The Alien Years(1988)

The Alien Years is an Australian science fiction miniseries that aired on ABC in 1988. Directed by Donald Crombie and written by Peter Yeldham, the three-part drama follows ordinary people confronting an extraordinary threat when aliens arrive on Earth. The ensemble cast includes Victoria Longley, John Hargreaves, and Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz. The story explores how humanity responds to first contact, blending suspense with character-driven storytelling. Yeldham's screenplay proved compelling enough that he later adapted it into a novel, expanding the world he created for the screen. The miniseries stands as a notable entry in 1980s science fiction television, balancing intimate human drama with larger existential stakes.