Alien Theory

I'm not going to bore you with a synopsis of my personal beliefs here, nor pick apart the assertions made by the show's creators and contributors. Ancient Aliens is equal parts compelling and laughable. Both thought-provoking and ludicrous. Always, however, entertaining. The show is well put together, and moves along well. Did E.T. visit our ancient ancestors? Did they influence our modern religions? Was alien technology used to help the ancients build huge megalithic structures? The show's "experts" say yes, and attempt to put forward evidence to back up their claims. Yes, it is slanted in one direction. I'm being more charitable than other reviewers here though. After all, the title is "Ancient Aliens". What else would you expect? In any case, if you're a critical thinker who also doesn't mind stretching credulity for the sake of good entertainment, you'll enjoy this. For every time I scoffed, there have also been parts that really blew my mind. Give it a try.

I use to love this show i still do like most of the previous seasons, especially the first few. But now every season is just re used content, nothing is new. I'm sick of them showing that Tic tac clip, give it a rest! It's time to cancel, if they can't find anything new what is this point.

I am sorry but I cannot watch this show for more than 10 minutes without shouting at the screen. It is worse now, I now find that I am getting annoyed at all TV documentaries after watch some of this show. They still talk about things as mysteries when they were solved years before, that things are fact when they aren't. They use lines like "Many People" and "Some scientists believe" never giving facts and figures. I find the main presenter patronising. Sorry I just can't watch any more of this show. Where has the Science and actual history gone. Where is the balanced reporting. How can someone look at a camera and state something to be a mystery when the facts are well known.

Legends existed in China about dragons? Must've been aliens.

Mayans thought there were Gods who could influence the weather? Aliens.

Primitive cave paintings resembling weird looking humans? Aliens.

I don't necessarily think that the ancient astronaut theory is totally ludicrous, but the evidence provided by "experts" in this show is lacking, and almost entirely driven by conformation bias. They have already drawn their conclusion (aliens), and work their way backwards from there.

That said, you'll probably learn some interesting things about the past, and the idea itself is, at least for me, quite thought provoking.

Should you ever encounter the History Channel (it will always be the HISTORY CHANNEL to me) documentary series "Ancient Aliens", it would be a wise choice to watch it not with a grain of salt, but rather, a whole salt shaker. The series, which chronicles theories about "ancient astronauts" and possible historical encounters primitive cultures had with extra-terrestrial life and how it impacted the world, is a fine example of pseudo-science at at times blatant science-fiction masquerading as scientific fact. While some of the stories are intriguing, and while I do indeed believe in extra-terrestrial life (and that it may have contacted the modern world), the show presents so much conjecture and idea-grasping, that one cannot possibly take this series seriously.

Each episode centers on a different topic, from alien technology, to rumored underground or underwater cities that were the result of alien/human contact. A panel of "experts" (aka, UFO enthusiasts and pseudo-scientists) discuses theories ranging from remotely credible to downright diabolically far-fetched and implausible.

Although given my complaints about the rampant idea-grasping, sensationalizing the series presents, and the blatant pseudo-science, I will give credit in that the show has a great deal of entertainment value when viewed as a piece of science-fiction and as mere entertainment. Some of the stories and theories portrayed are riveting in their own way, and it's a great deal of fun to watch. In addition, some of the "scientists" and "experts" who appear frequently serve as good presenters and real-life "characters", giving the show a bizarre watch-ability.

While the show desperately attempts to be a serious documentary series, it fails overall, and as a documentary, I'd give the show about a 3 out of 10. However, the interesting stories presented, the unintentional hilarity of the show, and the delightful "characters" who are humorously misleading and present wildly insane ideas, give this show a high entertainment value, and a likability factor of about a 9 out of 10. So, averaging those scores together, the show is elevated to a very watchable and enjoyably, slightly-above average 6 out of 10 when viewed strictly as entertainment. Like I said, swallow many grains of salt when you turn this on, and watch it is Science-Fiction, and it will provide some great laughs. But watch it as a serious, real-life documentary, and you will be sorely disappointed.