Monday, August 1, 2011

What I’m Watching: Falling Skies


Falling Skies: Season 1, Episode 8 “What Hides Beneath” (B-)

My problems with this episode started at the very beginning with the hokey music and smile on Weaver’s face. Even though they were meant to be part of a dream, it’s that kind of sensibility that has dragged this show down thus far. It’s true also when the crowed is cheering enthusiastically about Pope’s new bullet at the end. There’s an overly sappy undertone to this show, and it detracts from its effectiveness as a piece of science fiction. Karen’s continued presence and the possibility of Weaver’s wife being alive are far too hopeful, and this show has managed so far to kill off only two unimportant, generally irrelevant characters, Dr. Harris and Mike. I’m not much for the dialogue either, particularly Pope’s uttering of “That is so three weeks ago.” Fortunately, there’s some good to be found in this episode, mostly in the action-oriented charge to take the war to the aliens and Pope’s successful synthesis of an actual weapon to use against them. Anne’s discoveries about the skitters having been harnessed, put together with Rick’s desire to be rescued by the aliens while Ben definitely doesn’t agree, means that there is definitely much more ground to be covered, making a second season worthwhile. I’m most intrigued about the sudden appearance of these humanoid-looking aliens since that’s the crucial relatable part of the alien species that we’ve so far been missing, and I’m very interested to see what becomes of them and what purpose they’ll have in the two-hour season finale next week.

No comments: