REVIEW: Space Force Season 2 (2022)

Television Reviews

The long-forgotten season 2 of Netflix’s Space Force was released to no fanfare or big press release this weekend. When Netflix viewers were asked if they were going to watch season 2, the consensus was, “Oh . . . yeah. I forgot about that show. I guess I’ll check it out.” Netflix’s binge model and their exorbitant wait time between seasons tore this show out of the minds of viewers, leaving it to rot in obscurity in the meantime.

Nevertheless, irrespective of the show’s relevancy now, what is Space Force’s quality? It is neither good nor bad, the epitome of, “I don’t have anything else to watch; I guess I’ll watch this.” Its characters make nonsensical decisions, all for the sake of advancing the plot or making a cheap joke, destroying any immersion into the story and any connection between them and the audience. It is impossible to believe these people are in the position of controlling one of the core branches of the U.S. Military. In spite of all that nonsense, the show can still be fun at times. If you liked season 1 and can turn your brain off, you may find yourself enjoying these wild and wacky characters and the hair-brained schemes they find themselves in.

**Spoilers**

Season 2 picks up where season 1 left off, with Steve Carell’s General Naird court-martialed for his actions in de-escalating a confrontation with China on the Moon rather than declaring war on them as he was ordered. After a humorous montage of his colleagues and family testifying on his behalf – and on behalf of Space Force as a whole – Naird is given an ultimatum. He has four months to get Space Force back on track and prove himself worthy of its command, or the consequences will be dire for all.

The following four months come and go with meaningless shenanigans, and when that fateful day arrives, Space Force is sent into turmoil as the Russians hack the base, planning to crash an American satellite in Russian territory before using the incident as an excuse to declare war on America. In his customarily absurd genius style, Naird comes up with a play to stop the Russians. Space Force will pretend that they believe that the Chinese hacked them and put on a play for the base’s hacked security system to convince the Russians that the crashing satellite is carrying a dirty bomb that will wipe out much of Russia.

The Russians fall for this ploy, releasing the base and allowing Space Force back into the satellite’s controls in time to prevent it from crashing. No sooner does Space Force avert disaster than someone discovers that a gigantic asteroid is hurtling toward Earth intent on destroying it, setting up season 3.

Despite constantly getting compared to The Office by nature of the cast and crew involved, this quirky little show carries none of the heart nor dry humor that made The Office so compelling. Space Force is a cheap imitation and best, but still one of the best modern alternatives we have these days. Adequate is the best word to describe this show, and this season specifically.

To fulfill the burning question of most fans going into a Netflix show: Is Space Force woke or political in an undue fashion? No. There are the requisite throw-away lines and moments required of all Hollywood productions these days, but nothing distracting or plot-central. There are even a few moments, like season 1, where the show makes tertiary jabs at wokeness. Space Force has a lot of diverse characters in this story; however, it doesn’t care, not giving them undue preference or superiority. These characters are just as poorly written as all the others, making them equal.

Even though Diana Silvers’s Erin Naird has less screen time than in season 1, she is one of the few characters who improves in season 2. She’s matured in such a way that she accepts the shenanigans of Space Force but doesn’t need them anymore. Her relationship with her father has also improved, with the benefit of better chemistry with Steve Carell. Erin’s role is rapidly becoming the “Jim” of the show, the much-needed ordinary person who will participate in the insanity but initially reacts with shock or disbelief as Jim so often did in The Office. It is difficult to say if her marked improvement is due to better writing or Diana Silvers’s increased acting ability. Regardless, Erin is one of the best parts of season 2.

The majority of Tawny Newsome’s Angela Ali’s limited complexity from season 1 was thrown out the window for season 2. Instead, the show focuses on mocking her PTSD from her traumatic experience on the Moon while making her play with Chan’s heartstrings, also mocking him for caring about her. One joke, in particular, the writers thought was hilarious but continued far too long was the fact that Angela can’t bring herself to do laundry anymore. Rather than doing laundry, she wears her clothes until they get dirty before throwing them out the window and buying more. With the season taking place over four months, there would be an astonishingly high pile of clothes outside her window. However, the writers never address this, choosing to giggle at themselves instead every time she throws her clothes out. Utter nonsense does not quite cover the stupidity of her character in this season.

Again relegating its best actor to delivering terrible lines, Space Force offers an empty character in the form of John Malkovich’s Doctor Mallory. This season doesn’t give Mallory anything to do; he’s just sort of there during all the show’s major events. It is a pity to see such a talented actor given nothing to work with.

As for the rest of the supporting cast, they are all empty cutouts of over-the-top characters, present only to fuel the bonkers scenarios of the show. None contribute much nor truly exist beyond that.

As with season 1, Steve Carrol’s General Naird flip-flops from caring and diligent leader to deranged wildman faster than a metronome. He is literally whatever the scene needs him to be to land whatever cheap joke the writers have concocted for that sequence. His character is in no way like Michael Scott, who was a broken yet caring man who acted out in a bombastic manner to conceal his insecurities and shortcomings. We cannot tell which of Naird’s many personalities is the real one or why he needs to put on so many different facades. This rampant inconsistency makes it difficult to connect with him or, honestly, care about the struggles that he is enduring.

At best, Space Force season 2 is a faithful continuation of season 1, giving everything the audience has come to expect from this bonkers show. If that appeals to you, enjoyment can be found in season 2. However, if you require better writing from your entertainment, this season may leave you underwhelmed.