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Post-apocalyptic drama Falling Skies returns toward the end of June, but before you can see the new season you can catch up on the old one when The Complete Third Season drops on June 3rd.
Falling Skies is about the world after it has been invaded and largely dominated by an alien species and their robot drones. Bands of human resistance still fight for survival and attempt to overthrow their new overlords. Initially the humans believe that the "Skitters" are the invaders, but it turns out that much like human children are being enslaves through a biomechanical harness, so too were these aliens. The real enemy, the espheni, likes to stay hidden. Season 1 ended with Tom Mason (Noah Wyle), one of the leaders of the 2nd Mass resistance army, going aboard to meet one of these leader aliens to perhaps come to a truce. Season 2 explores the Skitters and their own rebelion efforts, as well as the discovery of a settlement of people in Charleston - miraculous because until now all human groups had to stay on the move to keep a step ahead of the invaders. We are also introduced to the Volm, another race conquered by the espheni who now travel the universe trying to help other planets fight and survive.
Season 3 returns us to Charleston and the 2nd Mass seven months later, and to President Tom Mason. Along with the help of Volm Ambassador Cochise, the humans continue their fight against the invading aliens. But they quickly learn that there is a spy in their midst. We also get the return of Karen, previously enslaved by the espheni and now willingly working for them.
Falling Skies is an excellent science fiction TV show. And I believe it has maintained its quality by sticking to low episode counts. Each of the first three seasons are only ten episodes long, and the upcoming fourth plans to be twelve. This sort of limit, much less than the 22+ hours other network shows often try to fill, forces the writers to keep the elements tight and to avoid drawn out red herrings that serve mostly to fill up time. TNT has itself a winner here, and as long as it maintains its ratings numbers I imagine it will run for as long as it wants to.
The DVD set includes a few short featurettes about the making of some of the show's elements and the creating of characters like Cochise and Karen. But the real shining star of the set is the inclusion of the episodes of 2nd Watch, the web show hosted by Wil Wheaton that comes on after each airing of the show where Wil talks with members of the cast and crew about the episode you've just seen. The insight this provides, mainly about the production of the show and the trials the actors go through to bring the characters to life, is interesting to watch. You know, if you are into that sort of thing.
Falling Skies is an excellent show, and this DVD set for the Complete Third Season is the presentation it deserves.
