"Debris" Pilot (TV Episode 2021) Poster

(TV Series)

(2021)

User Reviews

Review this title
15 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
7/10
Interesting premise
ldamena2 March 2021
Seems like the standard sci-fi show but it has an interesting premise and leaves with questions. What does the alien debris want because apparently each piece that is found has some kind of power behind it. Tonight's was manifesting grief/guilt and manipulating others thru it. Fiona and Bryan reminded me a bit of Mulder and Scully with a bit of the science fiction movie feeling from the 50's. It did have those dark horror moments these shows tend to have, that was entertaining I suppose. I like the alien aspect because it kinda changes the score a little bit from other sci-fi shows currently on tv(well the ones I know of that is). Interesting start let's see where it goes.
10 out of 12 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
If Dr. Fauci had watched this series I am sure his response would be "Follow the Science"
Ed-Shullivan2 March 2021
This is the Pilot Episode which first aired on March 01st, 2021

I am not sure why these two thirty (30) something's one a British MI6 agent named Fiona (Riann Steele), and Bryan Beneventi (Jonathan Tucker) an American CIA agent are told to team up by their respective superiors in a joint nation/country effort to investigate some strange phenomena that are popping up in various places on planet earth as a result of a foreign aircraft's debris gradually falling to earth over the past six (6) months. It would appear that the falling debris consists of elements from another planet and unknown to scientists. This debris has a very strange hold on people, their tear ducts bleed blood as they are witnessed being unassisted and elevating two feet from the ground defying the laws of gravity as they lay in a state of comatose sometimes causing earthlings to lose their life.

Agents Fiona (Riann Steele), and Bryan Beneventi (Jonathan Tucker) obviously have to get to know each other, and so as TV viewers of this science fiction series I hope we will get to understand what special skills these two wet behind the ears agents have that allows them to lead the investigation to decipher what special abilities this space debris possesses and how do they control it? They also need to understand where this spaceship debris originates from?

There are many unknown avenues that this science fiction series Debris will take its audience as we are exposed to successive episodes. More importantly is there an underlying message that the producers are trying to communicate to us, their audience, as we absorb the activities, inter relationship interactions and emotions of the two lead agents? Are the producers trying to create a more thought provoking kinder and gentler society?

I give the series a respectful 8 out of 10 IMDB rating.
8 out of 14 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Great show
sdowelldvm8 April 2021
I like this show so far and the episodes are getting better!
2 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
Impressive pilot episode
dblar-127172 March 2021
It wasn't an amazing episode, but it was great for a pilot episode and I will definitely be coming back next week for episode 2.
5 out of 8 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Good premise and a decent setup make for a mostly successful pilot.
IonicBreezeMachine4 March 2021
6 Months after an spacecraft of unknown alien origin exploded above the earth, debris from the ship which possesses powers that bend or break natural laws has been gradually falling to various places throughout the world. To and contain the threats posed to the public and national security by the debris, the UK and US create a joint task force called Orbital to secure and contain these debris.

One of the standouts from last season's pilot cycle, Debris was an early favorite for series pick up prior to the COVD shutdown. Based on the strength of the material and clout of series creator J. H. Wyman's (as well as the circumstances given the ongoing pandemic) success with the cult hit Fringe, the series like many new shows bypassed the traditional pilot process in favor of a straight to series approach. For the most part Debris' debut episode is very well done, but does experience the expected hurdles regarding exposition as typically of a high concept show like this.

Rather unusal for a show like this we don't see the impetus that brought about the current situation. When the show begins we're already half a year into this world and there's not only an established task force for dealing with alien debris, but also a black market where unknown parties are acquiring debris for some unknown purpose. To a degree I understand why they did this because it's a way to get to the action and spectacle of the show a lot quciker, but by that same measure it doesn't quite feel like we get a proper introduction to this world or many of the team members of Orbital. A lot of the exposition in character related to MI6 Finola Jones (Riann Steele) and CIA agent Bryan Beneventi (Johnathan Tucker) comes off very clunky when they're talking with their respective superiors being relayed information that given the amount of time that's passed they should already know. That's probably my biggest criticism with Debris' pilot, it feels like it wants to rush through the set up as quickly as possible so it can have the freedom of a post pilot episode to get to more elaborate things with its premise.

Despite my criticisms involving the story structure, I do like what I'm seeing of this show so far. The show plays like a mixture of The X-Files and the sci-fi novel Roadside Picnic and the scenes involving the debris are effectively alien and otherworldly as the debris shows itself to possess abilities of psychic resonance, levitation, and Intangibility. It's definitely a show that lays open ended groundwork for endless possibilities involving the powers of the debris and its effect on the denizens of Earth. Intermixed with the high concept is the shadowy inner workings of both MI6 and the CIA as they both have their own agendas related to how they plan to use the debris. I'm not too sold on a plot thread related to agent Jones' astrophysicist father as it seems like a cheap way to create drama, but most of the long running plot threads seem promising.

Debris' pilot episode is a mostly successful introduction to its high concept premise, while it feels a little rushed in its setup for character and motivation, it makes up for it with a fun sense of mystery and some rich ground for character and plot development. In the end it made me interested enough to see the second episode.
4 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
The Next X-Files
otto_tieleman3 March 2021
Watching the first episode it is a lot to take in. But the chemistry between the main characters and the premise is very good and offers a lot of possibilities. I always longed for a next X-Files show that could capture that feeling and I think this is it.
6 out of 11 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Stargate X Lost + X-Files.
alexandertom-860326 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
(Very light spoilers/hints ahead. ) I liked it. Pilots are never promising in and of themselves, but I see a lot of promise here. So far I'd say decent sci-fi beginning if you can over look some questionable investigative techniques here and there. I'd say there were definitely shades of the X-Files pilot, with a bit of Lost type mysteries to boot. The sappy human interest story I could of done without, but I wouldn't rule it out just for that bit. I'm curious to see where it goes which is really saying something for this extended television season where the majority of new and returning shows have been a hard no for me. At least this one peaked my interest. Not really a thinking persons sci-fi, or an original show yet, but it has the means to be just interesting enough to keep one entertained. Of course we're always at the mercy of the writer's. I wouldn't expect any lone gunmen any time soon, but an alien portal wouldn't surprise me at all. Especially after that parting scene.
5 out of 9 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
a different Stalker
knoopgat2 March 2021
The premise reminded me of Tarkovki's Stalker (1979), one of the best Sci-Fi films ever made and the book Roadside Picnic by the Strugatsky brothers. The 1918 movie Annihilation is somewhat about the same theme. But this show is a bit "harder" on the science fiction. Not everything is directly revealed about the spaceship and its origins and that is just great storytelling. I liked the slow development of this episode. The narrative is intriguing and a challenge to one's own imagination. The acting is just fine, but hopefully we see some more character development. I am curious where this is going. I just hope that this show is staying here for some time. Give it a break people.
5 out of 10 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
Fascinating Opening. Dull Middle and Ending.
jamericanbeauty2 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
After such an exciting beginning, it dragged on. How in the world do you make an episode about remnants of a destroyed alien spacecraft that enable people to teleport, levitate, hallucinate and return from the dead, boring? Who thought it was a good idea to give the bad actress from Heartland a lengthy powerful scene? She could not carry it and I wanted it to end. What's up with Jonathan Tucker's acting?! In Westworld, City on a Hill, and American Gods, he's incredible. Here, something's missing. I've never seen his costar (Riann Steele), in anything, but here her acting is stilted. Episode 2 will be the make it or break it episode for me.
5 out of 10 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
Curiosity peaked
namstonk3 March 2021
Intriguing premise, fairly decent cast and a creator with decent history. Hopefully a contender to the rubbish released recently and we get a chance to delve deeper.
4 out of 9 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
Potential for sure
dewlover42015 April 2021
A lot of great aspects. But the episode loses momentum towards the end.

Great score, better than expected effects, and the performances are great and all...but I'm not sure I love the casting choices. Granted I don't know really any of them.

There's a lot of moving parts. It starts out with, after seeing the entire episode, almost too much intrigue. Same with the pacing, it was basically perfect. Neither of those held up, because they were too above par.

I DEFINITELY see potential, and will be watching the entire series unless it gets HORRIBLY unwatchable.
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
People are not paying attention... Warning: Spoilers
I find it disappointing that people are bored by this TV show to the point where they do not pay attention to what is happening. I have read review after review about the TV series describing the first episode saying that they are disappointed by all of the dead bodies floating around. Well, if you watch to the very end, the people are not dead and they stop levitating and fall onto their slabs then get up off of them. So, if people do not watch to the end and note that scene, it is obvious that the TV show has long lost its audience by the end of the episode.

I am completely fascinated by the premise of the story and fascinated by the debris. What I fear is that the show has already lost its audience. This is a slow ponderous TV series. It is suppose to make you think. People are finding it painful to watch. I am not one of them, but then I have a PhD in pathology. I use to study dead people. What more can I say....

The debris in the opening of the show, shows that it has some sort of transportation technology element. I am not sure of what use the second bit of debris has. It seems to have the ability to put people into a suspended state. Maybe it was used to put the passengers into storage. The science in the TV show is fascinating.

When I tried to discuss this episode with my friend, he found it boring. He would rather talk to me about how Moscovium 115 was harvested from alien spacecraft and used to construct stealth aircraft since the 1950's. I told him that element 115 is radioactive and only made in atomic colliders. He tells me that aliens have been making or mining stable element 115 and using it in their spacecraft for thousands of years. He finds "Debris," boring because it is based too much on what is happening all around us every day.
1 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
Great Start!
info-33728-300409 March 2021
Great intriguing story so far. Great cast. Really nice camera work. Looking forward to this series.
1 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Anderson & Tucker... I'm already in...
yusufpiskin3 March 2021
Brad Anderson and Jonathan Tucker. Two talented names who grew up with the science-fiction TV series of the nineties. The right people for the project. Tucker loves these "creepy" scenarios and adapts. A good start for the pilot episode. Also in the covid-19 process.
3 out of 7 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
Refreshing and Clever
Gwendlyn00719 June 2021
Absolutely Fabulous! It's creative, clever and entertaining! Best thing to hit prime time since Law and Order" from 1990 and that show ran for 20 years! Debris, if given the chance, could be the greatest show of this decade. Hey NBC! Look alive! You have a keeper on your hands!!
0 out of 0 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed