The Man Who Fell to Earth Story:-
Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Naomie Harris, and Bill Nighy, Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet’s series could use a touch of oddity.
Movie Ratings
| Release Date | 24 April 2022 |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Sci-Fi |
| Episodes | 10 |
| Creator | Alex Kurtzman, Jenny Lumet |
| Cast | Chiwetel Ejiofor, Naomie Harris, Jimmi Simpson, Clarke Peters, Rob Delaney, Sonya Cassidy, Joana Ribeiro, Annelle Olaleye, Bill Nighy, Kate Mulgrew |
| Writer | Alex Kurtzman, Jenny Lumet |
| Producer | Rola Bauer, Carl Beverly, Françoise Guyonnet, John Hlavin, Heather Kadin, Alex Kurtzman, Jenny Lumet, Sarah Timberman |
| Production | Secret Hideout, Timberman/Beverly, Tandem Productions |
| Certificate | 13+ |
Over 45 years since the iconic “The Man Who Fell to Earth” introduced David Bowie’s melancholic crash into a Kentucky lake, Showtime’s new sequel series propels Chiwetel Ejiofor into the New Mexican desert to carry on the story. The link between the 1976 film and this 2022 show is evident from the start, especially with Bill Nighy portraying the older version of Bowie’s character, Thomas Newton. Yet, Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet’s rendition differs significantly from its stylish predecessor, aside from the shared premise.
Some of this stark divergence is intentional, particularly concerning the central space oddity driving this continuation. In the initial four episodes, Ejiofor’s Farraday emerges as the show’s most deliberate and effective departure from the character central to Walter Tevis’ novel and Nicolas Roeg’s film adaptation. Ejiofor presents a stark contrast, from his tense, robotic demeanor to the wide-eyed portrayal of confusion, loneliness, and fear.
Farraday also displays less interest in adapting to Earthly life compared to Newton, be it food, sex, or grasping the intricacies of human emotion. This isn’t due to an inability to feel but rather because, as he underscores at every opportunity, his species faces near-extinction. His desperation to save his home planet is blunt and focused—the mission Newton abandoned amidst a drunken haze, even before the interference of the CIA.
This leads to the second significant difference between the iterations of “The Man Who Fell to Earth,” dictated largely by the passage of time. Set almost fifty years after Newton’s supposed mission to save his overheated planet, the series overtly tackles the climate crisis, focusing on Farraday and former scientist Justin Falls (Naomie Harris) endeavoring to save Earth. Their partnership forms the backbone of the series, though it’s frustrating to see Harris spending much of the initial episodes in shocked disbelief.
As expected, the series’ primary antagonists are the corporate entities prioritizing profit over the health of the planet. While sadistic CIA agent Spencer Clay (played chillingly by Jimmi Simpson) and his handler Drew (a standout performance by Kate Mulgrew) pursue Newton, the heirs of Newton’s technology company, Sonya Cassidy and Rob Delaney, bicker over the future of his patents. Simpson commands the higher-stakes action, but Cassidy and Delaney shine in their portrayal of the Flood siblings, with Cassidy’s eerie calm contrasting Delaney’s anxious energy stealing the spotlight.
Similar to the Roeg film, Kurtzman and Lumet’s “Man Who Fell to Earth” captivates most when it embraces clashes of tone, delving into the bizarre. This could entail ghostly Newton issuing warnings amidst gin swigs and tornado gusts, Farraday desperately guzzling water, or Justin grappling with eerie silence in the Floods’ ancestral home. However, despite the source material’s gorgeous strangeness, the production appears hesitant to fully embrace the weirdness, perhaps fearing it may alienate the audience.
Kurtzman, known for his work on the “Star Trek” franchise, helms the first four episodes, initially sticking to a more conventional approach. Even beyond Justin’s desert abode, adorned with her father’s mischievous metalworks, the production and set design fail to transport viewers to a world distinct from our own.
The series stumbles right from its opening scene, depicting a wildly successful Farraday captivating an audience like an extraterrestrial Elon Musk. This choice falls into the tired TV cliché of starting in the future before flashing back, sapping tension from the narrative. Knowing that Farraday is hailed as a genius from another world before understanding how he got there diminishes the show’s impact. While it makes sense that the Earth Farraday lands on isn’t as peculiar as Newton’s, the series would benefit from embracing more of that uncanniness to leave a lasting impression.
“The Man Who Fell to Earth” premieres Sunday, April 24 at 10 pm.
