ScreenFish

where faith and film are intertwined

Mars

Red Rover: Calling You Over

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Red Rover introduces the world to Damon (Kristian Bruun), a frustrated man in his early 30s who seems like his life is perpetually stuck, both personally and professionally. Feeling lost and alone, Damon spends his free time looking for unknown “treasure” on the beach with his metal detector, but to no avail. However, when Damon meets an offbeat musician named Phoebe (Cara Gee) who is handing out flyers for a one-way trip to Mars, he thinks the deep space journey may be that elusive ‘something’ that he’s been looking for. But, as the relationship between them begins to grow strong, Damon begins to ask whether or not leaving Earth is really his life’s true mission after all. 

Directed and co-written by Shane Belcourt, Red Rover is a charming story that demonstrates that ‘coming of age’ film isn’t restricted to teenage drama. With a background in documentary filmmaking, Belcourt somehow lets this story about a man on a mission to Mars feel grounded and honest. Lovable and endearing, Red Rover features solid casting across the board, however it’s leading man Kristian Bruun that truly anchors the film. Despite the pressure of being in almost every scene, Bruun proves more than up to the challenge as he brings Damon to life with genuine humility. Due to the strength of his performance, Bruun gives Damon an authenticity that fleshes his character out more than we typically see from the typical ‘lovable loser’ stereotype. What’s more, his solid chemistry with co-stars Cara Gee and Meghan Heffern help to solidify the emotional strain on his paralyzed emotional journey.

Though its eyes are on the skies, Red Rover isn’t really about what it means to reach for the stars. Instead, Belcourt’s film is much more interested in what it means to matter in a world that makes you feel small. Frustrated in a job that reminds him that he ‘isn’t as creative as he used to be’ and living in the basement of his ex-girlfriend and her new lover, Damon is known as a ‘good guy’ but doesn’t seem to be able to step beyond his limitations. (In fact, while the context isn’t quite true in the film, one might even argue that Damon remains emotionally ‘self-isolated.’) However, despite the things that seem to hold him back, Damon isn’t just someone stuck in a rut because of their past hurt. In many ways, he becomes an example of everyone who strives to be genuinely good yet feels like greatness remains elusive to them. 

With that in mind (and without spoiling anything), Belcourt’s script points to the fact that true greatness is not about proving one’s worth. Rather, greatness comes from the quality of one’s soul and their willingness not to give into fear. Bravery of this type may, in fact, mean taking risks in one’s life but Red Rover also points out that it takes true courage to love others as well. For Belcourt, it seems as though it is these qualities that set people apart from one another. As Damon fights through his own personal drama, he discovers that the relationships in his life contain an element of chance that needs to be embraced. (in fact, it may be this element of chance that makes them worthwhile in the first place.) In doing so, Damon’s journey leads him to understand that greatness comes as an extension of one’s willingness to step out into relationships with courage, rather than allowing fear to keep him from truly connecting with others.

Engaging and fun, Red Rover is somewhat of a profound experience of hope at a time when we need it most. Featuring especially strong work by Bruun, the film points to quality of character as the true mark of greatness. In doing so, the film recognizes the importance of small moments and loving people as equally important achievements and serve as an invaluable reminder of what it means to be human. As a result, Red Rover may look to the heavens for greatness but it wisely keeps its feel firmly planted on the ground at the same time.

For full audio of our interview with writer/director Shane Belcourt, click here.

Red Rover launches on video on demand on Tuesday, May 11th, 2020..

Mars S2E6: Christmas on Mars?

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We found water . . . but at what cost?

One of my biggest struggles with the ending of the first season of National Geographic’s series Mars involved pacing. I didn’t feel there was enough of a discussion of potential life on the planet to justify the last-minute declaration of life on the planet. Thankfully, the producers did a much better job with the second season’s ending. Loose plot ends have been tied while questions remain, leaving open the potential for a third season.  That’s about all a viewer can ask for, right?

As the fifth episode ended, Amelie (Clementine Poidatz) was having a caesarean for her firstborn.  A huge bluish-colored baby was taken away . . . leaving her to wonder out loud if she would ever hold the baby.  The good news: the child survived.  The bad news: Amelie still hasn’t held it for two months as its been on a ventilator.  We’ll get back to this drama in a second, but there’s a more pressing issue for both the IMSF and Lukrum groups.

It seems the mining corporation is having a difficult time drilling for water and Kurt (Jeff Hephner), the leader, is as desperate to find some as Marta (Anamaria Marinca) from the IMSF.  He resorts to trying something unproven on a new planet—explosives to break the rock.  In an attempt to bring Marta into the actions (and because his daughter wants to be a microbiologist), Kurt has her make a trip to gather some water for study.  Without checking with Commander Hana (Jihae) first, he proceeds with the explosion, which succeeds in bringing forth water.  Marta grabs a few samples, but the blast triggers an earthquake that completely destroys Lukrum’s compound—and nearly does the same for Olympus Town.  Kurt feels remorse over what his actions caused and feels even more when he goes to check on the other workers, finding the buildings destroyed with numerous casualties.  While he continues his search, he is pinned by wreckage that breaches his spacesuit and kills him.

Our mistakes sometimes have significant consequences.

When Olympus Town can’t get a signal from Lukrum, they rush over to the crash site in an attempt to help. Two groups of workers have survived—one in a protected area of the wreckage; the other (including new member Robert [Sammi Rotibi] in a rover). All make it to Olympus Town safely.

Amelie notices an issue with the ventilator and must make a decision with Javier (Alberto Ammann)—take out the breathing tube to see what happens or simply watch their child die along with the ventilator.  They choose the former option.

Meanwhile on Earth, people know about the earthquake and are seriously concerned if Mars habitation is even a future possibility. IMSF Secretary General Amanda Richardson (Cosima Shaw) isn’t sure what to do, as her vote to sanction Russia for working with Lukrum failed and left her with little to no power.  Lukrum then acquired another agreement with China, making things worse for her.  But the earthquake provided her an opportunity to work alongside an extremely smug Roland St. John (Esai Morales), who suddenly has little leverage politically.  They appear in a joint news conference, where Richardson blindsides St. John with a video from Commander Hana, showcasing that the two groups can get along (this was the basic premise of the documentary sections of the episode) and that life there is possible when Amelie and Javier introduce their daughter Gabriella to the citizens of Earth. St. John vows to get her back, but the episode ends.

There are definitely questions to possibly be answered in a future season (in addition to St. John’s response to Richardson): What became of the water Marta collected? What did she discover?  Was Mike ever released from his cell or was he sent back to Earth? Did Robert return to IMSF? How was Gabriella’s childhood? How did the scientists create the first cloud using their terraforming practices?  I think we need to explore further, National Geographic.

My biggest takeway from the episode was a hypothetical situation. Knowing that Gabriella was the first person born and raised on Mars, I began thinking what it might be like to raise a child with completely different holiday traditions (sort of like Life Day was in the Star Wars Holiday Special).  There would obviously be something with the day humanity landed, the day life was discovered on Mars, and perhaps the day water was found.  But how would holidays like Christmas be handled? Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem . . . on Earth, not Mars. For kids, there would really not be a context to work with (I’m trying to imagine Joseph and Mary taking care of a baby in a cave wearing space suits, and it’s not working).  Belief in Christmas would have to be . . . on faith.  But it’s a good kind of faith—a faith in the God who created the universe and placed the moon, planets, and stars exactly where he wanted them (see Psalm 8:3-4).

Viewers now have to have faith that National Geographic adds a third season of Mars to their schedule.  If not, I’m thankful for the journey and what I’ve learned along the way.

Mars S2 E5: Dancing with the Enemy

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“Stand down, Mike.”

Rival companies, questionable practices, power issues, contagions, and a pregnancy—these have been the focal points of the second season of Mars (National Geographic, 9 PM/8 CT).  Tonight brings us to a thrilling conclusion—or maybe it will provide more questions than answers.

Before we get there, we should consider the last episode and find out what we’re possibly in store for. After the virus issue was handled thanks to some smart thinking by Marta (Anamaria Marinca) and doses of penicillin, the workers at IMSF must deal with something completely beyond their control—the actions of their leaders on Earth.  Russia has entered into a deal with Lukrum Industries and Roland St. John (Esai Morales). This threatens the IMSF and forces Secretary General Amanda Richardson (Cosima Shaw) to do something to get Lukrum’s attention. Her main option is to levy sanctions on the company to get them to end the agreement.  It sounds difficult in theory, and it is.  In flashbacks to today, we’re reminded that when big companies get huge, there is little (if anything) that can stop them—even when it comes to governmental control and oversight.  This episode, more than its predecessors, calls out these large companies for their past actions and questions what (if anything) can be done to limit their control.

Of course, the Lukrum colony on Mars is continuing its mission but needs more power to make it happen. Olympus Town, headed by Commander Hana (Jihae), agrees to this, but when she and Robert (Sammi Rotibi) take a trip to check out a possible source of water, her assistant commander Mike Glenn (Gunnar Cauthery) refuses and completely shuts Lukrum off from all electricity, placing their entire colony at risk of death. Javier (Alberto Ammann) defies his orders and gets them back online just in time. Hana and Robert, alas, do not find water, and on their way home discover the mutiny that has occurred at Olympus Town.  Mike soon finds himself relieved of duty.  In addition, Robert tells Hana that because he’s not being allowed to create and build things by the IMSF, he’s leaving IMSF to help Lukrum.  There have been hints at a possible romance here, but they’re effectively quashed when the two have their last meeting,

Javier has an additional issue. Amelie (Clementine Poidatz) begins to experience contractions at the thirty-week point, forcing her to make the decision to have a caesarean for her baby.  Things seem to be going smoothly, until she briefly sees a rather large bluish-colored baby (?) being carried out by another doctor. Her cries go out into the nothingness of space as the credits roll.

You’re probably not going to like the vote, Madame Secretary General.

Industry and science have always had a very delicate relationship.  Science wants to discover and prefers things to be pure and unexploited so they can better humankind.  Industry wants to discover as well, but is willing to create, process, and market so they can better humankind while making lots of money for themselves and their shareholders.  Take one of the two out of the equation and humans suffer as a result. Just like in a marriage, there must be some give and take from both sides in order to make the partnership work. Ecclesiastes says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up” (4:8-10).  There will always be tension between the two groups, but they must learn to co-exist and work with each other.

So then . . . what will happen to Mike?  How will Robert like Lukrum?  Will there be a power play for Richardson’s position at IMSF?  Will someone finally discover liquid water? Will Amelie get to hold her baby?  We’ll have to find out tonight when Mars concludes its second season.

Mars S2E4: Looking to the Past

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Be careful with those lab specimens . . . (photo credit: National Geographic/Dusan Martincek)

When we last left our intrepid bands of explorers, the strife so prevalent for the half of the season was placed on hold as one of the IMSF scientists decided to go alone out into the Martian landscape.  The fourth episode of Mars (National Geographic, Mondays at 9 PM/8 CT) begins with a brief reminder of how close Marta (Anamaria Marinca) was to dying from lack of air and/or becoming a human popsicle. She begins to recover and is extremely lucky that frostbite hasn’t claimed one or more of her fingers and/or toes. Immediately (and as could be expected), she is confronted by Commander Hana (Jihae) for putting herself and the rest of the crew in harm’s way.  Since she’s still on a hospital bed, Marta can’t run from the rebuke of her superior (not that she would anyway).

In another part of the science center, Javier (Alberto Ammann) and Amelie (Clementine Poidatz) have fallen in love with each other again and are looking forward to life with their future child. This could be a bigger issue when it’s born, but for now, the parents seem to be happy.  Until . . .

All of a sudden, members of the Lukrum company begin to fall sick. They’re not ill as a result of the flu, but something significantly more sinister.  It starts with a cough, followed by a lot a blood and (in one case) death.  Nothing seems to be able to stop it from affecting people or spreading among the colony.  Just as this knowledge is discovered, it seems one of the scientists returning from an outdoor expedition begins coughing and exhibiting the same symptoms.  He’s placed in an isolation portion of the lab, but Javier checks on him and suddenly discovers he’s got the same thing.  Amelie can only watch from behind glass as he suffers from an unknown contagion.  What can be done?

In order to solve the problem, Marta realizes that she has to go backwards in her thinking. One of the samples that showed movement in the lab at the end of the third episode has mutated and doesn’t respond to ordinary drugs on Earth. Realizing this, her thinking leads her to understand that penicillin may be the answer. But will it be in time for both colonies?  And what can she do (if anything) while still recovering from her near-death experience?

In times of trial, it’s time to get along. (photo credit: National Geographic/Dusan Martincek)

I was very surprised by the goriness and gut-wrenching emotion of the episode—it almost had a Michael Crichton Andromeda Strain feel to it.  The real-life portion of the program brought the viewer to the Arctic again, but this time to northern Russia where reindeer are dying from a new strain of anthrax.  Again, the government and oil companies don’t want the public to know about the issue, but if left untreated, things could get a whole lot worse for the people there—and potentially the general public.

This brings me back to Marta’s realization. In order to learn from the past, we have to look there on occasion.  In fact, for the nation of Israel, one of the key words of life is remember. They looked back to the time when the angel of death passed over the houses of the Israelite people yet killed the first born of all the Egyptians, leading to the Exodus, parting of the Red Sea, and eventually claiming a land flowing with milk and honey (see Exodus 11). Christians take a look back every Christmas to the birth of Jesus on the outskirts of Bethlehem (see Luke 2). In addition, we all look at the past to be sure we don’t keep making the same mistakes over and over again.  Looking back is truly a good thing—as long as we don’t lose sight of the present and the future.

Two episodes remain. There’s still much to discover on Mars.

Mars S2E3: What Is Your Passion Worth?

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All is well . . . for now.

It seems Mars has been all the rage this week.  On Monday, NASA was able to land the InSight rover on the planet, leading to numerous cheers (and a well-choreographed celebration) from the scientists tasked with getting it there.  Over the next months and years, I’m sure they’re going to acquire an immense amount of data that will prove to be beneficial when humans take their first steps on the Red Planet.

Adding to the intrigue was the third episode of Mars on the National Geographic Channel Monday evening (9 PM/8 CT). The last time we took a look at the scientists and miners, they were engaged in a full-on fistfight over a discovery of liquid water by the Lukrum company. Commander Hana (Jihae) was also dealing with the loss of her sister and as the new episode begins, she’s not done a good job handling the situation over the previous four months.

Marta (Anamaria Marinca) was incensed in episode two about the water issue and she’s still fuming about it.  When she beings it up to Hana, the commander’s repression of grief gets the best of her, causing her to explode on her colleague.  Marta decides that she’s going to get samples to prove the existence of new life forms and despite being told otherwise, takes a rover to Lukrum and starts collecting.  It’s at this point in the show that the drama really begins.

What do you do when you’re running low on oxygen and the temperature is -40? (National Geographic/Richard Donnelly)

Interspersed with clips of scientists working in remote portions of the Greenland Ice Shelf, a solar flare damages a transformer, throwing everything into disarray. Nobody can communicate on either base. Marta loses her navigational system and stubbornly tries to drive back to the base.  This isn’t a good idea when night is falling and temperatures plummet to levels that would kill humans. Since she’s on battery power, she’s limited to what she can do.  It suddenly becomes a race against time to rescue Marta from freezing to death. All that she’s worked for up until this point is seriously in jeopardy.

It’s at this point that a distinctive message arises from the episode of Mars. Scientists aren’t always folks who work in labs, but individuals who are so called to their respective projects that they are willing to sacrifice any and everything to make their goals happen.  The folks in Greenland left family to accomplish their tasks.  Marta was so committed to going to Mars that she put the mission ahead of her boyfriend, who didn’t take the news well.  For those who wish to follow after Jesus and be his disciple, they have to be willing to do the same thing—leave all they’re comfortable with and follow him, no matter what (see Luke 9).  He never said it would be easy, but worth it in the end (see Matthew 19:29).

At the end of the episode, one of the samples Marta collected begins to show movement.  Could this be the start of something big?  Or could it be something else?  Be sure to tune in next week to find out!

Mars S2E2: Can’t We Just Get Along?

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Amelie (photo credit: National Geographic/Dusan Martincek)

The second season of Mars (National Geographic; Mondays @ 9 PM/8 CT) has already had a fair share of tension. When the scientists discover that a drilling company named Lukrum wants to mine the planet for profit, they’re not happy about it.  An uneasy truce is created to share water and electricity, but the miners proceed to take advantage of the scientists at every turn. The second episode picks up with Lukrum using 10 percent more water than allotted. Uncertain as to what to do, Commander Hana (Jihae) makes a plea to the head of the IMSF on Earth, Amanda Richardson (Cosima Shaw), for help. Richardson doesn’t feel she’s getting respect from her colleagues and begins to assert herself in a way that will distance herself from her predecessor.  Hana doesn’t like the bossy, somewhat petulant response that suggests the IMSF and Lukrum have a different relationship outside of Mars.

This concept of being worlds apart provides the focus of the documentary portion of the show.  The folks in the Arctic are drilling for oil, but there are people who want a different outcome to occur—namely, the protestors of Greenpeace. Equipped with their own ships and quick-moving watercraft, they push as far as they can—and then some—to get their points across. The two sides are never going to agree, but is there a happy medium where the two can coexist?

All the animosity between the two groups comes to a head when, at a party to celebrate the arrival of a spacecraft (and to take Amelie [Clementine Poidatz] back to Earth), a member of Lukrum inadvertently mentions their discovery of liquid water.  Marta (Anamaria Marinca) immediately takes a side for science, and before long, a full-scale brawl ensues.  Where is Commander Hana when all this is going on?

You never want to see this. (photo credit: National Geographic/Dusan Martincek)

It turns out she has a few issues of her own to deal with in addition to Richardson’s cold and curt message to her from Earth.  Hana’s sister and former head of the IMSF (also played by Jihae) is on the flight to Mars, but there’s a medical problem she’s kept from everyone. Sadly, it claims her life before she lands on the planet. But as there is death, there is life (in a weird sort of way), as Amelie chooses not to return to Earth at the last minute due to a discovery of being pregnant.

The second episode of Mars reminds me that we are not our own and are simply allotted time on Earth by God. While here, we must learn to “live at peace with everyone,” as Paul noted (Romans 12:18).  That doesn’t mean we always have to agree with others, but we do have to take the initiative to coexist as best as we can.  Making the most of our individual spheres of influence will go a long way to keeping harmony within arm’s reach—even though we may never get to a place where people completely agree with us or our views.

But with all the tension on Mars, the third episode is shaping up to be quite a doozy. Make sure to tune in next week and catch it for yourself!

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. 6 – The Cost

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

Space travel is an endeavor that is not without risk.  As we’ve seen during the first five episodes of the Mars miniseries on the National Geographic Channel (Mondays, 9 PM/8 CT), the crew of the Daedalus endured a difficult landing, the loss of their mission commander, the constant risk of freezing to death, as well as a host of other issues.  Why would they put their lives at risk in this manner?  If you asked them, they would say it was necessary to put humanity in a position to live on a planet other than Earth.  Yet the tragic events of the fifth episode have put Olympus Town on complete lockdown and are threatening to end the whole mission. As a result, there’s an opportunity for the viewer to stop and consider what it means to count the cost. Is risk worth it in the end?  Perhaps there’s an answer in the final minute of the episode . . .

At first glance, the final episode of Mars may seem like a simple retrospective due to the sheer amount of downtime the crew experiences, so if you’re looking for lots of action, you’re going to be disappointed. However, there is quite a bit to consider, and that is perhaps why so much space (pardon the pun) is given for contemplation by director Everardo Gout. The people on Earth and IMSF are at the point where sentiment in the mission has given way to concern for death and destruction. Do the scientists of Olympus Town need to be evacuated for their own good?  Has the expeition become the biggest and most expensive failure in human history?  Were we always so farsighted to think we could seriously explore and inhabit a planet we were not created on?

That’s a question that has haunted the residents of Earth since the late 1960s.

After successfully putting men on the moon, NASA struggled mightily with Apollo 13’s near-catastrophe.  They eventually considered two options: a full-scale expedition to Mars (the Saturn V rocket could do the trick nicely) or a reusable space airplane that would orbit the Earth and perform experiments.  Eventually, President Nixon decided a potentially fatal mission to Mars would ground the space program forever and chose the Space Shuttle as the premier vehicle for exploration.  As we know, that decision has not been without catastrophe on multiple occasions (Challenger 1986; Columbia 2001). But, as scientists noted, we’ve been stuck in orbit around our own planet for nearly fifty years. Is it time to change all that?

The issue of reusable rockets is revisited in the final episode as SpaceX attempts to land the first stage of a rocket on a floating barge, with the viewer getting a real-time perspective from CEO Elon Musk.  This time, the landing is successful. Perhaps we can make interplanetary travel happen sooner than later!

We create goals in life (maybe not as big as a trip to Mars), but along the way we get sidetracked by the noise of life and the dream gets lost or merely forgotten. Jesus discussed the solution to this once: “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’” (Luke 14-28-30 NASB).  Perhaps we’ll be on Mars in 2037 (or sooner), but if we really want to go there, we must keep the goal in sight and be ready to handle any setbacks that arise along the way.

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

If anything, the Mars series has provided some topics for discussion regarding the reason for traveling into space (backup plans and safety concerns are two of them). Perhaps expeditions won’t be completely scientific in the future, instead transporting people to a new locale or expensive vacation destination.  But time will tell the answer if this is the case.  Until then, we continue to look at the stars and dream of the red planet.

Mars Ep. 5 – The Importance of Community

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

The area I live in is known for occasional dust storms that are more of a nuisance than anything, blowing tumbleweeds across the highway and make driving a bit of a challenge.  However, we had a dust storm two years ago that literally scared me. The winds whipped with such frenzy that the dust in the air caused the sun to completely disappear.  As a result, the sky went pitch black and visibility was reduced to zero.  The conditions continued for over an hour, causing my commute home to become a white-knuckle affair.

As a result of that dust storm, I cannot imagine being in the situation our group of intrepid explorers face in the penultimate episode of Mars (Monday, 9 PM/8CT, National Geographic). Recall that at the end of the fourth episode, three of the original crew members stare at an incredibly large dust storm spewing lightning.  This storm has dragged on for eight weeks and isn’t close to subsiding.  As a result, any activity outside the complex is prohibited.  And since the nuclear reactor was not put back online before the storm started, battery power is the only thing running the place (the solar arrays are covered with dust and are useless). That’s an awfully precarious scenario to be in. Power has to be rationed, causing the plants in the greenhouse to wither and die, much to the chagrin of Dr. Paul Richardson (John Light), who has changed significantly as a result of the trip.  He’s incredibly distant and crew doctor Amélie Durand (Clementine Poidatz) senses a psychological issue is the problem. His drawings, however, may tell a different story.

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

The focus of this episode of Mars centers on why a psychological balance in space life is important.  It’s not as easy as one might think. Going outside isn’t always a possibility. Astronauts may not see the sun for months at a time. If a person gets upset with someone, they can’t deal with the issue(s) by simply walking away. Space life is, in many ways, like being in prison, only with (hopefully) nicer individuals to deal with. There is a severe toll placed not only on the human body, but the mind as well. An example from Russia is cited, where a six-member crew was placed in a sealed environment for 520 days; only two of the six managed to stay psychologically stable for the entire time period.  Hollywood may glamorize space, but it’s not as much fun as one might think.

Yet at the same time, community is of the utmost importance.  People have to learn how to get along, how to take care of each other, how to live life together. Loners are prime candidates for causing problems to themselves and others.  It reminds me quite a bit of the early church after Jesus’ resurrection. The Bible says, “And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people” (Acts 2:44-47 NASB).  Taking care of each other is important in life, and the sooner we realize that, the better off we’ll be as a collective whole.  It allows us an opportunity to put Jesus’ words into action in tangible ways people can see and react to (the story in Acts notes that as a result of their actions, God added to the believer’s numbers daily).

Will the colony on Mars survive the storm (and each other)?  Will the powers-that-be on Earth pull the plug on the whole mission?  Will there be a surprise none of us saw coming?  Only one episode remains to answer all of these questions . . .

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 Amélie (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.