Nightflyers (TV series)

Nightflyers is an American horror science fiction television series that premiered on Syfy in the United States on December 2, 2018, and on Netflix, internationally on February 1, 2019. The series is based on the novella and series of short stories of the same name by George R. R. Martin. The first season consisted of ten episodes, which concluded on December 13, 2018. Syfy canceled the series in February 2019.

Premise
In 2093, a team of scientists embarked on a journey into space aboard an advanced ship called the Nightflyer. Their mission is to make first contact with alien life-forms. When terrifyingly violent events begin to occur aboard, the team begins to question each other but comes to the realization that there must be something else on board the Nightflyer with them. It is up to the crew to save the ship themselves and complete their mission.

Main

 * Eoin Macken as Karl d’Branin, an astrophysicist and leader of the Nightflyer expedition
 * David Ajala as Roy Eris, the reclusive captain of the Nightflyer
 * Jodie Turner-Smith as Melantha Jhirl
 * Angus Sampson as Rowan, a xenobiologist
 * Sam Strike as Thale, an L-1 telepath
 * Maya Eshet as Lommie Thorne, a cyberneticist who communicates with the Nightflyer's computers via a neuro-port surgically implanted in her arm
 * Brían F. O'Byrne as Auggie, chief engineer of the Nightflyer
 * Gretchen Mol as Agatha Matheson, a psychiatrist who specializes in working with telepaths

Recurring

 * Phillip Rhys as Murphy
 * Gwynne McElveen as Dr. Tobis
 * Zoë Tapper as Joy d'Branin
 * Miranda Raison as Tessia
 * Bronte Carmichael as Skye d'Branin
 * Youssef Kerkour as Hartley Suczek
 * Joplin Sibtain as Lommie's father
 * Josette Simon as Cynthia
 * Brielle Olaleye as young Cynthia
 * Daniel Adegboyega as Henry Eris
 * Olwen Fouéré as Connie
 * Ned Dennehy as Captain Judson

Development
In 2016, Syfy began developing a series based on Martin's novella after its acquisition. The series is also based on the film adaptation from 1987. George R. R. Martin was not directly involved with the series due to his exclusive contract with HBO, but was credited as an executive producer.

Filming
The series started its production in early 2018 on location in Limerick, Ireland, and also at the Limerick-based Troy Studios, with Daniel Cerone serving as the showrunner. Cerone also serves as a series executive producer, along with Gene Klein, David Bartis, and Doug Liman of Hypnotic; Alison Rosenzweig and Michael Gaeta of Gaeta Rosenzweig Films; and Lloyd Ivan Miller and Alice P. Neuhauser of Lloyd Ivan Miller Productions.

For the visual effects, Spin VFX is the main vendor, with Territory Studio supplying user interfaces and Switch Visual Effects providing additional support. The visual effects have to work seamlessly with the huge practical set built for the ship.

Release
Netflix joined the series as a co-producer, and holds international airing rights in addition to secondary airing rights in the United States. Nightflyers premiered on Syfy on December 2, 2018. The first season consisted of ten episodes. The first season became available to stream on Netflix worldwide on February 1, 2019. Syfy canceled the series in February 2019.

Critical response
On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an approval rating of 33% based on 27 reviews, with an average rating of 5.41/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "Unsettling without being particularly scary, Nightflyers's low-budget aesthetics and over-reliance on homage betray its intriguing philosophical pondering and impressive creative pedigree". Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 47 out of 100 based on 14 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".

Alex McLevy of The A.V. Club was disappointed that the show does not do more to upend genre conventions the way Game of Thrones successfully did, writing, "The showrunner Jeff Buhler doesn’t quite know how to make it feel new again". McLevy praised the show for its "appealing visual style" despite budgetary limitations, and of the acting cast, he singled out Maya Eshet, "who elevates every scene in which she appears". He compared the show to the film Event Horizon and called the show engaging but lacking in depth, suggesting the show may appeal more to those who already enjoy the sci-fi horror genre.