Debuting on NBC in 1994, Earth 2 was a futuristic series, set in 2192, about the inhabitants of a space station faced with the task of starting a new civilization to take the place of the now uninhabitable Earth. And yet, despite the alien life forms and advanced technology, the pioneering spirit of the series more closely resembled the glory days of television’s westerns.   

With the earth left in ruins, thanks to a deadly virus called The Syndrome, those that survived had taken to living in space stations. One group of non-conformists, disenchanted with their new surroundings, embarked upon an expedition called the Eden Project, venturing out into the galaxy in an attempt to inhabit Planet G889, which was capable of sustaining human life. Leading the voyage was Devon, who escaped Earth with her son Ulysses after he contracted the disease and was desperate to find a cure. Her crew included pilot Alonzo, Danziger, an able mechanic, his daughter True, Dr. Heller and a robotic tutor named Yale.

The group’s mission was sabotaged by a bomb, thanks to the government’s displeasure with their quest, but the crew foiled the plot and arrived at their destination 22 years later. Crash landing on the planet, the group is inadvertently separated and without supplies. Devon heads westward, and along the way encounters various alien races that also inhabit the planet. Luckily these races appear friendly enough, including the Terrains, an intelligent group of subterraneans, who live in symbiotic harmony with their environment, and the Grendlers, who serve as the local traders and whose saliva is capable of curing any disease. As a result, Devon is able to find a cure for her son.

Also, much to the surprise of these pioneers is the fact that humans have already been inhabiting this planet for numerous years, as a penal colony had been secretly established. The group learns this little tidbit from a man named Gaal, (played by Tim Curry) who at first claims to be an astronaut, but is later revealed to be a banished criminal.

Despite the interesting premise, and some hands on assistance by Steven Spielberg, whose Amblin Entertainment produced the series (and who knew a thing or two about extraterrestrials,) Earth 2 was cancelled after the first season. Numerous websites online, however, show that the show still has a cult following among science-fiction fans who appreciated the pioneering old west spirit of this futuristic show.