Falling Skies 1.1 "Pilot" Discussion/Review/Comment **SPOILERS**

[Sindatur]

Very few Pilots hit on all (even most) cylinders (BSG, LOST). Many Pilots that had a lot of problems (B5) go on to become fantastic shows.

It often takes a few episodes for the writers and characters to come together and find the characters, Arc pacing and World building are very difficult to balance to the audience's satisfaction these days, with audiences being so patient (I've even seen the same show where some have complained the arc is going way too fast, while others complain nothing happens every episode ).

I think Falling Skies hit some pretty good marks in these first two episodes and is off to a good start, and I hope it continues to improve.

 

[KJbushway]

Yeah but there was a beginning and the story eventually led us to past parts. This series just jumped in action without having any real flash backs of what happened. All it had was a star wars theme were it told us what happened from the view point of both adult and children. I don't see this getting a second season because I am having a hard time even thinking of a reason to even watch the second episode. They didn't make this for sci-fi fans, they made this for the general viewer. Why? The fact that they just jumped into the action.

 

[Sindatur]

Yeah but there was a beginning and the story eventually led us to past parts. This series just jumped in action without having any real flash backs of what happened. All it had was a star wars theme were it told us what happened from the view point of both adult and children. I don't see this getting a second season because I am having a hard time even thinking of a reason to even watch the second episode. They didn't make this for sci-fi fans, they made this for the general viewer. Why? The fact that they just jumped into the action.

The problem being the current audience. Audiences aren't willing to wait for you to get into the midst of the action of a series these days. You kind of have to jump straight in, or people will complain you stretching it out. This was actually a rather unique way of doing it, jump straight into the action, and let the mystery unfolding include the actual invasion. Look at how maligned SGU and Caprica both were for their world building. SGU S1 was pretty bad, and Caprica made some bad choices. By the last episode of both of those series, they had become really good shows, and it was a pity they were cancelled just as they hit their stride. Series don't get a whole season or two (or often, don't even get half a season) to hit their marks anymore or to start getting to where they're going. TNG and DS9 might not even have survived to their Third Seasons in today's environment.

 

[AviTrek]

Let's think about what other shows just jumped into the action? Star Trek(both pilots), West Wing, Firefly(both pilots), and that's just off the top of my head. The show will do fine. You don't always need to start with an origin story. The audience is smart enough to pick it up. Now if only Superhero movies would learn that lesson...

 

[Temis the Vorta]

There's no reason to worry about cancellation now. Falling Skies has three things going for it that shows like The Event, V, and FlashForward didn't:

1. It's on cable.

2. Things blow up a lot.

3. The writing (so far) doesn't make you want to throw your TV out the window.

The biggest problem Falling Skies has is that the demographic skews old, but that's probably just following the average for TNT.

Also, there have been rumblings lately that advertisers at long last may realize that people over 49 do buy products, too, and are not as brand-loyal as people in that age group have been in decades past. Brand loyalty is learned behavior that has become less common among current generations, even the one facing retirement. It's not some bizarre function of growing old.

You forgot about the fact that Steven Spielberg is involved, that definitely doesn't hurt.

Unless he's willing to break out the ole checkbook, a big name won't save the show if the numbers go south. His name is what got the show made in the first place, and might help in a situation that could go both ways, but in the end it's all about the money.

They jumped to far in the future. To much was going on without any of us actually knowing whats happening. Limited commercial break-my ass.

I read an interview where they explained that. We've all seen movie-level versions of alien invasions and no TV show can match that. So why waste time and look bad doing it? They showed good judgement to skip over it.

You're right about the ads. Glad I DVRed the sucker.

 

[KJbushway]

Well if anybody has Comcast, I know if you go onto on demand you can view a 20 min preimere of the second episode.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

20 min? Why not just wait for the whole episode?

This is the episode with

Spoiler: guest actor (?)

Steven Weber,

right?

Here's a clip (with the actor's name spelled entirely wrong). Only a minute, to preserve the suspense!

 

[KJbushway]

I never watched it. I am actually losing interest a little. but I understand it takes a bit for things to get going.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Twenty minutes is quite a preview. They're only giving us eight minutes of True Blood.

 

[Agent Richard07]

Finally got around to watching it. It was OK. It wasn't as gripping as The Walking Dead, and I too amd a bit concerned about whether or not this can work as a long-running series. I don't see the action moving off into space or anywhere else. A lot of the discussion here is more interesting than the show itself and has me wanting to see where things go. For one, the idea that these skittles are just drones for a superior and possibly humanoid force is intriguing.

As for nitpicks... While some of you are calling the aliens stupid, I think the humans are the dumb ones. I got annoyed when the guy wanted to run out from under the wreckage to rescue that guy who was captured by the aliens. Same with when the woman was running down the street screaming, and when the kid tried to run out after his dog. What were they thinking? I wouldn't want to be around these people. They'd get me killed.

That was cool didn't see it coming. Good for her, way to kick ass!

Sarah Carter? I knew she'd turn, being a main character and all.

Just as an FYI, I read an interview with Mark Varheiden (I think I spelled that right) and he said we aren't going to be getting alot of information. We will follow along as the characters start to figure stuff out, but he said that there aren't going to be any scenes where an alien sits down and explains everything.

That's the only way to go. Besides, this isn't the kind of show that lends itself to an alien perspective, which would be corny and would make them less scary anyway.

Noah Wylie is a terrific lead.

Reminded me of Jack from Lost.

Because it's shot in Toronto and most of the major actors are from Hollywood.

The IMDb says it's shot in Hamilton.

Was it wrong of me to actually root for Colin Cunningham's character?

His line about it being the leader of a post-apocalyptic outlaw gang made me laugh so hard my wife woke up beside me to ask me what was so funny.

I didn't laff, but it was a good line.

Shoot the skitters in the legs a couple times to slow it down, then shoot it in the head? My brother and I immediately turned to each other and said at the same time, "Why not shoot it in the head first?"

Maybe he's sadistic and likes to see them suffer a bit first.

 

[Star Wolf]

Finally got around to watching it. It was OK. Good concept for a show, but it wasn't as gripping as The Walking Dead, and I too amd a bit concerned about whether or not this can work as a long-running series. I don't see the action moving off into space or anywhere else. A lot of the discussion here is more interesting than the show and has me wanting to continue. For one, the idea that these skittles are just drones for a superior and possibly humanoid force is intriguing.

As for nit-picks... I'm surprised that people are calling the aliens stupid. I think the humans are the dumb ones. I got annoyed when the guy wanted to run out from under the wreckage to rescue that guy who was captured by the aliens. Same with when the woman was running down the street screaming, and when the kid tried to run out after his dog. What were they thinking? I wouldn't want to be around these people. They'd get me killed.

Nit picks? The major complaint is the the 2nd Mass are all to stupid to be the sole suvivors of Boston because of anything other then blind luck. At this point it looks like no matter what they will do its just a matter of time when a group of 300 is targeted and the budget for extras can be lowered.

 

[Sindatur]

Well if anybody has Comcast, I know if you go onto on demand you can view a 20 min preimere of the second episode.

My on Demand has the entirety of the Premiere (IE: 2hours; both episodes)?

 

[KJbushway]

From the comercial, it said a twenty minute preview of the coming episode. Now I could have been mistaken and its actually a twenty minute preview of whats coming. I don't think the series will be two hours every episode.

 

[Sindatur]

From the comercial, it said a twenty minute preview of the coming episode. Now I could have been mistaken and its actually a twenty minute preview of whats coming. I don't think the series will be two hours every episode.

No, it'll only be hour long episodes. Last Sunday's "Pilot" was episode 1 and 2 shown together. This Sunday's hour long episode will be episode 3.

 

[KJbushway]

Oops, I had been going by the assumption that the pilot was by itself in the 2 hour preimere, not episode 2 with it.

 

[propita]

Oops, I had been going by the assumption that the pilot was by itself in the 2 hour preimere, not episode 2 with it.

I love your avatar.

What is that figure on the Burberry plaid? It looks like a green alien carrying a load of laundry.

 

[Professor Zoom]

Yeah but there was a beginning and the story eventually led us to past parts. This series just jumped in action without having any real flash backs of what happened. All it had was a star wars theme were it told us what happened from the view point of both adult and children. I don't see this getting a second season because I am having a hard time even thinking of a reason to even watch the second episode. They didn't make this for sci-fi fans, they made this for the general viewer. Why? The fact that they just jumped into the action.

Of course they made this for the general viewer, they want to attract as large of an audience as possible. There aren't enough sci-fi fans to keep a show alive.

Frankly, it's smart of them to jump right into the action. A pilot not only introduces us to the show, but how a typical show will feel like.

This show is action driven. Characters on the run. There's no point in showing the aliens landing, the failure of the Mac Virus attack on the mother ship, the white house exploding.... We've seen those countless times.

This show is not about the aliens arrival... this is a show about AFTER the arrival, AFTER they have "won."

And, again, if you're trying to make a show, which costs a lot of money, you're going to make it accessible to as many people as possible.

 

[KJbushway]

True.

 

[Sindatur]

Yeah but there was a beginning and the story eventually led us to past parts. This series just jumped in action without having any real flash backs of what happened. All it had was a star wars theme were it told us what happened from the view point of both adult and children. I don't see this getting a second season because I am having a hard time even thinking of a reason to even watch the second episode. They didn't make this for sci-fi fans, they made this for the general viewer. Why? The fact that they just jumped into the action.

Of course they made this for the general viewer, they want to attract as large of an audience as possible. There aren't enough sci-fi fans to keep a show alive.

Frankly, it's smart of them to jump right into the action. A pilot not only introduces us to the show, but how a typical show will feel like.

This show is action driven. Characters on the run. There's no point in showing the aliens landing, the failure of the Mac Virus attack on the mother ship, the white house exploding.... We've seen those countless times.

This show is not about the aliens arrival... this is a show about AFTER the arrival, AFTER they have "won."

And, again, if you're trying to make a show, which costs a lot of money, you're going to make it accessible to as many people as possible.

It's S3.5 of V.

S2 of "V" left us with the cliffhanger of all those ships arriving and everyone hypnotized. in the next half season we didn't see, we were left in the position where Falling Skies started. That's how I choose to look at it

 

[KJbushway]

Speaking of V, I heard it was cancelled. Is that true?