FALLING SKIES: THE COMPLETE SERIES (2011)
10-Disc Blu-ray Set
Label: Warner Bros.
Region Code: A
Rating: TV14
Duration: 2288 Minutes
Audio: English Dolby True HD 5.1 Surround with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.78:1)
Directors: Greg Beeman, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, Adam Kane, Jonathan Frakes
Cast: Noah Wyle, Drew Roy, Maxim Knight, Will Patton, Sarah Carter
The TNT post-apocalyptic sci-fi series Falling Skies (2011-2015) opens in the aftermath of an alien attack on earth that has eradicated 90% of the world's population. At the center of the series is Tom Mason (Noah Wyle), a former Boston history professor turned resistance fighter as part of the 2nd Massachusetts Militia Regiment. The invading alien force is initially represented by robot drones called "mechs" and a six-legged species called "Skitters", as the series progresses the alien hierarchy is more thoroughly laid out, including the "Espheni" or Overlords, who are the true masters of the Skitters.
The show has a deep and interesting array of core human characters, of course Mason is the heart of the series, but the show is rich with supporting characters, weaving a tapestry of human drama that is quite compelling and what will keep you coming back to it episode after episode. The show also offers the post-apocalyptic visuals of a world decimated by alien invaders and an on-going war chock full of alien tech and weaponry, and of course alien ships. The aliens are rounding up young people and teaching a spinal-tap harness that controls their minds, the purpose of which is later revealed in later seasons, and the human resistance is aided by other aliens races who have also been victims of the Espheni galactic empire.
I still find the show compelling up re-watching the Blu-ray set, the sci-f story is rooted in human perseverance and tenacity, the indomitable human spirit of a civilian fighting force who are the last hope of humanity in the face of an alien invasion force, plus it's plenty cinematic and looks great with some terrific sci-fi action, as well as some causalities that hit hard.
Audio/Video: All five seasons are presented in 1080p HD framed in 1.78:1 widescreen with Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround sound.
The 10-disc Blu-ray set arrives in a pair of oversized keepcases with flipper trays holding the discs, seasons 1-3 in one keepcae, season 4-5 in the other, the reverse side of the wraps feature a listing of the episodes and special features. the two keepcases slip into a side-loading slipcase with the same artwork as the wraps.
Special Features:
Season 1
- Falling Skies from Pencils to Print: The Dark Horse Comic Book Revealed
- Animating a Skitter
- Falling Skies Comic-Con Style!
- Behind the Scenes Featurettes
- Audio Commentaries
- Unanswered Questions: Season 2 Sneak Peek
Season 2
- One Page at a Time: Writing the 2nd American Revolution
- The SKitter Evolution
- The Fans' Perspective: Touring the Set of Falling Skies
- Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes
- Season 2 Animated Trailer m Created by Dark Horse Comics
- Audio Commentaries
Season 3
- 2nd Watch: Hosted by Will Wheaton
- Warrior Poet: Creating the Character and Emotion of Cochise
- Karen: The Overload
- Featurettes
- Behind-the-Scenes
Season 4
- Featurette: Tom Mason: A Man of Tomorrow
- Episode Prequels
- Inside the Episodes
- Character Interviews
- 2015 San Diego Comic-Con Panel with Cast
Season 5
- Farewell to the Skies Featurettes
- 2015 WonderCon Panel with cast
- A Look back
- The Journey
