SyFy’s “Krypton,” the Superman prequel we didn’t know we needed, gave an insightful look into Kal-El’s extraordinary lineage and his home planet’s extensively overwhelming culture and history. Set decades before Superman’s birth, “Krypton” focusses on the story of Seg-El, Kal’s grandfather.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD
Years before the destruction of the legendary Man of Steel’s home planet, Superman’s grandfather, Seg-El, fights to redeem his family’s honor after the House of El is ostracized and shamed. In his quest, Seg comes across a future hero from Earth and learns that the House of El’s destined for intergalactic greatness.
Set two generations before the destruction of the legendary Man of Steel’s home planet, Krypton follows Superman’s grandfather — whose House of El was ostracized and shamed — as he fights to redeem his family’s honor and save his beloved world from chaos.
SyFy show description
“Krypton” premiered on SyFy in 2018 and 2019 and lasted a total of 20 episodes, spanned across two seasons. It was an original take on classic comic characters that left even the most hardcore Superman fan guessing what’s next. The series culminated with an open ended story that left many fans wanting more.
With entertainment movements becoming a societal norm, I thought I’d take this opportunity to state my case as to why “Krypton” needs a renewal.
After the season two finale SyFy, the network that produced the series, announced the show would not be returning for a third season. However, SyFy did mention that they were shopping for other possible outlets to take in the series. With HBO Max, I believe now is the perfect time to renew the show and save “Krypton.”
As an avid Superman connoisseur, I can honestly say I loved “Krypton” for its spontaneity and originality. When I first started the show, I had no idea what to expect. It was clever, it was sexy and it was adventurous. Imagine “Game of Thrones,” but on an intergalactic scale. I knew the planet Krypton was doomed for inevitable destruction, but I still found myself hoping, praying, for an alternative ending. It’s like watching James Cameron’s “Titanic.” You find yourself pleading with fate for a happier ending. You want these characters to survive.
Colin Salmon as General Zod 
Blake Ritson as Brainiac 
Emmett J Scanlan as Lobo 
Doomsday
I believe the shows strength stemmed from the incredibly complex characters you couldn’t help but adore. The stories interwoven by the shows individuals makes “Krypton” believable. Many strive for a better tomorrow filled with hope and heroics. Something a majority of us can relate to.
Relationships tied up surprisingly loose ends in the Superman mythos and connections just made incredible sense. For the sake of those who haven’t watched the show, I won’t go into too much detail.
The series held some of the best special effects I’ve ever seen on a television screen. It wasn’t cheesy and underdone, like some CW series for example. Incredible effort and strenuous amounts of time went into the conceptualization and it showed. Set designs were beautifully realistic and the show paid incredible homage to the well established roots of the fictional planet.
Character design was taken very seriously. Superman titles possess some of DC Comics’ most recognizable characters and “Krypton” did not take their representations lightly. In some of the most comic accurate forms to date, visually complex characters like Brainiac, Doomsday and Lobo leapt forth from the pages of “Action Comics” onto my living room screen. They were recognizable and 100 percent believable.
“Krypton” was a stand alone series that connected incredibly to the ever expanding multiverse of DC Entertainment. From the incredibly corrupt political system, to the intergalactic artificial intelligence that craved to collect all knowledge, “Krypton” was remarkably well rounded. It incorporated authentic Superman themes into accurate depictions. The ending of the series left me unfulfilled. I need more.
Main Characters
Seg – El
CAMERON CUFFE
The Man of Steel’s grandfather, Seg brings hope and equality to the planet of Krypton, turning a world in disarray into one worthy of giving birth to the greatest superhero ever known. Revealing a chapter of the DC Universe that has rarely been explored, KRYPTON, is set 200 years before the Superman legend we know.
About Cameron Cuffe
Having trained at The Lir Academy, Cameron Cuffe was amongst the first year of graduating students from this new venture formed by Trinity College, Dublin and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). Following graduation, he appeared in the Park Theatre production of David Hare’s play The Vertical Hour and in the Donmar Warehouse production of Larry Gelbart’s City of Angels. On screen, Cuffe’s recent work includes Stephen Frears’ Florence Foster Jenkins with Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant, and a recurring role on The Halcyon.
Follow Cameron on Twitter @thecameroncuffe
Adam Strange
SHAUN SIPOS
A world-weary, time-travelling human, Adam Strange finds himself stranded on Krypton as the unlikely mentor to Seg-El. Adam will stop at nothing to ensure that the greatest hero who ever lived actually exists.
About Shaun Sipos
Originally from Canada, Sipos is known for his lead roles in Melrose Place and films such as Final Destination 3, Rampage and Texas Chainsaw 3D. Sipos debuted before the cameras in 2001 with a small role in Special Unit 2, and that same year played a series regular on Maybe It’s Me.
Sipos will next be seen in the comedy For the Love of George. Other past credits include The Vampire Diaries, The Grudge 2 and Shark. He is based in LA.
Follow Shaun on Twitter @ssipos
Lyta – Zod
GEORGINA CAMPBELL
Torn between proving herself worthy of the Zod name and her innate desire to help and heal the people of Krypton, Lyta-Zod is fierce and compassionate. Lyta’s journey of self-discovery means forging her own destiny in the face of what society dictates.
About Georgina Campbell
Campbell has most recently starred in Tripped opposite Blake Harrison and alongside Jaime Winstone in After Hours, in BAFTA nominated Flowers with Oliva Coleman, and in Broadchurch.
Campbell also took a lead role in One Of Us and can be seen playing alongside Jude Law in Guy Ritchie’s feature film Knights of the Roundtable: King Arthur. Additionally, Campbell starred in Idris Elba’s short film story Five By Five.
A winner of the prestigious Best Leading Actress award at 2015’s BAFTA Awards for her performance in Murdered by my Boyfriend, Campbell’s other television roles include the Noah-The Ark, One Night and Ice Cream Girls. You can currently see her in the latest season of Black Mirror.
Nyssa – Vex
WALLIS DAY
The youngest daughter of House Vex and brilliant lawmaker, Nyssa-Vex understands the city’s politics and is utterly at home within the establishment of Kandor’s ruling class. She’s adept in the art of political alliance, but it is Seg who will teach her about friendship.
About Wallis Day
Most recently Day can be seen in television series Will and The Royals. Additional television credits include Casanova, Jekyll & Hyde, Trolliedand Hollyoaks. Day’s film credits include The Boy with a Thorn in His Side and A Letter of Gratitude.
Follow Wallis on Twitter @wallisday
Jayna – Zod
ANN OGBOMO
Jayna-Zod is the leader of Kandor’s Military guild and Lyta’s mother. She has dedicated her life to protecting the city from threats within and without. She wants nothing more than to leave behind a legacy of ironclad duty.
About Ann Ogbomo
Ogbomo is a trained actress at LAMDA and has been working extensively as an actress and acting teacher since 2002. She was part of the Olivier Award winning Histories Ensmeble at the Royal Shakespeare Company from 2006-2008 where one group of actors performed all eight of Shakespeare’s history plays from “Richard II” Right through to “Richard III” over two years. Additionally, she has performed in fifteen productions of Shakespeare for various theatre companies including the Royal National Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe and RSC. Ogbomo is also an Educational Practitioner at these theatres.
Alongside her classical theatre work Ogbomo’s work onscreen includes World War Z with Brad Pitt, The Honey Trap, Julius Caesar, Wild Target, Bouquet of Barbed Wire, The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Casualty, Holby City, The Bill and Murder in Mind and Hardware. Ogbomo has an MA in Community Arts from Goldsmiths University and a PGA in teaching Shakespeare from WarwicK University and a BA in Theatre Arts from Middlesex.
Follow Ann on Twitter @annogbomo
Dev – Em
AARON PIERRE
Bound to Lyta-Zod, Dev-Em is a Sagitari who has always relished his role as a protector of Kandor. He admires Jayna as the perfect template of a warrior, but he’s loved Lyta since childhood, and his jealousy of Seg could destroy everything.
About Aaron Pierre
Best known for his role in Britannia, Pierre’s previous television credits include Tennison, The A Word and Prime Suspect. In theatre, Pierre has performed in productions of Of Mice and Men, Coriolanus, Platonov, The Virtuoso, Lift Off, Agamemnon and Women Beware.
Follow Aaron on Twitter @aaron_pierre1
Val – El
IAN MCELHINNEY
Seg’s grandfather and one of Krypton’s greatest scientists, Val was instrumental in Krypton’s greatest era of scientific progress, before being executed for treason. After a fourteen-year absence, he returns to become a pivotal player in defeating the threat against Krypton.
About Ian McElhinney
McElhinney has directed several productions in Ireland, the UK, Sweden, Japan, Iceland and Canada, most notably Stones In His Pocket, which opened in the Lyric Theatre, Belfast, played in the West End for three years, on Broadway and on major tours of the U.K. and U.S.A. Having performed throughout Ireland, the UK and North America, Mcelhinney’s theatre credits include: Gaslight, A Woman of No Importance, The Interrogation of Ambrose Fogarty, The Plough and The Stars, The Silver Tassie, Observe The Sons of Ulster Marching Towards The Somme, The Recruiting Officer, Aristocrats, A Doll’s House, Betrayal, Amphibians, Carthaginians, There Came A Gypsy Riding and many more.
In television McElhinney’s credits include Derry Girls, Frankenstein Chronicles, Landgericht, Game of Thrones, Redwater, Barbarian’s Rising, Babylon, Rebellion and Quirke. In film McElhinney can be seen in Guard, Cellar Door, Zoo, Bad Day For the Cut, The Journey, The Truth Commissioner, Patch of Fog and Divorcing Jack.
Krypton is currently streamable on DC Universe with a subscription but is likely to be making a transition over to HBO Max very soon. Based on DC characters, Krypton is executive produced by David S. Goyer (Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, The Dark Knight trilogy). Cameron Welsh (Ash vs Evil Dead) will serve as executive producer and showrunner.
