It all comes down to this, doesn’t it? Thankfully, not. Falling Skies has had a promising first season, and, especially considering how the last 15 minutes of that season played out, fans should be very happy that the show has been given a second season. If not, our heroes would be separated and spread out, Karen would still be captured, and the fledgling couple that is Anne and Tom would only have one kiss between them to last eternity. And, oh yeah, Tom would be on a freaking spaceship. Because, apparently, that’s were the cool kids are hanging out these days.
Part of me was surprised that Weaver actually backed down in the first hour. I figured that he would fight Tom until the end, but I was wrong. I’m not sure, though, that being off the drugs for that short of a time period had any affect on his decision making process. Regardless, they actually make a fairly good leadership team, when they take the time to listen to each other.
As much as I have wanted to resist Maggie’s assimilation into the group, by the time Tom asked her, “You got this?” as he ran off after Ricky and Ben, there is no denying that she is even going to be a leader at some sooner rather than later. To be honest, my fake-problem with Maggie has a whole lot less to do with her, and a much more to do with how Karen’s character was dispatched pointlessly, brought back now only to be a translator. No offense to Sarah Carter, but I’d much rather her and Jessy Schram switch roles.
Until Ricky broke down about his father, I was really enjoying the dynamic between he and Ben. Lt. Clayton’s betrayal was probably the “proper” collaborator storyline that we should expect to see on Falling Skies, but there was something much more insidious about Ricky’s desire to go back to the Skitters. Unfortunately, it turns out that he just doesn’t feel at home with the 2nd Mass with his father’s death. It’s not that I don’t think that is a valid explanation for his actions; I just thought (hope?) the storyline was going in a different direction.
When Tom was giving his St. Crispin’s Day speech to the folks left to defend the school, I was totally identifying with everything Weaver ever said about him. As this show moves into the next season, I just want to share a little piece of advice with the writers: We get that Tom is a college professor. We really, really get that. There’s no need to beat us over the head with his speechifying any longer.
Maybe, next season, he’ll be singing a different tune. I wonder exactly how long he’ll be up with the aliens … the Toothpicks (yeah, I’m still totally trying to make that a thing). I don’t necessarily want to see him separated from his kids, the 2nd Mass, and especially Anne Glass, for long. He, and thus the audience through him, will undoubtedly learn a considerable amount about the aliens, and their plans for Earth. What that means for means for the 2nd Mass, is another story. After all that Tom has done to ingratiate himself with Weaver, will the Captain be able to trust him when he returns from time spent with the aliens?
Notes & Quotes
Clacked by Ivey West 
on Aug 07, 2011 @ 23:00 EST5EDT
This show is not as good as Stargate Universe. What happened to that show?
*POST AUTHOR*
You, me, and like three other guys watched it.
But you’re right, it was a damn fine television show.
….and this girl.
*POST AUTHOR*
I (sit) corrected :)
I hate people that seem to merely post negative things for the sake of it – but I acknowledge that I could be viewed as a hypocrite with the following. I’ve got to say this was some of the worst written sci-fi I’ve seen in awhile. The plot development was very slow, drawn out, anti-climactic, and the ‘cliffhanger’ at the end of the finale was so poorly constructed and manipulated — it was simply laughable. 90 minutes of poorly constructed dialogue scenes with no alien contact followed by a 6 minute fight sequence with one creature and suddenly everything is resolved? Truly bizarre. The finale could have been edited down to 45 minutes easily and shared the same details. Why Couldn’t Spielberg find a competent writing team for television?
*POST AUTHOR*
You’ve got to think of it this way … The two hours that were show last night were two separate episodes with their own narrative arc. Would we have been better off watching the first hour, which was a pretty good mutiny story, separate from the second? Yeah, probably.
But I’m not sure I agree with you that “everything is resolved.” The jamming system they came up with altered the balance, but it just put the aliens back on their heels enough to want to “talk” to Tom.
I was kinda disappointed with the way things ended and looking back, Falling Skies’ story lines aren’t believable at all. I know most people aren’t that analytic but some things just have to respect the premise that these beings are from out of space and according to the back story, they travelled from the harshness of space, withstood earth’s best weapons and made minced meat out of the planet’s greatest and best trained armies.
Tom’s rhetoric about small militias scoring lots of little blows can ultimately make a difference makes sense, but the way the show unfolded thus far in season one is a huge disappointment. I get the kids being harnessed, I have a hard time with the aliens scrapping metals to build their land bases though which then begs the question, how did they get here? Any civilization that can travel through many light years to get here and conduct the type of military offensive to reduced earth to rubbles obviously have in their possession the type of metallurgy that would take us hundreds of years to discover, study and understand. It is also safe to assume that some of the materials they have in their possessions probably cannot be found on earth.
If the aliens virtually wiped the entire planet clean of any types of real military resistance enough so that it is left to small groups like the 2nd mass to band together and fight back for their survival, then they’re obviously hostile and superior fighting forces don’t negotiate halfway through a small offensive that exposes a weakness in their defense system. Rather, they would have killed Tom and go directly into an offensive onslaught so I don’t buy the single alien with Maggie congratulating Tom on his heroics, it is simply not believable.
They should have had a skitter recapture Ben right after the attack, heck involve rick in it somehow and maybe in Tom feverish attempt to get Ben back before he is taken away in their spaceship, stumbles on Rick talking to the other harnessed girl and have the skitter-through the girl offer Ben back in an exchange for Tom as it believes his master Aliens would value such a catch.
I like the show and the idea of life after an alien invasion thing but it still has to unfold along the lines of logic. The story has to be tied in together nicely to make it believable. They already alluded to the fact that the skitters may just be following orders. Then it was revealed they were enslaved and possibly transformed from some life form into a goon squad for the humanoid master aliens. I think the writers could have played along that hierarchy to deliver a story line that is much more cohesive and believable.
Having say that, will I still watch season two? You bet I will but i am certain the ratings will sharply fall if the story line continues to be so far fetched. I hope they come back with a bit more action sequences in season two to make up for some of the nonsensical plots and lack of cohesive story lines in season 1. Although I like the show, at this stage if I had to grade it i’d give it a C+ or in new york city’s restaurant rating fashion, i’d give it a “Grade Pending” waiting for what they do in season 2
*POST AUTHOR*
You’ve got a good point re: the aliens having access to metallurgy that is far more advanced than what they could find on Earth, but I think that is easily explained in two ways:
– They’d have to bring it with them.
– Who says these particular projects need the advanced stuff?
Only because I’m the big Karen fan (as noticed by the post), it was her, and not Maggie, with the alien at the end :) … Nor do I think the aliens are negotiating at this point. They found something that they did not expect, and are curious. That’s all.
I’m not sure that I agree that the show hasn’t unfolded logically. I’m not saying its Shakespeare, either, but I don’t think that’s a valid criticism. I think if anything, the show is just very slow in playing out these stories, particularly the alien hierarchy, but they were counting on a second season to tell those stories.
Best show on tv, BUT im not gonna watch a short 10 episode series that i have to wait a whole year for wen they left a massive cliffhanger like that. I would have happily waited if they had have tied up the ‘major’ lose-ends; or if they gave us a indepth preview of season 2; or if they were coming back in October/November…. but a show that leaves u hanging like that just annoys me too much to even consider getting stuck in this position again at the end of Season 2. Im sure there r ALOT more annoyed people out there like me today. DONT BOTHER with the next one, bcuz wen they eventually cancel if after the 2nd or 3rd season (like they do with all gud series), it will be soooo much worse of a disappointment! I LUV THE SHOW, BUT GET OUT NOW WHILE U CAN!
*POST AUTHOR*
Wow, my friend, I’m not sure I can agree with anything you said:
Best show on TV? Not even close.
Short 10 episode season: I dunno … I’m becoming more and more of a fan of 10-13 episode long season, as it removes dreaded “filler” episodes from the equation.
What “major loose ends” were left? Sure, there’s the cliffhanger of Tom going with the aliens, but that’s the kind of cliffhanger we should have expected. Maybe you can consider the disposition of Dale Dye’s character, but that was obviously left open based on the actor’s availability.
A second season preview would be impossible at this point. They finished filming on the first in November of 2010. They just got picked up for a second season one month ago. There’s not footage to present, nor scripts written. I doubt the story has even been broken yet for S2.
Simply, I’m just not sure where you’re coming from. If you love the show , can’t you trust in what they’ve done fr you thus far to resolve this “massive” cliffhanger in a satisfying way?
I have to disagree and say I really liked it. I probably don;t have the best taste thought because I loved V and that got cancelled. I loved Jericho and guess what that got cancelled too. The only other thing that’s still airing that I love is True Blood. I am a total sci-fi geek but I find I actually like the underlying stories and sub plots more. I love Blade the TV series, I thought the guy that played Blade sucked but I LOVED the vampires and how there were all these sub-plots and twists. Guess what… That was also cancelled….
*POST AUTHOR*
Eh. Jericho was very good, but the second season was very rough. V, I’m sorry, I’m not a fan (https://cliqueclack.com/tv/2011/02/24/v-remake-not-as-good-as-original/). Though, I also trumpeted the heck out of SGU, which only lasted two seasons as well. And, don’t even get me started about Defying Gravity.
Falling Skies is much better than I expected it to be. I went into the show with low expectations, compounded by not liking the Pilot screener I previewed. But the show grew on me, over time. It still isn’t anywhere near where it could be, but I think it is on track to get there.
. . . . .
Let’s talk Weaver for a moment … the most interesting character on the show (beside Pope).
He has been all over the place from the get go, but in a completely engaging way. He’s a pain in the ass … he’s understanding … he knows and sympathizes the dilemma of Tom’s kids … he’ll hold you in mental check … he opens up about his plans … he puts the screws to you … he trusts you … he holds you hostage … he confesses to you … he’s having you put under armed guard. Cripes! The dude can’t “sit” still for more than a minute! But! The cool thing about him is this: He’s been thoroughly consistent in his demeanor throughout the season – his demeanor switching tunes as much as he switches underwear, that is. Love the curmudgeonly way Will Patton is portrays him and I love forward to a whole lot more.
Maggie’s floating my boat, but I’m with you on Karen. As a Girl Friday, she’s pretty much pointless. I’m about ready to see season 2 open up with her sitting Tom down in the alien ship, helping him adjust his seat belt and offering him some sort of refreshment. Writers need to hit it where she’s concerned.
The Ricky storyline sputtered wetly for me. I wanted “sinister” and “conniving” to show their cowardly calculating heads and that just didn’t happen. Again … with you about Ricky in wanting more. It seems that’s come to a convenient conclusion. It is what it is.
Tom’s St. Crispin’s Day speech: The first few episodes had Tom railroading anyone who would listen about old war stories and that got old quickly. I am very, very glad the writers toned that down as things went along. Didn’t have a problem with it being resurrected in a bit piece here as a rallying cry for others. But yes, we get it. Let’s not beat that thing like a dead horse. (That was funny coming from me.)
Overall? Enjoyed the season. I enjoyed the slow progression of the story telling and getting the inner workings worked out. It doesn’t have to be all crash-boom-bang to get my attention. That’s one of the reasons I don’t have any problem with the fact I haven’t been to any of the Transformers flicks or their ilk. Give me some internal strife and drama and methodical progression – don’t give me a solution like “if we just blow it up, we can move on.”
Come on, season 2 …
*POST AUTHOR*
I’m sorry, sir … As much as I like Will Patton, I call shenanigans on calling him the second most interesting character (Not that, in this show, where grand characterizations are lacking, it matters much). But his “dependence on pills” storyline was so woefully conceived and executed, I’ve not seen the story done this bad since Sorkin had Matt Albie recover from his addiction in the course of about 4 hours on Studio 60.
. . . . .
You will note I made nary a mention of the pill popping.
There was a reason for that.
*POST AUTHOR*
Is that because it completely belies your argument?
Yeah, thought so.
Next please.
:P
I don’t think I ever expected this show to be anything other than Jurassic Park Aliens, complete with kids that are so swell they know the “Unix System”.
I went in with bubblegum expectations, and became delighted I could watch with my kids.
Regarding these episodes, I think Ricky is still firmly a skitter-lover, but now the skitters will have him working as a spy.
Overall, I’m really looking forward to a second season!
I don’t expect much out of a show run by Greg Beeman. IMO, he’s one of the primary reasons Heroes went down the toilet in season 2. The low budget of the show comes through at every turn from the crappy CGI to the miniscule action scenes punctuated by large scenes full of exposition.
You’d think some of these show runners would learn from series like battlestar galactica or even the various versions of Star Trek. It’s possible to make a high quality Sci Fi show on a budget and not make it look incredibly cheap.
Falling Skies has potential if they tighten it up and turn it over to better hands. The premise is good, the acting is decent and characters have potential.
Really wanted to love this show, but it is utter junk TV. Weak drama dressed up in CGI claiming to be sci-fi.
I thought for one moment the morons laughing hysterically at the crap 1930’s cartoon in the cinema had been on cleavers poppers, but no it was just the usual dreadful ‘human’ scene supposedly to show how amazing we are and must be saved at all costs.
I Hate Jimmy “look at my moveable eyebrows, its almost like real emotion”, hate Tom’s youngest son who whines endlessly, hate the fact there is a supposed warfare historical tactical expert yet the defences built over months at the school comprise of a few car tyres and oil barrels.
Hate the politcally correct underbelly that despite making boasts of knowing historical warfare, then demonstrates being totally oblivious to this by letting half-alien kids run away despite someone shouting “stop him he’s going to tell the aliens where we are”. Even in the fabled US war of independance so repeatedly referenced in the show (yawn) they shot deserters, tortured people and turned kids into soldiers. But no, on the brink of annihalation, you cant smack kids let alone shoot them when they are about to kill every last man, woman and child in your camp if you dont.
Hate the one-show characters that pop up inexplicably just as a story mechanism (the professional solider who ‘loved’ arresting Tom) so there is no interest or weight to their presence from previous shows.
Hate the constant cheesy singing, cartoon watching, skateboard, soccer playing scenes that make me want to vomit and scream at the same time, ‘Scromit’ I now call it.
Hate the perfectly washed, conditioned and styled haired women who seem to do nothing but have babies, be nurses, eat food and whinge.
Hate the aliens that can wipe out 90% of the worlds army in days, and travel the universe, yet have no concept of wireless radio transmission despite using it on skitters, and attack the school by walking down the main road? Wheres these bomber ships we keep seeing pointlessly flying about? They dont have anything else to do as all other human resistance is allegedly dead and beaten?
And Most of all HATE THAT HAVING WASTED MY LIFE WAITING TEN EPISODES, THE BEST ‘WAR ACTION’ WAS SCENES SITTING IN A TRUCK AFTER ALLEGEDLY HAVING BEEN SHOT IN A BATTLE WE NEVER GOT TO SEE.
The only cool part was at the end when, totally surprised, the space ship dropped out of nowhere. That truly felt creepy and gave a sense of how powerful the aliens really are.
Unfortunately it also gave a sense of how utterly pathetic the ‘resistance’ are and should be easily wiped out if the aliens could be bothered.
Maybe like most of us, they can’t be bothered expending any more time and resources with these whiny wooden cliche speaking daytime soap stories……
Kill off 90% of the characters and just have a small band of pope, tom, cleaver, the tattooed girl, the chinese man, as the focus.
Think ‘The Walking Dead’ and save the money for the special effects, not big casts of moronic extras……
I can’t say i disagree with tinkerbooboo. Pope is by far the best character on the show. Hope they do a better job for the coming season. Oh yeah V: The original miniseries was the best alien show on TV. yeah, it was cheesy towards the end but that garbage “V” the remake was horrible and doesn’t even compare to the original with Mike Donovan, Ham Tyler, Julie Parish, Elias, Willie, Kyle Best, Elizabeth, Diana, Martin, Robin even Daniel…what an awesome cast. The new show had a few hot chicks but pound for pound, the original was better. Modern day TV shows are generally crappy, all CGI, no substance.
thank god i grew up in the 80’s-90’s the best two decades in American TV history, coupled with the 60’s-70’s i was blessed to have witnessed 40yrs of pure TV greatness. Thank god for netflix through which i can time travel to escape the debauchery that is modern day TV, all of the garbage they’re coming out with lately makes me wanna gag & vomit at the same time. (to respectfully copy tkboo’s model) it makes me wanna “Gomit!”
Notable mention for good new shows. House, White Collar, Lost, Prison break, Heroes (got totally stupid towards the end) but in terms of creativity, nothing compares to the shows of the past.