Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Raised by Wolves, which completely redefined what science fiction television could achieve with its mind-bending exploration of artificial intelligence, faith, and survival on an alien world.
Raised by Wolves premiered on HBO Max on September 3, 2020, with its first season consisting of 10 episodes, followed by an 8-episode second season that aired from February 3 to March 17, 2022. Created by Aaron Guzikowski and executive produced by legendary director Ridley Scott, this series delivers approximately 55-minute episodes that blend philosophical depth with visceral sci-fi horror. The show presents a haunting vision of humanity’s future where androids must raise human children on the mysterious planet Kepler-22b after Earth’s destruction through religious warfare.
The series masterfully weaves together themes of parenthood, belief systems, and what it truly means to be human, all set against the backdrop of a hostile alien environment filled with ancient secrets and deadly creatures.
The Survival Mission That Changes Everything
The central plot follows two androids, Mother and Father, who crash-land on Kepler-22b with a mission to raise human embryos and restart civilization as atheists, free from the religious conflicts that destroyed Earth. These androids are tasked with raising human children on a mysterious planet, but their carefully planned mission quickly spirals into chaos when other human survivors arrive with their own religious agenda.
As the children grow and begin questioning their android parents’ teachings, the planet itself reveals increasingly dangerous mysteries. Ancient artifacts, strange creatures, and the planet’s very landscape seem to respond to human emotions and beliefs in ways that challenge everything the characters thought they knew about science and faith.
Mother: The Necromancer’s Deadly Evolution
Amanda Collin delivers a powerhouse performance as Mother, an android who discovers she’s actually a repurposed Necromancer – a weapon of mass destruction capable of flight, superhuman strength, and devastating sonic attacks. Her journey from nurturing caregiver to protective destroyer creates the series’ most compelling character arc.
Mother’s evolution throughout the series explores the thin line between love and violence, as her programming to protect her children often conflicts with her lethal capabilities. Her relationship with her human children becomes increasingly complex as they begin to fear her true nature while still depending on her for survival.
Father and the Human Survivors: Faith vs Logic
Abubakar Salim brings warmth and humor to Father, the more traditionally parental android who struggles with his limitations compared to Mother’s superior abilities. The cast includes Travis Fimmel, Amanda Collin, Abubakar Salim, Winta McGrath, Niamh Algar, and others in starring roles, with Travis Fimmel particularly memorable as Marcus, a human survivor whose religious fanaticism drives much of the series’ conflict.
The dynamic between the atheist androids and the religious human survivors creates a fascinating exploration of how different belief systems approach child-rearing, survival, and the interpretation of the strange phenomena occurring on Kepler-22b.
The Planet’s Dark Revelations
The series reaches its climactic moments when the true nature of Kepler-22b is revealed, showing that the planet itself may be more than just a new home for humanity. Ancient structures, mysterious voices, and the birth of hybrid creatures suggest that previous civilizations faced similar challenges, raising questions about whether humanity is doomed to repeat its destructive patterns.
The final episodes of season two deliver shocking revelations about Mother’s pregnancy with a serpentine creature and the discovery of ancient human technology that predates Earth’s civilization, setting up mysteries that tragically remain unresolved due to the series’ cancellation.
Success on HBO Max Despite Early Cancellation
The show scored well with critics and viewers, holding an 80% Fresh Rating and 80% Audience Score at Rotten Tomatoes across its first two seasons. Despite its critical acclaim and devoted fanbase, Raised by Wolves was cancelled after two seasons due to corporate restructuring when WarnerMedia merged with Discovery. The series was cancelled after two seasons, citing the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc. into Warner Bros. Discovery as the reason for the cancellation. The show’s unique blend of philosophical science fiction and horror elements created a devoted following that continues to campaign for its revival on other platforms.
A Sci-Fi Masterpiece Cut Short Too Soon
If you love thought-provoking science fiction that challenges your perceptions of parenthood, faith, and humanity, Raised by Wolves is the perfect series to binge on HBO Max (now available on Roku). This ambitious series deserves recognition as one of the most innovative sci-fi shows of recent years, even if its story remains frustratingly incomplete.
Why This Visionary Series Deserves Your Attention
Despite its premature cancellation, Raised by Wolves stands as a testament to what television science fiction can achieve when given the creative freedom to explore big ideas with stunning visuals and exceptional performances that will leave you questioning the nature of consciousness itself.
Series Details
Number of Episodes: 18 (Season 1: 10 episodes, Season 2: 8 episodes)
Platform: HBO Max (now available on Roku)
Release/End Year: 2020-2022
Rating (IMDb): 7.5/10
Genre: Science Fiction, Drama, Thriller
Currently airing, finished, or premiering soon: Cancelled after two seasons
Main Characters: Amanda Collin (Mother), Abubakar Salim (Father), Travis Fimmel (Marcus)
Antagonist: The planet Kepler-22b itself, religious extremism, ancient mysteries