NBC ordered a new UFO sci-fi series to order called Debris.
There just isn’t enough genuine science fiction on network television anymore. Sure, there is still plenty of fantasy and superhero properties that can, at times, bleed into the sci-fi genre. There’s nothing wrong with that. Though it feels like most would agree that a show like The Flash, while heavily integrated with science fiction, would fall into a different genre. Heck one of the last ones standing, The Orville, got moved to Hulu. Fans can rejoice however as NBC has ordered a new science fiction series to order called Debris.
"‘Debris’ follows two agents from two different continents, and two different mindsets, who must work together to investigate when wreckage from a destroyed alien spacecraft has mysterious effects on humankind."
A vague, yet compelling mystery centering around good ‘ol science fiction tropes? Sounds interesting enough. The series will star Jonathan Tucker as Agent Bryan Beneventi and Riann Steele as British Agent Finola Jones.
The show comes at a time when the big four broadcast channels in the United States have little if any form of science fiction. Most high-concept series, your Sense8’s, Expanses, and even the juggernauts in Star Trek and Star Wars are segmented to either cable networks, the CW, or streaming service.
That doesn’t sound awful, as there’s an abundance of quality programming on the internet, but network television is still a powerful force, and giving science fiction more time on those types of networks would do wonders for the show and its reach among potential fans. (Better advertising works too, just saying).
In 2007-2008 alone shows like Chuck and Heroes were not only two of NBC’s most viewed shows but actually anchored their Monday night primetime slots. They were backed by other shows across all four networks like New Amsterdam, Bionic Women, the Sarah Connor Chronicles, Jericho, and the biggest show arguably of the time, Lost.
As of 2019-2020, if you don’t count Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the superhero shows on the CW, there is one series that can truly constitute as “science fiction” and it isn’t even on the big four, but rather the CW; Roswell, New Mexico, the reboot of the early 2000’s series Roswell.
Most network shows are littered with police, fire fighting, and medical procedurals. Gone are the dynamic and interesting science fiction series. At least, hopefully, for the time being. With Debris, there might be a chance to garner some intrigue again in the genre among the big four.
A tall order for a show that doesn’t even have a premiere date, but a journey of many miles always starts with a singular step. If fans want science fiction in front of the most eyes possible, it starts with bringing back something, anything, that could draw eyes in.