Year
1997/98
Format
6 Discs, 22 Episodes
Release
Date Out Now
Distributor
Universal
Price
?4.99
The
Episodes
Although
based on an original idea by Gene Roddenberry, Earth: Final
Conflict is definitely not just Star Trek in disguise.
With a modest budget, the series puts an interestingly subtle spin on
the well-trod ‘alien invasion’ concept.
In the
near future, the Earth has been visited by the alien Taelons –
or, as they prefer to be called, the Companions. These apparently
benevolent extraterrestrial visitors have brought great benefits to
humanity but there are those on Earth who believe the Taelons have
ulterior motives.
Police
Captain William Boone, played by the rugged Kevin Kilner, becomes the
protector of the Companion, Da’an. At the same time he is
recruited by the resistance movement to become their man on the
inside. Consequently, much of the drama of this first season centres
on Boone’s balancing act of unearthing the truth about the
Taelons whilst still maintaining his cover and the trust of Da’an.
This could
all have been a re-tread of previous alien invasion scenarios such as
V. But what sets this first season of Earth: Final Conflict
apart is the subtlety of Boone’s relationship with Da’an.
Nothing is black and white here and Boone often finds it difficult to
regard the Taelons – and Da’an in particular – as
the ultimate evil that some of his fellow resistance fighters do.
Needless to say that the Taelons are indeed ‘up to something’
but here it is apparently a more complicated truth than, say, a
desire to eat their human ‘victims’.
Special
mention should be made of the realisation of the Taelons who must be
amongst the most believable of TV aliens. The notion of casting women
and disguising their femininity and their voices is simple but highly
effective. Although we do meet several other Taelons, Da’an,
played by Leni Parker, is the principal representative of the species
as far as the show is concerned. Parker is superb as the ethereal
(sometimes literally) Companion whose graceful movements and calm,
contemplative tone succeeds in casting the viewer’s doubt on
the supposed alien threat.
For
viewers who still have a bad taste in their mouths after watching the
latter seasons of Earth: Final Conflict, the release of the
complete first season on DVD may be a timely reminder of how good it
used to be (and could have been). These early episodes of the series
have a philosophical and even mystical theme running through them
that is subtle enough not to detract from the action and drama
elements.
Extras
Disappointingly
there are no extras at all in this collection. A great shame as an
insight into the development and production of this fascinating
series would have been most welcome.
John
Ainsworth
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