Last year,Apple TV+quietly launched one of its most ambitious and emotionally grounded sci-fi dramas inConstellation.The series had all the right ingredients: sharp writing, standout performances, and a great blend of cerebral sci-fi and intimate character drama. Known forgiving its shows room to grow, many expected Apple to letConstellationfind its footing as a show with clear potential to expand its world and deepen its characters.
Instead,the series was disappointingly canceledafter just one season. The decision was especially frustrating given how gripping and well-crafted the show was. It’s no surprise thatStephen Kingcalled it “just about perfect.” But with Apple pulling the plug so early, we’re left wonderingwhy a series thatearned both critical and audience praiseended so unceremoniouslywithout the chance to finish what it started.
‘Constellation’ Was the Perfect Mix of Sci-Fi and Grounded Drama
From its first episode,Constellationproved it was more than a typical space thriller. While it delivers all the chilling elements you’d expect, what makes it stand out is how deeply it is rooted in character. The series follows Jo Ericsson (Noomi Rapace), an astronaut trying to piece herself back together after a harrowing,potentially world-altering event. After returning to Earth following a catastrophic incident aboard the International Space Station, Jo finds that reality no longer feels right. Her young daughter doesn’t remember her the same way, objects are out of place, and even her own memories seem to shift.
The mystery only deepens from there, using its sci-fi elements to explore personal questions about memory, motherhood, and identity.Jonathan Banks(Breaking Bad) plays Henry Caldera (at least in one universe), a brilliant but unstable physicist tied to the strange phenomena unfolding in Jo’s life. The show builds tension not with jump scares or explosive action, but with the quiet terror of no longer recognizing the people you love or even yourself, and wondering if you’re losing your mind.Both Rapace and Banks deliver standout performances, supported by an excellent cast includingJames D’Arcy,William Catlett, and twinsDavina and Rosie Coleman, who share the role of Jo’s daughter, Alice.
Visually stunning and technically ambitious, the series is created by writerPeter Harness(Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell) and executive produced byMichelle MacLaren, who also directs the first two episodes and establishes the show’s striking visual tone.Constellationconstantly plays with the question:IsJo experiencing space sickness, or has something fundamentally shifted in the universe?That uncertainty allows the show to move seamlessly betweenhigh-concept sci-fi and grounded emotional drama.Yet amid all its complexity and suspense, it never loses sight of its emotional core. The season’s shocking cliffhanger only deepens the intrigue, landingsomewhere between heartbreak and horror, and leaving viewers wanting more.
The Best Out-Of-This-World Sci-Fi Shows You Can Stream Right Now
Here’s where you may stream the small-screen adventures of Master Chief, Captain Pike, and Godzilla.
There Were Already Plans for ‘Constellation’ Season 2
What makesConstellation’scancellation even more frustrating ishow clearly it sets the stage for a second season. In a 2024 interview with Collider, showrunner Peter Harness, who also wrote all eight episodes, revealed there were big plans beyond the initial arc. With such a dense and ambitious story, Harness naturally developed ideas that didn’t fit into Season 1, especially around the dynamic between Henry and Bud. As he puts it,those ideas are “saved up for a rainy day in the future,”hinting at a deeper mythology that only begins to unfold.
Harness was also careful not to end the season on a total cliffhanger, aware of how unsatisfying that might feel. He made sure to tie up key threads,like Jo and Alice’s relationship, in a way that feels emotionally complete while still suggesting that there’s plenty more story to tell. Some viewers may have felt like the ending was still satisfying, butit’s hard not to imagine the possibilities left unexplored: what happens if timelines collide, or if the boundaries between realities fully break down? What if,as Noomi Rapace hoped for,both Jos met each other? It’s truly a shame we’ll never know.
The kind of mysteryConstellationbuilds isn’t meant to be rushed. Harness avoids over-explaining or accelerating major plot developments,allowing the emotionally resonant character work to breathe. A story like this needs time to peel back its layers, slowly drawing the audience in while keeping the focus on its characters. Season 1does that with remarkable restraint. Even without all the answers, the experience remains captivating, helped by Apple’s weekly episode rollout, which gives viewers time to absorb each chapter.
That’s what makes the cancellation sting even more. Apple TV+ has a reputationfor nurturing high-concept shows, which makesConstellation’sabrupt ending feel particularly disappointing. In a streaming landscape overloaded with content, this is a show that delivers for both die-hard sci-fi fans and for viewers who are looking for characters to connect with. For a platform that champions slow-burn storytelling likeSeveranceandFor All Mankind, cuttingConstellationshort feels premature.Stephen King wasn’t wrong when he called it “just about perfect.”And while it may never get the second season it clearly earned,Constellationwill be remembered as one of the most daring, resonant sci-fi series in recent memory, and a reminder that storytelling this thoughtful deserves room to thrive.
Season 1 ofConstellationis available to stream on Apple TV+.
Constellation
