Television series

Nightflyers

Name: Nightflyers
Genre: Drama, Science Fiction, Thriller
Released: 2018
Cast: Gretchen Mol, Eoin Macken, David Ajala, Sam Strike, Maya Eshet

A haunted-house thriller transplanted into a generation ship at the edge of the solar system. Gretchen Mol leads a fractured crew of scientists toward a first contact that may never come, while paranoia and something far worse corrode them from within. Syfy's attempt at prestige sci-fi: ambitious, claustrophobic, visually sharp, and unafraid to let things get weird.

TVMaze rating

3.2

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you like slow-burn science fiction where the unease comes from people trapped together in a closed space, and the questions about the crew matter more than the spaceship gadgetry.

Skip it if you want a brisk, action-led space adventure; this is talky and deliberate, with long stretches of corridor conversation and a mood that stays bleak and claustrophobic.

What it asks of you: Ten hour-long episodes, so a full evening's commitment that rewards steady attention; it moves at a measured pace and lets its paranoia build rather than handing you answers early.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

The Expanse2015

Hard sci-fi space opera with real physics, political intrigue, and characters you genuinely care about. Builds a solar system that feels lived-in and dangerous. The show finds its footing fast and never lets go.

But Starts slow while establishing its vast cast and world. Some episodes feel like table-setting. The first season can feel overstuffed if you're just here for action.

Altered Carbon2018

Noir cyberpunk in a future where consciousness is transferable. Gorgeously shot, morally murky, with a lead character caught between impossible choices. Every episode expands the world and deepens the mystery.

But Occasionally sacrifices coherence for atmosphere. Sexual violence appears multiple times and isn't always in service of the story. Very dark—not a comfort watch.

The OA2016

Impossible to classify: sci-fi mystery, supernatural thriller, character study. Shot with precision and strangeness. Builds something genuinely original, with a final episode that swings for the fences. Takes real risks.

But Openly abstract and refuses easy answers. The mythology can feel impenetrable. Some will find it pretentious; others will worship it. No middle ground exists.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Nightflyers

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Solaris1972

Both pit a small group of scientists against an incomprehensible presence that may or may not be trying to communicate. Both ask whether the real danger is external or internal. Both suggest that exploration has costs.

Andrei Tarkovsky's meditation on consciousness, isolation, and whether understanding is even possible. A ship, a crew, something incomprehensible beyond the walls. Long, patient, hypnotic. Treats its ideas like they matter.

But Glacially paced. Dialogue is philosophical and sparse. It is not a thriller and does not pretend to be. Most viewers under thirty will find it glacial; many will find it unendurable.

Orphan Black2013

A clone escapes into the world and discovers there are dozens of her, each living separate lives. Tatiana Maslany's performance alone is worth the price of admission—she's genuinely five different people. Plot moves fast and never condescends.

But Ensemble gets unwieldy by season four. Late-season writing feels rushed and some threads drop without resolution. The ending divides viewers sharply.

For All Mankind2019

Alternate history where the space race never ended. Soaring ambition meets intimate character work. The show argues that wonder and exploration matter. Beautiful cinematography and genuine stakes that escalate smartly.

But A few story threads feel padded. Pacing can drag when it ventures into family drama. The show's optimism might feel naive to some.

Black Mirror2011

Intimate sci-fi nightmares about technology and human nature. Episodes are precise and cruel. The show trusts you to sit with discomfort. Best episodes are genuinely unforgettable.

But Deliberately bleak and repetitive in its bleakness. Loses direction as it goes on. Some episodes feel designed to upset rather than explore. Not all ideas land equally.

Europa Report2013

Both treat isolation as the true antagonist. Both build dread from constraints and the crew's inability to trust their perceptions. First contact is not triumph here—it's contact with something genuinely alien.

Found-footage sci-fi about a secret mission to Europa. Claustrophobic, intelligent, visually stunning given its constraints. Uses its format as strength, not gimmick. Treats first contact with real weight and dread.

But Found-footage aesthetic is divisive and can feel dated now. The story is relatively lean—character development happens fast. If you hate the cam-shake handheld look, you won't get through it.

Dread2009

Like Nightflyers, it trusts that the worst threat lives inside the group itself. Paranoia weaponized by intelligent people in a confined space. Both suggest that certain experiments—certain journeys—reveal the darkness already present in us.

A short psychological horror film (40 minutes) about four university film students and a simple experiment that unravels. Based on a Stephen King story. Taut, nasty, focused. Horror that understands that dread is internal.

But Very short—some won't feel they got a full meal. Extremely dark and bleak; there's no catharsis or redemption. Uncomfortable in ways that feel deliberate and merciless. Not for comfort viewing.