Dark Skies – The Declassified Complete Series (1996 – 1997/Shout!
Factory DVD set)
Picture: C+ Sound: C
Extras: B- Episodes: B-
Often written off as an attempt by NBC to imitate FOX’s success with The
X-Files, the program Dark Skies is a different beast altogether. This show had a much more direct focus - that
of alien invasion, whereas the layout of The X-Files gave that show more
opportunities to sprawl out freely. That
is not to say that Dark Skies is anything simple, just because its coverage
was less decidedly less broad.
Because of its singular outlook, the show was able to play up different
strengths than that of the earlier program. Chris Carter and company took The X-Files
through many branching storylines and focused on a number of other types of
paranormal happenings in the world, not limited to alien activity. Ultimately this might be seen to have diluted
its focus as the series wore on.
It is a shame that Dark Skies didn’t last long enough to provide much
competition, but it can often be difficult to have a genre program, no matter
how good, to run successfully for any amount of time.
During the course of the show’s first and only season, many famous
personalities from the worlds of politics and entertainment in the 1960’s would
often play a part in the plot to take over human life on earth. This would either be under direct control by
the aliens, or their use of a person’s influence to ultimately benefit the
alien race.
Had the show gone on, each season would have been roughly representative of a
decade, and continued to incorporate prominent figures that have shaped our
culture over time. This would all have
come to a head in the concluding season, which would instead take place in the
span of a year or so at the start of the new millennium.
The picture is presented in its original television aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The image quality is average for a shot on
video production of the time, and has been transferred well enough. Sound is only decent, and is in Dolby Digital
2.0 Stereo.
Extras included on this set are commentary tracks for two of the episodes, as
well as the original version of the pilot episode and Signal To Noise:
Uncovering Dark Skies, a featurette that looks back on the history of the
show. A rather nice booklet is included in the package as well.
Shout! has done a commendable job in finally getting this show out to it’s
long-time fans. It seems to have been a
long journey, mostly due to legal reasons. That they took time and effort to resolve them
when other companies would not should be applauded. It’s come about as a lovingly created set, and
though the picture and sound reflect upon the time in which it was made, a
purchase is still highly recommended.
- David Milchick
