The Ark

:

Season 1
  • Network: SyFy
  • Series Premiere Date: Feb 1, 2023
Season #: 2, 1
Metascore
50

Mixed or average reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 9
  3. Negative: 1 out of 9
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Critic Reviews

  1. RogerEbert.com
    Reviewed by: Nick Allen
    Jan 31, 2023
    80
    “The Ark” is a nifty problem-solver sci-fi show, made digestible by shameless stock dialogue mixed with plenty of cliffhanger moments.
  2. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Angie Han
    Jan 31, 2023
    70
    The Ark may never be admired for its thematic profundity, or its brave ideas, or its nuanced character development. But by the fourth hourlong episode sent to critics (of a 12-episode season), it finds its own groove as a bit of exciting, undemanding fun.
  3. Paste Magazine
    Reviewed by: Kathryn Porter
    Feb 1, 2023
    65
    It’s an easy watch, it doesn’t make you use your brain an unreasonable amount, and it has a good premise that is easy to follow and care about. It isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel, and it should not aim to. The best part about it is that it’s exactly what someone should expect if they flip to Syfy.
  5. Decider
    Reviewed by: Joel Keller
    Feb 8, 2023
    60
    The first couple of episodes of The Ark are rough, because the characters take time to settle in. But the first episode brings up enough intrigue to make those episode worth watching until everyone finds their place in the story.
  6. Wall Street Journal
    Reviewed by: John Anderson
    Jan 31, 2023
    50
    “The Ark,” in its “Star Trek”-meets-“Love Island” manner, is enjoyable and engaging enough, especially if one ignores the overly broad acting, contrived conflicts, abrasive people and constant sniping among the characters. ... It’s a trope that the low-ranking people in a quasi-situation comedy such as “The Ark” are not only more charming but more capable than their superiors, who spend much time stewing over power and seizing authority. But if viewers expected the new world to be much different from the old, this series will disabuse them of that.
  7. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Jan 26, 2023
    45
    “The Ark” is poorly written (grating exposition galore!) with mediocre special effects and cardboard characters. Syfy’s latest disappoints on every level.
  8. CNN
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Feb 2, 2023
    40
    If this sort of series is only as good as its characters, The Ark is a poorly populated enterprise, not to be confused with the Enterprise.
  9. Variety
    Reviewed by: Joshua Alston
    Feb 1, 2023
    40
    Every member of the deep ensemble is introduced, but they never quite feel like more than vessels for nonstop exposition. The tone of “The Ark” never seems right, from the broad humor to a victorious score that often clashes with the bleak circumstances. ... The last of the four episodes sent to critics does settle into a more interesting groove, mostly because the characters finally get a moment to breathe.
  10. The Daily Beast
    Reviewed by: Nick Schager
    Feb 1, 2023
    20
    It doesn’t help that the show’s cast is equally drab, their performances corny, broad, and altogether unconvincing. ... What’s missing is compelling action, serviceable CGI, and a sense of this all taking place within a grander context. ... There’s nothing under the hood of The Ark except a lot of ho-hum parts borrowed from better voyage-into-the-beyond sagas.

Awards & Rankings

83
#83 Most Discussed TV Season of 2023

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
4.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 6 out of 10
  1. Doctor_Huw
    Feb 3, 2023
    2
    Another attempted space opera. Weak even by the standards of past SyFy garbage like the now-legendary Sharknado, but without the campy humor.Another attempted space opera. Weak even by the standards of past SyFy garbage like the now-legendary Sharknado, but without the campy humor. Almost 20 years ago, Battlestar Galactica showed how sci-fi could get space opera right. And the special effects of that series — 2 decades ago — were far better than the absurdly bad effects of "The Ark." The effects in Ark are roughly on a par with those of "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" — 40 years ago. Terrible. The acting lifts it out of a 1 or a 0. Barely. But how do you rate passable acting with abysmal characters?

    This does suggest a new game — SyFy bingo. List the garbage gimmicks that SyFy execs love — cookie cutter characters; terrible, outdated effects; idiotic backstories; pseudo-political seriousness; plot holes a 5 year old could see; etc. Array them on a card. See who gets bingo first. It should take about 10 minutes. The catch is, you may not be able to bear watching that long.    … Full Review »
  2. Smae2
    Feb 18, 2023
    10
    This is not a top budget Sci-fi like discovery, nor does it have the most experienced actors going. If you're here for SFX or the best costumeThis is not a top budget Sci-fi like discovery, nor does it have the most experienced actors going. If you're here for SFX or the best costume design, you're going to be disappointed.

    I recall watching The Pilot for Star Trek (TOS), episode 1 of The Ark is far better. This will mature over time and find its feet.

    After the first 10 minutes or so, where I had to set some expectations aside it manages to find some kind of stability. As an attempt to break into the Sci-fi world, of which there is precious little content this looks promising. I should note that Jonathan Glassner of SG-1 heritage is onboard with this.

    As far as the acting goes, I actually feel it's quite realistic, there are mistakes and bad decisions everywhere, which ties into the general premise. This doesn't seem to have the general mary sue that some sci-fi shows suffer from.

    Don't let the reviews put you off giving this a chance.

    I'm giving it full marks because I thoroughly enjoyed it.    … Full Review »
  3. nholmes22
    Feb 7, 2023
    0
    Bad graphics, bad plot, generic troupes, I couldn't make it more than 10 minutes in.
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