A Man. And His Blog.

The season finale was alright. Not too much chaos and action, but not too much drama and suspense either. But I was pretty happy about the cliffhanger, even though it was a lame one. I can actually imagine that the writers didn’t want the uber-big cliffhanger and just took the situation and the fate of our main hero into the hands of the aliens, without letting it look over the top. And hey, the final scene looked like as if the aliens are peaceful too, when they want to.

But after all the season’s build-up, the finale was a bit disappointing. Maybe I was expecting too much of a fight between the Mechs and the ones who stayed behind, and maybe I was expecting some explosions and gun battle, since Weaver (Will Patton) was so proudly into bombing away the legs of the structure. At the end it was a bit obvious that none of it would happen, but the episode could have been suspenseful anyway. At the end, this season finale was just alright and not much of a real season finale in today’s time. And when I think about it, even Tom’s (Noah Wyle) decision to go with the humanoid alien doesn’t get me hot and wet for the second season. I’m kinda happy the show is over now and will return in a year, with hope of the writers going deep into their thoughts and knowing what they want to achieve with this show.

So, all the three storylines weren’t much exciting. Tom finally got the leading position, after Weaver left for Boston, but he wasn’t much of a leader here, because he was rather interested in his son’s safety. Tom could finally start to trust his sons for once and let them fight slash do their things, and stop worrying so much. When he is going to say in the next season that he worries about the safety of his sons, I’m gonna blow myself away. It’s not annoying yet, but it has the chances to become the next “Waaaaaaaaaalt!” And one more thing: Coupling Margaret (Sarah Carter) and Jimmy (Dylan Authors) together during the “fight” was a bit awkward to look at. I don’t know why, but I was a bit confused after that. And their cheering scene, after the Mechs retreated was one of the most patriotic (and therefore ridiculous) scenes I’ve ever seen in a TV show. This year. I could do without those scenes.

The second story, Weaver and Hal (Drew Roy) in/at Boston was okay too, but the “cut” between the four teams going into Boston to prepare the bombs, Hal coming back and saying that two teams might be lost, and finally Tom arriving with Pope (Colin Cunningham) was a bit… messy. As if there were scenes missing between those three moments to explain more. I don’t need the explanation, but it looked ugly editing-wise, when the fight was first “good”, then became “bad” one minute later, just to turn out “ugly”, when Tom saw Pope. By the way: Is Pope becoming a patriot now? That’s kinda ridiculous too. But better than being a comic relief.

The third story is just ben and how Rick (Daniyah Ysrayl) saw himself as a Skitter and is lonely now. I hope Rick in-between the humans and aliens isn’t over yet. Because it should be logical that, when Ben’s (Connor Jessup) process with the harness isn’t over yet, it shouldn’t be over for Rick either. Otherwise I’m going to think that the aliens use Ben for specific reasons, while they just abandon Rick, even though they could do better things with him. Well, it brought Ben to the attention of the aliens now, and he has all chances to become the next Walt. So I hope he doesn’t become Walt. 6/10

It's almost something of a relationship here

Go with her if you wanna live

Okay, that was definitely a filler episode. Just have the numbers of days until the attack reduced from three to two, have Weaver (Will Patton) let a meltdown and Tom (Noah Wyle) ask if he’s still right in his head, have a little resistance within the resistance, and viola, here’s your filler episode. I could have done without it, but at least it was interesting enough to not bore me.

So, the hero of the show doubts the judgment of the commanding officer and assembles a team to stop the attack from happening – sorry, but those story paths are already stamped on, and the written words for this piece of episode are rotting for quite a couple of decades. The story could definitely not wow me, especially with Danner (Diego Klattenhoff) as the guest character with combat experience. I really find it illogical that the seemingly only active soldier in the 2nd Mass is not doubting the commanding officer. That character was definitely put n here to give Tom even more obstacles and somebody to fight with – but it was a complete waste of time, as long as the writers don’t use Danner for future episodes.

Well, with me not liking Weaver’s story very much, there wasn’t much to like in this episode. Ben’s (Connor Jessup) development seems interesting, but only because he is in conflict with Rick (Daniyah Ysrayl). I really hope that’s gonna be a part of the second season, because I really want to know what Ben is thinking while he is changing, when in the meantime Rick is telling him how great it is to be a Skitter. On the other hand the writers would continue to focus on what will happen with both Ben and Rick, after their harnesses were removed after months. It would be a great story, if the writers already know everything about the background of the story and not have to come up with something explainable – because I wasn’t really understanding what Ben was exactly hearing. And I don’t know if the missing proper explanation (moe than just “I could hear”) was on purpose from the writers.

What I really didn’t like was the conversation between Pope (Colin Cunningham) and Margaret (Sarah Carter) though. She’s suspecting that Pope is still crossing everybody, and the writers suddenly threw Pope back into being an antagonist. Is it just because Margaret does not trust Pope with every fiber in her body, after what he had done with her, or are the writers really depicting that Pope is still the bad guy? I really hope it’s the former for two reasons: It would give Margaret somebody to hate and release her anger to, and it wouldn’t destroy Pope’s character development so far.

At the end, the episode was nothing but “We need another hour to stall the stories for the season finale”. It’s the typical writing mistake. But everybody is doing that. Unfortunately, nobody seems to learn from other’s mistakes… 5.5/10

Rick is becoming more creepy with every episode

There's some action in this show too, if you haven't noticed

It was a good episode, and finally the series arc is getting closer to being a real mystery arc with time. It’s the revelation of the humanoid alien, the harnessed Skitters, and the found way of killing the Mechs. As if shit is going to blow up in the season finale.

Even though I was expecting it since the “Previously on”-part, the scene with Karen (Jessy Schram) and her return to the story was still creepy. I just love how the Skitters use harnessed humans for their evil plans and keep in contact with them, just to get their kids or the opportunity to kill people. I especially loved the moment, when the humanoid alien was looking through the spy, hoping to find something interesting. The series has just gotten a new antagonist, and it’s more exciting, since we’re two episodes before the season cliffhanger (even though I don’t believe something big is happening during the next two episodes). And somehow the writers understand to keep the story simple, yet exciting and mysterious.

But I think that the story with Sonya (Blair Brown) was mostly filler. It’s nice to see that there are human out there, who are being used by the aliens, but I found her stories to be boring, and her search for somebody to talk to was only depicted, and didn’t take much time. I’d hope for Sonya to return to the story, giving her more character depth and eventually a reason to have been in the series (except giving Blair Brown something to do besides not appearing in FRINGE). Even more, Weaver’s (Will Patton) drama about his family was boring me as well. I didn’t care much about his younger daughter, and I don’t really care that he hopes his wife and older daughter might be still alive. Sure, that gives him a reason to fight, like Tom had a reason to fight (and has again, after the promos for the season finale), but the writers could have abandoned Weaver’s trip back home. Or they could have included a little dialog scene of Weaver needing a couple of days off or something. But some of the scenes in Weaver’s home were too much for me.

Back in the highschool, Pope (Colin Cunningham) is becoming the messiah for all the people. Yeah, his show-and-tell was completely over the top, though suited his character, but I like how he transformed from an annoying recurring character to a character, who could be a great damn fighter besides Tom. In five seasons, those two are drinking buddies, or fight each other to the death for Anne. And nice that Matt (Maxim Knight) still has something to do in this show. I loved how Pope was talking to him, and I kinda liked that Matt got the fighter-virus too. Maybe he should ask Jimmy about fighting and pissing in his pants while doing so.

Only Anne’s (Moon Bloodgood) plot came short, Finally she’s back in business again after having much to do with the pregnancy, and she brings some mystery with her. But I don’t know if it was so clever to depict that the Skitters were human once. Especially since I don’t buy that the humans can transform into Skitters that fast (it must be seven months after the attacks), and because the plot is totally stolen from DISTRICT 9. 7.5/10

Nina Sharp jumped over to the aliens

Four dots visualizing the brain of this world

This episode was alright and almost completely boring, but could have been better, if the writing would have been more solid. Besides Pope (Colin Cunningham) being somewhat of a deus ex machina at the end of the last episode, I counted four more during the last two acts of the episode. Which is just not good writing, when you don’t have proper or unpredictable twists for your episode. This episode was according to the books of all TV episodes. Which makes it even more boring than it is. But hey, I suddenly like Pope. No more Mr. Comic Relief – which is a development.

Well, maybe it would have been a better idea to finish off the Sanctuary story with Clayton (Henry Czerny) in one episode and not carry it through a double episode. The first part was already predictable, but could still entertain, but thanks to all the “craziness” in this episode (meaning how unbelievable the terrible twists were), the story became ludicrous, and I didn’t care about the human enemies this time. Oh yeah: It’s the second episode this season, where the humans were the enemies for the 2nd Mass – I know it’s part of the series arc, but it looks conspicuous, when the writers use that story near the beginning of the season, as well as near the end of the season. Yeah, it’s the first season so far, but I have the feeling the writers will have another two episodes with human enemies in the second season – near the beginning and near the end of it. There’s absolutely no variety in it, so I hope I’m wrong and the writers learn from this season.

So, Lourdes (Seychelle Gabriel) found Eli’s backpack, told Mike (Martin Roach) and Hal (Drew Roy) about it, and the suspicion of the sanctuary being a trap for the kids became alive. I would have wished for a better conflict here, especially since Mike was the only adult with them, and because I liked that Tessa (Sarah Stunt) felt something for Hal. Tessa could have been the character, who turns around and maybe tells on her dad at the end, but instead the writers resolved the suspicion, and let the kids escape in the middle of the episode. There was much more thrill in this episode left, but the writers abandoned it to make it obvious that the kids have to fight as well, especially when their fathers are not with them to help. The only thing is: Hal was the only one who was fighting, and I don’t see him as a kid. Not even Jimmy (Dylan Authors) was ready to take matters into his own hand, which takes him back to being a scared kid, who doesn’t want to fight (instead he just wants to be a kid). It’s cool to see that a recurring side character does a complete 180 over the course of a couple of episodes, but I liked Jimmy with a gun in his hands. I don’t need another scared child in the midst of scared children.

So, Pope is becoming a recurring character again. At least he’s more bearable this time, but I didn’t like how he was a deus ex machine near the end. He suddenly came to the house, shortly after Clayton and his men arrived, and decided to shoot the shit out of them to help the kids? Naah, I don’t buy it. Same goes with Tom (Noah Wyle). He suddenly comes to the house as well, shortly after Pope gets shot and decides to take matters into his own hands? Naah, I don’t buy it. I don’t even buy that Ben (Connor Jessup) coincidentally found his dad and Dai (Peter Shinkoda, does this guy get any dialog scenes?) on the street, while he was running to get help. Why not making time the issue of the episode and let Ben inform everybody of Clayton’s plan in the high school, instead of letting him find help in the middle of nowhere, so that time is not the issue. And take that: time being an issue = thrilling storyline. Meaning there are stakes, there is a ticking time bomb, there is a threat. Those three elements make a story more entertaining and suspenseful. But the writers weren’t thinking about those elements. No wonder why the episode mostly bored me.

Meanwhile in the high school: Do the writers have anything for Margaret (Sarah Carter)? She’s still helping Sarah (Melissa Kramer). At least she gave birth this time, though Weaver’s (Will Patton) involvement in it was ridiculous. The 2nd Mass can be lucky to have a leader, who is coincidentally experienced in difficult home births and decided to take a hand of getting Sarah’s baby born. Sorry, but boring. 5.5/10

A normal day for Pope interrupted by a dead guy on the ground

Kids becoming action heroes

It was a good episode, though totally predictable. Beginning with the smell of Clayton (Henry Czerny) lying from the beginning, ending with the expected return of Pope (Colin Cunningham). When I saw his face in the “Previously on” part, I was already vomiting, but at the end I was surprised to see he might be on the good side. No more Mr. Funny Guy. I would be happy about that.

When Clayton told Weaver (Will Patton) and Tom (Noah Wyle) that he wants to take everybody under 20 away from the potential war zone site, I was already expecting him to play a double game. So, there was no surprise at all that his sanctuary for the kids was a total lie, and he is instead giving the kids to the Skitters. It had a positive effect though: The Skitters are interested in making deals with humans, maybe even backstabbing them, when they are done with the deal (kinda like the mafia), and on the other hand the Skitters seem to be intelligent. Not just “let’s invade your planet and kill all you humans” intelligent, but actually able to be like the humans: lying sons of bitches. I hope that Clayton gets his ass kicked by everybody in the next episode, because for that I just want to see him dead. Luckily Hal (Drew Roy) is with the kids, so there’s another chance for him to prove himself.

Same thing goes for Jimmy (Dylan Authors). I quite liked him being in the focus of the story. Though I was a bit surprised that he was shit-scared during the attack (I kinda expected he had already experience in fighting or maybe wounding/killing a Skitter – this attack must have been his first one), he got a lot of character development with his couple of scenes. First I loved that he was beating Parker (Nathan Mitchell) in Checkers, then I loved that he couldn’t stop talking. Furthermore, I just adored the clichéd scene with the Skitter and the Earth in his hands, letting it explode in his hands. What a shame that it was Weaver who saved Jimmy’s life – I really wanted to see how Jimmy is taking care of that alien bitch, but now he might get another chance in the next episode. Maybe it will be his retribution.

Ben (Connor Jessup) was quite interesting as well in this episode. I was kinda stunned that he isn’t the kid character like I expected him to be, instead the writers made a young adult out of him. Whether it has something to do with the harness or not, it’s good to see that Ben is like Hal: grown-up thanks to the situation, and not bitching around, because daddy has no time to think about their birthday. In addition I liked the chemistry between Ben and Hal. I hope the writers are continuing to build on that relationship between the brothers. Could be interesting to see them both fight together or clash, because Hal is a soldier, out killing Skitters, while Ben is missing their “love”.

Only Anne’s (Moon Bloodgood) story was a bit lame. Somehow I’ve had the feeling she just got this story for Margaret (Sarah Carter) to turn up here. Or maybe the writers brought it in to have a female relationship a la SEX AND THE CITY with guns in here. The shooting practice scene was alright, but I wasn’t friends with this story. Despite Margaret having another two minutes of screentime. She could have more. And a better story. 7/10

There's brotherly love in this screencap

Aliens and Earth don't mix well

Damn, this was a good episode. All thanks to the incredible fourth act and how it managed to set the tone for the series I wanted to have from the beginning until the end of the series. And it shows how you can keep up the action and the thrill of an apocalyptic world like this up and running with a modest budget. It was clearly a cheap-looking act, but it ruled, because it brought everything out of the situation.

Yes, this episode was clearly the best so far. Just because it focused on the rescue mission and left the sub plots out of it. Yeah, Sarah’s (Melissa Kramer) baby shower was a sub plot in here, but it was a rather minor one, only had three scenes, and included two of the main characters in it. First, it brought Margaret (Sarah Carter) to say that she is not living in a world like Sarah does, eventually giving her the first character piece in this episode, and ends with Anne (Moon Bloodgood) accepting that even though she lost a kid, there is always some hope right around the corner, eventually giving her the last character piece of the episode. So, with the baby shower plot the writers totally focused on character development. Which is a great plus compared to the previous episodes.

Then there’s the rescue mission. I loved the preparation of it, mostly the “medieval times” of Hal (Drew Roy) and Margaret taking practice in silent killing – the two surprisingly work as a future couple, though I don’t really believe Hal is already forgetting all about Karen and jumping directly to the next best woman he can make out with. And then the idea about being “invisible” in the enemy’s territory – it was a good one. A perfect example that the writers were actually thinking about their show, and maybe even an example that they have watched the second THE WALKING DEAD episode, which had a similar thrilling scene. And boy, did I love Hal being in the hospital, playing one of the harnessed kids. That scene had some wonderful and creepy moments – just having the empty hospital, and Hal kinda freaking out, because doors are falling shut, and Skitters almost blow his cover. Then the scene in the room, when the Skitter sends all the kids sleeping. Here I was wondering if the Skitters actually care about the kids (that would make the alien invasion a whole different story), or if they just care about the fact that the harness-things are still working (though the Skitter should have noticed that Hal’s wasn’t working anymore – but that also shows the Skitters don’t really have control over them all the time). And finally ending with the moment, when Hal was killing the Skitter. I didn’t really eye Tom (Noah Wyle) talking about Hal growing to a real man in the last couple of episodes, and even though the little talk at the end was a big cliché, but it also shows that the writers handle the father/son story a bit differently than other TV shows. Okay, an alien invasion is a different thing than just watching his son go down with drugs or up with his new girlfriend, but I kinda liked it here, and how Tom has to accept that this new world makes man out of young kids real fast. And how proud a father can be, when a kid becomes a man.

I almost forgot to mention Harris (Steven Weber) again, and for two good reasons: His character wasn’t really good enough to survive a show like this, and his dead was like that… yeah, he just died, from one second to the next. No build-up, no stakes for him, no fight. He just died. He was just killed by the Skitter, and basically no one cared. No funeral for Harris (at least in this episode), no praise of his work. Instead he just died right there. It somehow reminded me of Derek Reese’s death in THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES. Nicely done, especially since the character wasn’t really the revelation of the show.

So, what did the episode good? It failed to bring in Pope. Now that he’s gone for now, the writers find time to write a thrilling story. Another example of how annoying Pope actually was. Hopefully he stays away. 8.5/10

Before the attack: love is in the air

Before the baby shower: Anne is worried

I don’t really know about this episode. The story with the imprisoned Skitter was interesting, Pope’s (Colin Cunningham) story outside of the school was shitty. Which makes me want to wish two things from the show (and I already know I won’t get my wishes fulfilled): more aliens, less Pope. Actually, just kill off Pope, because she is annoying as fuck. But will I get this storyline? Doesn’t look like it, since the writers are so obvious to think that they need an outlaw within the resistance fighters.

I loved the conflict between Anne (Moon Bloodgood) and Harris (Steven Weber) in the case of the alien. And in fact, I really loved that the episode made clear the alien is a lifeform with feelings and emotions too. There were a bunch of moments with the alien, showing emotions, showing that the writers have thought about how to handle a story like this, even maybe thinking about making the aliens more human than they are at the moment. Or my dream story: having some of the aliens join the human resistance. Not all the aliens can be in the mood for killing humans. Take me for example: As long as aliens don’t do anything to me, I wouldn’t kill them. Okay, that’s a complete different part of science-fiction, and probably an upcoming story in one of my upcoming screenplays, but that was something I was thinking about, when Anne tried to interact with the prisoner. And there was clearly a moment, where the alien welcomed the change in human behavior. Having an alien as a prisoner of war proves to be an exciting storyline so far.

But the other part of the episode wasn’t good. Looks like Weaver (Will Patton) is sending out Tom (Noah Wyle) for some idiotic reconnaissance work, and it is getting boring. This time getting some bikes for the 2nd Mass, so they have something to drive on. Yeah, it is realistic in a genre series like that to even care about the little things, but the writers should have written an exciting story around it. Maggie (Sarah Carter) said that Pope will be pissy to the soldiers on the way, which makes the story predictable. And what happened? The soldiers found a nest of sleeping bat-Skitters (that was actually hilarious), Pope is hungry to kill them all, and at the end, there were even harnessed kids taking a shot at our heroes – that wasn’t that much of an exciting story. And sorry, I so didn’t care about Dai (Peter Shinkoda) getting shot in that scene, since I wasn’t even properly introduced to this character beforehand. That’s a problem FALLING SKIES currently has: the pool of main, regular and supporting characters is too big, and there isn’t one episode, which focuses on one or two character specifically. I was always wondering what is up with that teenie soldier Jimmy (Dylan Authors), and why this episode was suggesting a little “love story” between him and Lourdes (Seychelle Gabriel). It seems interesting at first, but I don’t really know where the writers want to go with this one.

Other than that, I love the serial part of the show: how slowly the characters are learning about the Skitters, and how slow time in this apocalyptic world actually is. There is basically nothing to do, when you’re not a fighter, and I would wish a storyline within the civilians, showing that exact slow time. And please, dear God, kill off Pope. He doesn’t function as a comic relief, he doesn’t function as a character (yet), he doesn’t even function as a villain within the resistance anymore. Somebody must do something with him… 6.5/10

Anna teaches astronomy now

12 years of emergency medicine stains on Dr. Carter

It was a good episode, which felt more like a part of a serial than last episode’s man versus man. Answers were given, hope for the survivors was created, new tension as well. It’s the third episode in a row, where new tension was created, and now it would be time to let the tension play out in the show.

Meaning the inner conflict between Tom (Noah Wyle) and Michael (Steven Weber). Sorry for me not understanding all of it, but the background story with Tom’s dead wife Rebecca needed more clear pictures. Half the time I was thinking about BIG LOVE, when I’ve heard them talk to each other, the other half I was thinking about that the episode didn’t need such a complicated background story. The writers could have just said with five or six simple words that Michael was the guy Rebecca was cheating on, and Tom was the one who was cheated. Simple and easy, it doesn’t need to be complicated. There doesn’t need to be a sub plot about Michael being needed in the community, there doesn’t need to be a sub plot about friendship between the two. On the other hand, maybe the writers have planned something bigger here, and this was just the preparation – but do I believe this? No way…

So, the fight against the Skitters was in the center again. I liked the one on one between the Skitter and Tom, and thankfully the episode stated that it’s not difficult to kill a Skitter. I already wondered why it would take six months for humanity to find out how to kill a Skitter. Well, at least we got rid of this little secret in the show now. Other than that I hope the Skitter being a prisoner of war will be used in the next couple of episodes. With a Skitter in the school now, I could imagine a couple more of humanity storylines, mirrored with the alien. And who isn’t thinking about the possibility of some of the aliens being on the side of humanity? Anybody remembering V? Furthermore, I didn’t like the search for Ben (Connor Jessup) much. It was predictable that ben wouldn’t be part of the group in the next day, and of course Mike (Martin Roach) must call out to his son and run for him. Especially latter twist was so idiotic, I’ve had to roll with my eyes, getting dizzy. I even ask myself why Hal (Drew Roy) and Karen (Jessy Schram) were needed as fighters in that scene. They were basically just standing there, doing nothing (yeah, they could have been back-up, I know), screaming to get kidnapped by the Mech, who was jumping from the roof. But it was neat that they took Karen, and Hal had to see how the Skitter just killed five of his slaves. Unfortunately it wasn’t Ben – wasted story potential here.

Pope’s (Colin Cunningham) story was okay too. Nice that his character is being used, without writing him in an over-the-top way. Though I have to say his cocky behavior is kinda annoying me. It’s time for him to understand the reasons of being in the resistance, and it wouldn’t be bad to have a little clash between him and Maggie (Sarah Carter, she only had like two short scenes – WTF?) – after all, I think Pope was part of … I don’t know, raping her? Or not doing anything, when she was with that other schmuck she killed in the last episode? Anyway, I missed that here. The bad part about Pope is that I have the feeling he is going to be used as comic relief in the series. God damn, he was an outlaw, probably killing humans. Make him a kick-ass fighter with issues, and not a cook … sorry, I mean Chef.

All in all, a good episode with a couple of minor issues again. I’m still not very much excited for FALLING SKIES, and I’m currently at a point, where I couldn’t care less about a new episode. 6.5/10

This bright light does not emerge from the skies

Two former NBC actors find themselves on TNT

I didn’t have much problems with the pilot and its missing character drawings, because it was all about the alien invasion. The second episode should have picked up on it and delivered more depth. The sad thing: It didn’t, and now I’m sitting here on a series, which didn’t give me any reasons why I should care about the characters. I don’t know anything about them, and the episode just heavily focused on history teacher and professor Tom (Noah Wyle), which makes FALLING SKIES a kinda one-sided series, even though it already has a cast large enough to focus on the other characters as well.

Yet again, FALLING SKIES still turns me on with its hook, with the fact that there are multiple kinds of aliens (though I don’t know if the Mechs are just Skitters in a mechanical suit), with the mysterious mythology (the harnesses), and with the good-looking cast, who at least knows what to do with their characters. Tom is still a character I can get and understand, though some of the moments in this episode were rather ridiculous. First he is kinda described as the all-knowing and military-experienced teacher, but then he absolutely can’t read people and fails in beating John Pope (Colin Cunningham), or making it obvious that he eyed the gun. On a same level, the talk between Tom and Pope was interesting at first, but it went to a boring level, when Pope realized Tom was just peeping on the gun and Pope went back to be the villain-ish asshole.

Unfortunately, Pope was the character, who ultimately destroyed the episode for me. First I find it good that the writers clear the cliché of man versus man in an alien invaded world in the second episode, but Pope was such a stereotypical character, I was about to predict his every move. He was way too much of a villain, way too much of an outlaw to be considered a character, or a player against the 2nd Massachusetts, and eventually Tom and Hal (Drew Roy). I only liked the last scene, when Tom was still trying to convince Pope to be part of the resistance (and since Pope is still alive, it seems he will be part of FALLING SKIES’ near future), but that’s it. I don’t have anything against the man vs. man plot in a science-fiction show like this, but as long as they are riddled with predictable moves and no surprises, I’m bored. And another thing, which confused me throughout the episode: Pope looked like Gary Sinise in REINDEER GAMES – those two could be twins.

The only good thing about the man vs. man plot was the introduction of Maggie (Sarah Carter). I somehow saw it coming she will eventually be a bigger part of the show, after she had her knife at Hal’s throat during the first half, yet I didn’t see it coming she was killing two bastards and commented with “They were not nice” or something similar. That scene wasn’t just kick-ass, but shows that Maggie can be a character, who shoots first and asks questions later – a character element I’m missing with female characters in action-toned movies or TV shows. And FALLING SKIES needs somebody “evil” among the good people, especially when it’s a woman.

Some things did annoy me in the episode: I didn’t get the romance between Hal and Karen (Jessy Schram), and I still believe the writers can do more in the conflict between Weaver (Will Patton) and Tom – if there is a conflict to begin with. Somehow I have this feeling of an upcoming rivalry storyline between the two leaders, and the writers tease it in their first episodes, but don’t want to make it obvious. Likewise with Anne (Moon Bloodgood), who still doesn’t have to do anything in the show. Her decision of helping Hal and going with him to help out as a doctor felt forced, as if the writers were pushing her into this story, without thinking about it first.

All in all, FALLING SKIES still has some problems, and yet I’m still hooked from its alien invasion, even though the dark atmosphere is still missing. At the end, all the problems make FALLING SKIES just a solid series, and not a TV summer blockbuster with emotional stories, like I was expecting months ago. 6.5/10

There's some romance hidden beneath an alien invasion

Maggie is a killer bitch

The science-fiction genre on network and basic cable television is practically dead. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA basically ended with more filler episodes than anyone would have imagined; DEFYING GRAVITY was axed after eight episodes; JERICHO didn’t manage to get beyond fan recognition and CBS’ plans of telling more exciting storylines; STARGATE UNIVERSE flopped, but manage to live for two years; CAPRICA never used the potential of its storyline; ABC just interrupted and cut off the alien invasion in V; FIREFLY was probably too awkward for the audience; the STAR TREK franchise has currently no value in television; DOCTOR WHO is only known in Great Britain, letting TORCHWOOD have the chance to connect with the US audience this summer; and everybody is waiting how TERRA NOVA will make it on the air and with the audience. If everybody would be honest, the producers and writers should stay away from true science-fiction in television, and making their ideas into movies. BATTLE: LOS ANGELES worked as a great war movie with a twist, and even SKYLINE worked because of its claustrophobic action. It’s no wonder that the year 2011 will be seen as the year, where aliens invaded the movie theaters: COWBOYS & ALIENS is coming up in about a week; SUPER 8 is bringing back childhood dreams into the alien genre; THE DARKEST HOUR will follow a group of young people within an alien invasion in Russia; DISTRICT 9 is already a cult-classic; and not to forget all the sequels, starting with AVATAR, ending with PREDATORS, and the planned project of a Michael Bay alien spectacle, as well as ALIEN 5, from which I hear words for like 15 years or so…

Here you can clearly see, especially the genre of the alien invasion is loved by the movie execs and writers, loved by their audience, so why shouldn’t it be loved by the TV audience at home? Reasons are difficult to find, but yet somewhat easy to develop. Now there’s TNT’s new alien-invasion-aftermath family drama FALLING SKIES – another effort of reanimating the genre. On a qualitative level, it worked, but did it work with the US audience in general? Read the rest of this entry »