However, I am thinking futuristic rather than remnants from the grave or tales from yore. We have already lost V (not really a great loss) and Caprica (a terrific show), while Outcast became just that soon after being released by BBC. And the trash heap has grown over the years after valiant starts - think of Defying Gravity and Virtuality.
So, where are we today? Well, on June 19th we will get a new show on TNT called Falling Skies. The 10-part series stars Noah Wyle as a former Boston history professor and tells the story of a country six months after its brutal defeat under extraterrestrials. Previews show alien creatures that remind me a lot of the ones from Battle: Los Angeles, which is now adverting in tandem with the new series. The story itself brings to mind War of the Worlds combined with the scrappy resistance of townsfolk seen in TV's Jericho.
So what can we expect? During a recent interview, Noah Wyle described the role of science fiction:
Science fiction, in its purest form, for me, it works the best when it’s being used as metaphor to look at something from a one step removed process, to give a little objectivity and insight into something that, if you were applying it on the face of it, we’d all be too close to. That’s what Gene Roddenberry did, better than anybody, with the original Star Trek shows. In ‘66, you could show a show about race relations, by making it Kligons and Vulcans, and not have to talk about black and white. You were talking black and white, but somehow it was a lot more palatable to be soon through another culture. I think this operates on that level. It’s got historical precedent. We draw a lot of allegory to the American Revolution, but it also has a lot of contemporary resonance too. There are many places in the world where you can find large occupying army that aren’t wanted on indigenous soil.
It will be interesting to see the American Revolution with real "lobster backs," or at least what seem to be crustaceans. The series can also boast that Stephen Spielberg was involved as executive producer. His involvement should improve the quality of the series, though I hope it is not a sign that this will become another vehicle for his "return to mother" theme. I also distinctly remember a ridiculous scene at the end of Spielberg's War of the Worlds where Tom Cruise returns to Boston only to find everyone wearing crisp, pretty sweaters in the midst of what was to be the end of the world. I am hoping Wyle will not be a Benetton model in this new program.
Some additional sci-fi shows are in the works as well. I will cover them in later stories. Stay tuned.
Update: I have watch the first two episodes (three hours) of Falling Sky and the show has already grown on me. And yes, it bring to mind a few other programs from the past. For instance, the alien invasion reminds me of District 9 with the insect/crustacean visitors and the huge, lumbering ship sitting above the human city. And the bugs have their own robots to do their bidding, which remind me of the Cylons from Battlestar Galactica picking of the few remaining human after the genocide. But what surprised me was the acting - it works. Wyle plays an awkward, yet convincing, dad to his two sons as he spouts off historical analogies that his kids barely tolerate. Dads can be that way. And while most the other characters are what you would expect - the potential mom/girlfriend, the crusty military commander - you have a few interesting souls thrown into the mix, such as the thug with culinary skills. The program certainly shows promise.
Second Update: Falling Skies has been picked up for a second season, noted TV Series Finale in a July 8th posting.
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