I remember a few weeks ago when I watch the first episode of The Ark I really thought SyFy would cut it before ending season 1, they have done it in the past and the show receive a heavy backlash from internet reviews, any space show has a heavy task to surpass since its very likely that it might be compare to other space stories like Star Wars, Star Trek and one of the most recent The 100, The Ark at first was very disappointing, the cast doesn't have any super star as a fact most of them are not even known, the story was very confusing because the series started on plain chaos with a crew on a space ship and nobody knows what attack them, at points watching the series make me feel trap at least it was good at transmitting that feeling.
The series now on its 9th episode heading to a 12 episode season has become better by each episode, so far I haven't found any episode extremely boring like a just talking or flash back episode, they are constantly discovering things either from the conspiracy on board or solving problems on a daily bases, that kind of things keeps me interested on the series.
The overall rating of the series is very low and I don't blame people because if you only watch the first two episodes for sure would abandon it, I'm a bit different I like to give series a try unless they are very very bad like Wolfpack, although there has been a few episodes already and may give it a try again, sometimes I keep watching from three to five episodes and see if the story develops in a way that can keep me interested, even the best TV series have boring episodes like Game of Thrones has a few basically talking head episodes that I just fast forward, in the case of The Ark it got better by episode and intrigue me enough to keep watching. At this point over all Ill give it a 7/10.
After a board meeting reviewing every department task the episode starts very positive with Angus giving a small portion of potatoes to the crew, this is the first small harvest from the bio shelter he has been working on since the start of the series, they don't have much supplies and lucky for them Angus got on board a lot of equipment and even dirt, although all this was done as contraband since it was not properly reported, at the same time he safe their life's, not only he was able to grow food but also implement a recycle water system. The crew was amaze with how the potatoes taste, compare to what ever they have been eating during all this time its comprehensive how real food would taste better no matte what.
During this episodes a few medical issues are reveal, one that has been a mystery since the start of the series is what Lt Brice has, Dr Kabir knows there is something wrong with him but he refuse to take an exam, until this episode when he suddenly pass out and Eva take him to his bunker, she thought he was drunk but then realize its something else and fears it will happen again during a mission putting at risk the entire crew, Brice is always into dead wish missions, Eva notice this and squeeze the truth out of him, he has a deceases called Clamkins, not sure if that's the name, also not sure but sounds like something made up by the series, point there is no cure and he can pass out any minute.
Felix also finds out Dr Kabir has become and addict to amphetamines that kept her awake to keep pushing because she is the only doctor on board. I find both actors credible, they express emotions that don't look force, usually this quality is hard to get from a series with probably low budget and a cast that doesn't have any big hits on their record.
Dr Kabir has agree form now on quit it, Felix will keep the keys for the medicine supply and will help her and cover shifts with her.
Besides food the ship is running out of fuel, they have been scanning planets to find uranium to use it as fuel to keep going and they finally found one but it too far for them to arrive, Alicia comes up with a plan that if they turn around a close star and use the gravitational force as a sling shot then can use the solar sails to keep pushing and get to this planet.
Their plan work out, they were able to turn around the star and use the gravity force as a push and after open the solar sails and generate power from the star, but during this process one of the sails got damage and someone had to go out to repair it, almost certain that who ever did it would die, again Brice offer himself.
Instead Sharon offer herself because her enhanced genetic would help her take more solar radiation than normal humans, this was never tested it was only on theory, she got burn very badly but she did repair the sail and the ship kept on going thanks to her.
Sharon survives thanks to Felix who help her while Dr Kabir was resting, eventually she comes in and explain Sharon why Felix is covering her and admits she became addict to the pills. Since the start of the series Kabir has shown to be a very honest and fair, when we get addicted to something what ever it is, becomes very hard to recognize it our self, most of the time help comes from outside someone who notice and is willing to help instead of judging.
We already know Lt Lane is part of the conspiracy, well at first that's what I thought but now I'm not sure about it, seems he is just covering up Dr Trust because is the right thing to do to keep him safe, he goes to Cat, the ship therapist, because he cant hold the secret anymore and tells her about Dr Trust, she agree to keep the secret but it looks like she may know something about it, notice her too happy when Lane told her Trust was on the ship.
After his session with Cat, Lane went exploring more the room where Trust capsule is and inside the room there is a door that contains what looks like a library with samples of plants and animals, may be dna samples to clone or recreate species that use to life on earth, after all that's what the ark from many religions is intended to do, keep all species safe.
The plan to get to the planet that has the uranium also had this element that was used to attack their ship, scanners detect it from far away but once they arrive then the exploration shuttle would not detect any of them, when Brice goes around the planet they find out why, the minerals they looking for are not on the planet but on another Ark that show up right in front of them.
On this episode the story line felt different and kept me watching the entire time, I think there was no climax point during the episode, every single situation seem important like this was probably one or the best episode so far, that also tend to be a problem when a tv series become really good, not saying its the case with The Ark just trying to differentiate between this episode and the rest so far, proof that again this series is getting better, now that I have reach to this episode can say its worth to watch but the start is bad, hope it stays at least on this level for the rest of the season.
