Dark Skies :The Awakening [VHS] [1996] [1997]

This under-rated show wove real history with imaginative story lines with pure creative genius. Combining the sci-fi elements of some of the best shows, such as X-Files and Star Trek:TNG with conspiracy and paranoia, Dark Skies achieved that rare quality of pure entertainment. It was worth it just to spot the name drops all over the place. This pilot episode lines up the series, and culminates in the assassination of JFK. This is where the conspiracy meets the aliens, and theories of who actually killed Kennedy clash. Was it a top-secret government agency killing off the man with the power to stop them, or were the aliens stopping their own cover being blown by the smae man? Was it a warning? Hell of a warning, if you ask me... The series went on to cover many of the major American events in history, up til 1967 - the Summer of Love. It's final episode - "Bloodlines" - demonstrated that in the intervening episodes, the magic had prevailed, and the quality at the end was every bit as good, if not better, than the pilot. Dark Skies was created by Bryce Zabel, and was cancelled after one series by NBC execs with no vision. The rareness of quality obviously made it hard to swallow, and so they just spat it out. But don't be ruled by populist decisions - if you've heard of this program, but haven't seen it, buy this tape and watch it. Even if you return it, get it. Watch it. It's worth it. And then check out www.darkskies.com and give your support to SDS - Save Dark Skies - and help prevent the extinction of creativity. It's your duty... :)

I was a X-files fan until it lost it's way, but have to agree with the other reviewers that the alien conspiracy story in Dark Skies was far better. It was more darker (no pun intended); scarier and had a plot line that at least stayed on course. The character played by JT Walsh as a military commander in charge of Majestic, had the same sort of role as cigarette smoking man in the X-files. The hero, John Loengard, after being recruited into Majestic, finds himself at odds with the project and fighting the aliens, who in this, I seem to remember are far from friendly. They gain possession of humans by entry into the ear ! in the form of a worm type creature. Having not seen this since it was on TV, I cannot remember all the details but know I enjoyed it a lot.
So why is this not available on DVD when so much rubbish is.

This is one of the best sci-fi alien conspiracy series, in many aspects better then the later X-Files conspiracy episodes. Please consider making it available in DVD format.