Falling Skies is an American science fiction television series created and produced by Robert Rodat which picks up six months into a world devastated by an alien invasion. Tom Mason, a former Boston University history professor, becomes the second-in-command of the 2nd Massachusetts Militia Regiment, a group of civilians and fighters fleeing post-apocalyptic Boston.
In the six months since the initial invasion, the few survivors have banded together outside major cities to begin the difficult task of fighting back. Each day is a test of survival as citizen soldiers work to protect the people in their care while also engaging in an insurgency campaign against the occupying alien force.
At the centre of the series is Tom Mason (Noah Wyle), a Boston history professor whose family has been torn apart. His wife was killed in the initial attack, and one of his three sons has been captured.
Determined to get his son back and to ensure the safety of his other two sons, Tom must put his extensive knowledge of military history to the test as one of the leaders of the resistance movement known as the 2nd Mass, because of their location in Boston, Massachusetts.
They are constantly trying to gain intelligence about the aliens in order to one day outsmart and overtake them and hopefully rebuild their lives.
Moon Bloodgood co-stars as Anne Glass, a pediatrician who works with the surviving children to help them cope with the traumatic upheaval in their lives. Will Patton plays a fierce leader of the resistance, Weaver.
The series also stars Drew Roy as Hal, Tom's oldest son and a growing fighter in the resistance movement; Maxim Knight as Matt, Tom's youngest son; Connor Jessup as Ben, Tom's son who was captured by aliens; and Seychelle Gabriel as Lourdes, an orphaned teenager who helps Anne in the group's makeshift medical clinic.
Colin Cunningham is John Pope, the leader of an outlaw motorcycle gang and Sarah Carter is Margaret, a wary survivor of Pope's gang.
Falling Skies focuses on the resilience of the survivors and their determination to maintain their humanity when all else has been destroyed.
It is a tale of endurance, commitment and courage in which everyday people are called upon to become heroes. They may be outmatched, outnumbered and outgunned, but nothing can beat the human spirit.
Most of all, the series is about the ties that bind people together in the most difficult of circumstances.
The aliens in the series are mighty, mysterious and merciless. They are highly intelligent and use military-like tactics, which makes them an overwhelming force against the 2nd Mass.
There are two types of aliens that the human survivors have named Skitters and Mechs. Combining live action and special visual effects, the Skitters have spider-like bodies and incredible strength and agility. The deadly, robotic Mechs stand upright and can shoot bullets from their arms.
The aliens control captured children, like Tom's son Ben, through bio-mechanical harnesses but have yet to reveal their ultimate plan for them.
Falling Skies is executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, along with DreamWorks Television heads Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank, Graham Yost and screenwriter Robert Rodat. Rodat wrote the pilot from an idea he co-conceived with Spielberg.
Mark Verheiden and Greg Beeman are co-executive producers. The pilot was directed by Carl Franklin.