and Booksmart star Diana Silvers (Erin Naird).
Deep Characters, Uncommon Themes
Needless to say, the cast was awesome. But what I found interesting the most are the characters that they play which kind of imitates reality. Well, not exactly, but you have a decision maker, a scientist, an assistant, a social media manager, a kind of rebellious teenage daughter. And all of the main characters’ backgrounds were explored although it was for a short time for some. Still, it feels to me like the show really invested on the show’s characters. This is saying something considering it is only a 10-episode season. And I am hoping that the show will dive deeper into the characters in the next season. Hey, I still don’t get why General Naird’s wife is in prison.
Another great thing about the show is it explores themes that are not typical of a comedy show or any type of show really. Open marriages, space politics, workplace politics, and politics in general are just some of the themes tackled in the show. Not a lot of shows show these themes or at least not in the way Space Force does.
Dramedy?
But the show’s strength, for me, lies in the fact that it’s not a full-on comedy show. It’s also more of a drama and a good drama at that. Space Force does so well of blending in drama into its own brand of comedy. We’ve seen Steve Carell do his thing in both comedy and drama and of course, he’s good at both.
His impression of General Mark Naird is no different as well as John Malkovich’ Dr. Mallory. I absolutely enjoyed both their acting on the show so much. It’s not the same as their other works but this almost perfect combination of comedy and drama that both leads give and take is one of a kind.
The show is definitely on to something here with this dramedy genre.
Skip or Watch?
Space Force is not the typical comedy that we are so used to seeing Steve Carell in and if you are expecting the usual, this may not be for you.
Still, for me, this show is worth the watch because of two things. One, the characters are deep and two, the themes are not common. It may not be a laugh-out-loud type of comedy (there’s some drama here, too) but it sure is entertaining.
VERDICT: WATCH!
Here is salida|etc’s rating for Space Force.
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