I didn't really enjoy the few season 1 episodes I saw but at least Eight Hours, the finale, intrigued me enough to give Falling Skies an other chance. As expected it was back with its history and soft sci-fi formula but for some reasons I can only admit that Worlds Apart represented a decent entertaining escape. Of course the family drama vibe and unbalanced acting is repelling for hardcore fans of the alien invasion genre but once you accept the show for what it is, a high budget production for a wide audience, then you start to focus on its qualities.
History, history. You tend to repeat yourself my dear history. But learning from our mistakes is part of the evolution process because that's how humanity has both improvedÂ… and regressed. That's why it's so vital to remember our past, educate the new generations and of course try at all cost to reproduce the same error over and over. The first minutes are dedicated to remember us how these activities are important. In fact everything related to Tom Mason (Noah Wyle) was good. From the thoughtful dialog he had to the very special room he was in it was what made this first episode a success. Add immersive visual effects, some dark moments and enough aliens to even satisfy a sci-freak like me. In fact the VFX didn't blow my mind but the outdoor sequence in bright daylight featuring many characters was impressive.
As for the storytelling it was well done even if using flashbacks is nothing original. But I prefer such a technique than the sharp cuts we experience on shows like True Blood. In the end it really felt like if the world was revolving around Tom, that the future of mankind depended on him, making him an even greater emotional leader. An other interesting character is Ben as his mutation is exciting to witness. Half human, half alien. And as both sides are developed it's even possible to relate his issues to real ones, like when you struggle to enforce your opinion among people who aren't really open minded.
Still I have one major complain and it's definitely the scene featuring two characters drinking scotch. Alcohol on TV ? When kids and teenagers are probably watching the show with their parents ?! It totally jarred with the rest of the episode and proved that Falling Skies hasn't find its balance yet, nor totally embraced what it's supposed to be. Terra Nova had the same identity crisis and it ruined it. But the rest had potential and once the episode was over I instantly wanted to check out the next one. What's the invaders real agenda ? How many motherships do they have ? The questions raised are numerous and similar to the ones we had while watching films like Independence Day and series like V. Last but not least as I clearly identify with Tom, because I'll star in The Reviewer who Saved the Milky Way, the cliffhanger hooked me and made the second part even more intriguing.
Note : This review was first posted on Kritikenstein, my weblog.
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