Today YouTube released the new 10-episode futuristic sci-fi thriller Origin, from director Paul W.S. Anderson. The series follows a group of strangers who were on there way to recolonize a planet five light years away when something happened, causing them to wake up early. Now they find themselves in deep space, with no signs of the ship’s crew, and only a small fraction of the passengers who were supposed to be on board. They begin to search the ship and discover strange and creepy things, which only brings up more questions. There is something mysterious and deadly on board, and the passengers start to wonder if they can really trust one another.
I checked out the first two episodes, and by the end of the premiere, I was already completely sold. I love this kind of tense thriller, and I can’t wait to learn more about these characters and see the mystery unfold. Things get incredibly freaky by the end of the first episode, and continue to amp up even more so in the second episode, becoming a consistent stream of jump scares. If I had to describe this show in one sentence, it would be The Thing in space. However, the series does take some breaks from the tension—each episode utilizes flashbacks to explore one of the character’s backstories, looking into who they were, and why they ultimately jumped at the chance to erase their past, and to start over with a blank slate and a new identity on a new planet.
The cast is great—it includes Tom Felton (Harry Potter, Natalia Tena (Harry Potter, Game of Thrones), Sen Mitsuji, Nora Arnezeder (Mozart in the Jungle, Zoo), Fraser James (Holby City), Philipp Christopher, Nina Wadia, Madalyn Horcher (Gracepoint), Siobahn Cullen, Adelayo Adedayo (Timewasters) and Wil Coban. At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, I got a chance to participate in the press room for the series. Unfortunately, due to a tight schedule, I only got the chance to speak with one pair of actors—Tom Felton & Sen Mitsuji—before they were whisked off for their panel. Check out my video from the roundtable Q&A here.
Tonight I’ll also be watching/recording Survivor, Riverdale and Stan Against Evil.
For additional suggestions on what to check out tonight, including the American Horror Story: Apocalypse finale, check out the If We Controlled Your Remote… 11/14/18 post at TVisMyPacifier.com.
The first 2 episodes of Origin are available for free to everyone:
