‘Falling Skies: The Complete Series’ Blu-ray Review
Alien invasions are hardly new territory for film and television, with the genre boasting a rich history that stretches back to classics like The War of the Worlds, The Thing from Another World, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and The Day the Earth Stood Still. These touchstones helped define the paranoia, spectacle, and human drama that continue to shape the genre today.
In 2011, Steven Spielberg brought that tradition to the small screen as executive producer on the post-apocalyptic sci-fi series Falling Skies. Running for five seasons, the show earned two Primetime Emmy Award nominations alongside several other accolades, cementing its place as a notable entry in modern science fiction television.
Now, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has released the complete series on Blu-ray, allowing physical media fans to revisit Falling Skies in full whenever they like – free from the uncertainty of shifting streaming rights.
The series opens in the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. At the center of the series is Tom Mason (Noah Wyle), a Boston history professor whose family was torn apart. Tom must put his extensive knowledge of military history to the test as one of the leaders of the Boston-born resistance movement known as the 2nd Mass.
Falling Skies ran for five seasons, yet its episode count is surprisingly lean, wrapping up with just 52 episodes in total. Despite its relatively brief run, the series is impressively well produced, delivering consistently strong storytelling and performances that punch well above their weight. The acting, in particular, is outstanding, anchored by a compelling turn from Noah Wyle, who gives the show much of its emotional core. If there’s one real criticism to be levelled at the show, it’s simply that it ends too soon: you’re left wishing there had been more time to explore this world and its characters.
Warner Brothers have transferred Falling Skies to Blu-ray in 1080p and is presented in 1.78:1 aspect ratio. The audio track is an English Dolby TrueHD 5.1. There is the option for subtitles in English SDH, French, and Spanish.
The transfers here are genuinely spectacular, with crisp, clean picture quality free from distracting digital artefacts or audio anomalies. It’s a presentation that really lets the series shine. That said, what truly elevates physical media for me are the bonus features, and this is where Warner Bros. Home Entertainment really delivers. This release is packed with worthwhile extras, adding real value beyond the episodes themselves. Take a look at everything that’s included.
Season 1 Bonus Features:
- Falling Skies: Pencil to Print
- Animating a Skitter
- Falling Skies: Comic-Con Style
- Behind the Scenes
- Audio Commentaries
- Unanswered Questions: Season 2 Sneak Peak
Season 2 Bonus Features:
- One Page at a Time: Writing the 2nd Revolution
- The Skitter Revolution
- The Fan’s perspective
- Behind the Scenes Featurette
- Season 2 Animated Trailer
- Season 3 Preview
- Audio Commentaries
Season 3 Bonus Features:
- 2nd Watch: Hosted by Will Wheaton
- Warrior Poet: Creating a Character ad Emotion of Cochise
- Karen: The Overlord Next Door
- Featurette
- Behind the Scenes
Season 4 Bonus Features:
- Featurette: Tom Mason: Man of Tomorrow
- Episodic Prequels
- Inside the Episode
- Character Interviews
- 2014 San Diego Comic-Con Panel with Cast
Season 5 Bonus Features:
- Farewell to the Skies featurette
- 2015 WonderCon Panel with the Cast
- A Look back
- The Journey
As you can see, the set is loaded with content, featuring an impressive array of featurettes, audio commentaries, convention panels, and much more. It’s clear that Warner Bros. Home Entertainment went above and beyond here, resulting in a genuinely superb and highly collectable Blu-ray box set.
***** 5/5
So, if you’re a fan of sci-fi alien invasion stories and have never experienced Falling Skies, this is the perfect opportunity to treat yourself. Forget about streaming it – own it. Pick up the complete series on Blu-ray and add it to your collection by heading over to Amazon to order your copy now.
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