I'm not asking for much from Falling Skies. Last week, I was pretty pleased by the two-part pilot and decided to take a wait-and-see approach. There was promise among problems, but it delivered what I had hoped for by not skimping on shots of aliens and not letting any characters do anything too stupid. That's all I need out of summer programming, and about the extent of what I expect from an alien-invasion series from the same network that brings us Franklin & Bash.
Last night's "Prisoner of War" took away a lot of the good faith I had in the series, transforming my cautious optimism into accepting platitude. I'm still going to watch the show, and not just because there isn't anything else sci-fi that's decent right now. I'm a sucker for the genre, and part of being a sucker is watching shows that you know aren't actually that good. It's still too early to declare anything as fact, but my guess is Falling Skies will be a series that we all forget about 10 years from now. Let's enjoy it while it lasts even if we get is something that's fairly mediocre.
Last night's episode delved further into the mystery of the harnessed children who've been turned into slaves to do menial chores for the aliens. We had believed that removing the harnesses from the kids' spines meant instant death, but that's not the case thanks to the guy from Wings, a doctor who subscribes to the theory that if someone's life is threatened, load 'em up with morphine. One kid was successfully de-harnessed, but he was a drugged-up mess and pretty much useless until he stopped sleeping (kind of like normal teenagers).
Meanwhile, Tom conveniently encountered a lone Skitter in a dark hallway while playing the hero by going after two people (one of them being his son) who'd be left behind during a botched mission. He kicked the alien's butt and dragged it, alive, back to HQ to be examined—as is required at some point in all alien-invasion shows and movies.
The end of the episode gave us something to think about other than whether or not we'll continue to watch this show. And dammit if it didn't answer that question with a "sure, I guess so." When our P.O.W. alien opened its eyes, the de-harnassed kid opened his eyes at the same time, implying that the two are connected, possibly in some sort of hive-mind situation. So can any alien mind-control a kid, even after a harness has been removed? Does the harness meld into the host's body, as Dr. Harris insinuated? Is something else afoot? Do you even care?
You don't care? Well, that might have to do with the stunted character development going on. New series with big casts are always tough to get to know, and last week I mentioned that the first two hours laid the groundwork for who's who while giving us a little more about the central character. That's understandable. But in Sunday's episode, several of the secondary characters remained very secondary. Give me something on Moon Bloodgood's character and her Amber Alert of a daughter, Lourdes! I want to learn a little more about Mike and the Asian guy! Make Colonel Porter and Captain Weaver more than just military cliches! A show that's ostensibly about survival needs to introduce us to people we want to see survive—because if we don't know them, we really don't care if they make it or not. In fact, if you're a jerk like me, you'd rather see them killed. This show needs a character death, and soon.
Instead, most of the character development we've seen has dealt with characters who were introduced in the pilot—which was really just the first two episodes of the season put together, and where we first met leader-of-the-renegades Pope. Pope is now the only person in the 300-member Resistance who knows how to cook. But if we'd spent half as much time learning about Mike as we did discovering that Pope likes to poach chicken and went to culinary school, we'd care more about Mike and understand why he made the stupid decision to wave his arms around like a lunatic, thus botching the mission to rescue Tom's son Ben. That misuse of time continued last night when we met Dr. Harris (Stephen Weber), who hogged valuable storytelling time even though we still know very little about everyone else. What's the point in introducing new characters when we don't know the ones who are already present?
Falling Skies isn't downright horrible yet, nor is it the next great sci-fi epic. So far it's spectacularly mediocre and super average. And during this drought of summer television, that's enough to get me to keep watching. I'm still giving this a shot. What about you?
Notes:
... The people have spoken and now it is known: Moon Bloodgood is "very, very hot" according to those of you who spoke up in last week's comments. I would also go so far as to say she could be half of the hottest mother-daughter combo since Friday Night Lights' Tami and Julie Taylor.
... The alien mechs don't appear to be too into chasing humans once they spot them. Twice they've caught sight Tom and his pals and attacked—but the show cut to commercial and when it returned, things were back to normal. It's as if whenever the writers need a way to end a scene, they just write in a mech.
... Did anyone think they were watching Dead Space the TV show when Tom shot off the legs of that Skitter in the dark hallway? Achievement unlocked!
... What's up with the blonde chick they rescued from Pope? Lighten up, lady, and stop dropping bricks from the roof of buildings when you're spying.
Follow TV.com writer Tim Surette on Twitter: @TimAtTVDotCom
Came across this show randomly as I'm out of things to watch for the summer and I'll be interested to see where it goes. I agree the character development is lacking but they do have likable, relatable characters and an interesting premise so I'm hanging in there. Just thought I'd point out that Moon Bloodgood's character isn't supposed to be the mother of the girl who helps her out. The girl was a med student and the two of them become close but they are not supposed to be mother and daughter. Moon's characters did have a child, a son I think who was either missing or dead, I can't remember, but in one of the earlier episodes she says that she doesn't even have a picture to put up on the board of missing children.moreless
Mate I think ya got ya blonde chicks mixed up that was Hal's bit of fluff that stupidly knocked the brick over the side not Margaret! Plus i think you might wanna lay off Margaret, she aint at her best due to having been either raped or used as a sex slave for the last what was it 3 months, tends to make women a bit uptight! Not very subtle either is it, the real stupidity was limited to oh yes a female and a black guy....however I like the look of the aliens and im interested in where they are going with the harnessed kids so i'll keep watching despite the typical sci-fi cliches, the doctor being a whimp remind anyone a bit of Gaius Baltar????
I find Falling Skies interesting with bunch of potencial depending of how good the writers manage to solve certain issues. As many of you have already pointed out there isnt really any decent Sci-fi show right now. With SG franchise dead, V canned etc this is whats out there. l will keep watching this and hoping for the best.
I have to agree about the mechs thing! Actually I just don't understand wtf are these writers thinking! I mean these aliens were powerful enough to conquer the whole friggin' planet but they can't eradicate a few humans? Yeah..that's believable!
So far, "Falling Skies" is just meh alright. It barely rates as an alright show. I am totally disappointed as a sci-fi fan because I was hoping for action-packed sci-fi action. I'm gonna watch maybe 5 more episodes and if it doesn't have action-packed sci-fi action then I'm just gonna stop watching this show. The pilot didn't even explain about the aliens coming to Earth. "Falling Skies" better improve before I stop watching it for good because it's not worth an hour of my time so far.
I like this show. Family like the show. Much better then anything else that's on tv other then whitecollar.
So agree with you MikeMuller1
pope remainds me of sawyer...
This seems to be a show about stupid people doing stupid things. First it was a stupid kid soldier running after a dog, then stupid father leading his team into an obvious trap, stupid son adding stupid doctor to the list of hostages, stupid blonde girl living with her rapists instead of killing them off first chance she has, stupid blonde girl then dropping a brick of a roof, stupid black guy implying that this is their only chance to rescue the kids and take on five mechs at once, stupid different father running after his kid the moment he sees it, stupid mothers and fathers not able to cook. It's like Sixth Sense but with stupid people instead of dead people. Right now I actually would like humanity to be wiped out, especially if the people they portrayed so far are indeed, as Noah puts it, "the best humanity has to offer". So far Noah and his youngest son seem to be the only characters that don't suck and Pope is by far the most interesting. Although he is a shameless copy of Jack Sparrow.moreless
I really like this show, although yes I do agree there are too many characters right now. The pilot(s) were much better then the last show, but still better then NBC's "the event" or that really stupid on from I believe it was ABC, V...this one is 10 times better then that one. I love Noah Wylie, but amhaving a hard time figuring his character out. He seems so meek, yet kicks major butt on the aliens. I also think the aliens are done very well. I think so far, is above par and think this review is off a bit...
Good god Dano416, I know this site doesn't really allow for paragraphs, but wall o' text much bud? Anyways, I'll keep watching it mainly because there isn't anything else on. Too bad it's on the same night as Leverage though, the only other worthy show to watch this summer IMO, at least during the fall there's good stuff on Monday and Thursday to break up my week and not feel it'll take forever to get to the next episode of a good show.
@soccer23123 I dont intend to anymore, and i would consider myself a TV addict.
What could have been an intense conversation between Tom and Dr. Feelnogood was, as sad as it is, totally spoiled tv time. We have not seen a single flashback of Toms wife so far, no lovely pictures of a loving mother. How shall a viewer possibly sympathize with the anger and pain Tom is projecting against Dr. Feelnogood right from the start of the first conversation? What could have been a great moral dispute about bravery and necessity was simply wasting bullets, because come on, this was the most unspectacular and dullest operation I have ever seen, and as long as this Doc is no Superdoc, how shall we possibly take a stand for his side of view? They fired this dispute between those two characters way too early, IMHO.
@estella87 and dano416: Actually, if you consider that the people who wrote this and participates in this are "hollywoodians" as in filthy rich, and has hired help to do all household chores and probably grew up like that too, it is not so hard to understand that for them it is totally credible that not one of 300 people can cook. That is probably how it is in Hollywood. That is also why these people often writes show were unemployed, or minium-wage young people, lives in HUGE apartments in like the middle of central New York. Or why they write shows were teenagers drive around in cars that costs more than a $100.000 or have clothes and accessories for tens of thousands and has "daddys credit card" that never runs out of money. For them, this is normal life. They have no concept of money-shortage, or how regular people lives. In some aspects atleast. About the cooking, i have seen several movies and tv-shows where there are scenes where people fails to cook things, like big steaks, they not only fails but almost sets the food on fire. Nobody who have ever handled a stove or even just one boiled some water for himself, is able to fail so miserably at cooking. These are people who probably hardly never seen a kitchen in real life, and has/had "Manuel" and "Consuela" to do all such things for them. If you look at it that way, you understand why they sometimes write such weird things. :)moreless
to many shows are canned after 2,3,4 episodes I think alot of shows out there that were canceled could have become something, these networks have pulled shows with episodes completely done and not shown the remaining eps. and started running junk in its place, just a couple years ago fringe was going to be cancelled after like 2 eps and then it was 8 and still has to fight to stay on the air, does anybody remember the first episode of the simpsons? alot of times writers and characters get better 3,4 episodes in, sometimes they dont,, I will watch this show and hope it gets better, I give it about a 6 right now,
@dano416: Ok, I agree with you on some points (and I have to admit I didn't want to think about those in the first place because for some indefinable reason I just love the show): the whole "let's have the prisoner cook for us because apparently the other 300 people are incapable of it" is plain weird and unbelievable. And when Tom left and said he wanted to go alone I might have been rolling my eyes. But I think Rick's father's (don't know his name either) reaction was human. And humans do make stupid mistakes, especially when their kids are involved.
I could be wrong, but I thought it was Karen who accidentally dropped a brick/roof tile? I was really disappointed with this week's episode and how they just kind of dismissed Karen after she was taken. I absolutely loved the premier and its focus on the characters and their relationships with one another, but Tim is so on point about this, I learned absolutely nothing new this week that I cared about. Don't care so much about Pope or Harris, we knew Mike had a kid from last week's episode/s, and Dai (the asian guy) gets a whole lot of screen time and we know NOTHING about him (I want to know more about him, not see less of him). I like the concept and I do realize a sci-fi series of this magnitude has got to be costly and needs to cater to a larger audience, but if the character development doesn't happen soon, there will be no audience at all.moreless
Lourdes isn't Anne's daughter. She's just a survivor and former med student helping Anne out. Anne's only child (a boy) and her husband died in the initial attack. To learn more about the survivors and how they came to be in the 2nd Mass pick up "Falling Skies" the officiald Prequel Graphic novel in stores now.
This is an AWESOME SHOW!~ :D@joeca1234- Then don't watch it. /:
Falling Skies? Falling asleep more like!!!!
I'm with TS on this, mainly, though also on the same page as @hockeyrick. As for the "what's really stupid" question that @estella87 raises, well, lemme count the ways (aside from the above). First, while it's not stupid that a father wants to save his son, it's incredibly stupid to take that character motivation and turn it into stuff as fantastically suicidal as what both Tom and Rick's father (does he even have a name?) each decide, at different times, to abandon unit discipline and take on the aliens alone...we have already been beaten over the head that the aliens have superior tech and superior organization, and by now have superior numbers and superior tactical position as well, so you know that a choice to go it alone isn't going to go well (and shouldn't, according to the logic of the world the show has set up) .Also, while we all found Pope kinda charming in the pilot (using the expanded definition there), would a quasi-military organization that views him as a threat (justifiably, given his conduct last episode) just nod and smile and give him the job of cooking for the entire populace of their camp? Really? I wouldn't...I might listen to what he said about poaching chicken, and then assign some trustworthy people to do that, but giving the original POW the keys to the kitchen? No, not so much. Also, if you have 300 or so people, many of them older and clearly noncombatant, would there really be nobody who knows how to take charge of an institutional kitchen until Pope comes along? I suppose that's possible, but it seems wildly unlikely.And so on and so on and so on. Don't get me wrong, I'm going to keep watching the show, in large measure because Tom and Pope are sufficiently charismatic as characters so that I can just wince and move along when stupid stuff occurs with the rest of the cast. But TS is right...stupidity is occurring, already, at something like an alarming pace. Even when it's kind of low-rent TV sf, the believability of it still depends substantially on the writers making the future they have imagined seem plausible and not contrived or stupid, especially in the early going. I for one am not at all convinced, after three episodes, that these writers actually get that, or are capable of making it happen. So.That said, there were a couple of nice touches that I kind of liked. One was the revelation that there is a nationwide resistance, and some moves toward coordinating action to support larger strategic objectives (of course that was going to be the case, but I thought it was implemented nicely in this episode). Another was the way in which Tom took down the lone skitter--yes, the fact that he encountered one was kind of dubious, but if you paid attention to how he fought it, you see a direct reflection of the tactical suggestions he got from Pope in the pilot (though it would have been nice if he, or the show, had tipped its cap in that direction)--he shot off its legs, per Pope's suggestion, then popped it in the face with the butt of his shotgun until he could drag it on home. Not sure, really, about the doctor/harness angle, though I do recognize that, given the world they've built here, having a viable way of saving the children is important to the future of the resistance. And the answer, it appears, turns out to be more complex than we might have hoped. I think that's the right move...it is, after all, spectacularly advanced alien tech that we're dealing with here. I like that, as is suggested in the episode and the preview of the next one, Rick isn't okay even after being de-harnessed, but at the same time I want the writers to have a sense of why that should make sense, and to give us an alternative solution to the problem that doesn't depend on weepy "Don't kill the children" stuff and which also involves hard choices for those who misunderstood the problem and misread the solution. I don't have particularly high hopes for that, in large measure because I've watched a lot of TV sf and often it devolves into cliches and crap, but at this point I'm still guardedly hopeful for "Falling Skies." Just sayin'.moreless
@hockeyrick: agreeed! I'm loving this show so far and I'll def keep watching.
Its better than dancing and singing shows!!!!!!
doing great, has immense potential
I disagree. I think the show is doing really good and what "really stupid" part are you referring to? The father who wanted to save his son? Do you think that was stupid? And the blonde chick wasn't the one dropping bricks from the roof, that was Karen (also blonde but totally different person)! If you critizise a show like that you should at least really watch it!!!
I like all the characters in it ! Alot of really good actors I've seen in other big roles. I do wish the Aliens were classic Greys. Like Doctor Who's season 6 "Amnesia ones." Those were scary, BIG , believable , and classic Aliens. Jurassic park was almost a decade ago , and they did things perfect way back then. CGI and puppets looked REAL with the help of Rain and Dark Scenes. Falling Skies should only show aliens at dusk, I like them being Nocturnal.I hope when the Mother ships come back they are piloted by "Elite" Greys, with the 6 legged "Skips" next in command, then the Mech's, then the Spine Slugs.
I am trying, really I am, to like this show. Post-apoclayptia is my favorite genre ever. But 'Falling Skies' is more like 'Failing Skies' so far. POLL: What do you think of "Falling Skies"?Vote: http://www.wepolls.com/r/929659
very unimaginative and bland.... meh.....
Tami and Julie Taylor are still #1. ;)
I don't not like the Show so far, it has certain qualities. It's premise for one. It's just...wouldn't you expect a far more superiror civilisation that travells thousends of lightyears for yet undisclosed reasons to be slightly more advanced? Organized? Have Guns? Not lingering around alone in dark hallways? I guess you can write something like:"there are some bugs and they are trying to eat you" , but then you'd go for a different kind of Show. The characters are a little dull, but just take SGU. They did a load of charcter development early on and look where it got them.
Tsk tsk. As others have mentioned, you've made two mistakes (at least, two that I know of) in this article about the characters: 1) Lourdes isn't Anne's daughter; and 2) The blonde chick that dropped the bricks (very stupidly) is Karen, not Margaret, who was saved from Pope. But I do think that the show (even the pilot) has been very average. I'd like it to be grittier with more and better character development and drama, but hey, this is TNT, not AMC -- this is the type of show you probably should've been expecting.
I think the show has been good so far. The effects, both digital and practical, are excellent for a weekly TV show. The characters are a bit stereotypical, but I don't mind that. I like good guys that are good, and bad guys that either enjoy being bad, or come around and obtain redemption. What's wrong with that anyway? Really tired of people saying "it's all been done before". Yeah, so what? Does everything have to be "original" to be good? Modern storytelling is still mostly based on the mythology and storytelling of the Greeks and Romans. Does that make it BAD? No! Good storytelling is still good storytelling. I don't need it to be "real" to be good. I like a good story. So far, FS is providing a good story.moreless
@Wolol I totally agree with you. I think this show has a lot of potential and if some people would actually watch it for what it is, and not compare it to every other sci-fi show/movie out there they would find that it is actually very enjoyable.Obviously the author of this article watches the show with his eyes closed because me personally, I haven't once confused Karen for Margaret and vice versa, I never once thought that Lourdes was Anne's daughter and I also don't expect every characters backstory to be revealed in the first few episodes.Mike's actions were perfectly acceptable, he saw his son in danger, no matter how strong willed he might have been, when he saw him, logical thinking went out of the window.I don't think that Dr. Harris hogged valuable story time, because he was a big part of how to possibly save the Harnessed kids and he obviously has a history with Tom which will be revealed at some point I'm sure.Sure there may be flaws in this show, but I watch it knowing not to take it all too seriously and that I'll get an hours worth of good entertainment.moreless
I agree with Wolol, I caught the writer’s “blonde chick†error too. If you're going to write and criticize a show, pay attention to the characters before condemning character and show development. The show Just started, and from what I've seen so far, I'm enjoying the show. It's reviewers like this that kills a series before it can even finish a first season, b/c the reviewer didn't get his instant gratification with the first episode.
So far, I'm still really enjoying Falling Skies.
If you are expecting something to rival Star Wars or E.T., this is not your show. If you understand that; despite the name attached to it, this is a Television show on a cable channel, then it should measure up to expectations. I like the show, and I think they are going the right direction with it, so far. Maybe they could make the "military" guys a little less video gamish, but other than that, I like it.
They'll have to do better than rehashing The Walking Dead with aliens in the place of zombies if they want to keep viewers. A waste of good special effects :(
I have to agree that it was just average. I'll stick with it because I don't really have any other shows to watch right now. I am pleased with the special effects though. They're way better than anything on Syfy.
Nothing original about this show -- it's all been done before, and not as bland as Falling Skies. It'll be forgotten in no time -- those who did catch the first episode or 2 will soon be unable to recall the name of the show ;)
yea i thought the same thing about the episode. so far it seems to the characters are extremely cliche. The Pope is the only interesting character so far. Tom has to be my least favorite character...he's just a stereotypical good guy.
Well, I had to register in the site to say this: - Moon Bloodgood's character has no daughter. - The blonde girl that drops the brick is not the woman that was with pope, is the young girl that is with Tom's son.You know, I think that these reviews should be made by somebody who watches the show and pays attention, not by a guy that has no f***ing idea of what is watching.
I think the fact that Mike saw his son was more than reason enough for him to make the stupid decision that he did. Also, you might as well photoshop the word "Hodor" into that picture of Moon Bloodgood. :P
I dont like how they completley went the "cheesy cliche ridden TV movie" way. A little no nonsense "realistic" approach would make this show fantastic. I will keep watching cause its entertaining and good TV. PS: People need to stop comparing falling skies with the walking dead!
Great production etc, but the story and characters failed to catch my interest.Moving on!