With Syfy’s forthcoming miniseries Ascension, we’re jumping back to the 1960s and blasting forward into the future, at the same time. In the vein of miniseries like 2002’s Taken, we’ve got another multigenerational epic, but this one is set in space: Ascension follows a generation ship launched in 1963 on a 100-year journey to find a new home. But when we meet the crew, they’re halfway through their journey, and the ship’s society—which is stuck in the ’60s look and mentality—is in danger of falling apart.
In 1963, the U.S. government launched a covert space mission sending hundreds of men, women and children on a century-long voyage aboard the starship Ascension to populate a new world. Nearly 50 years into the journey, as they approach the point of no return, a mysterious murder of a young woman causes the ship’s population to question the true nature of their mission.
Battlestar Galactica’s Tricia Helfer stars as Viondra Denniger, who’s something called a “power broker”—we’ll assume that means she’s just as good at manipulating people as she was as Number Six. She’s married to the ship’s captain, but of course their marriage is on the rocks.
Other characters include your typical generation ship crew: The “lower-deck” members who have to investigate the murder; the shipboard doctor, who knows everyone’s business; and the next generation of teens, born on the ship and knowing nothing but space.
We’re intrigued by the murder mystery angle, and the conspiracies that are likely to be unraveled in its wake. Also, taking a population frozen in time right before several cultural revolutions and jettisoning them into a future that they must secretly know they’re outdated for.
The show has alternately been described as “Mad Men in space” and “Downton Abbey in space.” We are down with either/both. Here’s the first trailer:
Ascension premieres on November 24 and will run for six episodes.
Photo: Syfy
