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The Ark (TV series)

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Not to be confused with The Ark (Doctor Who).

The Ark
TV release poster
Genre
Created byDean Devlin
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes24
Production
Executive producers
  • Dean Devlin
  • Jonathan Glassner
  • Marc Roskin
  • Rachel Olschan-Wilson
  • Steve Lee
Producers
Production locationsPFI Studios, Belgrade, Serbia
Production companies
Original release
NetworkSyfy
ReleaseFebruary 1, 2023 (2023-02-01) –
present (present)

The Ark is an American science fiction television series created by Dean Devlin, with Devlin and Jonathan Glassner serving as showrunners for the series. It premiered on Syfy on February 1, 2023, with the first season consisting of twelve episodes. The series stars Christie Burke as Lt. Sharon Garnet who becomes the de facto captain of an interstellar spacecraft after a disaster. It also stars Reece Ritchie, Richard Fleeshman, Stacey Michelle Read, Ryan Adams, Pavle Jerinić, Shalini Peiris, Christina Wolfe, and Tiana Upcheva. In April 2023, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on July 17, 2024.[1]

Premise

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A hundred years in the future, a spacecraft known as Ark One is shuttling a complement of would-be colonists away from a devastated Earth to a new home, Proxima b. The ship suffers a catastrophic event that kills almost all of the technical crew and all of the ship's senior officers. The survivors must work to reorganize themselves to maintain the ship and stay on course to reach their destination.[2]

Cast and characters

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Main

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  • Christie Burke as Lt. Sharon Garnet,[3] one of the three highest-ranking remaining members of the crew and the de facto captain of the ship after the disaster
  • Reece Ritchie as Lt. Spencer Lane ,[3] one of the three highest-ranking remaining members of the crew; he is suspicious of Garnet's leadership
    • Ritchie also portrays Ian (season 2), a clone and Spencer's brother
  • Richard Fleeshman as Lt. James Brice,[3] one of the three highest-ranking remaining members of the crew and a self-proclaimed "navigation wonk" who now has to take on other duties after the disaster
  • Stacey Read as Alicia Nevins,[3] a waste management engineer with coding skills who is promoted to chief of life support
  • Ryan Adams as Angus Medford,[3] a farm and 4-H youth from horticulture whose duties include crop development at the prospective colony
  • Pavle Jerinić[4] as Felix Strickland, acting head of security enforcement
  • Shalini Peiris[4] as Dr. Sanjivni Kabir, the only remaining doctor on the medical staff
  • Christina Wolfe[4] as Dr. Catrina "Cat" Brandice [a], a social media star and "TV relationship specialist" whom Garnet orders to be the head of ship-wide mental health
  • Tiana Upcheva[4] as Eva Markovic, acting head of maintenance, engineering and construction

Recurring

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  • Lisa Brenner as Lieutenant Commander Susan Ingram (season 1), a career military officer,[4] who would have been the superior officer to the surviving crew
  • Miles Barrow as Baylor Trent (season 1), an ensign and Ingram's protégé.
  • Dominik Čičak as Harris Beckner (season 1), a member of Eva's engineering team and her secret lover.
  • Chris Leask as Jasper Dades (season 1), a crew member with a secret.
  • Paul Murray as William Trust, the inventor of the Ark program
  • Samantha Glassner as Kelly Fowler, an Ark 3 survivor and Evelyn Maddox's daughter
  • Jadran Malkovich as Dr. Marsh (season 2; guest season 1), Evelyn Maddox's former chief of medical who defected to Ark 1 after disagreements with her.
  • Díana Bermudez as Kimi Joma (season 2), Maddox's former chief of security who defected to Ark 1

Episodes

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SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
112February 1, 2023 (2023-02-01)April 19, 2023 (2023-04-19)
212July 17, 2024 (2024-07-17)October 2, 2024 (2024-10-02)

Season 1 (2023)

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No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
11"Everyone Wanted to Be on This Ship"Dean DevlinDean DevlinFebruary 1, 2023 (2023-02-01)578,000[5]
When an accident causes the crew of the Ark to wake up prematurely and with most of the senior staff dead, the remaining crew must establish a leadership committee from the remaining survivors and find a way to get the mission back on track.
22"Like It Touched the Sun"Milan TodorovićJonathan GlassnerFebruary 8, 2023 (2023-02-08)408,000[6]
A murder leaves the crew divided and suspicions running rampant.
33"Get Out and Push"Milan TodorovićJohn-Paul NickelFebruary 15, 2023 (2023-02-15)310,000[7]
An engine malfunction puts the ship at risk of an approaching comet, but the comet may provide an opportunity to deal with the imminent water shortage.
44"We Weren't Supposed to Be Awake"Sandra MitrovićRebecca RosenbergFebruary 22, 2023 (2023-02-22)350,000[8]
55"One Step Forward, Two Steps Back"Sandra MitrovićKendall LampkinMarch 1, 2023 (2023-03-01)340,000[9]
66"Two by Two"Milan TodorovićJonathan GlassnerMarch 8, 2023 (2023-03-08)361,000[10]
77"A Slow Death Is Worse"Milan TodorovićJohn-Paul NickelMarch 15, 2023 (2023-03-15)426,000[11]
88"Every Single Person Matters"Orsi NagypalKendall LampkinMarch 22, 2023 (2023-03-22)403,000[12]
99"The Painful Way"Orsi NagypalJohn-Paul NickelMarch 29, 2023 (2023-03-29)339,000[13]
1010"Hoping for Forever"Sandra MitrovićJonathan GlassnerApril 5, 2023 (2023-04-05)357,000[14]
1111"The Last Thing You Ever Do"Milan TodorovićRebecca RosenbergApril 12, 2023 (2023-04-12)437,000[15]
1212"Everybody Wins"Jonathan GlassnerJohn-Paul NickelApril 19, 2023 (2023-04-19)463,000[16]

Season 2 (2024)

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No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
131"Failed Experiment"Marc RoskinJonathan GlassnerJuly 17, 2024 (2024-07-17)240,000[17]
142"Kill or Be Killed"Milan TodorovićJohn-Paul Nickel and Jonathan GlassnerJuly 24, 2024 (2024-07-24)N/A
153"Anomaly"Milan TodorovićJohn-Paul Nickel and Jonathan GlassnerJuly 31, 2024 (2024-07-31)N/A
164"The Other You"Milan TodorovićMadeline Hendricks LewenAugust 7, 2024 (2024-08-07)N/A
175"Museum of Death"Sandra MitrovićIndia Sage WilsonAugust 14, 2024 (2024-08-14)285,000[18]
186"Pretty Big Deal"Milan KonjevićJohn-Paul NickelAugust 21, 2024 (2024-08-21)N/A
197"It Can't Be True"Milena GrujićMadeline Hendricks LewenAugust 28, 2024 (2024-08-28)282,000[19]
208"We Don't Kill Our Own"Marc RoskinIndia Sage WilsonSeptember 4, 2024 (2024-09-04)N/A
219"Cycle of Violence"Hannah Espia-FarbováJames DeLoreanSeptember 11, 2024 (2024-09-11)239,000[20]
2210"It Should Have Been You"Sandra MitrovićMadeline Hendricks LewenSeptember 18, 2024 (2024-09-18)N/A
2311"It Will Be Over Soon"Orsi NagypálIndia Sage WilsonSeptember 25, 2024 (2024-09-25)201,000[21]
2412"Fortunate"Jonathan GlassnerJohn-Paul NickelOctober 2, 2024 (2024-10-02)281,000[22]

Production

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The premise is very similar to the 1970s series The Starlost, in which a multi-generational starship called Earthship Ark was launched to allow the passengers to escape a dying Earth. More than 100 years into the voyage, an unexplained accident occurs, and the ship goes into emergency mode. The survivors have to figure out how to safely pilot the starship.[23]

The Ark went straight-to-series in late January 2022 with a 12-episode order from SyFy.[24] Principal photography began at PFI Studios in Belgrade, Serbia in March of that year. Dean Devlin and Jonathan Glassner serve as showrunners and producers.[3][25]

In March 2022, it was announced that the regular cast of the series had been set, with Christie Burke starring as Lt. Sharon Garnet, along with Richard Fleeshman, Reece Ritchie, Stacey Read, and newcomer Ryan Adams.[3] In April 2022, it was announced that Lisa Brenner would be a recurring guest star, playing Commander Susan Ingram, with Christina Wolfe, Shalini Peiris, Miles Barrow, Pavle Jerinić, and Tiana Upcheva also recurring.[4]

On April 12, 2023, Syfy renewed the series for a second season.[1]

Broadcast and release

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The series trailer was released in December 2022.[26] It premiered on Syfy on February 1, 2023,[27][28] with episodes to be streamed the next day on Peacock.[29]

Reception

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The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported a 50% approval rating based on 14 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "The core concept of The Ark ought to be alluring enough for the sci-fi faithful, but blasé writing and chintzy production values call into question whether this particular world is worth preserving."[30] Metacritic assigned a score of 50 out of 100 based on 9 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[31]

Notes

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  1. ^ Wolfe was credited as main in season 2, episode 1 and as guest starring in season 2, episode 4.

References

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  1. ^ a b Porter, Rick (April 12, 2023). "'The Ark' Renewed at Syfy". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  2. ^ Easton, Anne (January 31, 2023). "'The Ark' Isn't a Show About Laser-Beam Fights with Strange Aliens, It's About People in a Pressure Cooker Situation". Forbes. Archived from the original on September 13, 2024. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Otterson, Joe (March 31, 2022). "Dean Devlin Syfy Series 'The Ark' Sets Main Cast (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on January 1, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Roxborough, Scott (April 25, 2022). "Lisa Brenner Joins Syfy Series 'The Ark'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  5. ^ Salem, Mitch (February 2, 2023). "ShowBuzzDaily's Wednesday 2.1.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  6. ^ Salem, Mitch (February 9, 2023). "ShowBuzzDaily's Wednesday 2.8.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  7. ^ Salem, Mitch (February 9, 2023). "ShowBuzzDaily's Wednesday 2.15.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  8. ^ Salem, Mitch (February 23, 2023). "ShowBuzzDaily's Wednesday 2.22.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  9. ^ Salem, Mitch (March 2, 2023). "ShowBuzzDaily's Wednesday 3.1.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on March 2, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  10. ^ Salem, Mitch (March 9, 2023). "ShowBuzzDaily's Wednesday 3.8.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  11. ^ Salem, Mitch (March 16, 2023). "ShowBuzzDaily's Wednesday 3.15.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  12. ^ Salem, Mitch (March 23, 2023). "ShowBuzzDaily's Wednesday 3.22.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  13. ^ Salem, Mitch (March 30, 2023). "ShowBuzzDaily's Wednesday 3.29.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  14. ^ Salem, Mitch (April 6, 2023). "ShowBuzzDaily's Wednesday 4.5.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  15. ^ Salem, Mitch (April 13, 2023). "ShowBuzzDaily's Wednesday 4.12.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  16. ^ Salem, Mitch (April 20, 2023). "ShowBuzzDaily's Wednesday 4.19.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  17. ^ Pucci, Douglas (July 18, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: 'Big Brother' Season Premiere on CBS Off Double-Digits Year-to-Year but Still Tops in Demos Among Broadcast Network Telecasts". Programming Insider. Archived from the original on August 6, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  18. ^ Pucci, Douglas (August 15, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: NBC Leads Prime Time with First 'America's Got Talent' Live Results Show of Season". Programming Insider. Archived from the original on August 15, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  19. ^ Pucci, Douglas (August 29, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: Toby Keith: American Icon' Tribute Special on NBC Leads All Prime Time Telecasts in Total Viewers". Programming Insider. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  20. ^ Pucci, Douglas (September 12, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: Video Music Awards Draws Over 2.1 Million Viewers Combined Across Multiple Cable Networks". Programming Insider. Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  21. ^ Berman, Marc (September 26, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: ESPN Bests Fox and NBC in Demos Due to Caitlin Clark-Fueled Cable Record WNBA Playoff Game". Programming Insider. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  22. ^ Berman, Marc (October 3, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: ESPN Networks Top Prime Time Demos with MLB". Programming Insider. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  23. ^ The Starlost (Sci-Fi), Keir Dullea, Gay Rowan, Robin Ward, 20th Century Fox Television, CTV Television Network, Glen Warren Productions, September 22, 1973, archived from the original on September 13, 2024, retrieved August 23, 2024{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  24. ^ ""The Ark" Flies to Syfy with "Independence Day" Writer/Producer Dean Devlin at the Helm" (Press release). Syfy. January 24, 2022. Archived from the original on September 13, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2023 – via The Futon Critic.
  25. ^ Alter, Ethan (February 2, 2023). "Dean Devlin explains why 'The Ark' isn't 'woke' sci-fi: 'There's an attempt to politicize everything now'". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  26. ^ Weiss, Josh (December 7, 2022). "'The Ark': Dean Devlin opens up about 'survival' story in new sci-fi series, as SyFy reveals first footage". Syfy Wire. Archived from the original on January 1, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  27. ^ Weiss, Josh (January 4, 2023). "Syfy Drops First Trailer For Deep Space Mystery Thriller 'The Ark' Ahead Of Feb. 1 Series Premiere". Syfy Wire. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  28. ^ ""The Ark" Lands February 2023 on Syfy" (Press release). Syfy. December 7, 2022. Archived from the original on September 13, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2023 – via The Futon Critic.
  29. ^ Spry, Jeff (February 1, 2023). "'The Ark' premiere sets up a sci-fi survival saga in outer space". Space.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  30. ^ "The Ark: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  31. ^ "The Ark: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
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