“Millions of people around the world believe we have been visited in the past by extraterrestrial beings. What if it were true? Did ancient aliens really help to shape our history? And if so, what if there were clues left behind, something hiding in plain sight? What if we could find that evidence?”
Ever since Eric von Daniken released his speculative book and its subsequent 1970 film Chariots of the Gods, there has been an entire field of study created around something commonly called Ancient Astronaut Theory. The idea is that extraterrestrials have visited many of our ancient civilizations. The theory continues that these visitors had a hand in shaping our development, whether it be through technology or even manipulation of our very DNA. These believers point to a world of evidence to support their claims. There are tons of images from earlier civilizations that could certainly be interpreted as depicting modern devices, concepts, or even space men. There is plenty of speculation that some of the knowledge and accomplishments of these peoples could not have been possible without some outside interference. There are even those who believe that aliens best explain our religious beliefs and that God himself was/is an extraterrestrial being. Whatever your own beliefs on the subject, there are certainly some fascinating points to be made. There is no question that the speculations and observations bring up some interesting queries that deserve our attention. This series attempts to document much of this evidence and the beliefs these findings have inspired.
So, what do these crazy kids have for us in season three? One episode is actually pretty intriguing. It deals with a reported spaceship crash in Texas 50 years before Roswell. A pilot was supposed to have been recovered and was believed to have been buried in an unmarked grave in a traditional cemetery. The same episode offers an alternative angle on the Book of Mormon claiming that Joseph Smith did encounter an entity, but it was an alien. Of course, there are plenty of religious connections in season three. There are claims that Jesus was an alien as were the gods of Egypt, Greece and Rome. Paging Colonel Jack O’Neil.
There are episodes which attribute epidemics and diseases to alien manipulation. Paging Dr. Welby.
One of the craziest episodes attempts to link our founding fathers and the creation of The United States with alien influence. A report that Jefferson was interested in does recount a UFO experience, but the show ties the man into the event far more closely than the actual story supports. There are a few George Washington encounters as well as the already debunked claim by an aide that in his despair an alien appeared before the father of our country and gave him a glimpse into the future of America. The episode attempts to link our founding father’s “obsession” with the classic Greek and Roman cultures for both political and architectural influence. One guy questions why they would even think of these cultures. He obviously doesn’t know that a classic education of the time was quite rich with these classic civilizations. It was their education that influenced these patterns. Paging Dr. Emmitt Brown. (And bring the Delorian.)
Finally, there’s an episode or two that completely repeats the same theories that we are the product of genetic engineering or hybrids of ancient aliens. Everything from angels to mythological entities are credited with participating in these crazy human projects. Paging Agent Fox Mulder.
Video
Each episode is presented in its original broadcast 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Much of the footage is documentary-style location shoots that carry the obvious limitations. Black levels are solid.
Audio
The Dolby Digital 2.0 is dialog-dominated and offers excellent audio reproduction.
Special Features
Nothing.
Final Thoughts:
I have to say that while some of the show has some rather interesting points, I’m not sure how much longer this show can stay fresh. They are repeating themselves quite frequently now. To say that they stretch some of the connections is an understatement. A petite dress on Dolly Parton is stretching something. These guys go way beyond that point. It’s tabloid television that you might expect on a future National Enquirer Network instead of History. I suspect that in season four we might learn more about those Elvis/alien babies. All the while the series ignores the ultimate question: “Where is the physical evidence?”
