Critics pan Space Force, claiming the depiction of clueless general is unrealistic
By RED Friday
Critics have given poor reviews to the second season of Netflix’s Space Force, claiming the depiction of a clueless general is unrealistic. TV critics who praised The Big Bang Theory have strong opinions on why Space Force is a bad show.
“The idea that a branch of the military would be this incompetent is offensive,” Jonah Wallen, critic for USA Today, wrote in his review. “There’s no way an egotistical officer making terrible decisions would be in charge of anything. Also, the first season’s portrayal of a spaceman spouting conspiracy theories while trying to date a high school girl is absurd. None of our heroic service members would ever do that.”
Some claimed the show’s characterizations of politicians as problematic, claiming the phrase ‘Angry young congresswoman’ is a racist stereotype of Latinas. The congresswoman they’re referring to is an Asian woman.
“There are no other reasons besides rase that members of the Space Force would dislike a congresswoman who is threatening their funding,” Salon writer Omega Thyme-Jones wrote in xir review. “It is a racist, sexist caricature brought on by monumental levels of dystopian white privilege. The show depicting a conservative congressman who thinks the earth is flat is ok though.”
Many reviews complained that poking fun at President Trump without naming him made the satire too complicated for them to understand. “While they state POTUS tweeted ‘boobs on the moon,’ the characters did not look directly into the camera and say ‘Trump is stupid and bad,’” Thyme-Jones continued. “What POTUS were they referring to? Could they be mocking Democrats? TV make me think and now brain hurty. Spoonfeed jokes please.”
Critics projected their inability to move on from The Office onto Space Force as well. “Steve Carell’s character is not exactly like Michael Scott from The Office,” Amanda Lockette from The Atlantic wrote. “Actors should not be allowed to portray more than one character in their career.”
The final sticking point for several critics was the uniforms in the show. “Guardians wear moon camouflage in the show,” Lockette said. “Do they think we’re dumb? Next, they’re going to try and tell us Navy sailors wear forest camo.”