Recommended Sci Fi TV: Moonhaven (2022)

Recommended Sci Fi TV: Science fiction and fantasy shows from the past decade or so that you may have missed and that we believe are worth checking out.

What Is It?

Moonhaven takes place 100 years in the future, when civilization on Earth is on the verge of collapse. A utopian community called Moonhaven was established on the Moon years earlier with the purpose of developing technology and cultural changes to help revive Earth. But as they prepare to make their historic return trip to the planet, a murder occurs, putting the fate of the mission in jeopardy.

Aired: AMC+, 2022, One Season Totaling 6 Episodes

Starring: Emma McDonald, Dominic Monaghan, Joe Manganiello, Amara Karan, Kadeem Hardison, Ayelet Zurer

Created By: Peter Ocko

Bottom Line: Moonhaven is a very unique series that blends some interesting science fiction concepts with an excellent cast, and it acted as a breath of fresh air for the genre.

Why Is It Worth Watching?

Peak TV delivered quite a few genre entries during its heyday, including space-based shows, fantasy epics, and supernatural dramas, but it was often difficult to find something amid the onslaught of output that felt truly unique. There were plenty of good shows, but many of them rehashed ideas and formulas we had already seen before. However, AMC’s streaming arm, AMC+, took a chance on Moonhaven, and it definitely stood out among genre offerings.

The series presents what initially appears to be a utopian community on the Moon, a kind of Garden of Eden separated from the ravaged Earth it is meant to one day rejuvenate. But when a murder is committed on Moonhaven, two unprepared “’tectives”, along with an envoy who has arrived from Earth, begin investigating the crime. As they dig deeper, a conspiracy unfolds, revealing the darker side of this lunar utopia.

The first episode can be a bit tough to get through, as a lot of information is thrown at the viewer with little explanation, and the show briefly veers into psychedelic weirdness. However, it settles down quickly by the second episode, so it’s worth sticking with it. First impressions of several characters also change as the series progresses, particularly Dominic Monaghan’s Paul Serno and Kadeem Hardison’s Arlo, who become central to the story (and we start rooting for them), along with Emma McDonald’s Bella Sway. It’s also worth noting that the show includes elements that lean more toward fantasy than science fiction, so this isn’t really a hard sci-fi entry, even though it initially presents itself that way.

The cast elevates the show a notch or two, with a well-chosen group of performers who all seem fully invested in their roles. There are some familiar faces here, including Dominic Monaghan (Lost) and Kadeem Hardison (The Chi). But there are quite a number of relatively new actors involved like Emma McDonald, and they definitely pull their weight.

With just six episodes, the first season is a quick watch. As mentioned above, it starts off with some odd diversions, but the show fully had my interest by the second episode, and then it took some interesting twists and turns from there. Unfortunately, AMC+ cancelled the series after one season, but there is hope that it could continue at some point (more on that at this link), and it is still worth a look as a distinctive Sci Fi TV entry.

Cancelled Too Soon?

Yes. This show was initially renewed for a second season, but AMC+ reversed that decision at a time that it was going through some cost-cutting (the Anime series Pantheon was cancelled then as well even though it had also been renewed for a second season). Moonhaven actually performed well in viewing for AMC+, and it was shopped around to other venues, but none were willing to greenlight a second season. It was removed from streaming on AMC+, but it has since shown up on Netflix. It seems to be getting some attention there, and if fans were to start making some noise, perhaps they could convince that streamer to keep the show going.

Where Can You Watch It?

This series received both a Blu-ray and DVD release, and it is available to purchase VOD from providers like Amazon.com. And, as mentioned above, it is also now streaming on Netflix.

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