Karen, Karen, Karen.

The New Overlord?

What does she want?  What is her agenda? Is she really the next Overlord?

According to Tom Mason she is, although my radar has detected a few false flags from the initial two episodes.  But look at that sweet face, who wouldn't want to follow her over a cliff into your complete and utter doom.

She has leader written all over her!

She certainly seems to have her tentacles everywhere.  And given proclivity for evil, tentacles seems and apt description of her reach.  Let's start with poor ol' Hal.  

As Maggie has claimed, Karen did something to him and it was in the form of one of the Espheni cyber-bugs.  As we all saw, Karen had placed a bug buried deep inside his cerebral cortex.  It allowed her to manipulate him with a Svengali like thrall.  He would come to her in the depths of the night in a dream like trance and from there she would work her magic as pictured below.

What of this "magic".  Let's take a quick look at another development.

Remember when Tom Mason disappeared aboard the Espheni ship and wasn't returned until later in season two.  Just about every member of the 2nd Mass thought the Overlords had manipulated him and they didn't trust him upon his return.  He didn't even trust himself.

Eventually, Tom was brought back into the fold and he and Anne worked a little magic of their own.  The product of which is "super advanced baby" pictured above.  Is this what Karen has planned for Hal?  The Overlords may have a new way of enslaving humanity outside the Skitters and their harnesses.  If the Espheni have developed a way of impregnating humans then the may have found a way of infiltrating Earth's resistance and placing themselves firmly in control of humanity with a whole new hybrid.

That would be a stunning development.

Where else do Karen's tentacles reach to?  There is the mystery of who shot Arthur Manchester.  One of the prime suspects is Hal under the mind control of Karen.  This is where my "false flag radar" goes off.  Yes, it makes sense he's the shooter.  He's under Karen's control and he obviously doesn't know what he is doing  in the dead of night.

But wasn't he up and about when Anne was about to give birth?

Who else has been acting suspiciously lately?

 Haven't things been a little fishy with Pope to start the new season?  Backing away from fights, making sure everyone has a drink in their hands and passing up chances to vamoose off to Mexico.  He says he has a plan so what is it?

He made a deal with Karen.

How's that for a plan?  His disdain for Tom's leadership has never been a secret but this year the vibe has been little different.  Pope's been keeping his nose clean and staying out of trouble relatively speaking.  I'm thinking Karen got to him and offered the leadership of the 2nd Mass in exchange for Tom and the 2nd Mass leaving Charleston.  She'll guarantee that no one will ever find out who took out Tom and in fact make Tom look like the goat in a stunning defeat for the resistance.

Of course that makes Pope a traitor but if no one finds out it's all the better for him.

Anywhere else for Karen's tentacles?

This one hurts a little.  Gloria Reuben's Marina has been a great addition this season.  Her chemistry with Tom Mason has been terrific.  We could even say that of Reubens in general and Noah Wyle.  The two stars clicked right away and in my opinion look better together than Wyle and Moon Bloodgood.

 We really don't know much about her however.  Where is she from?  How did she get so close to Tom so quickly?  Do you remember the look on Arthur Manchester's face when he saw his killer.  Instant recognition and stunned surprise.  Et tu Marina?

It seems Karen's reach can get anywhere.

 Before I conclude let's talk a little about the actress that portrays Karen Nadler.  Her name is Jessy Schram and she is perfectly cast in this role.  She can range between vulnerable waif and icy dominatrix.  Her romance with Hal is just as genuine as the plucky resistance fighter we knew early on as it is now that she seems to be leading the Espheni.  Kudos to Jessy for that.   If you saw her in the now canceled "Last Resort" you know she can play the hurt but loyal wife (girlfriend?) and the whip smart lady that couldn't be duped by the government.   Falling Skies is fortunate to have her as are the Espheni!

Karen's greatest coup may involve this man, more on this soon.

 

You're a mean one Mr. Grinch.

I mean Karen!  

You are deliciously evil don't ever leave us!