"Earth: Final Conflict" (1997) TV series 1997-2002

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Creator:

Gene Roddenberry

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

6 October 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi

Plot:

When an alien species comes to Earth bearing boons to Humanity, a few suspicious humans seek to learn and resist the newcomers' true designs.

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Police | Implant | Product Placement | Terrorism

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 3 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Von Flores	...	Ronald Sandoval (110 episodes, 1997-2002)
Leni Parker	...	Da'an / ... (88 episodes, 1997-2001)
Anita LaSelva	...	Zo'or (78 episodes, 1997-2002)
Richard Chevolleau	...	Marcus 'Augur' Deveraux (70 episodes, 1997-2001)
Robert Leeshock	...	Liam Kincaid (67 episodes, 1998-2002)
David Hemblen	...	Jonathan Doors (67 episodes, 1997-2000)
Jayne Heitmeyer	...	Renee Palmer (66 episodes, 1999-2002)
Lisa Howard	...	Lili Marquette (49 episodes, 1997-2000)

Also Known As:

"EFC" (USA) (promotional abbreviation)
"Gene Roddenberry's Battleground Earth" (USA) (working title)
"Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict" (USA) (complete title)
"Invasion planète Terre" (Canada: French title)
"Mission Erde: Sie sind unter uns" (Germany)

Runtime:

Canada:60 min (110 episodes) | UK:41 min | USA:60 min

Country:

USA | Canada | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

South Korea:12 | Australia:M (some episodes) | Australia:PG (some episodes) | USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Alliance Atlantis Communications

Trivia:

Paul Gertz, one of the head writers on the show has said that the extent of Gene Roddenberry's involvement in the creation of the show was a premise written on a napkin in a lockbox full of obscure notes written on things like receipts, scraps of paper. Out of that small note, they created they show.

Quotes:

Da'an: Friendship, like anything of value, requires delicacy in it's use.

Great Sci-Fi TV

There is no doubt Gene Roddenberry is a genius. Earth Final Conflict deserves to be measured in the same greatness as Star Trek. Equally superb vision and equally enjoyable.

What set EFC apart was it's amazing realism. The producers went to great lengths to fuse Taelon technology into earth's daily lives. The atmosphere alone is awesome. The characters are very human, even the Taelons. Despite their tranquil and sedated movements, they have their good and evil sides just like the rest of us. It is amazing how Gene Roddenberry was able to conceive that in a believable alien context. In the show, the Resistance is fighting as much against the Taelons as against humans. Every episode was filled with suspense. EFC is the prove that good story can win without huge SFX budgets. Mr. Roddenberry, YOU'RE THE BEST!

The consistent cast changes did hurt the show. But every thing was still in order: the Taelons with their hidden agendas, the humans still mixed with conflicting thoughts about their alien visitors. It's sad to see characters come and go, but the spirits were not lost. It is a little sad to see such a good show on a slow downward spiral. The realism is slowly taken over with special effects. Open land is replaced with Taelon-styled interiors, our heros' pistols are replaced with energy weapons, etc. But all were still in order......until the Atavus arrived.

That spelt the end of EFC (much like the marriage killed the Lois & Clark show). It took away a large part of what made the show interesting. The Taelons are gone, the humans no longer seem human, and the plot gets slower and slower by the episode. All the original characters are gone except Palmer. And the intelligence that was seen in earlier seasons are gone. I'm not going to get into details of why people didn't like season 5. It held together only long enough to give EFC a decent ending. I guess Mr. Roddenberry's notes were all used up by season 4. I bet this show would have excelled if he himself were here to steer it as it goes.

Despite its evident failure in season 5, EFC remained one of my favourites. It's a look into humans, and what we would have done if aliens do come. ("aliens" here refering to higher intelligence, not every other race of destructive monsters seen in other shows and movies)