The second season premiere of National Geographic’s phenomenal hybrid series MARS is this Monday, November 12. Part dramatization, part documentary, all science, it’s a fascinating look at how we might get to, and survive on, Mars.
The story sticks solidly to scientific facts while exploring the effects of such a mission on the human psyche. The tale is interspersed with interesting documentary segments explaining how various aspects are possible. It really feels like two shows, with one part informing you how the other is, or could be, a reality. With the prospect of landing a human on Mars looming in the near future, this is the perfect series to prepare us for the momentous event.
Season two begins five years after the end of season one and nine years after our original settlers landed. It promises to bring new challenges, most notably in the form of for-profit private space companies. It may sound a little far-fetched, but this will be a reality sooner rather than later.
A portion of the season 2 description courtesy National Geographic:
MARS picks up five years after the conclusion of Season 1, following the successful maiden mission to the Red Planet when the original International Mars Science Foundation (IMSF) crew struggled to safely land on and create an initial settlement. It’s now the year 2042, and IMSF has established a fully-fledged colony, Olympus Town, but they cannot finance the Mars expedition alone. Doors of opportunity have swung wide open to the private sector, but tensions arise among original mission-driven scientists and miners sent by the for-profit corporation, Lukrum Industries, which create a new world of challenges for everyone on the Red Planet.
And, finally, here’s that promised photo gallery from the season two premiere episode:
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- In Season 2 of MARS, the mission to colonize Mars becomes a battle between science and self-interest when a privately held corporation makes its home on the Red Planet. (photo credit: National Geographic/Dusan Martincek)
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- In the first episode of season 2, Scientists at IMSF’s outpost on the Red Planet brace for the arrival of a new set of colonists—miners commissioned by Lukrum, a for-profit corporation. The mission to colonize Mars becomes a battle between science and self-interest when Lukrum makes its home on the Red Planet. (photo credit: National Geographic/Dusan Martincek)
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- In the first episode of season 2, Scientists at IMSF’s outpost on the Red Planet brace for the arrival of a new set of colonists—miners commissioned by Lukrum, a for-profit corporation. The IMSF crew goes to meet the Lukrum crew. (photo credit: National Geographic/Dusan Martincek)
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- (From left to right): IMSF crew Gunnar Cautery as Mike Glenn, JiHAE as Hana Seung, Sammi Rotibi as Robert Foucault and Alberto Ammann as Javier Delgado. In the first episode of season 2, Scientists at IMSF’s outpost on the Red Planet brace for the arrival of a new set of colonists—miners commissioned by Lukrum, a for-profit corporation. The mission to colonize Mars becomes a battle between science and self-interest when Lukrum makes its home on the Red Planet. (photo credit: National Geographic/Dusan Martincek)
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- Lukrum makes its home on the Red Planet. In the first episode of season 2, Scientists at IMSF’s outpost on the Red Planet brace for the arrival of a new set of colonists—miners commissioned by Lukrum, a for-profit corporation. (photo credit: National Geographic/Dusan Martincek)
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- In Season 2 of MARS, the mission to colonize Mars becomes a battle between science and self-interest when a privately held corporation makes its home on the Red Planet. (photo credit: National Geographic/Dusan Martincek)
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- JiHAE as Commander Hana Seung talks with Jeff Hephner as Commander Kurt Hurrelle about how IMSF and Lukrum are going to work together on the Red Planet. In the first episode of season 2, Scientists at IMSF’s outpost on the Red Planet brace for the arrival of a new set of colonists—miners commissioned by Lukrum, a for-profit corporation. The mission to colonize Mars becomes a battle between science and self-interest when Lukrum makes its home on the Red Planet. (photo credit: National Geographic/Dusan Martincek)
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- Anamaria Marinca as Marta Kamen in her lab at IMSF. In the first episode of season 2, Scientists at IMSF’s outpost on the Red Planet brace for the arrival of a new set of colonists—miners commissioned by Lukrum, a for-profit corporation. The mission to colonize Mars becomes a battle between science and self-interest when Lukrum makes its home on the Red Planet. (photo credit: National Geographic/Dusan Martincek)
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- JiHAE as Joon Seung, left, talks with Cosmia Shaw as Leslie Richardson. Leslie has taken over Joon’s position as Secretary General in season 2. (photo credit: National Geographic/Dusan Martincek)
If you haven’t seen season one of MARS, you can stream it absolutely free at National Geographic’s MARS webpage.
National Geographic’s MARS returns Monday, November 12 at 9/8c with a 6-episode story arc
Visit the National Geographic MARS website
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Senior Editor for Three If By Space. Tom first became interested in science fiction & science as a very young child thanks to his parents. His earliest memories of enjoying scifi were sitting with his dad watching first-run episodes of the original Star Trek. Although a fan of nearly all forms of scripted television, Tom’s preferences skew heavily toward hard science fiction.
