2009’s Defying Gravity came and went far too quickly, but it delivered a decent sci fi entry that presented an accurate portrayal of near-space travel.
What Is It?
This short-lived 2009 TV series followed the crew of the spaceship Antares on a near-future expedition to explore our solar system. The story unfolds through a series of flashbacks covering the training period for the mission, as well as the present-day activities (from the show’s perspective) of the crew as they leave Earth for their first destination, Venus. The space mission is filmed as part of a reality show that is beamed back to Earth so planet-bound audiences can follow their progress (which also helps with funding). But a series of mishaps besets the crew, leading to a revelation that could jeopardize the mission.
Aired: ABC, 2009, 1 Season Totaling 13 Episodes
Starring: Ron Livingston, Malik Yoba, Christina Cox, Andrew Airlie, Paula Garces
Created By: James D. Parriott
Why It Stands Out:
This series managed to deliver a well-made science fiction entry with a realistic look at near future space travel as well as an interesting story arc (along with some soap opera asides), and it had just begun to hit its stride when it was cancelled. It has since developed somewhat of a cult following, but will likely never have its storylines resolved.
A Closer Look:
Defying Gravity came and went so quickly that many people never realized it was on the air. Creator James D. Parriott pitched it as “Grey’s Anatomy in space,” and it delivered a genre-splicing show that the network never quite knew what to do with. As a result, ABC placed it in an unfavorable late-summer time slot, where it never had much of a chance to find an audience.
Early on, the series leaned heavily into soap-opera elements as it alternated between the space mission at the heart of the story and flashbacks to the astronaut training program that led to the selection of the final eight crew members. However, the narrative focus began to shift as the season progressed, with the writers weaving more science-fiction elements into the mix. In fact, the show really started to gain momentum just as ABC lost faith in it and pulled it off the air. The story from Episode 8 (the last episode aired in the United States) through the series finale delivered some genuinely strong and, at times, thought-provoking science fiction. It’s also at this point that viewers discover that several early story threads—which initially seemed like mere soap-opera detours designed to justify some gratuitous sex scenes—were actually integral pieces of the larger arc.
Yes, the writers relied heavily on love interests and personal friction to spice up the story, and yes, that was likely intended to boost ratings (which didn’t work). But ultimately, many of these elements were effectively folded into an overarching storyline that leaned strongly toward science fiction—or even speculative fiction—resulting in a genre-blending show that sci-fi fans perhaps should have been more patient with. The series also offered a very believable look at how humanity might explore the solar system in the near future, both technologically and personally (if you’re going to place men and women in confined quarters for extended periods, you have to address the implications of their biological urges).
The show benefited from an excellent cast led by Ron Livingston (best known from 1999’s Office Space), and they worked well as an ensemble. The production values were strong as well, delivering solid visual effects that accurately depicted space travel. Ultimately, though, the show may have leaned a bit too heavily into sci fi for a broadcast network series, and it failed to find a sizable audience (more on that below). Defying Gravity has since developed a modest cult following and is definitely worth seeking out, but it remains yet another genre entry cut short without much resolution.
Cancelled Too Soon?
Definitely. As noted above, ABC never seemed to know what to do with the show and ended up dumping it into a late-summer slot with very little promotion. Unsurprisingly, ratings were low, and the network pulled the series after only eight episodes had aired. Series creator James Parriott later gave a detailed description of how the show would have progressed which provides at least some closure, though fans would much rather have had at least one more season.
Should It Be Rebooted?
It probably won’t be, but I’d be on board for a return. The series ended on a major cliffhanger, and there was clearly more story to tell. Picking things up after a fifteen-year gap would be challenging, but perhaps they could work in a plot device that deals with that. A ground-up reboot is another possibility, but it would be a shame to lose the strong first season that already exists. And since the show never attracted more than a small following, it seems unlikely that the industry would be interested in reviving it anyway.
Interesting Facts:
Defying Gravity was inspired by the BBC produced dramatized mockumentary Space Odyssey: Voyage To The Planets. That two episode series followed the five person crew of the Pegasus on its tour through the solar system.
Defying Gravity debuted on August 2, 2009, a month and a half after the TV movie Virtuality aired on FOX. The latter film, developed by BSG veteran Ronald D. Moore, had a similar premise of giving a believable look at near future space travel and was intended as a pilot for a television series that never materialized (more on that one at this link).
Where Can You Watch It?
The series was released on DVD, and it is currently available at a very economical price from Amazon.com. It is not on any of the major streaming services as of this writing, but it is available to purchase VOD.
Ahhh, I spotted this: only 8 episodes were shown in the US, but there are 13 total. So there are 5 more that we didn’t see here in the U.S. … I’ll have to track those down someday!
They are included on the DVD.