ONCE UPON A TIME Reveals the Secrets of "The Snow Queen"

Article first published as ONCE UPON A TIME Review Season 4 Episode 7 The Snow Queen on Seat42F.

In this week’s installment of ABC’s ONCE UPON A TIME, we see the origin story of “The Snow Queen,” including her relationship with her sisters and their falling out. At the same time, her plans for Storybrooke move forward as she manipulates a vital piece of the puzzle to fall into place.

Once, The Snow Queen (Elizabeth Mitchell), Ingrid, had a strong relationship with her two sisters, Helga (Sally Pressman, Army Wives) and Gerda (Pascale Hutton, Canada’s Arctic Air). They shared a very special bond, looking out for one another and protecting each other. Ingrid had to hide from the world, but not from her family, who loved her as she was. We even get a glimpse of them quite young, with The Walking Dead’s Brighton Sharbino easily sliding into the episode’s titular role.

Then, Ingrid makes a mistake. In trying to punish the Duke (Jonathan Runyon, Miami Medical), a sleazy suitor trying to gain power from the sisters, she accidentally kills Helga. It’s a mistake, but an extremely costly one, which ruins the bond between Ingrid and Gerda, too. In retaliation or self-defense Gerda locks Ingrid in a bottle and wipes her memory from all the land.

“The Snow Queen” is a tragic tale of love gone sour after an unspeakable sin is committed. Ingrid is surely as upset with herself as Gerda is, even if she resists going into her prison, but in the intervening years, her pain turns to evilness. Ingrid is not only out to recreate that once perfect happiness she had, thinking she just needs two sisters with powers (to allow greater understanding between them), but she also has stopped caring about others. She feels wronged, an understandable emotion, and a fitting backstory for this season’s ONCE UPON A TIME villain.

In order to fulfill her desires, Ingrid needs two new sisters. Elsa (Georgina Haig), her niece, is an obvious choice because they share the same lineage and exact talents. Emma (Jennifer Morrison) may be a little different, but Emma’s feelings of abandonment and alienation are close enough to Ingrid’s experiences for easy manipulation. It takes almost no effort for Ingrid to get Emma in the mindset she wants, and while Emma won’t betray her loved ones, she is feeling separate from them. Though Ingrid may already have tried and failed with Emma, Emma’s memory of their previous time together being missing. Elsa will be a tougher nut to crack, unless wiped memories can assist.

Ingrid’s plan is not fully exposed, but “The Snow Queen” is on the right track there. Ingrid still needs three ribbons she and her sisters gave to Rumpelstiltskin, and he’s amiable when she gives him what he wants. The upcoming weeks should reveal all, and this installment puts us well on the path to an acceptable end game.

Rumple’s sourness is less digestible. He seems positively gleeful at whatever dark task Ingrid tells him he must do. As I’ve mentioned before, this twist negates Rumple’s entire character arc in ONCE UPON A TIME before this subplot, and it’s hard to imagine he really wants to go out and control the larger world. It just doesn’t make sense, given what we’ve seen of him before.

The other side story serviced in “The Snow Queen” finds Robin Hood (Sean Maguire) unable to fall back in love with his wife, so he kisses Regina (Lana Parrilla) once more. To do so, he must break his code, which doesn’t bode well for his continued heroics. Yet, Regina has tried to do the right thing and get over him many times. While their love may be less than pure, it’s hard not to root for the two to find a happy ending together, which may be where ONCE UPON A TIME is taking them. I just hope service is paid to why this isn’t completely a good idea. Since Regina is the cast member being best handled this year, that seems likely-ish.

One complaint I have about “The Snow Queen” is the way-too-brief appearance of Aurora (Sarah Bolger) and Ashley (Jessy Schram) in Mary Margaret’s (Ginnifer Goodwin) mommy class. It’s a fun scene, if a bit corny, and it contributes nicely to Emma’s arc, but why bring back these familiar faces only to waste them in such a quick moment? Will they be recurring in this capacity, or will Ashley disappear for another three years with no explanation?

“The Snow Queen” is one of the better episodes ONCE UPON A TIME has delivered this fall, a huge step back from the pit of last week. The characters are consistent within the hour and the season even if some of them, mainly Rumple, don’t match their series journey. I was very worried about what came after “Family Business,” but this has calmed much of that.

ONCE UPON A TIME airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

"Down the Rabbit Hole" We Go

Article first published as ONCE UPON A TIME IN WONDERLAND Review on Seat42F.

With the success of Once Upon a Time, ABC decided it was a time for a spin-off. Called ONCE UPON A TIME IN WONDERLAND, said show premieres this week with the episode “Down the Rabbit Hole.” Picking up many years after the classic Alice in Wonderland story took place (and admittedly, the tale probably plays out quite differently for show purposes than the book remembers it), Alice (Sophie Lowe, Beautiful Kate) heads back to the magic realm after learning that the man she loves, Cyrus (Peter Gadiot, Hot Mess), whom she thought dead, might still be alive.

Fans of the mothership know that these writers like to mix fairy tales up, pulling one world into another. ONCE UPON A TIME IN WONDERLAND is no different. While the main structure and cast do hark back to Alice’s familiar story, her love is the Genie of the Lamp, recognizable from Aladdin. Similarly, although The Red Queen (Emma Rigby, Hollyoaks) is a malevolent presence in this world, so, too, is Jafar (Naveen Andrews, Lost).

And, because this is ONCE UPON A TIME, who is good and who is bad is not so clear. One of Alice’s friends, well, someone she is friendly with, is helping The Red Queen. It may be under duress, but this character is still leading Alice into danger.

The beginning is quite interesting, with Alice being locked up in a mental institution under the “care” of Dr. Lydgate (Jonny Coyne, Alcatraz). This makes sense for a little girl that is missing for quite some time, then returns with tales of talking rabbits and Mad Hatters. What else would a parent such as her father (Fringe’s Shaun Smyth) do with such a child than seek psychiatric treatment for her? And from the dialogue in “Down the Rabbit Hole,” it’s clear that Alice didn’t make the journey only once, leaving her not only crazy in the eyes of the people around her, but also worldly-wise and prepared to handle herself in dangerous situations. She is not a meek, malleable patient.

Efforts are also made to tie ONCE UPON A TIME IN WONDERLAND into the previous series. We see the Knave of Hearts (Michael Socha, Being Human) in Storybrooke at the start of the episode, interacting with a great guest star hasn’t been seen in awhile! Plus, Granny’s diner figures in, so there are definitely connections.

Which doesn’t mean that one must know much about Once Upon a Time to jump into this, or that the plots are tied closely together. I believe the purpose of that Storybrooke sequence was to solidify that these shows are set in the same universe, though not necessarily that they have anything much to do with one another. Alice’s mission is her own, and she herself does not encounter any familiar faces in the premiere.

I do wonder if each episode of this new venture will be partially flashback, as Once Upon a Time is. There are scenes set in the past throughout “Down the Rabbit Hole,” but these seem for a specific purpose, setting up the story. It is unknown if there will be more in future hours.

The animation and special effects in ONCE UPON A TIME IN WONDERLAND are excellent for a television budget, perhaps even a step up from Once Upon a Time. The White Rabbit (voiced by Dexter’s John Lithgow), for instance, is fully realized as an individual, with mannerisms and expressions that make him feel authentic. He may not be realistic looking, by the standards of a rabbit you might find in your garden, but he interacts well with the actors, and definitely fits into the setting and tone established for the program.

The story is also well constructed. A Wonderland favorite ends up being a deadly attacker. There are twists and betrayals in the first episode alone. Alice, in particular, is a carefully thought-out role, and while her journey may be easy enough to figure out, there will definitely be fun surprises along the way, such as a marshmallow marsh.

While initially skeptical that Once Upon a Time needed a spin-off, this is definitely a completely separate tale, and an enjoyable one at that. The two can co-exist without being dependent or taking away from one another. ONCE UPON A TIME IN WONDERLAND premieres tonight at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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.

Last Resort a haven for TV

Grade: 98%

For a few years now, networks have searched for the next Lost, a television show popular and unique that will engage audiences in ways big and small. Nothing can ever truly replace Lost, and it’s going to take another groundbreaking, original series to reach those heights again. Recent attempts have fallen far short. In ABC’s new drama, LAST RESORT, we may finally have found something that comes close.

As the “Pilot” begins, Captain Marcus Chaplin (Andre Braugher, Men of a Certain Age) is in command of the U.S. Navy submarine, Colorado. He receives orders to fire nuclear weapons at Pakistan on a secondary channel that is only supposed to be used if the primary communication system is taken out. Not seeing any problems with Plan A, Chaplin questions the order. The White House immediately relieves him of command and tells the first officer, Sam Kendal (Scott Speedman, Felicity), to obey the directive. When Kendal hesitates, another sub fires on the Colorado, nearly sinking it.

What an auspicious start for a series! There is already mystery, political intrigue, a band of heroes who must bring a crooked government to light, and some very exciting action sequences. These early scenes are done incredibly well, both visually, and in how the actors do their jobs.

The implications of the Colorado being struck are swiftly brought to light. The U.S. government blames Pakistan for striking the submarine and bombs the Middle Eastern country. What would have been the excuse for starting a war if the Colorado had just done what they had been told to do? Why do Americans need to get dragged into another conflict of this nature? Who is really behind the plan? Will Chaplin and crew be able to expose what’s happening to the naive public?

Viewers are treated to some of the going-ons in Washington, even if we don’t see the president. The Colorado has an experimental system on board, and the creator of this technology, Kylie Sinclair (Autumn Reeser, No Ordinary Family), is not about to just sit by and let her work be lost. She immediately runs to her contact, Admiral Arthur Shepard (Bruce Davison, X-Men), to find out what has occurred. Shepard has his own reasons to be concerned, unaware until now that his daughter, Lieutenant Grace Shepard (Daisy Betts, Persons Unknown), is on the Colorado.

Adding this D.C. layer to the show is nice because we actually get to see what is being done outside the isolated world of the Colorado. While the crewmen on the sub are a large focus of the episode, they would not by privy to much that is happening between their leaders, which would make the mystery pretty obtuse. Through Sinclair, viewers can understand who is making a move, and perhaps even find out why.

Not that Sinclair gets many answers. She is shut down quickly, as is anyone else who might expose the government’s actions. Even crewmen’s families, like Kendal’s wife, Christine (Jessy Schram, Falling Skies), have official agents in their homes, watching their every move. Clearly, a lid is being kept on things, which does limit what anyone can do to help the stranded crew.

Thankfully, we live in 2012, so there’s a little invention called the Internet. Chaplin drags his sub to a nearby island. The military tries to bomb them again, and Chaplin shoots a missile at D.C. to show he means business. The missile is allowed to miss the capital once the bombers turn away from the island. But Chaplin isn’t done. He shoots a video laying out what he knows and posts it for all to see. Will anyone believe him? Does his cache of weapons protect him against further strikes, meaning he can do whatever he wants? How much will be allowed to upload online before the government decides taking Chaplin out is worth some collateral damage? And will his video be enough to stop a war, or just incite more violence?

What Chaplin wants to do is take over the island and start a new society, away from the United States politics that have brought them to this point. He fancies himself a founding father, but has a number of challenges to this goal. His crew have friends and family back home they’d like to see again. Locals already inhabit the island, and it is run by a thug named Julian Serrat (Sahr Ngaujah, The Signal). A SEAL team is present among the sub’s crew, and they may or may not have further orders from high command.

Braugher delivers a masterful performance. He is a man on the edge, pushed too far by the people he trusted. He is somewhat loyal to his crew, but he also has selfish motivations, and probably a messiah / dictator complex. The glint in his eyes could be something heroic, standing up for ideals and principals. Or it could just be insanity. This makes him unpredictable and dangerous, sometimes surprising (not necessarily in a good way) his own men.

Speedman is the everyman whom we are going to root for. Even when Chaplin goes off the hook, Kendal seems grounded enough to know what the right thing to do is. He will have to weigh the faith he has in his commanding officer with keeping everyone else below him safe. He balances out the leader, which should make for a tenuous, interesting dynamic.

LAST RESORT has a sprawling cast. Among those not mentioned in this review so far are Daniel Lissing (Crownies) as the leader of the SEALs, Camille De Pazzis (La vie est a nous) as a French NATO worker on the island, Robert Patrick (The Unit) as the sub’s Master Chief, and Dichen Lachman (Dollhouse) as a local bar owner. This makes for quite the large world to play in, and leaves the story a lot of directions to go.

It’s hard to find any fault at all with the first episode of LAST RESORT. It sets up a compelling plot, with lots of moving pieces, visually enticing settings, engrossing characters with some very different personalities that will clash terrifically, and many mysteries to explore. If the rest of the installments do as good a job as the first one in playing out this adventure, it should be the next must-see series.

LAST RESORT premieres Thursday, September 27th on ABC.

"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.

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

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

Falling Skies premieres

     TNT's newest drama is Falling Skies. Produced by Steven Spielberg, it is the story about a group of humans trying to survive six months after the Earth has been taken over by aliens, All the major cities and military bases have been destroyed, most of the population is dead. Survivors band together, but are forced to split up, as large gatherings attract unwanted attention from the new rulers of the planet. The fight seems hopeless, as the 2nd Massachusetts, which comprises almost all of the main characters of the show, packs up to leave Boston.


     By the time the first episode is over, a lot has gone down. Weaver (Will Patton, 24, The Agency), the leader of the 2nd, sets up camp at an abandoned high school. How long this will work for them is uncertain, but at least the military and civilians are operating on more equal footing. See, Weaver is a military guy, and he's not all that sympathetic to the non-soldiers of the group, often seeing them as a liability, even though he swears to protect them. When camping in a neighborhood, he lets the soliders sleep in the houses, but makes the civilians stay outside in tents. It's a duality that makes his character a bit unpredictable. What is clear, though, is Weaver will do his best to make sure mankind survives.

     But setting up a camp of nearly three hundred may not be the wisest idea. After all, there are between three and four thousand humans gathered in one settlement when Falling Skies begins. The leader of them all, Porter (Dale Dye, Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers), splits them up into smaller units because he fears the alien invaders will soon be able find their large camp. Three hundred is still a lot, and as the malicious creatures run out of humans to find in the cities, it shouldn't take long to locate that many people moving together along a road.

     What is unknown is the aliens' motivation for the take over. They destroy major cities and set traps to lure and kill humans in grocery stores, and yet, they are not hunting down or keeping a look out for packs moving along roadways. They also enslave teenagers, including Ben (Connor Jessup, The Saddle Club), the son of Weaver's second in command, Tom Mason (Noah Wyle, ER, The Librarian movies), with some kind of mechanical harness. So extermination is not their primary goal, but they show no remorse about killing any people they come in contact with.

     It makes sense for the aliens in Falling Skies to keep an eye on armories and stores, as small groups of humans don't post as much of a threat, and can get their food from houses. The types of bands that will be raiding larger storage spaces are those that might want to fight back. As such, some of what the aliens do makes sense. But the slavery does not, at least, not yet.

     Also strange is the fact that the aliens have six legs, but the mechanical robots they build are bipedal, like humans. Some students at the makeshift school in the 2nd ponder this, as humans build robots in their own image. Are these six legged creatures not in charge? Are there two legged aliens as well? It's a little confusing, and leaves plenty to think about.

     Tom Mason is really the main character of Falling Skies. He is a widower and former history professor with three sons, one of which, as mentioned above, has been taken by the aliens. Tom looks out much more for the civilians than Weaver does, but he also has studied military strategy, and so realizes that tough decisions sometimes have to be made. This is likely the reason why he allows his eldest son, Hal (Drew Roy, Hannah Montana, Greek), to come along on dangerous missions. The military needs every soldier it can get, and Hal is plenty old enough to hold a gun.

     In fact, Hal isn't even the youngest fighter working under Tom. Jimmy (Dylan Authors, Connor Undercover) is a mere thirteen years old. Tom doesn't seem all that comfortable allowing Jimmy in the field, but accepts Weaver's decision, knowing that every single member of their group is better off learning to defend themselves, and practical application is the only real way to learn.

     Also working for the 2nd are Dai (Peter Shinkoda, I, Robot) and Anthony (Mpho Koaho). Not much is known about these two yet, except that neither seem to have family in the group, which certainly makes them better fighters. Tom does what needs to be done, but should Hal be threatened, Tom will be distracted for his son's well being. Mike (Martin Roach, Aaron Stone) is like Tom, in that he has a son enslaved. This likely means things will not work out happily for him, as if only one of them get their kid back, Tom is a main character, so he has the better shot.

     Does this ragtag army have any chance against the technologically superior conquerors? Tom seems to think so, and as someone who has studied combat history, he may be onto something. But spreading out into smaller groups is more for survival than to fight back, and with the army on the retreat, they aren't even attempting to defeat the occupiers. Which is fine, for now. After all, it's hard to win a war when you're worried about finding something to eat, and taking care of a bunch of civilians. Settlement first, then regroup and attack.

     Of course, there have to be some love stories going on to make a series more interesting and give an element for people to care about in the long-term. Tom's potential mate is named Anne Glass (Moon Bloodgood, Terminator Salvation, Day Break), a pediatrician who lost pretty much her entire family, and is now serving as doctor to the entire group. She has a bit of help from med student Lourdes (Seychelle Gabriel, Weeds), but that is it, and there are three hundred people to care for. It's hard to see when Tom and Anne will even have the time to hook up, though they have great chemistry, and both of their spouses are dead, so they are available.

     Lourdes is a bit more aggressive than Anne, already letting the boy she likes know her intentions in a number of not-so-subtle ways. The boy is Hal, who doesn't notice, no matter how strong the signals being sent. He is entirely into his girlfriend, Karen (Jessy Schram, Life, Unstoppable). Karen and Hal have more in common, both being army scouts, rather than civilians, but the line is fuzzy here, and under the right circumstances, this triangle could erupt in a nasty way. It doesn't really bode well for Karen that she is recurring and Lourdes is a main character, even though Karen seems like a better fit.

     Do shows like Falling Skies need love interests to shake things up? After all, the focus is survival and aliens, right? Well, yes, but people are looking for physical comfort all the time, and none more so than when their lives are on the line. The danger keeps adrenaline up, and everyone needs someone at the end of the day. The little love bits make things real, and allow viewers to invest in the characters more, so it's tolerable, even enjoyable sometimes.

     Among the other civilians are Anne's two surviving relatives: her aunt Kate (Lynne Deragon) and uncle Scott (Bruce Gray, Medium, Traders), the latter of whom starts a school to educate the children, including Tom's youngest, Matt (Maxim Knight). This is the real human element, as Tom, Hal, and the others are very focused on combat. Scott and Matt are striving for something in their lives besides death and destruction. While that may be hard to understand for many, the very young and the very old have different viewpoints on life, and it's refreshing that those are represented in Falling Skies.

     The aliens are not the only threat the survivors face. Not everyone thinks it's a good idea to band together and help each other. In fact, some selfish jerks are just enjoying the chaos, finding fun where they can, and realizing it is easier to stay hidden and alive without caring for others. Falling Skies introduces a gang of rebels in the first two hours to represent these types of people, and provide a counter balance for the noble, do-gooder heroes.

     The gang is led by the notorious John Pope (Colin Cunningham, Da Vinci's Inquest, Stargate SG-1) Pope observes the 2nd, and would like to get his hands on some of the 2nd's bigger weapons, and will stop at nothing to do so. He lures Tom and a small team into a weapons depot, then kills one of their men and captures the rest. He tries to trade Weaver the hostages for some supplies, including a big, car-mounted gun. Weaver refuses.

     Should Weaver negotiate with terrorists? Probably not. As stated above, Weaver does understand his responsibility to the civilians, and won't mess with the safety of hundreds of people for the sake of a few. It's a smart tactical decision, and one Pope, with all of his self-interest, cannot understand. This leads to a showdown where Pope arrogantly attracts aliens to their position, figuring he can leverage the threat to get what he wants. The plan backfires, and Pope ends up in Weaver's custody.

     Weaver has Tom place Pope in a cell, rather than kill him, or send him away, where he might cause more trouble. In fact, Pope is listed as one of the main characters of the series. Does that mean he will soon be tamed into fitting in? If so, that will be disappointing. But Falling Skies doesn't appear to make anything easy on anyone, so hopefully that will not be the case.

     The last main character not yet mentioned, is Margaret (Sarah Sanguin Carter). She is part of Pope's gang, but doesn't seem all that happy about it. Margaret kills two of her comrades to help Tom escape. She implies she has been raped by her dead fellows, and that is plenty of motivation to turn her as soon as she has an option. What is unclear is how she will fit in with the larger group, since there has been almost no interaction between her and them. This is a wait and see thing.


     With a sweeping cast, intriguing plots, and great special effects, this is a show not to miss. Be sure to tune in to TNT every Sunday at 10 p.m. ET, the normal time slot for Falling Skies.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

Article first published as TV Review: Falling Skies - "Two-Hour Series Premiere" on Blogcritics.

Falling Skies premieres Sunday at 9 p.m. on TNT

     TNT's newst drama is Falling Skies. Produced by Steven Spielberg, it is the story of a group of humans trying to survive six months after the Earth has been taken over by aliens, All the major cities and military bases have been destroyed, most of the population is dead. Survivors band together, but are forced to split up, as large gatherings attract unwanted attention from the new rulers of the planet. The fight seems hopeless, as the 2nd Massachusetts, which comprises all of the main characters of the show, packs up to leave Boston. Sunday's two hour premiere begins at 9 p.m., and will not only introduce the main characters, but also set up a few arcs.

     Leading the 2nd is Weaver (Will Patton, 24, The Agency), a tough as tacks military man not very baby with being tasked to protect the civilians. Luckily for them, Weaver's second in command is former history professor and widower, Tom Mason (Noah Wyle, ER, The Librarian movies). Tom cares very much about others, including his three sons, one of whom has been taken by the aliens. The aliens are enslaving teenagers with some kind of mechanical harness, and Tom is determined to find and rescue his middle son, Ben (Connor Jessup, The Saddle Club).

     Also working for the second are Dai (Peter Shinkoda, I, Robot), Anthony (Mpho Koahu), and child soldier Jimmy (Dylan Authors, Connor Undercover). Tom's oldest son, Hal (Drew Roy, Hannah Montana, Greek), and his girlfriend, Karen (Jessy Schram, Life, Unstoppable), are scouts. Their pairing is threatened by medical student Lourdes (Seychelle Gabriel, Weeds), who shares an interest in Hal.

     The doctor for the small group is a pediatrician, who lost almost her entire family, named Anne Glass (Moon Bloodgood, Terminator Salvation, Day Break). Anne's surviving relatives are her aunt Kate (Lynne Deragon) and uncle Scott (Bruce Gray, Medium, Traders), the latter of whom starts a school to educate the children, including Tom's youngest, Matt (Maxim Knight).

     In the first two hours, the 2nd leaves Boston, knowing the city is lost, and looks for supplies. On their way, they encounter a group of rebels led by the notorious John Pope (Collin Cunningham, Da Vinci's Inquest, Stargate SG-1). Pope would like to get his hands on some of the 2nd's bigger weapons, and will stop at nothing to do so.

     The series evokes AMC's The Walking Dead, because of the conflicting personalities banding together to try to find some place to live, as well as defeating the seemingly unstoppable menace that now has control of their world. Not everyone is willing to help each other, and those that act out of selfishness threaten the existence of everyone. But there's also some of Battlestar Galactica's dark tones and conquered planet, as well as Terminator Salvation's underground army. It's really a compilation of a bunch of different stories, that results in something new and fresh. After watching only two hours, I am hooked.

    Be sure to tune in to TNT this Sunday at 9 p.m. ET for the two hour premiere of Falling Skies.

    If you are anxious to get a taste of the series, a sixteen chapter prequel comic book is available to view now on the official web site.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.