Earth: Final Conflict is a science fiction television series based on ideas developed by Gene Roddenberry. The series was produced under the guidance of his widow, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, who possessed notes kept by Roddenberry that would provide the conceptual basis for the series. It ran for five seasons between October 6, 1997, and May 20, 2002.
Setting
Early in the 21st century, a race of aliens, the Taelons (often referred to as "the Companions"), travel to Earth and take up residence in limited numbers. The Taelons possess highly advanced technologies, many of which they share with humanity, seemingly out of generosity and good will. As a result of these advances, disease, war and pollution are nearly eliminated within three years of their arrival. Despite this, some question whether the Taelons' motives are as benevolent as they appear, and a resistance movement forms to halt the Taelons' ever-growing influence on humanity.
Development
After the cancellation of Star Trek in 1969, its creator Gene Roddenberry began working on other projects, producing scripts and pilot episodes that were shown to various networks, including Genesis II and The Questor Tapes.[1] He began early planning for a project called Battleground: Earth, a science fiction series set in the near future when a group of aliens land on Earth under a banner of peace.[1] Roddenberry wrote the initial for the series in 1976 long before the similarly themed 1983 TV miniseries V.[1]
20th Century Fox Television expressed interest in producing a pilot episode for the series, but Roddenberry's busy schedule prevented it. When the order for the pilot came in, he was in England filming a TV movie, which was followed by work on the Star Trek films and later the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation. When he died in 1991, Battleground: Earth had yet to be produced.
In the mid-1990s, Roddenberry's widow, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, began to develop the project.[1] The series was put into production by Atlantis Films and syndicated by Tribune Entertainment with the companies hoping to tap into the blockbuster success of Independence Day.[1] It was renamed Earth: Final Conflict to avoid confusion with L. Ron Hubbard's Battlefield Earth.[1] The success of the show led to the development of one other posthumous Roddenberry project, Andromeda.
Alien design
For the design of the Taelons, Stephen Roloff referenced Buddha, Bodhisattvas, Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs, Jesus Christ, and other religious and spiritual figures for their humanoid design, while their true form was created using 100% computer-generated imagery provided by Claibre Digital.[1]
Series
The show premiered on October 6, 1997, and ran for five seasons. The finale was broadcast on May 20, 2002.
The show had an unusually high turnover rate among the regular cast, partially due to contractual disagreements between the cast and the producers. Almost all of the show's major characters were killed or otherwise removed within a season or two of being introduced. In fact, the only character to appear as a regular during all five seasons was FBI Agent Ronald Sandoval (Von Flores), one of the show's antagonists.
The fifth season of the show was a radical departure from the storyline of the previous seasons, with the Taelons being replaced by a new and more openly hostile alien race, a group of energy vampires called the Atavus.
Cast
- Kevin Kilner as William Boone, Companion Protector/Resistance agent (season 1; two episodes in season 5)
- Lisa Howard as Lili Marquette, interdimensional shuttle pilot/Resistance agent (seasons 1–2; recurring seasons 3–4)
- Von Flores as Ronald Sandoval, Companion Protector (seasons 1–5)
- Richard Chevolleau as Marcus "Augur" Deveraux, Resistance hacker (seasons 1–3, recurring season 4)
- Leni Parker as Da’an, the North American Companion (seasons 1–4)
- David Hemblen as Jonathan Doors, Resistance leader (seasons 1–3; recurring season 4)
- Robert Leeshock as Liam Kincaid, Companion Protector/Resistance agent (seasons 2–4; the last episode of season 5)
- Anita La Selva as Zo’or, United Nations Companion, later Leader of the Taelon Synod (seasons 2–4; recurring seasons 1 and two episodes of season 5)
- Jayne Heitmeyer as Renee Palmer, Companion business liaison/Resistance agent (seasons 3–5)
- Melinda Deines as Juliet Street, Resistance hacker (seasons 4–5)
- Guylaine St-Onge as Juda, Atavus warrior (season 5)
Synopsis
Season 1
The story begins three years after the Taelons arrived on Earth. The Taelons have used their advanced technology to help humanity achieve a better quality of life. Nonetheless, the North American Taelon Companion, Da'an, is targeted by an assassin while making a speech. Jonathan Doors, a businessman with close ties to the Taelons, is killed while Da'an is unharmed. Da'an is impressed by Police Commander Boone's work in protecting him from the assassination attempt and offers him a spot as a Taelon Protector, a personal bodyguard and envoy for a particular Taelon.
Boone politely refuses because he wants to start a family with his wife. Deep down, he doesn't trust the Taelons completely. Subsequently, Boone's wife is killed in a mysterious automobile accident and Boone finds out that Jonathan Doors faked his own death so that he could focus on an underground resistance movement that he founded in secret. Boone believes the Taelons have sinister intentions, and wants to find out their true motives. He also believes that the Taelons had something to do with the death of his wife. Because of this, Boone agrees to work as a double agent for the resistance in order to find answers. He accepts Da'an's offer to become a Protector, and receives a Cyber-Viral Implant (CVI) that gives him enhanced mental abilities – including perfect recall. While most CVIs alter the minds of their hosts so they become singularly loyal to the Taelons above all others, including friends, family, and the human race as a whole, the Resistance sees to it that Boone receives a modified CVI that leaves his loyalties the way they were. Agent Boone receives a bioengineered weapon, called a Skrill, that attaches to his arm. Boone is joined by fellow double agent and former Marine Lili Marquette. She is an accomplished pilot of the Taelon shuttlecraft (that can travel in interdimensional space).
Broadcasting
The series was first shown on CTV in 1997 and ran for two seasons until the network decided to cancel it due to low ratings. The show was, however, resurrected by Chum Limited and was moved to their New Net network for the remainder of its run. The series was broadcast in syndication in the United States.
The series has been re-shown daily on Bravo, and later by Horror, in the United Kingdom, Showcase in Canada, Jimmy in Italy, and Bangladesh Television in Bangladesh. In 2024, it is available on Tubi in the U.S.
The series aired in the Republic of Ireland on RTÉ Two from 22 March 1999 to 2005.[2]
Home media
Region 1
ADV Films released seasons three, four, and five on DVD in 2003. Due to different companies owning different rights for different seasons, these were the only seasons they were able to negotiate the distribution rights for. The episodes are presented in uncropped 16x9 widescreen on six discs per season. There were only minimal extras.
On May 5, 2009, Universal Studios Home Entertainment released Season One on DVD in the US.[3] The episodes are presented in 4x3 full-screen on five discs with a small handful of extras included. The episodes appear uncut but are time compressed, running at a slightly faster pace, resulting in each episode running approximately two minutes shorter than in their original unaltered forms. On July 27, 2010, Season Two was released on DVD in the US.[4]
Alliance Home Entertainment has released all five seasons on DVD in Canada.[5]
External links
References
- Gary Kimber. Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict Cinefantastique, Fourth Castle Micromedia, January 1998, retrieved December 24, 2025^
- RTÉ Guide, 20–26 March 1999 edition and subsequent dates^
- David Lambert. Earth: Final Conflict – Press Release for Earth: Final Conflict – Season 1 TVShowsOnDVD.com, 2009-02-12^