(Spoilers Below)
When Extant first started airing on CBS over the summer, there was a lot of potential and weight behind its premise. With popular actress Halle Berry as the lead character, and a plot that promised to address heavy issues like life, creation, and family, it seemed to be gearing up for a fascinating character study that could’ve been a new kind of hit for CBS. However, as the season unfolded, it proved incapable of carrying its own weight, and began to buckle under all the interconnected stories it was trying to tell. That’s not to say the story wasn’t good, because at times, it truly was, but Extant failed at finding a balance in its plot progression and character development, ultimately leading to a first season that was more frustrating than anything else.
The first few episodes showed potential though, and I definitely enjoyed the dynamics between Molly, her husband John, and their android son Ethan. While I never really bought into Molly and John’s romantic relationship, Halle Berry still worked well with actor Goran Visnijc, and once they began to work together to protect both their son and their future, the show seemed to be picking up steam. However, once again, Extant just never seemed to understand how to manage itself, and whenever the characters would begin to develop and become more interesting, the show would spiral off into a couple episodes of senseless conspiracy theories that seemed to drag on forever.
This, above all else, is the greatest mistake the show made in its thirteen-episode first season. The story here was populated with characters who were unique and complicated, and had they been given the proper amount of attention, could’ve given the show the heart it so desperately needed. But alas, that just wasn’t the case, as the plot continually overruled the characters, ultimately creating an experience that, put simply, fell undeniably flat.
There were moments where the show succeeded, however, especially in regards to the character arc revolving around Ethan. Seeing this young boy, who was only programmed to be human, slowly learn and adapt to the world around him was by far the best part of the show, and it only got better as it went on. Young actor Pierce Gagnon was absolutely excellent, and he perfectly balanced both the human, relatable side of Ethan with the slightly unsettling robotic side in a way that enlivened every scene he was in. If Extant had focused on Ethan and his relationships with both Molly, John, and the lab techs who helped create him, Julie and Charlie, I can guarantee you that the show would’ve been much better off.
While the conspiracy elements of the show weren’t always bad, and the original mystery regarding how Molly became pregnant while on her solo mission in space was literally bursting with potential, they just never evolved into anything all that interesting. With conspiracy stacked on top of more conspiracies, Extant eventually turned into a muddled mess of half-ideas that seemingly ran in circles with no sense of direction or purpose, and it just about sucked my enjoyment right out of the show.
Which really is a shame, because like I said, Extant could’ve been something real special. Halle Berry’s performance was consistently good, and while her character wasn’t afforded the luxury of developing all that much, Berry never let the plot get the best of her and continued to impress in the role of Molly Woods. The same can’t be said for the rest of the cast, however, as they fell victim to the failings of the plot even more than Berry did.
This is especially evident in the show’s villains, who were always well-acted, but far from consistent in their motivations. The highlight would be Michael O’Neil as Alan Sparks, who, while still being the victim of a muddled backstory, carried a lot of emotional weight with him and gave the show a much appreciated layer of moral complexity. His dynamic with Molly was a stand out as well, and O’Neill and Berry played off of each other really well.
By the time the season was wrapping up, however, the plot had regressed to such a confusing state that there was little to no emotional connection intact at all. I found myself caring very little about the outcome of anyone or anything, and with the single exception of the way Ethan’s story wrapped up, which did manage to pull at the heartstrings a bit, the story ended on an abrupt and unfulfilling note that clumsily tried to set up for a future season.
While the show performed well enough to earn itself a second season, I have little interest in seeing how it plays out. I might check up on it, just to see if it has made any drastic improvements, but at this point I don’t expect to see that happen. All things considered, Extant was a bold risk for CBS to take, and I admire them for doing it, but it’s unfortunate that the results failed to live up to the show’s original potential.
