USA Continues Populating New TV COLONY

Article originally published as COLONY Review on Seat42F.

USA has been stretching itself beyond what viewers had come to expect from them over the past few years, and their newest drama, COLONY, is no exception to that trend. Set in a dystopian future in which someone or something (I presume aliens) has conquered the world, or at least Southern California, the drama follows one family as they try to both fight back and get along in this new power structure.

The faces at the center of COLONY should be familiar. Lost’s Josh Holloway plays Will Bowman, a man who used to hunt people when he was a soldier, but now will do anything just to keep his family safe and intact. He is married to Katie, played by Sarah Wayne Callies (The Walking Dead, Prison Break), who feels slightly different than her husband, unhappy with the way things have become, and constantly pushing back in ways big and small against it. The main visage of the enemy is House’s Peter Jacobson, who plays Alan Snyder, a collaborator who seeks to get the Bowmans to do his bidding. So we have a pretty familiar trio of performers to television fans.

Now, a good cast doesn’t necessarily mean a good show, but in this case, COLONY is actually quite interesting. It takes a premise similar to TNT’s recently ended Falling Skies, but makes it more heavy and serious, and focuses on a few people instead of a group. In this way, it grounds the story more and zeroes in on the emotional heft of the situation in a more meaningful way. It gives all three actors a chance to be layered, as we can see both why and why not the Bowmans would want to be a part of the resistance. And as detestable Alan is, one can understand his reasoning.

What I like about COLONY is that it is one of those shows that feels like a lot of thought has been put into the setting and premise before anything was written down. There are many differences between the world that the Bowmans inhabit and our own. Yet, every choice the show makes to change things makes sense, and taken together, it begins to paint a picture of who the conquerors are. Considering we don’t see them at all, and they are generally only spoken about indirectly, it is super important to get some feeling as to what the characters think of their overlords. The detail in the program itself provides this.

It also manages to be dramatic without being melodramatic. For instance, something happens to Will midway through the first episode. While the moment itself feels a little off (given the drastically different health outcomes between Will and the man next to him), everything after the fact, from Will meeting Snyder, to Katie dealing with her husband not returning home, seems authentic. There aren’t sidelong glances and sobbing fits just for the sake of it. These are emotionally complex people, not crippled by their mental state.

Katie herself is far from an obedient housewife. In fact, of the two spouses, she is the least predictable and the one more likely to take risks, and arguably the most heroic. COLONY will not be accused of being sexist.

Besides the three mentioned above, two other main players exist. Amanda Righetti (The Mentalist) is Madeline, the younger sister of Katie. Tory Kittles (True Detective) is Broussard, the Bowman’s connection to the resistance. Neither gets nearly as much development in the pilot as the core trio, so I’m not entirely sure what role they will play in the series. But I like that they are well established to be in the show without giving anything away about them yet. COLONY keeps its cards close to the vest.

COLONY is not (yet) my favorite USA show; Suits and Mr. Robot both edge it out. However, it has the potential to be something special, and definitely is worth checking out. It continues a solid upward trend for the cable network, and I am very interested to see where it goes next.

COLONY premieres Thursday at 10 pm on USA.

FALLING SKIES a "Machine"

Article originally written for Seat42F.
 

One thing I’ve noticed about FALLING SKIES is that it has never quite figured out what it is. Every time it seems to settle into some sort of routine, the writers make sure to knock the characters out of their situation, sending them somewhere entirely new. This does keep the show interesting, even if it seems to lack depth. I do wish the pacing would slow down a bit and explore each scenario a little more before moving onto the next one, but for now, that doesn’t seem likely, so just buckle up and enjoy the ride.

As season four starts this week with “Ghost in the Machine,” it all changes again. Our band of heroes is walking along, enjoying a rare, happy day in the sun as they approach Charleston, until they are suddenly attacked. The group is fragmented and sent in various directions, and as the action picks up months later, many have settled into a ‘new normal’ that they have no wish to perpetuate.

So it seems this season, more than the others, won’t be about bringing down the aliens. The characters will be fighting the invaders, yes, but with short-term goals of finding missing loved ones and achieving freedom from captivity, not the long-term mission of taking back the planet. This changes the scope, even while trying to elicit more emotional responses from the viewers tuned in. Will FALLING SKIES take full advantage of this, or gloss over it as it has done other set ups?

In the current season, there are definitely some new and interesting developments involving the conquerors. For one, we finally know what they are doing with the children. Matt (Maxim Knight) is placed in a re-education school where kids are being brainwashed to fit into a new world run by those who are not native to Earth. Apparently, this has worked in other places, and it is the next phase of the invasion, which makes sense, because perpetual war or outright extinction don’t seem like outcomes that gel with what we’ve seen before.

Of course, not all of the youngsters fall in line. Matt is smart enough to realize that he should at least pretend to, biding his time until he has the opportunity to stage a coup. It’s the boy’s first major arc that he’s central to, and Knight seems to be doing a pretty good when faced with this challenge. Matt is likely to cause as much trouble as his father ever has, learning from the best.

Speaking of Tom (Noah Wyle), he has become the Batman of the slums, sneaking around in a mask, spying on their captors, and doling out vigilante justice when needed against low-lifes like Pope (Colin Cunningham). I feel like this is a natural next step for the character of Tom, but also feels almost as ridiculous as some of the other leaps he makes. Tom is best when he is being a father or a negotiator or a professor, and whenever he takes on the super leader persona, it always feels just a bit false.

I think Tom seems even more out of place when put in a cell next to Weaver (Will Patton). Weaver is distraught that his daughter has been taken, understandably so, but goes a little bit too far off the rails when dealing with it, to the point of almost committing suicide-by-cop. While Weaver has been pathetic in the past, that is when his character seems least authentic, and by putting an uneven Weaver and Tom side by side, “Ghost in the Machine” highlights something FALLING SKIES has never gotten quite right.

Anne (Moon Bloodgood) has a cool arc, though. Off in the woods with Anthony (Mpho Koaho) and some other soldiers, she is staging a military operation to rescue her family. This is a tougher side of Anne, stepping up to be a leader in a desperate situation, and it’s welcome. As a mother, she has a reason to turn hard, tasked with protecting those she is responsible for. This other side of her isn’t nearly as false as the men’s.

I also believe the reverted Pope. He’s not fully back to his old ways. He may be acting selfish again, but other than hoarding some supplies, he’s not actively trying to hurt anyone. I think he just doesn’t want to risk showing he cares, having been burnt before, as he’s locked up now. He thinks if he acts the old way, he’ll be left alone or get back to surviving as he did previously. But in the manner Pope refuses to beat on Hal (Drew Roy) too much, we see that it will just take some motivating factor to bring back the mostly redeemed Pope viewers love.

Finally, in the strangest twist in the premiere, Ben (Connor Jessup) wakes up after months of sleep to a tranquil garden staffed with body-snatcher-esque versions of Lourdes (Seychelle Gabriel) and Maggie (Sarah Carter), seemingly run by a grown up version of his sister, Lexi (Scarlett Byrne, Harry Potter). I don’t know what’s going on here, but it’s weird and definitely not what it appears to be. Which just makes it all the more intriguing. Given what we know and don’t know about Lexi, it could very well be real, but as for what it means, that’s up for debate.

All in all, while I’m sad FALLING SKIES just jumps into yet another something new, barely checking in with the most recent abandoned (for now) plot involving Cochise (Doug Jones), it’s still a pretty cool season opener, with a lot to tantalize, and some fresh settings and new aliens to keep audiences engaged. It may move a bit too fast, but I guess that’s better than getting bogged down in slowness, and during the summer, when people want explosions and special effects, this program serves that purpose well enough.

FALLING SKIES airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TNT.

TV Neglects Independence Day

Article first published as TV Neglects Independence Day on Blogcritics.

Think of all of the best television holiday specials of your favorite shows. Christmas will spring to mind, for sure, as will Christmas and Halloween. Possibly, a little Valentine’s Day thrown in for good measure. But who celebrates the 4th of July?

Despite being a major national holiday, the 4th of July falls in the summer months, when network television is taking a break, and so is rarely, if ever, covered on scripted television. True, series in the United States don’t actually air fresh episodes on Christmas or New Year’s, either, but they get close enough to make it work. Besides a few weirdos like this past season of Community, though, most of television tends to keep the action in the appropriate season that the story airs.

Why? A year doesn’t equal a year in many series, and Christmas episodes get the rerun treatment all year ’round. Why is 4th of July so off limits? It’s a celebration of our nation’s birth, and deserves recognition along with the others.

Next year, broadcast television is making inroads into the warm months by airing new episodes of Glee and 24 past the end of May. Combined with the growing popularity of summer cable shows, there is plenty of opportunity to celebrate our country’s independence. Here are some possible ideas on what could be done. Television writers, feel free to run with them, royalty free. Readers, feel free to toss in your own ideas in the comments below.

24 – Jack Bauer is an American hero fighting the terrorists who seek to harm America. What better day for the bad guys to strike to ruin our spirit and morale than the 4th of July? Perhaps next season, which will unfold over the course of a day, could be set on July 4th. Jack is being honored for his deeds, which have come to light after a media hacking scandal, but the party is cut short when a bomb is found on the Washington Mall. And then bio weapons are released in the Capital. And then a mole is found inside CTU. And then the president’s daughter is kidnapped. And then…

Community – In the January season premiere, Greendale is invaded by City College and conquered in an episode set in June, shortly after most of the students (save all of our favorite starring and recurring players) have left town. Then, in February sweeps, it’s the 4th of July, and the study group leads the fight for independence. The Dean dresses as Rosie the Riveter to support the suppliers, and Chang goes undercover as a spy for both sides. In the end, though, it’s Jeff’s big speech that saves the day, evoking much swooning from Nurse Annie.

The Daily Show / The Colbert Report – Have the week off.

Falling Skies – Aliens are attacking on July 4th, which coincidentally is also the New United States’ birthday, honoring the formation of an official rebel army. President Tom Mason tries to enjoy the day with his family, but not only can’t sit still when the perimeter is breached, but leads the attack personally, in which one of his sons is injured, but survives. A couple of supporting characters are killed, then laid to rest in a public funeral, complete with a new style of American flag.

Glee – The New Directions have won Nationals and come home to celebrate with a patriotic theme. Alumni return, mashing up the traditional tunes with modern pop. For some reason, the cast is still hanging out in the school building. Unfortunately, Sue, fed up with our government and authority in general, joins the Tea Party and tries to bring her own values to McKinley, unless they kids warm her heart with some Woodie Guthrie.

The Newsroom – Tired of the way the political parties are bickering and causing strife, Will broadcasts an emotionally moving monologue that laments the way things used to be and encourages everyone to get back into the patriotic spirit. Leona is furious because Will slams a couple of major sponsors during his tirade, the Republicans are furious because he trivializes their positions, and the Democrats are furious because he isn’t hard enough on the Republicans. Sloan is asked in an interview about the treatment of Asian Americans during World War II, and when she complains it hasn’t gotten much better, there’s serious blow back that could cost her her job. Jim and Maggie slip away and have a romantic time watching the fireworks on the roof, until Don shows up and ruins the mood.

True Blood – Arlene and Terry take the kids to a 4th of July parade, and Terry notices something strange that he doesn’t mention to anyone. And that’s the only part of the hour that even vaguely touches on the holiday, as the rest of the episode is spent on the season’s eight large arcs, spread out among the thirty main characters.

FALLING SKIES Premiere Does "Damage"

Article first posted as FALLING SKIES Review on Seat42F.

Grade: 90%

TNT’s FALLING SKIES returns this Sunday with two new hours, “On Thin Ice” and “Collateral Damage.” The story picks up seven months after season two’s finale, with the 2^nd Mass now firmly ensconced in Charleston, their population ballooned, making a real dent against the alien invaders with some major help from extra terrestrial allies. Yet, not all is peachy keen under the leadership of President “Just Call Me Tom” Mason (Noah Wyle), as suspicions rise.

My biggest complaints about the first two years of FALLING SKIES are the problems with pacing and story complexity. Some arcs are breezed through, while others plod along forever. Minor characters are barely introduced, then killed or tossed aside.

Some of that is still present in “On Thin Ice” and “Collateral Damage,” especially in regards to losing characters too early, but I do feel like the writing has gotten better. There is a lot going on in these first two hours, to be sure, but the plots are well-balanced and develop at an engaging pace, revealing bits at a time, but not necessarily concluding many threads at the end of this week.

It’s pretty hard to talk about what is going on without dropping spoilers, especially because so much time has passed, and anything I say about what the characters are doing will take away some surprise. So, be warned, while I will avoid ruining anything too big, there are key elements discussed within.

The war section of FALLING SKIES is very exciting. There are definitely plenty of explosions and gun battles, and even a bit of hand-to-hand combat in this episode. The humans, bolstered by new friends and advanced weaponry, have really learned to hold their own. Those tuning in for these elements should be quite satisfied.

But it’s not all just shoot ‘em up. In fact, what I find most fascinating about this premiere, especially in “Collateral Damage,” is the human cost. Tom is forced to use some of his own men and closest friends as bait so that he can deal a blow against the bad guys. Not only that, but even though the humans now have a reliable way to remove the harnesses from enslaved teens, there isn’t always time to rescue them, and sometimes they just have to shoot the innocents.

These are clearly things weighing heavily on Tom. He seems to be weathering them OK, taking his responsibility of protecting everyone seriously, but also understanding that sacrifice must be made to win the war. Whereas before, Tom argues only for the sake of the morality, once he’s the leader of them, he doesn’t have the luxury of being quite so judgmental of military decisions, even if he isn’t flip about the value of life.

If anything, this seasoned attitude has strengthened the bond between Tom and Dan Weaver (Will Patton). They bond over a drink, and there is definitely friendship between them, even more so than before. They have met each other in the middle, and their close relationship makes leading the people easier for everyone.

Pope (Colin Cunningham) may be on the outside of the official government, but his role in keeping the peace is just as important as that of the other two. While his hooligans are among the most specist against the aliens, including their allies, Pope walks the thin line between letting them blow off steam, keeping their respect, and getting them to do what he wants. It’s a precarious position for him to be in, and he seems to be doing very well in it at the present. I do wonder how long that will last.

The biggest problem the humans have right now is that there is a mole in their midst who is feeding the enemy information. There are two strong possibilities as two who that mole might be, but unfortunately, the only character that knows for sure dies before he can tell anyone, and it has not yet been revealed to the viewer.

Option one is Cochise (Doug Jones, Hellboy),  the representative for the race supplying mankind with the weapons. Many are suspicious of his race’s intentions after helping the 2^nd Mass overthrow the planet’s current rulers. Part of this could just be prejudice, but maybe there’s something real behind such accusations? If it is Conchise, the 2^nd Mass’s prospects are dire, indeed.

Option two is Hal Mason (Drew Roy). The eldest Mason child would never intentionally betray his people, but he is being controlled by an implant put there by Karen (Jessy Schram), now the alien leader. It’s not only got Hal believing he can’t walk, but he meets her in his sleep and has sex with her (complete with a Battlestar Galactica-glowing spine rip-off). Can Maggie (Sarah Carter), who he has been pushing away, save him, now that she knows at least part of what is going on?

Hal may not be the only one affected by Karen’s manipulation. Anne (Moon Bloodgood) gives birth to her baby, Alexis, whom promptly shows great intelligence, crawls away, and calls her mama. Is this the result of something Karen did while Anne was held prisoner? It seems the only logical explanation.

Anne keeping the baby’s actions a secret from everyone, including Tom, is the part of this premiere that makes absolutely no sense. Perhaps she thinks she is imagining it because of exhaustion, but if so, she should do something to fix herself, not just sweep it under the rug. Major weak spot in two otherwise excellent episodes.

We also have Matt Mason (Maxim Knight). Not seeing the point of school, and accepted as a full soldier now, young Matt gets into trouble while his parents are otherwise distracted. There are so many directions FALLING SKIES can go with this, debating the importance of education in a post-apocalyptic society, examining how neglected children can be developmentally affected, exploring the rapid maturation of kids in a war environment. Hopefully, the series will take the time to do this, rather than flipping quickly past it.

Two other things I’d like to see happen are a long-harnessed mutant teenager being rescued, as their attitude would likely be quite a bit different from the short-term prisoners, and more development for the new scientist character played by House’s Robert Sean Leonard. While only appearing in “Collateral” thus far, Leonard, almost unrecognizable, quickly catches my interest, and I definitely want more from him. If he’s written off as quickly as other major guest stars, I will be quite upset.

Taken all together, these are very strong installments of FALLING SKIES, and definitely show the series is getting itself on the right track. With more ambitious plots and an appropriately expanding cast, I expect more good things to come this summer.

FALLING SKIES premieres Sunday, June 9^th at 9 p.m. ET on TNT.

Falling Skies still not quite hitting the mark

The second season finale of TNT's Falling Skies, "A More Perfect Union," evoked strong emotion. Striking several important moments, excitement coursed through viewers' bodies, and left them strung out. The ups and downs and twists and turns of the season came to a head in a highly entertaining and explosive way, ending the year on a series of big notes. But it still fell a little short of expectations.

Falling Skies is a popcorn series, to be sure. It's the television equivalent of a summer blockbuster. There are lots of characters doing daring things, with special effects and battles. But there is also a lack of depth to many scenes that should carry such, and sometimes turn arounds and achievements don't feel earned. Breaking into the facility where the big gun was being built was way too easy. Someone should have noticed that.

Take, for example, the 2nd Mass stepping in front of the Charleston army's guns to protect the rebel Skitters. This seems awesome, until one stops and thinks about it. This group has been through a lot, mostly at the hands of the aliens. Tom (Noah Wyle) decides to trust them because his son Ben (Connor Jessup), who has been living and fighting with the rebels, does. This means it is understandable that Tom and his family and closest friends step up to offer protection. But why does the rest of their group? Has Tom really inspired such loyalty? We keep hearing people question his reliability after his time as a captor, and we never see him interact with more than the central core of the survivors. For everyone to support Tom in this move, more needed to be done and shown for this scene to pay off.

Falling Skies does a good job with its leads, selling the relationships in the Mason family, and those of Weaver (Will Patton), Anne (Moon Bloodgood), Pope (Colin Cunningham), Margaret (Sarah Sanguin Carter), and Lourdes (Seychelle Gabriel). But practically no one else gets anything, and in a big picture series like this, there has got to be more for the supporting characters. In the showdown with the Fishhead, many of the rebels are captured, but only a handful are shown hanging and tortured, not even including Pope. Why put the blinders on? This is why when Dai (Peter Shinkoda) dies, someone who has been around since the beginning, but is barely seen, it has little impact. Ditto for Red Eye, the alien who should have been a much more central character before killing him off.

In "A More Perfect Union," and slightly before, there is another member of the group introduced. He is a former soldier who acts like a redneck. We learn his back story a bit, and all of the sudden he is deeply involved in the main plot. It comes out of nowhere, and it's so sudden I can't even remember his name when writing this review. But at least that's showing a bit of effort. It's past time to develop more characters like him.

Now, some of these considerations are budgetary, to be sure. TNT is already shelling out major cash for Falling Skies, and probably can't afford too large a cast, and certainly not one that includes a central alien. However, for this type of story to make sense, a larger world must be built, and keeping the number of characters who get any attention small is not the way to do it.

Another positive move Falling Skies makes is introducing the Charleston settlement. Bringing in Arthur Manchester (Terry O'Quinn, Lost) is a great move. It makes Tom question his morality and motivations, and appropriately deals with some real issues that would come up in a post-invasion world. But the constant switching of loyalties, and locking people up and freeing them, is confusing and unwarranted. Rather than pick a position for each character, the writing gets wishy-washy, and suddenly it seems like no one can make up their mind.

Then, before the power struggle in Charleston can be sorted out, Tom and Weaver decide they need to leave. Seriously? Here is a well-supplied haven, and they're going back on the road? At least tell me the civilians are staying behind! Tom has Matt (Maxim Knight) and a baby on the way to think about, and he's just intent on fighting more? The end of "A More Perfect Union" doesn't make sense.

Not to mention, Hal (Drew Roy) is asleep and won't wake up, but rather than being wracked with worry about him, Tom is continuing his other activities. Priorities do shift under circumstances like these, but to not show Tom as the concerned father is a big mistake. Especially when he handles leaving Matt behind from the mission so well earlier.

Of course, then there's the capper, where a new alien shows up and smiles at them. Could this be why the Fishhead was building a gun aimed at the sky? To keep this new guy away? So many questions, and such a cool way to leave things!

The problem with Falling Skies is that it aspires to something great, and has the potential to reach that height, but only succeeds about fifty percent of the time, at best. Part of the problem is a rushed pacing when it doesn't need to be rushed, and a meandering one at other times. Another problem is the way the characters are written, so ill-defined. But overall, it still manages to be a very enjoyable show that I look forward to watching each week. Imagine what it could be if it got its act together!

Falling Skies has been renewed and will return to TNT next year.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my new website, JeromeWetzel.com! First posted on TheTVKing

"Love and Other Acts of Courage" drive Falling Skies

This week's installment of TNT's Falling Skies, "Love and Other Acts of Courage," sees a huge sea change for the show. The alien I nicknamed Scar in my previous review, but is now being referred to as Red Eye by the show's PR materials, is actually a good guy, who would like to team up with the human resistance! Viewers and the soldiers barely have time to digest this fact before the 2nd Mass must flee an attack, and Red Eye escapes from them, his captors and would-be killers.

In retrospect, this turn of events makes sense. We previously learned that the Skitters, or at least some of them, have been harnessed. Ben (Connor Jessup), and especially Rick (Daniyah Ysrayl), continue to show some loyalty to their former alien masters. Red Eye is observed not killing Ben, Tom (Noah Wyle), and other humans on multiple occasions. And yet, with the scary look the production crew gives to Red Eye, it is somehow still surprising when he reveals his gentle nature.

Unfortunately, Falling Skies is still struggling with some weaknesses in writing and / or editing. Tom switches his loyalties too quickly, as does Captain Weaver (Will Patton). Ben runs off constantly without talking to anyone about it, and last time fans saw Rick, he was outright hostile towards the humans, yet now, he's a friend. Why does the 2nd Mass keep putting up with Ben's behavior? Will who trusts who, and the reasons why, become more clear? When taken as a whole, it doesn't all quite add up, even as the show just drops the plot points on you and moves on.

One thing that "Love and Other Acts of Courage" continues is to build suspense about the stakes of the battle, a highpoint thus far in season two. A number of characters have been lost or killed off. Jimmy's (Dylan Authors) recent death is pretty unexpected, as is Rick's this week. With Pope (Colin Cunningham) MIA, and not returning as quickly as expected, it seems like anything could happen to anyone at any time (unless their last name is Mason). Which means that Weaver and his harness creature-infected leg could be in danger.

Will the humans learn to trust the rebellious Skitters? Will the 2nd Mass accept help? Will the army in Charleston prove to be real, and if so, how will Weaver, Tom, and the others adjust to taking orders from someone who hasn't gone through exactly what they have? So much about the war is done right that it outweighs the negatives, overall.

Falling Skies also does the romance pretty decently, taking it slow enough to be realistic, but fast enough to not frustrate shipper fans. Tom and Anne's (Moon Bloodgood) relationship continues to grow and deepen, but it's kind of nice that most of those developments happen off screen, and what is seen is small and sweet. Their disappearing into a hospital room in this episode satisfies those waiting for something to happen, but avoids intruding on their privacy.

Hal (Drew Roy) and Maggie (Sarah Carter), too, stay away from prying eyes, though viewers get something to talk about in "Love and Other Acts of Courage." When Maggie brings up Karen (Jessy Schram), it looks like she might sabotage whatever spark is lit. But then Hal overcomes that, and it's Maggie that pulls away. Thankfully, the circumstances of her injury and his rescue of her should push them along enough to avoid a "will they, won't they" struggle of several years.

With blossoming love and surprise allies, "Love and Other Acts of Courage" stands out as a strong entry for Falling Skies. The real reason that the show works is the human factor, presenting characters who are inspiring and relatable. How cool is it that one of those characters, Red Eye, is an alien, especially one that looks so different from people? Barely halfway through the second season, I can't wait to see where it goes next!

Watch Falling Skies Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on TNT.

Check out my new website, JeromeWetzel.com. If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Originally posted as "Love and Other Acts of Courage" drive Falling Skies on TheTVKing.com

Falling Skies - "Worlds Apart; Shall We Gather at the River"

TNT's FALLING SKIES has returned! Those who watched the alien invasion drama last summer may have forgotten how things ended, so first, a quick refresher. The 2nd Mass attacked the aliens, resulting in serious consequences and quite a few deaths. On the way home, Tom (Noah Wyle) was invited aboard the alien ship by the alien-controlled Karen (Jessy Schram), leaving his family and friends behind.

FALLING SKIES' two hour premiere picks up three months later. Tom is still missing, but it soon found during an attack, after being accidentally shot by his middle son, Ben (Connor Jessup). Rejoining the group, who are happy to see him, and, strangely, barely ask any questions, viewers see a little bit about what has been going on with Tom via flashbacks.

It must be said that flashbacks have been done to death, and aren't really necessary unless they add something vital to the story. The events in Tom's life that unfold in the first hour, "Worlds Apart," do not qualify as vital. Sure, there is a very small look at what Tom goes through as a prisoner and the circumstances of his release. But there are also unnecessary scenes where Tom teams up with a young girl for a bit, before she takes off on him that seem designed to be filler.

"Worlds Apart" is frustrating because it does not live up to the potential of the series. There are some very cool special effects, and character drama that profiles the new dynamics of the group, including Ben and his older brother Hal (Drew Roy) struggling for power. But Tom's bits slow things down from these more intriguing stories, resulting in a lackluster installment.

Besides the family reunion when Tom reconnects with his three sons, we also get to see just how much Anne (Moon Bloodgood) has missed Tom. This is all well and good, as the chemistry between the two is nice. Instead of consummating these mutual feelings, however, there is only a hug. Yes, FALLING SKIES is family friendly, and the Tom / Anne relationship will be a slowly built one, as many television couples are put through to draw out the arc. But why not be bold and go for the hook up now instead of unnecessarily delaying the story? They're adults, and people act a little more impulsively in such stressful times.

Those complaints aside, the second hour of the FALLING SKIES season premiere, "Shall We Gather at the River," is much more exciting. The 2nd Mass has to move, worried that they will soon be attacked (again) by the aliens. Tom is concerned that he might be under the aliens' influence, a fear echoed by Pope (Colin Cunningham), so Tom removes himself from the game. Ben also gets to demonstrate his new value to the group in front of his father by conducting a solo scouting mission no one else can accomplish, using the physical prowess the aliens gave him.

"Shall We Gather at the River" is full of exploration of characters and how they relate to each other, which is where FALLING SKIES is strongest. This is possible because we've gotten to know who the characters are, so now there can be some experimentation with who they might grow to be. Some of the dialogue may be a bit cheesy, but the acting all around is quite good, especially Jessup as Ben, a feat that belies his age. There are new people taking power, with Tom missing and Weaver (Will Patton) seemingly grown soft, and some new romantic connections might be forming. This provides a shake up moving into the sophomore year.

Sadly, in between seasons, some characters have been lost. Anne has a cabinet of pictures, and she and Tom briefly discuss the fates of a couple of comrades. Rick (Daniyah Ysrayl), in particular, is a question mark, as he shows loyalty to the aliens before disappearing, making his motivations and mission unknowable, but he is certain to be seen again. There are also a couple of new faces to replace those lost, most notably Jamil Dexter (Brandon Jay McLaren, The Killing), who is quite possibly forming a bit of a love connection with Lourdes (Seychelle Gabriel).

Another strong point in "Shall We Gather at the River," which is actually started in "Worlds Apart," is that FALLING SKIES finally gives a face to the enemy. For most of season one, fans get only glimpses of the skitters and other aliens. In the season two premiere, one skitter individual, whom I'll nickname Scar because of his disfigured face, stands out as a true antagonist. Scar is watching Tom closely, and has a hand in nearly every problem that befalls the 2nd Mass in these two hours. Having a face to root against kind of energizes the series, and puts the stakes a little higher, providing identity to the enemy, and a target for mankind's hatred.

Speaking of high stakes, it is clear now that the aliens, or at least Scar, have a plan for the 2nd Mass. Do the aliens hope that this particular group of people will agree to the sanctuary arrangement that they propose, as a kind of reverse District 9? Why is Tom singled out as a focus for their attention? What is up with the shape-shifting parasite? So many questions, and each one just leads to new mysteries, pointing to a level of importance that the main group holds in the minds of their conquerors. If this plot thread continues to be followed, it may become clear exactly what the aliens are doing on Earth, and why they act they way they do, sooner rather than later.

Overall, there are flaws with FALLING SKIES¸ but its still better than much of the summer fare being offered. Tune in Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on TNT to see what happens next!

Falling Skies threatens "Mutiny" before the last "Eight Hours"

     This week, TNT's Falling Skies brings season one to a close with two episodes. The first, "Mutiny," deals mainly with Weaver's (Will Patton) ability to command, and the doubts Tom (Noah Wyle) has about Weaver's mental stability. Of course, those sort themselves out, and "Eight Hours" concerns an offensive against the aliens. Ben (Connor Jessup) proves essential when he realizes he can help Scott (Bruce Gray) find the aliens' radio frequency, jamming their communications. This gets the invaders' attention, but instead of wiping out the 2nd Mass, they just take Tom, supposedly to better 'understand' their opponents. 

     Falling Skies is one of those shows with moments of greatness, but often falls flat in its attempt to achieve the grand scale. Over all it is a pretty decent series, but not one of the all time greats. This is beautifully illustrated in "Mutiny" with the Weaver problem. Here we have a commander who is taking pills and making bad decisions. Tom determines Weaver must be removed, obviously. But then, in a confrontation, for some reason, Tom doesn't make Weaver explain himself. He just wants Weaver to let them get behind him. What? Weaver mentions he's off the pills, and other than a shaking hand, that's the last we hear of it. Weaver gives everyone the facts, and his plans continue.

     Admittedly, Weaver's plan is one that the 2nd Mass is desperate enough to attempt. Tom's insistence that they know what they are up against is a sound one. But there isn't enough resolution or explanation. From the point where Tom and the others are ready to relieve Weaver of command, to everyone getting along again comes too easily, and without enough realism. In truth, Weaver should be removed at that point. Tom can take over and present the same situation Weaver does, or even allow Weaver to do it as a mouthpiece, but Weaver is done. Surely Tom has lost faith in the commander. What does Weaver possibly do to gain that trust back? Interestingly, Patton is so good, these missteps are quickly forgotten about in the second hour.

     In "Eight Hours," the only real weak point centers around the attack on the tower. Isn't it odd that every face that goes with a name for the viewers is in Weaver's group, while the other three groups are completely wiped out? And then, somehow, all of those names survive, save one introduced only recently in "Mutiny." This is a suicide mission, and lots of men don't make it back. But the half dozen we know survive?Falling Skies has already killed off recognizable faces, but when the chips are down and the stakes are high, they back off from taking out any others. Missed opportunity. The impact would be higher with an emotionally moving death scene.

     There are plenty of characters that I could go on about in this review, from Tom's interactions with his children, to Anne's (Moon Bloodgood) stolen kiss with Tom, to Margaret (Sarah Carter) and Jimmy's (Dylan Authors) new bond. Yet, the only relationship that is really intriguing, so much so that it still evokes musings a day after watching, is how Pope (Colin Cunningham) fits into the group. And with only limited time to get this review of Falling Skies done, that seems the place to focus, so I apologize if I'm skipping a beloved favorite.

     You see, Pope is a very bad man as a rebel and hunter, who is forced to become a cook after capture by the 2nd Mass. He escapes, causes some trouble, but then comes to the rescue of some kids, proving he is not without heart or redeemable qualities. He returns to the 2nd Mass, and helps them prepare for the final battle, seemingly becoming a team player. Yet, none of this is entirely out of character. His change of heart likely stems from the fact that he is involved in fighting aliens now, and as long as the 2nd Mass lets him work to that purpose, he can play nice. It may be that Pope led brutes and let them get away with their awful behavior to keep them loyal, rather than being a total tool himself. Granted, what Pope allows to happen to Margaret during her tenure with him is unforgivable. But that doesn't mean he can't be useful and get along when he needs to.

     Finally, the nagging questions about the aliens may begin to be answered by the intriguing cliffhanger. Harnessed Karen (Jessy Schram) approaches Tom and forces him to get on the alien ship. Tom does it to protect his son, Ben, who is maybe turning into a skitter? Anyway, this new interaction will likely give Tom a chance to save Ben from metamorphosis, as well as shine light into what the aliens are doing on Earth. Unless they harness Tom, too, which could be interesting, considering Tom is the central hero. Though no adults have been harnessed up to this point, and that may prove to be impossible.

     Falling Skies can go any number of ways from here, and only the writers know what direction the series will take when season two resumes next summer. Hopefully, given a second season, the weaknesses will be ironed out, and the strengths played to.  There is real potential present.


    Falling Skies will return next summer to TNT.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first published as TV Review: Falling Skies - "Mutiny" and "Eight Hours" on Blogcritics.

Falling Skies makes a "Silent Kill"

     TNT's Falling Skies looks for the "Silent Kill" this week, as Tom (Noah Wyle) finally gets the chance to rescue his son, Ben (Connor Jessup), from the alien harness. Well, actually, older son, Hal (Drew Roy), does most of the rescuing, with more than a bit of help from Margaret (Sarah Carter). And Anne (Moon Bloodgood) is the one who does the actual harness cutting, as well as figuring out the best way to subdue the aliens. But still... The only thing that is truly a mistake in "Silent Kill" is killing off Dr. Harris (Steven Weber, Wings, Web Therapy) so soon. Weber is a fantastic actor, and Harris is an interesting character. Too bad.


     The question of what the alien harnesses are used for when placed on children's bodies is one at the heart of the first few episodes of Falling Skies. The more that is learned, the more that remains a mystery. It is currently known that the aliens can communicate over radio waves, and likely do so when controlling the children. The aliens can reach the kids even after the harness is taken off. This may be because only the exterior portion can be removed without killing the kid. Also, the kids do manual labor, and a group of them sleep with an alien "nanny." They are almost treated as the own children of their alien caregiver, who may also cure diseases, such as Rick's (Daniel J. Gordon) cystic fibrosis. At present, Tom's group now has six kids rescued from such a fate.

     What is unknown is what exactly the short-term and long-term effects are for a kid who is harnessed. Some kids have different reactions. For instance, Rick wakes up with no memory of his father or his life before being taken. Yet, Ben instantly recognizes Tom. Rick also puts the harness back on to try to free a captive alien, though it does not go very deep, so it is able to be ripped off again, and Rick survives it. Does the device breed some sort of loyalty into the kids? Or is Rick still able to be controlled by the aliens over the radio waves? What does this mean if some of the aliens get close to the camp where many ex-harnessed children are? It's a frightening thought.

     For now, though, Tom is just happy to have his son back, as he should be. There have been a variety of horrors since the invasion, but having an enslaved child controlled by some sort of alien device is now one that can be reversed. There are many more captive kids out there, and many more worried parents. While not every child can be successfully unhooked, Anne has lost only one out of seven, so the odds are in the favor of the children being OK, at least as of "Silent Kill."

     Another thing worth exploring is that Rick is removed just fine, but after Ben's harness comes off in "Silent Kill," the other five kids' vital signs in the room begin failing. Is there some sort of connection or chain reaction that destroys the group? Rick's co-workers are executed, so there is no chance to observe the effects on them. But perhaps separating the kids before performing the surgery will decrease the fatality rates. Or possibly there is little time to save the rest of the group once one kid is removed. The questions to ponder are nearly endless.

     There is a lot of detailed technical discussion about these harnesses, and it is quite imaginable that most viewers do not care about the device one way or the other, but only how it emotionally affects the kids' friends and family. So enough of the technical stuff, and on to pathos!

     There is plenty of emotional turmoil in "Silent Kill." Much of it concerns Dr. Anne Glass. She is torn about killing an alien hostage who kills a fellow doctor. She is upset about the kid she loses. But these are symptoms of her deeper grief, which stem from her son's death, and having nothing to remember him by. Anne has a very harsh reaction to having a child die on her watch because it sparks bad memories, and she feels incredibly guilty about her lack of photos and momentos. If only she hadn't gone to work, she would have either died with her family, or helped them escape. But they'd be together. No wonder she is having a rough time. Kudos to Ms. Bloodgood for the incredible way she is handling the role.

     Tom has similar regrets in Falling Skies, as his wife was not supposed to work the day of the attack, prior to the series's start. Yet, she did, and so she died while Tom and their sons live on. Because of this, especially, Tom finds it hard to put his children in danger any more than he can help it. Unfortunately, he is unable to do much to prevent the threats. Ben has been a hostage for awhile, and Hal and youngest boy, Matt (Maxim Knight), are itching to help the resistance army. Matt is little enough he is satisfied assisting with the radio, but Hal is in on the action. Which is why it must almost kill Tom to let Hal go into the hospital by himself in this episode, an incredibly risky plan that is barely lucky enough to work.

     Hal does little to calm his father's fears. It is understandable in Falling Skies that an eighteen year old does not have the worldly wisdom and foresight to understand a father's worry. Besides, Hal just wants to help as much as anyone else, and he cares very deeply for his brother, Ben. There is no blame to be placed in this situation, with both Tom and Hal doing what their best to solve a tough problem, and both willing to put their lives on the line for someone they care about. It's not simply a matter of Tom understanding Hal's desires, but that has to be why Tom goes along with the plan, against his strong reservations.

     In "Silent Kill," a lot is learned about Margaret. The mysterious woman, who is previously held captive by a not-so-nice gang, seems to know a lot about hospitals and drugs. This is easily explained away by her cancer back story. It's too bad that the questions are answered so quickly and neatly, as a little bit of murkiness never hurt any story or character.

     It appears Margaret may be a third love interest for Hal. Or, really, second, given her personality and physical similarities to Hal's currently kidnapped girlfriend, Karen (Jessy Schram). With Karen gone, Margret is an older, wiser, deeper version that may stick where Karen does not. It's regrettable only in that it looks like Schram, who is a delight, won't be sticking around. Carter is more than capable, so anything the writers choose to give to her is welcome.


     Watch Falling Skies Sunday nights at 10 p.m. ET on TNT.

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Article first published as TV Review: Falling Skies - "Silent Kill" on Blogcritics.