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IMDbPro

War of the Worlds

  • TV Series
  • 1988–1990
  • TV-PG
  • 45m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,247
7,000
Alex Cord in War of the Worlds (1988)
Dark ComedyActionAdventureHorrorThriller

Humanity must resume its war against the Martians when they revive after decades of hibernation following their defeat in the 1950s.Humanity must resume its war against the Martians when they revive after decades of hibernation following their defeat in the 1950s.Humanity must resume its war against the Martians when they revive after decades of hibernation following their defeat in the 1950s.

  • Creator
    • Greg Strangis
  • Stars
    • Jared Martin
    • Lynda Mason Green
    • Philip Akin
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    1.6K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,247
    7,000
    • Creator
      • Greg Strangis
    • Stars
      • Jared Martin
      • Lynda Mason Green
      • Philip Akin
    • 49User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Episodes44

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    Top cast99+

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    Jared Martin
    Jared Martin
    • Harrison Blackwood
    • 1988–1990
    Lynda Mason Green
    • Suzanne McCullough
    • 1988–1990
    Philip Akin
    • Norton Drake
    • 1988–1989
    Richard Chaves
    Richard Chaves
    • Colonel Paul Ironhorse
    • 1988–1989
    Rachel Blanchard
    Rachel Blanchard
    • Debi McCullough
    • 1988–1990
    Denis Forest
    Denis Forest
    • Malzor…
    • 1989–1990
    Ilse von Glatz
    • Advocate #2…
    • 1988–1989
    Adrian Paul
    Adrian Paul
    • John Kincaid
    • 1989–1990
    Catherine Disher
    Catherine Disher
    • Mana
    • 1989–1990
    Julian Richings
    Julian Richings
    • Ardix…
    • 1989–1990
    Michael Rudder
    • Advocate #3…
    • 1988–1989
    Richard Comar
    Richard Comar
    • Advocate #1…
    • 1988–1989
    Ric Sarabia
    Ric Sarabia
    • Advocate #2…
    • 1988–1989
    David Calderisi
    David Calderisi
    • Advocate #1
    • 1989
    Corinne Conley
    Corinne Conley
    • Mrs. Pennyworth
    • 1988–1989
    Michael Copeman
    Michael Copeman
    • Advocate #3…
    • 1989–1990
    Michael Eric Kramer
    Michael Eric Kramer
    • Advocate #2…
    • 1988–1989
    Larry Reynolds
    Larry Reynolds
    • Tom Kensington
    • 1988–1989
    • Creator
      • Greg Strangis
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews49

    6.51.5K
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    Featured reviews

    keith7821

    Fantastic TV series!

    "War of the Worlds: The Series" continues the storyline from the original movie while giving it a new twist, with the Martians, or the "alien invaders" as they are called now, taking over people's bodies to prevent them from succumbing to the bacteria that "killed" them in the original movie. Taking place 35 years after they destroyed Los Angeles and almost took over the world, they are revived after a botched attack at a nuclear waste dump, where their remains were sealed in metal barrels. They awaken, take over the bodies of the terrorists and plan out their second invasion of the world. The series was a bit graphic, but the storylines of the episodes were terrific. The new cast also shines, as a small group willing to fight the aliens before it's too late. Also seen were their war machines with the heat rays, and Sylvia Van Buren (Ann Robinson), the heroine of the original who fell in love with Dr. Clayton Forrester (Gene Barry's character). All in all, this series is great and I wish it was back on TV! Sci-fi at it's best!
    mistermime

    A brilliant first season only to be marred by idiot studio execs in season 2...

    The first season of War of the Worlds was groundbreaking and refreshingly innovative. In many ways, it was the predecessor of shows like "The X-Files". The first season was very much like a game of chess between the Blackwood Project and the aliens- led the triumvirate Advocacy (featuring the underrated actress, Ilse Von Glatz- who was chilling as an Advocate). Towards the end of the season, there was a mythology carefully being built with the introductions of new characters such as the renegade alien/human hybrid- Quinn and the Qar'To Synth, Katara. Also, the show was blessed with creative writing, excellent direction- and casting Ann Robinson as Sylvia Van Buren was a nice coup for the producers.

    However, Paramount had plans to assassinate the show and installed Frank Mancuso Jr. as the new executive producer. He obliterated the first season storyline, continuity, most of the characters and killed the show in the process. But to many fans, the only real season of WOTW was 1988-1989.
    jeffyoung1

    Who are the aliens?

    Very little is known of the alien invaders from Mortax and the series did not intend to explain much of them. In the original, "War of the Worlds", the aliens originate from Mars. Since Mars is a dead planet and presumably any presence of an indigenous civilization would be noticed from earth, it made sense to change the origin of the aliens to a faraway solar system.

    It was a shame that the series did not capitalize on the episode, "Angel of Death". The unexpected, ironic, and somewhat twisted humorous ending would have made for a much more interesting second season had the original plot line been followed. As it was, some viewers, including myself, disliked the second season's post-apocalyptic setting and stopped watching the series.

    I present here my own speculative analysis of the aliens from Mortax, for anyone curious enough to read on.

    Most likely the inhabitants of Mortax originated from a tightly controlled, rigid, caste-driven society. The upper caste was smug in its superiority over the lower caste classes, even those presumably of a high class, such as scientists. The ruling caste or upper classes which ruled Mortax probably were probably a hereditary class which may or may not have included a military class as a subsidiary upper caste.

    At some point in its history, the lower caste classes of Mortax gained political power enough not to overthrow the current ruling caste but enough to gain comparable political parity and most importantly, respect.

    As a result of this paradigm shift in Mortax civilization, the upper ruling class now had to address the lower classes with respect. They now called the lower classes, 'comrades'. The lower classes could now address their heretofore upper caste rulers as, 'advocates', not, sir, ma'am, majesty, excellency, highness, lord, mistress, or any other such title conferring superiority over the claimant and inferiority over the one saying it. But it is very clear from the comments of the often frustrated Advocate triumvirate that the bigotry of the upper castes over the lower castes is still very much alive. But now it is politically incorrect to say so in front of them.

    Mortax civilization was now unified and moreover, unified in its new, overriding goal, the salvation of its race, civilization, and culture. Unfortunately, the smug racial superiority and bigotry of the upper caste were now subsumed by all of Mortax society. The new inferior class fit only for extinction were the humans of earth. The invasion of earth is an invasion to humans. For Mortaxians, it is a 'colonisation' of a habitable planet regrettably infested with inferior biological sentients called humans whose existence is expendable. The invasion is a fight to the death for all of humanity.
    Agent10

    The beginning of modern Sci-Fi TV

    Before the X-Files, before Millenium, Space Above and Beyond, before Nowhere Man and all of the other strange and paranoid filled shows on television, there was War of the Worlds. Set in modern times, this series employed so many disturbing images and stories, it genuinely gave me creeps at night. While the show bombed on many levels with viewers, I only remember it for being something different, out of the ordinary. While young kids were watching cartoons, I tried watching this show as often as possible, considering my parents cared little for it. Then, when it went into syndication, I watched it as often as I could. If you could ever find tapes for this series, and you like odd and unusual programming, then you will like this series.
    aurianadanberg

    This was and still is my favorite television series.

    War of the Worlds season one was my favorite television series. I was only nine when it came out, but I was amazed from the first episode. The characters were complex and very different from each other. The storyline kept me hooked wondering just who would win in the next episode. I was, however, very disappointed with season two. I couldn't really follow what had happened to make the series so different from the first and it was very dark. As for the first season, I haven't found a series on television since that has topped it. I remember it so well after 16 years and really want to see it again. I truly hope that it will be released on DVD someday. If you ever get the chance to see it, I know you'll really enjoy it.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Originally, Paramount had conceived the series not as a sequel or for television, but a feature remake of The War of the Worlds (1953) with George A. Romero slated to direct.
    • Goofs
      Throughout the entire first season, the aliens are preoccupied with finding their hibernating comrades, and only twice do they ever discuss getting a hold of the original warships from the 1953 invasion. However, Dr. Harrison Blackwood says in the pilot episode that there were thousands of ships warehoused by the military after the invasion, and it would only take the aliens getting a hold of one of them to wipe out humanity. It seems odd then that the aliens never make this a priority.
    • Quotes

      Harrison Blackwood: In 1953 Earth experienced a War of the Worlds. Common bacteria destroyed the aliens but it didn't kill them. The aliens fell into a state of deep hibernation. Now the aliens have been resurrected more terrifying than before. In 1953 aliens started taking over the world. Today they're taking over our bodies.

    • Crazy credits
      A mysterious credit that appears at the end of all episodes from Season One is for "The Far Side" cartoons by Gary Larson, courtesy of Chronicle Features. It's unclear why this credit appears since there is no evidence of the cartoon's use or even a reference throughout the show. It is because in an early episode, a Larson cartoon appears on a bulletin board in a shot and the credits were not changed after that episode.
    • Alternate versions
      The animation of the alien hand taking a hold of Earth that opens every episode in the first season is omitted on the DVDs.
    • Connections
      Follows The War of the Worlds (1953)

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    FAQ19

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    • What are the differences between seasons 1 and 2?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 7, 1988 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • War of the Worlds: The Second Invasion
    • Filming locations
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Hometown Films
      • Paramount Television
      • Ten Four
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 45m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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