One quick way to fix this problem.

It’s taken longer to gets into Falling Skies than I expected. Let me back up. I’ve just paused this week’s episode thirteen minutes in, and I’m pretty sure I’m watching a scene where some sort of serious conversation is being had between a murdering Steppenwolf (dressed, obviously enough, like a member of Steppenwolf) and Battlestar Galactica’s Col. Tygh. Except that it seems to be more like a job interview so that the guy who, in the previous episode led a group of raping racists, can now be a cook.

I just rewound to confirm, and yes this is the case.

Did it really end with the line “for the love of God could somebody please fine me some Olive Oil.” ugh, why is this so corny? Already.

From here on out, there are spoilers for both Falling Skies, and Game of Thrones.

Most frequently, I hear Falling Skies compared to Jericho. And, I think that’s unfortunate because that’s a good example of another show trying to do something different that just wasn’t up to the zeitgeist. Obviously they’re both post-apocalyptic action dramas helmed by leading men that are famous for playing someone else. Clearly, and I would say unfortunately, the same number of dollars per frame were spent (for serious, a lot of basic cable shows look a lot better than this. Pony up some of that NBA Playoff money, TNT). Will they suffer the same fate as series? Months from now, will I be reading about efforts to send bags of Skittles to TNT programming executives?

There are little things I don’t like about the series, like how Dr ER is always reminding us about how he’s the history professor on this show and that the doctor is actually the lady who you think is River Than at first because the lighting isn’t good.

And how the kid who’s being lead back to camp so he can ransom his dad suddenly decides to try to overpower his captor when he has no idea where he is and without any reason. You were being set free, dummy! And with the opportunity to save Professor Pops! Oh, and really is the best cultural reference for a leader that the writers could come up with Poppa Smurf? Is this some kind of weird product placement for the incredible thud of Smurf movie that is coming to help kill of 3D later this summer?

But these are little things. And when I09 says it gets better over seven episodes, I believe them. But I have to wonder, how much Will Smith dragging the alien/kiddo pep-talk in a high-school hallway corballery am I going to have to sit through between now and then?

It’s good timing, on the one hand, to have this show now. Basketball and hockey are over and for most of the country interest in baseball is a long way off. On the other, Game of Thrones has really thrown down the good TV gauntlet. And coming as it does, opening up after THAT powerful of a season finale…well it hardly seems fair.

The scratch I toss HBO every month is up there with the lawn guy for the title of Easiest And Most Rewarding Money Spent Monthly. Game of Thrones was flawless. It’s a high bar to meet. And I wonder, could I see myself continuing to operate in an actual Sunday must-watch TV mode?

Or will one too many chef jokes just keep me away? Here’s to hoping for the former.

TX 18th District Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee catches some shut-eye in the House chambers.

via blogHOUSTON

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