zannatlaws I only needed to watch the trailer to know this film is not worth watching. The book is amazing. Read that instead.

J M A good effort, but there are so many faulty premises. First of all, if the overlords were intent on eventually destroying mankind why did they waste time "making the world perfect" for them?. Second, why was the Earth itself destroyed-- There was nothing to blame the Earth itself for mankind's failure, right? Why didn't they simply kill off the older (in their view contaminated) generation? What they did is like arresting the DWI driver and impounding and scrapping the Lamborghini he was driving.

Matthew Kresal There are projects that seem like they will never happen. A screen adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's classic 1953 novel Childhood's End is one of them. Stanley Kubrick tried to have a go in the 1960s but, with the rights elsewhere, the pair made the classic 2001: A Space Odyssey instead. Since then, writers and filmmakers ranging from Abraham Polonsky, Howard Koch, Philip DeGuere, and Kimberly Peirce all tried in vain to bring it to life. It wasn't until 2015, fifty- two years after original novel was published, that the SyFy Channel brought the novel to the screen through the British team of writer Matthew Graham and director Nick Hurran. Was it worth the wait?Anyone who has ever read the original novel (or virtually any of Clarke's work for that matter) will note that the novel is an epic tale but one that's not strong on plot or character. It is very much a novel of ideas and occasional incidents that build into a larger whole. Characters hardly appear or, when they do, are there for a portion of the narrative before vanishing again. All of which would make adapting it a pain for most writers. Which is something that makes Graham's adaptation all the more surprising. script does is take Clarke's ideas and build onto them. Readers will recognize many of the characters, events, and incidents from the novel being brought to life though often in new ways to match up with the fact that this is a version of Clarke's novel being made five decades after it first appeared. Wainwright and the Freedom League in the first episode is a perfect example with Graham's shifting of the character to a media baron being something that feels absolutely right, especially in the world we're living in as I write these words. Other times, it expands upon it such as the chapter in the novel where Clarke makes a multi-decade leap in a few pages which becomes the basis for a significant part of the middle episode. These changes work though some of them seem a little needless such as turning Ricky Stormgren into a young American farmer rather than the older Scandavian Secretary-General of the United Nations. On the whole though, it's a faithful adaptation of the novel in tone and philosophy at least. Beyond Graham's script, there's plenty to enjoy. The production values across the board are solid including production design and costumes that work to show not just our world reacting to the arrival of the Overlords but the world that is created in its wake. The special effects, being a science fiction tale, will get a lot of attention and they are solid as well. Indeed the effects needed to bring Clarke's novel to life have likely been as much a hurdle as the script but the combination of CGI and creature effects for the Overlords bring Clarke's vision to life splendidly. There's a large cast of actors ranging from Mike Vogel and Osy Ikhile to Daisy Betts, Ashley Zukerman, and Hayley Magnus plus a supporting cast including the ever reliable Colm Meaney and Charles Dance as the main Overlord. Brought together by veteran UK director Nick Hurran, Childhood's End tells an always compelling and interesting story. It all builds up to the ending, taken straight from the original novel and where everything from performances to effects to music all come together beautifully. The result is an assured production throughout. Yet even with all of this, it isn't a perfect adaptation. Though it's always compelling throughout, there are times when it does seem to stretching things out a bit much such as the aforementioned second episode plus early parts of the third which engage in a bit of wheel-spinning. Or, perhaps even worse, Graham's script indulges itself in clichés such as the sacrifice of one main character and a decision they make that leaves them to their fate which is something not taken from Clarke's novel. Also, despite how well the effects are for most of the series there are times when they do let it down such as the presentation of the Overlords planet which pales in comparison to the vision in Clarke's novel. Some of the casting feels a little off at times such as Julian McMahon's Doctor Boyce in the second episode and a few moments of Ikhile's performance where the right note isn't quite struck. On the whole though, the miniseries gets it right more often than not. So after five decades, was it worth the wait? I think it was. Graham and Hurran, along with a talented team in front of and behind the camera, bring Clarke's novel to life. It takes a classic novel and builds upon it, often for the better but not always, and create a take on it right for the screen and the world we live in today. It might not be on the level of Kubrick's 2001 but as TV adaptations of literary science fiction goes it is a sight better than it had any right to be.

Aljaz Anderle At first I refused to watch it. After years of hoping someone will produce a decent theatre version of Clark's masterpiece, we were give this. Take it or leave it. Judging by reviews and comments, I got repelled, but then decided to give it a shot. I can always forget the TV version and read the book one more time, right? Still, despite all the anti-propaganda, I was positively surprised. Of course I didn't like the unnecessary details, Americanization and invented plots and characters. I didn't like the simplified last part with the end that went by just like that... Nothing dramatic, nothing profound... unless you watch carefully. Prior reading of the book is recommended.My score is rather high because of two things: The fact that the story was finally put to screen, despite the weak result. Second, that it is possible to understand and see the whole story positively, as it should be seen. But you have to pay attention to the details. And not be limited by either your Ego or some imposed system ob beliefs.Judging by reviewers responding to either the book or the series, it is apparent, that the majority on this planet is perfectly happy with the current state of affairs and the course the Mankind is embarked on. I find it difficult to believe, that they reject the act of Ultimate evolution and transcendence and rather see it as a tragic event, act of terror, destruction of Humanity, while at the same time, quite probably pray to God every day in hope it will grant them basically the very same thing. In the book, as well as in the series, merging with god was a gift to our children. As a parent, I'd be a selfish ignorant, If I didn't feel happy for them.