Falling Skies

[primummobile]

I have to admit that I am hooked on this program. For those who aren't familiar with it, the program follows the lives of human survivors and resistance fighters who are left after an alien invasion.

I do have two gripes about the show. Why are the seasons only ten episodes long? The second ten-episode season just finished last week. The moment the story really begins to get interesting the season is done.

I also wish they would just tell us why the alien invaders are here. I thought for a while that it was to convert children and maybe set up the Earth as a base of operations, but it doesn't seem like that's what they are trying to do.

[Jim]

I should think it's obvious. They're here for our water / women / cows, or some combination.

I like the show, too, and also wish it had a few more episodes in a season. But, this is basic cable and the sfx are expensive. Ten may be all they can budget.

(Spoiler Alert)

It's good that of the three alien species shown, one is not humanoid. Or should that be four species? Are the "bridles" intelligent?

[Swift]

They're here for our water / women / cows, or some combination.

That was my thought. I guess the combination would be that they are here for our milkmaids.

[primummobile]

I think that the harness or bridle or whatever you want to call it and the skitters are basically the same thing. The harness turns other species into skitters. I don't know why some people/skitters are able to resist it while others aren't.

I realize that the budget is probably why the seasons are so short, but I'm pretty sure they'll start next season with skipping over all the dialogue and interaction between the humans and whatever species of alien landed on their front lawn at the end of the last episode. I'm assuming they're the enemy of the aliens trying to conquer Earth.

I just hate waiting so long. I don't mind waiting three months to see the results of a cliffhanger, but this show takes almost a year. Maybe if they spread the episodes out it wouldn't be so bad.

[Ara Pacis]

I agree, I wish there were new episodes, but on reflection maybe that would dilute the quality. I think it's a good show, but after reading some reviews of the finale, I'm starting to rethink that.

The drama is starting to be clunky. They've wasted a lot of time in several episodes to generate "drama" that didn't go anywhere and basically resulted in an agreement to disagree and we're all friends again. Maybe that could resemble reality among some people in that situation, but it slows the story down because it's not contributing to either the plot or character development, even if they are all gun-toting hippies.

[Fazor]

I'm not a fan of the show. Tara loves it. We watched the first season together and I thought it was just mediocre, but when there was nearly a year hiatus between seasons, I totally lost interest.

I've only seen bits and pieces of the second season. It seems better than the first, but I can't bring myself to care enough to actually watch it.

[primummobile]

The drama is starting to be clunky. They've wasted a lot of time in several episodes to generate "drama" that didn't go anywhere and basically resulted in an agreement to disagree and we're all friends again. Maybe that could resemble reality among some people in that situation, but it slows the story down because it's not contributing to either the plot or character development, even if they are all gun-toting hippies.

I do agree with that. I also thought it was strange that they all thought there was going to be a whole city intact and untouched by alien attack, and then were surprised to find Charleston destroyed just like every other city. They saw the city, and it never occurred to any of them to look around for something underground or hidden. They just turned and started to head back when they saw the ruined city.

I think it's the drama that is making me antsy. I just want to know the "why" behind all of this and they are taking too long to get there. I am sure the creators have the entire story, at least in draft form, but I'm worried that they are going to be cancelled and the story will just end with some thrown-together resolution like NBC did for V when I was a kid.

I'm too invested in the story to stop watching now.

[primummobile]

I'm not a fan of the show. Tara loves it. We watched the first season together and I thought it was just mediocre, but when there was nearly a year hiatus between seasons, I totally lost interest.

I've only seen bits and pieces of the second season. It seems better than the first, but I can't bring myself to care enough to actually watch it.

Pretend you're watching the Cleveland Browns. You can always say something along the lines of, "There's always next year." In this case meaning that maybe they will resolve some of the questions in the next season.

[Moose]

I am sure the creators have the entire story, at least in draft form, but I'm worried that they are going to be cancelled and the story will just end with some thrown-together resolution like NBC did for V when I was a kid.

Or no resolution at all, like the V of just a few years ago. And Sarah Connor Chronicles. And Dollhouse. And Firefly. Hard for me to invest in a show at all, to be honest. This one sounds kinda interesting, though, so maybe I'll check it out.

[primummobile]

Or no resolution at all, like the V of just a few years ago. And Sarah Connor Chronicles. And Dollhouse. And Firefly. Hard for me to invest in a show at all, to be honest. This one sounds kinda interesting, though, so maybe I'll check it out.

Ok, you're beginning to get me worried. According to Wikipedia, TNT ordered a third ten-episode season from the production company back in July. Here's hoping that it isn't the last--but if it is that they will know in enough time to wrap it up properly. Although, the story has moved so slowly I don't see how a mere ten episodes could wrap it up in any way other than the destruction of the human race.

But... if you haven't seen it I do recommend at least trying it. There are supposed to be online comics and blogs that explain more of the backstory, but I haven't looked at those.

[Moose]

Fox and ABC are notorious for questionable renewal decisions. TNT seems to be willing to let shows grow a while. Don't let my jaded soul worry you too much.

[SeanF]

I am sure the creators have the entire story, at least in draft form, but I'm worried that they are going to be cancelled and the story will just end with some thrown-together resolution like NBC did for V when I was a kid.

Or no resolution at all, like the V of just a few years ago.

Wait a second, the V of the 1980s was left without resolution as well. Unless Primummobile was talking about the second miniseries, which did end with a bit of a deus ex machina.

[primummobile]

Fox and ABC are notorious for questionable renewal decisions. TNT seems to be willing to let shows grow a while. Don't let my jaded soul worry you too much.

I hope you're right. I very much enjoy open-ended books and most stories I write have an open ending. But I hate it in a TV show or movie. I watch television so I don't have to spend as much time thinking.

[primummobile]

Wait a second, the V of the 1980s was left without resolution as well. Unless Primummobile was talking about the second miniseries, which did end with a bit of a deus ex machina.

Interesting you would say that. As I recall, the first miniseries ended with them sending a message into space in the hopes that it would reach the enemies of the visitors, and nothing was ever done to develop that story in the next incarnation.

But I also believe that the writer of the original miniseries did not participate in the second miniseries because NBC wanted something with a little more action and not so many references to fascism. I do have them both on VHS (yes, I said VHS) though I haven't watched them in a while.

But there was also a regular television series on NBC that ran for one season in 1984-1985. I was in fifth grade at the time and I didn't miss a single episode even though it aired on Friday night every week. I was enthralled and then when the series was ended every story line was cut short with the Leader of the Visitors arriving on Earth to take Elizabeth (the alien-human hybrid) as his bride and supposedly seal a peace between the Visitors and the humans. I think that last episode may have been meant as a cliffhanger, because at the very end we saw Elizabeth's human boyfriend (Kyle?) stow away aboard the Leader's shuttle. That was the non-resolution I was referring to, although the unfinished story of the first miniseries would also qualify.

For a while, I tried to find that one season of the series on DVD. I didn't have a lot of luck at first, but then I did find it right as they decided to air all 24 episodes in a marathon on the Sci Fi channel. I recorded all of it, and I tried to watch it all... but I just couldn't do it. It was so bad. I can't believe that I thought it was the greatest thing in the world when I was a kid. But I did watch the last episode and the ending still left me feeling cheated.

[Moose]

For a while, I tried to find that one season of the series on DVD. [...] It was so bad. [...]

I was a bit too young for the original miniseries. I knew who (and what) Diana was, and I knew the hardware, but the stories? Not even slightly. So yeah, I picked up the DVD series not realizing it wasn't the Miniseries. Very bad.

Did the miniseries ever hit DVD?

[primummobile]

I was a bit too young for the original miniseries. I knew who (and what) Diana was, and I knew the hardware, but the stories? Not even slightly. So yeah, I picked up the DVD series not realizing it wasn't the Miniseries. Very bad.

Did the miniseries ever hit DVD?

I think all of it is on DVD. I just haven't had a need to purchase it since I still have a functioning VCR.

ETA: Ok, here are all of the "original" V: The original mini series, The Final Battle, and the television series. They are all pretty inexpensive. I don't want to post three links, so they're mixed in with the recent reboot. Just look for Marc Singer, Faye Grant, and Michael Ironside.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...eld-keywords=v

[SeanF]

Yup, it's all on DVD. I own it all on DVD.

And Primummobile, I apologize for misinterpreting your post. You referred to "some thrown-together resolution," which suggested to me that there was actually, you know, a resolution.

[primummobile]

Yup, it's all on DVD. I own it all on DVD.

And Primummobile, I apologize for misinterpreting your post. You referred to "some thrown-together resolution," which suggested to me that there was actually, you know, a resolution.

No need to apologize. Never hurts to ask for clarity.

[Moose]

Thanks guys, I'll keep an eye out for it/them through my usual channels.

[Ara Pacis]

TNT cancelled Crusade midway through a season.

[Moose]

Yeah, I realized that later. Didn't want to think too much about it, though.

[selden]

Season One of Falling Skies is avalable on shiny disc. It'll probably be a long time before Season Two is published.

On some of the forums where Falling Skies is discussed, people have a lot of fun pointing out all the dumb things the 2nd Mass does.
[spoiler]
Like scouting with loud motorcycles, driving at night with all the headlights on (after "insulating" the engines to reduce their IR signatures), running the hospital's generators with all the external lights and signs on, running a portable generator inside with the windows closed, telling all and sundry skitters and harnessed kids that they're going to Charleston, etc.
[/spoiler]

(It'd be nice if [spoiler] actually did something. I used color="white" which might not hide the text in all cases. )

[primummobile]

On some of the forums where Falling Skies is discussed, people have a lot of fun pointing out all the dumb things the 2nd Mass does.

Several years ago I used to belong to a website called www.nitpickers.com. Technically I still do belong, although the site isn't really functional. Everything is just kind of preserved there in stasis. I managed to become one of the "Master Nipickers", which didn't really mean anything other than that I was good at finding or commenting on movie and television mistakes. I didn't really care for the boom mic visible or continuity problem nitpicks, but I did like the plot hole and scientific accuracy nitpicks quite a bit.

Anyway, I drive my wife nutso with all my nitpicking when we are watching a movie but I can't stop. It's like the stuff slaps me in the face. I've spent plenty of time nitpicking just the stuff you mentioned while watching Falling Skies. Do you have any links to those sites you were talking about?

[selden]

I frequent and occasionally post to the one on AVScience (hifi/home theater forum) at http://www.avsforum.com/t/1301566/fa...kies-on-tnt-hd

I read but don't post to another at http://forums.televisionwithoutpity....c=3196734&st=0

[potoole]

I have to admit that I am hooked on this program. For those who aren't familiar with it, the program follows the lives of human survivors and resistance fighters who are left after an alien invasion.

I do have two gripes about the show. Why are the seasons only ten episodes long? The second ten-episode season just finished last week. The moment the story really begins to get interesting the season is done.

I also wish they would just tell us why the alien invaders are here. I thought for a while that it was to convert children and maybe set up the Earth as a base of operations, but it doesn't seem like that's what they are trying to do.

Where (what channel, what netwark) can this show be seen? Is it better than Dawg The Bounty Hunter?

[Fazor]

Where (what channel, what netwark) can this show be seen? Is it better than Dawg The Bounty Hunter?

It's on TNT. I think it's on Friday nights? Well, maybe not anymore if the season ended already. But TNT is the channel.

[Jim]

Sunday nights, 9ET. But, yeah, the second season is over. They may show reruns, but this last time they held off and ran season one as an intro to season two.

[Glom]

The bit of drama I thought was superfluous was Hal's new girlfriend's story. I mean that was it? She got pregnant and was in prison? Like that matters at all right now. I was annoyed that it was treated like such a big deal.

The second season was pretty good. There were quote a few interesting twists. It's well made too.

I think we all presume the new aliens are enemies of at the very least the overlord Mason killed. Presumably they would have destroyed Charleston had they been inclined so they must be open to some kind of dialogue with the humans. What they want is anyone but the writers' guess. If they are enemies of the overlords (which we only assume because we're assuming they were the target of the overlord's space gun) why not just rush into battle with them? Why bring a convoy to Charleston? And how did they know about Charleston?

And more importantly, why would the bug, which must have entered through Hal's mouth since whasername kissed him, migrate to his eye only to migrate to his ear. There's a more direct route to the ear from the mouth.

[selden]

But the bug was going to the brain! It had to use the ear!

Of course, there's a much more direct path to the brain once you're in the eye.
Yet one more flaw in the story (among so many).

*sigh*

[Jim]

Well, the girlfriend's story was more detailed than that. She was not exactly a "good girl" before. Or even a victim of circumstance.

Had the bug gone from his mouth to his brain without crawling around on his face, you wouldn't know about it. Sheesh.

Oh, the new aliens? What if they aren't exactly enemies of the overlords, but competitors?