Space Force reunites Steve Carell with The Office creator Greg Daniels to showcase the ups and downs of a group of dedicated individuals tasked with establishing the United States Space Force. As it turns out, much of what goes into creating the sixth branch of the United States Armed Forces isn't a whole lot different from the rigors of any workplace, even if that workplace happens to launch chimps into space.
Much of the series focuses on Carell's Mark Naird, the first general of Space Force, and his relationship with his curmudgeonly colleague Doctor Mallory (John Malkovich), his wife (Lisa Kudrow), and his daughter (Diana Silvers), but there's still plenty of petty rivalries and bureaucratic hoop-jumping. The series can't help but be topical (it arose as a spoof of the very real United States Space Force launched in 2019), but it may shy away from being as cutting as some of these other satirical shows.
BEST SATIRE: IT'S NOT AFRAID TO CRITICIZE THE GOVERNMENT
Federal overreach exists in all branches of the Armed Forces, to a greater or lesser extent. Showcasing it in Space Force highlights not only its inherent and unavoidable presence but presents opportunities for the series to amplify its repercussions.
When "Washington" decides to convene hearings about the department's budget, the series presents a means to reveal certain realities to viewers under the guise of comedy.
ALTERNATIVE: VEEP
One of the best series to cover political humor in recent years, Veep follows the Vice President (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) as she steps out of the halls of the Senate and into the Oval Office, doing damage control all along the way.
The relationship between the Veep and the Commander in Chief is as dysfunctional as viewers might expect, given the ability to see the machinations of running the country behind closed doors. Where Veep shines is in its supporting cast, especially the sidekicks who make up her team, all infinitely more well-rounded than any supporting characters in Space Force.
BEST SATIRE: IT'S A GREAT WORKPLACE COMEDY
It's not surprising that the creative minds behind The Office deliver another workplace comedy that manages to find humor in both the mundane antics and the extreme pressure inherent to getting the Space Force program to launch.
The cast may be discussing the liberal platitudes of sending oranges into outer space, but viewers can still relate to the inherent difficulties of navigating office hierarchies, submitting budget reports, and trying to maintain an equilibrium between their work and home lives.
ALTERNATIVE: OUR CARTOON PRESIDENT
In Season 1, there are plenty of references to an "unnamed Potus" when there really could be no point in being coy about who the series is referencing. The series came about from a 2018 speech from the current commander-in-chief, so it should anchor itself in the cultural zeitgeist.
Rather than focus itself on the self-evident futility of the enterprise, the series attempts to make itself vaguely applicable to any time period other than the current. For a closer inspection of the "spirit of the times" that is American progress under President Trump, look no further than Our Cartoon President, a laser-focused adult animated series from the creators of The Colbert Report.
BEST SATIRE: IT'S EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
The best satire pokes fun at everyone, leaving no group safe from sardonic slaughter. Space Force is no exception and holds every character accountable, from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to lowly research scientists, and scheming tech entrepreneurs.
Just because a character is in a position of power doesn't mean they're automatically granted respect, nor does anyone's religion, gender, or cultural background seem to indicate any position of privilege.
ALTERNATIVE: AMERICAN DAD
American Dad is a clear predecessor to Space Force, in which a patriotic, no-nonsense CIA agent struggles to juggle his responsibilities as a father and husband with his duty to his country.
Seth MacFarlane's adult animated series has already become a classic for its pointed criticism of subjects like nationalism, patriotism, and federal bureaucracy. Unlike Space Force, it has real aliens in it.
BEST SATIRE: CAMEOS
Not only does Space Force boast a lot of cameos, the characters that famous actors are portraying might as well be cameos of real figures. For instance, Ginger Gonzaga portrays Anabela Ysidro-Campos, aka AYC, a parody of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
There's also Kaitlin Olsen portraying Edison Jaymes, an entrepreneur tech whiz who creates "skinny rocket fuel" and presents as an amalgamation of Elon Musk and Elizabeth Holmes.
ALTERNATIVE: PARKS AND RECREATION
Like Space Force, Parks and Recreation shows the infinite mind-field that is attempting to summon teams from multiple departments to follow through on simple tasks. Better than Space Force, it does this with an even wider range of personalities and conflicts.
The series follows Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) as she tries earnestly to turn a derelict construction site into a pleasant community park, but government red tape and selfish bureaucrats (including her boss) block her every move.
BEST SATIRE: CHEMISTRY
Thanks to a remarkable ensemble cast, led by Steve Carrell and John Malkovich, the chemistry between the characters feels natural and organic from the very first episode. Incredible cameos also include Jane Lynch, Patrick Warburton, and Deidrich Bader as the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Some series take an entire season to create the sort of meaningful interactions that Space Force has developed, especially between Carrell's character and Malkovich's, as well as his wife and daughter, played by Lisa Kudrow and Erin Naird.
ALTERNATIVE: 30 ROCK
Based on the infamous stories behind the early days of Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock spoofed network television bureaucracy and live sketch comedy shows in equal measure as it followed Liz Lemon (Tina Fey), the head writer for an SNL-esque show on NBC.
Packed full of an eccentric cast of characters performing in the "series within a series" and beyond, the series ran for 7 seasons and continues to be touted as one of the finest examples of biting satire on television.