Falling Skies Final Fallout Part Two

Hey, Where Did My Volm Vibe Go?

Readers of this blog may remember my bold prediction on how the third season of Falling Skies would end.  The Volm would be come so disillusioned and dispirited with the suspicions of humanity that they would leave mankind to their own devices and in the hands of the treacherous Espheni.  Good riddance to us all!  

Well, it didn't quite turn out that way.  In fact, what happened was totally predictable and then totally unpredictable and safe.

This is going to be a Volm-centric article so warn me if I tend to stray.

Let's get right to the Volm developments from the Falling Skies season three finale.  All through the season the viewing audience was treated with the suspicions by some of the main characters.  Specifically Colonel Weaver, who was never comfortable with the Volm and also Pope with his special brand of thinly veiled racism.  It was a drumbeat of doubt to build a dramatic tension that led us up to the season finale.

As it turned out they were right!

I actually found this to be a bit anti-climatic.  As we learned, the Volm, led by Papa Volm, father to Cochise, informed Tom Mason and Col. Weaver that the 2nd Mass was to be transplanted to Brazil.  This was spun instantly and a bit mysteriously by Pope (who has turned into the shows "panic button") into a type of internment camp relocation.  Where's Ben when you need him to slap Pope across the face?  This show needs a lot more of that.  Come to think of it, Pope is a lot like Joffrey from Game of Thrones.  Just give him a good slap when he gets out of order.  (Which is all the time.)

Tom was naturally stunned by all of this.  (Why would he question a free trip to Brazil to loll on the balmy beaches of Rio?)  Seriously,  Tom and the 2nd Mass felt betrayed.  They assumed they would be allied with the Volm and fight along side them.  Was not Cochise completely truthful with them?

It seems the Volm didn't have much respect for the human race.  The fighting was to be theirs and theirs alone.  As far as the Volm were concerned humanity was just going to be in the way.

I have no doubt that the Volm had earned their grudge with the Espheni and perhaps this grudge blinded them to any help mankind could be.  You'd think you'd want the help of the indigenous people with your fight.  You know, get the lay of the land etc.  But judging by the way the Volm mothership landed in, I mean, on Boston, no help was needed.

Crunch!

I've always wanted the show to return it's roots in Boston but it looks like that's not going to happen now.

Flat as a pancake!

That was a bit arrogant.  The Volm arrogance continued with the dismissal of the 2nd Mass and to my chagrin, Pope's dire predictions rang true.

The Volm explained to Tom that they never had any complaints with their relocation plans and most races were thankful to put out of harms way.  They intimated that most rescued races were inferior technically or in matter of civilizations and that Tom and his ilk should be a little more appreciative.

This is where I have a major problem.  Not so much with the arrogance, that is to be expected from a superior race, but with The Volm's explanation that no one ever refused their relocation plans and were happy to leave the field of battle.

Haven't they ever heard of these guys?  The Skitters obviously have a vigorous rebel spirit.  So much so that despite their enslavement and indoctrination they still found the will to strike back at their masters.  The Skitters didn't always look like the above picture also.  That's just the effect of the harnesses they had to wear.  As far as we know they could be just as humanoid as Earth's inhabitants or the Volm themselves.

I'm not sure this was an oversight of the writing staff or just plain blind arrogance by the Volm but I have to tell you I think the writing staff forgot all about the Skitters.  And once again, when I say Skitters, I mean the amalgamation of all the conquered races of the Espheni that have been distilled into what we know as the Skitters today. 

The Skitters even suffered  a blow to their leadership when Red Eye went down and he was supplanted by a guy I call "War Paint".  Does that sound like a group of people that would go meekly into the night and do whatever the Volm say?

I think not. 

So what are we left with here?  The Volm with their supreme arrogance or a major goof up by the writing staff?  There is evidence to indict the writing staff for this oversight. 

The Volm had a quick change of heart most of which happened off camera.  Tom gave a heartfelt speech to Papa Volm about the human spirit and no doubt Cochise prevailed upon his father to let the 2nd Mass go on their merry way, weapons and all.  All of which I found a bit unpredictable and a bit safe.  It all happened so fast!  How convenient it was for the 2nd Mass to get their weapons back so they could exact their revenge on Karen. 

Are you telling me all the surviving races that eventually became the Skitters couldn't have done the same thing?  I find that hard to believe especially considering their fighting spirit.  Even War Paint sacrificed himself in order to help the cause.

Sure, maybe the writers want to put humanity in the cross hairs between the Espheni and the Volm.  But it doesn't seem likely that the meager remnants of humanity would have any bearing on a set piece battle between the Volm and Espheni.

You may argue that the Volm are here to stay and their true motive is to settle on Earth and make it their own.  But then why are they hopping from planet to planet in pursuit of the Espheni?  Why not settle on one of those past planet where they've relocated the indigenous folk?

I'd like to see Falling Skies write their way out of this one.

Next up, revenge upon Karen and the future of humanity.

Falling Skies Finale Fallout Part One

The Merry Wives Of Prince Hal.

I thought I'd try something different here and speak to some of the salient points of the Falling Skies season finale, Brazil, instead of trying to cover the entire episode all at once.  This wasn't exactly a Hal-centric episode but it did deal with all the woman in his life and they in turn were central to the plot of the episode.

Let's start with the character of Maggie who is the current paramour of Hal.  I thought she was oddly written in this episode especially considering her closeness to Hal in the last episode when they were trapped beneath the rubble together.  She seemed skittish and paranoid. It's as if the writers wanted to characterize her as Pope saw her when he predicted she would come crawling back to him some day.

Hal sensed there was some thing wrong with Maggie as the two marched towards Boston.  Victory was in the air and Hal mused over what life would be like once things got back to normal.  Maggie instantly challenged him that he wasn't a split level house type of guy and that he would be, essentially, too restless for that type of life.

I thought this rather strange since the "Xibalba" episode characterized her as someone willing to die in his arms with her last breath of air.  She's often stated she'd rather go out fighting but if that was going to be the way the went out, then there was no one she'd rather be with. 

Her discomfort with the "suburban" life was painfully obvious as she marched with Hal.  But instead of confronting the problems as her own she projected them on to Hal.  As if on cue, Pope caught up with them and validated her misgivings over a peaceful future.

I don't blame Hal for being confused.  It wasn't long ago they were going to hang in with each other through thick and thin.  Doesn't Maggie realize that rebuilding in a shattered world can be just as daunting as fighting the war day after day?

It's as if the writers insist on seeing Maggie through Pope's eyes now.  It's almost like they want Pope to be right about something to validate the constant barrage of cynicism and negativity and therefore legitimize his role on the show. You should be able to guess by now that I have no patience for Pope on Falling Skies.  He is a constant irritant with no redeeming value.  Do we really have to see Maggie become so difficult in order to justify his presence?

Hal didn't exactly have a romantic relationship with Lourdes but it was pretty clear she had a crush on him.  Hal was aware of this also.  As season one progressed Lourdes was constantly trying to do things to impress Hal and this theme continued into season two.  Hal tolerated Lourdes' advances and was often teased by Karen or Maggie about it.

That is why Hal had a soft spot for Lourdes as she lay chained and caged in the thrall of the Espheni "insects".  Lourdes managed to utter a few things to Hal in her more lucid and less tortured moments that spoke of their past "relationship".  This touched Hal as he was well aware of her feelings for him.  This proves that that an insect "infected" person can still draw on their past personality and not be totally "gone". 

Seventy five per cent gone but not completely.

You probably noticed, as I did, that Maggie was quite impatient with these proceedings even though she waited outside the tent.  She seemed jealous and possessive over Hal despite the fact that her "competition" was locked in a cage and half crazed with her torment.

Hal was again positioned as a touch stone for a female character.  I'm not convinced Hal has a real purpose on Falling Skies.  I suspect he is being maneuvered as a "romantic lead" in order to develop the more interesting female characters around him.  Something that was hinted at in the "Strange Brew" episode.  Hal was busy chasing skirts as Ben became the confidant to Tom.  (His brother, Ben, is quickly surpassing Hal as a far more compelling character)

Anyway, speaking of the "competition".

Karen at last appears on the screen, the final piece of the triumvirate romantically connected with Hal.  I really enjoyed Karen's snake like charm.  When she met small band of 2nd Mass survivors led by Tom she instantly went to work on Hal.  "Good to see you Hal, I've missed you." she taunted.  I have no doubt this is true if only partially.  They once were lovers and then she became infected by the Espheni harness, then they were lovers again!  Karen could play both sides of the coin as the "before and after" girlfriend which I'm sure was intended to infuriate Hal.  It certainly had an effect on Tom.

Tom, his trap played to exquisite perfection, puts a bullet into Karen as an act of cold revenge.  Here Karen has a moment of lucidity.  I totally bought into her sincerity as she confessed her feelings towards Hal as he knelt over her.  Maybe undergoing extreme physical duress has a way of bringing out the former humanity of those infected with Espheni technology.  She certainly sounded like the old Karen to me just as Lourdes did when she spoke to Hal.

In that moment of brief humanity Maggie loses hers and puts an end to Karen.  So now Maggie is a stone cold killer? Did you see the shocked look on Hal's face?  Maybe he'd be better off putting some space between him and Maggie.  And if I were the newly renewed Lourdes, I would be watching my back.  Maggie seems a bit unhinged.

As I stated at the start of this essay, Hal wasn't exactly the central player of this little drama but everything had a way of revolving around him.  At least through some twisted romantic lens.  I'm sorry to see Karen go, she was deliciously evil.  I guess that will be Maggies role now.  Okay, maybe not evil but way too close to the Pope side of the equation for my liking.  It'll be good to have Lourdes back again.  Her character has matured and Seychelle was able to expand upon her acting spectrum with some really juicy evil stuff.

Does this mean Hal is down to two girls now?  Should Ben be more protective of Denny?  (That is one relationship that is far more interesting).  Maybe the writers will have Hal torn between the Angel that is Lourdes on one shoulder and the Devil that is Maggie on the other.

Next up, the Volm dilemma.