Falling Skies: The Complete Second Blu-ray review

Actors: Noah Wyle, Moon Bloodgood, Drew Roy, Maxim Knight, Seychelle Gabriel

Producers: Steven Spielberg, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank, Remi Aubuchon, Greg Beeman

Format: Blu-ray, NTSC, Widescreen

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: Warner Home Video

Release Date: June 4, 2013

        If you like “The Walking Dead” but want more sci-fi and less horror, “Falling Skies” may be the show for you. If you repeatedly watch “Battlestar Galactica” but don’t find the melodrama cheesy, “Falling Skies” may be a perfect fit. For all of the rest, this show may have too much melodrama and sci-fi geekiness to overcome. It may sound as though I’m being harsh on the show, but it is on-par with TNT programming, and it is better than some of the other alien projects Steven Spielberg has attached himself to in the past decade.

 

Though the storyline has some similarities to “The Walking Dead,” this show is heavy on sci-fi and gets even more entangled in other-worldly characters by the close of the second season. Soon there will be as many alien characters as human ones. Noah Wyle heads up the cast as a former history teacher who has learned to become a leader with the alien invasion. He and his sons fight the aliens with their group, but season two complicates the battle.

 

There are several types of aliens, including the typical tall and lanky ones who are the main invaders. They first attacked and stole many of the human children, so that they could be harnessed and made to integrate into the invader’s army. The second season makes it clear that the other type of alien doing destruction on earth are actually harnessed from another planet. The close of season two brings the arrival of yet another species or race of aliens to earth.

 

Though the direction of this storyline is rather obvious, season two takes its time getting anywhere with the new revelations. Human advisors and leaders refuse to believe that any of the aliens can be there to help, postponing an inevitable alliance against the invaders. There are many frustrating aspects to the narrative, including some annoying melodrama, but the good mostly outweighs the bad.

 

The Blu-ray release of season two includes all ten episodes on two discs, along with special features. There are several featurettes, including behind-the-scenes and set tours. There is also a preview of season three and audio commentaries on select episodes. One of the more creative features is an animated trailer for the second season which was created by Dark Horse Comics.

       

Entertainment Value: 7/10

Quality of Filmmaking: 6/10

Historical Significance: 5/10

Disc Features: 8.5/10