In Michael Noble‘s preview for Falling Skies, he said that the show promises something unexpected, and then delivers on that promise. I’m not sure that I have drank the same particular brand of Kool-Aid that my friend has, but he is turning me around since my first impression. I watched the premiere a month or so ago when we first received the screener. I was, honestly, more than a little disappointed. However, when I re-watched this morning in preparation for this post, I enjoyed the premiere considerably more than the first time around. Probably because this go I spent more time connecting with the characters than trying to compare the show against my high expectations.
Noah Wyle’s Tom Mason is the definition of an “unlikely military leader.” He is book smart, to be sure, including a fair amount of military history, which he kept talking about. A lot (thankfully his son acted as the voice of the audience at home). His dynamic with Weaver (Will Patton) is horrible, so much so that I couldn’t believe a more senior military type like Col. Porter (Dale Dye) wouldn’t have seen that, knowing how damaging that type of relationship can be to the overall morale of the unit. Regardless, he’s exactly the kind of leader that his fighters, and civilians, need.
One thing that I will say for Tom, and his son Hal, is that they seem to be universally liked by everyone (Except, obviously, Weaver). Everyone volunteered to help him find his son, and respected him as a leader in situations that I might not have. I’m sure he will grow into his role, and learn the tactical side of his position, but so far, he’s got everything else going for him.
There was something about the banter between Tom and Anne Glass (Moon Bloodgood), especially in their first scene together, that I really liked. I can only imagine the desire for normalcy in such a situation. To me, it is a foregone conclusion that these two will end up together; I guess it is only a matter of time.
Some characters can make a big impact on the audience with only a small amount of screen time. Falling Skies has Bruce Gray as Uncle Scott. As the Second Mass’ teacher (and part time mechanic), he gives us a view in to the civilian life in a way that most shows like this haven’t tackled. Sure, we as the audience have to know that these kids have been through hell, but hearing that they were brainstorming ways to better kill the aliens? That’s my kind of dark.
The story with the gang goes a long way into defining the world of Falling Skies. With 90% of the world’s population gone, it makes sense many of the remaining people would lose faith in any government or military organization. I doubt that this is the last street gang that the Second Mass is going to encounter.
I do find it pretty interesting that the “mother ships” have left. With so many humans dead, are they thinking that a smaller occupying force is all that they need? The most insidious thing about these aliens, however, is the whole bit about capturing the children. I think a parent’s inability to protect their progeny has got to be one of the scariest things imaginable. Even if Tom and his crew are able to find his son, there is the whole harness problem to deal with. This is the greater question left unasked in the first two hours of Falling Skies. Why did the aliens come to earth, and what do they want with our children?
Clacked by Ivey West 
on Jun 19, 2011 @ 23:01 EST5EDT
I’m sure future episodes will be much better.
Question: Why did they get themselves shot to pieces for a can of tuna at night, when during the day they can march around making TONS of noise, doing anything they please undetected? Do the skitters hate light? Did I miss that?
*POST AUTHOR*
I think it was more the matter of WHERE they were. I took it to mean that, as a by product of the mother ships leaving, there’s a much smaller force left on Earth.
Oh. O.k.
Well aside from that, I think it could shape up to be a fine show. Looking forward to seeing the numbers.
5.9 million.
I just didn’t buy it. Even with a reduced occupying force it made no sense that they would have to sneak around at night to steal from certain buildings that could seemingly have air strikes launched on them by the aliens once they were detected but during the day they could create large camp sites and form large processions on roads that the aliens somehow had absolutely no way of seeing. They’ve travelled huge interstellar distances yet they have no sort of sensors or satellite imaging technology or the like – we can identify large groups of people ourselves and they must be way more advanced.
That said, at the end of the 2nd episode I felt like I wanted to know what happened next, unfortunately I don’t think they needed two episodes to get me to that point, so it feels like a bit of a waste so far.
*POST AUTHOR*
I think you’ve got a good point, but that was the reason that these two hours were shown together. You run the risk when you drop people into a story midstream like this, and I think they did a good job working around it.
Not going to argue with your first point, but I’m personally holding off on judgement until we know the aliens and their capabilities better.