Planetes

Planetes:  B++

The name is usually shown in the series in greek ("ΠΛΑΝΗΤΕΣ"), and is an obvious play: the word, while is often translated directly as "planets" comes from a root which actually means "wanderers," in reference to the behavior of the planets, thought by the ancient Greeks to be stars, to move about the sky, unlike stars which remained in fixed positions.  The intelligence and poetry of this dual reference both to the series as taking place in space and about characters who are, in some almost spiritual sense, searching for something should be your first clue to the depth with which Planetes was crafted.

The first thing that struck me about Planetes was how the science is hard enough to scratch diamonds.  This is a story of late this century, when man has taken his first tentative steps away from Earth, but has not even reached the edges of the Solar System.  Indeed, the first half of the series is practically an introduction to the future that the writer envisions, and that is captivating... for a while.

Planetes is, in truth, a very well-written drama, that takes place mostly in the space around Earth.  It is ultimately about the people, about what space does to them, and about what space means to them.  The series starts out interesting, but slows for a while in the middle before coming in full-force for its final, emotionally-charged, meaningful and topical final arc and ending.

It is not a thrill ride or a roller coaster, but rather a close look at what makes up a human being, and you will come away from it with an almost religious understanding of interconnectedness.  This is no rosy-eyed tale of manifest destiny and exploration, but a contemplative look at what really matters, asking questions and coming to conclusions.

Planetes misses an A rating because of its slowness, which turned me off it for a while (I started watching the series back in September and only just finished it), and the fact that it doesn't grab you until very late in the story, though when it does it truly holds onto you.

If hard science fiction is your thing, you are doing yourself a tremendous disservice if you miss Planetes.  If you like science fiction and a good story woven through it, you should watch it right now.  If a little slow and thoughtful plotting gives you narcolepsy, then move along, but even then, I recommend sticking through it, the payoff is really beautiful.