Origin

Origin is an intriguing sci-fi horror series released in 2018 by YouTube Red, the paid streaming subscription service owned by YouTube. The ten-episode series showcases a blend of suspense, mystery, and sci-fi elements combined with deep character exploration.

The basic plot of the series revolves around a group of troubled individuals who leave Earth behind to start afresh and embark upon a new journey aboard a spacecraft headed for "Thea," an exoplanet located a light-year away from Earth. These individuals, each with a murky history they're desperate to erase, hope to begin a new life in the off-world colony. However, their journey takes a disastrous turn when they awaken prematurely from stasis and find themselves abandoned on a derelict spaceship.

The atmosphere inside the looming spaceship quickly descends into chaos as fears start to spike, not only because of the mysterious circumstances surrounding their journey, but also due to the creeping realization that one of their own might not be who they appear to be. As they explore the spacecraft and try to uncover what led to their unexpected awakening and abandonment, they must confront their pasts even as they face a terrifying future. The series gradually unfurls their backstories and personal demons, lending a depth to the narrative beyond the sci-fi and horror elements.

Origin is narrated in a dynamic storytelling format, toggling between the present predicaments of the characters and flashbacks into their pasts, revealing their individual motivations to flee Earth. With each episode focusing on a single character's story, the series skillfully allows viewers to dive into their lives and understand why they opted for a one-way ticket into the unknown. The tension escalates across the episodes, with characters not knowing whom to trust, even as the spaceship gets progressively more perilous to navigate.

The series, created by Mika Watkins, features a multicultural and multinational cast, which includes names like Tom Felton, known for his role as Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter series, and Natalia Tena, who played Osha in Game of Thrones. The diverse cast adds to the realism of the series by highlighting the global nature of the mission to colonize Thea.

Origin thrives on its eerie atmosphere, achieved through solid production design. The spaceship serves as an imposing yet compelling setting, with its silent, labyrinthine corridors radiating an unsettling air of desolation. This sense of place is vital to the series, building up suspense and further intensifying the mystery and horror elements as the characters delve deeper into the ship.

In addition to its grim and frightful environments, Origin leverages the power of its well-crafted sound design, rendering an additional layer of eeriness to the series. The convincing visual effects amplify the harrowing encounters onboard the ship and illuminate the harsh realities of living in an extraterrestrial colony.

On the whole, Origin plays deftly with elements of suspense, human drama, and horror, all wrapped up within a grandeur of space exploration. The series poses questions about the human capacity for survival, the nature of fear, and our inherent need for a fresh start. With each episode, the characters embark on a journey where they must deal not only with the mysterious happenings within the ship but also with their inner demons. It is their dread of the past and the terrifying uncertainty of the future that propels the narrative, offering a multi-layered exploration into the human psyche.

Despite its relatively short life (the show was unfortunately not renewed for a second season), the series has left its mark in the genre of science fiction thriller. Origin makes a compelling watch for anyone who enjoys character-driven stories set against a backdrop of space exploration and survival against all odds. The series promises a haunting journey into the deep recesses of space, and buried within that, the human mind.