Wednesday 26 June 2013

SCIENCE FICTION DVD REVIEW: Falling Skies Season 1 and 2 - Noah Wyle, Moon Bloodgood, Drew Roy, Will Patton - Warner Home Video

Release Date: 02/07/12
Publisher:  Warner Home Video

SYNOPSIS:

Falling Skies opens in the aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. The few remaining survivors have banded together. Each day is a test of survival as citizen soldiers work to protect the people while engaging in a campaign against the occupying alien force, whose purpose remains a mystery. Starring Noah Wyle, Moon Bloodgood, and Will Patton.


REVIEW:

This was something new to me and whilst I remember seeing it advertised on Fox, it was something that I wasn’t 100% sold on originally even though I knew that it starred the talented Noah Wyle (of Librarian fame.) What unfurled within is a story of human survival against an overwhelming alien foe. Its cleverly written, has a great overall arc and when added to the twists keeps the viewer emotionally engaged during each encounter as the humans try their best to figure out what’s happening.

All round a solid, though provoking show and whilst there is an absolute plethora of other similar themed shows out there, this one has great acting talent backed up with descent scripts which is where the money needed to be spent to keep the viewers attention. Yes the effects are limited within but I’d rather have something that kept my attention and made me care about the cast than something that was all show and explosions with no real plot.

A solid series and one that I’ll definitely be following from now on.




Release Date: 08/07/13
Publisher:  Warner Home Video

SYNOPSIS:

Falling Skies opens in the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. In the six months since the initial invasion, the few remaining survivors have banded together outside major cities to begin the difficult task of fighting back. Each day is a test of survival for these citizen soldiers against the occupying alien force, whose nature and purpose remains a mystery. The mystery deepens for the remaining survivors of the massive alien invasion as Falling Skies returns for its second season with mysterious new creatures.

Three months have passed since former college professor, father of three and unlikely leader of the civilian resistance group Tom Mason (Noah Wyle) went willingly with the aliens on one of their ships to free his son and learn their plans. Nobody has seen or heard anything from him during this time, and his absence has taken its toll on his sons. Ben and his older brother, Hal, have stepped up as fighters but quickly clash as they both seek to secure their roles as leaders in their father's absence. Many lives have been lost since Tom left, but the survivors of the 2nd Mass still struggle on with courage and resilience. In the first season, our heroes coped with the trauma of losing their world; this season, they take action and fight back.


REVIEW:

Luckily for me, I have been fortunate enough to be able to watch the two current seasons (as three is getting ready to air) on DVD back to back. It kept me in the loop as to what had gone before so I wasn’t having to rely on long term memory as well as trying to focus on current events.

As with the original series the script writing is not only solid but gives the viewer more of what they want, personal interactions as well as moving the story forward concentrating more on taking the planet back from the invaders as new unseen foes make their appearance.

All in, it was a show that I had a lot of fun with, I loved the twists with Noah’s reappearance and of course I also loved the way that the other cast members helped bring the 2nd Mass onto an even keel with the loss of their leader at the end of the last season. A cracking show and one that I can’t wait to watch the third season for.




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