Falling Skies - TNT Series Takes Place in Acton

Falling back into routine can be tough, after what seems to be endless packing, moving and unpacking. On an early summer night last year, on the first weekend we didn't have any moving or getting settled in activities, my wife reminded me of that new show that was on TNT, a Sci-Fi show that has Steven Spielberg's name attached to it, Falling Skies.

The premise is Aliens arrived and attacked, wiping out the Earth's combined military forces quickly, leaving small pockets of survivors that now are fighting back, six months later on.

We pick up with the resistance, fighting in the outskirts of Boston, retreating to the suburbs. One group, the "The 2nd Mass" is sent out to Acton, MA. I almost did a double take, Acton?! Our new home town? 

Noah Wylie, plays Tom Mason, a father who lost his wife when the aliens attacked, and is raising his three sons while being the second in command of "The 2nd Mass" he's the moral barometer, fighting for the right reasons. A former history professor, he mentions all of the people that fought against the odds and won, from ancient times, to the Red Sox vs Yankees in 2004

Will Patton who plays Dan Weaver, a veteran of the first gulf war, who also lost his family in the attack, fights with a bitterness that comes from a loss, later on in the season his humanity comes through in various ways, making the right decisions, even when they're against his instincts. The Characters in the beginning seemed a bit stiff, but the element of "what's happening here?" makes you kind of forget that, and it doesn't last long. As the season progressed, the characters grow in good and bad ways, getting as tattered as their clothing. The special effects aren't over the top, but for a TV budget, they do well. You don't need to know technobabble like Star Trek, or any scientific jargon to get into any critical story point. It's people fighting to survive against an unknown and superior enemy, while being outnumbered and out gunned.

Overall it was a nice little surprise, moving to an area, and then have a TV show being based there. While It's filmed up in the Toronto area. They do kind of capture some of the feel though, and their visual effects people seem to know how to place the skyline of Boston in the same general area, based on where the scene is. Getting the geography right is also a bonus, noting that RT 2 does intersect 495 and there is a train station out there. Nope there is no JFK High school, but I think that's a symbolic thing Combining the ideas of Freedom and Peace, and the hard work and dedication it takes on any level to achieve them, and it's cost. Another added touch is the lack of the percieved Massachusetts accent, that seems to always get very exaggerated in TV and movies.

The season is short, following a pattern established by shows like "Mad Men", "The Walking Dead" and "Breaking Bad". It's nice to see a network look at making a good show with less episodes, distilling it down to it's essence. It leaves you wanting more, and thankfully the second season starts on June 17th.

Sci-Fi shows are expensive, and it's far cheaper to make a sit-com or a reality show.  I just hope that it gets a proper ending, and doesn't get the rug pulled out from underneath it.

I don't know if the 2nd Mass will still be fighting in the Acton area this season, but I'll be tuning in to find out. If you haven't seen it yet, you're missing out.