HBO Max Raised by Wolves (HBO Max / CTV Space / Crave) (1 Viewer)

[Josh Dial]

This is the new "hard" (some would say retro/vintage) sci-fi series created and written by Aaron Guzikowsi (Prisoners) and produced by Ridley Scott. Scott also directed the first two episodes before handing the job off to his son, Luke (who directed the Blade Runner 2049 Shorts). The score is from Dark's Ben Frost and longtime Ridley Scott collaborator Marc Streitenfled.

The series premiered on September 3, 2020 and the first three episodes are available on HBO Max. In Canada they are on CTV Space and streamable on Crave. The release schedule is three episodes at launch, followed by two episodes per week (released on Thursdays) for three weeks, with a final 10th episode the following week.

I watched the first three episodes and fell in love with--of all things--the colour timing. Something about it evokes Alien and Prometheus and all things Ridley Scott, but also retro-futurism and German expressionism. Indeed the homages to Fritz Lang's Metropolis are readily apparent about 45 minutes through the first episode. In a word, the show looks phenomenal.

The show appears to be completely original (aside from the homages and influences) and not based on any existing IP.

Here's the premise (no spoilers): The show centres around two androids named Mother and Father who are sent from Earth out into space with some of the last viable Human embryos. Earth was apparently destroyed in a nuclear war between atheists and a new religion who seems to worship the sun itself (or at least a god embodied by the sun). The atheists sent the androids into space (to Kepler-22B) with human embryos while the "Mithraics" (the religious followers) opted for a generation ship with hand-picked survivors of the Earth's destruction in suspended animation. Nothing goes as planned.

So far Raised by Wolves is gorgeous and intriguing. There isn't another show like it on TV right now.

 

[cinemiracle]

This is the new "hard" (some would say retro/vintage) sci-fi series created and written by Aaron Guzikowsi (Prisoners) and produced by Ridley Scott. Scott also directed the first two episodes before handing the job off to his son, Luke (who directed the Blade Runner 2049 Shorts). The score is from Dark's Ben Frost and longtime Ridley Scott collaborator Marc Streitenfled.

The series premiered on September 3, 2020 and the first three episodes are available on HBO Max. In Canada they are on CTV Space and streamable on Crave. The release schedule is three episodes at launch, followed by two episodes per week (released on Thursdays) for three weeks, with a final 10th episode the following week.

I watched the first three episodes and fell in love with--of all things--the colour timing. Something about it evokes Alien and Prometheus and all things Ridley Scott, but also retro-futurism and German expressionism. Indeed the homages to Fritz Lang's Metropolis are readily apparent about 45 minutes through the first episode. In a word, the show looks phenomenal.

The show appears to be completely original (aside from the homages and influences) and not based on any existing IP.

Here's the premise (no spoilers): The show centres around two androids named Mother and Father who are sent from Earth out into space with some of the last viable Human embryos. Earth was apparently destroyed in a nuclear war between atheists and a new religion who seems to worship the sun itself (or at least a god embodied by the sun). The atheists sent the androids into space (to Kepler-22B) with human embryos while the "Mithraics" (the religious followers) opted for a generation ship with hand-picked survivors of the Earth's destruction in suspended animation. Nothing goes as planned.

So far Raised by Wolves is gorgeous and intriguing. There isn't another show like it on TV right now.

Watched the first episode.Briliant series >One of the best sci-fi series in recent years.

 

[Tom J. Davis]

I’m two episodes In and have to agree. I love it. I’m a little biased though as I’m a huge Ridley Scott fan. Just wish HBO Max would offer 4K.

 

[Josh Dial]

I feel a lot of forum members may be missing out on this (as they likely did for "Dark", which remains one of the best pieces of television ever). Anyone else watching?

 

[Josh Steinberg]

It wasn’t on my radar at all. I’m now considering it

I think my problem - and this is very clearly a “my” problem - is that none of this season’s space sci-fi offerings are what I’m looking for in that kind of show right now. And what concerns me is that I will not enjoy these shows for being what they are because I’ll be too preoccupied with what they’re not rather than appreciating what they are.

 

[Neil Middlemiss]

I watched the first episode and am hooked! Terrific television! (And I watched the first season of Dark based on HTF member enthusiasm and WOW is that great television, too).

Time is my challenge so it takes me a while but this new show has my neurons firing!

 

[Josh Steinberg]

And the peer pressure builds

 

[bujaki]

I'll be watching this show soon; however, DARK, WOW WOW!

 

[Josh Dial]

It wasn’t on my radar at all. I’m now considering it

I think my problem - and this is very clearly a “my” problem - is that none of this season’s space sci-fi offerings are what I’m looking for in that kind of show right now. And what concerns me is that I will not enjoy these shows for being what they are because I’ll be too preoccupied with what they’re not rather than appreciating what they are.

In terms of sunk costs, and without spoilers for either Raised by Wolves or Dark, here is what I think you will need to "invest" to see if these shows are for you:

Raised by Wolves: the "this is for me" moment comes about 15 minutes before the end of the first episode.​

​

Dark: while I was a fan about 10 minutes into the first episode, there is a montage near the end of episode three that elevated the show to potential masterpiece status for me (and it never looked back). So, in my estimate, you'll have to watch Dark a bit longer.​

​

If you have an hour to burn scoping out new shows, go with Raised by Wolves. If you have a few hours, go with Dark. If you have an afternoon or evening, do both!

 

[Josh Steinberg]

That’s really good to know, thanks me!

 

[dpippel]

I hope you all are watching Dark in the original German, with English subtitles...

 

[bujaki]

And watch via Netflix or buy Kino's BDs of Babylon Berlin, Series 1-3, also in German with English subtitles. Great series that takes place during the waning years of the Weimar Republic.

 

[Yee-Ming]

Tempting. I'm catching up on The Expanse, which I started a few weeks ago when it all became available on Amazon Prime, and have nearly finished, so these are all good leads.

 

[Patrick Sun]

Caught up with the first 7 episodes, I liked the early episodes more than the past 2-3 episodes.

The religious/atheist stuff kinda bores me.

Seemed like this was connected to the Aliens franchise with the design of the androids, but maybe that's just me.

 

[Johnny Angell]

Apparently the season has ended. I say apparently because I had no idea the season was over. SPOILERS FOLLOW.

The atheist turned religious zealot got the shit beaten out of him but has survived. The fate of Mother and Father is not certain. The “future of humanity” is a monstrous eel like creature that floats thru the air. The spouse of the former atheist is with the kids. They have not migrated to the tropical zone yet.

I don’t recall such a stealth season-ender before. Is it a series-ender?

 

[Josh Dial]

Is it a series-ender?

Nope. The show was renewed for a second season before the first season ended.

 

[Wayne Klein]

I was underwhelmed by the end of the season and, frankly, it went on too long.

 

[DaveF]

Finished Raised by Wolves tonight I and don’t even know what that was.

 

[Josh Dial]

Finished Raised by Wolves tonight I and don’t even know what that was.

I really liked the first season. Not many shows do precisely what they set out to do, and do it well. I think Raised By Wolves does.

I will say that the directing quality trends downward somewhat the further Ridley Scott's involvement fades into the rear view. But the show is intriguing and daring and scratches a certain retro sci-fi itch.

 

[DaveF]

I appreciated the quality and retro-fi feel and overall novelty of Wolves. The performances were good and the characters of Mother, Father, Marcus and whatshername were multi-dimensional. I wish the kids had been actual characters, but other than Campion and maybe Paul, they were mostly sketches.

But the final episode, it went off the rails for me. Monster flying android snake baby. Devolving humanoids. Sentient planet. Even Marcus psychotic break felt really abrupt. I‘m ok with weird, but I want it connected. Wolves seems to start going random at the end, making stuff up without basis in the first eight episodes.

So...I don’t know. Not sure I care to learn flying android snake baby’s back story if/when Season 2 one day appears.