To The Stars

For the first episode of Night Sky, we follow Franklin and Irene as they first meet. They hit it off in a bar and start talking, but things quickly spiral out of control. They end up having a physical altercation and end up leaving the bar. This is their first meeting, but it’s also their last.

Irene and Franklin are happily married and living together 50 years or so forward. Irene is in a wheelchair though, and Franklin wheels her out so they can go and see the stars.

They head down to the shed, descending through an underground tunnel to a strange doorway. Inside, they’re inexplicably transported up into the stars; a martial observation deck.

Franklin has noticed that Irene has wanted to come out and see the view more and more over the past year or so. They’ve been up there 865 times in total and more frequently since her fall.

Franklin tries to probe what’s going on, eventually admitting that he’s a bit tired of constantly coming up here. He’s had enough and wants to pass their secretive burden on to someone else. Irene though is convinced this is their “riddle to solve.”

Byron, who lives next door to Irene and Franklin, is convinced that they are hiding something in their shed. He is determined to find out what it is. ..

Franklin doesn’t take kindly to Byron, viewing him as a nosy pest. When he tries to mow the lawn, Franklin dismisses him completely. Jeanine also wants to run for mayor too, although her partner, Byron, is not so sure.

Irene visits the doctor who wants to run some tests, believing her symptoms are getting worse. Quite what she’s diagnosed with though is unclear.

Franklin tells Denise that he’s just watching the stars and that if they want to leave, they can. Denise is not happy with this answer and decides to take matters into her own hands. She goes into Franklin’s bedroom and starts to cry.

Sadie is taken aback by Irene’s confession and starts to cry. She tells Irene that she knows she’s not alone and that there are people out there who care about her. The two women share a hug before Sadie leaves to go back to the care home.

Franklin and Irene ride home together after being picked up by Franklin. Irene is looking the worse for wear, with time serving as a cruel mistress, chipping away parts of her mind. This time that falls to Franklin, who is starting to go senile and forgetting crucial things, like filling up the gas and collecting Irene from the doctors.

Franklin and Irene talk about the inevitability of death. Irene urges Franklin to live a fulfilled life and move past this house if the time comes that she passes before him. ..

Franklin falls asleep while singing to Irene, but Irene is not content to sleep. ..

After leaving a note for Franklin, she tells him that she’s going to head out and make her own choice while she still can.

Irene walks out the door of her home on Mars, leaving a note by the chair. Suddenly, she notices someone lying on the floor, wheezing and pleading for help. Who is this stranger? ..

The Episode Review

The film follows the lives of two people who are struggling to find their place in the world and understand the passing of time. J.K. Simmons and Sissy Spacek do an amazing job bringing these characters to life, making Night Sky one of the most engaging films I’ve seen this year.

The flashback at the beginning of the chapter helps to set up their fated meet, with the inevitability of old age hanging over them like a black cloud. The chapter is nicely constructed in that respect, with some pretty thought provoking themes running throughout. ..

Night Sky is a slow-paced game that may not be for everyone. If you’re not invested in the characters, the game may become a chore. However, we’ll have to wait and see how the whole 8 hours play out. For now, it’s a decent opener. ..