Childhood’s End is an impressive adaptation of a work once thought unadaptable.
Here is our spoiler-free review.
ThisChildhoods Endreview is based on the complete mini-series.
It contains no spoilers.
In fact, the event series probably contains some of the best visual work Syfy has ever produced.
Especially the miniseries final episode, which delivers the most ambitious visual effects Ive ever seen on TV.
Dare I say that this doesnt really look like what youd expect from Syfy?
This brave adaptation only makes me want more event series from Syfy.
Id love to see them tackle more Clarke or Isaac Asimov or Robert A. Heinlein in the future.
Narratively, the series is just a tad less successful at adapting the original work.
Instead, Graham smartly focuses on the most pivotal characters and drops many of the smaller roles.
This works wonderfully for the most part.
And the new backstory pushes the limits of credibility a little too far.
This is done to great effect and is one of the series most powerful sections.
I especially enjoyed watching the kind of political propaganda you might see during commercial breaks of a Presidential Debate.
The episode has to answer all of our questions, and it does so without long, expository scenes.
Instead, it embraces the massive scale and visual cues that might remind one of2001: A Space OdysseyorInterstellar.
And the final scenes almost look as good, too.
The Overlords are handled with great care.
Fans hoping that Syfy remained faithful to the original look of the aliens will be very pleased.
Youll be doubly pleased to hear that Syfy used practical effects.
Karellen always stood out in scenes, and not in a good way.
With all that said, Im very pleased withChildhoods End.
I applaud Syfy for taking on this impossible adaptation and making it work for the screen.
I eagerly look forward to the next event series.
Childhoods Endpremieres on Dec. 14.
John Saavedra is an associate editor at Den of Geek US.
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