‘Constellation’ Recap: ‘The Wounded Angel’, ‘Live and Let Die’, & ‘Somewhere in Space Hangs My Heart’

2/21/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Noomi Rapace as Jo in Episode 101 of ‘Constellation’ – ‘The Wounded Angel’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Series Premiere of ‘Constellation’.

We are taught often in this life, that disasters and brushes with death, are nothing short of miracles that we should embrace. For they teach us about mortality, and the gift that we’ve been given that is our very lives and our very souls. So, we should indeed be thankful for them and thankful they opened our eyes to how fragile life can be. Which are not terrible thoughts or beliefs, for we should find the good in the bad things that happen to us and learn from them as best we can. But alas, there is some concern that should come about from such a fascinating series of lessons.

In that, we really don’t think that way until long after we’ve had to time to reflect upon the disaster or brush at hand. Which means that in the moment, as we are dealing with the world falling down around us or pondering upon whether or not we will be here tomorrow… we are terrified, we are anxious and in the immediate wake of such acts, we are not the same person. We’re worried, clouded, and simply a shell of who we used to be because of what we just faced down and nearly embraced and that… really does need to be recognized more often and handled differently than just telling folks, hey… you made it, be grateful.

So that folks who go through that hell, can heal, and can find focus and gravity once again and really, this is top of mind today, simply because how we handle disaster is put on display in the new Apple TV+ series, Constellation. A feat that the show’s three-episode premiere accomplishes by putting an astronaut named Jo, through the absolute wringer. For in ‘The Wounded Angel’, ‘Live and Let Die’, and ‘Somewhere in Space Hangs My Heart’, Jo deals with a disaster aboard the International Space Station. One where she watches co-workers die, and where she is tasked with escaping to Earth of her own volition when the rest of the crew is forced to abandon station. Which thankfully, she does… but she is not the same.

Jonathan Banks as Henry in Episode 103 of ‘Constellation’ – ‘Somewhere in Space Hangs My Heart’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

For she has much weighing upon her when she gets back to terra firma. Such as the fact, that not everyone survived, that she struggled with her own mental health in that crisis and may or may not have seen something sinister in space. Not to mention, she has to battle the fact that in many ways, Magnus, her former partner and their daughter, Alice, were prepped for her end. Giving rise to a traumatic reunion grounded in reality. Where there is nothing but shock and that long processing process, one where support is nil and where worry and remorse persists. Giving rise to an accurate look of how we truly survive that moment and how hard it is to find the good right after. Not to mention, how things end here in that regard, sets the stage for a long road back for Jo, one that she may not recover from.

Simply because… this particular science fiction series… is also filled with some unique surprises. The kind that hint, at something bigger here plot wise. After all, there is the matter of Jo’s potential hallucinations aboard the ISS and when she returns to Earth. Giving rise to questions regarding… whether or not we are fundamentally changed from a mental health standpoint when we brush with disaster. In fact, there are grand hints that Jo may be suffering from a complete break, down the line. Since there are segments here that ponder upon her need to save a second Alice that simply cannot exist, and oddly, Alice is not alone in such strange matters, thanks to a scientist/former astronaut named Henry.

Who also seems to struggle with what he is seeing in this life and sometimes takes a moment to ponder what is going on. And their struggles are oft pushed aside by others. Leaving us to wonder if there is something more to space travel in this story that others seem to know about or if we really are dealing with a pair of heroes that will forever struggle to process the lesson that we expect people who brush with death to learn. All of which, compels us to continue this refreshing science fiction journey. One grounded in old-school sci-fi concepts and writing, since this is the kind of stuff that we all read growing up, when we fell in love with the genre outside of schoolwork and truly, it will be interesting to see where this interpersonal mystery takes us in the weeks to come… as this engaging and delightfully human story continues along. Until next time.

To learn more about this series, visit our interviews with Series Creator Peter Harness and Executive Producer Michelle MacLaren, and Actors William Catlett and James D’Arcy.

Watch ‘Constellation’

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