Aug 7, 2026 06:11 PM
(This post was last modified: Aug 7, 2026 07:08 PM by C C.)
So apparently I'm not alone when it comes to indulging in this guilty pleasure. "Is it any good?" is not really the question to ask. Instead, it's: "Is it relaxing?"
As JDA says, The Ark is indeed a turn-your-brain-off, just go with the flow, calming background noise show. Which even Stargate was at times (just have fun instead of intellectual stun). Also reminds me of the pluckiness of The Outpost in that sense. (The little engine that could, while better-funded series were cancelled within one or two seasons.)
I've actually seen both seasons of The Ark, along with the first episode of the third (which is introducing a lot of mysteries). Each season carves out new turf. All of the existing episodes can currently be viewed for free on Fandango. While it may be low budget, the set and the special effects are still the level of the various 1990s Star Trek series (which was a heckuva lot superior to Babylon 5's CGI).
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JON DEL ARROZ
https://youtu.be/Bqm3p-D8qyU
VIDEO EXCERPTS: The early episodes really run on a repeating formula like [there's a crisis] and the crew fixes it. ... Each crisis resolves through a burst of technobabble followed by a last-minute save, and the show leans on that structure. ... Layered on top of that are the soap opera engines. Shipboard flow romances flare up and cool off. The character conflicts feel very heavy-handed in one episode, and then they get dropped and forgotten within two.
The premise is pretty thin on this, and the show fills the gaps with familiar diversity casting choices as well. You got a lot of strong female lead concepts. You got the super-smart nerdy black girl who gets a little painful. You got the security officer who's a gay guy who's really just concerned about his husband. I mean, these are caricature-level tropes. Many of the show's characters are also flawed and seek redemption.
[...] Captain Sharon Garnett is played by Christy Burke. She has lots of problems ... I end up liking the character quite a bit anyway. And I like the actress quite a bit as well. And the season's back half starts to feel better for the character and the like. They add some drama to things...
While the beginning episodes were definitely like "woman lectures man for being stupid", it does even out as the show goes along. There's bad on each side, and it's like, okay, it's not as lopsided as it started out being. And the plots get a little more interesting as it goes along...
[...] Now this is just popcorn. Turn your brain off for the most part. For science fiction, it's okay and fun, a little low budget. It's got a lot of heart to it at the same time. And that's the thing, like you feel like this could have potential. So, I'm going to continue the second season and see how it goes. My normal rating is like a 7 out of 10 for like, you know, this is basically okay. I give it like a 6.5. It's right below that at the end of the first season. But there is more to come, so we'll see what happens...
Is it any good? ... https://youtu.be/Bqm3p-D8qyU
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Bqm3p-D8qyU
As JDA says, The Ark is indeed a turn-your-brain-off, just go with the flow, calming background noise show. Which even Stargate was at times (just have fun instead of intellectual stun). Also reminds me of the pluckiness of The Outpost in that sense. (The little engine that could, while better-funded series were cancelled within one or two seasons.)
I've actually seen both seasons of The Ark, along with the first episode of the third (which is introducing a lot of mysteries). Each season carves out new turf. All of the existing episodes can currently be viewed for free on Fandango. While it may be low budget, the set and the special effects are still the level of the various 1990s Star Trek series (which was a heckuva lot superior to Babylon 5's CGI).
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
JON DEL ARROZ
https://youtu.be/Bqm3p-D8qyU
VIDEO EXCERPTS: The early episodes really run on a repeating formula like [there's a crisis] and the crew fixes it. ... Each crisis resolves through a burst of technobabble followed by a last-minute save, and the show leans on that structure. ... Layered on top of that are the soap opera engines. Shipboard flow romances flare up and cool off. The character conflicts feel very heavy-handed in one episode, and then they get dropped and forgotten within two.
The premise is pretty thin on this, and the show fills the gaps with familiar diversity casting choices as well. You got a lot of strong female lead concepts. You got the super-smart nerdy black girl who gets a little painful. You got the security officer who's a gay guy who's really just concerned about his husband. I mean, these are caricature-level tropes. Many of the show's characters are also flawed and seek redemption.
[...] Captain Sharon Garnett is played by Christy Burke. She has lots of problems ... I end up liking the character quite a bit anyway. And I like the actress quite a bit as well. And the season's back half starts to feel better for the character and the like. They add some drama to things...
While the beginning episodes were definitely like "woman lectures man for being stupid", it does even out as the show goes along. There's bad on each side, and it's like, okay, it's not as lopsided as it started out being. And the plots get a little more interesting as it goes along...
[...] Now this is just popcorn. Turn your brain off for the most part. For science fiction, it's okay and fun, a little low budget. It's got a lot of heart to it at the same time. And that's the thing, like you feel like this could have potential. So, I'm going to continue the second season and see how it goes. My normal rating is like a 7 out of 10 for like, you know, this is basically okay. I give it like a 6.5. It's right below that at the end of the first season. But there is more to come, so we'll see what happens...
Is it any good? ... https://youtu.be/Bqm3p-D8qyU