Night Sky Review: Sissy Spacek And J.K. Simmons Shine In Stunning New Sci-Fi Series

I was consistently delighted by the writing of "Night Sky." As a critic, I'm always looking for character inconsistencies, events that aren't adequately set up, unbelievable contrivances — basically, the kind of story issues that television shows, in particular, are vulnerable to since they often have various writers working at the same time. Overarching plot threads can dictate events that need to happen, even when that doesn't fit organically with how the episodic stories are forming (just think of the infamous final season of "Game of Thrones"). Thankfully, "Night Sky" is careful to balance its growing web of secrets with consistent characterization, motivation, and knowledge. The show keeps the audience aware of who knows what at any given time, using the threat of secrets being revealed as part of the suspense. This story comes across as the careful tapestry of an artist, rather than a growing mass, shaped by momentum — much like "Lost" or even "The X-Files," which often felt like the writers were making it up as they went along, rather than working with a master plan in mind. With "Night Sky," it's refreshing to watch a highly intelligent series that feels precise and intentional.    

"Night Sky" shows an awareness of tropes in both sci-fi and late-life dramas, gesturing at them when appropriate, but repeatedly subverting the expected — offering fresh, intelligent twists that completely fit the story. Created by Holden Miller and Daniel C. Connolly, this is easily one of the most tightly written TV series I've had the pleasure to watch in a long time. Everything about "Night Sky" feels mature and fully formed. Here, the twists hit hard and resonate because the characters feel real. There are, admittedly, low points: I initially found a B plot set in Argentina not as interesting as the main story — but even then, it eventually all comes together, and by the end, I was rooting for Stella (Julieta Zylberberg) and her teenage daughter Toni (Rocío Hernández) as much as Franklin and Irene. A big part of that, though, comes down to the performances.

Simmons and Spacek are stunning in "Night Sky," showing off the depth of their acting talent. As characters, Franklin and Irene are fully developed — and completely relatable to anyone who grew up in this kind of community. The characters are the heart of the story. Their love, their grief, their resilience, and their defeat — it's intoxicating. Simmons has a knack for the unexpected; he can punctuate a scene with a burst of humor, or catch you off-guard with an abrupt moment of vulnerability. Spacek's Irene is unconventional. Her story, her choices, her fortitude — you can't help but admire her. This is the kind of role that women in their 70s rarely get to play, and Spacek demonstrates how tragic that is.

The supporting characters in "Night Sky" deserve mention as well. The series makes the wise choice to make Denise (Kiah McKirnan), the Yorks' granddaughter, Black; not only does it add some diversity to the cast in a believable way, but it also opens the door for (believable) conversations about race in the predominantly white town. McKirnan holds her own acting alongside industry icons — and she gets one of the show's strongest emotional scenes. The nosey and over-enthusiastic neighbor Byron (Adam Bartley) adds some welcome levity to the show, and his interactions with Franklin are highlights of the series (they're so funny together). Finally, Jude (Chai Hansen) adds another layer — I can't say much about his role without spoiling the show, but suffice to say, Hansen had me on the edge of my seat, more than once.