Stephen King Thought This Underrated Sci-Fi Show From Apple Was 'Just About Perfect,' So Why Was It Canceled?

Summary

King praised the canceled show “Constellation,” expressing disappointment that it didn’t get a proper ending.
The sci-fi thriller “Constellation” was not a ratings hit but impressed with its realistic characters and engaging storyline.
Despite the cancelation, the potential for a compelling second season of “Constellation” was discussed, leaving fans hopeful for more.

Stephen King fans know the creative and prolific author likes to recommend his pop culture favorites, and he once shared his love for a sci-fi series that was released on AppleTV+. 2025 is a packed year for King as he has many adaptations coming out, from The Long Walk, which was filmed in a unique way to the emotional sci-fi tale The Life of Chuck. I’m intrigued by both of these stories and look forward to seeing them, and in the meantime, I’m enjoying hearing about some of the TV shows and films that King thinks stand out from the crowd.

As a fan myself, I appreciate King’s taste in movies and TV shows, and I agree that this particular show is great. Unfortunately, it was canceled before it could end properly, but its characters and storyline stand out.

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Why Was Constellation Canceled, And Why Was Stephen King A Fan Of The AppleTV+ Show?

Davina Coleman and Naomi Rapace in Constellation

AppleTV+ canceled Constellation in May 2024, and no official reason was given. However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, although Apple doesn’t share the viewership statistics for each show, it wasn’t in the top 10 streaming shows reported by Nielson. Based on that, it’s possible to guess Constellation might not have been a ratings hit.

Constellation is definitely an underrated show, and Stephen King posted about it in a since-deleted tweet. The beloved author wrote:

“The first 2 episodes of CONSTELLATION are just about perfect–nail-biting and believable. The question is whether or not it can stick the landing.”

It’s always tough when a great sci-fi show is canceled after only one season as several mysteries are left hanging. While it’s sad that Constellation had a brief life, it deserves to be talked about. King is right that episodes one and two are “nail-biting and believable.” I would argue that those are two adjectives that should be used to describe every sci-fi series and movie. After all, if a show doesn’t leave you on the edge of your seat but also doesn’t have grounded, realistic, and relatable characters, it’s not going to be enjoyable or memorable. Jo is a smart protagonist who has devoted her life to a unique career, and I enjoyed seeing her journey.

While King was uncertain if Constellation‘s season 1 finale would be as impressive as the beginning of the show, I would say that it was. The series follows Johanna Ericsson (Naomi Rapace), an astronaut who goes by Jo and who goes back to Earth. I think the AppleTV+ series stands out because some shows of this genre are either about strange things happening on Earth or they’re set entirely in space. It’s interesting that Constellation shows both of these compelling settings. The show also plays with time and space as Jo has a challenging time, and that’s also fascinating to watch.

The season 1 finale ends on a cliffhanger, and whether it’s the latest finale of Chicago Med, a dark and quirky teen drama like Wednesday, or a sci-fi series like Constellation, I’m a big fan of this narrative device. The cliffhanger makes Constellation‘s cancelation even more frustrating since the series had so much promise. I won’t say any more about that and will let TV fans enjoy the show for themselves.

I Think Constellation Season 2 Could Have Been Great

According to TV Line, showrunner Peter Harness talked about Constellation season 2 at the Television Critics Association winter press tour. He said:

“Obviously we’re very happy to get to the end of the first season, but there’s a long way to go with these characters.”

He continued:

“I think there’s a bigger story to tell about space, about the history of this, and I think these characters have got a long way to go. [Jo and Paul] have only just landed back on Earth, and life is very long for these characters.”

I would definitely be excited about seeing Jo and Paul for at least one more season, but unfortunately, their story ended. Like other memorable sci-fi shows, such as Silo, there was a lot more world to explore. But at least there is one excellent season for sci-fi and King fans to enjoy.