The Ark

Metascore

Critic Reviews

Jan 31, 2023

“The Ark” is a nifty problem-solver sci-fi show, made digestible by shameless stock dialogue mixed with plenty of cliffhanger moments. Read full review

Angie Han

Jan 31, 2023

The Ark may never be admired for its thematic profundity, or its brave ideas, or its nuanced character development. But by the fourth hourlong episode sent to critics (of a 12-episode season), it finds its own groove as a bit of exciting, undemanding fun. Read full review

Kathryn Porter

Feb 1, 2023

It’s an easy watch, it doesn’t make you use your brain an unreasonable amount, and it has a good premise that is easy to follow and care about. It isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel, and it should not aim to. The best part about it is that it’s exactly what someone should expect if they flip to Syfy. Read full review

John Anderson

Jan 31, 2023

“The Ark,” in its “Star Trek”-meets-“Love Island” manner, is enjoyable and engaging enough, especially if one ignores the overly broad acting, contrived conflicts, abrasive people and constant sniping among the characters. ... It’s a trope that the low-ranking people in a quasi-situation comedy such as “The Ark” are not only more charming but more capable than their superiors, who spend much time stewing over power and seizing authority. But if viewers expected the new world to be much different from the old, this series will disabuse them of that. Read full review

Rob Owen

Jan 26, 2023

“The Ark” is poorly written (grating exposition galore!) with mediocre special effects and cardboard characters. Syfy’s latest disappoints on every level. Read full review

Brian Lowry

Feb 2, 2023

If this sort of series is only as good as its characters, The Ark is a poorly populated enterprise, not to be confused with the Enterprise. Read full review

The Daily Beast Nick Schager

Feb 1, 2023

It doesn’t help that the show’s cast is equally drab, their performances corny, broad, and altogether unconvincing. ... What’s missing is compelling action, serviceable CGI, and a sense of this all taking place within a grander context. ... There’s nothing under the hood of The Ark except a lot of ho-hum parts borrowed from better voyage-into-the-beyond sagas. Read full review

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User Reviews

Smae2

Feb 18, 2023

This is not a top budget Sci-fi like discovery, nor does it have the most experienced actors going. If you're here for SFX or the best costume design, you're going to be disappointed.

I recall watching The Pilot for Star Trek (TOS), episode 1 of The Ark is far better. This will matureThis is not a top budget Sci-fi like discovery, nor does it have the most experienced actors going. If you're here for SFX or the best costume design, you're going to be disappointed.

I recall watching The Pilot for Star Trek (TOS), episode 1 of The Ark is far better. This will mature over time and find its feet.

After the first 10 minutes or so, where I had to set some expectations aside it manages to find some kind of stability. As an attempt to break into the Sci-fi world, of which there is precious little content this looks promising. I should note that Jonathan Glassner of SG-1 heritage is onboard with this.

As far as the acting goes, I actually feel it's quite realistic, there are mistakes and bad decisions everywhere, which ties into the general premise. This doesn't seem to have the general mary sue that some sci-fi shows suffer from.

Don't let the reviews put you off giving this a chance.

I'm giving it full marks because I thoroughly enjoyed it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Doctor_Huw

Feb 3, 2023

Another attempted space opera. Weak even by the standards of past SyFy garbage like the now-legendary Sharknado, but without the campy humor. Almost 20 years ago, Battlestar Galactica showed how sci-fi could get space opera right. And the special effects of that series — 2 decades ago — wereAnother attempted space opera. Weak even by the standards of past SyFy garbage like the now-legendary Sharknado, but without the campy humor. Almost 20 years ago, Battlestar Galactica showed how sci-fi could get space opera right. And the special effects of that series — 2 decades ago — were far better than the absurdly bad effects of "The Ark." The effects in Ark are roughly on a par with those of "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" — 40 years ago. Terrible. The acting lifts it out of a 1 or a 0. Barely. But how do you rate passable acting with abysmal characters?

This does suggest a new game — SyFy bingo. List the garbage gimmicks that SyFy execs love — cookie cutter characters; terrible, outdated effects; idiotic backstories; pseudo-political seriousness; plot holes a 5 year old could see; etc. Array them on a card. See who gets bingo first. It should take about 10 minutes. The catch is, you may not be able to bear watching that long.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

nholmes22

Feb 7, 2023

Bad graphics, bad plot, generic troupes, I couldn't make it more than 10 minutes in.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Featured

The Ark: Season 1

Season 1 Episodes

Seasons & Episodes