The First: Season 1

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Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 49 Ratings

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6.5

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6.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 49 Ratings

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The First

Now Playing: The First

Season Details & Credits

HULU | Season Premiere Date: September 14, 2018

Summary: Laz Ingram (Natascha McElhone) heads up a crew that attempts to become the first humans on Mars in this sci-fi drama series created by Beau Willimon.

Genre(s): Drama, Science Fiction

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E8. Near and Far
Air Date: September 14, 2018
tbd
S1:E7. The Choice
Air Date: September 14, 2018
tbd
S1:E6. Collisions
Air Date: September 14, 2018

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Metascore

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Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

IndieWire Ben Travers

Sep 4, 2018

The middle section of Season 1 features some of the best character development, perspective shifts, and overall writing this year. Read full review

Richard Roeper

Dec 14, 2018

This is an ambitious, bold, beautiful, occasionally trippy, big-picture sci-fi drama. Read full review

Uncle Barky Ed Bark

Sep 14, 2018

For now, you’re advised to ride out The First, sluggishness and all. There are enough bright spots to bring it all home, with Mars very gradually getting closer to becoming more than just a talking point. Read full review

Willa Paskin

Sep 13, 2018

The First is a glossy, often-inert tale of devotion and spaceflight. Its first two episodes treat inevitabilities as questions, and unfold with the zip of a DVR-ed sporting event for which you already read the box score. ... But The First does get better after its first two episodes (before getting worse again) by jettisoning inevitability. ... As flawed as I found the first season, I’ll admit, it hooked me enough that I’m interested to see how they live life on Mars. Read full review

Brian Lowry

Sep 14, 2018

The First does a credible job of contemplating the costs of space travel, where, to quote an old line, no one can hear you scream. But wading through season one of this stiff but earnest series, it's possible someone will hear you snore. Read full review

Matthew Gilbert

Sep 12, 2018

The show isn’t a disaster by any means, and it features a few strong performances. But it lacks forward momentum as it lingers indulgently in some of its least interesting conflicts. Read full review

Collider Adam Chitwood

Sep 4, 2018

At every turn, The First is far more interested in lingering shots of Tom in pensive thought, or delivering a monologue about man’s destiny for space travel, or grieving for his dead wife. And perhaps that would’ve been fine if the show had something else to offer, but it also misses the mark in telling a genuinely compelling story about space travel. Read full review

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User Score

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6.5

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User Reviews

zootsuit

Oct 16, 2018

A bit slow at points but episode 5 is as stirring and surreal of television I've seen in a long time.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

LASTFURIAN

Sep 23, 2018

Fantastic brilliant show nice to see sean penn back at what he does best. Cant wait for season 2

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

xxlwyc

Sep 16, 2018

Amazing show and amazing performance from Sean Penn. I can understand those who give it a unfair low score, just because the show is not as they expected, not because of the show itself. It's not a Sci-Fi it's a wonderful drama.

6 of 11 users found this helpful65

FabrizioMaffei

Sep 20, 2018

If you expect to see a fast sci-fi series forget it, because The First isn’t that kind of science fiction, and also because there’s not much sci-fi (the first episodes and the last).
But sci-fi can also be in the background if there is a good idea, which this series reaches in half.
BehindIf you expect to see a fast sci-fi series forget it, because The First isn’t that kind of science fiction, and also because there’s not much sci-fi (the first episodes and the last).
But sci-fi can also be in the background if there is a good idea, which this series reaches in half.
Behind everything there are the feelings of the characters (and their families) who are involved in the mission that will take them to Mars.
Sometimes this kind of style (like Malick) works very well, thanks to actors such as Sean Penn and Natascha McElhone in a state of grace, but other times no and it becomes trivial, boring and in which the dialogues become just chatter for commercials.
There are characters that we've seen a few hundred times (like Denise Hagerty).
Of others characters (like Sadie Hewitt) we understand the fate from the first episode, and they are there… don’t know why.
The episode 7 doesn’t have any logical sense.
But still, The First has its charm thanks as I said to the protagonists, a great photography and beautiful music.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Strongsafety

Sep 15, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I am giving it a four because some of the acting was good. Penn is good and intense in his roles. He was good as the dad. I was expecting a movie about space exploration. But after streaming five episodes I realized that this has more to do with personal struggles on Earth than it has to do with seeing people on Mars. A lot of social issues, family issues, couples issues, politically correct issues, people getting drunk and singing, people swimming with dumbbells........I stopped after episode 5......… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

whpratt

Sep 17, 2018

The narrative is extremely disjointed and is marred by a lot of self indulgent scenes that go no where. They had an interesting premise then pulled out various plot points randomly out of a hat and shoved them into the story whether they fit or not. Nothing much happens, the characters areThe narrative is extremely disjointed and is marred by a lot of self indulgent scenes that go no where. They had an interesting premise then pulled out various plot points randomly out of a hat and shoved them into the story whether they fit or not. Nothing much happens, the characters are pretty much one dimensional, even though Sean Penn tries his hardest to bring some life to his. It like listening to a four year old tell a meandering story about nothing. This happens, then this happens, then this happens… it's a Hulu snore-fest.… Expand

4 of 10 users found this helpful46

pythag0ras

Sep 15, 2018

wow what a snore fest. Its more about the time leading up to the launch rather then seeing anyone on mars. In fact , you dont get to see them on mars at all. Shame.

5 of 10 users found this helpful55

SEE ALL 19 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

62

Series Overview
Season 1

62
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: September 14, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E8. Near and Far
  Air Date: September 14, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E7. The Choice
  Air Date: September 14, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E6. Collisions
  Air Date: September 14, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E5. Two Portraits
  Air Date: September 14, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E4. Where Life Is
  Air Date: September 14, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E3. Cycles
  Air Date: September 14, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E2. What's Needed
  Air Date: September 14, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E1. Separation
  Air Date: September 14, 2018