The Man Who Fell to Earth (2022)

Loaded with fantastic performances and a fascinating plot, The Man Who Fell To Earth not only entertains but may even give you a greater appreciation for what it means to be human.

The writing sometimes takes too long to truly get things going, weighed down by creating its episode-by-episode mysteries instead of fired up by them. But that’s where the collective charisma of its cast kicks in, as they are able to fill in a great deal of the show’s gaps. ... Faraday contains a great deal of mystery, and that includes his motivation of hope and discovery. The show, at least in is takeoff, has enough of both of those to make you want to see what happens next.

“The Man Who Fell to Earth” is at its best when Naomie Harris’ Justin and Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Faraday are front and center, each in mourning, each on a desperate mission, each depending on the other to somehow achieve the miraculous.

In just four episodes sent to critics, The Man Who Fell to Earth is at least two or three somewhat different shows, and there’s a tonal whiplash that can be perplexing. But thus far a delightful performance from Chiwetel Ejiofor holds the series together in ways that remain entertaining and full of potential.

This version of The Man Who Fell To Earth could stand to learn something from its predecessor and rely on the strength of its cast and the story, instead of surrounding them with noisy, expensive special effects and scattershot physical comedy.

While all of those issues [immigrant experience, the ever-present dangers of capitalism, and America’s failing healthcare system] are certainly worthy of exploration, the show’s distillation of its themes is neither subtle nor subversive. The writers seem to be aiming for something deeply affecting in an attempt to appeal to a wide audience, but they fail to recognize the key to the power of Tevis’s story: its peculiarity.

The miniseries opts instead to shift its commentaries into a comfortable middlebrow register, spending much of the first four episodes supplied to critics on entry-level spaceman thought exercises.

Chiwetel Ejiofor is phenomenal. Excellent acting from an excellent actor. Don't understand from where all the negativity comes, but's a pretty good show.

Chiwetel Ejiofor plays the visitor from a failing planet who crashes on Earth with a mission to find a brilliant scientist (Naomie Harris) and help save our planet from imminent disaster. Any good sci-fi flick has to offer cool concepts backed by snazzy visuals and this one delivers. Ejiofor is captivating (and sometimes amusing) as he navigates humanity. The concepts are fascinating and the performances are strong, making it a compelling sci-fi adventure with a message. (Review based on 4 of 8 episodes with additional ones released weekly.)