Falling Skies 1.2 "Prisoner of War" discussion/comments **SPOILERS**
- Thread starter highlander
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Re: Falling Skies 1.2 "Prisoner of War" discussion/comments **SPOILERS
I agree completely. I think they are much more than mindless locus like in ID4. They did their homework on us. Using the EMP knocked out our tech dependent society. And using a Nazi-esque technique like killing those kids, they know how to manipulate us. I think this show has a lot of potential. I like it so far.
I agree completely. I think they are much more than mindless locus like in ID4. They did their homework on us. Using the EMP knocked out our tech dependent society. And using a Nazi-esque technique like killing those kids, they know how to manipulate us. I think this show has a lot of potential. I like it so far.
Re: Falling Skies 1.2 "Prisoner of War" discussion/comments **SPOILERS
I gave it 4 skitters which is probably generous just because I like the show.
The writing is speechy and sentimental - the Speilberg touch is more like a sledgehammer. The characters still do stupid things, which is forgivable in civilians fighting a war, but the trained military guys should know better than to send a father to go rescue his son. Much better to send anyone else.
I saw what they were going for, but it didn't come off right. Weber played it right, not sure Wylie did.
I gave it 4 skitters which is probably generous just because I like the show.
The writing is speechy and sentimental - the Speilberg touch is more like a sledgehammer. The characters still do stupid things, which is forgivable in civilians fighting a war, but the trained military guys should know better than to send a father to go rescue his son. Much better to send anyone else.
I saw what they were going for, but it didn't come off right. Weber played it right, not sure Wylie did.
Re: Falling Skies 1.2 "Prisoner of War" discussion/comments **SPOILERS
I thought that it was implied that they weren't trained military, rather just old state militia members?I gave it 4 skitters which is probably generous just because I like the show.
The writing is speechy and sentimental - the Speilberg touch is more like a sledgehammer. The characters still do stupid things, which is forgivable in civilians fighting a war, but the trained military guys should know better than to send a father to go rescue his son. Much better to send anyone else.
I saw what they were going for, but it didn't come off right. Weber played it right, not sure Wylie did.
Re: Falling Skies 1.2 "Prisoner of War" discussion/comments **SPOILERS
The Captain was a Gulf War vet and reservist. Captain Dye needs to act his age, acting like General Porter was about to retire when he cashed out 25 years ago. The rest or just survivors of supermarket raids. However the redshirts guarding the civilian camp look more like soldiers then the rangers who lead the way for the 2nd
The Captain was a Gulf War vet and reservist. Captain Dye needs to act his age, acting like General Porter was about to retire when he cashed out 25 years ago. The rest or just survivors of supermarket raids. However the redshirts guarding the civilian camp look more like soldiers then the rangers who lead the way for the 2nd
Re: Falling Skies 1.2 "Prisoner of War" discussion/comments **SPOILERS
Ok.. so I've only seens bits and pieces so far.. An active fire season here in NM is keeping me from watching much TV..
Did I miss the actual invasion, or did they really just start the show post-invasion?
No worries if they did, as I'm liking what little I've seen, but was just curious.. Good way to say on the SFX budget...
Ok.. so I've only seens bits and pieces so far.. An active fire season here in NM is keeping me from watching much TV..
Did I miss the actual invasion, or did they really just start the show post-invasion?
No worries if they did, as I'm liking what little I've seen, but was just curious.. Good way to say on the SFX budget...
Re: Falling Skies 1.2 "Prisoner of War" discussion/comments **SPOILERS
Sorry to hear about the fires in NM!
Sorry to hear about the fires in NM!
They skipped the actual invasion and started the story afterwards with the few survivors - I read an interview where they gave the rationale - we've already seen alien invasions before on a movie budget and a TV budget would inevitably be a letdown. I think they made the right call.
Re: Falling Skies 1.2 "Prisoner of War" discussion/comments **SPOILERS
Ouch, 25% fall in the demo from last week. I like this show, speechy or not. I hope it isn't in danger now.
However, I think if it holds steady, it should be safe. 1.5 on cable is not at all the same as 1.5 on broadcast. With any luck, the sentimental aspect of the show that I find a bit annoying will be the element that saves it. If it were more BSGish, it would be in real trouble now.
Ouch, 25% fall in the demo from last week. I like this show, speechy or not. I hope it isn't in danger now.
However, I think if it holds steady, it should be safe. 1.5 on cable is not at all the same as 1.5 on broadcast. With any luck, the sentimental aspect of the show that I find a bit annoying will be the element that saves it. If it were more BSGish, it would be in real trouble now.
Re: Falling Skies 1.2 "Prisoner of War" discussion/comments **SPOILERS
I don't think the problem is the pacing of the story, I think the issue is that aside from the Professor, none of the mains were really fleshed out, and the only somewhat entertaining character interaction in the first two episodes has been between the Professor and Pope. At this point, they could kill everyone in the main cast aside from the Professor and Pope and not lose anything of value.
Re: Falling Skies 1.2 "Prisoner of War" discussion/comments **SPOILERS
I think they're doing all the right things to be successful on TNT, which is cable but more towards the broadcasty side of cable: jump into the action, make sure there's lots of action, give us sympathetic characters, make things easy to follow, don't get too dark or creepy, show off the CGI critters.
I honestly don't think there's anything they could have done to prevent that drop. People are picky about what they watch. Some folks probably thought this show was overly simplistic and cliched; others probably thought it was too complicated and unfamiliar. That's the trouble with niche programming and no wonder broadcast just throws sitcoms and cop shows at us instead.
I think they're doing all the right things to be successful on TNT, which is cable but more towards the broadcasty side of cable: jump into the action, make sure there's lots of action, give us sympathetic characters, make things easy to follow, don't get too dark or creepy, show off the CGI critters.
I honestly don't think there's anything they could have done to prevent that drop. People are picky about what they watch. Some folks probably thought this show was overly simplistic and cliched; others probably thought it was too complicated and unfamiliar. That's the trouble with niche programming and no wonder broadcast just throws sitcoms and cop shows at us instead.
Re: Falling Skies 1.2 "Prisoner of War" discussion/comments **SPOILERS
Or TNT viewers who aren't particularly sci fi fans but who saw the ads and figured "hey I'll check that out..." Hard to know.
Or TNT viewers who aren't particularly sci fi fans but who saw the ads and figured "hey I'll check that out..." Hard to know.
Re: Falling Skies 1.2 "Prisoner of War" discussion/comments **SPOILERS
The only contrived character is Colin Cunningham's. But, true, all the feeder lines setting up his cool lines are awkward. People making little speeches to convince themselves as well as others is to be expected.
This is actually from comments on the tvbythenumbers site, but I suspect it accurately catches what's being imagined as the opposite of the mediocrity, cliche characters, sentimentality, etc. Wyle vs. Weber just ends in a bloody lip. Wyle still doesn't get any closure but Weber still has his well-rehearsed rationalizations. Patton is in over his head and maintains the illusion of control with petty tyrannies and pointless snarks. The brothers don't sleep on opposite sides of the room.
The only contrived character is Colin Cunningham's. But, true, all the feeder lines setting up his cool lines are awkward. People making little speeches to convince themselves as well as others is to be expected.
This is actually from comments on the tvbythenumbers site, but I suspect it accurately catches what's being imagined as the opposite of the mediocrity, cliche characters, sentimentality, etc. Wyle vs. Weber just ends in a bloody lip. Wyle still doesn't get any closure but Weber still has his well-rehearsed rationalizations. Patton is in over his head and maintains the illusion of control with petty tyrannies and pointless snarks. The brothers don't sleep on opposite sides of the room.