The secret history of UFOs in America [Dark Skies]

Back in 1996, NBC launched a new science fiction television show that set the story of UFOs and alien conspiracy where it began — in the past. Now, after more than a decade, Dark Skies is available on DVD.

In this groundbreaking series, drama dovetailed with historical record in a story that blurred the line between fantasy and reality.

Dark Skies tells the story of John Loengard (Eric Close), a young congressional aide on Capitol Hill during the Kennedy administration. When Loengard begins investigating the Air Force’s Project Blue Book (the official team that investigated UFO sightings for the military), he stumbles across a top-secret organization called Majestic that has been fighting a secret war since the UFO incident at Roswell.

Together with his fiancee Kimberly Sayers (Megan Ward), Loengard goes on the run from Majestic and the alien threat that seeks to undermine humanity.

Dark Skies is top-notch science fiction. It tells a solid story that, aside from having something new to accomplish each week, also has an overarching theme that gets more complex as the series continues.

With its rich 1960s setting and costumes, one might think of Dark Skies as a Mad Men-styled science fiction drama. But Dark Skies has more in common with the film Forrest Gump, which wove a fictional character with historical events. And it’s interesting how easily the UFO mythology is woven into history so seamlessly.

In the first episode, “The Awakening,” Loengard interviews Betty and Barney Hill, a New Hampshire couple whose 1961 encounter with aliens is one of the first abduction stories. In the episode “Moving Targets,” Loengard meets up with former Major Jesse Marcel, one of the most outspoken voices about what really happened at Roswell in 1947.

Now on DVD, Dark Skies: The Declassified Complete Series is a wonderful return to this exciting and groundbreaking series. The story is still interesting and compelling. Even the special effects are — for the most part — still believable. The only thing disappointing about this set is that it reminds us that even the best storytelling doesn’t always survive the television network axe.

In addition to the complete 20 episode series on five disks, Dark Skies: The Declassified Complete Series DVD includes a sixth disk with numerous bonus features:

• International pilot
• Cast & creator commentaries
• “Signal To Noise: Uncovering Dark Skies” — A 3-part intimate look back with creators Bryce Zabel & Brent V. Friedman and stars Eric Close & Megan Ward
• Network promos
• The Dark Skies Glossary
• Original sales presentation
• EPK (Electronic Press Kit)
• Never-before-seen Season Two proposal