"Falling Skies" and Praying for the End: A Television Review ("The Price of Greatness")

Creator: Robert Rodat.

Writers: Robert Rodat, and Mark Verheiden.

Executive Producer: Steven Spielberg.

Cast: Noah Wyle, Moon Bloodgood, Will Patton, Drew Roy, Maxim Knight, Connor Jessup, Colin Cunningham, and Sarah Carter.

This sci-fi television fan is continuing to struggle with the slowly plotted structure of "Falling Skies." Events move at a snail's pace with episode nine titled "The Price of Greatness." There was some political wrangling and the introduction of two significant characters in this episode, but the alien presence was kept mostly offscreen once again. What are the overlords doing? Are they eating popcorn and cracking jokes of human mating practices? The aliens should really be making their presence known; otherwise, hero Tom Mason (Noah Wyle) and his motley crew can reorganize to fight off the alien invasion at their leisure.

In this episode, Tom is busy acclimatizing to his new surroundings, an underground bunker near Charleston. He meets his old friend from university and history teacher, Manchester played by Terry O'Quinn ("Lost.") Was his name lifted from one of the greatest universities of England? Either way, this teacher tells Tom how it is. Humanity must hide below ground like troglodytes or face extinction. Manchester has given up before the fight has even really started.

Tom Mason for mayor!

Mason and his crew meet a second new character, General Bressler (Matt Frewer). Bressler seems demoralized as his command is a civilian one. This character becomes more prominent in the final scenes when the presence of the 2nd Mass' leads to a power struggle. Manchester and his civilian government are removed from the political hierarchy and martial law is declared. This was the only major plot development in this episode.

A few subplots were also developed with Jeanne Weaver reuniting with her father and characters being reassigned in their new environment, but very little else happens. Apparently, television develops much differently from film and viewers require much more patience for story developments to complete their arc. This film fan just wants to see a little more action. This show's premise is based on an alien invasion after all. And this hostile takeover seems to be in neutral. Maybe it will resume when Tom and his crew are more prepared in the Seas. 2 finale, "A More Perfect Union." But, where is the fun in that?

Thankfully, there is still a lot to like in this show as a whole. The acting is often superb and lead Wyle has many years experience working in television. He is a talented actor and often emotive. The introduction and outroduction of characters keeps things, generally, interesting. The music highlights the jingoistic elements in the series while production looks well orchestrated. Visually and aurally this show looks excellent.

It is just too bad that Seas. 2 has lost a little bit of its edge. Thus, "The Price of Greatness" seems to settle on soap opera theatrics and power struggles rather than action and forward plot movement. This is making "Falling Skies" a little predictable and even a little boring. Hopefully the final episode in Seas. 2 goes out with a bang and a few surprises, or sci-fi fans will have to further develop their patience into Seas. 3.

Overall: 6.75 (new characters, some tense interplay, a cliffhanger ending?, slowly paced, many characters, mostly uneventful).

This show's homepage is here:

Falling Skies at TNT

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