Amazing cast and some of the writing was solid. It was just very slow paced, kinda dry in spots, and the Parks and Rec-style optimism just didn't work in a Trump admin.
33
Toby_O_NotobyApr 12, 2026
+6
>It was just very slow-paced, kinda dry in spots.
I've heard the problem is that Carell (reasonably) didn't want to do another Office-style show, even though this was another workplace sitcom.
So one of the things they did (which you can see in this clip) is try to film everything more like a movie and made it very cinematic. Unfortunately, you then had to film what you planned, and there wasn't much room for improv.
6
AuDHDinoApr 11, 2026
+10
To your third point, I think that optimism is always welcome and necessary. Even when dealing with evil fools.
10
Wazula23Apr 11, 2026
+9
It was naive optimism though. Basically trying to keep that Obama-age idea going that we might have some differences but ultimately we're all on the same team and the government will do the right thing because of it.
9
AuDHDinoApr 12, 2026
+6
I interpreted it kind of the opposite, Steve carells character definitely was what you said, but most of the cast came off as "despite the idiots in charge, we will do somethings great".
6
feichingerApr 12, 2026
+6
The "problem" was that it was originally conceived for a left-leaning audience to mock the idea of a Space Force, but the more they researched for it, the more they figured it wasn't actually so ridiculous. Carell talked about that a bit around the first season, iirc. So it ended up as a rather bland workspace sitcom at a time when those had mostly run their course, and didn't have the political bite it was originally supposed to have.
The second season then tried to adjust it into something more of a NASA comedy under the premise of a government that's somehow hostile to its own creation, which didn't really fit the theme nor the original premise. Combine that with the difficulties of a production at the height of COVID, and it just had no chance.
6
KamakaziturtleApr 13, 2026
+2
It's incredible how so many people jumped on Space Force as being ridiculous without even understanding it's something we already had, just under the umbrella of the Air Force. Eventually the various satellite programs and so on simply got big enough that it warranted a new branch for the sake of logistics. The exact same thing happened with the Air Force.
2
feichingerApr 13, 2026
+2
There were _some_ valid arguments in the critique, to be fair. Establishing a Space Force as a dedicated branch does symbolize militarisation that global society wanted to avoid. But most of it was "lol Trump", without even considering the very valid reasons to establish a dedicated command structure and bundling projects that were scattered across the branches (remember, USSF also includes Cyber, for example).
2
KamakaziturtleApr 13, 2026
+2
The militarization has already started sadly, was already in place even prior to Space Force. The US was actually pretty late to the party in establishing a standalone branch.
2
feichingerApr 13, 2026
+2
Absolutely, and we could have had a very reasonable discussion about whether a USSF is an appropriate response to that global pressure. Or about how to define the mission statement in light of that backdrop. But it all got drowned out between MAGA's sycophantic cheers and the screeching from the other side of the aisle.
Again, something the show could have actually built upon, if it had kept the political bite.
2
switch8000Apr 11, 2026
+18
This was a fun show.
18
contrarian1970Apr 11, 2026
+5
An irritable scientist, a general who is a bully, and a sentry who is slow witted...I feel like we've seen those characters a zillion times haha!
5
pat_the_treeApr 12, 2026
+2
This show was great, was disappointed it got cancelled.
2
3six5Apr 12, 2026
+1
Thos show should've gone for 10 seasons
1
Daguse0Apr 12, 2026
+1
ohh man, I enjoyed the show.... wish it lasted longer.
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