# NBC's "The Event" (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 21, 2010, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbcs-the-event-open-spoilers/554494 "2010-09-21T02:05:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbcs-the-event-open-spoilers/554494/221 "2011-05-24T06:22:06Z")
Looked like just one planet to me. So the President’s wife is one of them after all? I wonder if the showrunners always planned to end the season this way, or if once they knew they weren’t going to be renewed they said, “Fuck it, let’s just screw with their heads as much as possible.” ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbcs-the-event-open-spoilers/554494/222 "2011-05-24T08:13:46Z")
I think we should start a petition demanding that NBC or the producers do a movie to wrap the damn thing up, this is just CRUEL! ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbcs-the-event-open-spoilers/554494/223 "2011-05-24T13:56:51Z")
There seemed to be a couple bodies in some of the shots – maybe they brought along their moon, too? So… assume the newly arrived planet is basically earth sized and has the equivalent mass. Anyone want to do the math on how long before gravity causes the two planets to smash into each other, undoubtedly destroying all life on both of them? OTOH, if they have some super-science that will allow them to keep the two planets from colliding…why would the aliens need to move to earth? The problem was their sun was going nova. Their sun isn’t in the picture any longer, right? ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbcs-the-event-open-spoilers/554494/224 "2011-05-24T14:41:46Z")
…Why do they need to ‘make room’ if they’re bringing along their own planet? ---
**Author:** ![Meltdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Meltdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meltdown)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbcs-the-event-open-spoilers/554494/225 "2011-05-24T16:17:14Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > …Why do they need to ‘make room’ if they’re bringing along their own planet? Well, it did look like a lot of their planet was on fire – maybe it was so far gone as to be uninhabitable (no more natural resources)? What I want to know is how they plan on getting their people over here (assuming the planets just don’t collide, killing everybody). Shuttle trips? Another portal? Who’d be left to run it, assuming the humans capture the team in Siberia? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbcs-the-event-open-spoilers/554494/226 "2011-05-24T19:07:43Z")
Welp, there ya have it. After the wife gave her excuse to the president about really being a Cuban, that look she gave as they embraced, was really telling that she just talked her way out of the truth of her being one of them. But, I did like that they ended it on her, and the last line. I expected a huge fleet of ships to come through or something, not the entire planet. As physically ridiculous as it was, it was kinda cool. They must have the thing _teetering_ on a [Lagrange point.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagrangian_point) But even at that, a planet the size of earth wouldn’t be stable at all. They also cheated the distances of the moon in those space shots, so why not the planet? Anyway, my feelings on this show was how I felt about _FlashForward;_ it would’ve been nice had it continued, I would’ve stayed glued, so long as it held my interest. I would’ve liked to have known the producers/writers end game. It had potential. Also, the “Event” itself, Simon seemed to suggest it is some epoch in their evolution that humans wouldn’t be able to survive? Did I hear that right? Any ideas/fanwanks to what that means, since we’ll never really know. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbcs-the-event-open-spoilers/554494/227 "2011-05-24T19:14:53Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > …Why do they need to ‘make room’ if they’re bringing along their own planet? Yeh, Simon said it was being irradiated, and the southern hemisphere’s crust was clearly shattered from catastrophe. They were just buying time to look for a new home. Why not just give them Antarctica and point a billion nukes at it. I’m sure with their advanced technology, they could survive, and/or create civilized areas that are terraformed locally. Or something. I imagine, if it had a second season, we’d see an all out war between the two planets. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbcs-the-event-open-spoilers/554494/228 "2011-05-24T22:46:53Z")
If you go to the NBC Event website, there are a couple of links to blogposts by the writers and most importantly, the creator, who says that he’s always promised NOT to leave us hanging. He says sign up with his facebook/twitter account and watch the website page for updates… I sure hope he’s not full of it! He also clarifies what happened in the last episode. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbcs-the-event-open-spoilers/554494/229 "2011-05-24T23:46:50Z")
My main thought? “Holy crap, they brought Cybertron to Earth through the Space Bridge!” In other words, this entire show basically spent a season building to an episode of an 80’s kids cartoon, just without the kickass giant robots. And they never did explain how Jason Ritter knew to get on that plane in the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbcs-the-event-open-spoilers/554494/230 "2011-05-24T23:51:36Z")
Did they get the earthquake subplot from Family Radio? ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbcs-the-event-open-spoilers/554494/231 "2011-05-25T00:04:12Z")
I have seen a lot of rot, a lot of filth, a lot of vile rubbish in my time, but I have never seen something in my life that can rival the steaming pile of worm-infested pig feces that was The Event… ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbcs-the-event-open-spoilers/554494/232 "2011-05-25T12:41:20Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > And they never did explain how Jason Ritter knew to get on that plane in the beginning. Yeah, that’s been bugging me throughout the series. I mean, it basically sets the whole thing into motion – and there’s never even a hint at an explanation. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbcs-the-event-open-spoilers/554494/233 "2011-05-25T17:17:11Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > Yeah, that’s been bugging me throughout the series. I mean, it basically sets the whole thing into motion – and there’s never even a hint at an explanation. I thought the ‘hints’ for that was that he was a gaurdian thingy - somewhat prescient about being in the right place/right time kinda thing. Not to mention he had rad hacking skills. I also seem to recall a car chase in the second episode or so that involved him getting to the airport on time - maybe it was just chance. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbcs-the-event-open-spoilers/554494/234 "2011-05-25T18:49:06Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > So… assume the newly arrived planet is basically earth sized and has the equivalent mass. Anyone want to do the math on how long before gravity causes the two planets to smash into each other, undoubtedly destroying all life on both of them? Depends on the velocity of the planet. If it was just plunked down, then it might actually fall into the sun, depending on the distance it was from both the Earth and Sun. And it would play havoc with our own orbit, too. We’re going to need a bigger planet. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbcs-the-event-open-spoilers/554494/235 "2011-05-25T18:52:56Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Also, the “Event” itself, Simon seemed to suggest it is some epoch in their evolution that humans wouldn’t be able to survive? Did I hear that right? Yes, that’s exactly how I understood it. The main thing that bugged me about the finale was Sophia claim that the humans would have been better off if the poison infection had killed us as they planned… Something about how the Event would’ve been very tortuous for us. That goes TOTALLY against everything she said previously. She NEVER gave us even a clue that the poison was an act of mercy. It was always simply about getting us out of the way to make room for them. I liked how Martinez taped Jarvis. I never saw that coming. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbcs-the-event-open-spoilers/554494/236 "2011-05-25T18:58:48Z")
I didn’t see the final episode, but are you telling me that they never actually got to the actual Event of the title of the series? ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbcs-the-event-open-spoilers/554494/237 "2011-05-26T00:19:22Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I didn’t see the final episode, but are you telling me that they never actually got to the actual Event of the title of the series? Soap operas never end, they’re just cancelled. Even prime time science fiction/action-adventure soap operas. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbcs-the-event-open-spoilers/554494/238 "2011-05-27T08:11:08Z")
Well, if you’re not entirely too jaded to watch another TV alien invasion series, the good news is that Spielberg and Dreamworks are coming out with [Falling Skies](http://www.tnt.tv/dramavision/index.jsp?oid=81643) in June on TNT. At least this one looks like it will have some good action! ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbcs-the-event-open-spoilers/554494/239 "2011-05-27T12:22:43Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I didn’t see the final episode, but are you telling me that they never actually got to the actual Event of the title of the series? Well, they got to a definition of ‘the event’ from the aliens perspective (their pending transformation) - IMHO, the ‘event event’ would be having this damn strange planet suddenly appearing in orbit ‘right there’. ---
**Author:** ![Saganist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Saganist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saganist)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbcs-the-event-open-spoilers/554494/240 "2011-05-28T00:54:22Z")
Finally was able to watch the last episode. As much as I despised this show for creating an interesting premise and then stabbing it in the face, I would support it continuing on in some form. They basically wasted an entire season on trivial bullshit to only now create a setting in the finale that is _interesting_. Everyone on Earth knows these guys exist and we now need to figure out how to integrate the two populations. Plus there’s still the mysterious stuff about the Event itself and the sentinels. Now _that_ ought to be good tv. > [@Keeve](#): > > The main thing that bugged me about the finale was Sophia claim that the humans would have been better off if the poison infection had killed us as they planned… Something about how the Event would’ve been very tortuous for us. That goes TOTALLY against everything she said previously. She NEVER gave us even a clue that the poison was an act of mercy. It was always simply about getting us out of the way to make room for them. I think it’s still about “making room”, they just now will have to do something like use old school concentration camps. What is totally absurd is this whole idea of needing to make room in the first place. From all this talk about how it’s us or them, us or them, there’s only 2.5 billion people we’re talking about here. Does no one working on this show realize that the Earth could easily hold way, way more people, especially with the aid of advanced technology? Heck, we ourselves are supposed to hit 9 billion just by 2050. It’s been bugging me for half a season now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbcs-the-event-open-spoilers/554494.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbcs-the-event-open-spoilers/554494.md?page=13)