TV Review: Night Sky – Season 1

Night Sky

Creator: Holden Miller

Starring: Sissy Spacek, JK Simmons, Chai Henson, Kiah McKirnan, Adam Bartley, Julieta Zylberberg. Rocio Hernandez

Runtime: 8 Episodes

From showrunner Daniel C. Connolly and creator/writer Holden Miller comes Night Sky; a quiet, somber science fiction tearjerker that centers on Franklin (JK Simmons) and Irene (Sissy Spacek) York; an aging, grieving couple who find a door to another world in their backyard. The Yorks’ simple life is upended when a strange young man named Jude (Chai Hensen) unexpectedly stumbles into their lives. Jude eventually assumes the role of caretaker for the Yorks: Irene, more specifically. Jude and Irene bond quickly, which allows Franklin the room to develop bonds outside of his marriage, specifically in the form of his distant granddaughter Denise (Kiah Mckirnan) and irritating neighbor, Byron (Adam Bartley).

The core of the show is the complex relationship of Franklin and Irene York. With that being the case, the show demands a stellar performance from Simmons and Spacek and if they were unable to sell it, the show would completely fall apart at the seams. Not that this will come as a shock to anyone remotely familiar with either of these actors, but they more than carry their weight. Simmons acts with his entire being, displaying the depth of their history together with just the look in his eyes, and Spacek likewise, who manages to bring me to tears just with a well-timed breaking of her voice. Our co-leads prove themselves masters of the craft.

I have a particular affection for the first episode of the series, which if it were to be separate from the rest of the series still functions as an excellent short story that feels pulled straight from The Martian Chronicles. It’s a story that takes it’s time to connect the viewer to this elderly couple, their love for one another, and their shared grief.

Night Sky is significant because of its emotionally resonant and intensely relatable portrayal of the human condition by way of its characters and the navigating of their complex relationships, but it is notable for the technical prowess behind the camera as well. For example, I was struck by a scene in Frank and Irene’s bedroom in which no words were spoken. Instead, the camera takes over for a moment to allow us silent insight into the characters. It lingers on Irene, who lies on her back and gazes wistfully upward. It’s revealed that above her she sees the other world that makes her feel so special, even when she isn’t there. Then, we’re shown a similar shot of Franklin— he sees the ceiling.

Our secondary plotline follows an Argentinian mother and daughter, Stella (Julieta Zylberberg) and Toni (Rocio Hernandez). This side of the story (especially in the first half of the season or so) unfortunately lacks the emotional weight of the Yorks’ plot. The dynamic between the two is quite frustrating to watch as a viewer, as it’s built around a trope I’m not fond of. It’s not an inherently bad one, but this particular story lacks the legs to carry it for eight long episodes. It dominates just about every scene they share. The audience is left very much in the dark and there’s just not enough to ground yourself with, making it difficult to care. This is more a writing and a pacing issue, as Zylberberg and Hernandez do wonderfully with what they’re given. Zylberberg in particular gives a very nuanced and conflicted performance, which is only marred by choices outside of her control.

Jude, who serves as something of a wedge between Franklin and Irene, is the question mark the plot primarily revolves around. Irene has suffered such great loss in her life, and Jude’s youthful innocence awakens something that she likely thought was long dead. Their budding and developing friendship is one of the high points as it presents us the idea that our stories are never over when we think they are. The most important people in our lives are perhaps still around the corner, and it’s our duty to make sure we’re there to meet them when the time comes.

Night Sky is a wonderful little surprise of a series. It’s not a show that barrels towards its conclusion at top speed. Instead, it slowly climbs the stairs of story progression, and with each step peels back a hidden layer of depth. It is not for the faint of heart, as it deals with sensitive and heavy subject matter. But it does so with the elegance, wisdom, and maturity that can only come with age and experience.