In an age of remakes, reboots and adaptations, unique concepts in film and television can become increasingly rare. Sci-fi television is packed with new Star Trek iterations and reboots of older shows. There’s nothing wrong with these shows – Star Trek will never cease to entertain, and well-executed remakes can bring beloved classics to new audiences. But sometimes audiences continue to long for stories that feel original and exciting.
2021’s Debris was such a story. The fascinating premise caught the attention of not only sci-fi media, but television in general. Unfortunately, as the season progressed, mystery added on top of mystery without providing any answers, causing many viewers to give up on the show because the payoff never came. Ultimately, this led to low numbers and the cancellation of the series. However, the show’s potential was undeniable. Had it had the chance to continue, it could have offered sci-fi fans a unique perspective on age-old concepts of the genre – something that is missing from today’s TV landscape.
The premise of Debris surrounds an alien ship that crashed into orbit a few years earlier. Over six months, bits and pieces of the ship (the titular debris) fall to the surface of the planet, the strange technology causing chaos and confusion where it lands. Brian Beneventi of the CIA and Finola Jones of MI6 investigate and collect these pieces of rubble, trying to determine their functions and purposes, while a mysterious organization tries to collect the rubble for their own purposes.
Debris offered a unique take on the concept of aliens coming to Earth. It wasn’t the creatures themselves that arrived, just their technology. Was it sent to us on purpose? Were the aliens planning to attack, invade or colonize Earth – or did they just want to study us? Was their destination somewhere else entirely? Their purpose is unknown and the bits and pieces of their ship are the only clues the characters have. And as the show progresses, it becomes clear that almost everyone involved has their own plans and motives for collecting the rubble.
Debris was created and produced by JH Wyman, who previously worked as an executive producer for sci-fi procedural Zoom. Fans of the latter recognized similar themes in Debris, particularly with regard to the characters and how they interact with the technology they encounter. Some have criticized Rubble as “all head, no heart”, attributing the show’s lack of success to this quality. However, it is a blatantly inaccurate description. Like Edge, rubble tells a science fiction story through an empathetic human lens.
The show uses the concept of the rubble itself to develop and deepen its characters. Both the traumas and defining moments of Finola and Bryan’s past are explored through the technology they encounter. In the first episode, Finola – despite knowing how dangerous the rubble can be – falls victim to his influence after technology showed her visions of her late mother. Bryan, as viewers learn over the course of the show, is haunted by an event from his time in the military — and in a later episode we get to see this event through the action of the rubble itself.
The show’s science fiction views don’t just pose fascinating questions about the universe beyond our planet and beings beyond humanity. They also serve as catalysts for character development, deepening the relationships between them and showing the audience their hidden depths. Finola must confront her complicated history with her family when she is reunited with her resurrected father. Bryan finally understands what Finola really means to him after the rubble pushes him into a separate timeline. The technology they encounter may be strange, but the conflicts the characters experience and have to resolve are deeply human.
While the numbers have dropped, those who enjoyed the show were disappointed with the cancellation as there was so much more to tell. What debris had George Jones discovered that would be a ‘game changer’? What is this mysterious orb of light? And most importantly, what do the invisible extraterrestrials want with humanity; specifically, why are they interested in manipulating human emotions? But it wasn’t just the answers to these questions that fans wanted – it was the continuation of a show that offered something different.
Debris had its flaws; namely, using the “mystery box” concept didn’t work as the driving force behind the story. However, it’s not unheard of for television shows to shift their focus as the seasons progress. Had a season 2 been on the table, the show could have taken on a more serialized structure more suited to the mystery box approach, rather than the mystery of the week that left so many loose threads in season 1. great shows take some time to settle in, but despite the fantastic concept and the great performances from the cast, Debris never had a chance to correct his mistakes.
Ultimately, while the show’s numbers may have justified the decision, it’s an all-too-familiar feeling to see a fascinating sci-fi concept discarded after one season. DebrisCancellation means the loss of a highly original story, at a time when they feel little.
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