Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Why are you not watching Falling Skies?

I think that I was both grossed out and intrigued by Sunday's episode of "Falling Skies" (Season 2 Episode 7). To explain, my own novel SLIPSTREAM has spiders in it. However, nothing quite as graphic as this (but in the same vein--my spiders drill holes in people's heads):
Poor Jamil became a spider bag. He had dozens
 of these guys inside him while still alive. Horrific.
The doctor, Lourdes, and Matt came across Jamil (Lourdes' boyfriend) who looked like he'd been attacked by something (all bloody and stuff). He was barely conscious and wouldn't let them open a door that had scratching on the other side. Thinking they'd get him upstairs to tend to his wounds, he suddenly started to deflate and spiders just poured out of his mouth. It was the creepiest thing I'd seen outside of an "Alien" movie or for that matter, outside that horrible Stephen King movie "The Mist".

Ben on Falling Skies. He's a brooding,
emotional teenager that blames himself
for everything bad that happens.
So why were alien spiders attacking the Second Mass holed up in a hospital? Well in the first five minutes of the show, they captured one of the fish heads. An influential one that Karen and Ben refer to as "The Overlord". And the aliens weren't screwing around. They didn't really bargain. They executed a human right in front of the Second Mass barricade, sicked their robots at them from the other side, and then in came the spiders. Meanwhile Ben, who has both super strength and telepathy due to former alien implants, verified that the Overlord was terrified of the human rebellion.

I'm disappointed that Ben left the Second Mass at the end of the show to hoof it on the open road because I like Ben SO MUCH. However, it was an incredibly tender moment as Noah Wylie (who plays Tom) almost cried hugging his son. I love scenes like that. And Tom is an awesome father. In one crucial scene, the Overlord dropped Ben by inducing a kind of stroke in him and Tom pulled out his gun and shot The Overlord without hesitation (despite them needing this powerful alien to get information or to trade for their freedom as they were surrounded). I was like, "F*ck Yeah!" I hope that they follow Ben's journey and devote at least ten to fifteen minutes an episode to him until the season finale. Otherwise, they may use him as a deus ex machina to have him ride in and save the day on some alien technology when all seems lost.
Tom defending his middle son Ben and shooting the Overlord
for screwing with his son. THAT'S being a badass dad. Go Tom!
I really think that "Falling Skies" is approaching the high water mark of excellence. I'm so glad that this show didn't get canceled in the first season. It has become a regular Sunday night, summertime edge-of-your-seat drama thriller set in an apocalyptic world that entertains me as much as "Breaking Bad"...and that says a lot.

So if you're a fan of science-fiction, why are you NOT watching "Falling Skies?"

28 comments:

  1. I've heard a ton of good things about Falling Skies but I don't know if we get it in the UK yet ... I'll have to double check, this sounds like a pretty awesome show.

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  2. Oh dear, I shouldn't have read that as it has a 'spoiler' in it because we have only just had the second episode of series two aired here in the UK.

    I agree - it's a fantastic series, well written, superbly acted and the effects are great.

    Jamie - it is currently being shown here in the UK on FXUK if you get that channel.

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  3. I caught an episode of FS when in the states, (spoiler: the one where they find Rick half dead but who ends up leading everyone to Ben and the wounded skidder that wants to form an alliance.) Anyway, I liked it but haven't been able to see another since. I'm bummed to have missed the spiders bit. Maybe I can find somewhere I can stream a few episodes...

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  4. I really should start watching it! I haven't seen the first season either... Torrents here we come...

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  5. Meh, I already watched V back in the '80s.

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  6. I'd love to watch it, but it's not in South Africa yet. :-D

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  7. ignorance IS bliss...I gave up TV so long ago I do not even know what I am missing.

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  8. Good question! I'm a huge science fiction fan so I SHOULD be watching it. I never got past the pilot, which never grabbed me, but I've been hearing nothing but good stuff so I should pick it up once again.

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  9. Another show I'm waiting on netflix for.

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  10. I heard about this show and then lost track of it.

    But here's the thing. At about 11 every day, I sit down to eat my lunch and take a break from suing people and read some blogs.

    And so one day, I sit down to eat my lunch and I go to Rusty's blog and there are horrifying spiders all over it and I get grossed out because SPIDERS ARE DISGUSTING, and then today I sit down to eat my meatball sandwich and check out your blog and there's OHMYGOD PEOPLE HAVE SPIDERS POURING OUT OF THEM.

    You'd think the Internet would watch out for me.

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  11. Also, I've got that app you wanted me to download but I have to figure out how to friend you or whatever. How's the exercise plan going?

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  12. I am watching Falling Skies but I'm disappointed in how uneven it is. Every time momentum builds they stop the action with ridiculous moments a badly written conversation. Some episodes don't even show any alien interaction. And Noah's lack of acting skills are painfully apparent in this program. But I'm still hanging in there, hoping I don't just get cut off like with "V."

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  13. I just haven't gotten around to watching this one yet. Looks good, though.

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  14. WhY am I not wathcing it? I'm now asking myself this same question after your post. I think the spider scene sounds like a creepy winner.

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  15. Because I hadn't heard of it before! I'll be sure to check it out though - looks like a winner :)

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  16. That first picture both attracts and repulses me! I shall get some episodes and give it a try. So many new shows come out and they're not all winners, so I suppose I'm part of the problem in that I wait around to see if there's a buzz before I put in the time.

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  17. Hehe! It's pretty easy to answer that question, since I don't have TNT. But it does look creepy good. :)

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  18. I'm not a fan of horror movies or horror t.v. shows. My wife watches it, though.

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  19. I've wanted to watch Falling Skies but always seem to busy. Then again, I can be squeamish when it comes to gross stuff, so I would've closed my eyes during that spider scene.

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  20. Hi Michael,
    I've heard a bit about "Falling Skies". Slight problem, it's not over here in Britain, yet.
    Thanks for the intriguing info and I shall look out for it when it arrives. I wonder if you get the British show, "Primeval"?
    Gary

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  21. Geez, I must run to my TV and TIVO this immediately!

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  22. I did think of your spiders from Slipstream as I watch Falling Skies. You're right, they were creepy! But I got the same creepy feeling when I read your scenes, so I hope you take that as a compliment to your writing skills.

    i think you were channeling some of my thoughts as I watched last Sunday's episode. I'm worried hanging out at your blog is affecting me - changing my thinking. Too weird.

    ........dhole

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  23. @Brian P; I'm spending way too much of my time here laughing ~at you :)

    .......dhole

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  24. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Falling Skies. It is AWESOME!! Okay, sorry. I got a little excited there. It is my favorite summer show. I look forward to it all week. Yes, I'm a geek, and I'm proud of it.

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  25. I'm a big Noah W. fan, and I'm impressed with this show. Hopefully we can get more people to watch it and keep it going. It's starting to hit its stride.

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  26. Why am I not watching Falling Skies? I am a sci fi fan, but I'm not a fan of that kind of sci fi. I'm picky.

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  27. I love falling skies! And I love Ben!<3 I really liked Jimmy to but he died, and I cried:-(

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  28. I love falling skies! And I love Ben!<3 I really liked Jimmy to but he died, and I cried:-(

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