Mars: Season 1

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Mixed or average reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 70 Ratings

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5.6

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5.6	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 70 Ratings

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Mars

Now Playing: Mars

Season Details & Credits

National Geographic | Season Premiere Date: November 14, 2016

Starring: Ben Cotton, Anamaria Marinca, Olivier Martinez

Summary: Produced by Ron Howard, the hybrid miniseries features a scripted drama set in 2033 as six astronauts set out on the first mission to Mars with real documentary interviews with experts such as NASA administrator Charles Bolden, X-Prize Foundation head Peter Diamandis, Elon Musk, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and The Martian author Andy Weir.

Creator: Justin Wilkes and Ben Young Mason

Genre(s): Drama, Movie/Mini-Series, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction, Talk & Interview, Documentary, Science

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E7. Making MARS
Air Date: December 23, 2016
tbd
S1:E6. Crossroads
Air Date: December 19, 2016
tbd
S1:E5. Darkest Days
Air Date: December 12, 2016

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

IndieWire Ben Travers

Nov 14, 2016

The series deserves considerable respect for deftly balancing the two seemingly contradictory storytelling devices. Read full review

Verne Gay

Nov 11, 2016

Mars is interesting, and much more: Quirky, funky, earnest, intelligent, engaging and occasionally melodramatic. Read full review

Gail Pennington

Nov 10, 2016

The format is ambitious, and if some parts don’t entirely work, there’s still a lot to like and learn in Mars. Read full review

Christian Holub

Nov 11, 2016

[Mars] sounds compelling, but it suffers from some of the same problems as big screen flops like John Carter and Mars Needs Moms: There's just nothing especially appealing about an endless red desert. [18 Nov 2016, p.52]

Robert Lloyd

Nov 14, 2016

Both the documentary footage and the staged footage set in 2033 smack of a generous budget; it’s easy on the eyes. But though the alternating elements get equal time, they aren’t equally interesting, and the series is engaging and frustrating by turns. Read full review

Daniel Fienberg

Nov 14, 2016

The six-part event series obscures a reasonably engrossing, science-star-studded documentary about future exploration of the Red Planet with a far less interesting scripted drama about Mars travel that plays as basically The Martian without the personality or poop potatoes. Read full review

Glenn Garvin

Nov 12, 2016

A weird attempt to blend documentary and sci-fi, Mars is an exquisite botch of both. Its only real accomplishment is to set back the reputation of executive producer Ron Howard to the days when he was murdering the mommies of adorable little baby birds on The Andy Griffith Show. Read full review

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User Reviews

jseph1234

Nov 14, 2016

Just had the PLEASURE of watching "Mars" on the National Geographic website and have to say it was wonderful experience and made remember why I first love hearing about Man going into Space as a child during the late 60's and 70's.

I remember the Apollo 11 - 17 Moon missions and followingJust had the PLEASURE of watching "Mars" on the National Geographic website and have to say it was wonderful experience and made remember why I first love hearing about Man going into Space as a child during the late 60's and 70's.

I remember the Apollo 11 - 17 Moon missions and following Pioneer on its journey to Jupiter and Skylab onto the Space Shuttle missions and the heartache of those missions.

That's what "Mars" invoked and I am glad to share these feelings, experiences and remembrances with the world.

Bon Voyage!… Expand

6 of 14 users found this helpful68

basaintarobot

Jan 13, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Watched the first (2) episode/s last night on Australian TV, excellent take on the concept, giving us background on where we are at today...(or at least in 2016), and where we might be in the near future. Clearly great effort has gone into this production and I would say the result is captivating and insightful, the show takes a realistic look at what could probably happen, and that being ...anything. Highly recommended for those interested in realistic space travel for mankind, but, if you are looking for a Space cowboys action type approach, you have come to the wrong place. An excellent show.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

erom1943

Nov 21, 2018

This took a little patience, at first. Because it was part fictional mini series, interlaced with actual documentary, it took some getting used to. But I ended up enjoying it immensely. It is about science, science fiction, astronomy and exploration. It is eye opening with respect to theThis took a little patience, at first. Because it was part fictional mini series, interlaced with actual documentary, it took some getting used to. But I ended up enjoying it immensely. It is about science, science fiction, astronomy and exploration. It is eye opening with respect to the complicated logistics involved with the exploration, and possible colonization of mars.
The documentary portion explains via interviews with scientists, the difficulties associated with a venture like this, and goes into detail about the actual mars rovers that landed on the planet.. The fictional portion deals with the inaugural trip of astronauts sent to explore mars, and determine the viability of colonization. If you're into science, or science fiction, this is a must see.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

Injun

Nov 28, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Well done for trying to mix the documentary side with the science fiction. The documentary side is well done and I found myself wishing it was all documentary as the fiction parts are just terrible.

In one episode they are lowering one of the party into a Lava tube by a winch to find a suitable place for a base camp. Why there is an echo when the astronaut speaks when she has a helmet on and all the comms are inside the helmet drove me mad. Surely people who make these things have at least half a brain....apparently not.

And to top it off as she descends into the darkness unable to find the bottom with just the lights on her helmet to see, she finally reaches the bottom then walks backwards and nearly falls off a ledge. I mean come on, people actually get paid to write this tripe. I am positive a professional astronaut would not behave like that and if they did they wouldn't make it very far on the way to Mars. Oh and then she produces a light stick to throw over the ledge to see how far down it is! Why didn't she use that initially on the way down. Awful, utterly unbelievable dogs**t!!!!!!… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

m0skit0

Dec 25, 2017

I only needed 1 episode to stop watching "Mars". Unlike other negative reviews here, I find the format appealing. The interviews are good enough, probably the best part of the show, although not deserving more than a 6/10. The absolute disaster is the actual 2033 Mars mission. Only peopleI only needed 1 episode to stop watching "Mars". Unlike other negative reviews here, I find the format appealing. The interviews are good enough, probably the best part of the show, although not deserving more than a 6/10. The absolute disaster is the actual 2033 Mars mission. Only people unfamiliar with good sci-fi literature can somehow like this. It pretends to be realistic and scientific, and, despite having several excellent sci-fi books to draw inspiration from (Red Mars trilogy, The Martian...), the show runners decided to write a "plot" which can only be described as an idiot plot: "a plot which is kept in motion solely by virtue of the fact that everybody involved is an idiot". Unfortunately an absolute waste of money and time.… Expand

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

Msand

Jan 24, 2017

I love a good docudrama but just found this to be slow and really not worth the effort. The show is not really a documentary or a drama, just a mish mash of the two. Disappointing as I was really keen to watch.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

Doctorwho12

Nov 12, 2018

Billions in tech and equipment and what does them in is... human stupid variables. Unreal. Oh well, maybe indirectly show wants to demonstrate notion on hoe bad judgments and little human factors can destroy everything but the obvious... Ah, could do more than one trip in Rover! Ah, push theBillions in tech and equipment and what does them in is... human stupid variables. Unreal. Oh well, maybe indirectly show wants to demonstrate notion on hoe bad judgments and little human factors can destroy everything but the obvious... Ah, could do more than one trip in Rover! Ah, push the load so have to walk... are you kidding me? Just hope the real team actually stupid proof before put in front of a miniature city of equipment.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

SEE ALL 22 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

59

Series Overview
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: November 12, 2018
Season 1

59
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: November 14, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E7. Making MARS
  Air Date: December 23, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E6. Crossroads
  Air Date: December 19, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E5. Darkest Days
  Air Date: December 12, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E4. Power
  Air Date: December 5, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E3. Pressure Drop
  Air Date: November 28, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E2. Grounded
  Air Date: November 21, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E1. Novo Mundo
  Air Date: November 14, 2016