Written by John Edward Betancourt ![]() It is definitely safe to say that stories about humanity being forced to abandon Earth, are often quite bleak in nature. In large part because of why mankind must bid Terra goodbye. Since sometimes it relates to an alien attack that wrecks the world that gives us life, or they relate to how we were the ones to bring it to devastation. Courtesy of our short sightedness and ignorance and oddly enough, such stories… rarely show us what becomes of humanity after we’ve moved to the stars. Because its core point lies within the framework of WHY we left home, and anything else is immaterial and the fate of humanity can be left up to our imagination. Or… the story just ends in a bleak and depressing manner. Which is why the SYFY series, The Ark, is so incredibly genius and was so well received when it debuted on the network last year. Simply because, it offered up a refreshing twist upon this kind of story. Sure, there were elements that made it seem as though the norm was coming. Since mankind was the reason the Ark program existed and there were indeed echoes of our shortsightedness along the way. But it was what happened in between those tropes that made this series so worthwhile and so refreshing. Since it also spoke to who we become when we put nonsense aside and work together as one, and it also saw the crew of Ark One fight tooth and nail to save lives and preserve humanity’s future by leaning into what makes us great as a species instead of just focusing upon the worst parts of us. Those elements, made for an incredible season of storytelling, one that we’ve been eager to enjoy more of since SYFY did renew the show for a second season, one that we are days away from taking part in. Which means that now is the time to examine season two. But know in advance we won’t be spoiling anything in detail here, because that would do this second season a grave disservice from a storytelling standpoint. But there is a lot of to celebrate when it comes to season two, and what we will say about season two is that it happens to be a season of storytelling, that is even more ambitious than what came before it. Which is saying something since that first season was just so incredible. But once we get the answers, we seek about what happened to the ship, and the crew, the show opts to be bigger, be bolder and take us on an even more impressive ride. For the stakes are higher, and the tension is thick when it appears. Giving rise to a rollercoaster ride that we simply cannot get enough of and that makes… for a stunning season of storytelling. One that challenges the characters like never before and truly takes our breath away and oft leaves us worried about the fate of this crew as they push hard to complete their mission to give mankind a second chance. But while it is indeed amazing to be treated to a story this epic and this engaging, make no mistake about it, this show does not stray from its roots. For it remains grounded in what makes humanity wonderful and majestic. And how the ties that bind us matter more than anything. Which brings about explorations of the human condition that are thoughtful and powerful, not to mention… hopeful in nature. Because this show was grounded in hope for a better tomorrow, and unity in season one, and it finds a way to express that hope in season two, and truly give the audience something to feel good about at a time when the world is as much of a dumpster fire as the one that this crew left behind. All of which makes, for an amazing season of storytelling. One that also feels very comfortable and moves at a perfect pace, because the writer’s room is comfortable now and knows exactly how to assemble perfect stories in this saga. Not to mention, the cast is also comfortable with their characters and know how to make the most of the moment, and that brings gravity to each moment, and the best news is… we are only days away from returning to Ark One’s plight. For season two of The Ark arrives on SYFY this Wednesday, and we here at NTG cannot wait for you see it, to geek out with you about it and to share our interview with series lead Christie Burke (Sharon), Dean Devlin and Jonathan Glassner as we count down the minutes to the return of the most refreshing sci-fi series on the airwaves.
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