What I’m Watching: Falling Skies

Falling Skies: Season 3, Episode 3 “Badlands” (C)

After last week’s promising start, this episode is a stern reminder of just how much this show can miss the mark. I watched a portion of the episode and then took a break for a few hours, only to realize that I wasn’t even a third of the way in, despite the fact that Grace’s demise and the rest of the episode’s events already felt impossibly endless. Grace getting her head impaled by a stake was treated as an awfully minor and simple injury by an unconvincingly caring Pope, and her ultimate death was far from surprising given the extent of her wound. Most disappointingly, this episode didn’t feature a single appearance by the new alien allies we met last episode, and instead only offered glimpses of Tom and Ann’s most definitely alien baby and an unexpected human enemy who turned out to be quite gruff. The notion of the President being alive is an enticing one – and not dissimilar from another sci-fi show which just aired its season finale – yet I assume it will take far too long for Benjamin Hathaway to surface. This predictable attack is sure to get in the way of Hal’s misguided admission of unknowing guilt which will surely get him ostracized from the camp, though ideally they’ll feed him false information to get Karen on the wrong track. The idea of that memorial tree is a good one, but this show doesn’t have the dramatic impact it needs to make that kind of emotional plotline work. I'm not sure I'll have the patience to finish the next episode.

What I’m Watching: Falling Skies (Season Premiere)

Falling Skies: Season 3, Episodes 1 and 2 “On Thin Ice” and “Collateral Damage” (B)

I debated whether to tune into this show after being sincerely disappointed by it during its first two seasons. I’m glad I did since there were a few terrific plot developments which I think are truly exciting, and, unlike, say, “Revolution,” this show is actually doing a decent job of living up to its potential story-wise even if the writing is reliably miserable. The seemingly infinite explicit references to “the past seven months” were obvious and tiresome, but the fact that there is now an alien, played by none other than Doug Jones, a very talented actor who likes playing creative creatures, is riding side-by-side with Tom in battle is simply fantastic. The presidency suits Tom, and having him be above Weaver also makes sense. I don’t see the logic in killing off Terry O’Quinn’s character, but I suppose it was only a recurring arc from the start. Hal being in a wheelchair is a major thing, especially considering he can actually walk, but only when he’s compelled to do so in the middle of the night when Karen beckons him. I’m far less impressed by Matt blowing up buildings instead of doing his homework and having trouble accepting Ann as his mother, and I’d love to see a whole lot less of Pope. The superhuman baby Ann has given birth to seems like a handful, and the technology used to take off the harnesses is cool. This show could be headed for greatness this season, if only the dialogue would improve and the writers would focus on the sci-fi elements that are most compelling.

What I’m Watching: Falling Skies (Season Finale)

Falling Skies: Season 2, Episode 10 “A More Perfect Union” (B-)

It’s about time we finally saw some alien action again. With the status of the 2nd Mass constantly changing within Charleston’s borders, it’s a wonder that Tom and Weaver got anything done at all, let alone got General Bressler to agree to let them go out in search of the ship that they so wanted to destroy in order to affirm their alliance with the rebel skitters. Ben acting as the mouthpiece of the rebel skitters finally gives him a proper sense of purpose, and it’s fun to see him go to war with Karen when she represents the big evil aliens. It’s no surprise that Anne is pregnant, but what a way for Tom to find out. Aboard the ship, Karen had a wonderful time tormenting everyone before, for lack of a better word, skittering off along the ceiling and declaring that they’d meet again. Implanting Hal, who previously tried to bolster morale by proclaiming “We’re gonna make it, we always do,” with a parasite in his eye was a smart move, and one that’s sure to hurt the humans in the near future. Skitter-on-skitter combat is fantastic, and I enjoyed the rebel skitter rescue mission. Tom and Arthur waxing philosophic about governmental authority was entertaining in a pretentious sort of way, and I happen to disagree with Arthur, believing him to be a far superior theoretical leader than Tom. The arrival of a new humanoid alien changes things considerably, I suppose, even though it’s an eerily similar ending to that of the first season. I had thought that this show had yet to be renewed, but it’s been on tap for a third season since July. Let’s hope for more action, more Arthur, and much, much better writing next year.

Season grade: C+
Season MVP: Terry O’Quinn as Arthur Manchester

What I’m Watching: Falling Skies

Falling Skies: Season 2, Episode 9 “The Price of Greatness” (C+)

The idea of what’s happening here is terrific stuff, but the execution is still awful. The dialogue is cringe-worthy, and characters like Maggie and Pope are becoming unbearable. I’m thrilled by the introduction of Terry O’Quinn’s Arthur Manchester, who quickly went from a fabulous ally for Tom to an enemy unwilling to consider the possibility of picking a fight for fear of disrupting a peaceful society. What wasn’t quite as coherent was the notion of such an established military system, functioning at an enormously high level and serving lavish portions of food to a horde of Massachusetts wanderers coming in from off the street. It’s such a small world that these characters live in where Tom is always the center of attention, and Weaver manages to get reunited with his daughter, who also gets center stage to debate in a public forum about Manchester’s leadership capabilities. It didn’t take long for Manchester to get unseated, and especially for a slow-moving show, his is one plotline that would have been well-served to be embellished. Now we’re back to square one, which is just about getting cryptic messages from the rebel aliens and inexplicably keeping Pope and his terrible lines in the middle of the action. The fact that Maggie got herself arrested by the wasted military in Charleston was silly, and the number of times that power shifts back to Tom and Weaver is just preposterous. Martial law is always a thrilling cinematic concept, but I suspect that, like much else on this show, the results will prove wildly underwhelming.

What I’m Watching: Falling Skies

Falling Skies: Season 2, Episode 8 “Death March” (C+)

This wasn’t a horror episode like the previous installment, but this show continued to head nowhere fast with a relatively monumental ending after a completely useless and unnecessary hour of slow travel. Hal, Maggie, and Pope sure didn’t do a great job of scouting ahead, running into car trouble and thus proving entirely unhelpful in ensuring everyone else’s safety. Pope continues to be a nuisance, tormenting Maggie with some mysterious information that, as expected, was completely inconsequential. Hal is into Maggie and he’s not going to let something like a prison history and a baby born in prison upset him. I do like this show’s continued references to real Massachusetts locations, and I used to drive by the Framingham women’s correctional facility multiple times a week. It’s nice to see Matt make a new friend, but it’s about time that the adults learned that you just can’t trust a harnessed kid, no matter how adorable or innocent they may seem. They just end up running off into the night and then returning at some inopportune time. Weaver had a great time harassing his driver, and he didn’t even take too much convincing to make his grand inspirational speech after they came upon a devastated, abandoned Charleston. All hope is not lost, of course, because, though this show doesn’t mind showing dead children, it’s impossible not to have a happy ending, and the wondrous hope of Charleston still awaits, sure to be seen in the show’s final two episodes of the season.

What I’m Watching: Falling Skies

Falling Skies: Season 2, Episode 6 “Molon Labe” (C+)

With every episode, this show is continuing to head nowhere. It’s the same old story, that not everyone thinks waiting for Tom and Ben is the best idea, and Maggie and Weaver are the worst patients ever since they refuse to rest and actually heal before some more intense running and combat. This episode felt particularly odd because it turned into a horror movie halfway through, as the skitter spiders started crawling out of Jamil’s mouth and Lourdes started freaking out because she thought they were all going to die. After that, the standoff in the snow ended up just being the aliens gunning down a defenseless fighter to prove a point, making the body count in this hour considerably higher and more serious than usual. Karen has turned into the most detestable character on the show thanks to her bragging to Hal about being able to predict his every move, and as a result it was satisfying to see the Mason boys get the upper hand on her when she came to see her master. Hal and Maggie making out after talking about Karen was a completely unnecessary development, and its arbitrary nature was best illustrated by Maggie in her claim that she changed her mind, just like that. I’d hope that this is the final time that Ben leaves, and that maybe his departure will finally allow this rebellion to kick into gear. The fact that Tom believes the rebellion is real is the most crucial thing, and let’s hope he can convince Weaver and the rest of the Second Mass before more stupid decisions are made.

What I’m Watching: Falling Skies

Falling Skies: Season 2, Episode 6 “Homecoming” (C+)

After rumors of rebellion last week, that’s all forgotten in this hour due to two highly significant and game-changing events. Weaver convulsing and collapsing put him out of commission for the entire hour, which made an enormous difference since he and Tom rarely think all that much alike. It’s not like his life was ever in any danger, of course, since this show has no scruples about showing a bunch of dead kids in the woods but would never bump up one of its primary characters, unless they were tangential enough, like Jimmy. Tom and Anne spending the morning together was a short-lived moment of happiness since he then proceeded to become power-hungry and boss her around, but something tells me that the couple will in fact make it despite the awkwardness of Tom calling her Rebecca. Karen’s return wasn’t unwelcome since she’s among the only interesting characters on the show, and she and Ben sure have a connection. Maggie coming into her cell guns-blazing was both corny and ill-advised, and she paid for it by getting seriously injured. Ben was far kinder in his takedown of his brother, and now those two harnessed kids are on the loose, headed for somewhere that feels like home. Pope’s return, however, means that Karen may not actually be on Ben’s side, and this all becomes very complicated when the Second Mass starts needing to save the kids controlled by the aliens who are fighting the other aliens, and I doubt anyone will be able to put all the pieces together before someone gets hurt.

What I’m Watching: Falling Skies

Falling Skies: Season 2, Episode 5 “Love and Other Acts of Courage” (B-)

Well, here’s a curveball. The introduction of a group of rebel aliens is rather unexpected given that there’s been little to indicate that, and it seems like a necessary device to get the plot back on track so that the Second Mass doesn’t get annihilated on the way to Charleston. Even if that is the case, aliens fighting aliens is cool, and I’m all for it. It’s a shame that Weaver won’t listen to reason and that even Tom took a while to convince. Rick’s return was short-lived but decently crucial, especially because it seems to have woken both Weaver and Tom up to the fact that the harnessed kids essentially just do the bidding of the aliens, meaning that they can’t be trusted. Tom won’t have to worry about leaving Ben behind since he’s all set to head out anyway, which will hopefully be a productive decision rather than a devastating separation given the lengths Tom went to in order to find his son last season. I cannot believe that it’s taken Hal and Maggie this long to get together, though it seems that they didn’t even do it now since she’s so adamantly opposed to a relationship. Bringing up Karen was a rather cold move, though Maggie hasn’t exactly proven herself to be considerate, demonstrating more emotion in this one hour than she has in the entirety of the series thus far. Hal’s become wound a bit too tightly, and he could use a bit of romance to loosen himself up.

What I’m Watching: Falling Skies

Falling Skies: Season 2, Episode 4 “Young Bloods” (B-)

This episode was a decent improvement over last week’s unfortunate outing, but there are still certain inconsolable issues with it. The opening scene with Matt was rather brutal, and even Pope hasn’t taken to joyously blowing off skitter heads just for the fun of it. Weaver’s daughter being among the bunch of kids who so immediately trusted Hal and Ben after being hunted down for stealing their bikes was rather convenient, though it did serve to humanize the gruff leader for once. When some of their Spanish-speaking crew got abducted, however, it seemed awfully easy for them to go find them and break them out. It took so long for Ben to get found and rescued, yet this all happened in a matter of moments. That’s why guest stars are guest stars, with limited-span plotlines and quickly resolvable arcs. Their departure was simple enough, leaving without anyone getting hurt or being worse for wear. Ben’s harness lighting up in the harnessing chamber was intense, and Hal confronting Ben about it did not have a positive effect, since Hal’s genuine concern was misread as an attack, which just served to alienate Ben even more. In the midst of all the chaos and continued invasion, it’s good to see Tom and Anne finally realizing their feelings for each other and finding a few minutes to spend alone together making out before awkwardly trying to pretend like they weren’t doing anything when someone else walked in. Romance can definitely help ease tension, and this group could definitely use more of that.

What I’m Watching: Falling Skies

Falling Skies: Season 2, Episode 3 “Compass” (C)

It’s not clear to me why shows with enormous potential such as this one can fall prey to such poor, familiar plotting and even worse writing. The increased visual presence of the aliens should make things more exciting, yet it leads to more excessive human drama rather than any major shoot-outs or revelations. Following up last week’s superb eye-bug introduction with nothing but a hypnotized Ben being spared by the aliens is an enormous letdown. More problematic, however, is Tom’s inane suggestion that he be assigned to the Berserkers, so that he reports to Pope despite giving orders to the contrary on nearly every occasion. Pope is supposed to be the thorn that constantly gives all the other characters grief about taking themselves too seriously, but he’s becoming extremely obnoxious and just feels like an angry Nicolas Cage character at this point. It’s better that he be kicked loose to have his own misadventures and maybe make some headway on defeating the enemy aliens instead of constantly second-guessing and dragging down the 2nd Mass at every turn. Avery Churchill’s arrival by old-fashioned plane felt a little too airbrushed and out of place, and Charleston seems like a dream that’s very far away. Jimmy’s death is somewhat of a surprise, but his funeral seemed forced and overly emotional, turning what might have been dramatic moments into over-the-top, corny scenes with an excessive amount of fake tears. The whole group moving out, with Ben in tow, signals that there should hopefully be more excitement to come in the near future.

What I’m Watching: Falling Skies (Season Premiere)

Falling Skies: Season 2, Episodes 1 & 2 “Worlds Apart” & “Shall We Gather at the River” (B-)

I had all but forgotten about this show since it aired last summer, and, now that it’s back, I think I feel exactly the same way about it. Unlike, say, “Terra Nova,” this show didn’t get bad and lose all focus after its pilot. Instead, this show has never managed to truly live up to its potential, offering mediocre writing and only a small sample of awesome action each episode. Tom getting some face time with the aliens is a pretty big thing, and I enjoyed Karen’s lofty comparisons to examples of oppression from history designed to sway Tom into believing. Seeing him spared while all of the others were mowed down on the field underscores his importance as a leader of the resistance, which is likely to be more determined than ever now that they know that all the aliens want them to be purely subservient. That parasite in Tom’s eye was pretty freaky, and seeing him scared almost most worrisome than anything else. In Tom’s absence, Hal has become bossy, Ben has had the opportunity to get annoying, and Matt has grown up enough to learn how to fire a gun. Pope’s as obnoxious as ever, and it’s a good thing that Weaver and Anne are bonding since they’re Tom’s number one allies. Brandon Jay McLaren, who played Bennett Ahmed last year on “The Killing,” is now a prominent player, one of several interchangeable supporting cast members without any crucial individual function. I want to like and anticipate this show much more than I do, and I’m hopeful that it will rein me in more over the next seven weeks.

What I’m Watching: Falling Skies (Season Finale)

Falling Skies: Season 1, Episodes 9 & 10 “Mutiny” & “Eight Hours” (C-/C+)

There was absolutely no reason for this two-hour finale. The first hour didn’t deal with anything interesting, and for it to take forty-five minutes for the music to start up and the action to finally pick up is just ridiculous. Weaver being addicted to medication seems like an awfully convenient problem to suddenly become apparent, and I was most disgusted with how he snapped out of it just as suddenly when the time came. Pope considering Matt to be a princelet is stupid since the characters shouldn’t lend the Mason family the undue importance the show does. I’m glad that Maggie went on a mission with Hal since she’s been terribly underused this season. Scott jamming up skitter communications is a smart idea, and I like that it affected Ben and he wanted to help. In hour two, Rick crawling around on the ceiling and then hopping around like a leapfrog was a bit silly, and reporting every single thing to the aliens only to learn they don’t want him is awfully unfortunate. Not even seeing a legitimate alien until halfway through the second hour was disappointing, and though I got a chill when the celebration proved short-lived and a small army was still on the way, it ended pretty quickly without much excitement. Tom was bold enough to finally kiss Anne with less than twenty minutes left on the clock, and heading in to rescue Weaver was a heroic move. Taking a shot at the ship just to let the know he was there was cool, and it seems that he left more of an impression than he thought. Karen explaining that the aliens didn’t expect resistance on this level and find it interesting is a bit too cryptic to be satisfying, and hopefully Tom will come off the alien ship with a few more answers next season. I enjoyed his invocation of the battles of Lexington and Concord to rally the troops, and I generally enjoy this show’s campiness. Overall, however, this show didn’t deliver nearly enough this season, and I’m hopeful that season two will be far more fulfilling and action-packed.

Season grade: B-
Season MVP: Moon Bloodgood as Anne

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.

What I’m Watching: Falling Skies

Falling Skies: Season 1, Episode 7 “Sanctuary, Part 2” (B-)

Here’s an important question: what is this supposedly monumental episode that nearly changes the game entirely missing? The answer: aliens! Without even one skitter or other alien in sight, it’s all about the human interactions in this episode, which just can’t hope to be as exciting. Mike so easily finding out what Clayton was up to managed to greatly accelerate events, prompting an attempted escape by most of the children and them eventually being cornered by Clayton. Pope’s escape was hardly a surprise, and I like that he came back to defend the kids not because he cared about them but because he so reviles anyone who would think about teaming up with the aliens. Tom encountering him and demanding that he put down his weapon was a sign that there’s too much human-on-human violence, and things really need to be sorted out so that the humans can take on their enemy invaders with a united front. Tom giving up to save the kids’ lives seemed like a poor idea, but Weaver was just around the corner to save the day. I’m glad that Tom shot Clayton without any hesitation, since excessive kindness and compassion in this war won’t do anyone any good. The episode’s big casualty is Mike, who serves more as an emblem of heroism and somehow deserves a big, fancy funeral complete with a history lesson from Tom while most of the soldiers likely die in the midst of battle and don’t get that kind of heavily organized and quite public sendoff.

What I’m Watching: Falling Skies

Falling Skies: Season 1, Episode 6 “Sanctuary, Part 1” (B+)

In search of more action, there’s nothing like a surprise alien attack right after the arrival of an old friend to get things going. Clayton infuses a bit of much-needed hope and optimism into the show as he signals the presence of a greater group out there that might help in saving the planet. Ironically enough, he’s actually the main reason that they appear to be doomed, as evidenced by the shocking revelation at episode’s end that he is somehow in cahoots with the aliens and has captured Pope of all people to give him intelligence on where the members of the 2nd Massachusetts were holed up. Not everything was hunky-dory back on the ranch before that bit of bad news, as Anne is the victim of a rather frightening mugging at the start of the episode when fearful people take matters into their own hands and steal antibiotics as they make a run for it on their own. We get our first chance to see a walking, talking Ben, whose behavior bothers his brother Hal enough for him to bring it to the attention of an already frazzled Anne. The invocation of the term “razorback” reminds me very much of the “toaster” slang for Cylons on “Battlestar Galactica,” and it’s interesting to see how that’s proving divisive. The episode’s strongest moment by far was the popping of a globe by a skitter, which was both awesome and rather representative of just what the aliens are doing to the inhabitants of the planet Earth.

What I’m Watching: Falling Skies

Falling Skies: Season 1, Episode 5 “Silent Kill” (B+)

This episode is a strong recovery from last week’s lackluster installment. It rectifies the problem of not having anywhere specific to go and not including that much action. Even if there’s not too much happening in this episode, there are two particularly big developments, one involving the alien prisoner and the other involving the rescue of the harnessed kids. It’s about time the alien prisoner of war fought back, and strangling the rather rude and obnoxious Dr. Harris to death with its tentacle is a pretty memorable show of force. There’s nothing like a good bit of fatalism to get the blood pumping, as Rick shares a warm message of “They’ll kill you all” with Hal. The noble son taking charge and telling his father that he’s going on the mission instead of him is an appreciated step. The idea to go in with a harness on so that the aliens don’t take notice of him was smart, and it’s great that the mission actually worked out quite well, with Hal taking out the guard alien with one very targeted shot. Margaret proved to be a useful asset, and she even has an interesting back story! It’s understandable that emotional center Anne would be upset about saving five of the harnessed kids but still losing one. The very best news, of course, is that Ben, finally, is back. Having him die on the operating table would be a bit too devastating for this show, and his return should hopefully set this show on a properly exciting path in the coming weeks. Also, this show has been renewed for a second season, which isn't much of a surprise!

Take Three: Falling Skies

Falling Skies: Season 1, Episode 4 “Grace” (B-)

This episode certainly doesn’t contain nearly as much action as the others so far, mainly because it doesn’t contain any action aside from a bit of excitement infused by a rather aggressive Pope. I do think that the two medical characters are a bit too starkly defined, that Anne is actually trying to think creatively and be nice to it while the uncreative brute Dr. Harris refuses to acknowledge any other course than to provoke it by angering it. The notion that it’s controlling Rick even without the harness on is intriguing, but it’s spelled out quite obviously rather than left up in the air to be figured out more gradually. All I know is that ripping a harness out of a kid’s back like Mike did is definitely not a safe or smart idea. The harness curing Rick’s cystic fibrosis is very interesting as well. There’s an awful lot of science in this episode, and this show could do well to remember the things that made it so intriguing and enthralling in its first initial outings. It seems that Pope is going to be the provider of most of that, blowing up sleeping Skitters since he just can’t stand to see them continuing to live while he could be destroying them. I’m amused by the continued Boston references, which in this episode include laughing off an address in Wellesley as constituting Boston, which apparently makes someone a “617 snob.” The Boston humor is fine, but let’s get this show on the road and back onto the battlefield soon.

Round Two: Falling Skies

Falling Skies: Season 1, Episode 3 “Prisoner of War” (B+)

In its second airing, this show manages to hold up pretty well, delivering both awesome alien action and plenty of melodrama. Its major weakness is a sense of continuity, in that it does have a main character, and he and his family will be will featured much more prominently than others and be prone to being saved and staying alive on a regular basis. It also allows a considerable amount of conveniences, like something being accidentally dropped from the top of a building that alerts the alien to the presence of the scouts. I’d like to think that the harnessed kids being executed in front of Hal is akin to the zombies proving themselves intelligent and cunning in “I Am Legend,” rather than another convenient plot device. I think that the final shot of the alien opening its eyes paired with the shot of the de-harnessed kid indicates that there is more to these aliens than just a violent and swift invasion, and I think that’s very promising. I also liked the presence of Steven Weber as Dr. Harris, and it was definitely a good character for him to play, entirely full of himself and not willing to take the blame for the death of Tom’s wife, instead asserting his own greater importance to society. Having Pope become the chef is a good use for his character, and it’s a good to see that even Weaver has a boss, one who’s somewhat more open-minded and able to see the big picture than the pilot’s military man.

Pilot Review: Falling Skies

Falling Skies (TNT)
Premiered July 19 at 9pm

This long-in-development sci-fi series finally makes its premiere on TNT, and expectations are certainly set high. The good news is that, some slow-paced and obvious bantering aside, this show is pretty good. It’s almost as ambitious as FOX’s forthcoming “Terra Nova,” and an expense that a network needs to make up for with positive ratings and enough return in viewership. Fortunately, Steven Spielberg is fronting both shows, which means that they have a better chance than most from the outset. “Falling Skies” is typical Spielberg territory, reminiscent in many ways of his take on “War of the Worlds,” setting his post-apocalyptic adventures in broad daylight and then finessing them with rather fearsome night terrors as the aliens come out to play. At times, it’s incredibly exciting, and the action moments are never a letdown. The original score by Noah Sorota helps considerably with that, and each fade to commercial is enhanced by the thrilling music. I particularly enjoy the frequent Boston references, with trips to West Newton and along the Commuter Rail line, and I like how Tom works in the Red Sox beating the Yankees to his diatribe about revolutions. Pain being gauged on a scale from “bad” to “wicked bad” is also quite entertaining. Noah Wyle seems an able lead, and he’s playing the character who’s supposed to be the main protagonist in this kind of fare. Moon Bloodgood is at her best as a hard-headed and determined nurse, and having Will Patton in command reminds me of “The Postman,” but not in a bad way. This show is like “Jericho” meets “The Walking Dead,” and that’s a fantastic combination. I’m in.

How will it work as a series? This double-decker of a pilot is probably considerably more heavy-handed than the rest of the episodes, partially because it establishes the leadership dynamic and also has to deal with the other human forces working against the regiments. I’d expect more alliances, more conflicts, and more aliens in the coming episodes, which should certainly be action-packed, very similar, I’d presume, to “The Walking Dead” in the balance of drama and fearful interaction with the other.
How long will it last? The ratings were great, as the premiere was trumpeted the #1 cable series launch of the year, but that doesn’t guarantee anything. An early second season pickup would be good news, since that would seem to prevent a potential cancellation due to overexpense (a fate suffered after only two seasons by “Rome”). For the moment, I’d give it an edge to survive, with a second season renewal coming sometime soon.

Pilot grade: B+