ScreenFish

where faith and film are intertwined

Jihae

Mars S2E1: Unity Can Be A Good Thing

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(photo credit National Geographic)

Just when you thought the adventures of the International Mars Science Federation (IMSF) were completed upon finding life on the red planet, it?s time for a new season of drama!

Mars was one of the highest rated shows on National Geographic last year, prompting six completely new episodes of the hybrid drama/documentary (Mondays @ 9 PM/8 CT).? I?m thrilled, and after watching the first episode of the second season, think the show has chosen a fantastic topic to explore: How do two groups of people co-exist on a new world with completely antithetical hopes, dreams, and plans?

Set five years after the end of the first season, much has changed for the group of scientists calling the planet home. The declaration that life exists on Mars (at the end of Season 1) turned Olympus Town into a reality and brought more scientists to the planet for research. But they knew it was only a matter of time before science brought about industry wanting a lucrative place in the terraforming of the planet, not to mention lots of money. It comes in the form of Lukrum Industries, run on Earth by Roland St. John (Esai Morales), an enterprising businessman, and led on Mars by Kurt Hurrelle (Jeff Hephner), who eschews standard convention and pushes as many boundaries as possible, often stepping over them with absolutely no remorse.? The IMSF, now led by Amanda Richardson (Cosima Shaw) from the first season, is hesitant to create any partnership with Lukrum. She makes the decision to help even though the mining company arrived completely intent on using the good graces of the scientists to provide them with water and electricity.? This frustrates the commander Hana Seung (Jihae) and the rest of her staff, who anticipate difficulties going forward.

It seems the drama portion of the show has been ratcheted up a notch, as we begin to see the struggles of the main characters manifest themselves. Robert (Sammi Rotibi) is tired of not putting his skills to use (having built the city); Spanish Mission Specialist Javier (Alberto Ammann) feels that his love, French doctor Amelie (Clementine Poidatz) has lied to him as she reveals she?s leaving in a few months due to losing her mind; and the Russian biologist Marta (Anamaria Marinca) is frustrated that there have been no other scientific discoveries in five years.? Add in the act-first-and-apologize-later mentality of Lukrum, and things are going to boil over at some point.

(photo credit: National Geographic/Dusan Martincek)

I?ve always appreciated how well the documentary portions of Mars have meshed with the dramatic ones, and this season is no exception.? It does feel like there?s less documentary, but I somehow don?t feel bothered by that fact. The first episode relates the situation on Mars to drilling for oil in the Arctic?there?s nobody around; it?s dangerous; and simply existing is a goal at times.

The ending of the first season of Mars was, in my opinion, way too abrupt. Thankfully, Executive Producers Ron Howard and Brian Grazer seem to have fixed that problem in the opening episode, leaving the viewer with a cliffhanger regarding if unity is even possible with the two groups.? Here on Earth, we have enough tensions and challenges for a lifetime?between countries, between companies, between individuals.? Paul encouraged the one of the New Testament churches to ?[b]ear with each other?and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love,?which binds them all together in perfect unity? (Colossians 3:13-14 NIV). If only these words were put into action, perhaps we could start the process of restoring relationships, which can lead to so many other good things.

I know the folks on Mars could use this advice.? Otherwise, the animosity and tension is going to possibly spiral out of control.? We?ll have to find out.

Mars (Ep. 4) – Learning From The Past

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(photo credit: National Geographic Channels/Robert Viglasky)
Leslie and Paul Richardson join the crew (photo credit: National Geographic Channels/Robert Viglasky)

The Pilgrims? journey to the New World in 1620 was not an easy one.? The trip itself was fraught with peril where one wrong turn could shipwreck the crew.? Upon arrival, there was no opportunity to rest as the harsh environment was not conducive to easy settlement.? Shelters had to be constructed, new locations had to be scouted out and claimed, and preparation was necessary to combat the difficult weather conditions.

Thus far, the National Geographic miniseries Mars (9 PM/8 CT Monday) has offered a similar look at a possible colonizing attempt on the Red Planet.? To summarize the series thus far, just substitute the crew of the spaceship Daedalus for the Pilgrims in the first paragraph. ?In the fourth episode, we see yet another similarity between the two groups: power struggles.

It?s now 2037, four years since the original crew of six arrived on Mars. Mission Commander Hana (Jihae) leads the staff after their last-ditch effort to find a suitable location for Olympus Town succeeded.? There is a normalcy that settles as the first group of scientists arrive to help out and conduct experiments.?? However, this feeling is short lived as the next rocket brings Leslie and Paul Richardson (Cosima Shaw and John Light) into the fray.? She?s a world-class nuclear physicist (on Earth, at least); he?s a respected botanist. The crew is thrilled to have them on board to help out and continue the colonization process, but Leslie wants to speed up the process significantly and basically take over the place.? Ed Granz (Olivier Martinez), head of the for-profit MMC (Mars Mission Corporation) on Earth, is the instigator for the faster expansion, but is that a good thing considering there are still so many unknowns about the planet?? One of the crew members discovers the answer to this question the hard way. ?The fourth episode leaves the viewer with two different and lasting images: a) a budding romance between original crew members Javier (Alberto Ammann) and Am?lie (Clementine Poidatz), and b) an incredibly bad-looking storm.

Back on Earth in the year 2016, the episode looks at how we?re attempting to prepare for the conditions of Mars.? It involves the McMurdo Station in Antarctica, an incredibly harsh and unforgiving environment (consider Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin was recently flown from there due to health issues). The scientists there conduct experiments, cycle people in and out on a regular basis, and learn how to make things work in an isolated community.? The lessons learned there will serve the first groups of Martian explorers well.

(photo credit: National Geographic Channels/Robert Viglasky)
(photo credit: National Geographic Channels/Robert Viglasky)

In many films about space, there?s a focus on the landing and (perhaps) the early forms of exploration, so I appreciated the deeper dive into what life might be like once things settle down.? In this episode, the humanity of the characters finally begins to break through?Hana struggling with the potential change in power structure, Javier?s frustration over others? incompetence, Leslie?s stern demeanor. It makes me think the next episode could be a bit volatile. I also appreciated the occasional science focus as an effective way to lessen the tension.? Besides, who doesn?t want to learn a learn a little about Antarctica in the process?

Hana?s opening voiceover was intriguing: ?They say that science and faith don?t mix. But when everything is telling you you?ve already lost, there?s nothing you can do but believe.? For me, this is where the Pilgrim/Martian comparison comes into play. Just because you?ve made it to a new land doesn?t mean the battle is over. The Pilgrims had a Thanksgiving to celebrate but then had to endure a brutal winter that threatened the colony?s existence. On Mars, the celebration time existed after the team discovered the location of Olympus Town, but that storm looks like it?s about to put the crew to the ultimate test.

It?s also a reminder of what the disciples had to deal with when one of their own betrayed Jesus, sending him to the cross to die.? Even though Jesus had told them repeatedly not to fear, his betrayal, arrest, and death must?ve made them feel the game was over.? It was eleven disciples against a world that was possibly coming for them next.? But if Jesus was telling them the truth, they had no other option but to believe it.? Three days after the crucifixion, they found a previously sealed tomb opened with no one inside.? And within the next few days, they would all see him again.

Belief can be an incredibly powerful thing when it?s all a person has to lean on. ?I have a feeling we?ll find out how next week–stay tuned.

Mars (Ep. 3) — Finding Home

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(photo credit: National Geographic Channels/Robert Viglasky)
(photo credit: National Geographic Channels/Robert Viglasky)

Finding a new place to live is not as simple as choosing a location on the map and navigating there. It?s important to make sure a job is lined up to provide a steady source of income. Having a physical place to live is also critical, just in case extreme temperatures develop or the weather decides to be uncooperative.  Reliable transportation becomes a big deal when it comes to getting the kids to school or shopping for groceries. If any of these are neglected, the move can become a catastrophic failure.

In the case of our band of intrepid explorers in the National Geographic Channel series Mars (9 PM/8 CT Mondays), losing one of their own is bad enough.  However, their preeminent mission is to find a suitable location to start a colony on the red planet. If they fail, the International Mars Science Foundation (IMSF) will send a ship?but instead of it containing passengers, it?ll take the five astronauts back to earth, making the dream of life on another planet a pipe dream again.

(photo credit: National Geographic Channels/Robert Viglasky)
(photo credit: National Geographic Channels/Robert Viglasky)

The speed of the episode is ramped up from the previous two and focuses more on the future drama than the present reality.  It?s still not a foregone conclusion that all will work out since the workshop wasn?t designed for five astronauts and their needs. Tensions are boiling over and faith is starting to wane.  Hana Seung (Jiahe) is learning her new role as Mission Commander and has to put it to the test when an overloaded circuit starts a fire.  She succeeds, but the mission is further placed in limbo as a result.  A potential candidate for habitation is found by Hana?s sister Joon Seung (also played by Jihae), but will there be a source of water to make it work?   It?s pretty riveting drama.

Back in today?s world, there?s a focus on the ExoMars satellite, which will help to construct a 3D image of the planet (currently, we?ve only covered 3% of the surface–surprising).  Teaming up to take the project into space are the European Space Agency and Roscosmos, Russia?s version of NASA.  Hopefully, the satellite will do much of the work necessary to find a future colonizing mission a safe place to inhabit?and an opportunity to ?unite people in a peaceful way.?

(photo credit: National Geographic Channels/Robert Viglasky)
(photo credit: National Geographic Channels/Robert Viglasky)

Such an endeavor is not easy?there?s always a fear of the unknown.  The investing group funding the expedition has allowed the crew?s updates to make them quite scared.  Ed Grann (Olivier Martinez) attempts to quell the discord by noting they don?t have two things key to success?foresight and faith. His faith comes from investing 90% of his net worth into the project.  Failure, for Grann, is simply not an option.  There is a biblical parallel to this situation when Jesus tells his band of nervous and scared disciples to simply believe in him.  He adds some foresight to the conversation when he adds, ?In my Father?s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also? (John 14:2-3 NASB).  For Jesus, knowing what?s coming can only serve to increase faith.  And after his death and return to life, the disciples invested 100% in the project of bringing humankind to God?80% wouldn?t have been enough.  We have to keep a similar mindset when looking at the future?even if we have zero clue what?s going to happen in the next fifteen minutes. Being with God will be enough.

At the end of the third episode of Mars, the groundwork is laid for a permanent colony.  It makes the final three episodes of the series destination television.  What will home be like for the new residents?  What new challenges will arise? The only way to find out is to watch for yourself.