This is another under the radar gem and is one of the movie tie in TV shows to me that actually work and this show was way it became a common thing; it's not trying to imitate it's predecessor but becoming it's own thing. For one thing it takes place after the 50's film which I think is cool, making this show in a way a sequel. Sure it doesn't exactly surpass the classic 50's film but it's not trying to which to me is a good thing.
I really like the production value, for TV they really did well. From the make up effects of the aliens down to some gore effects which I was surprised they got away with for TV at that time; limbs getting torn off, alien hands coming out, eyes gouged out, aliens melting. But that to me is awesome because it shows this show isn't afraid to take chances. OK, some effects are a bit dated and some aren't up to par but they it was the late 80's and it's television what are you going to do.
I like two of the different into themes which I think are solid because both have their own tone which reflects the season's and personally it's something I which most TV shows would do often change their theme in each season.
I really like both plots for the show which are the basic covert silent invasion plots which to me I like more and I think are a lot more thrilling because you see the aliens initiate intelligence more than just their weapons and tech all the time, which to me I find even more dangerous. Yeah it's does sort of takes it's cues from John Carpenter's "The Thing" and "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" with the idea of aliens taking on human identities to look and act like us. Yeah nothing really new but everything done right. I'll admit when I saw this show when I was about 8 this show was kinda scary, the idea of aliens that can disguise themselves as us and we would never know if the next person we pass by is one of them; this I'll admit made me a little paranoid for a while.
The characters are solid, few characters stand out I like let alone are both very diverse. Ironhorse is my favorite, he is just awesome, I remember as a kid I wanted to grow up to be as tough as him (and I am for the record). His character is kinda a bad ass from the amount of aliens he wastes and how he does it, my favorite is when he uses a tomahawk to brain one of them. But I like that he has sort of this really dry sort of strange charisma and mannerism.
Norton Drake, His character is great because he's a paraplegic but he isn't helpless. He's sort of like Oricle from the DC Comics, like her what he lacks in his legs he more than makes up for in his intelligence, he is a master at the computer. But also he is capable of kicking serious ass too from his martial arts skills in Arnise Stick Fighting, and we get to see him use it.
Kinkaid, the fact he's played by Adrian Paul makes it all the more cool since I'm a fan of the TV show "Highlander". Also on a side note the actor that plays Norton was also in "Highlander" as well.
The action is solid/decent, you got some good/decent shootouts as well as a few good alien kills. But really this is more a suspense thriller and this show has some really good suspense. From just the sense of paranoia, dark atmosphere, and feeling of dread as the plans of the invaders escalates and the human team isn't getting steps closer to stopping them.
But what really makes this show stand out is that it's really dark because the good guys don't always win which was rare at the time for most shows even alien invasion stories. Sometimes they would have a victory but it would be an incomplete one because sometimes at the end of an episode they discover the aliens have retrieve on crucial piece of the puzzle they need. Which all the more made this group feel human and made you want to win, hopping they'll score a victory or do even better next time; which is a feeling I don't get much and I like that.
The only problem I have is the series really feels uneven. Don't get me wrong I think the fact that you have a new plot line and new aliens to contend with, is a cool idea. Having one every season I felt keeps things fresh and it was something that hasn't really been done for most TV shows at the time. But I just felt that they went with this too soon because we never really had or even hear how the first plot was resolved.
I think killing off two major characters that were my favorites was stupid and an insult. This was really just an excuse just to change up the character dynamic. I'll admit this move indeed alienates even polarizes fans, depending on which season you like more.
I'd love to see a revival of this, may'be make the new series take place after the current Speilburg film "War of the Worlds". I don't know it's just a thought, but with the current movie tie in shows like "Fargo", "From Dusk till Dawn", etc. I see no reason for this to happen, just a thought.
Overall, it's a solid sci-fi series, this is one hidden alien tripod that is worth a ride.
Rating: 3 stars
I really like the production value, for TV they really did well. From the make up effects of the aliens down to some gore effects which I was surprised they got away with for TV at that time; limbs getting torn off, alien hands coming out, eyes gouged out, aliens melting. But that to me is awesome because it shows this show isn't afraid to take chances. OK, some effects are a bit dated and some aren't up to par but they it was the late 80's and it's television what are you going to do.
I like two of the different into themes which I think are solid because both have their own tone which reflects the season's and personally it's something I which most TV shows would do often change their theme in each season.
I really like both plots for the show which are the basic covert silent invasion plots which to me I like more and I think are a lot more thrilling because you see the aliens initiate intelligence more than just their weapons and tech all the time, which to me I find even more dangerous. Yeah it's does sort of takes it's cues from John Carpenter's "The Thing" and "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" with the idea of aliens taking on human identities to look and act like us. Yeah nothing really new but everything done right. I'll admit when I saw this show when I was about 8 this show was kinda scary, the idea of aliens that can disguise themselves as us and we would never know if the next person we pass by is one of them; this I'll admit made me a little paranoid for a while.
The characters are solid, few characters stand out I like let alone are both very diverse. Ironhorse is my favorite, he is just awesome, I remember as a kid I wanted to grow up to be as tough as him (and I am for the record). His character is kinda a bad ass from the amount of aliens he wastes and how he does it, my favorite is when he uses a tomahawk to brain one of them. But I like that he has sort of this really dry sort of strange charisma and mannerism.
Norton Drake, His character is great because he's a paraplegic but he isn't helpless. He's sort of like Oricle from the DC Comics, like her what he lacks in his legs he more than makes up for in his intelligence, he is a master at the computer. But also he is capable of kicking serious ass too from his martial arts skills in Arnise Stick Fighting, and we get to see him use it.
Kinkaid, the fact he's played by Adrian Paul makes it all the more cool since I'm a fan of the TV show "Highlander". Also on a side note the actor that plays Norton was also in "Highlander" as well.
The action is solid/decent, you got some good/decent shootouts as well as a few good alien kills. But really this is more a suspense thriller and this show has some really good suspense. From just the sense of paranoia, dark atmosphere, and feeling of dread as the plans of the invaders escalates and the human team isn't getting steps closer to stopping them.
But what really makes this show stand out is that it's really dark because the good guys don't always win which was rare at the time for most shows even alien invasion stories. Sometimes they would have a victory but it would be an incomplete one because sometimes at the end of an episode they discover the aliens have retrieve on crucial piece of the puzzle they need. Which all the more made this group feel human and made you want to win, hopping they'll score a victory or do even better next time; which is a feeling I don't get much and I like that.
The only problem I have is the series really feels uneven. Don't get me wrong I think the fact that you have a new plot line and new aliens to contend with, is a cool idea. Having one every season I felt keeps things fresh and it was something that hasn't really been done for most TV shows at the time. But I just felt that they went with this too soon because we never really had or even hear how the first plot was resolved.
I think killing off two major characters that were my favorites was stupid and an insult. This was really just an excuse just to change up the character dynamic. I'll admit this move indeed alienates even polarizes fans, depending on which season you like more.
I'd love to see a revival of this, may'be make the new series take place after the current Speilburg film "War of the Worlds". I don't know it's just a thought, but with the current movie tie in shows like "Fargo", "From Dusk till Dawn", etc. I see no reason for this to happen, just a thought.
Overall, it's a solid sci-fi series, this is one hidden alien tripod that is worth a ride.
Rating: 3 stars