The Man Who Fell To Earth (Series) Review

Chiwetel Ejiofor stars in "The Man Who Fell to Earth" as Faraday, an alien who crash-lands in New Mexico on a mission to save his home planet. Needing help, he enlists Justin Falls (Naomie Harris), a former MIT scientist now juggling the care of her ailing father and young daughter, while occasionally moonlighting as a pharmaceutical pirate for her dad. Justin once flirted with a groundbreaking energy source idea but fell short, leaving her disillusioned. Enter Faraday, naked, confused, and guzzling water like it’s an Olympic sport, who believes Justin holds the key to saving not just his planet, but Earth as well.

Faraday’s journey includes pit stops like a tornado epicenter in New Mexico (because why not?) and a tech behemoth called Origin in Seattle. Episode one teases us with a scene of Faraday as a tech titan, revealing a world-changing energy source to a sold-out crowd. It’s a bit like starting a book by reading the last page, but hey, it’s about the journey, not the destination, right?

Meanwhile, Jimmi Simpson as CIA agent Spencer Clay, who could use a lesson or two in work-life balance, catches wind of Faraday’s activities. After a tornado accompanied by a mysterious signal not seen in decades, he becomes obsessed with uncovering the secrets of former tech guru Thomas Newton and his company, World Enterprises.

Co-created and often co-written by Alex Kurtzman ("The Mummy") and Jenny Lumet ("Rachel Getting Married"), the series boasts the glitzy veneer of a blockbuster but remains grounded. It’s clever enough to acknowledge the 1976 Nicolas Roeg film starring David Bowie, using iconic elements like a traumatic surgery scene and Bowie’s hat-covered face to color its narrative. Casting Bill Nighy as Newton is a stroke of genius, allowing the character to live on without ruffling any feathers.

The writing occasionally dawdles, bogged down by episode-by-episode mysteries instead of sprinting through them. Thankfully, the cast's charisma shines through, filling in the gaps. Ejiofor is captivating as an alien learning human quirks, whether it’s not shouting “F**K!” in public or casually mentioning his four stomachs. His performance is heartfelt, contrasting sharply with Bowie’s minimalist approach in the original.

Naomie Harris as Justin is a formidable counterpart, her intensity and fear palpable as she gradually believes in Faraday’s extraterrestrial origins. Harris’s portrayal adds depth, making the show's unpredictable journey more engaging. Toss in a motormouth Rob Delaney and scene-stealer Clarke Peters, and you get vibrant, punchy scenes that keep the narrative lively, even as it gingerly tiptoes to its next plot point.

After four episodes, it’s unclear how the series will maintain momentum for ten, especially since it’s less solemn and more polished than Roeg’s primal, 140-minute cinematic odyssey. This version is eager to please, sometimes to a fault, and only briefly delves into what it means to be human. Yet, with more episodes on the horizon, there’s plenty of room to explore Faraday’s immigrant-like experience and his mysterious, hopeful mission. So far, the show’s takeoff has enough intrigue and heart to make you curious about what’s next.