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Season 1 – Dark Skies

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Dark Skies Sep 1996 Drama Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
67% Tomatometer 12 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Newly graduated from college, idealistic couple John Loengard and Kimberly Sayers arrive in 1961 Washington, D.C., to become part of President John F. Kennedy's new frontier, but they soon uncover the existence of Majestic-12, a sinister and highly covert government agency dedicated to protecting Earth from the Hive, an insidious alien entity, while keeping this horrifying menace a secret from the public at large. Before you can say, "Mars Needs Women," John and Kimberly are on the run for their lives, pursued by Capt. Frank Bach, the ruthless leader of Majestic-12, as well as the eerie Hive, which wants to snuff out the two humans before they reveal their discovery to other Earthlings.
Dark Skies — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Dark Skies could use more vivid characters to ground its conspiracy plot, although the extraterrestrial intrigue ought to satisfy those who already want to believe.

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Critics Reviews

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Diane Werts Newsday 10/20/2021
The movie pilot (directed by Tobe Hooper) throbs with intense action but how long can they sustain this speculation game? Or the period flavor? Go to Full Review Noel Holston and Neal Justin Minneapolis Star Tribune 10/19/2021
Occasional scenes notwithstanding, Dark Skies isn't nearly as compelling as NBC's promos would have you believe. Go to Full Review Steve Johnson Chicago Tribune 10/14/2021
This dramatic series twists its X-Files similarities just enough to merit recommendation, rather than scorn... Careful period detailing helps create a richly ominous atmosphere. Go to Full Review Rick Kushman Sacramento Bee 10/21/2021
2.5/4
Good mix of '60s feel with dark overtones. But tons of holes in the plot -- like, why are these powerful aliens moving so slowly? Go to Full Review James Endrst Hartford Courant 10/15/2021
Your reasons to watch? The E.T. invaders and J.T. Walsh as the chief government bad guy. It could scare up a decent audience. Go to Full Review Kay McFadden Charlotte Observer 10/14/2021
B-
If you believe aliens have shaped U.S. history since then, you may enjoy this show I found it cumbersome. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Tom A @wardawg 04/02/2023 The main character and his wife are so annoying. I found myself wishing they'd die pretty much from episode 2 on. They're naive, flaky, and make super bad decisions. So bad that they are infuriating. But you know what, maybe that makes it more realistic. Because most people in government are in fact morons of this magnitude and equally frustrating. The incompetence shown by characters in the show is an honest reflection of our government, go figure. See more 02/18/2021 I really enjoyed the series. It presents an interesting narrative about historical facts that occurred in the 60s, rewriting these events in a fictional way. It is very reminiscent of the "X Files" series. See more Read all reviews
Dark Skies — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Eric Close

John Loengard

Megan Ward

Kimberly Sayers

J.T. Walsh

Capt. Frank Bach

Jeri Ryan

Juliet

Wayne Tippit

Guest Star

Richard Gilliland

Guest Star

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 21, 1996 Pilot: The Awakening Life changes for a congressional aide and his girlfriend when they stumble across top-secret information involving an extraterrestrial invasion and ensuing government cover-up. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 21, 1996 Pilot: The Awakening Life changes for a congressional aide and his girlfriend when they stumble across top-secret information involving an extraterrestrial invasion and ensuing government cover-up. Details Episode 3 Aired Sep 28, 1996 Moving Targets Loengard and Kimberly learn about the first alien encounter at Roswell, N.M., from an eyewitness, and then uncover a sinister alien plan. Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 19, 1996 Mercury Rising The couple heads to Cape Kennedy where they discover an alien plot to sabotage the next manned space launch. Details Episode 5 Aired Oct 26, 1996 Dark Day's Night Loengard and Kimberly discover the aliens plan to exploit the Beatles appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Details Episode 6 Aired Nov 2, 1996 Dreamland Billionaire recluse Howard Hughes joins Loengard and Kimberly's investigation of an underground base near Las Vegas; the aliens gather in the desert. Details Episode 7 Aired Nov 9, 1996 Inhuman Nature Loengard and Kimberly recruit a veterinary student to help investigate a series of Midwest cattle mutilations bearing alien markings. Details Episode 8 Aired Nov 16, 1996 Ancient Future Loengard foresees the Hive's frightening plans after he boards an alien scout ship uncovered by the Alaska earthquake of 1964. Details Episode 9 Aired Dec 7, 1996 Hostile Convergence Loengard finds the government trying to rebuild an alien craft at Area 51; the Hive tracks Kimberly to her sister's wedding; Bach questions Jack Ruby. Details Episode 10 Aired Dec 14, 1996 We Shall Overcome The Hive cultivates pods for human implantation by exploiting the racial strife over the murders of civil-rights workers in Mississippi. Details Episode 11 Aired Jan 4, 1997 The Last Wave Loengard and Sayers discover an alien plan to destroy the ocean food chain, and befriend Jim Morrison. Details Episode 12 Aired Jan 11, 1997 The Enemy Within Loengard lands in a mental hospital when he discovers his brother has been implanted with an alien ganglion. Details Episode 13 Aired Jan 18, 1997 Warren Omission Robert Kennedy convinces Loengard to testify before the Warren Commission; Bach puts the squeeze on J. Edgar Hoover to discredit Loengard. Details Episode 14 Aired Jan 31, 1997 White Rabbit Viet Cong capture Bach and Loengard when they go to South Vietnam to retrieve a downed alien ship before the Russians can find it. Details Episode 15 Aired Feb 8, 1997 Shades of Gray A Gray that escapes Capt. Bach's trap and befriends a lonely girl reveals a Hive plot to brainwash the Earth's children. Details Episode 16 Aired Mar 1, 1997 Burn, Baby, Burn A man helps Loengard search for pregnant Kimberly amid the Watts riots, after aliens abduct her in Los Angeles. Details Episode 17 Aired Mar 8, 1997 Both Sides Now Anti-war demonstrations led by Jerry Rubin sweep up Loengard and Juliet on a mission in Berkeley, Calif., to shut down a Hive operation. Details Episode 18 Aired Mar 15, 1997 To Prey in Darkness The search for the Roswell alien-encounter film leads Loengard and Juliet to crusading columnist Dorothy Kilgallen and a TV news network. Details Episode 19 Aired May 24, 1997 Strangers in the Night In 1966, Loengard and Juliet join Maj. Colin Powell to survey the remains of the Russian counterpart of Majestic 12 in Chernobyl; Carl Sagan joins Majestic team. Details Episode 20 Aired May 31, 1997 Bloodlines In 1967 Loengard and Juliet pose as hippies in San Francisco where Timothy Leary helps stage Loengard's abduction by the hive. Details

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Season Info

Executive Producer
Bryce Zabel, Joseph Stern
Network
NBC
Rating
TV-PG
Genre
Drama, Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 21, 1996
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