There were some significant devlopments in the last episode of Falling Skies not the least of which was the skitter "Red Eye" telling Tom Mason that there was a skitter rebellion fomenting and that Tom could become a crucial part of it. With this information we learn why Tom's life was spared in the second episode of this season and we also learn that Red Eye is definitely "off world" and not someone that Tom formally knew perhaps as a student or family member.
This is significant information. It means we'll possibly learn of the other worlds the Overlords have visited, not to mention the back story of Red Eye. If you'll pardon the term, this will tend to "humanize" our favorite skitter and make he or she a sympathetic figure not just a rapacious tool of the invaders. We may even find out if Red Eye was also taken as a child and if the "harnessing" of children is true to all worlds. I'd be curious to know if one can mature as a skitter despite being taken as a child or if you are "frozen" at the age you are harnessed.
What was also fascinating was the skitter "call to prayer" that opened up this episode. It reminded me of the Islamic practice of "Adhan" where a "Muezzin" leads and recites the call to prayer. It seemed as though the skitter, "Red Eye" as fulfilling this role and that others skitter echoed the practice which also included Ben Mason. Islam is known to be intolerant of any parody of their religion and it seemed strange to me that Falling Skies and TNT would be unaware of any parallels. It was pretty obvious to me.
The skitter "call to prayer" could be just an innocent recognition of the sun rising or the Sun could even be the focal point of worship if not the embodiment of the skitter deity in the form of our sun or perhaps any star. Either way I would like to hear TNT's explanation and if there has been any backlash towards this scene.
In addition, Ben was heard to exclaim to his father that, "He is here!" Is Ben referring to the deity that the skitters were supposedly calling to or was he simply referring to Red Eye? It seems the latter but you never know as TV shows these days love to drop clues or place Easter eggs. (See Lost, Fringe etc.)
If I was to extrapolate upon this further one could argue that Rick was "reborn" as in the Christian faith only to be sacrificed again. Better yet, Rick's return in "Love and Other Acts of Courage" is closer to the story of Lazarus coming back from the dead only to die again. Does this portend the return of other children and can we extend this parallel to the harnessed children?
Questions answered and many new ones asked.
Hi Dave,
ReplyDeleteI've been stewing over this scene for a while. I may be wrong, but this seemed the first instance of a skitter "culture". It did appear very similar to a call to prayer as you say. A vestige of their pre-skitter life on their home planet? Trying to preserve their native culture? Hard to say yet if it was in fact religious in nature. I think it is clear that it was an act of defiance/rebellion. Red eye had made contact with Ben privately in the previous episode, why not take him then? We know the skitters can communicate with other harnessed individuals either telepathically or audibly at frequencies the humans can't hear. So why hold a very loud primal scream out in the open? The arms raised could be an expression of faith, a rallying gesture. It could also be a show of defiance and/or agression. Like a crab raising its claws or a bull's horns, or a man's fists. What makes me think that it was more than a just simple war cry was Ben's behavior. He was awestruck which suggests a deeper meaning. At any rate, Red Eye knew it was being pursued by a death squad and that display is likely what led to the mech attack.
Thinking about religion for a minute, you can't help but notice the change in Lordes this season. She was very outspoken in the first season about prayer and religion. This season not a peep. Has she lost her faith or does she simply keep it to herself now?
I like that Red Eye's identity opens up the world(s) of the show rather than circling back to Tom. It would have been fun to have guessed it right.
-Lynne (duckyislost)
I have been stewing over this scene for a while now. I may be wrong, but this seems like the first time we’ve seen a “cultural” moment from the skitters. It certainly did look similar to a human call to prayer as you say. We know so little of their background it is hard to pin it down as religious. It could be patriotic like Americans placing their hand over their heart and singing the national anthem. I take 2 things away from it. 1.) It was a unifying gesture/communication, there were at least 3 skitters shown doing it simultaneously and then Ben joined in. 2.) It was likely an act of defiance. We know the skitters can communicate with harnessed individuals telepathically (or audibly at frequencies humans cannot hear). Red eye contacted Ben privately and quietly just last episode. Yet here they are engaging in a very loud primal scream out in the open. The arms raised, was that reverence? Or was it like a crab raising its claws, a bull’s horns, a man’s fists….a provocation? Ben’s awestruck reaction makes me lean against this being a simple war cry. If it was in fact a religious gesture it could be the skitters openly practicing their previous culture, rebelling against assimilation and slavery. This act seems likely to have brought on the ‘death squad’ attack that we saw from a distance. Could this be the defining moment when Red Eye and his band of rebels declared themselves and made a stand against the overlords?
ReplyDeleteA little more on religion. Lordes seems conspicuously silent about hers this season. Has she lost her faith or just keeping it to herself now?
Although it would have been fun to have guessed Red eye’s identity, I am glad that his origins make the world(s) of the show bigger rather than circle back to Tom.
-Lynne (duckyislost)
Trying to post this again. First time it didn't stick, 2nd time it went in double. 3rds a charm?
Hi Lynne, I'm going to go on record as saying the skitter "Call to prayer" was an open act of rebellion. It seems to me that it was an act of defiance to the Overlords and as far as we know it could have led to the retribution of the "Death Squad". Which means that "act" was a suicidal one. Brave but not very smart. That seems mutually exclusive but who knows what "Red Eye's" real plan is and if he can be trusted amidst his own kind. There may be something to Ben that he needs that the others can't provide. As we have seen in "Homecoming" an unharnessed human is an exceptional human and there may be some answers there.
DeleteThanks Lynne!