This program is a science fiction drama. It is utterly rooted in character development. It is not action driven, it is not science driven per se, it is not even plot driven. It is character driven. That's what the show is about. Slamming this episode because it takes an idea ostensibly rooted in science fiction - being isolated by unfathomable and insurmountable distances within the vastness of space - and leverages it to explore one of the central themes of the show, is to show a complete misunderstanding of a key function of science fiction.it also strikes me as being rather soulless. The fact is, this episode is beautifully written, displays the growing bond between the crew members, and, like the best sci-fi drama, has moments of poetry and poignancy.
This show itself is not poorly ranked on IMDb but it underrated. I really get the sense that the reason for this underratedness is tipified by the response to this episode: I think viewers are expecting some kind of action or suspense oriented show, and that is just not what Away is or was intended to be. If you don't like this kind of thing that is perfectly fine, but then move on to a different show. I don't get why people would be sticking with this show through seven episodes if they don't like this particular kind of science fiction, which it showed itself to be certainly by episode three if not earlier.
Anyway, season 1 episode 7 is one of the best of the series and simply a good bit of writing and acting in its own right.