Ep 1. Under the Night

In the opening moments of the first episode of Andromeda season 1, viewers are introduced to a civil war that has taken place aboard a ship known as the Commonwealth's flagship, the Andromeda Ascendant. As the war rages, the ship is abandoned by its crew and left adrift in space.

Fast forward 300 years, and we meet our protagonist, Captain Dylan Hunt. He is a member of the Systems Commonwealth, a powerful intergalactic government that seeks to maintain peace and order throughout the universe. Hunt is on a mission to bring a notorious band of space pirates to justice when his ship, the Eureka Maru, receives a distress signal from the abandoned Andromeda Ascendant.

Hunt and his crew investigate the signal and board the stranded ship, where they discover that its artificial intelligence, an entity known as "Rommie," is still online and functioning. Rommie informs Hunt and his crew that the ship has been drifting through space for 300 years and is in dire need of repairs. It's at this point that Hunt makes the decision to take command of the Andromeda and try to restore it to its former glory.

But it's not an easy task. As Hunt and his crew work to repair the ship, they're also confronted with a number of threats, including an encounter with the band of pirates they were initially pursuing. And as they continue to explore the vast expanse of space, they soon realize that the universe is much more complex and dangerous than they ever could have imagined.

One of the major themes of Andromeda season 1 episode 1 is the idea of second chances. Hunt and his crew, along with the Andromeda herself, have all been given a chance to start fresh, to leave their past behind and create a new future. It's a theme that is echoed throughout the episode as each character grapples with their own personal demons and tries to navigate the challenges of their new lives aboard the Andromeda.

The episode also introduces us to the show's main characters, each of whom brings their own unique set of skills and personality traits to the table. There's Hunt, the determined and well-intentioned captain who is still grappling with the weight of his past mistakes. There's Beka Valentine, the tough-as-nails pilot of the Eureka Maru who has her own stake in the Andromeda's fate. There's Harper, the brilliant but eccentric engineer who is tasked with repairing the ship's complex systems. And then there's Rommie, the ship's AI who is more than just a computer program – she's almost like a member of the crew in her own right.

Overall, Andromeda season 1 episode 1 is an exciting and engaging pilot that sets the stage for a thrilling journey through space. It offers a tantalizing glimpse into the show's complex mythology and introduces us to a cast of characters that viewers will be eager to follow on their adventures. Fans of sci-fi will find plenty to enjoy in this episode, from the intricate world-building to the action-packed set pieces. And with the promise of even greater things to come in future episodes, there's no doubt that Andromeda is a show worth sticking with.