Project_Blue_Book_(TV_series)

<i>Project Blue Book</i> (TV series)

Project Blue Book (TV series)

2019 American historical drama television series


Project Blue Book is an American historical drama television series that premiered on History on January 8, 2019.[1] The main role of Dr. J. Allen Hynek is played by Aidan Gillen, and the first season consisted of ten episodes.[2][3] The series is based on the real-life Project Blue Book, a series of studies on unidentified flying objects conducted by the United States Air Force. On February 10, 2019, History renewed the series for a 10-episode second season which premiered on January 21, 2020.[4][5] In May 2020, it was announced that the series had been canceled.[6]

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Premise

The series revolves around the real-life Project Blue Book, a secret series of investigations into supposed UFO encounters and unexplained phenomena undertaken by the United States Air Force with skeptical astrophysics professor — and eventual ufologist — Dr. J. Allen Hynek in the 1950s and 1960s.[2][3] With his partner, Air Force veteran Captain Michael Quinn, they investigate sightings across the U.S., and Dr. Hynek discovers that not everything can be explained by science.

Cast and characters

Main

  • Aidan Gillen as Dr. J. Allen Hynek, an astronomer, astrophysicist, professor and UFOlogist working on Project Blue Book.[2] Skeptical about the existence of alien life and UFOs in the beginning, Hynek attempts to explain the cases using his analytical and scientific mind.
  • Michael Malarkey as Captain Michael Quinn, a decorated veteran who served with the United States Army Air Force as a pilot during World War II, and working with Dr. Hynek on Project Blue Book.[7] The character is inspired by USAF Captain Edward J. Ruppelt, the first director of the real-life Project Blue Book.
  • Laura Mennell as Mimi Hynek, Allen Hynek's wife.[8]
  • Ksenia Solo as Susie Miller, a friend and neighbour of Mimi Hynek, also a KGB agent.[9]
  • Michael Harney as General Hugh Valentine, a high-ranking military official, and founder of Project Blue Book.[9] The character is inspired by USAF Major General Charles P. Cabell, the founder of the real-life Project Blue Book.
  • Neal McDonough as General James Harding, a high-ranking military official and a co-founder of Project Blue Book.[10] The character is inspired by USAF Brigadier General William Garland, a member of General Charles P. Cabell staff during the time period of the real-life Project Blue Book.

Recurring

  • Robert John Burke as William Fairchild, United States Secretary of Defense.[11]
  • Ian Tracey as "The Fixer" a.k.a. "The Man in the Hat" (later revealed to be one of the Men In Black), a mysterious man who follows Dr. Hynek. The character is partly inspired by Ingo Swann, allegedly involved in the Stargate Project.
  • Matt O'Leary as Lieutenant Henry Fuller, a USAF pilot whom Hynek and Quinn meet on their first case.
  • Nicholas Holmes as Joel Hynek, Mimi and Allen's son.
  • Currie Graham as Susie’s Associate, also a KGB agent.
  • Jill Morrison as Faye, a member of the Air Force and Captain Quinn's secretary at Wright Patterson Air Force Base.
  • Michael Imperioli as Edward Rizzuto, an American/Russian double agent.

Historical figures

Episodes

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Season 1 (2019)

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Season 2 (2020)

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Production

The series was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was co-produced by the History Channel and A&E Studios.[34] Filming on the second season began on July 15, 2019, and was expected to conclude on November 13, 2019.[35]

Reception

Critical reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an approval rating of 65% based on 17 reviews, with an average rating of 6.65/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Project Blue Book will likely intrigue fans of the paranormal with its loose adaptation of historically unexplained phenomena, but this buttoned-down series lacks the narrative verve to appeal beyond the true believers."[36] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 56 out of 100 based on 10 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[37]

Paranormal investigator and skeptic Robert Sheaffer, reviewing the first four episodes, argued there are historical inaccuracies which extend beyond the claim of being based on real events.[38]

Ratings

Season 1

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Season 2

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References

  1. Pedersen, Erik (October 5, 2018). "'Project Blue Book': History Reveals Premiere Date & Trailer For Robert Zemeckis' UFO Drama Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  2. "Aidan Gillen to Star in Robert Zemeckis UFO Series Blue Book". Den of Geek!. October 26, 2017. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  3. Deerwester, Jayme (May 25, 2017). "'Blue Book' value: History picks up UFO drama from Robert Zemeckis". USA Today. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  4. Schwartz, Ryan (February 10, 2019). "History Renews Project Blue Book, Sets Knightfall Season 2 Premiere Date". TVLine. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  5. Pedersen, Erik (November 19, 2019). "'Project Blue Book' Season 2 Trailer & Premiere Date For History's Robert Zemeckis UFO Drama". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  6. White, Peter (May 7, 2020). "'Project Blue Book' Ending At History After Season 2, 'Knightfall' Cancellation Confirmed". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  7. Andreeva, Nellie (November 8, 2017). "'Blue Book': Laura Mennell To Star In UFO Series At History". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  8. Petski, Denise (November 21, 2017). "'Blue Book': Michael Harney & Ksenia Solo Join Robert Zemeckis-Produced UFO Series At History". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  9. Agard, Chancellor (October 5, 2018). "Exclusive: History reveals "Project Blue Book" series premiere date". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  10. Agard, Chancellor (January 8, 2019). "Project Blue Book confronts Hollywood's alien obsession in exclusive clip". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
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  21. Metcalf, Mitch (January 23, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.21.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on January 24, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
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  31. Leighton, Susan (September 25, 2018). "Project Blue Book invades History Channel in the winter". 1428elm.com. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
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  34. Sheaffer, Robert (2019). "The History Channel Mangles Project Blue Book, Mixing Fact and Fiction". Skeptical Inquirer. 43 (3): 5–6.
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