Critic Reviews

Among the enchanting aspects of “Space Force”, and they’re countless, is its capacity to seem what it decidedly is not. ... Wit-drenched series. ... The series is rich in skilled performances, among them Jimmy O. Yang as the unshakably poised Dr. Chan Kaifang, who steals more than a few scenes, and Noah Emmerich as Gen. Kick Grabaston, Gen. Naird’s enemy. The highest accolades belong, of course, to the writers of this comedy of sparkling sophistication, chimpanzees included, and wit that runs deep.

There are characters that work better than others, and it takes a few episodes for the series to find the right tone (satire ain’t easy), but by the end of the 10-episode first-season run I found myself endeared to this disparate ensemble and deeply invested in what happens next. So, you know, a Greg Daniels show.

An earnestly amusing show that isn't afraid to wear its heart on its star-spangled sleeve. [8 - 21 Jun 2020, p.4]

Space Force is a diversionary delight at best. Missed opportunities abound (whether it’s under-developed characters or first-draft jokes), and anyone expecting a “Veep”-level satire or “Office”-like innovation may be disappointed. Season 2, which seems inevitable given the talent involved, could easily go haywire or refine itself into something better. As it stands, “Space Force” is clearly made with joy. Maybe it won’t fill the “Office”-sized hole in Netflix subscribers’ hearts when the series leaves the service later this year, and perhaps it could serve a greater purpose than silly fun.

There’s tremendous silliness in Space Force, but it doesn’t slip out often enough.

While “Space Force” benefits from Carell’s impeccable comedic timing and his uncanny ability to play yet another character who’s often an insufferable buffoon with not a speck of self-awareness, the humor is hit-and-miss, the big-budget slapstick set pieces are mildly funny when they should be Mel Brooks funny. ... Don’t get me wrong; I enjoyed “Space Force.” The roughly half-hour episodes zip by and elicit a steady stream of smiles and chuckles. It’s just with all the credentials of the main contributors, we hoped for greatness and got … pretty good.

Much Trump-era political comedy seems drawn from the very specific genre of “you gotta laugh or you’ll cry,” a flavor of humor you can only ever tolerate for so long. By shedding that sensibility and refocusing on its own unique humor, Space Force did the most valuable thing it could: Make us want more.

The show proves much quicker with its droll dialogue than the dramatic force involving America trying to take over space. And yet after seeing all of season one I am still recommending this show, in part because adjusting expectations does make it more enjoyable, and it simply is funny enough to warrant a look.

While none of the jokes land with the same precision as "Veep's", they do play in the same pool. If Kudrow had been given more screen time, she just might have made this zing as well as "The Comeback."

Space Force doesn’t have quite enough story for its first 10 episodes—though these days, that’s par for the course for the first season of a streaming show. What the series does have, in spades, is a much more ineffable quality: tone.