A Different View on E:FC
Usually, i'm reluctant to write a review or post my thoughts on shows, because i'm more interested in what others have to say and their opinions. But i've read a lot of the posts regarding E:FC, that baffled me, to be frank, and decided, as i've seen the series from start to finish more than 5 times (it's my fave show, alongside with Cold Squad and First Wave and Babylon 5), to give you my POV of the series, to make things a bit clear and to adress some issues that i've noticed that seemed to make a lot of the fans stay clear of this wonderful and unique series.
I would like to apologize first if the post runs to long, but i've given it a lot of thought, and i'd appreciate everyone who managed to read it to the end. and, as stated, it's just my opinion.
So, here we go:
1. William Boone VS. Liam Kincaid- now, don't get me wrong, i've loved Boone's character. he was human, passionate, always willing to learn more, protective of his friends. but eventually, he wasn't a fighter, and as the 1st season progressed, he became more of Taelon fan. I grieved his passing at the end of the 1st season, but Boone's problem was that he didn't want to fight, not even on his principles, not until something really horrible happened, say- the death of his wife, Kate. and even then, the series showed him very reluctant to continue fighting for the good cause, and as evident in the 2 eps of the 5th season he appeared in, he didn't really cared what would happen, even when his sister died after becoming an hybrid. that's why he died, i guess.
Liam, on the other hand, was not only a fighter, but a true human soul. Being a hybrid himself (part Human, part Kimera), made his character more complex (that remained with him until the end). In my opinion, it made him ask the more important questions, like: who we are, what are we capable of, what's are strong point or weak point, and what we achieve if really believe. Not only that, Liam was bridge between the Taelons and Humans, more so than Boone. That, coupled with his complexity and his quest to understand himself and others, made him a character to remember, very deep and believable (Robert Leeshock did a great job as Liam Kincaid). Furthermore, i don't think Liam was perfect. far from it is the truth, as he made a lot of mistakes on the way and made some wrong choices. But his strong point was his ability to understand his mistakes and trying to correct them, to become more than himself, always trying to be better than he is now while questioning himself all the way.
2. Story-arcs/Continuity- I've read a lot of comments by users stating that E:FC suffered from plot-holes, lack of continuity and it was episodic. But, careful exmination of the subject suggest otherwise. watching the show from start to finish reveals that the show not only was continuous, but every episode was a puzzle piece that shed some light on the characters, the way they lived, the Taelon agenda and much more. (Take in consideration that the series was about learning and realizing what it means to be human, with all the ups and downs).
If you watch the series start to finish you will notice how many plot-lines have been continuous, and could be even considered as Story-arcs: Da'an and Zo'or's realationship and battles, Liam and Da'an, the Taelon's true agenda, Human free-will, the bio-surrogates, the taleon/Jaridian conflict- its history and consequences, the Atavus and a lot more. they just didn't explain and put it all in your face, rather (like a lot of Canadian TV-Shows) they made is like a puzzle- every episode is a another piece that shed some light on the whole picture. eventually, everything falls together, if you just think about it.
3. Season 5- I agree, the 5th season was a bit weird and hard to swallow, but it still retained a lot of the dark feel, the intelligence, the mythology and wonderful stories. it was weird without Da'an and Liam, but the writers did a great job, given the problems they had, in keeping the story interesting and the feel. It was even logical- the Taelons and Jaridians were one species once, the Atavus, and that the only way for them so survive (and keep in mind that the episode "Avatar" (S01E04) even forshadowes those events with the creature dubbed the Sleeper, which resembles the Atavus). the 5th season even continued some of the plot-lines from previous seasons while embarking on new ones, and Renee eventually learned herself the real meaning of being human, just as Liam did.
Granted, it was a bit foolish of the writers not to let Sandoval learn the truth about Liam, but i don't think that would've made much difference, as Sandoval, by that point, was so filled with hatred and became so cold, i believe he would've killed even his son and if meant he would get his way. He himself said before he died that he would've done evrything the same all over again (a very Sandoval thing to say). And why Renee didn't tell Liam that his father's dead? well, i can't really answer that, only to say that maybe, given that she knew how it would hurt Liam, she decided it was best to postponed that bad news until later.
The way the series ended was great, as it caught the true spirit of the show. there were a lot they should've done, but given that Tribune always interfered with the show and demanded the changes themselves, the writers and producers did a great job. sure, maybe if Paul Gertz and the others had their way the series would have gone to a much better places and would've played differently, and the end-result was still good. not the way we all had wanted, but still good.
In conclusion- Earth: Final Conflict was a series about trying to reach higher, to become more than we are, to realize our place and our connection to the universe, to nature, and what it really means to be a human being and human, period. in that department, the series did great. the stories, the special effect, the actors, producers, writers- they all did a wonderful job, and the series should be remembered for that. And i do thing that the late Gene Roddenberry, despite the problems that show suffered from, would be proud of that.
<If you survived until now, my heartfelt thanks goes to you, and i'd really love to know what do you think. as i stated, those are just my opinions, and other's opinions really interest me.>
Good Day to you all
=)