Genre: Sci-Fi | Action | Drama
Air Date/Time: Sunday, August 19 at 9/8c
Network: TNT
Created by: Greg Beeman
Written by: Remi Aubuchon and Bradley Thompson & David Weddle
Directed by: Adam Kane
Summary:
Falling Skies chronicles the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. In the nine months since the initial invasion, the few remaining survivors have banded together outside major cities to begin the difficult task of fighting back. Each day is a test of survival as citizen soldiers work to protect the people in their care while also engaging in an insurgency campaign against the occupying alien force, whose nature and purpose remains a mystery.
Season Finale: When skitters approach the newly combined resistance force, the groups’ interaction surprises everyone. Meanwhile, Tom (Noah Wyle) finds out life-changing news just as the 2nd Mass comes face-to-face with their most dangerous threat to date. Terry O’Quinn (Lost) guest-stars.
Moon Bloodgood (Terminator Salvation) also stars as Anne Glass, a pediatrician who works with the survivors to help them cope with the traumatic upheaval in their lives. Will Patton (Armageddon, TNT’s Into the West) plays Weaver, a fierce military leader of the resistance and Tom’s commanding officer. The series also stars Drew Roy (Secretariat) as Hal, Tom’s oldest son and a growing fighter in the resistance movement; Maxim Knight (Brothers & Sisters) as Matt, Tom’s youngest son; Connor Jessup (The Saddle Club) as Ben, Tom’s son who was captured by aliens and has since returned to the group; and Seychelle Gabriel (Weeds) as Lourdes, an orphaned pre-med student who helps Anne in the group’s makeshift medical clinic. Mpho Koaho (Rookie Blue) and Peter Shinkoda (The L Word) play Anthony and Dai, two resistance fighters in the 2nd Mass.; Colin Cunningham (Living in Your Car) is John Pope, the head of a gang of marauders called the Berserkers; and Sarah Sanguin Carter (Shark) is Maggie, a wary survivor from Pope’s gang.
So, here we are. The season finale. Happily, there are many bright moments, and one or two genuinely surprising twists. This is definitely one of those episodes that will be experienced in a variety of ways, depending on what you’ve thought of the previous episodes. If you have really enjoyed every episode of this second season, you are sure to love this season finale.
A fair number of things happen (none of which will be revealed here of course), and there are no real slow spots. Some of the movement is by way of story line, some of it is actual action. Like almost every other episode this season, if you don’t pay attention you will definitely miss out.
Connor Jessup (Ben Mason) is back! Yes I know, that’s a minor spoiler, but you had to figure he would be, right? He is just so good. Even with lines that are purposefully formal and stilted, his delivery makes it work beautifully. Beautifully. I cannot say enough good things about his consistently excellent work this season, and my fervent hope that he has at least as big a role next season.
Laci J Mailey, who plays Capt. Weaver’s daughter Jeanne, also does a terrific job this week. She brings a believable intensity to the small role that is engaging, and Will Patton (Capt. Weaver) does his best work when he’s with her. Well, with her and with some of the 2nd Mass soldiers, who also bring a natural ease to their roles that’s refreshing.
Refreshing, because the dialogue is just shockingly bad. Seriously. So very awful. While some of the actors can periodically rise above it, notably Noah Wyle and Terry O’Quinn as well as those I mentioned above, there is really no escaping it. Stilted and unnatural, it’s the kind of dialogue that reads well on a page but sounds like an elementary school play when spoken out loud. Couple that with some bursts of really silly direction and you start to feel sorry for some of the actors. Matt Frewer should demand an apology.
I would also be remiss if I didn’t point out that at least a couple of the “twists” are once again of the level easily anticipated by the 8-year-olds watching the show. Clunky and somewhat eye-rolling.
But if you can and have been all right with the dialogue all season, and with some of the more obvious storylines of the past two episodes, you’ll be fine with this season finale.
Back to the highlights. Almost all of the visual effects this week are really quite good, and there are a variety of them. Two look silly, but the rest are great. The sets are also well done, and just like in almost every other episode this season, there are several. There are one or two exterior night shots that combine cool direction, nice camera placement and quite interesting lighting.
In short, if you have enjoyed or even loved the entire second season of Falling Skies, this season finale will not disappoint. If like me you get distracted by some of the writing choices, then enter the viewing experience with the knowledge that this episode is not as good as the best, those that we enjoyed in the middle of the season, and relax and enjoy this episode with your now-lowered expectations.
I have high hopes that everyone involved in the creation and care of Season 3 will take note of the particularly excellent 4th 5th, 6th, and 7th episodes of this season and will be bringing us more of that. Won’t that be great?!
I give Falling Skies, Season 2 Episode 10 “A More Perfect Union” Three Out of Five Stars.
