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Parents' Guide to

Falling Skies

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Earnest alien drama gets hostile but holds back on gore.

TV TNT Drama 2011
Falling Skies Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

age 12+

Based on 4 parent reviews

age 7+

Great Show.

This was one of my favorite shows that I've ever watched, and though there is a little violence, I'd say that it's appropriate for almost anyone.
age 15+

Powerful drama

Quality: Aliens aside, Falling Skies delivers striking believability. Despite occasional glaring goofs, both writing and acting generally convey the real human drama that is the true center of this epic. Will Patton seems larger than life, and Noah Wyle is at once super-dad and American hero; yet both are remarkably endearing. Action violence is pervasive, and unquestionably too intense for younger audiences; but it is primarily targeted toward non-human alien characters. Violence or gore involving human characters is not overly gratuitous and would compare favorably to any modern medical drama. The show's creators seem to understand that going for the cheap "shock value", which pervades many shows of this nature, would drown out the emotional drama surrounding the characters themselves. That said, death is not shied away from, nor are children spared from the horrors of their world. Content: Sex content is rare and generally mild, though innuendo in the dialogue is more common. Language may be too strong for some; "s---", "a--", and similar are quite frequent but stay comfortably within the "TV-14" rating. Family unity, parent-child relationships, liberty, patriotism, hope, and unyielding determination are driving themes of the show, which frequently references and draws comparisons to the American Revolution. Drugs and drug addiction are mentioned in an appropriately dramatic context, however drinking and smoking are significant and are generally taken for granted. NOTE: So far my wife and I have made it most of the way through the third season, so I can't vouch for seasons 4-5.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (13 ):

If it's possible to add a "family" feel to a show about an alien apocalypse, then Falling Skies manages to do it. But it does so with such heavy-handed sincerity that, at times, it feels oddly insincere. As a result, the show gets mired in earnest moments about sticking together and working collectively for the common good -- which are great messages, to be sure, but unfortunately don't help to advance the plot.

Couple that with the show's dialed-down realism (you're largely spared the blood and guts you'd see in real life -- and on most shows of this nature), and you're left with a big-budget, high-concept series that, while watchable, feels surprisingly bland.

TV Details

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