History as we know it is a lie
Conspiracy and science fiction have been popular television themes since the invention of the cathode ray tube, and when the two mesh it’s often magic. In the middle of The Fugitive, V, X-Files, Lost, and Fringe are 1996’s Dark Skies.
In 1961,fourteen years after the Roswell incident, fresh out of college, John Loengard (Eric Close – Without a Trace) and girlfriend, Kimberly Sayers (Megan Ward – Sleeper Cell) go to our nation’s capitol; John as a congressional aide to his hometown congressman Charles Pratt (John M. Jackson – JAG), and Kim as an assistant to the First Lady, Jackie Kennedy. John’s first task is to look for projects which can be offered up for budget cuts, and he investigates Project: Blue Book, who’s only purpose, seems to be to track UFO abductions. Predictably, the owners of the project come back to fight the close scrutiny of the project, and the Men in Black are introduced, tapes are taken, lives threatened, and bodies punched to no avail. John continues to investigate and is recruited into the folds of the super secret, men in black, government agency, Majestic-12, headed up by Captain Frank Bach (the late J. T. Walsh – Pleasantville). This is the point where the story takes off. John is introduced to crop circles, two alien races; the grays and the ganglions, alien abduction, and government conspiracies. Cleverly told around, and incorporating, the events of the 60’s we see the inception of Roswell, the assassination of JFK, the space race, The Beatles, Howard Hughes, Jim Morrison, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and the Watts Riots.
There is a cast of recurring characters including Juliete Stewart (Jeri Ryan – Star Trek: Voyager), Jim Steele (Tim Kelleher – Dollhouse), Bobby Kennedy (James F. Kelly – played Robert Kennedy in six different films), and Lt. Commander Phil Albano (Conor O’Farrell – Lie to Me). These characters were regulars, along with the friends, family members, politicians, both from that period and the future.
Dark Skies was an interesting, innovative series that incorporated events and people from our historic 1960’s in the actions taken by alien invaders, and our governments attempts to thwart the takeover. What I found intriguing was how the writers merged the aliens’ invasion plans with history in a completely plausible manner. In one of my favorite episodes, John and Kim investigate the death of a college friend and surfing pal, in Los Angles. It appears that a waste treatment plant is Hive operated and has tampered with the beach waters. They gain access to the plant and valuable information from a college film maker, James Morrison. At the end of the episode James’ film is confiscated and the narrator tells us that Jim found another outlet for his message. Doors fans will understand how this fits so well in history, and this and other incidents make this series a joy to watch.
Special Features:
International Pilot
Cast and Creators Commentary.
Signal to Noise: Uncovering Dark Skies – An Intimate 3 Part Look Back with Creators Bryce Zabel, Brent V. Friedman, and stars Eric Close and Megan Ward.
The Dark Skies Glossary – Bryce Zabel, and Brent V. Friedman Define the Important Terms of Dark Skies and UFO Lore.
Network Promos.
Original EPK.
Original Sales Presentations.
A Never Before Seen Proposal for Season 2.
I love this series for the times it takes place in, the conspiracy aspect, and, of course, the science fiction and aliens. The problem with Dark Skies was the setting. The viewers, who wanted good science fiction on TV, didn’t relate to the 60’s, and those that could relate didn’t want sci-fi. The shame is that if the network and the viewers had waited for another season John and Juliete return to the completely different world of 1997. The only shortcoming of this set is the forced ending that attempted to give some closure to a series that was cancelled before it’s time.
ComicsOnline gives Dark Skies: The Declassified Complete Series 4 ½ alien parasites out of 5
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You can get Dark Skies: The Declassified Complete Series on DVD at Amazon.com.
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