This Apple TV+ Show From 'Doctor Who' Writer Is One of the Most Underrated Sci-Fi Series of Recent Years

Apple TV+ has confidently focused on sci-fi projects for years, but unfortunately, one of the platform's best examples of the genre has escaped the attention of a wider audience.

Constellation – a series from Peter Harness, known for his work on Doctor Who – is a masterful blend of sci-fi, drama, mystery, and political thriller.

What Is 'Constellation' About?

Astronaut Jo Ericsson and her crew spent nearly a year on the ISS preparing for a spacewalk. But everything changed when an unknown object crashed into the station. Jo was left alone on board, but she survived and managed to evacuate in an escape capsule.

After returning to Earth, Jo discovered that her car was blue instead of red, the kitchen cabinets had been rearranged, and a piano, which she never knew how to play, was in the middle of the room.

Trying to regain clarity, Jo goes to a psychiatrist, who gives her a disappointing diagnosis: PTSD. The cause lies in the events of five weeks earlier in space.

In 'Constellation', the Form Brilliantly Mirrors the Content

Peter Harness chose an unusual narrative method. Constellation literally disintegrates, much like the main character's consciousness – blink, and you're in a new space.

Through form, the creators convey Jo's inner state: virtuoso camerawork, marvelous editing, and a 360-degree panorama that becomes part of the story. It's a puzzle that viewers must piece together.

The problem is that, due to the slow buildup, not all viewers make it to the middle of the season. The first episodes feel choppy and inconsistent, and the abundance of mysteries and secondary characters can be off-putting.

Harness scatters clues like breadcrumbs, but their importance isn't immediately apparent. Those who endure will be well-deservedly rewarded.

'Constellation' May Seem Slow and Choppy at First, but It Eventually Picks up Speed

Constellation also delves into the shocking circumstances surrounding the innovative discoveries, the complex relationship between a mother and her daughter, and an investigation into a crime that occurred on the ISS several years prior to the events of the series.

While none of these topics are new, the cumulative effect of several episodes leads to a pleasant result: the content becomes equal to the form.

Having reached the midpoint of the season, Constellation proves that it fits into Apple TV+'s lineup of best sci-fi projects and, in some ways, rises above its predecessors.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Constellation'?

• Constellation has 72% from critics and 62% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 6.7/10.