Falling Skies - Season 2- discussion/Spoilers

[DarthTom]

I didn't see a thread related to season 2 Falling Skies, so I'm starting one. The June 17th premiere date on TNT I'm really looking forward too. Season one ended with Tom walking around the alien ship. Also we got introduced to what I'll call the 'gray' aliens who are the overlords of the reptiles.

Any thoughts about season 2 and where they take this story?

Huff Po TV -Walking Skies 3 minute teaser

 

[Silent_Bob]

Looking forward to it here too. The first series really got me quite hooked on where they are going to take the story. It's not perfect, some characters can really grate - like the annoying student nurse girl who's sole purpose appears to be having a crush on other characters and instilling "wholesome" christian values to the show. I could definitely do without her - but the rest is good enough to make up for those failings.

 

[trekkiebaggio]

Looking forward to this coming back

 

[Relayer1]

Tbh, having watched the first season I'll no doubt watch this one too, but I was hoping for a cancellation to save me the trouble.

Tired formulaic Earth based alien invasion stuff done reasonably well, but so, so uninspired.

 

[Sindatur]

I'm also looking forward to it. Hoping to get in a rewatch prior to the premiere.

I have no clear vision of where I think they're going in S2, but, hoping the Premiere will be stacked with some answers that will feed into more questions and expand our knowledge of how what we've seen so far all fits together.

Early on, they said, we weren't going to get anything from the Alien's perspective, but, that shouldn't limit the conversation the "Skinny" will have with Tom inside the ship, and that may have just been speaking of S1 to preserve the mystery until the S2 reveal

I'd like to see some space travel in S2, myself. Maybe allying Earthlings with the Skitters and Skinnys in a war against another alien race

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I'm looking forward to it but with some trepidation since some previews and interviews I saw made me wonder whether they were going to move forward from where they left S1, with Tom going to meet the aliens, or just sweep that under the rug and spin their wheels. Maybe they just didn't want to give away too much - I hope that's it.

S2 is make or break for this show. They need to move the story forward, past just fighting aliens and angsting over them controlling the kids.

Maybe allying Earthlings with the Skitters and Skinnys in a war against another alien race

I'm sticking with the theory that the Skitters are a previously conquered race enslaved by the Skinnys, and Earthlings could become allies of the former to fight the latter. Who probably have a whole lot more tricks up their sleeves...

 

[Guy Gardener]

My kid asked me a very serious question about falling Skies a few weeks back.

"why did they decide to make such a crap ending?"

I attempted to explain that the producers assumed that they hadn't created an awful conclusion to the season, but he wouldn't believe me. He'd rather have faith in a conspiracy or insurance fraud than that writing that fucking intentionally maliciously destructive to an audiences sense of peace could be fed to him by a sane nonNazi human being not trying to kill him.

You can't tell me that a TV show isn't insured against cancellation?

I doubt he's seen the Producers, but that's probably what he was getting at.

 

[DarthTom]

I'm looking forward to it but with some trepidation since some previews and interviews I saw made me wonder whether they were going to move forward from where they left S1, with Tom going to meet the aliens, or just sweep that under the rug and spin their wheels. Maybe they just didn't want to give away too much - I hope that's it.

Yea based on the previews it appears as though they want to keep his meeting with the aliens a secret for at least the first show. Maybe they plan to trickle out the info about that throughout season 2?

It's not a bad tactic in terms of keeping the audience tuned in - the Walking Dead did the same thing with regard to the virus and what Jenner told Rick at the end of season 1.

S2 is make or break for this show. They need to move the story forward, past just fighting aliens and angsting over them controlling the kids.

What would be compelling for you?

I'm sticking with the theory that the Skitters are a previously conquered race enslaved by the Skinnys, and Earthlings could become allies of the former to fight the latter. Who probably have a whole lot more tricks up their sleeves...

You could be right. However communication with the skitters hasn't worked so far, as we saw.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

What would be compelling is moving past just fighting-the-aliens and trying to get the harnesses off the kids. Anything that explores the aliens more, with the characters uncovering information that suggests other approaches and strategies they could take to improving their situation. Just a sense of forward movement would be good, and a sense that the writers know where they're going with all of this.

 

[Guy Gardener]

They only have to write 10 episodes a year.

Less if they're suddenly cancelled.

These bastards have got their feet up till episode 40 or 50 till they have to prove themselves.

 

[auntiehill]

I'm really looking forward to this. I want to see what happens with Tom and the alien ship. Yes, I think it's pretty clear that the skitters are some conquered race and the skinny aliens are the ones in charge. I'm curious to see how it plays out.

I don't, however, want to see any more of the cheesy attempts to shoehorn in the "religious moments;" it's really corny and puts me right off.

 

[DarthTom]

I attempted to explain that the producers assumed that they hadn't created an awful conclusion to the season, but he wouldn't believe me. He'd rather have faith in a conspiracy or insurance fraud than that writing that fucking intentionally maliciously destructive to an audiences sense of peace could be fed to him by a sane nonNazi human being not trying to kill him.

Happy endings, even quasi happy endings don't sell anymore. Wake up and smell the red bull my friend.

 

[startrekwatcher]

Eh--I just couldn't get into it and I really wanted too given how little good sff there is anymore but the characters were pretty bland, the kids were especially annoying, the aliens were plot devices, the story spun its wheels and the post apocalyptic theme is old hat.

 

[RJDiogenes]

It's not the best show ever, but the characters and the actors kept me coming back, so I'll be here for Season Two. I do hope we get some more information about the aliens and some progress in the war.

 

[Procutus]

Count me in when the show airs again. I enjoyed Season 1, though I agree totally with Temis that they need to start moving the story forward. It's got potential, which I hope they can realize this season.

 

[DarthTom]

Count me in when the show airs again. I enjoyed Season 1, though I agree totally with Temis that they need to start moving the story forward. It's got potential, which I hope they can realize this season.

For me there are many similarities between The Walking Dead and Falling Skies. Both shows deal with the post apocalyptic world with a group struggling to survive. Both shows have a strong male protagonist. And both shows have the reformed bad guy into quasi-good guy.

What Falling Skies can learn from The Walking Dead is deeper character development and tighter story lines. Also they can think out where the show wants to go longer term to keep the audience engaged.

Falling Skies however doesn't have a comic book story line to fall back on.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

There's a tone of existential dread in TWD that Falling Skies has never achieved (and might be too purposefully family friendly ever to achieve).

Just contrast Shane and Pope as the quasi-villain/troublemaker characters in the bunch. Pope has more of a comic-book-character aspect to him. Ironically Shane is the comic book character, but he stuck me as terrifying plausible and real. He's scary in a way Pope will never be, unless something dramatic changes about the show.

Tom vs Rick as the nice guy/leader of the bunch is another obvious parallel. Tom remains idealistic and positive but Rick is getting pushed into darker and darker territory.

The biggest difference is really AMC vs TNT. Look at the other shows they have on each channel. They deliberately pursue different approaches and different audiences. TNT is very broadcasty for a cable channel, and AMC is at the opposite end of the spectrum, more like HBO or Showtime.

TNT seems to be trying to become more premium-cabel-y with LA Noir (probably won't appear till 2013). Maybe that trend will push existing shows in the same direction.

 

[DarthTom]

Just contrast Shane and Pope as the quasi-villain/troublemaker characters in the bunch. Pope has more of a comic-book-character aspect to him. Ironically Shane is the comic book character, but he stuck me as terrifying plausible and real. He's scary in a way Pope will never be, unless something dramatic changes about the show.

I was thinking Darryl being more like Pope than Shane because they're both semi-reformed bad guys.

The biggest difference is really AMC vs TNT. Look at the other shows they have on each channel. They deliberately pursue different approaches and different audiences. TNT is very broadcasty for a cable channel, and AMC is at the opposite end of the spectrum, more like HBO or Showtime.

TNT seems to be trying to become more premium-cabel-y with LA Noir (probably won't appear till 2013). Maybe that trend will push existing shows in the same direction.

Yea, AMC is more edgy in their programming. Not only are the situations much more graphic AMC permits the use of profanity on the show whereas I doubt TNT would take that step.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Giving this a bump in anticipation of tomorrow's season debut...

Interview with Noah Wylie. Find out what this season has in common with the Grapes of Wrath.

Many questions are raised, but my main question is: are they really going to try to pass Vancouver off as Charleston?

 

[auntiehill]

Looking forward to seeing this. I like Noah, so I hope this season doesn't suffer from the "sophomore slump."