Falling Skies has been renewed for a 10 episode 5th season.  This is a show that captured audiences attention from the first season for a variety of reasons.

For me, what makes Falling Skies stand out is two-fold.  During one of the early episodes I suddenly realized here was a show that was accomplishing what I had been frustrated other shows had failed to do — creating the sense of community among the characters.  In scenes where the 2nd Mass (the main group of characters we have followed for four season) was moving from one location to another, or preparing to move, the camera would start on a fraction of a conversation between several characters, then drift to another grouping, sometimes following someone making deliveries, other times the camera seemed to be staying stationary and the group was marching past us.  But we were being given a glimpse of these seemingly insignificant moments, the joking among comrades, the tension releasing teasing among friends that reinforced these were people — and good times or bad, they were making it through, together.  When someone needed a shoulder to lean on, we saw someone give them words of encouragement, and a hug, and when they needed another weapon to help fight the good fight, we saw them given ammo and the confidence boost they needed.

It was not until I saw episode after episode with these scenes casually woven in that I realized other shows that had left me wanting had in fact left me wanting this.

The other major stand out quality of this show for me is family.  It does not strictly define family as blood relations and those who share DNA, but it does reinforce, time and again that willingness to go the extra mile for those you love.  A belief that those who love you will go to the ends of the Earth to find you and support you.  That the people you trust will have your back.  And those you aren’t entirely sure you trust (Pope) and yet, you find by your side time and again… somehow you realize, in the end they want to get to the same place you do, and maybe, just maybe, an alliance can be formed, a pact can be made, and to a degree, you can trust one another after all.

The show may, at first glance, seem to center on the Mason Family and the 2nd Mass.  But look beyond that, and see how this is a family that embraces their community, and defines community as those who are with them on this journey, not simply those who live in one place at one time.

The Masons are a people of hope, of faith that a better future can be worked towards and achieved, and week after week it makes other characters want to follow where they and the 2nd Mass leads, and viewers tune in.

FALLING SKIES – SUNDAYS AT 10 P.M. (ET/PT)

TNT’s epic drama Falling Skies – from Amblin Television and executive producer Steven Spielberg– tells the extraordinary story about life and survival in the wake of a catastrophic alien invasion. Noah Wyle stars as Tom Mason, a college professor who became an unlikely resistance leader. Moon Bloodgood is Dr. Anne Glass, a pediatrician who became the survivors’ primary physician and eventually fell in love with Tom.  Will Patton is Colonel Weaver, the gruff and emotionally scarred commander leading the battle against the invaders.  Also starring in Falling Skies are Drew Roy, Connor Jessup, Maxim Knight, Colin Cunningham, Seychelle Gabriel, Mpho Koaho, Sarah Carter, Doug Jones and Scarlett Byrne. Falling Skies premiered as basic cable’s #1 new series of 2011.