This post was inspired by the Andromeda thread, and was originally meant to be a post there, but while I was writing it, I felt it should be its own thread.
So anyway, the opinions of Earth Final Conflict traditionally follow:
-The first season was universally recognized as "the best" and quite a few people only accept it.
-Seasons 2-4 do have fans and supporters, but aren't generally as popular as season 1.
-Everyone hates season 5.
Now then, I spent this past summer re-living Earth Final Conflict on DVD, and I got to say, that is one show where the memory lies. I remember really enjoying this show when it first aired, I would literally be pumped when each episode aired. I was actually surprsied later on when I found out a lot of people only thought highly of the first season, to me season 2 was when the show really kicked into gear, and I felt seasons 2-4 were some of the best episodes on television. However, I agreed with everyone that season 5 was shit.
And yet, after re-watching most of the series on DVD this year, I'm wondering what I was thinking. Mind you, I was 12-16 when the first four seasons aired, and I'm 25 now, so maybe that had something to do with it.
But anyway, season 1 was just unbelievably dull. William Boone was hardly a very compelling lead, the Taelons were so enigmatic that Jonathan Doors looked like a paranoid freak mobilizing a personal army against them. Maybe that was the point, but I feel if you're going to set up the show so that the heroes are supposed to be against the aliens, show a damn good reason for it. And a lot of the episodes were basically normal every day Earth problems in which aliens get involved.
Season 2 was a step in the right direction, though I'm not entierly thrilled with how they handled Boone's departure. I know I said he wasn't a very compelling lead, and I do think Liam Kincaid is the better lead. But Boone still deserved a better send off than that. But still, with the introduction of the Jaridians and seeing that the Taelons did indeed have a hidden agenda, the show had some potential now, but was still bogged down by mundane episodes.
Season 3 was pretty much more of the same. Though there were some stand out episodes, like the one with Lily Marquette believeing she's returned to Earth, or the one where they find an ancient Roman in stasis aboard a buried Taelon ship.
Season 4 is actually the best of the series, with the Taelons at death's door and Zo'or getting increasingly psychotic we finally have a legitimate reason to distrust them, and it seems as though they were no longer welcome on Earth. Plus the Jaridians were finally playing their hand, and it all built up to a rather enjoyable finale, which as far as I'm concerned is the series finale. Also, Sandoval had some really cool stuff this season with episode like Trapped by Time and Attonement being excellent episodes for the character. However, despite the quality over the previous seasons, the episodes were still mostly average, and not the best I've seen on TV.
I haven't bothered with the season 5 DVDs. My memories of when it first aired are of a really shitty show, and I have no desire to relive that on DVD.
So, there we have it. A show that was one of my favourites during my teenage years I now see as a disappointment in adulthood.
How about the rest of you, what thoughts do you have to weigh in on EFC?
So anyway, the opinions of Earth Final Conflict traditionally follow:
-The first season was universally recognized as "the best" and quite a few people only accept it.
-Seasons 2-4 do have fans and supporters, but aren't generally as popular as season 1.
-Everyone hates season 5.
Now then, I spent this past summer re-living Earth Final Conflict on DVD, and I got to say, that is one show where the memory lies. I remember really enjoying this show when it first aired, I would literally be pumped when each episode aired. I was actually surprsied later on when I found out a lot of people only thought highly of the first season, to me season 2 was when the show really kicked into gear, and I felt seasons 2-4 were some of the best episodes on television. However, I agreed with everyone that season 5 was shit.
And yet, after re-watching most of the series on DVD this year, I'm wondering what I was thinking. Mind you, I was 12-16 when the first four seasons aired, and I'm 25 now, so maybe that had something to do with it.
But anyway, season 1 was just unbelievably dull. William Boone was hardly a very compelling lead, the Taelons were so enigmatic that Jonathan Doors looked like a paranoid freak mobilizing a personal army against them. Maybe that was the point, but I feel if you're going to set up the show so that the heroes are supposed to be against the aliens, show a damn good reason for it. And a lot of the episodes were basically normal every day Earth problems in which aliens get involved.
Season 2 was a step in the right direction, though I'm not entierly thrilled with how they handled Boone's departure. I know I said he wasn't a very compelling lead, and I do think Liam Kincaid is the better lead. But Boone still deserved a better send off than that. But still, with the introduction of the Jaridians and seeing that the Taelons did indeed have a hidden agenda, the show had some potential now, but was still bogged down by mundane episodes.
Season 3 was pretty much more of the same. Though there were some stand out episodes, like the one with Lily Marquette believeing she's returned to Earth, or the one where they find an ancient Roman in stasis aboard a buried Taelon ship.
Season 4 is actually the best of the series, with the Taelons at death's door and Zo'or getting increasingly psychotic we finally have a legitimate reason to distrust them, and it seems as though they were no longer welcome on Earth. Plus the Jaridians were finally playing their hand, and it all built up to a rather enjoyable finale, which as far as I'm concerned is the series finale. Also, Sandoval had some really cool stuff this season with episode like Trapped by Time and Attonement being excellent episodes for the character. However, despite the quality over the previous seasons, the episodes were still mostly average, and not the best I've seen on TV.
I haven't bothered with the season 5 DVDs. My memories of when it first aired are of a really shitty show, and I have no desire to relive that on DVD.
So, there we have it. A show that was one of my favourites during my teenage years I now see as a disappointment in adulthood.
How about the rest of you, what thoughts do you have to weigh in on EFC?
Last edited:
(The only other thing I recall seeing him in was when he had a small role as a gangster that was killed at the beginning of Darkman III.) I've been watching a little bit of Season 1 on DVD and I'm not so impressed with it, largely because Sandoval doesn't really get anything to do most of the time.
