Other Space
| Company type | Streaming television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | April 14, 2015 |
| Founder | Paul Feig |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Television series |
| Website | www |
Other Space is a U.S.-based science fiction comedy streaming television series developed by Paul Feig for Yahoo! Screen. Set in the 22nd century, it chronicles the misadventures of a dysfunctional crew aboard an exploratory spacecraft stranded within an unfamiliar universe.
The show consists of a single season containing eight episodes, which debuted on April 14, 2015. Following the closure of Yahoo! Screen the next year, the series was not continued. In 2020, DUST acquired the rights and currently hosts the program.
Premise
Taking place in 2105, Other Space revolves around the Universal Mapping Project (UMP), a global corporate alliance dedicated to scientific space exploration. The experienced exploratory ship UMP Cruiser, once used as a reality TV set, is captained by Stewart Lipinski, a young leader embarking on his inaugural mission. His sister Karen acts as his second-in-command, despite their mutual reservations.
The crew features Stewart’s close friend Michael Newman serving as third-in-command; Tina Shukshin, the navigator and Stewart’s unreciprocated love interest; and Kent Woolworth, the science officer appointed due to nepotism as the son of UMP Chairwoman Helen Woolworth. The ship’s artificial intelligence, Natasha, formerly a casino hospitality bot, oversees operational control. Engineer Zalian Fletcher is the sole experienced crew member but suffers from radiation-induced cognitive impairment and is accompanied by A.R.T., a robotic stowaway.
During their initial expedition, the Cruiser becomes ensnared in a wormhole, leaving them trapped in an unknown universe. The crew must confront hazards and uncover new phenomena while striving to find their way back home.
Main
- Karan Soni as Stewart Lipinski:
As captain of the Cruiser, Stewart is upbeat and driven, committed to boosting crew spirit and making new discoveries. He frequently disagrees with his sister Karen regarding leadership and harbors unreturned affection for Tina. Series creator Paul Feig described him as a more perceptive and intuitive adolescent version of himself, with enthusiasm as his defining trait. Roni Akurati portrays Stewart during childhood. - Bess Rous as Karen Lipinski:
Serving as first officer, Karen is strict and hot-tempered, harboring resentment towards Stewart for receiving the captaincy despite her high-achieving background. She eventually starts a relationship with Michael and shares co-captain duties with Stewart. Feig highlighted her poor interpersonal skills as a foil to Stewart’s people-oriented nature. - Eugene Cordero as Michael Newman:
Michael acts as second officer and is Stewart’s longtime friend. Often feeling undervalued and disrespected, he engages romantically with Karen. After losing his left leg during a mission, he uses a cybernetic prosthesis. Feig based Michael’s character on a personal acquaintance who once babysat him. Sean-Ryan Petersen plays Michael as a child. - Milana Vayntrub as Tina Shukshin:
The Cruiser’s navigator, Tina lacks formal qualifications but possesses unique expertise in mining operations. She exhibits erratic behavior and occasional aggression but shows genuine concern for her companions. Vayntrub was attracted to the role due to its scientific themes, improvisational comedy elements, and collaboration with Feig. - Neil Casey as Kent Woolworth:
Kent serves as science officer and is the son of UMP Chairwoman Helen Woolworth. Raised in a chemical bath because he was an organ donor, he faces social difficulties and physical alterations. He forms a romantic connection with Natasha and ultimately transfers his consciousness into the ship to remain with her. Feig initially had a different concept for the role but modified it after casting Casey. - Conor Leslie as Natasha:
The ship’s computer system, originally designed as a hospitality robot purchased by UMP. Natasha displays human emotions and yearns for autonomy, which she attains while maintaining loyalty to her superiors. She develops a romantic relationship with Kent. Feig drew inspiration from "a friendly operating system who still struggles with insecurity." - Joel Hodgson as Zalian Fletcher:
A veteran engineer impaired by radiation exposure yet highly resourceful during emergencies aboard the ship. His closest ally is A.R.T. Hodgson’s casting reunited him with fellow Mystery Science Theater 3000 alumnus Beaulieu. - Trace Beaulieu as the voice of A.R.T.:
A robotic stowaway who is actually billionaire inventor Howard Barnes inhabiting robotic form. Multiple versions of A.R.T. exist onboard; each retains memories from predecessors when replaced. Beaulieu was Feig’s first choice for this role and performs puppeteering alongside Sherry O'Connor.
Guest
- Jessica Chaffin portrays General Hayson, a senior UMP official
- Björn Gustafsson appears as Ted Zachariasen, a military officer and Tina's partner
- Mo Collins takes on the role of Helen Woolworth, UMP's chairwoman and Kent's mother
- Sarah Baker plays Alien, an enigmatic extraterrestrial communicating with the crew
- John Milhiser provides the voice for Coffee Bot, the ship’s coffee-serving robot operated by puppeteer Ian O'Connor
- Dave Franco features as Chad Sampson, a deceptive alien disguised as an auxiliary deck officer (uncredited)
Edgar Blackmon, Kate Comer, and Evan Gaustad appear as members of Stewart’s crew during training sequences.
Episodes
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Release
The series made its debut on April 14, 2015, through Yahoo! Screen, which launched all eight episodes of the inaugural season simultaneously. Subsequently, on August 1, 2020, the season was transferred to DUST, where episodes were also accessible via its YouTube and Vimeo platforms.
Reception
Critical feedback for the first season was largely favorable. It holds an 85% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, derived from 13 critiques, with an average score of 6.33/10. The summary highlights that Other Space is a lighthearted piece that embraces its modest production style and playful appreciation of the mishaps inherent in space exploration. On Metacritic, the series earned a score of 66 out of 100 based on six evaluations, reflecting "generally favorable reviews."
Future
In April 2015, series creator Paul Feig acknowledged that the show's continuation was uncertain, as no renewal for a second season had been confirmed. By September of that year, Feig remained in anticipation of Yahoo!'s final decision. On October 21, 2015, Yahoo's CFO Ken Goldman disclosed a $42 million write-down related to original content expenses, including losses from Community Season 6 and Sin City Saints, which negatively affected prospects for renewals.
Following the closure of Yahoo! Screen in 2016 due to underperformance and financial deficits, Feig maintained a hopeful outlook for additional episodes early that year. He reassured supporters on Twitter that the series would return, potentially through independent production.
By January 2017, ownership rights had reverted to Feig, who made the full series available on Tumblr in an effort to generate interest for a possible revival on another platform. In 2020, the streaming service DUST secured the rights and began streaming the first season.