Falling Skies: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray]

When the TNT network announced a Spielberg produced science fiction epic for its summer slate of programming, I was eager to sample the wares. With its massive advertising campaign, the network clearly had high expectations--and initial ratings were strong and instantaneous causing the show to receive an immediate second season order. Season One consists of ten episodes that weave a solid story of survivors in the aftermath of an alien invasion. Channeling a low key energy, as opposed to a pulse pounding tone, the show does a nice job establishing every day folks caught up in extraordinary circumstances. The piece's central theme is that we're all heroes in our own way and we're all stronger for standing together. It is a remarkably earnest presentation that remains mildly downbeat without ever seeming hopeless. This matter-of-fact feel is both one of the strongest elements of the show, but also one of the things that kept me from truly investing in the drama.

In truth, there is nothing particularly revelatory in the plotting of "Falling Skies." While I enjoyed the creature conception of the skitters (one of the alien life forms), admired the ambitious special effects, and was intrigued by some of the concepts (particularly the harnessed children)--I couldn't escape the general feeling that I'd seen it all before in countless similar variations. With a familiar feeling narrative, then, it is left to the screenwriters and the characterizations to make the show really pop. And I'm not sure that a memorable cast of characters has yet to evolve. Noah Wyle does most of the heavy lifting and makes an admirable every man hero. But many of the peripherals don't really stand out as interesting or fully developed individuals. When Steven Weber shows up for a few episodes, he creates real passion. When Henry Czerny pops around, there is a nice sense of menace. None of the regular supporting cast makes as much of an impression as these guest stars.

I'll take that back--we have Colin Cunningham as a unscrupulous villain that might be on the path to reform. His scenes have such urgency, such humor, such unpredictability. And in contrast, the other members of the cast seem a bit dour or unfocused. The show is still in its infancy, and I hope that in the return there is an imperative on distinguishing the individual characters a bit more. Still, if you like this sort of survivor drama, you'll probably enjoy "Falling Skies." As the season progressed to the inevitable big showdown finale, the resolution did feel a bit underwhelming. As it stands, the show had a decent (if not spectacular) debut but needs to heighten the action and human drama in its sophomore year. It has a talented cast, they just need to be allowed to shine. I want to love "Falling Skies," but merely like it. As a viewer, I need an urgency from the writing that makes me feel like I'm in the trenches with heroes that I really care about in a meaningful way. I just haven't gotten there yet....KGHarris, 8/11.

Bonus Features: DVD set is 3 disc, Blu-ray is 2 disc. In addition to the 10 episodes, there will be a sneak look at Season "Animating a Skitter" feature, and commentary tracks. Exclusive to the Blu-ray, there is also "Falling Skies from Pencils to Print: The Comic Book Revealed" plus collectible trading card.

Produced by Stephen Spielberg and teleplay contributions by a number of writers, including Robert Rodat (best known for SAVING PRIVATE RYAN) and Mark Verheiden (who wrote 9 episodes for the new BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and will be an executive producer for the upcoming DARK TOWER series). First off, this is not INDEPENDENCE DAY, people. It's a grim survival tale of humans almost wiped out by an alien invasion some six months ago. The remnants we focus upon are roughly 300 men, women and children and most of them have no military experience.

There's an interesting opening in which the children explain an alien invasion of Earth through drawings to their teachers. Electricity and satellites are knocked out and something like over 90% of humanity is gone. About the only reason the humans are able to even mildly resist is simply that the alien force has left the planet with garrisons but you don't know what's happening over the rest of the world which leads to some intriguing presumptions and rumors. Said garrisons have giant bots helping them and the sinister means to mind control the human children through "harnesses" (alien membranes that attack from the neck all the way down to your lower back). Even when the children are freed from the harnesses there are surprises like the aliens finding ways to control those children at opportune times.

Noah Wyle, a military professor turned sub commander, is the main character in this tale who tries to give hope to the survivors even though his wife is dead and his middle child has been taken and harnessed by the invaders. Wyle is good enough in his role but
acting is all over the board. Some are very good (like Colin Cunningham as the gang leader turned cook/problem solver), some are subdued but done well enough (like Will Patton as the grizzled Desert Storm veteran who all see as their leader or Dale Dye as Colonel Porter who is best remembered as Colonel Sink in BAND OF BROTHERS) and others are in the "C-ish" grade range (like some of the teenagers and medical people). I think the second season will have more episodes and give us a better feel for the acting range of this cast.

Special effects feel like they're on budget at times but you have to remember that this is TNT. I'd say they're good enough and the reveals as to the special powers/technology of the aliens are fairly well done. The biological hierarchy of aliens was a good idea especially as revealed at the finale. As I said above the tone is grim but not hopeless.

The first season was met with positive reviews and the two-hour premiere was watched by 5.9 million viewers, making it cable television's biggest series launch of the year, with more than 2.6 million adults 18-49 and 3.2 million adults 25-54. The first season finale received 5.6 million viewers, the highest rated episode since the series premiere; with 2.5 million viewers in the 18-49 demographic. (Wiki source).

This show was approved for a second season and hopefully it will be more than ten episodes.

STORY/PLOTTING: B to B plus; CHARACTERS/DIALOGUE: B; SPECIAL EFFECTS: B; SETTING/FOCUSES: B plus; OVERALL GRADE: B to B plus; WHEN WATCHED: 2011.

With a premise like this, Falling Skies should have been a real winner. There should have been lots of tension, action, and philosophy. Instead, we have lots and lots and lots of quiet conversation, down time, and what is presumably meant as character development, but which just comes across as filler, meaningless chat, and stock characters. If the planet were really devastated by aliens and people were hunted by advanced machines, the remaining people would be desperate, frightened, and frazzled. But the characters here are relaxed, chatty, and might as well be on vacation. Other than the very infrequent moments when they are actively encountering the aliens, there is no sense at all that any aliens exist. And how is it that these advanced, interstellar travelers can't see a group of 300 people traveling together on foot? The production values are cheap and easy, and while the digital work on the aliens is at least acceptable, there is far too little of it. TV budgets are not movie budgets, of course, but look at what Spielberg can do with sounds and the implied presence of hostile aliens in a movie like War of the Worlds. Lack of money doesn't have to mean lack of effectiveness. This show should be much, much better than it is.