The opening shot of Space Force is a deadpan Steve Carell, clad in full military regalia, staring at a miniature model of the Moon on his desk. It’s a moment that should be ripe for satire, but instead feels oddly flat—a missed opportunity to jab at the absurdity of militarizing space.

Created by Greg Daniels and Steve Carell for Netflix, Space Force is a workplace comedy-drama about establishing the sixth branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. General Mark Naird (Carell) leads the charge, tasked with getting “boots on the Moon” by 2024—a directive that feels more like a bad joke than policy. The show’s premise is promising: a satire of the military-industrial complex, national politics, and the sheer folly of space militarization. With a cast that includes John Malkovich as an eccentric scientist and Tawny Newsome as a determined astronaut, Space Force has the potential to be sharp and biting.

The show’s first season, which premiered in May 2020, follows Naird as he navigates the bureaucratic minefield of creating a new military branch. The premise is ripe for satire, but the execution often falls short. The humor is uneven, relying too heavily on deadpan delivery without enough wit or timing to carry it. Scenes drag with unnecessary silence, making the pacing feel sluggish rather than purposefully tense. Carell’s performance, while reliable, doesn’t fully capitalize on the absurdity of his role. Malkovich, on the other hand, shines as Dr. Adrian Mallory, bringing a much-needed eccentricity to the show.

The second season, which premiered in February 2022, improves slightly with more coherent storytelling and better integration of recurring characters like Jimmy O. Yang as Dr. Chan Kaifang. However, the tonal shifts between comedy and drama still feel jarring rather than cohesive. The satire is diluted by moments of genuine earnestness, particularly in the character arcs involving Naird’s family and his team’s struggles.

The show’s structure is another stumbling block. While it attempts to balance comedy and drama, the tonal shifts often feel jarring rather than cohesive. The satire is diluted by moments of genuine earnestness, particularly in the character arcs involving Naird’s family and his team’s struggles. The second season improves slightly, with more coherent storytelling and better integration of recurring characters like Jimmy O. Yang as Dr. Chan Kaifang.

Visually, Space Force leans into its themes with a mix of cold military aesthetics and whimsical sci-fi elements. The soundtrack is eclectic, featuring everything from Richard Strauss’s Also Sprach Zarathustra to The Beach Boys’ Kokomo, which adds a layer of absurdity that the writing sometimes lacks.

The supporting cast includes standout performances from Tawny Newsome as Captain Angela Ali and Ben Schwartz as F. Tony Scarapiducci, the Space Force social media director. Their characters bring much-needed energy and humor to the show, but their arcs are often overshadowed by the show’s structural issues.

Space Force is a show that tries to be many things at once—a workplace comedy, a political satire, a family drama—and in doing so, it often fails to excel in any single genre. The humor is hit-or-miss, and the pacing is uneven. However, the show does have its moments of brilliance, particularly when it leans into its absurd premise with full force.

The show’s themes of bureaucratic inefficiency and political posturing are timely and relevant, but the execution often feels too timid to fully explore these ideas. The satire is diluted by moments of genuine earnestness, particularly in the character arcs involving Naird’s family and his team’s struggles. The second season improves slightly, with more coherent storytelling and better integration of recurring characters like Jimmy O. Yang as Dr. Chan Kaifang.

Ultimately, Space Force is a missed opportunity. With its killer cast and timely premise, it could have been a sharp, hilarious critique of modern militarization. Instead, it’s a show that often feels like it’s trying too hard to be clever without landing the punchlines.

The show’s cancellation after two seasons is a testament to its struggles to find an audience. While it has its moments of brilliance, Space Force ultimately fails to deliver on its promising premise. It’s a show that tries to be many things at once—a workplace comedy, a political satire, a family drama—and in doing so, it often fails to excel in any single genre.

In the end, Space Force is a show that feels like it was made for a niche audience of military buffs and sci-fi enthusiasts. It’s not a must-watch, but it does have its moments of humor and heart.