Netflix’s Another Life: A Sci-Fi Show With Surprising Connections and Weak Execution

Seven years ago, Netflix quietly launched a sci-fi series that ended up bringing back some familiar faces from a classic space drama. The show, Another Life, was meant to stand on its own, but it accidentally became a reunion for actors from Battlestar Galactica—one of the most respected sci-fi series of the 2000s. That show introduced Katee Sackhoff as the tough and charismatic Captain Starbuck, a role that later became her biggest claim to fame in the genre. While Sackhoff has since taken on other major roles—including in Star Wars—she returned to the Battlestar universe when Netflix brought her back as Niko Breckenridge, a commander leading a dangerous mission to meet aliens after a strange object crash-landed on Earth. The first season of Another Life struggled to find its footing. It packed in too many sci-fi clichés—alien invasions, mutinies, sudden betrayals—without giving the characters or story enough breathing room. The crew on the spaceship kept changing, making it hard for viewers to connect with anyone. Even worse, the show’s focus jumped around constantly, leaving little time for real development. If a character’s main trait is yelling at others, does that make for compelling TV? Not really.The second season, however, took a sharper turn. Netflix surprisingly renewed the show, and with that came a tighter focus on the alien threat and its bigger consequences. Two Battlestar Galactica veterans, Rekha Sharma and Kate Vernon, joined the cast at the perfect time. Sharma played an AI expert who becomes key to the mission, while Vernon took on the role of Niko’s protective mother, keeping her granddaughter safe back on Earth as chaos unfolded. The season introduced deeper themes, like what happens when humans try to colonize new worlds or when technology gains awareness. It wasn’t groundbreaking, but it was a step up. Still, even with these improvements, Another Life couldn’t escape its fate. After season two aired in 2021, Netflix canceled the show—much to Sackhoff’s disappointment. She later expressed hope for more seasons, but the decision stood. The series, despite its flaws, gave her a chance to lead a messy but ambitious sci-fi project. For anyone craving the depth of Battlestar Galactica, though, this wasn’t the place to find it.