Noah Wyle returns after a brief hiatus from TV after the cancellation or 'end' of hit TV show ER where he played a part in one of the greatest TV moments of all time. A moment which had me blubbing like a teenage girl in the presence of Robert Pattinson. Having seen an student doctor stabbed, surviving a horrific spinal injury and a whole host of other hazards the ER had to offer, Noah is now getting ready to face off against an alien invasion in Falling Skies.
It's the age old story; the human race fights amongst each other but never look to the skies until it's too late. When an alien invasion brings the world to its knees and take children as their 'worker bees', the only remaining adults and what's left of their families fight for survival with the added exception of growing groups of resistance who are willing to fight back.
Sci-Fi, despite being a self confessed geek, is not really my thing. The only real alien shows I have enjoyed have been V (Original & Remake), Battlestar Galactica (Remake) and Farscape, the rest I just found incredibly dull and somewhat unwatchable. It sucks I know, I used to hate the alien episodes in the X-Files with a fiery passion.
It's safe to say that Falling Skies can be added to my 'like' list but there's very little oomph to have viewers tune in for the second series and here's why.
Falling Skies has one main issue and it's one reason why it never really picks up from episode to episode; Falling Skies plays it safe. The realm of Sci-Fi is one that tears open the imagination and means that a writer can practically do anything when it comes to aliens but the show never really seems to stretch itself beyond where it needs to go during the seasons structure.
This is a huge shame because it could have been The Walking Dead... with aliens.
However it does have Noah Wyle who is fantastic along with a whole host of others like Moon Bloodgood, Drew Roy, Seychelle Gabriel, Will Patton, Sarah Carter, Colin Cunningham and a whole lot more.
The characters play out like a veritable who's who of cookie cutter TV characters. Noah Wyle plays Tom Mason the father who has lost his wife, had a child taken by the aliens and in the mean time attempts to keep his remaining boys safe within the community they've attached themselves to. Drew Roy plays Hal Mason, the adventurous team who wouldn't think twice before putting himself in harm's way to save another's life.
Sarah Carter plays Margaret, a woman who makes a few mistakes along the way and has hardened her heart to deal with what has happened to the world around her but her new found home might just help her see that the circle of life continues and a strong resolve, moral code and family can help see you through the worst of times.
It's a great little mix of characters who at first seem transparent and the usual TV show fodder to consume but as the story slowly begins to unfold they all have to face up to something they would rather not face at all. Just how far are they willing to go to fight back, to save humanity or indeed save themselves?
Falling Skies ticks all the right boxes but never really challenges itself to go any further than it has to which is a shame since TV shows today can get dropped whenever a TV Executive sneezes. The finale to the show had no real impact as we're never truly allowed to bond with the characters and if they want a third season, season two is going to have to 'cheese it' and go all out to impress because viewers need a reason to return each season and although shows like Grey's Anatomy may suffer the same "Coasting Along Season Format" they offer AMAZING season finales which shock and inspire viewers to come back year after year!
It's worth a watch but I wouldn't put it to the top of the viewing pile just yet.