# Space: Above and Beyond (1995)

> A cancelled 1990s science fiction series following a green squadron of space Marine pilots thrown into an interplanetary war against an unknown alien enemy.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/3360

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 23
- Episode runtime: 45 min
- Status: Canceled
- Genres: science fiction, war
- Created by: Glen Morgan, James Wong
- Network: FOX
- Cast: Morgan Weisser, Kristen Cloke, Rodney Rowland, Joel de la Fuente, Lanei Chapman, James Morrison, Bob Koherr, Doug Hutchison
- TMDB rating: 7.8/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112173/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: layered
- Violence: moderate
- Tone: gritty, earnest, tense, hopeful

## What critics say

Viewers remember Space: Above and Beyond as a gritty, character-driven military science fiction series with strong war-story instincts, though its dated effects and repetitive space combat footage draw criticism.

## Synopsis

Space: Above and Beyond (1995-1996) is a American network science fiction war series created by Glen Morgan and James Wong for FOX. Its single season of 23 episodes follows the Wildcards, the 58th Squadron of the United States Marine Corps Space Aviator Cavalry, a half-trained replacement unit stationed on the space carrier USS Saratoga. Morgan Weisser plays Nathan West, Kristen Cloke plays Shane Vansen, Rodney Rowland plays Cooper Hawkes, and Joel de la Fuente plays Paul Wang, all young recruits who serve as both infantry and pilots of SA-43 attack fighters. Their engine is simple and relentless: green soldiers must learn to survive a war against an alien enemy humanity did not know existed, while the squadron's loyalties and fears are tested by each mission. Episodes move between dogfights in cramped cockpits and tense life aboard a carrier, giving the show a gritty, earnest register. The tone is hard-edged and hopeful, with an undercurrent of dread about the cost of fighting. Set in the 2060s, it is a military space opera with a grounded sense of camaraderie. Fans of Battlestar Galactica, Starship Troopers and Firefly will find resonance in its blend of ensemble soldiering and interstellar conflict. The series was cancelled after its first season, leaving its war unfinished.

## Shows like Space: Above and Beyond

- [The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers (1986)](https://ember.film/tv/301)
- [Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future (1987)](https://ember.film/tv/4471)
- [Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles (1999)](https://ember.film/tv/1783)
- [Other Space (2015)](https://ember.film/tv/55476)
- [The First (2018)](https://ember.film/tv/64483)
- [gen:LOCK (2019)](https://ember.film/tv/73235)
- [WildC.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams (1994)](https://ember.film/tv/9271)
- [seaQuest DSV (1993)](https://ember.film/tv/2170)
- [Dark Matter (2015)](https://ember.film/tv/55496)
- [Exosquad (1993)](https://ember.film/tv/662)

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