I'm glad that this movie was chosen, because I otherwise might not have seen it and it really is great in pretty much every aspect.
Because this is the first episode since Prometheus, I can't help but make comparisons to the criticisms leveled at that movie.
The one that sticks out the most to me is that Cam and Mia both applaud the fact that the heroes don't survive, when in most other movies they would have survived. While I agree that it fits this story perfectly, Cam had said in Prometheus that the heroic sacrifice is entirely played out and is one of the major failings of it and The Matrix series.
One other thing I noticed is the inconsistent sympathy for the injuries the protagonists face. Yes, Shaw doing anything in the third act after having a vivisection is hilariously dumb, but what Capa does isn't much more believable.
I very much agree with the appraisals of both movies being commentated on, but a lot of what is being said gets coloured by the feelings of the movie as a whole.
I did have one beef with the movie itself though. I felt that the conflict with Pinbacker was not resolved in a very fulfilling way. I do love the way he is presented, and he does feel adequately set up, but the way he's dealt with in the end just feels disappointing. Cassie just sitting there passively until he's vulnerable, and then him essentially walking off set after just felt too open ended for me. I know the end result is the same, and I can't really figure out a scenario where he is properly dealt with that doesn't devolve into tropey horror cliches, but still. I think the reason it sticks out to me so much is because Pinbacker doesn't really change the direction of the plot. Even before he sabotages the airlock and gets aboard, they still didn't have enough O2 for everyone to make it. Mace made it abundantly clear that he'll do whatever it takes to ensure that the mission succeeds. Everyone aboard was doomed the instant they made for the Icarus 1. I realize that Pinbacker is responsible for that as well, but it's far less direct than what he does with the crew once he shows up proper.
Anyways, the tl;dr is that no movie is perfect, and no criticisms are perfect, especially my own.
I do want to say, between Correctors Commentary,
Movies with Mikey, and
Really That Good, I'm really falling in love with great cinema again.