The Man Who Fell to Earth: Season 1 – Review [Showtime/Paramount+]

THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH is a new Showtime series – on Paramount+ internationally. It’s not a remake, but rather an inspired continuation of the Walter Tevis book and 1976 film. And we are off to an amazing start with an awesome pilot. Read our The Man Who Fell To Earth series review here!

THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH on Showtime and Paramount+ is a new sci-fi series. The title and core plot will be familiar to most sci-fi fans, but this isn’t simply a remake. Instead, this new series – with ten episodes in the season – is a modern retelling.

I wasn’t all that excited after watching the trailer for this new series because it felt way too messy to me. However, we are off to an amazing start with episode 1. The pilot is strong and will surely be able to make viewers come back for episode 2 next week.

Continue reading our The Man Who Fell To Earth series review below. You can watch episode 1 on Showtime in the US and Paramount+ internationally.

This is not a remake

This new The Man Who Fell To Earth series isn’t just a remake. Instead, it’s officially described as “an inspired continuation” of the Walter Tevis book. And, derived thereof, the 1976 film starring David Bowie. That means it’s set in the modern-day and has been given a few twists that feel very current.

The character of Thomas Jerome Newton (David Bowie in the original movie) is still part of the story, but he isn’t the main protagonist. He does play a key role though – of course, since we’re still in the same universe. This time around, Thomas Newton is played by Bill Nighy (Love Actually, The Limehouse Golem). A rather brilliant choice now that Bowie is no longer among us to reprise the role.

In the title role, we now have the Oscar-nominated actor Chiwetel Ejiofor (The Old Guard). I don’t always think he’s perfectly cast, but for The Man Who Fell To Earth, he’s absolutely brilliant. Equal parts smart and desperate with a touch of being unwillingly funny. You know, in the way that all alien-turned-human-being-look-a-likes are when they try to act human.

Across from Chiwetel Ejiofor, we have another Oscar-nominated actor in Naomie Harris. I’ve adored her ever since she co-starred in Danny Boyle’s iconic zombie movie 28 Days Later (2002). She started acting many years earlier though, And she has since been in huge franchises like James Bond and Pirates of the Caribbean. Also, she starred in the HBO miniseries The Third Day with Jude Law.

Ignore the claims of “woke”

Of course, with two black actors in the leading roles, people (young, straight, white men, in particular) are yelling “woke” in the ways that they label everything that doesn’t focus on (and star) people who are young, straight, white men. It’s sad really, but it’s also really dangerous because you might not even realize what it means.

For a production like The Man Who Fell To Earth on Showtime (and Paramount+), it means that the initial IMDb rating was well under 5. It’s beginning to change now that people actually watch it and realize that this is a really good show. Great cast, gorgeous production quality, and a damn fine pilot.

Is it woke that the main cast isn’t focused on straight white men? Well, if it is, then we need a whole lot more woke stories told!

Also, there’s Outer Range on Amazon’s Prime Video for those who want a sci-fi drama with mostly (almost exclusively) white characters. Hell, there are decades worth of these productions.

We need something with more diversity and for this new Showtime series, it makes perfect sense to change up the character background from the “white male default”. Outer Range is a solid and good production as well. However, the pilot for The Man Who Fell To Earth is much stronger than episode 1 of Outer Range was!

Watch The Man Who Fell To Earth series on Showtime or Paramount+ now!

The creators of The Man Who Fell To Earth are Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet. The two have worked on several series in the past. Including the recent Star Trek series (and the upcoming ones) as well as the Clarice series (2021) based on the Silence of the Lambs FBI agent.

Other writers on the series are Jane Maggs (Mary Kills People), Michael Alaimo (Fear the Walking Dead), and Helen Shang (Hannibal, and the upcoming The Rings of Power). Alex Kurtzman is also the director of this season along with Joss Agnew (The Irregulars).

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What always works so well in these stories – and which is highlighted in new ways with the 2022 take on the story – is that this story shows us how strange human beings are in many ways. We do things because we can or because “that’s just how it’s done”. When someone starts asking questions about the how and why we’re forced to start wondering the same.

Something we humans don’t do nearly enough: Ask why!

As in “Why does this brand new show have such a strangely low IMDb rating?” and then look at the user review and see the word “woke” thrown around. Then you’ll have your answer and will see other reviews contradict this. Reviews from people who actually bothered to watch the production with an open mind.

I expected this to be messy because the trailer was. However, it’s downright awesome! You just never know. So, check it out when you get the chance. If you like a good sci-fi story, then you should enjoy The Man Who Fell To Earth on Showtime/Paramount+ as well.

The Man Who Fell To Earth premiered with episode 1 on Showtime in the US on April 24, 2022. And on Paramount+ internationally on April 25, 2022. The remaining nine episodes will be released weekly with the final episode airing Sunday, July 3, 2022.

Details

Creators: Alex Kurtzman, Jenny Lumet
Stars: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Naomie Harris, Clarke Peters, Bill Nighy, Jimmi Simpson, Kate Mulgrew