It never ceases to amaze what Steven Spielberg's name can accomplish. Take for instance the TNT original seriesFalling Skieswhich lists his name as an executive producer, and is apparently based on the nugget of an idea from the DreamWorks head himself. Created (or fleshed out) by Robert Rodat, the writer behindSaving Private Ryanand The Patriot, the show is directed by Mark Verheiden (The Mask, Timecop, Battlestar Galactica), and stars Noah Wyle, Moon Bloodgood, and Will Patton. Like an American Revolutionary War story, where the British are mindcontrolling aliens,Falling Skieshas set the stage for war which will be a battle to the death for independence and life.

In a set-up which echoes The War of the Worlds, the world is invaded by aliens with superior technology and firepower. Unlike a typical alien set-up, the series kicks off six months after the aliens have invaded Earth, wiping out most of mankind and relegating the population to scavengers in hiding as they plan a revolution. Given the destruction of technology which also appears aimed at the military, the revolution in question must be led by those who are not career warriors. And out of this pool of scared humanity arises the unlikely soldier, Boston University history professor Tom Mason (Wyle), who finds himself ascending to second-in-command of his local post-apocalyptic force in Boston.

Because there's plenty of Revolutionary War metaphor here, one can't help but see the echoes of conversations about rights, soldiering, and decision-making. Mason will chat it up with his unit's doctor, the pediatrician Anne Glass (Bloodgood), as he's already lost his wife and is questing to rescue his middle son Ben from the "Skitters." We can already see the set-up brewing romantically, even as we spend most of the first season trying to see how sons and fathers can be reunited, either through rescue or reconciliation. It's not the main point, but we can see it working out later.

Mason's 2nd Massachusetts aren't the only group of humans remaining. There's also the John Pope (Colin Cunningham) gang, and the group of children who the Skitters have enslaved. The Skitters are the "humanoid-like" group of aliens the humans will fight, while they also control automated robots called "mechs" which also wreak havoc on the survivors. While not all of these groups are "relatable," unlike the British who were also human and potentially related, there's still a dynamic here which allows the show to question things from three hundred years ago, just as our hero history professor applies his knowledge to present day situations.

One of the intriguing discussions is on faith (science fiction/apocalypse seems to lead naturally into that), as different characters express what they believe in, and whether those beliefs have held up in the face of the alien attack. Hoping, the act of believing in something better for the future, is necessary, maybe even required, if humanity hopes to survive, and in a similar way to the V series, those things end up discussed in Falling Skies as well.

Initially, the show didn't grab me, but over time, the ethics and themes grew on me. There will always be that question in a show like this: what would I do in the same situation? That's the beauty of a good story, and specifically sci-fi, to force us into that spot, where we are not just observers but participants.