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Dark Skies

1996 – 1997Show1 season19 episodes

DramaSci-Fi & Fantasy
70
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.5Rotten Tomatoes67%–

A nostalgic, intriguing drama series about history and mystery.

Good for family movie night · friends night · teens

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Not for laughs, warmth or comfort.

Shows with

Episodes

1 season · 19 episodes · best: S1E5 "Dreamland" 7.7

Episodes

7.4

Story

History as we know it is a lie.

Dark Skies is an American UFO conspiracy theory-based sci-fi television series that aired from the 1996 to 1997 season for 18 episodes, plus a two-hour pilot episode. The success of The X-Files on Fox proved there was an audience for science fiction shows, resulting in NBC commissioning this proposed competitor following a pitch from producers Bryce Zabel and Brent Friedman. The series debuted September 21, 1996 on NBC, and was later rerun by the Sci-Fi Channel. Its tagline was "History as we know it is a lie."

Feels like

  • UFO Conspiracy Thriller
  • Historical Revisionism
  • Paranoid Atmosphere
  • Cold War Era Setting
  • Sci-Fi Mystery Procedural
  • Government Cover-up
  • Cult Classic Status
  • Edison & Tesla Lore
  • Dystopian Undertones

Cast

24 of 51 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Perry Lang, Thomas J. Wright, Jim Charleston
Written by
Bryce Zabel, Brad Markowitz, Melissa Rosenberg

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

September 21, 1996 · May 31, 1997 · Ended

First aired
September 21, 1996
Last aired
May 31, 1997
Status
Ended
Length
1 season · 19 episodes
Content
Violence, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama, Action & Adventure
Original language
English

Tropes

Cliffhanger, Bad Boss, Exposed Extraterrestrials +9

  • Cliffhanger
  • Bad Boss
  • Exposed Extraterrestrials
  • Beethoven Was an Alien Spy
  • Government Conspiracy
  • Real Event, Fictional Cause
  • All Theories Are True
  • Roswell That Ends Well
  • Fake Guest Star
  • All There in the Manual
  • The Virus
  • Historical Domain Character

12 of 22 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Is Dark Skies worth watching?"

Questions about Dark Skies

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Is Dark Skies worth watching?

70
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 70 (IMDb 7.5 and Rotten Tomatoes 67%).

Is Dark Skies okay for kids?

ViolenceDisturbing imagery

Yes: its content advisories are violence and disturbing imagery, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

How long does it take to watch Dark Skies?

19 h

About 19 hours: 19 episodes in 1 season of about 60 minutes each, aired from 1996 to 1997.

Is Dark Skies plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly plot-driven: intrigue (8 of 10) and mystery (8 of 10) carry it more than its characters do.

What tropes does Dark Skies use?

CliffhangerBad BossExposed ExtraterrestrialsBeethoven Was an Alien SpyGovernment ConspiracyReal Event, Fictional CauseAll Theories Are TrueRoswell That Ends WellFake Guest StarAll There in the ManualThe VirusHistorical Domain Characterand 10 more

TV Tropes lists 22 tropes for it, including Cliffhanger, Bad Boss, and Exposed Extraterrestrials.