I gave this 4/10 because I liked the first 3 episodes; after that I quickly realized why it was originally slated to be a movie and not a series, and how abandoning that decision seems to have ruined what otherwise could have worked.
However if it absolutely must be a series, here is how I would've preferred it be done.
Tardigrades:
A) their illumination is reserved for rudimentary communication (with each other / only for simple things), or emotional indicators (hunger, anger, surprise, fear, etc.), thus giving them more ability to be sneaky and menacing, rather than goofy paper lanterns.
B) they would be able to spray limited quantities of digestive acid capable of severely damaging organics and some non-organics, although this would be used infrequently to avoid setting off trope alarms.
C) they would be somewhat able to digest organic life forms, although it would give them much less energy than sig (like a diet of potato chips or fritos), so while the latter would remain their primary objective, they would still retain a basic predatory impulse towards humans.
D) Their damage resistance would be clarified - outer shell able to withstand punctures / slashes equivalent to small caliber rounds, almost complete immunity vs blunt force, while their tongue tentacles would remain vulnerable while extended (although they would quickly heal). And they would not pass out from pain... especially not from a freakin' steak knife.
E) Their resemblance to tardigrades would be briefly commented on in the beginning, and their connection pondered although initially there would be no answers until later in the series when they encounter the scientist, who theorizes that Tardigrades may have been seeded across the galaxy by ancient aliens (preposterous, of course! ...right?).
Done worms:
A) More like gigantic centipedes with a bazillion segmented legs, and micro feelers that are able to detect and nab humans, which they are quite willing to munch on while going after tardigrades
Plot:
1) Everything up through the excavator scene is OK and would remain as-is, however after Jim buried the tardigrades, he and Walter are flying back in the hover truck watching the dust settle and beginning to congratulate themselves on containing the threat, when there is an earthquake followed by an explosion of debris as one of dune worms - barely seen through the dust clouds, debris showers and camera wobble - bursts through the ground with a mouthful of tardigrades surging up past the truck before diving back under the surface, leaving a huge fissure which the rest of the swarm boils out of.
2) The next couple episodes would cover a period of days or weeks, wherein the military fights a slowly losing battle to repel the tardigrades using some cool tech including powered armor (in other words, exosuits enclosed in protective armor, which is a very logical progression that never appeared), and some heavy duty robot casts that aren't so gimpy.
3) Finally a dune worm shatters the remaining resistance, and all efforts turn toward planetary evacuation - this like the defense efforts are shown in more detail rather than spending the time on dimwitted exposition attempts and weak character interaction. Give them more events to respond to and let them define themselves by how they respond, rather than the gratuitous plop we were given.
4) Jim doesn't get peed on or made to wear high heels - no judgment but those things did nothing for me personally.
5) The scientist is an "Ancient Aliens" type who is regarded as a crackpot by most, but who was in the right place at the right on this one, and in fact (may) even be onto something (this credibility is generally overshadowed by all of his other theories that he tries to work into any conversation).
6) The characters all die one by one save Jim, Marnie and Walter who are protected by plot armor until they locate a shuttle that was left behind due to maintenance; Walter is able to get it working but dies before he can board, and Jim and Marnie blast off as the city is overrun by tardigrades and a couple dune worms who are slugging it out for the best seat at the dinner table.
7) Marnie delivers her baby under high G with only Jim there to get her through it... ofc she does make it through, along with the baby, and they link up with the waiting space tanker.
8) Unfortunately we soon discover the military has some tardigrades in the hold which break out, and... the season ends there on a cliffhanger.
However if it absolutely must be a series, here is how I would've preferred it be done.
Tardigrades:
A) their illumination is reserved for rudimentary communication (with each other / only for simple things), or emotional indicators (hunger, anger, surprise, fear, etc.), thus giving them more ability to be sneaky and menacing, rather than goofy paper lanterns.
B) they would be able to spray limited quantities of digestive acid capable of severely damaging organics and some non-organics, although this would be used infrequently to avoid setting off trope alarms.
C) they would be somewhat able to digest organic life forms, although it would give them much less energy than sig (like a diet of potato chips or fritos), so while the latter would remain their primary objective, they would still retain a basic predatory impulse towards humans.
D) Their damage resistance would be clarified - outer shell able to withstand punctures / slashes equivalent to small caliber rounds, almost complete immunity vs blunt force, while their tongue tentacles would remain vulnerable while extended (although they would quickly heal). And they would not pass out from pain... especially not from a freakin' steak knife.
E) Their resemblance to tardigrades would be briefly commented on in the beginning, and their connection pondered although initially there would be no answers until later in the series when they encounter the scientist, who theorizes that Tardigrades may have been seeded across the galaxy by ancient aliens (preposterous, of course! ...right?).
Done worms:
A) More like gigantic centipedes with a bazillion segmented legs, and micro feelers that are able to detect and nab humans, which they are quite willing to munch on while going after tardigrades
Plot:
1) Everything up through the excavator scene is OK and would remain as-is, however after Jim buried the tardigrades, he and Walter are flying back in the hover truck watching the dust settle and beginning to congratulate themselves on containing the threat, when there is an earthquake followed by an explosion of debris as one of dune worms - barely seen through the dust clouds, debris showers and camera wobble - bursts through the ground with a mouthful of tardigrades surging up past the truck before diving back under the surface, leaving a huge fissure which the rest of the swarm boils out of.
2) The next couple episodes would cover a period of days or weeks, wherein the military fights a slowly losing battle to repel the tardigrades using some cool tech including powered armor (in other words, exosuits enclosed in protective armor, which is a very logical progression that never appeared), and some heavy duty robot casts that aren't so gimpy.
3) Finally a dune worm shatters the remaining resistance, and all efforts turn toward planetary evacuation - this like the defense efforts are shown in more detail rather than spending the time on dimwitted exposition attempts and weak character interaction. Give them more events to respond to and let them define themselves by how they respond, rather than the gratuitous plop we were given.
4) Jim doesn't get peed on or made to wear high heels - no judgment but those things did nothing for me personally.
5) The scientist is an "Ancient Aliens" type who is regarded as a crackpot by most, but who was in the right place at the right on this one, and in fact (may) even be onto something (this credibility is generally overshadowed by all of his other theories that he tries to work into any conversation).
6) The characters all die one by one save Jim, Marnie and Walter who are protected by plot armor until they locate a shuttle that was left behind due to maintenance; Walter is able to get it working but dies before he can board, and Jim and Marnie blast off as the city is overrun by tardigrades and a couple dune worms who are slugging it out for the best seat at the dinner table.
7) Marnie delivers her baby under high G with only Jim there to get her through it... ofc she does make it through, along with the baby, and they link up with the waiting space tanker.
8) Unfortunately we soon discover the military has some tardigrades in the hold which break out, and... the season ends there on a cliffhanger.