There won’t be any more Ascension, at least on Syfy. The cable channel has told Deadline that, “We were very happy with Ascension as an event series, but with so much high profile development in the works, we have decided not to pursue a full series.”
Airing in December 2014, Ascension follows an alternate reality in which, in 1963, President Kennedy and the government sent 600 volunteers (men, women, and children) into space on a century-long voyage aboard a self-sustaining generation ship. The cast includes Tricia Helfer, Gil Bellows, Brian Van Holt, Andrea Roth, Brandon P. Bell, Jacqueline Byers, Tiffany Lonsdale, and P.J. Boudousqué.
When Syfy ordered the six hour episodes of Ascension last year, the plan was to make it a regular series if the mini-series was successful enough — ala Battlestar Galactica. The ratings were okay but certainly nothing to write home about.
It’s unclear if the producers will try to find a home for Ascension elsewhere.
What do you think? Did you like the Ascension series? Would you have watched it as a regular weekly TV show?
I just found this show on Netflix today, and loved it. Couldn’t stop watching. I think the ratings issue was due to not letting people know it existed, rather than any issues with the actual show. A pity American television is so worried about getting good ratings, that they pull excellent shows if its not an instant hit. Many of these shows don’t reach us across the pond before they’ve already been cancelled.
I just found it on Netflix too and watched the entire season without stopping! I was so excited to have found a new favorite show only to be let down. I live in the US and had really only heard of the name of the show before it came out. I knew it had something to do with space but that was it so I didn’t watch. I am so disappointed with Syfy’s call! This sort of thing happens way too often. I’ve lost count of how many amazing shows have been canceled before their time.
Really enjoyed the show on Netflix! they should at least make a 2 episode finally, the show was really well thought and the characters could have evolved so much …
It is Stargate Universe all over again. I hate that SyFy cancels great shows for stupid stuff like Ghost Hunters. I lost respect for SyFy a long time ago and only watched this because it was on Netflix.
I thought it was awesome once I figured out what was going on!! Didn’t see the “honey-pot” move happening. Well played!! I’d like to know where the XO ended up… But def keep me updated on if you all end up making the show a series. Please make sure the first stop is Netflix. I will continue letting people know about the 6 hour mini series as well and see if we can get you a following!!
What a shame to cancel such a great show. I hope Netflix picks it up and continues. The cast and storyline were rock solid!
This show blew my mind! I loved it and need more. Would have been a waste on syfy even if they had kept it. I hope Netflix notices the 5* rating I gave it. This show deserves to continue.
Good production value. Writers wrote themselves into a box – limited options to continue. The “girls” was a flawed stereotyped dated concept. Likely what killed it.
Stupid to cancel a great show.
**** SyFy! – you can only trust one thing from such a deceitful network: they will suck you into a decent series and then cancel it so they don’t have to start paying the actors. Only one thing to do – Stop watching that worthless network until they get some decent folks running the network. You watch a show you like on SyFy you can bet they will cancel it!!!
I’m so sorry to see the show not getting a longer run. For me it started out interesting and it just got more and more and more interesting by the time it was done. I was completely engrossed and excited about a new season. Netflix clearly beads to pick up the ball and run with this one and get it going again. There is still so much more story to tell…
ahh i want to know what happend
Netflix should pick it up. It and Continuum are the best of the best. I’ve occasionally pondered whether or not Earth is an Ascension-type pod with overseers getting high on as in addicted to negative human emotions.
TV audience polls are archaic. Complete statistical analysis, to include the younger, better educated, disposable incomed streamers, must be taken into account. This information is of prime concern to advertisers so as to be able to market across platforms and purchase placement or products in the shows themselves.
Great series, pity if it will not continue!
Is this going to be firefly all over again?
I just found out this series existed on Netflix and I loved it. I literally just binged watched it twice in the last two days, WTF are they thinking when they cancelled it? If they are not going to bring it back, please tell me how the XO survived without a suit in the “new planet”, and where did the guy he was fighting go?
I think new planet is Proxima….Christa was able to do the teleport.