- 2008
- PBS
SummaryExpose yourself to the world of working on a nuclear aircraft carrier. Filmmakers immerse themselves in the microcosm that is life on the USS Nimitz, as they probe into the professional and person lives of the crew. This series was awarded a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography for Reality Programming.
Carrier
Season 1 Premiere:
Apr 27, 2008
Metascore
Generally Favorable
74
User score
Generally Unfavorable
3.5
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
74
67% Positive
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
33% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
90
That balance of viewpoints--positive and negative, tragic and comic--is what makes Carrier such extraordinary viewing.
80
With its scenic photography, slick editing and relentless pop-rock soundtrack, Carrier has the feel of a movie, or maybe the world's longest recruitment video. It's also an engrossing, rewarding and addictive study of personal endurance and sacrifice.
80
What sets Carrier apart is the amount of time devoted to this single topic, a whopping 10 hours. I made it through the first three hours without losing interest, but I wonder how many viewers will gut it out for the duration.
80
The filmmakers deliver a fine balance of both elated big-gun worship and humiliated bathroom cleaning, melting-pot team-making and the cliquishness of ethnic groups.
60
But even at 10 hours, Carrier feels cursory and incomplete. That's not to say that at most any given moment it's uninteresting--it's quite watchable--just that it doesn't add up to as much as it should.
40
Clearly, the producers have endeavored to offer a snapshot of their service, but because Carrier lacks a sharp point of view, there's a kind of "duh" quality to the results.
User score
Generally Unfavorable
3.5
50% Positive
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
50% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
Jun 24, 2026
7
NOT FROM USA: This show was a fantastic view into what the US sailors on these aircraft carriers experience, from the highs about seeing the world, but also the numerous lows. I think it should be a must watch before someone is seeking to enlist in the US Navy.
Report
Production Company:
- Carrier Project
- Icon Productions
Initial Release Date:Apr 27, 2008
Number of seasons:1 Season
Genres:
Awards
Primetime Emmy Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
