Falling Skies: New TNT Series Starts Sunday

[DMark]

The new series, Falling Skies, with executive producer Steven Spielberg, starts tomorrow (Sunday, June 19th) on TNT and got a great review (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/falling-skies-tv-review-196959) in the Hollywood Reporter.

I have my DVR set for the entire series - but hope this is not going to be another canceled show without ending (Event, Flash Forward, etc.).

[AuntiePam]

I haven't decided whether I'll watch this one or not. My favorite part of this genre is the buildup -- the first contact, the first case of the flu, the first escaped mutant, the first mysterious deaths and disappearances. But this show is skipping over that part, so I don't know. I do like Noah Wyle though.

[enalzi]

I haven't decided whether I'll watch this one or not. My favorite part of this genre is the buildup -- the first contact, the first case of the flu, the first escaped mutant, the first mysterious deaths and disappearances. But this show is skipping over that part, so I don't know. I do like Noah Wyle though.

See, that's why I'm interested. Most movies end where it this one begins.

I've heard the pilot isn't that great (I think they filmed the first hour, got it picked up, then filmed the second), but the rest of the series is supposed to be pretty good.

[Tangent]

I'm looking forward to it. I like Noah Wyle and Moon Bloodgood.

Hopefully this will be smarter and completely different in style and tone than V.

[Kylede]

WOW, Just finished watching the 2 hour premier, and I am hooked...

[Oslo Ostragoth]

Seconded.

[enalzi]

I thought it was pretty good. I liked pretty much all the stuff dealing with the aliens. The civilians vs. the military stuff (I got my fill of that with BSG), the racist motorcycle gang, and most of the father/son stuff fell a little flat. And I couldn't stop rolling my eyes at the "lets all stand around and watch the kid skateboard" scene.

Any ideas as to what the harnessed kids are for? My guess is that they're in control of the mechs, which is why the only have two legs.

Also, from the previews, it's looks like we get to see
the actual invasion.

[Tangent]

I liked it! Gritty tone, nice character development, plenty of action. The acting was good all around. The special effects were pretty good, too.

There are some things that bugged me a little, like how the humans are able to caravan in a big group out in the open in the middle of the day with no worries about encountering or being observed by the aliens. Also, when the resistance commander captured the villainous leader from the other group near the end, he should have immediately put a bullet through his skull. Not doing so is obviously going to cause a whole mess of problems in the future.

Looking forward to watching more.

[Folacin]

We'll watch a couple more episodes at any rate. I made the same guess last night about the kids and the two-legged mechs.

However, could someone tell TNT to stop spoiling their show? Going into the commercial break, they'd consistently have a spoiler for the next drama point. I'd think that they should have enough confidence in the show to think that I'm interested enough to bridge a commercial break.

[interface2x]

It was okay but felt very similar to just an alien version of "Walking Dead". And did anyone else notice that Noah Wyle's character was a bit of a history nerd? It was pretty subtle.

[Living Well Is Best Revenge]

I enjoyed it. Pretty standard sci-fi. But when done right, it can be fun to watch. Noah Wylie is a good actor. It's a little hard to buy "Carter" as the dad of a 17 year old though! I am also glad they started this after the invasion and war. I am glad there was none of the slow buildup that killed the V remake.

[Folacin]

And did anyone else notice that Noah Wyle's character was a bit of a history nerd? It was pretty subtle.

Did any one else ever watch the Librarian movies (I think also on TNT)? Stupid, but fun. I keep thinking that Wyle's reprising his character from there.

As the Falling Skies character, in his attempts to tie the Revolutionary War to this conflict - who is going to play the role of France? Maybe the Arisians or the Asgaardians can swing by with some munitions (although Arisia tends to be more hands off).

With no industrial base, I imagine that supplies for fighting are going to be pretty scarce (since the aliens are apparently also looting/staking out the armories.

[Duckster]

Character development was pretty good.

However, the show still sucked. Too many commonsense things failed. So Earth gets invaded by aliens, presumably with technologies far better than ours.


Yet the aliens are so dumb they can't find an encampment of 200 people in an open meadow in the suburbs?
Flares attract the night surveillance yet the aliens only fire once?
A prisoner walk along a stream embankment with no real concealment and the aliens didn't spot him?
Humans work on a simple battle plan in the middle of an open park in the city in daylight without fear of being seen?

I doubt the series will last a season, unless it moves to the sci-fi channel.

[carnivorousplant]

I doubt the series will last a season, unless it moves to the sci-fi channel.

Man, that's cold. :)

[Duckster]

Man, that's cold. :)

I'm not a diehard sci-fi fan who eats it up and ignores the practical audience. I enjoy it. However, I don't think sci-fi works on mainstream cable unless it makes sense with ordinary things within the storyline. Yeah, sure, go far out and create your own rules in some weird storyline. But when you base it in the here and now on Earth don't assume the characters are so dumb an even dumber general audience can't see it for themselves.

I mean when they went out on a night patrol, used the ball and the dog, all the humans were in a tight bunch. So dumb down the alien advance and miss the obvious. Hell, even the real Asian Mafia right now takes out everyone in a hit, but these aliens can't do the same? On top of that, no basic military tactics by the humans to spread out so they all don't get taken out with one blast. A practical audience will forgive you if the writing make sense. The writing here does not.

[enalzi]

A prisoner walk along a stream embankment with no real concealment and the aliens didn't spot him?


I agree with the rest of your points but I don't understand this one. By prisoner, do you mean the harnessed kid? He's under some sort of mind control and he was being led BY the aliens.

[salinqmind]

I like Noah Wyle. I like aliens. I like sci-fi. I love The Walking Dead, I loved Jericho when it was on, I loved War of the Worlds, and The Terminator. Put all of this in a blender and Falling Skies should have been the best. show. ever. Yet I couldn't seem to get into it, because all I could think was, "haven't I already seen this before?" I watched about 20 minutes and it lost my attention.

[AuntiePam]

I didn't see all of it. Tuned in when Noah Wyle's group had been captured by the "outlaws". I liked the dialogue -- they were saying things that real people might say.

The outlaw leader reminded me of Sawyer from Lost.

I was fine with the group being able to hide in a meadow. Presumably the aliens have a whole planet to patrol -- they can't be everywhere.

Anyone know if it will be repeated? I'd like to catch the whole thing.

[Duckster]

I agree with the rest of your points but I don't understand this one. By prisoner, do you mean the harnessed kid? He's under some sort of mind control and he was being led BY the aliens.

No, my mistake.

Basic rule. If you are over an embankment and you can see the mind control humans and their alien captors, the aliens can see you. Of course, the writers didn't see it that way.

[Folacin]

Basic rule. If you are over an embankment and you can see the mind control humans and their alien captors, the aliens can see you. Of course, the writers didn't see it that way.

Basic rule of movies - the bad guys are never looking your way the first time you stick your head up. And considering that these bad guys apparently wiped out the entire armed forces of the planet within hours, they're probably not spending a lot of time with the heads on a swivel while walking mind-controlled slaves through the countryside.

[xoferew]

I'm no military strategist, and I know the characters are just getting used to the new world order, but why do they have 100 soldiers protecting 200 civilians? Couldn't at least half the civilians be undergoing training to be turned into fighters? Obviously some are little kids and some are more useful as medical people, mechanics, and whatnot, but you don't need all those able-bodied people washing clothes. Make the kids wash the clothes, and if they don't, no oatmeal for them!

[enalzi]

I'm no military strategist, and I know the characters are just getting used to the new world order, but why do they have 100 soldiers protecting 200 civilians? Couldn't at least half the civilians be undergoing training to be turned into fighters? Obviously some are little kids and some are more useful as medical people, mechanics, and whatnot, but you don't need all those able-bodied people washing clothes. Make the kids wash the clothes, and if they don't, no oatmeal for them!

It seems like a lot of the fighters ARE civilians. You've got a history professor, his son, and a whole bunch of other people that we don't know their background yet but don't really look like soldiers. And it's dangerous adding more and more civilians as fighters, as seen by that one kid that fired off his gun too early.

[Oslo Ostragoth]

I didn't see all of it. Tuned in when Noah Wyle's group had been captured by the "outlaws". I liked the dialogue -- they were saying things that real people might say.

The outlaw leader reminded me of Sawyer from Lost.

I was fine with the group being able to hide in a meadow. Presumably the aliens have a whole planet to patrol -- they can't be everywhere.

Anyone know if it will be repeated? I'd like to catch the whole thing.

all times Central:

midnight tonight
Friday 10 pm
Sunday 9 am
Sat. July 2 10 pm

[obfusciatrist]

Yet the aliens are so dumb they can't find an encampment of 200 people in an open meadow in the suburbs?



Didn't dialogue at the beginning establish that the aliens simply don't care yet about groups as small as them? Something about how they were finally starting to go after groups as big as the 900 people which is why they had to break down into three groups.

And when one of them asked what would happen when the aliens started going after groups of 300 the answer was that they'd break up again and again until they figured out some way to fight back that allowed them to regroup.

Can't say that it necessarily makes sense for the aliens to do it that way, but it does seem to be the case that with a group their size, so long as they stay out of the aliens faces they're being left alone. And regardless, for this type of story there does need to be some reason that they aren't just all immediately destroyed. I assume that whatever they want the children for is going to be the explanation for why they don't use weapons of more massive destruction to wipe us out.

[Quimby]

Also, when the resistance commander captured the villainous leader from the other group near the end, he should have immediately put a bullet through his skull. Not doing so is obviously going to cause a whole mess of problems in the future.



I don't think so. I think he will eventually join them and be the "Lovable Rogue" character these shows tend to have. Just like the girl from their group is going to be the "Mysterious Bad Ass Chick."

I kid because I love. I thought it was fun and entertaining! Now that Game of Thrones is done, I have something new to watch on Sunday, yay!

[El_Kabong]

A few comments on some of the comments here:

Early in the ep, a couple of characters have a conversation basically establishing that the the aliens tend not to make much effort to go after small groups with light arms, apparently because it's not considered worth the hassle. It also seems, from what's revealed so far, that while the aliens are indeed overwhelming in technology, they are not overwhelming in numbers, and they don't seem to want to simply wipe out all humans; destroying enough infrastructure to force us into a nomadic, marginal existence seems to be enough for them and, frankly, seems a fairly realistic action.

Furthermore, next to nothing appears to have been said so far about their ultimate intentions, whether the 'skitters' are the actual species organizing earth's occupation (indeed, there are a few hints they are not), nor the reasons for taking over the bodies of (mostly or all teenagers) with those icky symbiotes.

At this point it's not all that easy to do something truly original in the alien invasion genre, and while I was watching, there seemed to be a lot of echoes of District 9, Spielberg's War of the Worlds and Battle Los Angeles, to name a just a few possible influences. Nevertheless, the pilot seemed to accomplish what it set out to do: establish the main characters, and some of the 'rules' of the world it exists in, without over-explaining things. I like most of the actors, if as usual they are a bit too pretty for their circumstances, and as someone said, the dialogue and interactions mostly ring true. I'll keep watching.

[ExTank]

I think they hit a lot of tired stereotypes:

Will Patton: the gruff, my-way-or-the-highway military leader. Possibly probably nefarious. Unshaven (probably unwashed) civilian-hunting-camo wearing sorta-redneck. Dislikes civilians.

Noah Wyle: the plucky civilian who knows what's he doing as a military leader, by quoting history.

Moon Bloodgood: lampashaded, even, by the bad guys: "Dr. Quinn,..." Already bumping heads with military leader.

The list goes on. And like Battlestar Galactica (which at least had a star-faring society's ability to techno-magically generate food and ammo by applied Handwavium), they'll always have enough to eat, and never run out of expendables/perishables (at least not after at least one episode to establish that, yes, the ammo/food/medicine/etc. situation is precarious).

I'll give it a few more eps., but if they keep hitting these tired stereotypes, and plot ruts, I'll pass on it.

[Face Intentionally Left Blank]

I don't think so. I think he will eventually join them and be the "Lovable Rogue" character these shows tend to have.

I agree. I saw that right away when they paraded him away at gunpoint. They're gonna argue and fight with him, make him see that it makes sense to fight along with them, or maybe appeal to his better nature :rolleyes: and make him care about someone other than himself. After that, for the next few seasons, it's going to be,"can we trust him or not?"

I hate that, but I REALLY hate that with this guy, who ran a crew who stole* from other people while the aliens were taking over the Earth, who laid in wait and killed people, and whose brother and another man under his command (in his very small group, where it would be easy to keep track of them all) were rapists. I don't wanna work with this guy. I want a bullet in his head. Screw them if they try to make me like him.

* Yeah, they needed food and weapons, but a much larger group of people with greater needs were managing to find supplies, rather than kill others for them.

[enalzi]

Good news for fans and the network, Falling Skies had the highest rated premiere for a new cable show this year. (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/06/falling-skies-invades-homes-with-sky-high-ratings-in-tnt-premiere-.html)

It even beat out the premiere of Walking Dead by .6 million people. Unless there's a huge drop-off over the new couple weeks, I would say there's a pretty good chance of the next season getting picked up pretty quickly.

[Omniscient]

I liked the start of the show. I agree that a lot of the scripting was flimsy and they are obviously working with a very limited number of cameras and sets, but the acting was generally good and I'm willing to swallow a somewhat predictable popcorn alien show so long as there are a few good action sequences and twists to keep me interested.

I wish shows spent a little more time defining the spaces they are operating in. Showing some maps would be helpful. Explaining how far apart things are and tracking time would be useful. Having a fight sequence where it feels like all the actors are bunching together to squeeze into a camera angle always bugs me as do apparent "tactics" which are really just walking into the front door of a place.

I would have felt a lot more tension for Noah Wyle and his little group when they went to investigate the armory if it didn't feel like they were right around the corner from the rest of the regiment. Also, I'd have felt a lot more impressed when they beat the skitter and the mech in the grocery store if it would have been the result of something resembling teamwork and tactics as opposed to dumb luck.

[Stan Shmenge]

Not doing so is obviously going to cause a whole mess of problems in the future.

Yep. Wacky wacky problems. But at the end they'll all have a good laugh! Then the children will all jump on their skateboards as the adults beam approval!

And the aliens are pretty much Imperial Stormtroopers. Watch them miss a lot (we already have) and fall down in bunches.

And how long does that walker weapon take to draw a bead and fire? Then miss? Anyway, they LOOK real scary. :rolleyes:

And if it is the teenagers driving them, we are asked to believe that a species capable of interstellar travel hasn't mastered robotics? And the bugs don't exactly look like toolmakers to me. Maybe they are like alien pit bulls. It would redeem a lot if the aliens are something else. Preferably something that can hold a wrench. ;)

But it wasn't too bad. Will watch next week.

[Half Man Half Wit]

I like Noah Wyle. I like aliens. I like sci-fi. I love The Walking Dead, I loved Jericho when it was on, I loved War of the Worlds, and The Terminator. Put all of this in a blender and Falling Skies should have been the best. show. ever. Yet I couldn't seem to get into it, because all I could think was, "haven't I already seen this before?" I watched about 20 minutes and it lost my attention.
Yes. As ExTank said as well, the whole thing seemed built with the standard 'SciFi Movie 101' toolkit -- let's take alien invasion scenario 3B (you know that one -- no need to go through the whole thing explicitly, we can jump right in), add civilian/military tension type Q, sprinkle it with a bit of father looking for his son, serve with a side of telegraphed mystery (i.e. the harnessed kids who probably will turn out to be the reason for bipedal mechs, which knowledge will, combined with a way to get rid of the harnesses, eventually allow the rebels to fight back by disabling the mech infantry). The aliens, in particular, I thought were quite disappointing -- standard vaguely insectoid lizard-things with a few limbs too many. And what, they don't carry any sorts of weapons in combat, but rely entirely on their -- uh -- limb surplus to overcome opposition?

That said, I'll probably stick with it for a few episodes at least -- perhaps there's something interesting yet to come, and they just didn't bring it up in the pilot in order to really catch the viewers by surprise.

[Merijeek]

I think they hit a lot of tired stereotypes:

Will Patton: the gruff, my-way-or-the-highway military leader. Possibly probably nefarious. Unshaven (probably unwashed) civilian-hunting-camo wearing sorta-redneck. Dislikes civilians.

Which would seem pretty hackneyed, except we've already got someone in the thread complaining about the civilians...

It was good enough. The big question is if it'll make sense. Why do the aliens only go after groups under X size? Why are they shifting those numbers downward?

What makes a half-dozen guys think they can raid an enemy mothership to grab their missing relative and get away alive?

The bad guys are operating within certain rules. As long as the rules make sense when they're inevitably explained I'll be happy.

-Joe

[carnivorousplant]

What makes a half-dozen guys think they can raid an enemy mothership to grab their missing relative and get away alive?


Testosterone poisoning, I should imagine.

The same mindset that makes young people think they can (1) Get way with knocking over a 7-11, and (2) Make money doing it. :)

[DigitalC]

Which would seem pretty hackneyed, except we've already got someone in the thread complaining about the civilians...


Count me in as another. I certainly hope they drop that whole civilians bitching side of the plot or that asshole leader puts them in their place. Specially when the only difference between the fighters and the civilians seems to be willingness to fight. If a history teacher, a little kid and a cheerleader type can be fighters so can every other scrub they are carrying.

[Mr. Excellent]

And if it is the teenagers driving them, we are asked to believe that a species capable of interstellar travel hasn't mastered robotics?

For what it's worth, this seems legitimate to me. I'm re-reading Vernor Vinge's "A Deepness in the Sky" at the moment, and a major plot point is that the villainous Emergent civilization uses brainwashed humans for a lot of the things one might use AIs for. The reason is that genuine AI is believed to be impossible, but a suitably brainwashed human can be trusted to stay on-task and follow instructions like a robot whilst still bringing a measure of judgment and intelligence to the task at hand. In other words, it's a better approach than pure automation.

[Frostillicus]

I looked forward to Falling Skies with much anticipation. I pulled the plug 30 minutes into it. What a disappointment. :(

[enalzi]

What makes a half-dozen guys think they can raid an enemy mothership to grab their missing relative and get away alive?



The kid isn't at the mothership. (Or I'm don't think it's a mothership. One of the guys said something about the motherships coming back one day. So it's more of a base.) The base is in the middle of the city (Boston, I'm assuming). THey're pretty far away from it. The kids were just marching around the suburbs.

I'm curious as to how they think they can FIND the kid. Maybe a couple hours after they saw them there's only a small area where they could be. But it's been like two days now.

[blondebear]

I saw the first episode last night--it was just okay. I have to agree with the nitpicks already listed. It was fun to see Dale Dye* laying down the law to his "troops" on how the resistance would be run. Also, does anyone think the "harnesses" look like The Tingler on steroids?

*once described by the NYT as "The hard-bitten Vietnam vet who teaches actors to play war."

[DMark]

We liked it - will continue to watch.
I liked that they actually showed the aliens and set up the premise of the show in short order - things seemed to move quickly.
Got right to the characters without dragging it out (one of my nitpicks from Super 8) and kept the action going at the same time. For instance, we got to know about the little boy, dad, other two sons all while "stuff" was happening instead of some godawful flashback to having pancakes in the family suburban kitchen.
I guess what I am saying is that the pacing is great in this show - no lulls where you say, "get on with it..." so far.

[ExTank]

I don't mind Noah Wyle's character being a latent military genius; it's not without precedent. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Chamberlain) If that's even the direction the series takes his character. Could be he's just the rational POV character.

But realistically, mechanized society is now smashed, and humanity reduced to nomadic groups of 300 or so. The only food, medicine, and ammo to be had are what was "in the pipeline" between farm/factory, warehouse, and store. What happens come winter? Are they going to try to continue to nomad through Massachusetts in winter time?

What about food, long-term? Are they going to try to covertly plant crops with hand tools? John Deere don't work too damned good when the gas is gone, and the aliens are dropping EMP bombs all over the place. Hand-planting's back-breaking work like few people nowadays know; animal powered is better, but still much harder than what anyone outside of Amish communities and the rare, few, "back-to-Earth"ers know about.

Everything that we, humans, have at our disposal to fight the aliens has been taken from us (plot-wise, didn't Capt. Dale Dye say early-on that some militia got potted by the aliens because they used an AT-4 anti-tank missile on the aliens?), with the exception that guns and cars still work to some extent (as long as they have old-style carberation, not ECFI).

There is something to be said for striking now, while there are weapons and bodies enough to make a difference, not next year when lack of food, medicine, and shelter has killed off 2-out-of-3 humans that the aliens haven't.

This seems, plot-wise, to be war-to-the knife, with an alien (in every true sense of the word) invader, whose motives and goals are unknown to us; nice, civilian sensibilities would be an early casualty.

[Stan Shmenge]

a suitably brainwashed human can be trusted to stay on-task and follow instructions like a robot whilst still bringing a measure of judgment and intelligence to the task at hand

Approves (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/27/62325053_a8e032d751.jpg).

[xoferew]

Do they have more than one dog? Could you make effective suicide bombers out of dogs?

[Stan Shmenge]

What happens come winter? Are they going to try to continue to nomad through Massachusetts in winter time?

What about food, long-term?

I have the sad feeling that they are going to pull a "Voyager" and ignore such things.

This show could go either way. Hopefully they have a nice story arc and we are going to find out more about the aliens in dribs and drabs. Or it could be commando raid of the week.

I think next week's episode is going to tell us a lot about which way they are headed with this.

[Merijeek]

There is something to be said for striking now, while there are weapons and bodies enough to make a difference, not next year when lack of food, medicine, and shelter has killed off 2-out-of-3 humans that the aliens haven't.


Wasn't that the argument that was had pretty much at the beginning of the episode?

-Joe

[SenorBeef]

Kind of cliche but not bad so far. The lack of anything good on TV and particularly anything sci-fi means I'll give it at least 6 eps.

The gunplay was actually pretty reasonable which is something that tends to drive me nuts in shows when no one has any idea how to handle a weapon. But I thought it'd be cooler if they had a more realistic set of weapons. They almost got it right - a few explosives, one special heavy weapon, some scavenged M4s off of army troops - but there was a curious lack of common hunting rifles and shotguns and civilian weapons. Also, where did all the select-fire AKs come from? It would make lots of sense to have semi-auto civilian AK type rifles all over the place as they're not uncommon, but there's no reason you'd find any substantial numbers of real deal rock and roll AKMs in the US, especially not Massachusetts.

[carnivorousplant]

Also, where did all the select-fire AKs come from? It would make lots of sense to have semi-auto civilian AK type rifles all over the place as they're not uncommon, but there's no reason you'd find any substantial numbers of real deal rock and roll AKMs in the US, especially not Massachusetts.

Good point...how difficult is it to convert them?

[SenorBeef]

Practically impossible - or at least you have to do so much work to do it that if you can you've probably got the machinery and expertise to just manufacture entirely new guns. There are requirements on guns imported or made in the US that receivers be modified in a way that you couldn't put in the necesary parts.

I demand a high level of realism in this sort of thing because half the fun of this type of show is looking at the logistical problems of obtaining food, clean water, guns, ammo, etc. I would enjoy the show much more if they dealt with those problems realistically and came up with practical solutions. So the "we've managed to get one .50 and attached it to our best running old car" part is great - that weapon is rarely and valuable - but then the "we have a bunch of old beat up select fire AKs apparently air dropped in from Africa" aspect is mostly nonsensical.

[appleciders]

The base is in the middle of the city (Boston, I'm assuming). THey're pretty far away from it. The kids were just marching around the suburbs.

Yes, it's Boston. They've mentioned Jamaica Plain and Back Bay, which are neighborhoods south and west of the center of the city. The 2nd Massachusetts appears to be moving further south and west, out of the city.

Do they have more than one dog? Could you make effective suicide bombers out of dogs?

The Russians tried that in WWII. I don't think it worked very well, though. It's definitely where my mind went when I saw the dog!


It was an OK pilot episode. There just aren't enough decent SF shows on TV, so I'm going to keep watching and hope it gets a little better. Locking up the leader of those bandits was really transparent way to introduce a recurring villain/ally of circumstance. And the product placement for that damn magic skateboard was downright painful. I hope we won't have to watch much more of that, but at least we didn't have to watch the kid escape from aliens on it.

I hope that we do get some real information on why the aliens are here, why their motherships have left, and what the whole deal is. It's perfectly reasonable to avoid spilling all the beans in the first episode, but I do want some long range story arc that explains it eventually, rather than an endless series of small raids focusing on how many skitters they can kill with objects at hand. I don't need to feel like Noah Wyle is the lynchpin of the resistance, eventually single-handedly evicting the aliens (I'm fine with following him as a mere cog in the machine) but I do want to see some long-range story.

[xoferew]

And the product placement for that damn magic skateboard was downright painful. I hope we won't have to watch much more of that, but at least we didn't have to watch the kid escape from aliens on it.


They should raid a Toys R Us or something and equip ALL the kids with skateboards, bikes, and scooters. Then they can all escape from aliens on it, in the sense of making their group migrations move a little faster in a way that doesn't waste gasoline. Come winter won't they want to be a few hundred miles south? An older kid could carry 50 pounds of supplies in a bike basket. Increase the carrying power and you can bring along a few nonessentials like looted My Little Ponies that will increase kid morale and lessen whining.

[Half Man Half Wit]

I hope we won't have to watch much more of that, but at least we didn't have to watch the kid escape from aliens on it.
It's gonna happen. (Or at least, that was my first thought as I watched that unnecessary, and unnecessarily long scene of kid demonstrating his mad board skills to the all-agog adults...)

[aldiboronti]

The hint dropped that robots were usually made in the image of their makers is interesting, I wonder if the motherships have gone back home to bring the real (bipedal) master aliens to Earth (now that their shock troops have wiped out the major enemy forces).

The show is just interesting enough to keep me watching in spite of the SF Scriptwriting for Dummies feel to it, but I'll need to see some originality and intelligence coming through in the writing pretty damn soon or I'll be moving on.

[Merijeek]

It's gonna happen. (Or at least, that was my first thought as I watched that unnecessary, and unnecessarily long scene of kid demonstrating his mad board skills to the all-agog adults...)

Or, it could have just been a "sometimes we need to take ten minutes and appreciate something nice about life instead of spending all our time either worrying, walking or scrounging" scene.

-Joe

[carnivorousplant]

Or, it could have just been a "sometimes we need to take ten minutes and appreciate something nice about life instead of spending all our time either worrying, walking or scrounging" scene.

-Joe

Or it could have been the scourge of Science Fiction shows, "We have to have a kid in it!"

[Merijeek]

Or it could have been the scourge of Science Fiction shows, "We have to have a kid in it!"

And as soon as we see him save the day because of his skateboarding skills I'll agree with you - see the insane bit of Jurassic Park 2 with the gymnast girl for the most egregious example ever.

-Joe

[tanstaafl]

It's a Spielberg show... it has to have cute kids in it.

[simster]

It's a Spielberg show... it has to have cute kids in it.

Its an apocolypse - it has to have kids in it - to present comic relief, "new eyes" solutions and dramatic tension.

The genre is well defined - the pilot pulled in alot of the right elements, lets see where it goes - its 1000000000000000000000 times better than the Killing.

[carnivorousplant]

its 1000000000000000000000 times better than the Killing.

I must have missed a Staff Meeting. :)


What does it mean, "The Killing"?

[carnivorousplant]

I finally managed to see all of it. Kind of a deus ex machina escape, but I'll keep watching for a while anyway.

[Estilicon]

I didn't like it. Not enough naked girls. I could have written dozen undressing scenarios and I don´t have any imagination. They should hire the "naked chicks" staff writer that HBO has in its script supervising division.

[Stan Shmenge]

Well, here is week 2 and not much more has been revealed. I guess you can get the symbiots off teenagers backs with a blowtorch, if you use enough morpheme, and even if you do it when one of the bugs wakes up the kid will make a jerking motion.

Yeah, giving it one more week.

[Merijeek]

Well, here is week 2 and not much more has been revealed. I guess you can get the symbiots off teenagers backs with a blowtorch, if you use enough morpheme, and even if you do it when one of the bugs wakes up the kid will make a jerking motion.

Yeah, giving it one more week.

Well, if the good guys can figure out one of their big hurdles in episode two, what good is that? I hope missing cute blonde girl comes back.

Executing hostages to make clear their dislike of prison breaks is pretty grim for a prime time American show.

....and maybe it's just a matter of budget, but I am kind of impressed that they don't hesitate to actually SHOW the aliens pretty frequently.

-Joe

[Spoke]

It's a Spielberg show... it has to have cute kids in it.

Even Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan weren't immune from Spielberg's cute kid requirement.

[Stan Shmenge]

Even Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan weren't immune from Spielberg's cute kid requirement.

Cute kids aren't the problem with this show. Boring aliens are.

[xoferew]

Cute kids aren't the problem with this show. Boring aliens are.

Wait until the next episode when they begin reproducing with humans to create horrific slimy non-cute hybrids! ^_^

[El_Kabong]

I don't get where they are going with the 'harnessing' subplot. Collecting scrap metal by hand? Really? Why not just, you know, go to a scrap yard to pick up whatever you want with those big, powerful machines they are using to guard them?

Then we have the kid who apparently can still be harnessed directly by the aliens without the presence of the wormy thing. So what's the need for the wormy thing in the first place?

Oh, well, it's just TV.

[Stan Shmenge]

I don't get where they are going with the 'harnessing' subplot. Collecting scrap metal by hand? Really? Why not just, you know, go to a scrap yard to pick up whatever you want with those big, powerful machines they are using to guard them?

Then we have the kid who apparently can still be harnessed directly by the aliens without the presence of the wormy thing. So what's the need for the wormy thing in the first place?

Oh, well, it's just TV.

Yep. None of that shit makes sense either. It isn't just TV, it's crappy tv.

TEH ALIENS HAVE COME FOR OUR EMPTIES!!!

[xoferew]

Yep. None of that shit makes sense either. It isn't just TV, it's crappy tv.

TEH ALIENS HAVE COME FOR OUR EMPTIES!!!

Weren't parts of the harness still sticking out of the kid, and fused with his nervous system?

Maybe they have the kids collecting scrap metal where they know the resistance will spot them, to lure the resistance into rescuing them, and then once the kids have infiltrated the resistance base they will all start killing or peeing in the oatmeal or something.

[Folacin]

They mentioned in the pilot that the kids can resist, but it's painful. So, the scrap metal collecting could be part of training/breaking them to saddle, for whatever nefarious reason they're really grabbing them.

[boytyperanma]

Finally watched the pilot and I'm less then impressed. I'll stick with it for a few more episodes and see if it comes together into something interesting.

So far it's kinda cookie cutter. Aliens bad, able and skilled military didn't have a chance but those untrained morons are doing a much better job, omg think about the children.

I'm tired of attempts for the importance of children's emotional development in a post apocalyptic setting, it made for good story the first few times, now it's just getting old. One of these times the survivors are going to say the hell with the children they are nothing but a liability if we can come out of this OK we'll make more.

What's absolutely killing me is the geography. It's supposedly set in an area I've very familiar with and the creative liberties taken are just silly.

So far and not even remotely important to their story the thing's I've noticed:

'Group one's going to take Route 3 from Boston to Revere' Yeah good luck finding Rt 3 in Boston and if you do it sure and hell isn't going to get you to Revere.

They travel west towards Acton and plan to meet at the 'Littleton Bridge' Littleton is west of Acton so their plan is to march through Acton and then go back to it?

What the hell is the 'Littleton Bridge' that everyone seems to know as a landmark. For landmark bridges in Littleton maybe the Littleton overpass. There aren't even any rivers in Littleton.

From Acton they are on a hill overlooking Boston. There is no point in Acton with that view. I'm trying to think of places in Acton where they might have even been able to look at their own camp from a hill.

The 'Acton Armory' Acton MA doesn't have any armories I've ever heard of. The National Guard posts on Fort Devens might be worth looking at...

Then they are at the 'something Kennedy school' in Acton. Doesn't exist.

The kids where being marched west to the Hospital from Acton. The Hospital closest to Acton is to the east. Going west the next Hospital has no clear path to it.

Even the plant life lacks a New England feel. Did they even film in MA?

[Merijeek]

Yep. None of that shit makes sense either. It isn't just TV, it's crappy tv.

TEH ALIENS HAVE COME FOR OUR EMPTIES!!!

At least keep your bitching sensible.

If it was accepted as logical that the aliens would cross between solar systems for beer cans, you're right, it would be silly.

However, it is made clear IN THE SHOW and BY THE CHARACTERS that it doesn't make sense. Therefore, it's not necessarily poor writing, just incomplete information on the characters' part.

Note that I'm not saying that it ISN'T necessarily poor writing. We don't know. But you're right that traveling a bazlillion miles for scrap metal doesn't make sense. Good thing everyone realizes that.

-Joe

[XT]

Watched the second episode last night. I'm still not sure I can get into this. On the one hand, I like the premise, and the visuals are pretty good. On the other hand the people (and the aliens) are just so stupid. They do really stupid things...and not stupid in a way that makes sense. Granted, none of these folks has any real military training, but they make very basic mistakes and they don't seem to learn from them. They don't plan out operations, but just sort of go out to do stuff with very vague 'you go over here and scout, and we'll be way over there...hope nothing happens to you or that you find anything since there is no way for you to actually tell us what your scouting mission finds'. They are constantly getting into deep shit because they don't know what they are doing or how to do it.

Luckily the aliens are just as stupid and are seemingly immune to most human weapons unless you get 'really close'. :rolleyes: Why would a full clip of 7.62 at less than 10 yards do nothing to the alien, while a shotgun blast at point blank kills it? Why does it take so long to figure out that the legs are the most vulnerable part?? Why don't the resistance fighters have more explosive weapons, since they obviously work well on the mechs?

Overall the jury is still out on this one. If the people in the show start acting a bit smarter and making less really stupid and incomprehensible mistakes I could see getting into this one. I don't mind that the aliens are stupid and do incomprehensible things...they are aliens after all, and their motivations are still obscure (scrap metal?? :p). I mind that the humans are doing stupid and incomprehensible things, however, in ways that just don't seem realistic to me. Sure, people can be stupid, but these people are up against the wall here and aren't reacting like they are up against the wall and fighting for their very survival. They don't act like people who's lives and future are on the line and who are fighting for their own survival...it's more like a game, and a game that they not only don't take seriously but that they are all particularly bad at playing and seemingly have no interest in even going through the motions of trying to figure out or play better.

-XT

[cpasteve_98]

But you're right that traveling a bazlillion miles for scrap metal doesn't make sense. Good thing everyone realizes that.

-Joe[/QUOTE]

I would think that the premise of gathering scrap metal does makes sense. If it is hard and costly for the Aliens to bring enough invasion equipment, why not bring limited manufacturing capability? This could be fed with scrap metal that is already refined and you would not need refining capablity.

Perhaps the control of humans is linked to the using the best controlled to man additional robots that the aliens are able to build with the manufacturing capability.


Steve

[Stan Shmenge]

If it is hard and costly for the Aliens to bring enough invasion equipment, why not bring limited manufacturing capability?
Steve

Yeah, but they have these mile high structures towering over cities. Doesn't seem like they are short on material.

[enalzi]

Weren't parts of the harness still sticking out of the kid, and fused with his nervous system?


Yeah, they said the "needles" were complete wrapped around the spine. So maybe the stuff that's still in his body is the psychic part, while the thing on their backs is just supplying the drug/growing the needles.

[Merijeek]

Luckily the aliens are just as stupid and are seemingly immune to most human weapons unless you get 'really close'. :rolleyes: Why would a full clip of 7.62 at less than 10 yards do nothing to the alien, while a shotgun blast at point blank kills it?


Huh? Can you tell me when we were shown a full clip not hurting an alien while a shotgun would?

We saw a full clip not hurting the alien version of a mini-tank, and we saw a shotgun hurting the alien version of a naked man...

-Joe

[DigitalC]

I hate the little kid, this show would be tolerable without him.

[xoferew]

Oh come on, a little more personal tragedy and he could become a soulless, chain-smoking, shaven-headed, self-mutilating killing machine! ...But he'd still ride the skateboard.

[Merijeek]

Oh come on, a little more personal tragedy and he could become a soulless, chain-smoking, shaven-headed, self-mutilating killing machine! ...But he'd still ride the skateboard.

John Connor, then?

-Joe

[Typo Negative]

It isn't Falling Skies, it's Falling Commercials!!

I will not be watching anymore, because I demand a bit more 'show to commercial' ratio.

I started timing with my DVR. In the middle, we would get commercial breaks of 4 + minutes, then show form 5 minutes, then commercials for another 4 +!!

Now I will echo a lot of complaints:

When your species is being hunted to extinction, there are no civillians! Granted, not everybody gets a gun, but even in peacetime the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines have cooks, mechanics, doctors etc....

In the military, you need that chain of command. You need it so officers can tell you that going after a species that has WIPED OUT YOUR ARMED FORCES with your plucky group of 6 commandos just because you are a dedicated parent is a bad idea.

C4 is good to have. But you could still do a lot of damage with diesel fuel and fertalizer. Set up some booby traps, ferchrissakes! Where are Sam and Fi when you need them!

Will Patton....Bad actor. Bad, bad actor!!! Even if the character weren't already a cliche, Patton would make it one!

Rapist\cook gets a gorram bullet to the head. Who cares if he can make tasty rice?? He has already shown himself to be an enemy AND an idiot.

[DigitalC]

And the only character i didn't hate gets captured. They better send some of the unkillable main characters and disposable black guys to save her ass.

[xoferew]

It would be kind of cool if the mousy praying girl became a loony cult leader and half the military defects to join up with her. I would think the destruction of most of humanity would make some people very susceptible to any kind of religious answers. She could have some "visions" fed to her by people who want to strengthen her power base about where a big cache of food or weapons is hidden, or pray over some dying harnessed kids who then recover, or something. Then her followers could start killing the heretical unbelievers! (Well, maybe I skipped a step or two.)

"Hal, you are no longer going to be a soldier. Her Holy Excellence requires that you serve her in a different manner. Here is your new... uniform..."
"Dad, whatever, but just not the My Little Pony costume! Please!"

[Typo Negative]

On a related note, how is only hot chicks survived? Did they use the less attractive as cover?

[XT]

Huh? Can you tell me when we were shown a full clip not hurting an alien while a shotgun would?

Sure...in the warehouse when one of the skitters surprised the historian. He pretty much blasted away at it with his AK (possibly not the whole clip, but several bursts that obviously were hitting it but not stopping it), but it wasn't until another member of the team came up from behind and shot it in the head (with a shotgun) that it died.

We saw a full clip not hurting the alien version of a mini-tank, and we saw a shotgun hurting the alien version of a naked man...

Well, this part of 'we' saw an alien not in armor (or any sort of clothing) getting shot repeatedly with an AK at very close range (you could have THROWN the gun and hit the thing at that range) and pretty much shrugging it off, and not going down until another person came up from behind and shot it in the back of the head.

Which makes no sense to me and added to the disconnect I was getting from the show early on.

-XT

[Typo Negative]

Sure...in the warehouse when one of the skitters surprised the historian. He pretty much blasted away at it with his AK (possibly not the whole clip, but several bursts that obviously were hitting it but not stopping it), but it wasn't until another member of the team came up from behind and shot it in the head (with a shotgun) that it died.
I saw it a little differently.

I saw him firing wildly, hitting stuff near the alien but missing the alien. I think that's why he needs to get close to 'em.

Which, if you think about it, is pretty realistic. Most people couldn't hit the broad side of a barn from 20 paces. Shooting guns is a lot harder than it looks.

[XT]

Go back and re-watch it if you have it recorded on a DVR (I watched it again last night before I watched the second episode). You can see the bullets hitting the alien several times (sparks and flinches) yet they apparently have no effect.

And I disagree that most people, even those who hadn't been fighting for at least 6 months (which is the time this historian had been in the resistance) could miss a target at those ranges, even if they were startled. The thing wasn't 20 paces away but more like 10 feet...maybe less. He could have spit on it from that range.

(And, FTR, I'm no expert shot but I've fired a rifle many times and it would be pretty freaking hard to miss even with a pistol from that range...certainly not with a rifle)

-XT

[carnivorousplant]

it would be pretty freaking hard to miss even with a pistol from that range...certainly not with a rifle)

-XT

You've obviously not seen me shoot. :)

[Quimby]

Tough crowd here. I liked it and I'm looking forward to see where it goes.

I *was* surprised that Dr. History Professor (I am bad with names) didn't even consider the fact that the aliens might have put a tracer on his kid.

[XT]

I *was* surprised that Dr. History Professor (I am bad with names) didn't even consider the fact that the aliens might have put a tracer on his kid.

Actually I find that pretty plausible. He's a history professor and I wouldn't expect him to think of it, even if he has been a resistance fighter for 6+ months. However, I would expect all of the ex-military guys to have thought of it.

You've obviously not seen me shoot.

Well, that's true. :) However, I bet you could hit a man sized target from 10 feet or less with a rifle, especially if I give you 6 months of using one to familiarize yourself with it.

-XT

[blondebear]

So I paid to watch this on iTunes? :smack:

Oh... the show is okay...I guess. In the sense that some SyFy movies are "okay". It does have better production values, you have to give it that. But seriously, where are Mike and Joel when you need them?

[boytyperanma]

You've obviously not seen me shoot. :)

Or read a news report about inner city shootings. That's where you learn how bad people can be with guns. '30 shots fired at close range none hitting their intended target but a stray shot managed to hit a 3 year old a block away'

People who have no practice shooting guns are bad at levels I have trouble comprehending.

[XT]

Or read a news report about inner city shootings. That's where you learn how bad people can be with guns. '30 shots fired at close range none hitting their intended target but a stray shot managed to hit a 3 year old a block away'

Most of your inner city shootings are attempted by mopes with pistols, not rifles (for obvious reasons)...and most of your inner city gangsta types don't practice (also for obvious reasons).

People who have no practice shooting guns are bad at levels I have trouble comprehending.

Sure, but we are talking about a rifle (that this guy had been carrying around and presumably using for months) and we are talking about a bit more than arms length. I don't care how bad you are at shooting at that range with that type of gun...he could pretty much throw the bullets that far with a good chance of hitting something the size and shape of one of these aliens.

It's moot anyway...I'm watching it on my DVR right now and it's clear that several of the shots in fact did hit the thing but did no damage. That's a .308 (or 7.62 I guess) round and nearly point blank range and it just bounced off. I hate that. Hell, an elephant would feel that even if it didn't bring it down.

-XT

[carnivorousplant]

Well, that's true. :) However, I bet you could hit a man sized target from 10 feet or less with a rifle, especially if I give you 6 months of using one to familiarize yourself with it.

-XT

I can put the whole mag into a 2' x 2' cardboard box "combat firing" (ha) at 20' with the Ruger .22/.45, but that would probably just piss somebody off. :)

[XT]

They are going to revoke your charter membership status...and possibly tar and feather you! :eek:

-XT

[Tangent]

I still like the show, but the biggest :rolleyes: moment for me was when they have sneaked stealthily up on the harnessed kids, and the black guy spots his own lost son and goes TOTALLY FUCKING INSANE and yells "RICKEEEEEY!!!" at the top of his lungs and goes charging in there on his own like a complete idiot. I was hoping he'd get stomped by an alien mech.

[carnivorousplant]

They are going to revoke your charter membership status...and possibly tar and feather you! :eek:

-XT

You'll have my Charter Membership when you pry it from my cold, dead hand!

[Typo Negative]

Or read a news report about inner city shootings. That's where you learn how bad people can be with guns. '30 shots fired at close range none hitting their intended target but a stray shot managed to hit a 3 year old a block away'

True story. Not too long ago there was an incident involving 9 LA Sherrif's Deputies firing at a suspect on a residential street in car that was not moving. Each officer emptied his clip, over a hundred rounds fired.

The suspect was not hit. The car was hit a few times. Multiple windows in houses on either side of the street were broken (no bystanders hit, than God)

Cannot find a link. My google-fu is weak.

[simster]

True story. Not too long ago there was an incident involving 9 LA Sherrif's Deputies firing at a suspect on a residential street in car that was not moving. Each officer emptied his clip, over a hundred rounds fired.

The suspect was not hit. The car was hit a few times. Multiple windows in houses on either side of the street were broken (no bystanders hit, than God)

Cannot find a link. My google-fu is weak.

wasnt there a video not that long ago of an attack inside a police station where the cops fired _alot_ of rounds not hitting the target - it was over quick, they did eventually get him - it was a hell of a video - but it was _not_ quick - and he was human.

The idea here apparently is that they are tough to kill - you have to get 'close enough' (I assume that means they are 'bullet resistant') and that the idea with the shotgun was that he listened to the rogue's ('I also cook') advice about first taking out the legs - which are apparently hard to hit with a rifle - and then you give them a headshot at point blank.

[enalzi]

Tough crowd here. I liked it and I'm looking forward to see where it goes.

I *was* surprised that Dr. History Professor (I am bad with names) didn't even consider the fact that the aliens might have put a tracer on his kid.

Honestly, it doesn't seem like the aliens really care about finding them. They're way out in the open, moving in big groups, and making smoke and light from cooking. Right now they only get attacked if they interfere with the aliens or try to get more weapons.

[eenerms]

:rolleyes:Final scene of the second episode, I totally saw that coming.

[Merijeek]

Most of your inner city shootings are attempted by mopes with pistols, not rifles (for obvious reasons)...and most of your inner city gangsta types don't practice (also for obvious reasons).
-XT

Sure, except a whole lot of times those 'mopes' are cops. Wasn't there one in NY a couple years ago where a bunch of cops unloaded at some poor immigrant. He was standing still in broad daylight, they fired a good seventy times, and hit him something like five times.

I still like the show, but the biggest :rolleyes: moment for me was when they have sneaked stealthily up on the harnessed kids, and the black guy spots his own lost son and goes TOTALLY FUCKING INSANE and yells "RICKEEEEEY!!!" at the top of his lungs and goes charging in there on his own like a complete idiot. I was hoping he'd get stomped by an alien mech.

Yeah, that's one of those "WAAAAAALT!" type moments. Dude, I know you want to save your son. I totally get it. I understand taking big risks to do it. However, getting your head blown off instantly (or, alternately, randomly running through the jungle screaming "WAAAAAALT!") is not, in fact, going to help save your son.

-Joe

[xoferew]

Except that, annoyingly, it DID help save his kid, who otherwise would have been left behind.

[DMark]

Yes, the final scene was somewhat predictable - but will still be interesting to learn more about the alien - food, weaknesses, communication, strengths. I like that the show keeps revealing more and more, instead of wasting time on little family subplots "does Mary love Bobby, is Cathy cheating on Ed, is Betty pregnant?" and instead keeps going for the the more pressing concerns.

[John Mace]

Watched the pilot last night, and it wasn't very good. What a surprise that they have the hard-nosed commander, the compassionate doctor, and the 2nd in command who navigates between the two. I may watch a few more episodes to see if it gets any better. The Walking Dead has a very similar premise but is soooooo much more watchable.

[D_Odds]

Sure, except a whole lot of times those 'mopes' are cops. Wasn't there one in NY a couple years ago where a bunch of cops unloaded at some poor immigrant. He was standing still in broad daylight, they fired a good seventy times, and hit him something like five times.
-Joe
I'm assuming that you are referring to the Amadou Diallo shooting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amadou_Diallo_shooting). However, it was at night, and it was 41 shots with 19 hits. I'll avoid further commentary, as this isn't the place for it.

A couple of years ago, I was in a cab driven by a (presumably, but I'm open to alternate explanations) different Amadou Diallo.

[Half Man Half Wit]

Except that, annoyingly, it DID help save his kid, who otherwise would have been left behind.
Yes, that was the kicker for me. When the black guy jumped out, I just thought 'well I guess he's dead now', and then with growing disbelief watched him actually survive his own idiocy -- and accomplishing what he intended to do! I though it would be one of those 'do stupid things and you're dead' moments, you know, where everyone learns the tough lesson, but rather, it turned out that on this show, stupidity is being rewarded -- which I guess is about the only way the survivors have any hope at all, so maybe it only makes sense.

[carnivorousplant]

Yes, that was the kicker for me. When the black guy jumped out, I just thought 'well I guess he's dead now', and then with growing disbelief watched him actually survive his own idiocy

Perhaps the aliens ignore unarmed single people.
What annoyed me is "I have to do this myself" or whatever he said. I'd take a dozen guys with shotguns with me. :)

[simster]

Perhaps the aliens ignore unarmed single people.
What annoyed me is "I have to do this myself" or whatever he said. I'd take a dozen guys with shotguns with me. :)

Well, having never been in that situation - I assume it would be hard to maintain composure - clearly at that point, his child (none of the children) was not in any 'worse' immediate danger - thing is he will really regret his decision if the previews have any merit - it will be his child that is lost while the 'hero's' child will live on - if he had held his tounge, it would be the other way around.

I think the writers got htat part right tho - with him running over half cocked not thinking it thru - it takes a lot of 'stuff' to control yourself in those types of situations and some folks just dont have it (or lose it).

The only reason he survived his own idiocy -

a) the kid didn't fight back
b) teacher dude thru the bomb at the approaching mech - and paid the price later.

[Skald the Rhymer]

Sure, except a whole lot of times those 'mopes' are cops. Wasn't there one in NY a couple years ago where a bunch of cops unloaded at some poor immigrant. He was standing still in broad daylight, they fired a good seventy times, and hit him something like five times.



Yeah, that's one of those "WAAAAAALT!" type moments. Dude, I know you want to save your son. I totally get it. I understand taking big risks to do it. However, getting your head blown off instantly (or, alternately, randomly running through the jungle screaming "WAAAAAALT!") is not, in fact, going to help save your son.

-Joe


What struck me about that scene was that it was completely predictable. Honestly, if the aim was to save a specific child, then no one with a missing child other than the rescuee's parent should have been on that mission. Ideally you wouldn't want the rescuee's parent on the mission either, but I suppose there'd be an issue with identification. The better move, though would have been to send fighters without missing children to get the first child/guinea pig they could.

[DigitalC]

30% drop in viewers from week one to two, I doubt this one has very many episodes left.

[Merijeek]

30% drop in viewers from week one to two, I doubt this one has very many episodes left.

Too bad, but I won't be that sad to see it go. Still, it was nice to have something for my wife and I to watch on a schedule. Pretty much everything else is on demand when we feel like it.

Having to have all the BS done and out of the way by 9PM so we could watch was actually kind of nice. Ah well.

-Joe

[enalzi]

30% drop in viewers from week one to two, I doubt this one has very many episodes left.

Unless it continues dropping at such a high rate, I wouldn't worry. First, it was only 25%, to 4.2 million, and it was still #12 in the cable ratings last week. What was higher? An awards show, three tv show premieres, wrestling (twice), a reality show, and 4 kids shows.

Don't read too much in week-to-week ratings.

[Pantani]

It needs to throw us a few curve balls to get me interested i.e. the aliens that everyone has been killing with gay abandon are, infact, have been "harnessed" by yet another set of aliens.

I can see a mile off that the mechs are controlled by harnessed kids with characters wondering about the whole two legs v. six legs things.

It would have been much more fun to set the story 30 years or so since the aliens took over. Aliens have reduced humans to a preindustrial level and are farming them for slave labour. As long as you don't have weapons, stay in small groups and give up your tribute of fellow humans from your comunity you get to live up your life. Don't want to give up your fellow villages, fine go raid another village for slaves, the aliens don't care. Young characters have no experience of a prealien world, the old characters can remember the old world.

[Jormungandr]

Yeah, that's one of those "WAAAAAALT!" type moments. Dude, I know you want to save your son. I totally get it. I understand taking big risks to do it. However, getting your head blown off instantly (or, alternately, randomly running through the jungle screaming "WAAAAAALT!") is not, in fact, going to help save your son.

-Joe


OK, I got to ask. Who's "Walt"?

[blondebear]

Walt Lloyd (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Lloyd)

Made famous by his father's plaintive cry on the series Lost.

[Merijeek]

Walt Lloyd (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Lloyd)

Made famous by his father's plaintive cry on the series Lost.

His father's best plan for rescuing him when WAAAAAALT was kidnapped was to run randomly through the (extremely dangerous) jungle while screaming "WAAAAAALT".

It was probably the most annoying thing on a show filled with annoying things.

-Joe

[ExTank]

Okay, so they let the Raider Rapist loose to show them the way to a motorcycle store while Dr. Moony tries to play Councilor Troy to an alien. I guess their map reading skills are kinda shaky, and only sociopaths can Lead The Way.

Dr. Moony does make one good point in this ep., though: until they get another live skitter, it's best to stay "on mission" with the attempt to establish communications. Once they get another live skitter, if the first is less than cooperative in discussing Ultimate Alien Overlord plans, then you can proceed with the vivisection of #1. Maybe let #2 watch; you know, as a sort of incentive to develop those ol' communications skills.

Disposable Oriental Dude needs to be disposed of for turning his back on a prisoner. And for standing out in the open while a bunch of armed Alien Zombie Kids advance on your position.

[carnivorousplant]

[QUOTE=ExTank;13984567 And for standing out in the open while a bunch of armed Alien Zombie Kids advance on your position.[/QUOTE]

That was outstandingly stupid of them, although the AZKs shoot on the level of Imperial Stromtroopers. :)

[elfkin477]

I finally got caught up, and so far I'm merely whelmed by the show.

It does make me wonder yet again, why do 90% of non-grey aliens:
a. look like slightly modified humans
or
b. look like bugs or marine/amphibious life?

Obviously these aliens fall into catergory b, since skitters (http://www.kenbishopart.com/skitter_closeup.jpg) bear more than as passing resemblance to Davey Jones (http://trialx.com/curetalk/wp-content/blogs.dir/7/files/2011/04/gcelebrities/Davey_Jones-1.jpg). Why do aliens so rarely resemble mammals? And by mammals, I don't mean bipedal ones that look like they'd be comfortable in a furry convention...

[DigitalC]

I know the skitters have mechs and zombie kids protecting them but it still seems fairly foolish that they are all completely unarmed and rely on hand to gun combat.

[carnivorousplant]

I know the skitters have mechs and zombie kids protecting them but it still seems fairly foolish that they are all completely unarmed and rely on hand to gun combat.

If they had 1920's style Death Rays, humans would be in serious trouble.

[SenorBeef]

I think we needed more scenes of Religious Girl praying, we only had like 6 this episode.

Someone needs to lock the WAAAAAAAALLLLLT father in the corner because they were actually communicating through the kid to the alien, which might've been the first and only human-alien communication to ever take place, and he's gotta run in there like a dipshit and ruin everything.

[carnivorousplant]

I think we needed more scenes of Religious Girl praying, we only had like 6 this episode.



Do you think they are setting us up for a BSG ending?

[Merijeek]

Someone needs to lock the WAAAAAAAALLLLLT father in the corner because they were actually communicating through the kid to the alien, which might've been the first and only human-alien communication to ever take place, and he's gotta run in there like a dipshit and ruin everything.

...and we don't even know if he managed to kill the kid by ripping the thing off.

On the positive side, they can apparently snatch any kid and use him as their next translator.

So, the Skitters remote control the kids through the harnesses and the kids somehow control the mechs?

-Joe

[DigitalC]

Do you think they are setting us up for a BSG ending?

I was thinking The Mist actually.

[Half Man Half Wit]

Disposable Oriental Dude needs to be disposed of for turning his back on a prisoner.
Well to be fair, the idiocy here was letting the guy out in the first place...

At least the show is consistent: the characters continue to act like complete nitwits. Maybe this is just a radical change in approach that I fail to appreciate -- usually, such shows follow the heroic, brave, and smart types, the ones who will make a difference eventually; but in every end-of-the-world scenario, there's bound to be some nincompoops that survive due to sheer luck, so why not follow them instead? And at least they've got their faith, which as everybody knows is a virtue that always wins out over clever planning, smart decision making, analysis of the situation and other profane futilities small-minded nonbelievers might engage in...

[Death of Rats]

Wait until the next episode when they begin reproducing with humans to create horrific slimy non-cute hybrids! ^_^

Or worse, a cute little blond girl who will magically save the day and defeat the alien invasion through the combination of previously unheard of magical powers and cheesey special effects. :D

[carnivorousplant]

I was thinking The Mist actually.

You'll have to spoil that for me.

[DigitalC]

You'll have to spoil that for me.

Religious person turns into religious fanatic turns into cult leader.

[carnivorousplant]

Religious person turns into religious fanatic turns into cult leader.

Well, better than BSG or MHC.1

1. Magical Hybrid Child.

[DMark]

Oh wow, bread! Too bad the bad guy left, cause he can make BREAD!
Geez - how stupid are these people that they cannot make bread?
Seriously - primitive tribes around the world can make bread.

If they can't even make bread from scratch, it doesn't bode well that they will defeat an alien culture.

What's next - "Oh look - Bob can make lemonade using just lemons, sugar and water! He must be a chemist!!"

[Quimby]

Do you think they are setting us up for a BSG ending?

If they do that, I swear I am punching all of Hollywood in the brain.

Religious person turns into religious fanatic turns into cult leader.

Not exactly. Mrs. Carmody in The Mist was already a fanatic, it was just the arrival of monsters made people scared enough to take her seriously.

I wouldn't be shocked if this show has an episode like that sooner or later but my guess is Prayer Girl will be the counter example to show not all religious people are fascist kooks.

[carnivorousplant]

If they do that, I swear I am punching all of Hollywood in the brain.

Get in line. :)

[Omniscient]

This show is REALLY dumb. I'm going to keep watching it because there's nothing else on and I have a high tolerance for crappy sci-fi and some of the actors are likable, but the cliches and irrationality are getting a little ridiculous.

Anyone else notice that WAAALLLTTTT's dad's name is also Michael in this show too? Are we starting to develop a new typecast where black fathers need to be hopelessly devoted and obsessive in Hollywood? I feel like this is really racist in an attempt to not be racist.

I'm a bit curious what the story is with Pope's crazy need to kill skitters. He's almost cartoonishly bad and selfish, but he'll move mountains to be able to kill just one more skitter. There's going to be some development there, and it has a chance to be interesting if they don't make it hacky and cliche.

The skitters using the kids as soldiers is a potentially interesting development. They apparently are learning that humans will do irrational things when it comes to protecting kids and they are using them as pawns, both in executing them as punishment and using them as soldiers who won't be attacked. Smart move by the bad guys, but the characters seem so stupid that they don't notice it or discuss it in any real depth. Lots of potential here, hope the retarded monkeys writing this show figure out a way to capitalize on it. I'm not hopeful.

I'm a little confused why the people in this thread are so put off by the kids harvesting scrap metal. The skitters need material to continue fortifying their defenses. We have no idea what their technology is like, what they use for food or what they use for energy. We have no idea what their numbers are or what their resources are. The slave kids harvesting metal seems like a perfectly justifiable task. The efficiency that they employed is pretty suspect, there are going to be a lot of denser and more readily accessible sources of metal than stripping some warehouse but it seems pretty defensible from a story standpoint based on how little we know about the aliens. That the characters commented on how strange it seemed is confirmation that there's more to the story and we should stay tuned. Works for me. I wish the characters would spend a couple minutes actually sharing information and discussing these things rationally, but the premise isn't nonsensical.

[carnivorousplant]

The slave kids harvesting metal seems like a perfectly justifiable task. The efficiency that they employed is pretty suspect, there are going to be a lot of denser and more readily accessible sources of metal than stripping some warehouse.

Children aren't much good at picking up cars. :)

[ExTank]

Okay, I only paid half-attention to last night's episode (I'm also re-reading Patrick O'Briean's Post Captain, and it makes far more sense than Falling Skies)
but it seems the Neuro-something Doctor got throttled by the captive skitter. I looked up and the skitter had a hold of him around his neck from behind, reaching through the food slot of its cage.

Darwin in action, as far as I care.

And then the Professor & Co. go on a commando raid with New Tough Chick (whose attitude is working my last nerve) to rescue kids. But it seems some of them didn't live long enough separated from their skitter guardian to have their neck-bugs removed. That might have been a good piece of info to have before you rescued a whole passle of kids.

"Whoops. My bad."

Bah. I was going to drop this anyway if it conflicted with Breaking Bad, which comes back this coming Sunday.

[Spoke]

Darwin in action, as far as I care.

Yeah, the stupid is wearing thin.

[enalzi]

And then the Professor & Co. go on a commando raid with New Tough Chick (whose attitude is working my last nerve) to rescue kids. But it seems some of them didn't live long enough separated from their skitter guardian to have their neck-bugs removed. That might have been a good piece of info to have before you rescued a whole passle of kids.


Well, they certainly seemed surprised. I think this is the first is the first time they rescued kids by actually killing the Skitter guarding them. Not sure how they would've known beforehand.

Anyway, I am so happy that the "We have to rescue Ben...tomorrow!" storyline is over. I probably would've stopped watching if they didn't rescue him this time.

[Spoke]

"OK, we don't know whether Skitters understand English, we don't know whether they may be able to communicate with each other outside our range of hearing, or even telepathically...hmm....Why don't we plant that Skitter right here where he can overhear us discussing all our plans? What could possibly go wrong?"

"Yeah! And hey, I think I'll open this big-ass hatch on the cage and poke the Skitter with a stick for a while! I mean, he couldn't possibly reach his arm through that big ass hatch could he?"

[ExTank]

Well, they certainly seemed surprised. I think this is the first is the first time they rescued kids by actually killing the Skitter guarding them. Not sure how they would've known beforehand.

Anyway, I am so happy that the "We have to rescue Ben...tomorrow!" storyline is over. I probably would've stopped watching if they didn't rescue him this time.

But they did know that there's some sort of connection between the neck bugs (and their host child) and the skitters. Proceeding with their plan without knowing the full scope of said connection was a gamble.

[enalzi]

But they did know that there's some sort of connection between the neck bugs (and their host child) and the skitters. Proceeding with their plan without knowing the full scope of said connection was a gamble.

It's not like they had anyway of finding out. They had to kill the skitter to get the kids out silently. It was a necessary risk.

[simster]

It's not like they had anyway of finding out. They had to kill the skitter to get the kids out silently. It was a necessary risk.

Except that the son (whatever his name is) could have communicated his observations - they did not need to be in such a hurry to remove the bug from the kids at that point.

[Merijeek]

Except that the son (whatever his name is) could have communicated his observations - they did not need to be in such a hurry to remove the bug from the kids at that point.

There was no reason to believe he wanted to. If he wanted to, there was plenty of opportunity.

I'm not defending the show because I care - I've pretty much accepted that it's going to be pretty low-grade stuff. But the complaints should at least make some sense.

-Joe

[SenorBeef]

I thought this episode was actually relatively stupid-free. The doctor was stupid but he got himself killed for it - it's really the unpunished stupidity that's bothersome.

I have no problem with them risking the kids dying when seperated from their skitter - for one they didn't know, and for two, what else could they do anyway?

[Half Man Half Wit]

The doctor was stupid but he got himself killed for it - it's really the unpunished stupidity that's bothersome.
Except that even this felt contrived -- "You know, I have absolutely no idea where to take the doctor character from here..." - "Oh, let's just off him."

It was almost as bad as letting him die off screen, informing the audience in a half-sentence about it ("Oh, and Dr. Professor's 'Friend' choked on his oatmeal last night. If only we'd had more bread...").

[SenorBeef]

Agreed, not much point for it. Could've gone with a "good people turn bad under extreme pressure" theme I guess, I thought that's where they were heading. The whole plot line really didn't go anywhere.

[Stoid]

Whatever lameness this show can produce, I have to say that the sound of the Mechs FREAKS ME OUT COMPLETELY.

I am a very tough audience for stuff like this most of the time, but every time that mech walked by I got the shivers. FREAKS ME OUT.

So...good job on the sound effects, folks!!

[Turek]

Speaking of the dead doctor, didn't he have a bag of heroin in his hand when he approached the skitter? And didn't he have some sort of realization just before he bit it? And isn't the chemical the neckbugs injects into the kids some sort of opiate?

Did the skitters come to Earth for the good drugs? :D

[Merijeek]

Did the skitters come to Earth for the good drugs? :D

Good theory, but I believe they've attacked more than Bangkok, Detroit, and LA.

-Joe

[carnivorousplant]

Good theory, but I believe they've attacked more than Bangkok, Detroit, and LA.

-Joe

There's Levy, Arkansas...:)

[Merijeek]

There's Levy, Arkansas...:)

I don't think they're after meth. Clearly, poppies don't grow on their home planet, and this isn't just a smash-and-grab to grab Sudafed.

Or maybe it is? Maybe the scrap metal those kids were collecting was actually the remains of a pharmacy?

-Joe

[carnivorousplant]

I don't think they're after meth.

You're thinking Bauxite. That's the major industry after the bottom fell out of aluminum strip mining.

[John Mace]

Let's capture a technologically advanced member of an invading ET species, put him a cage with a big feeding door, and not post any guards. The stupid hoomans deserve to die!

[LurkerInNJ]

In a strange way it was kind of touching how the creature with six legs nested on top of the teenagers while they were sleeping and stroked their hair. It was like she felt protective of them. Six kids, six legs.

I suppose if you are captured and forced into slave labor with an alien creature screwed into your back, it would be nice to know your assigned alien wants to keep you warm at night, lol.

[Merijeek]

In a strange way it was kind of touching how the creature with six legs nested on top of the teenagers while they were sleeping and stroked their hair. It was like she felt protective of them. Six kids, six legs.

I suppose if you are captured and forced into slave labor with an alien creature screwed into your back, it would be nice to know your assigned alien wants to keep you warm at night, lol.

That's because the brother killed it before the ovipositor came out!

-Joe

[carnivorousplant]

Six kids, six legs.



Are you counting the cuckoo bird brother? :)

[simster]

Are you counting the cuckoo bird brother? :)

no, and apparently the skitters have an issue with counting as well (if this theory is true)

[carnivorousplant]

no, and apparently the skitters have an issue with counting as well (if this theory is true)

Then one presumes the skitters did not do the navigation to get here from Alpha Centauri or wherever. :)

[Hentor the Barbarian]

I've only watched the pilot and the subsequent episode, but this show is hilarious!

I loved how the military leader yelled out "Defensive positions!" as the Outlaw band approached, and the next shot of him showed a bunch of "soldiers" kind of arranged in a clump behind him. Really? Those are your "defensive positions"? What would it look like if he hadn't yelled anything?

Then, very shortly thereafter, Noah Wylie's squad opens an attack which they've cleverly set up by all huddling together behind some dumpsters. Boy, they really got the drop on them? How will they ever evade the fire coming from one group in one direction?

Then the outlaws open up with the 50 cal, which apparently can't even really put holes through a dumpster. The whole scene reminded me of the opening to "Police Squad!" where Drebin has a shootout with another guy while hiding behind trashcans at opposite sides of a narrow alley.

I loved how Wylie is offering suggestions of military strategies that have worked through time, and everyone's response is "shut up, nerd!" Gee, I guess our strategies of all going together to the front door and throwing a tennis ball at it are much better. These war-weary hardscrabble resistance fighters will be guaranteed to have some kind of emotional reaction and jump from cover, shouting loudly anyway.

Which shouldn't matter much anyway, because they always appear to move from location to location by walking abreast down the middle of the street.

I'm surprised that the aliens have not found any problems with a weapons system that gives their enemies specific knowledge about where they will be shooting in a few seconds.

It's no wonder, though, that the resistance is able to move about in the open, because despite having massive structures planted in the middle of multiple cities, these aliens find it worthwhile to spend their time supervising children while they gather together two foot tall piles of loose bed frames.

[enalzi]

In other news:
Falling Skies renewed for a second season (http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/07/07/tnt-renews-falling-skies-for-a-second-season/97472/)

[Irishman]

Been watching, haven't caught last week's yet. I'm enjoying it, mostly.

Also, when the resistance commander captured the villainous leader from the other group near the end, he should have immediately put a bullet through his skull.

Yes, absolutely. He was a friggin' murderous criminal before the incident, and his behavior with his group shows he is just a liability. I'm sure they're going for the "but maybe he knows things they need, like how to kill Skitters" and "maybe his personality is a survival function for humans" or whatever. Blah, he is not an asset to them at that time, and they don't need a drain on their resources. Wax him fast, take the weapons and any supplies the girl shows them, and move on. Use what info he dumped to Professor Soldier and move on.

As the Falling Skies character, in his attempts to tie the Revolutionary War to this conflict - who is going to play the role of France? Maybe the Arisians or the Asgaardians can swing by with some munitions (although Arisia tends to be more hands off).

It's not meant to be a direct analogue. More of a motivational/inspirational comparison.


Why do the aliens only go after groups under X size? Why are they shifting those numbers downward?

I took it as a simple matter of starting big and working down the chain. First wipe out the capitols and largest population centers - no need for everyone since they only want kids anyway. The military was eliminated in one fell swoop, too - too much hassle to deal with, make it go away. Now start in the big cities and do your round up/weed out/snatch kids routine. Kill off adults and infants, keep workable kids in harness. Start with groups of a million, work down from there. When run out of groups of a million, move down to groups of 100,000. Then groups of 10,000. Rinse, repeat. It's simple numbers. They got down to groups of 1000, so make smaller groups. Once they seek out and sort groups of 1000, then they'll aim at groups of 500, or 300, or whatever. It's simply logistics - focus on the most productive size you have to work with, and only go after the smaller groups later.

What makes a half-dozen guys think they can raid an enemy mothership to grab their missing relative and get away alive?

This! Well, it's not the mothership, but still, what makes them think they can raid an enemy compound to make off with a kid? What makes them think that making off with a harnessed kid is smart. Sure, you get your kid back, now what do you do with him? Is he still under the influence of the harness? Can they track him? Continue to control him? Get info on you from him? Okay, I understand they tried at first and then found out it kills the kids. Why are they so caught up with "rescuing" their specific children, when right now the rescue doesn't consist of helping unharness the kids, only either killing them or putting yourself and the rest of your group in danger?


There is something to be said for striking now, while there are weapons and bodies enough to make a difference, not next year when lack of food, medicine, and shelter has killed off 2-out-of-3 humans that the aliens haven't.

But that's the point, they don't have enough bodies to make a difference now. They only succeed on the small scale actions because the Skitters aren't really concerned with the small scale actions. If the attacks become to severe, they wipe everyone out, no fuss just muss. The humans are scattering and running now because they can't effectively fight, only get slaughtered. Right now it's about survival. They hope to learn enough to be able to develop effective means of larger scale resistance, but the primary goal now is to stay small enough not to be sought out by the Skitters, and avoid drawing attention they otherwise wouldn't get.

The Skitters are working on a two prong algorithm.

1) Deal with population by size, largest groups first, unless

2) If a population group attacks/resists/makes a mess, deal with them, then proceed to 1.


They should raid a Toys R Us or something and equip ALL the kids with skateboards, bikes, and scooters.

Yes, that's a brilliant idea. Right now they seem to have settled in the school area, but presumably they may need to run in the future again. Why not stock up now?

In the military, you need that chain of command. You need it so officers can tell you that going after a species that has WIPED OUT YOUR ARMED FORCES with your plucky group of 6 commandos just because you are a dedicated parent is a bad idea.

Bingo.


It would be kind of cool if the mousy praying girl became a loony cult leader and half the military defects to join up with her. I would think the destruction of most of humanity would make some people very susceptible to any kind of religious answers.

Yes, I'm so annoyed by the whole "let's pray together" thing. Surely somebody is out there, "I didn't believe in God before this mess happened, why would I start now?"

On a related note, how is only hot chicks survived? Did they use the less attractive as cover?

Interesting visual... "Quick, hide behind the fat girl!" I think this is just standard Hollywood filter on humanity. If it helps, you can imagine one of the hot girls used to be fat, but doesn't have as much to eat now. And imagine a giant mole on another one. :D

I still like the show, but the biggest :rolleyes: moment for me was when they have sneaked stealthily up on the harnessed kids, and the black guy spots his own lost son and goes TOTALLY FUCKING INSANE and yells "RICKEEEEEY!!!" at the top of his lungs and goes charging in there on his own like a complete idiot. I was hoping he'd get stomped by an alien mech.

Yeah, that was telegraphed and painful. I was hoping they'd make the point how dumb it was to lose your cool, but I guess the kid with the dog was making that point, so this point had to be "we can't resolve the main character's biggest hurdle right away".


Why do aliens so rarely resemble mammals? And by mammals, I don't mean bipedal ones that look like they'd be comfortable in a furry convention...

Why should they resemble mammals? I suppose if we're going to independently evolve sentient life, it is plausible somewhere out there another group also evolved hair/fur, and the survival benefits that construes. But from a writer's perspective, there's something about making the aliens more alien and less pleasant if you go with bugs as your inspiration. It triggers the innate creepy meter.

[boytyperanma]

In other news:
Falling Skies renewed for a second season (http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/07/07/tnt-renews-falling-skies-for-a-second-season/97472/)

Throwing more money down the hole in my opinion. I think I'm done with this one, nothing about it is holding my interest. It's just bad.maybe things will change and I'll be forced to catch up but until then I can watch plenty of failed sci-fy movies with better plots actors and special effects.

[Kylede]

Here is the fact you are all not getting

It isn't about the tech or the military "realness" or sci-fi
It is a drama about an occupied people!!!
It is a drama about a resistance movement!

The aliens and the invasion are the Mcguffin to do a show about an occupation and resistance movement .... Much like the original "V" (not the wacky weird new thing)

[Just Ed]

I usually don't nitpick these shows, but I'm really wondering about this - in this week's episode (7/17 - "Sanctuary"), the returning resistance fighter says there is an impending skitter attack on the camp, and tells Weaver their orders are to send the children ahead to safety (a cabin "Sanctuary") and wait for the Mass 3rd to meet them at their camp, after which both Weaver's group and the Mass 3rd will head to the same Sanctuary. But - why does this sound like a good idea to anybody? "Hey, send your kids to safety, but you guys stay here and wait for the skitters and their mechs to decimate you. Then the survivors can join up with the 3rd and go to their children!" What? Why? If there's a skitter attack coming, why am I waiting here for it?

[carnivorousplant]

I wish we were live posting as we did on 24,




Are we hiding spoilers in this thread?








'cause I didn't like this guy's plan right from the start, and figured he wanted the kids.

[aldiboronti]

I wish we were live posting as we did on 24,




Are we hiding spoilers in this thread?








'cause I didn't like this guy's plan right from the start, and figured he wanted the kids.

No spoilers warning in the title so I assume we are.

I couldn't get over how dumb that was. "Hey, our kids are our most precious commodity, let's send them all off with this guy who wandered in and said he wanted to go on ahead with them!".

[Stan Shmenge]

Not a good episode. I keep giving this show one more chance and keep getting disappointed.

[Face Intentionally Left Blank]

I wish we were live posting as we did on 24,




Are we hiding spoilers in this thread?








'cause I didn't like this guy's plan right from the start, and figured he wanted the kids.

Spoilers for July 17th episode:

Is there ANYBODY that didn't see that coming? I didn't trust the dude from the get-go. ONE guy comes in and says he wants all the kids? Yeah. . .no.

And remember, these are the ppl who survived while millions, of not billions, of others died. These are the clever survivors that take the dangerous criminals with them on missions, and give away their kids. They really need to bounce some ideas off other people before they commit them to film.

"Sorry, that's really stupid, and no way would I, nor any other reasonably intelligent person do that."

[Barkis is Willin']

Yeah, this is just not a good show. Everything that happens is totally telegraphed.
At the beginning of the episode, when the Dr. was working on a kid with a family we'd never seen, I said, "she's getting shot." Well, that didn't happen but there was a gun in her face when she turned around. I knew she wouldn't die, but it was so obvious that something bad was going to happen.

And yeah, who thought it was a good idea to just send the kids with the new guy? Come on!

Finally, what's the deal with Ben? He seems way more normal after removing the harness than Rick (is it Rick?) does.

The show is not frustratingly bad in a Lost sort of way. It's just a combination of a dumb story, dumb writing and sometimes quite bad acting. The DVR is set to record the whole series, so we'll probably finish out the season.

[carnivorousplant]

It's not great, but it is worth watching. Better than your average cop/doctor/lawyer program anyway. :)

[enalzi]

Spoilers for July 17th episode:

Is there ANYBODY that didn't see that coming? I didn't trust the dude from the get-go. ONE guy comes in and says he wants all the kids? Yeah. . .no.

And remember, these are the ppl who survived while millions, of not billions, of others died. These are the clever survivors that take the dangerous criminals with them on missions, and give away their kids. They really need to bounce some ideas off other people before they commit them to film.

"Sorry, that's really stupid, and no way would I, nor any other reasonably intelligent person do that."



I really think the problem was that he was just introduced to us. It was implied that they knew him pretty well, but we had no reason to trust him. They should've introduced him now, have him fight aside them, and then introduce this plot like five episodes from now.

[Merijeek]

I haven't seen this newest episode yet, but I have to ask...does the guy own a bike shop?

-Joe

[carnivorousplant]

More


spoiled


stuff



about


the


previous


episode.

They should've introduced him now, have him fight aside them, and then introduce this plot like five episodes from now.

But the aliens are probably using his family to make him co operate, so he doesn't have much time.

[enalzi]

But the aliens are probably using his family to make him co operate, so he doesn't have much time.

Well, they could've made him not get "turned" until later on. I'm not saying my idea would work with the plot as it is right now, I'm saying that we needed to know this character more so his sudden but inevitable betrayal was more of a twist.

[carnivorousplant]

Well, they could've made him not get "turned" until later on. I'm not saying my idea would work with the plot as it is right now, I'm saying that we needed to know this character more so his sudden but inevitable betrayal was more of a twist.

Yeah, that would have worked.

[simster]

Well, that's just it - 'we' don't know his motivation just yet, and it was also clear that he had ties with members of that group before they split off - so, it's not unreasonable for them to trust him at that juncture. It also makes sense to move the children away from imminent fighting, as well as having to maintain the FOB for the rest of the whatever group to meet up with.

They also sent members of their own fighters with him - so its not like they trusted him entirely on his own.

I also think its quite understandable that 'most humans would trust other humans to not betray them directly to the aliens' at this point - unless harnessed, this is likely the first time they will have encountered a traitor of this magnitude.

IOW, while it was obvious 'a mile a way' to all of us viewers - it does actually fit into the show.

and of course - he will still end up dieing a 'hero's death' before the end of this - he'll do something redeemable - at least partially so.

[SenorBeef]

No need for spoiler boxes after we've been talking openly about the show for weeks.


But yeah, that plan didn't even have the superficiality of sounding reasonable. Even if it had been "send all your civilians ahead while the fighters delay" that makes more sense, and you could have a subplot in which the civilians were killed or abandoned and the kids taken. But just saying "oh hey guys yeah just give us your kids. And stay here. And keep the adult civvies with you" makes no sense from any angle.

[John Mace]

I'm shocked, SHOCKED, that the kids were lead into a trap. Never would have guessed it in a million years.

[carnivorousplant]

I'm shocked, SHOCKED, that the kids were lead into a trap. Never would have guessed it in a million years.

Hmmph.




:)

[simster]

No need for spoiler boxes after we've been talking openly about the show for weeks.


But yeah, that plan didn't even have the superficiality of sounding reasonable. Even if it had been "send all your civilians ahead while the fighters delay" that makes more sense, and you could have a subplot in which the civilians were killed or abandoned and the kids taken. But just saying "oh hey guys yeah just give us your kids. And stay here. And keep the adult civvies with you" makes no sense from any angle.

I don't get this argument - within the context of the show, the perfessor even cited this type of thing being done during the blitz of london - sending the kids to the countryside.

as for not sending the civilians - while they may not be 'fighters' - they all still have roles and jobs to do - now, they should have sent the pregnant lady- but they even addressed this to some degree by saying they were sending the children that were 'most at risk' to be captured and harnessed.

IOW, yes, telegraphed a mile a way that this was going to be a bad move - but from within the context of the show, I have no issue with them agreeing (reluctantly) with the plan - protect the kids - maintain the base until the 3rd Mass arrives - move out.

[enalzi]

I think the plan made sense, it was just poorly explained. That school was a base to them. Plenty of space from everyone inside, they had already settled down. Picking up everything and moving again is not good. They would just be wandering through the state. They would only move if it was an absolute necessary.

[DMark]

So, we only learn what it was like to be a "slave" for the aliens because a little kid asked his brother in a private conversation?
Not a single adult thought to ask the kids about how it was, how did they communicate, what was it like so maybe they could get into the mindset? Nobody thought this might be of interest with regards to understanding their aggressors and communicating with them, or at least listening in?
Idiots.
The human race deserves to be devoured if this is how they run things...

[TBG]

What did the aliens do with blonde motorcycle chick? Kill her? Harness her? Ship her to Antares VII to sell as a sex slave? Even oldest son seems to have completely forgotten about her. You'd think now that they got middle son back he'd be going nuts wanting to go look for her.

[obfusciatrist]

According to IMDB the actress, Jessy Schram, is in the next two episodes.

[TBG]

According to IMDB the actress, Jessy Schram, is in the next two episodes.

I'd say "cool" but IMDB cast listings of unaired episodes of shows have proven to be unreliable at best in the past. I think sometimes they just copypasta the first ep credits across the whole season.

[DigitalC]

I'm starting to think the whole kids thing is just a red herring and the aliens are only interested in killing the disposable black men.

[Shakes]

Two things that bothered me about last night's show.

The commander dude doing the "Mr. Miyagi" thing on pregnant lady.

The con dude wussing out when he had a chance to stab his captor in the throat. I was really hoping for a darker tone to this series.

Anyway, I'm still going to watch as I am a Sci-Fi slut.

[ZPG Zealot]

Two things that bothered me about last night's show.

The commander dude doing the "Mr. Miyagi" thing on pregnant lady.

The con dude wussing out when he had a chance to stab his captor in the throat. I was really hoping for a darker tone to this series.

Anyway, I'm still going to watch as I am a Sci-Fi slut.

I've been puzzling over the wuss out scence. I'm trying to decide if it was just bad writing or incredibly good writing. The show does suffer mightly from characters doing stupid, illogically completely senseless things. However, it could be good writing if it's part of a character arc going one of two paths. Path one, it could be a sign of con dude developing a conscience which properly done could be good story line. Path two, it could be sign a nice twist, in which it is revealed that con dude isn't quite what he appears or as tough as he fronts. Let's face it, his cooking skills seem a little off for his sort of character: fresh baked bread and asparagus, rarely happen in most prison kitchens. He might have been in prison, but wasn't one of the tougher dogs. However he learned their ways and since the invasion he's tried to reinvent himself. I think that could be a fantastic plot twist.

[Stan Shmenge]

and of course - he will still end up dieing a 'hero's death' before the end of this - he'll do something redeemable - at least partially so.

You win! (http://knowyourmeme.com/system/icons/1732/original/winternet.jpg)

The best part of the episode? "ONLY TWO EPISODES LEFT!!!"

Yep, "THE TRUTH IS WORSE THAN THEIR DARKEST FEARS!!!1!!!1 ELEVENTY!!!!"

At this point I am going to stick it out till the season finale. More out of a morbid fascination than any actual enjoyment.

That all being said, this wasn't a bad ep, as they go...

[Stan Shmenge]

And there may be one other reason I am staying around:

Holy Moley! (http://gallery.celebritypro.com/data/media/816/moon-bloodgood-loaded-uk-july-2009-4.jpg)

/tea, undies, etc.

[simster]

You win! (http://knowyourmeme.com/system/icons/1732/original/winternet.jpg)

The best part of the episode? "ONLY TWO EPISODES LEFT!!!"

Yep, "THE TRUTH IS WORSE THAN THEIR DARKEST FEARS!!!1!!!1 ELEVENTY!!!!"

At this point I am going to stick it out till the season finale. More out of a morbid fascination than any actual enjoyment.

That all being said, this wasn't a bad ep, as they go...

yup - I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong -

[Stan Shmenge]

I don't think they're after meth.

No, that would be the writers of this drek fest!

[Stan Shmenge]

yup - I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong -

But you weren't! Yeah he wasn't killed, but he could have been. You called it.

[Stan Shmenge]

Another thing, I am hating is they are still in that stupid school. Yeah, it's a TV budget (cable TV no less) but shouldn't they be moving on? ESPECIALLY AFTER A SKITTER AND A MECH FOUND OUT THEIR LOCATION? Time to put out the candles, pack up the kid's pictures and bug out.

Also, must every home the mobile bands break into look like a rich television producer's house? Somebody is getting fat here.

[simster]

But you weren't! Yeah he wasn't killed, but he could have been. You called it.

I think you missed it - They captured/surrounded them - they had the hands up - then the leader guy went to pull his gun to kill perfesser's oldest - perfesser shot him - he died.

The rest of the group (that was still left - there were 2 or 3 shot for sure) - were left alive with a stern talking to and warning.

[TBG]

Another thing, I am hating is they are still in that stupid school. Yeah, it's a TV budget (cable TV no less) but shouldn't they be moving on? ESPECIALLY AFTER A SKITTER AND A MECH FOUND OUT THEIR LOCATION? Time to put out the candles, pack up the kid's pictures and bug out.

Where else are they gonna go that the aliens aren't going to be as equally likely to find them? It was one thing to move under what they thought were orders and news of an incoming full scale attack, it's another to pick up and move after every minor skirmish with a scouting team. Particularly when the aliens haven't been bothering with groups their size or smaller.

Of course, that point makes that trading kids deal with the other group seem bizarre. They were a pretty small group, and even assuming they'd lost a lot of people along the way before striking up the deal, it still seems they'd still be way smaller than the group at the school. Why were the skitters even messing with them to begin with? Either there's more to the story than we've been told, or it's sloppy writing. (probably the 2nd)

[Spoke]

At this point I am going to stick it out till the season finale. More out of a morbid fascination than any actual enjoyment.

Same here. Me, I'm enjoying the "effete Apocalypse" moments like the impromptu soccer match with the Adirondack decor goals. :D

[carnivorousplant]

I like this episode best, aside from the required baby stuff. :rolleyes:

[Typo Negative]

"If I hear of any of you dealing with skitters again, I'll kill ya'.

I think that was the straw that broke the camel's back. It came right after they didn't shoot the traitor's leader until " 'oops' here's another gun....now you HAVE to shoot me!"

These guys betrayed their species and stole your children to be served up as harnessed slaves to alien reptiles. And you are gonna let them walk away?????

No. You shoot all of them, you hang them like Christmas decorations from the trees then head back to pack up the school and hightail it out.

Then you punch Noah Wylie, just 'cause you don't like his face anymore.

[SenorBeef]

They could've even made it out to be non-vindinctive. They could've given a speech like "You're collaborators. You've already crossed that line. If the skitters find you, the first thing you'll do is grovel before them and try to give them anything they want. And this includes what you know about the resistance. We can't let that happen" and then execute them. That would both be colder, and yet more logical, and would certainly not be violence for violence's sake, so it's really dissapointing they don't go that route. Quite frankly an end of the world show with network TV sensibilities is just boring when you compare it to better, darker stuff we've had over the last decade.

[Chefguy]

Out of boredom, I watched an episode of this series the other day. I think I'd rather be bored.

[Spoke]

More dumbassery:

OK, we've got a kid who still has alien hardware inside him, who's acting really odd, and who seems strangely sympathetic to the skitters. On top of that, he seems to be displaying some telepathic abilities.

I know! Let's bring him into the room when we are discussing our plans for attacking the aliens! Because it makes perfect sense for him to be present, right? Also, let's give him a good look at the new ammunition we've developed!

Sure, he's acting really weird, but that's probably just hormones, right? You know how teenagers are!

Besides, it's best if we keep all our military plans right out in the open for everyone to hear and see. After all, there's no chance any human could ever cooperate with the aliens, am I right? I mean, that's never happened in this very series one episode ago, right?

[El_Kabong]

Fortunately, the aliens don't seem to be any less inept at military tactics than the humans are. They send one random Mech to take out the the Prof and Co., when simply having a second one on hand would have pretty much guaranteed success. No backup at all? And what about crazy lady talkiing to the harnessed girl through the door? Didn't that kind of give away the game a bit as well?

At this point the only thing the series seems to be doing well at all effectively is making the aliens creepy. I'll still confess to enjoying this show, but it's now gone well into guilty pleasure territory.

[Death of Rats]

More dumbassery:

OK, we've got a kid who still has alien hardware inside him, who's acting really odd, and who seems strangely sympathetic to the skitters. On top of that, he seems to be displaying some telepathic abilities.

I know! Let's bring him into the room when we are discussing our plans for attacking the aliens! Because it makes perfect sense for him to be present, right? Also, let's give him a good look at the new ammunition we've developed!

Sure, he's acting really weird, but that's probably just hormones, right? You know how teenagers are!

Besides, it's best if we keep all our military plans right out in the open for everyone to hear and see. After all, there's no chance any human could ever cooperate with the aliens, am I right? I mean, that's never happened in this very series one episode ago, right?

This is the same group who spent most of episodes 2,3, and 4 having in-depth strategy sessions and personal heart-to-hearts right in front of the alien prisoner who was clearly studying them.

They left it alone with Ricky, even after it demonstrated that it could control him.

They never even posted a guard on the thing which allowed it to kill the surgeon.

Operational security and basic common sense do not seem to be SOP for the 2nd. Mass.

[carnivorousplant]

I presume they've beaten us over the head with the harnessed kid thing enough that communicating with the aliens will be an important plot thingie next week.

[Typo Negative]

Someone here already guessed that the skitters were themselves harnesses by another group?

[Lust4Life]

Have tried to watch it but its too "Soapy " for me.

[Stoid]

Sucking more than ever.

Mech sound still freaking me out.

[Tangent]

Just the other day I watched the movie adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender (and it sucked as much as I had heard) and I realized the actress who played the blonde, blue-eyed Princess Yue (of the Northern Water tribe) is the religious girl in Falling Skies.

So, in this latest episode, are they saying that the harnesses physically turn other types of beings into the skitters? So that, over time, a human could end up looking like a skitter?

[Just Ed]

So, in this latest episode, are they saying that the harnesses physically turn other types of beings into the skitters? So that, over time, a human could end up looking like a skitter?

That seems to be a "popular theory among viewers (http://tvrecaps.ew.com/recap/falling-skies-episode-7/)", but I'm not sure I'm buying it. It would appear the harnesses are instrumental in assimilating another life-form's mind (cf. Rick), but physically morphing the body as well? It would be more believable to posit the skitters began as some other life form not too dissimilar from what they are now (the last race conquered by our new bipedal overlords maybe), and humanity's future is to be similarly assimilated into slaves/underlings.

[enalzi]

That seems to be a "popular theory among viewers (http://tvrecaps.ew.com/recap/falling-skies-episode-7/)", but I'm not sure I'm buying it. It would appear the harnesses are instrumental in assimilating another life-form's mind (cf. Rick), but physically morphing the body as well? It would be more believable to posit the skitters began as some other life form not too dissimilar from what they are now (the last race conquered by our new bipedal overlords maybe), and humanity's future is to be similarly assimilated into slaves/underlings.

Yeah, I think still looked roughly the same, but the harness slowly gave them the hard exoskeleton.

[carnivorousplant]

Mech sound still freaking me out.

Well, they are doing something right. :)

[DigitalC]

Yeah, I think still looked roughly the same, but the harness slowly gave them the hard exoskeleton.

Yeah the harness was DEEP inside the skitter, whatever they are now grew over what they were before.

[Quimby]

So, in this latest episode, are they saying that the harnesses physically turn other types of beings into the skitters? So that, over time, a human could end up looking like a skitter?

I assumed when I first saw the harness they meant the Skitters were a race the third party aliens harnessed and just as much victims as the humans were and but realized quickly they meant what you just wrote which is less interesting IMO.

[Spoke]

I assumed when I first saw the harness they meant the Skitters were a race the third party aliens harnessed and just as much victims as the humans were and but realized quickly they meant what you just wrote which is less interesting IMO.

That was my take, too, and I agree it would be more interesting (and logical) if the skitters were just another enslaved race.

[DMark]

As the original OP of this thread, I am glad to see all the comments, but also glad to see this show wrapping up next Sunday. There have been a few interesting moments, but for the most part I think it is chock full of "duh" moments. Apparently the aliens were pretty clever and killed off all the smart people when they landed, leaving only the dolts to survive:

- They finally capture a live skitter and pretty much don't do anything with it; no attempt to discover physical weakness, likes/dislikes/ability to communicate, pain threshold, mental abilities, etc. And once dead, it takes weeks to think about doing an autopsy.

- Needless to say, the kids who have returned are a bit odd to say the least, but they allow them to sullenly sit in the corner and/or co-mingle with the group without any real discussion of what happened, or doing any physical/mental testing of them. A kid who fell down in gym class would have had better follow up than a kid who was captured by aliens?

- They hold up in a school that presumably has a library, but none of the masses go in there to learn how to cook, how to assist with simple medical procedures, how to plan military strategy and, I donno, maybe a thousand other skills and knowledge sets that might be of use?

Maybe they should have named this show the Darwin Theory and simply have the survivors drool in the corner and watch re-runs of Everybody Loves Raymond until the skitters come and kill them all.

Any word if this show has been picked up for another season?

[Tangent]

Yes, it was announced a few weeks ago that it was picked up for a season 2 with 10 episodes.

[Meatros]

I'm having a seriously hard time liking this show. I say that with the fact that I LOVE alien take over the world movies/shows.

Or maybe this is the tipping point of my fascination. It seems to have been done before, and better. Although I haven't seen last Sunday's show (DVR'd), I gather from the comments here that it is revealed that the skitters are skittered, so-to-speak. Which reminds me of Skyline.

I'm thoroughly at the 'meh' stage and I'm hoping that it turns around.

[Folacin]

At least the lucky hit on the landing flying machine didn't cause a chain reaction that brought the whole alien structure down.

Will probably watch it when it comes back next summer - but apparently there is no longer any military to speak of in MA, so that story line has come to an end.

Seems odd that this is apparently the strongest resistance the aliens have come up against - it was pretty weak tea, from what we saw - maybe this is the first post iron-age civilization they've come up against? Although, I guess maybe they were surprised their first assualt worked so well, and thought there would be no resistance at all.

My major complaint is that the skitters (skidders?) were apparently shuffling their frequencies for no particular reason prior to the attack, but didn't think to change once radio jamming was being used against them?

[carnivorousplant]

I'm thoroughly at the 'meh' stage and I'm hoping that it turns around.

Apparently not, given the lack of posts. :)

I think I'd have shot the big guy and see if he left the keys on the aircraft.

[simster]

Apparently not, given the lack of posts. :)

I think I'd have shot the big guy and see if he left the keys on the aircraft.

I'm thinking he thought -

"Wish I had another RPG"

My take on the "we didn't expect resistance" was more along the lines of "We didn't expect effective resistance - in the last day, you've figured out how to jam communications (and hurt our skitters apparently) as well as ammunition that can take down our mechs and fliers - holy shit - and, if our spies are correct - BOTH of these came from the son(s) of that guy with the beard"

They should have left the cliffhanger with him having to decide to leave with them, not with him actually leaving with them - that had to the stupidest thing of this entire series.

[carnivorousplant]

They should have left the cliffhanger with him having to decide to leave with them, not with him actually leaving with them - that had to the stupidest thing of this entire series.

It's way to cool to use on TV, but he still has an automatic weapon. Captain Reynolds would have said, "Sure." and started shooting when he got inside.
:)

[Folacin]

I kind of doubt that the long skinny guy was flying solo. And didn't the girl say 'we can force you?'.

Mason was appropriately pissed (nice little yelling scene there) - but I don't know that he had a lot of options. Going peacefully has a non-zero (probably < 3% though) chance of leading to something good - the professor's character seems to be the type that would take that risk.

Captain Reynold's high odds of starting to shoot when he got inside is probably why they didn't take him, also. Assuming the alien's didn't off him when they took off (I don't think we saw the take off, did we?) - that actually shows some good faith on their part.

[DMark]

Interesting finale.
Sort of glad to see the Mad Max ragtag army pretty much finished, and it could be interesting to see how this new reach-out for communication goes.
Didn't the young black kid, speaking as a skitter, mention that they were shocked humans killed other humans and "we would never do such a thing"?
Will the next season turn into "V", or "Close Encounters" or "E.T."?

This was not a great series, but I will most likely tune in next season to see if they go off in a new direction. If they go back to the Tea Party militia, this time hold up in a Costco, I think I will stop watching.

[carnivorousplant]

I kind of doubt that the long skinny guy was flying solo. And didn't the girl say 'we can force you?'.
Faster than he can shoot? :)


Captain Reynold's high odds of starting to shoot when he got inside is probably why they didn't take him, also.

I refer to Mal Reynolds, of Firefly.

[ExTank]

Apparently not, given the lack of posts. :)

I think I'd have shot the big guy and see if he left the keys on the aircraft.

Last week, when they were eyeball-eyeball through the peephole in the Crazy Lady's apartment, I half-expected The Professor to whip the door open, jam a BFG under the shovel-head's chin (or chin-analog), and either cap him or take him prisoner.

It's what I think I would've done in that situation. And they are seriously lacking snappy dialogue in this series; I would've said, "Hi! Welcome to Earth. Don't panic, we're mostly harmless."

[carnivorousplant]

It's what I think I would've done in that situation. And they are seriously lacking snappy dialogue in this series; I would've said, "Hi! Welcome to Earth. Don't panic, we're mostly harmless."

Good plan, but I'd deliver the line over his dead body. Safer that way. :)

[John Mace]

I only watched the first hour, but for the love of God, will they stop diddling around with the bit about the kid who is turning into an alien. He should be running around like crazy telling his dad that he can hear the radio waves and that his buddy is still connected to the hive mind. No one would act that slowly in this type of life or death situation. Please, stop the stupid!!!

[Folacin]

He did finally 'fess up. I think the in-story reasoning on his holding back is that everyone already looked at him like he's an alien; he was loathe to give them any ammo, after just getting back on the good list last week, after doing something that I don't quite remember what it was.

Which, for a 12-year kid, is probably pretty important - he wants to belong to the group.

[TBG]

- They hold up in a school that presumably has a library, but none of the masses go in there to learn how to cook, how to assist with simple medical procedures, how to plan military strategy and, I donno, maybe a thousand other skills and knowledge sets that might be of use?

Maybe if they'd holed up in a college or something, but none of the high school (or lower) libraries I've ever been in have had cook books, medical books, etc. Maybe the best you'll find is a set of encyclopedias, some of the books they force you to read for English class (and other books of that type), and lots and lots of biographies. Maybe some history books but none of the type that are going to help with any strategic planning.

[carnivorousplant]

Maybe if they'd holed up in a college or something,

I agree, but you would think they would search college and medical libraries.

[Stan Shmenge]

It was an OK season ender. Will tune in again next summer!?! Ten episodes is weak, and to make us wait almost a year? Who the hell do they think they are, South Park?

[Barkis is Willin']

The character of Rick alone ruins the entire show. His behavior and the behavior of others interacting with him is just way too dumb. I also liked how Will Patton had the shakes for all of about 3 minutes. And adding this new guy, Danner(?), in the final episode(s) was also a little weird and unnecessary. My return to this show is doubtful.

[enalzi]

This finale set up a lot of potential for the next season, as long as they don't throw the cosmic reset switch.
"Hey, we met up with another army battalion! And found another school! And the professor is back acting exactly the same!"

[Merijeek]

The character of Rick alone ruins the entire show. His behavior and the behavior of others interacting with him is just way too dumb. I also liked how Will Patton had the shakes for all of about 3 minutes. And adding this new guy, Danner(?), in the final episode(s) was also a little weird and unnecessary. My return to this show is doubtful.

Rick isn't necessarily so bad. The other characters treating him normally, on the other hand, is.

As for Will Patton and his shakes, I personally have to wonder if it would be better to have your commanding officer (who is headed on a suicide mission in the next 24 hours) a little bit tweaked or a lot a bit withdrawl'd.

-Joe

[Typo Negative]

He gave up himself on the hope of saving his kid.

UnBELIEVABLY stupid. What does he think the trade-off is gonna be? Sell out your species in order to save your offspring? Even if that was the horrible deal, how could he possible trust invaders?

Yeah, he should have shot that thing where it stood, boarded the ship to see if there were any more, then try to crash it into the structure.

[nivlac]

I watched this show off and on over the 10 weeks. I tried but could never find myself caring about any of the main characters. If the series is over I wouldn't care.

[Merijeek]

UnBELIEVABLY stupid. What does he think the trade-off is gonna be? Sell out your species in order to save your offspring? Even if that was the horrible deal, how could he possible trust invaders?


To be fair, they allegedly wanted to negotiate. It's not like humanity is going to actually win the war through force of arms.

(And hey Captain Ponytail, you are in fact aware that if something is built on four stilts you really only need to blow one if you're lucky, two if you're not, right?)

-Joe

[carnivorousplant]

(And hey Captain Ponytail, you are in fact aware that if something is built on four stilts you really only need to blow one if you're lucky, two if you're not, right?)



Perhaps he didn't think every group would live to blow up their leg. :)

[Merijeek]

Perhaps he didn't think every group would live to blow up their leg. :)

So in that case the logic is....

A - It might be possible to attack successfully if we have two other units helping
B - We don't have two other units helping so it's suicide
C - So we'll thin our numbers even farther by splitting up and attacking all four legs
D - Profit!

Maybe the drugs were rotting his brain!

-Joe

[carnivorousplant]

Perhaps it's more like, "We're all gonna die. Maybe one group of four will make it far enough to blow up a leg." :)

[Barkis is Willin']

Rick isn't necessarily so bad. The other characters treating him normally, on the other hand, is.


The last straw for me was, "I just attacked the radio guy, pulled off some moves that Adrian Peterson would be jealous of and then totally sold you fools out to the aliens. But now, 30 seconds later, I'm really, really sorry I did that. I guess I should have asked them to harness me first and THEN give them the info. Dang it!" I wanted Tom to have to put him down. But instead, he brings him back to camp and lets him go free...again.

Don't even get me started with Pope, the leader of a gang of homicidal rapists who moonlights as a four star chef and tells kids to listen to their parents.

[carnivorousplant]

I wanted Tom to have to put him down.

That would have been outstanding, but you can't have a kid whack another on TV.
Hell, they should have killed the collaborators, too.

[clarkstar]

i wanted to like this, but each episode was worse than the previous.

why exactly was weaver in charge anyway? that stupid ponytail was enough for me to not be a follower.

so many idiotic things were done which everyone else has mentioned...

[Typo Negative]

It just occurred to me. D'oh!

IT'S A SOAP OPERA!!!!

Seriously, the writing style. It's a fucking soap!!