Space Force Review: 5 Ups & 3 Downs

1. Carell’s Performance

Having been the face of such a successful series for the last fifteen years, it was always going to be a struggle to shake comparisons to Michael Scott. While there are similarities between Scott and Mark Naird, the two are very different characters. Unfortunately for Carell, the switch from ridiculous boss in a boring setting to boring boss in a ridiculous setting doesn’t seem to be paying off.

As a strait-laced, by the book kind of guy, Naird is perfect to a fault. He boasts the cleanest shoes in the entire government and makes his bed even when getting up in the middle of the night for a drink. The majority of humour that involves the character tends to be born from conflict or misunderstanding rather than the wacky ways of his previous role.

As a result, Naird has moments that show off Carell’s comedy genius, but the character feels stiff. It feels like they’re still trying to feel the character out, as he starts to come out of his shell as the season goes on. That being said, these kinds of shows always tend to have shaky starts, so maybe they can redeem it come the next season.