George R.R. Martin’s Sci-Fi Horror Series Deserved More Than A 10-Episode Run

by

I’m a huge fan of George R.R. Martin! Most people know him as the creator of the books that launched Game of Thrones, but I wish more people had seen his other work. He’s a master of fantasy – his A Song of Ice and Fire series isn’t just the foundation for Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, but also for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. He really is one of the greats!

George R.R. Martin is known for his fantasy writing, including the world of Game of Thrones, but he’s also worked on other projects. One example is Nightflyers, a science fiction horror story he originally published as a short story in 1980 and then as a longer novella in 1981. It was made into a film in 1987, which Martin helped write, and later became a TV series in 2018, where he was an executive producer.

Nightflyers premiered on Syfy (and on Netflix outside the US), but it wasn’t the success one would expect from a story by Martin, especially after the massive hit that was Game of Thrones. Nightflyers was canceled in early 2019, after just one season with 10 episodes, and, unfortunately, it has now become a forgotten sci-fi horror gem, joining many other shows from the genre that had a lot of potential but were left to die too soon.

Nightflyers Had Potential To Be A Sci-Fi Horror Hit

Set in the year 2093, Nightflyers follows a team of scientists—including a telepath—on a deep-space journey aboard the ship Nightflyer. Their goal is to establish contact with an alien race called the Volcryn, hoping they hold the key to saving Earth. But the mission becomes dangerous when strange and violent incidents start occurring on the ship, leading the crew to distrust each other and wonder if something else is on board with them.

The crew must not only finish their mission, but also rescue the ship and themselves. Nightflyers stars Eoin Macken, David Ajala, Jodie Turner-Smith, Angus Sampson, Sam Strike, Maya Eshet, Gretchen Mol, and Brían F. O’Byrne. However, despite having a strong foundation in the original story, an interesting premise, and a talented cast, the show received negative reviews, earning a 38% rating from critics and a 55% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes – both considered unfavorable.

Despite a creepy atmosphere and a talented cast, the TV show Nightflyers received criticism for looking cheap, having shallow storylines, underdeveloped characters, and unnecessary scenes. The show stretched a short story into ten episodes, and ultimately, the creative team failed to deliver on its potential as a compelling sci-fi horror series.

How Nightflyers Could Have Found Its Footing With A Season 2

The cancellation of Nightflyers was a combination of poor critical reception and low ratings, but had it been given another chance, it could have reached its full potential. Nightflyers wouldn’t have been the first and only TV show to have a bad and uneven first season that went on to find its footing in season 2 and succeeded after that – however, Syfy gave up on it too soon.

The first season of Nightflyers already adapted the source novella and expanded it to fill ten episodes. A second season would have needed a completely new storyline. Although the show faced negative reviews after its first season, a fresh story could have potentially turned things around. Without being tied to the novella’s plot, season 2 could have better captured the atmosphere, setting, and characters that made the original story appealing.

Although the TV adaptation of Nightflyers on Syfy didn’t succeed, it doesn’t mean that it’s doomed to never have a good TV version. The novella has already been adapted to other media twice, and with a solid creative team, enough budget, and a better platform through which it can reach a wider audience, Nightflyers could finally succeed on TV.

Read More

2026-05-26 01:48