Nightflyers

 :

Season 1
  • Network:
  • Series Premiere Date: Dec 2, 2018
Nightflyers Image
Metascore
47

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critics What's this?

User Score
5.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 43 Ratings

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  • Summary: Eight scientists and a telepath traveling on The Nightflyer space ship to make contact with alien life begin experiences strange and violent occurrences in this adaptation of George R.R. Martin's novella (which also was made into a 1987 film).
  • Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure, Suspense

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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 14
  3. Negative: 1 out of 14
  1. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Dan Fienberg
    Nov 30, 2018
    60
    Decently cast, interestingly claustrophobic and boasting occasional tiny bursts of inspiration, Nightflyers isn't going to suddenly hook those broad Game of Thrones demos, but there's an audience out there that's always thirsty for hard sci-fi and this is for them.
  2. Boston Herald
    Reviewed by: Mark A. Perigard
    Nov 29, 2018
    58
    Nightflyers, like YouTube Premium’s “Origin,” features a wholly impractical spaceship design, one that is expansive and minimalist, with long corridors and plenty of convenient places for something to hide. What starts intriguingly turns sillier the deeper you go.
  3. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Alex McLevy
    Nov 30, 2018
    58
    There’s a sense all of this has been done before, and showrunner Jeff Buhler doesn’t quite know how to make it feel new again. It’s a testament to the pulpy dramatics of the source material that Nightflyers remains enjoyable to watch despite these weaknesses.
  4. IndieWire
    Reviewed by: Ben Travers
    Nov 28, 2018
    42
    Not scary enough to be good horror and too simple-minded to be grand sci-fi, Nightflyers is just another schlocky TV show pretending to be more than it is.
  5. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Matt Zoller Seitz
    Dec 3, 2018
    40
    Unfortunately, the show never alchemizes these touchstones into a fresh, distinctive aesthetic. And when projects like this aren’t capable of knocking you out with style, they’d better have vivid characters and a riveting story to fall back on, and that’s not the case here, either.
  6. CNN
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Nov 30, 2018
    40
    A tediously generic haunted-house-in-space odyssey, one that Syfy is either (charitably) experimenting with or (more likely) rapidly exhausting by making all 10 episodes available simultaneously with its linear-TV debut.
  7. Reason.com
    Reviewed by: Glenn Garvin
    Nov 30, 2018
    20
    The constant, clumsy back-and-forth story line is not [Buhler]'s only annoying affectation. He's also larded Nightflyer with references to other, better, works, from Star Trek to The Shining, probably intended in homage but really serving just to remind you how much better all of them were. And the abundant gore, no doubt a confused nod to Martin's original premise that horror and sci-fi can coexist in the same vehicle, serves no purpose at all. [Buhler] may think he's speaking in some advanced new artistic argot, but really, it's just a lot of outer-space jabberwocky.

See all 14 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 20
  3. Negative: 6 out of 20
  1. Tassios
    Dec 27, 2018
    10
    If you take into account the time when the novel was released, the story is much better than many others of the genre, I watched it come if IIf you take into account the time when the novel was released, the story is much better than many others of the genre, I watched it come if I was at that time and I enjoyed it too much. Also, who is a fan of game of thrones will see some similarities between the two series that are not mere coincidences. highly recommended. despite some minor slips.… Expand
  2. AxsionJaxsion
    Dec 10, 2018
    10
    Well written with a great cast. Genuinely scary and suspenseful. Nice insight from GRRM cast and crew on the inside interviews. When is Season 2 ?
  4. demarkle77
    Dec 10, 2018
    10
    I found it to be a lot of fun! Spider Bot rules! The first 3 episodes are just the beginning -- once you get deeper into the series theI found it to be a lot of fun! Spider Bot rules! The first 3 episodes are just the beginning -- once you get deeper into the series the concepts and characters really take off. The show is compelling and there's some of the most mind bending effects at play. Don't be discouraged by whiny Sci-Fi purists who don't know how to enjoy themselves! Give it a shot (at least through first 5 eps) and then decide for yourself!… Expand
  5. Davrosdaleks1
    Dec 22, 2018
    7
    Based on the George R.R. Martin novella, the sci-fi/horror television show Nightflyers is about the crew of a spaceship seeking out aBased on the George R.R. Martin novella, the sci-fi/horror television show Nightflyers is about the crew of a spaceship seeking out a mysterious alien race.

    The show really nails the horror aspect. It manages to juggle several several horror elements rather than having one singular threat. Things get real freaky and I love it. Also liked just the basic design of the spaceship The Nightflyer. Yeah, it doesn't do a whole lot new design-wise, but it looks good.

    However, the show fails to completely stick the landing when it comes to the plot. There are interesting character ideas, mind you, but things never quite jive. Characters make weird decisions, and there are a couple moments where they don't react like real people would. It's like the writers were more interested in creating individual scenes than setting them up naturally. The exhibition is also vague in parts.

    The show is setting up for season two so don't expect some big questions to be answered yet.

    Nightflyers isn't perfect, but I was entertained enough to want to see where this goes.    … Expand
  6. gmonster320
    Jan 2, 2019
    6
    Not a horrible series but i wanted more. Despite a high production value and some scary moments, "NightFlyers" never reached it's potential.Not a horrible series but i wanted more. Despite a high production value and some scary moments, "NightFlyers" never reached it's potential. The performances from all the actors were all solid. There's just not enough new here to keep me coming back. The threat to the passenger is much less menacing than anticipated. It all seems a bit "meh" in the end.… Expand
  7. Nobilis1984
    Dec 27, 2018
    3
    Explanation: The series is based on a 4 hour audio book/book.
    That's why you can't expect much. I'm halfway through half of this and it's    Explanation: The series is based on a 4 hour audio book/book.
    That's why you can't expect much. I'm halfway through half of this and it's just mediocre.
    That you really make a series out of it amazes me.
    Therefore you can really save this series    … Expand
  8. amrrahmy
    Dec 5, 2018
    0
    The original story might have been great with overarching themes and filled with internal struggles, but this adaptation fails on every levelThe original story might have been great with overarching themes and filled with internal struggles, but this adaptation fails on every level to deliver any semblance of competent storytelling. The direction, choices in editing and cinematography, and stiff 'acting' from the entire cast renders this a dumpster fire.… Expand

See all 20 User Reviews

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