Should You Give Falling Skies Another Chance?

Steven Spielberg launched two science fiction TV shows last year — in a time when science fiction seems to be a third rail of television. One was Terra Nova, a show about time travel and dinosaurs. The other was Falling Skies, a show about alien invasion and post-humans. There are two huge differences between these shows: One of them is dead. And the other one is worth watching.

As it goes into its second season, Falling Skies takes the Spielberg ethos forward, and shows genuine promise of becoming something worth taking seriously. It’s still not a perfect show, but it’s good and getting better. Here are a bunch of reasons why you should give Falling Skiesanother shot on Sunday. With basically no spoilers for season two.

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io9.Com is my go-to site for science fiction news. They’ve got a ton of info, writers who know and love the field, and they’ve even said nice things about me.

But today I’ve got to disagree with io9’s  Charlie Jane Anders, who says in an extremely well-written article that viewers should forgive the show its Season 1 trespasses and try it again when it comes back.

My disagreement is based on two tenets of professional TV drama that I’m happy to share.

1. Steven Spielberg’s TV track record. When has his name ever been on any series worth watching? When has any series with his name on it improved enough to be worth watching?
2. The TV people – writers and producers – who staffed this show last season, like the ones who are replacing them this season, are highly paid professionals. And I mean very highly paid. Do you really want to fill their pockets with gold while they struggle to reach an acceptable level of mediocrity? I sure don’t. Half-assed writing shouldn’t be rewarded with piles of Porsches and cash.

Find something newer and better. You’ll be doing yourself – and television – a favor.