Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

Killjoys: Season One Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 19, 2016

Killjoys isn't half bad. But in a super-crowded TV field, where there's nowhere near enough hours in the day to watch every worthwhile program, it doesn't stand head and shoulders above anything else. Compared to its peers on SyFY like The Expanse or 12 Monkeys or some of the top programs airing on other cable channels, or even the big streaming services, Killjoys doesn't offer enough bold creativity, breathless excitement, intense character drama, or powerful action to choose it over something else. That said, maybe in a less densely-packed TV slate, it would stand a little taller. It's fairly well done for what it is, a gritty, action-packed, and humorous space drama about a trio of bounty hunters operating in a dangerous part of the cosmos (known as "The Quad") that's on the brink of war. Season one's lean ten-episode run builds some quality narratives and explores its world and characters to satisfaction, though the material simply never elevates to "must-see" level. That said, the show exhibits some good qualities and feels right on the edge of breaking out in a big way.

They are "Reclamation Agents" in proper parlance and "Killjoys" in the common vernacular. John (Aaron Ashmore) and his partner Dutch (Hannah John-Kamen) are amongst the best Killjoys in the system. They're essentially bounty hunters who zip around The Quad and take down their targets as they see fit, so long as they stay within the parameters established for each particular mission. After a bust, John takes a leave of absence, but it doesn't take Dutch long to figure out that he's bailed to take on a level five -- kill the target -- assignment without her. Turns out the target is his brother D'Avin (Luke Macfarlane). Ultimately, the kill order is revoked, and Dutch and the brothers team together in working The Quad for The Company. D'Avin doesn't particularly trust Dutch -- her background is a mystery, and John's as much in the dark as his brother -- and as the team pulls off successful missions, their histories and place in the Quad, which is on the brink of war, become increasingly relevant and dangerous to themselves and all who cross their paths.

Killjoys doesn't allow a narrower scope and focus to limit its possibilities. The show is smartly intimate, favoring a tighter, smaller cast of characters that are the beneficiaries, then, of more intensive construction and exploration, critical particularly considering the fairly condensed ten episode season. Ditto the corner of the universe in which they operate. The show might not dabble in grand ideas and sweeping narratives, but it's certainly adept and working within its confines and building up the items at its disposal. The main characters are soundly developed over time, as is the geography and politics of the planets around which they work. While its creative spark doesn't always shine all that brightly, Killjoys at least finds a fair blend of Sci-Fi/Action/humorous entertainment with some tangible depth holding it up and lifting it ever, albeit often slightly, higher as the series progresses. It's nothing revelatory or destined, so far, to redefine the genre, but it's a solid enough entertainer that's a little more challenging that some of its more mindless SyFy cousins.

But the series' core strength comes simply from sticking to its guns. It intermixes detail when necessary and exploration when it must, but it's a character driven show that's not at all heavy on the "science" in "Science Fiction" but understands its corner of the universe and, particularly, it best assets: its characters. It does a great job of intermixing past and future character mystery with a steady stream of present development that's influenced by the ever growing mythos of The Quad. Cast camaraderie is terrific, which only helps character chemistry and the audience's growing desire to better understand them: where they've come from, where they're going, what motivates them individually and collectively. But again, it all circles back to a core that's really neither here nor there. All the pieces are in place -- even solid production design and digital effects -- but the show is lacking that spark, that real sense of must-see television. Hopefully Killjoys will continue to develop in the positive direction its headed and carry over some of the momentum it finds in season one towards season two. The show certainly has potential, and it's well worth keeping an eye on.

The following episodes comprise season one. Synopses are courtesy of the Blu-ray packaging. Some spoilers follow.

Disc One:

• Bangarang: Intergalactic bounty hunters Dutch and John face their deadliest mission yet as they attempt to save a family member from assassination.
• The Sugar Point Run: The Killjoys must take on the gun-wielding 99% as they attempt to rescue a kidnapped heiress.
• The Harvest: While the Killjoys go undercover to find a sex worker's missing husband, D'avin makes a deal that could put the whole team at risk.
• Vessel: It's the Killjoys vs. armed nuns over a wanted pregnant girl, while a dangerous new enemy waits in the wings.
• A Glitch in the System: An easy salvage job turns deadly as the Killjoys are forced into a standoff with their deadliest enemy yet: their own secrets.

Disc Two:

• One Blood: Dutch must compete against top Killjoys to find an elusive fugitive or her teammates will die. Also, John and D'avin face an old foe.
• Kiss Kiss, Bye Bye: The quest for D'avin's missing memories results in a confrontation that will change the team -- and potentially kill them (or, at minimum, maim them).
• Come the Rain: Isolated due to toxic black rain, John must stop a criminal operation while a trapped D'avin and Dutch must face what happened between them.
• Enemy Khlyen: The Killjoys break into a fortified space station to face Khlyen, and learn a whopper of a secret in the process.
• Escape Velocity: When Khlyen kidnaps D'avin, Dutch and John's attempts to rescue him put them in the middle of a Quad-wide war.

Killjoys: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Killjoys: Season 1 features a strong all-around transfer from Universal. The image is something of a contradiction. On one hand is a fairly clean, smooth, and clear digitally sourced image. On the other is tangibly gritty façade thanks to the series' oftentimes dark and future-grungy spacefaring environments. The transfer expertly reveals the series' broad spectrum range of details, from well worn and lightly grayed attire to smooth and crisp green vegetation on planet surfaces, from clean and makeup-covered faces to scruffy facial hair and pores, from smooth digital readouts to grungy deep space and starship textures. No matter the environment, Universal's transfer is up to the challenge of presenting it with all the detail necessary to best define what's to be found around The Quad. Colors often favor a dingy, worn-down, bleak appearance, but various bits of clothes, decorations, and vegetation in brighter areas and more cheerful planet surfaces spring to life with plenty of pop. Black levels hold firm and flesh tones appear natural. Banding, macroblocking, aliasing, and other related issues are scattered and generally not at all bothersome. There's not much room for complaint here; a sharp, attractive effort from the first episode to the last.

Killjoys: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Killjoys: Season 1 features a good all-around performer in its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Music is satisfyingly energetic and weighty, yielding positive stage depth with involved surround support, all qualities evident in both overlaid score and in-show music, such as instrumental band music heard near the end of episode one that's engaged, potent, sharp, and nicely detailed. Light surround ambience helps shape various locations throughout The Quad, some more robust than others, but the sense of place is often impressively defined. More energetic surround and support details, like cheering crowds and various little bits during action scenes, engage the listener with plenty of vigor. Futuristic gun blasts aren't going to challenge the subwoofer, but the little pulses carry decent weight and presence. Dialogue is delivered clearly and with effortless prioritization, emanating from a natural front-center placement.

Killjoys: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Killjoys: Season 1 contains no supplemental content beyond a trio of trailers for Warehouse 13, Battlestar Galactica, and Tremors 5: Bloodlines on disc one. A UV digital copy voucher is included with purchase.

Killjoys: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Through its first ten episodes, Killjoys has proven to be a solid show that may not be on the cusp of greatness, or even stand tall over its likeminded SyFy brethren, but it feels on the brink of something better, ready to take that next step and evolve into a solid, even must-see show. Whether it'll ever get there is up to season two, but watch out for this show that appears to be on the rise. Universal's Blu-ray release of Killjoys: Season 1 offers no supplemental content, but video and audio presentations are fine. Worth a look as a solid rental or cheap purchase.