“Falling Skies” premiered in 2011 with a simple premise: alien invaders arrive, and the survivors split into two groups. One group flees into the wilds. The other stays behind to fight. The show spent five seasons moving between those two camps, and the result is a mixed bag that critics generally agree lands somewhere in the middle.
Trailer, via triviatrailers.
The Premise
The Skitters arrive in the first episode and quickly establish themselves as a terrifying force. They don’t just attack human settlements; they harvest humans to breed hybrid creatures. The show’s central tension comes from this breeding program. The resistance fighters want to stop it, but they also need to survive.
The show’s core strength is its ensemble cast. Will Patton plays Tom Mason, a former Marine colonel who becomes the leader of the Second Mass. Noah Wyle plays Weaver, the gruff and skeptical commander of the resistance base. Moon Bloodgood plays Maggie, a fighter with a sharp tongue and a sharper knife. Together they anchor a series that can feel uneven across its long run.
The First Season
The pilot sets up the world with a bang. The aliens land, the army crumbles, and the survivors scatter. The show’s biggest flaw is pacing. Early episodes drag through exposition, and the show takes its time getting to the action. That patience pays off later, but the first season struggles to hold attention.
The second season improves. The show introduces new characters and tightens its focus on the resistance base. The conflict between the two survivor groups becomes more pronounced, and the show leans into its political drama. The season ends on a cliffhanger that finally delivers the momentum the first season lacked.
The Middle Seasons
The third and fourth seasons continue to build on the established plotlines. The show introduces a child soldier subplot that adds emotional weight to the war narrative. The resistance base faces internal strife as factions clash over strategy and leadership. These seasons are the most consistent stretch of the series, with tighter writing and better character development.
The fifth season wraps the series with a finale that attempts to resolve the main storyline. Critics were divided on whether it worked. Some praised the closure. Others felt the ending rushed important arcs. The final season’s pacing is uneven, but it offers a satisfying conclusion for longtime viewers.
The Visuals and Music
The show’s production design is strong. The alien technology looks convincing, and the human settlements feel lived-in. The show’s visual effects are dated by today’s standards, but they hold up well within the context of the series. The show also benefits from its outdoor filming locations, which give the resistance base a sense of scale.
The music is effective too. The score builds tension during battle scenes and provides a sense of dread during quieter moments. The show’s sound design is similarly strong, with ambient noise adding to the atmosphere.
The Writing
The show’s writing is where it stumbles most. The dialogue can feel stiff, and some character motivations are underdeveloped. The show’s mythology is complex, but it often gets lost in favor of spectacle. The show’s attempt to balance political drama with action adventure sometimes results in a muddled tone.
The show’s best episodes are the ones that focus on character relationships. The interactions between Tom Mason and his sons are particularly well done. The show also handles grief and loss with a degree of realism that elevates its emotional weight. These moments stand out against the show’s weaker stretches.
The Legacy
“Falling Skies” ran for five seasons from 2011 to 2015. It spawned a spinoff series that continued the franchise’s story. The show’s influence can be seen in later post-apocalyptic TV shows, which often borrow its themes of resistance and survival.
The show’s cultural impact is modest. It didn’t become a major hit, but it found a dedicated audience. Its legacy is that of a solid, if flawed, entry in the genre.
The Verdict
“Falling Skies” is a show with a clear vision but inconsistent execution. It has strong performances, decent pacing, and a compelling premise. It also has weak writing, uneven storytelling, and a tendency to lose focus. The show’s highs are high, but its lows are low.
Critics have generally agreed on this assessment. The show is a mixed bag that lands somewhere in the middle. It is a show worth watching for fans of the genre, but not one that demands a full commitment.
The show’s final season deserves credit for delivering a conclusion that respects the characters’ arcs. The earlier seasons, while flawed, set the stage for that payoff. For viewers willing to invest time, the rewards are there.
Key Facts
- Premiere: 2011
- Network: TNT
- Seasons: 5
- Episodes per season: 13–15
-
Metacritic score: 7.0/10 (per the source)
-
Cast highlights: Will Patton as Tom Mason, Noah Wyle as Weaver, Moon Bloodgood as Maggie
- Spinoff: Continued the franchise’s story
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
