Falling Skies is the best scifi series to stream on HBO Max

Falling Skies ran on TNT from 2011-2015

A summer series on TNT, Falling Skies starred Noah Wyle (ER and Librarians), Moon Bloodgood (Terminator: Salvation), and Will Patton (Armageddon and Yellowstone). It was executive-produced by Steven Spielberg and starts approximately eight months after an alien invasion has devastated Earth, leaving humans scrambling for food, shelter, and safety. And the aliens aren’t done with them.

The aliens, later identified as the Espheni, capture children for labor and kill the adults. With six-legged creatures humans call Skitters, massively huge mechanical robots called Mechs, freakishly tall Overlords with faces closely resembling fish, and automatically piloted ships meant to destroy, the Espheni are hard to defeat. And the enemeis are one of the reasons why this series is so engrossing.

Here is the official description:

"In the wake of an alien attack that has crippled most of the world, shock has turned to resolve as the survivors gather to fight back. Leading the charge is Boston history professor Tom Mason, whose wife was killed in the attack, and one of his three sons is among a group of captive teens. Desperate to rescue his son, Tom joins forces with the 2nd Massachusetts, a makeshift regiment assigned to protect the survivors. As second in command to Weaver, Tom uses his knowledge of military history to gain intelligence about the aliens and form a plan of attack. But the plan keeps changing and more questions surface as the survivors discover what they’re really up against: a highly intelligent, heavily armed alien force whose purpose on Earth is the biggest mystery of all."

Falling Skies doesn’t sugarcoat the horrors of what could happen

No one really thinks we’ll ever see an alien invastion, but this series shows us what we could face if it were to happen. And it doesn’t sugarcoat it. Wyle’s Tom Mason, who used to be a history professor, fights to protect his three kids, teenagers Hal and Ben and grade-schooler Matt while serving as the second in command of the 2nd Mass, a group of ragtag militia and civilians trying to survive. And that survival comes at a high price.

This isn’t a series where all of the characters are safe and everyone you love will make it. In one of the first three episodes, one of the main characters is taken by the aliens, letting you know this isn’t going to be a feel-good show. But it is a show that will keep you on the edge of your seat with fierce battle scenes, strong character growth, and an up close and personal look at what desperate people will do to live another day.

Falling Skies has something for every sci-fi lover

Whether you prefer space flight, uniquely detailed alien technology, alien battles, romance, horror, or a little of everything, this series doesn’t disappoint. It ran for five seasons with a total of 52 episodes, making it an easy binge in a couple of weeks (or so).

Though over ten years have passed since its initial release, this series shows no signs of wear and tear. And it will stay with you long after you watch the final episode.