A Skitter Call to Prayer

 

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.

We Aren't Family...

It seems to me one of the major themes that Falling Skies is pursuing this season is the disintegration of the family unit and the desperate attempts by Earth's survivors to preserve this fragile entity.  Yet, at times, Earth's human inhabitants are their own worst enemies.  Witness last Sunday night's brain puzzler.  Fresh after the events of "Young Bloods" where Capt. Weaver is reunited with his long missing daughter, he confronts Tom Mason in, "Love and Other Acts of Courage" and basically tells Tom that his son Ben is a liability and should be put down.

Huh?

Didn't Weaver learn anything about the cost of war, the pain of separation, bittersweet reunion and the agony of being separated again?  I guess not.  Weaver even went so far as to threaten Mason with mutiny and  death not long after saying he couldn't do without his number Two just a few episodes ago.  Maybe Weaver isn't cut out for command.  He certainly doesn't portray much of a father figure.  (Also after realizing he wasn't much of one to his daughter.)

Weaver isn't the only one bent on destroying the nuclear family.  Take the case of Maggie and Hal.  I think we all know that future lies with the children and what better way to produce children than to, well, couple!  After some serious cuddle time with Hal in a damaged car  Maggie flashes her best bedroom eyes and then spends the rest of the episode pushing him away.  Good grief.  Granted, Maggie's is a bit damaged.  What with Pope's entrapment and servitude not to mention her bouts with cancer.  But, really, Hal's old girlfriend, Rita, may have had Jazz pants but the way Hal looks at Maggie she is Jazz all over!  C'mon Maggie I thought you were made of finer steel.

Here's another way that Falling Skies has contradicted itself.  Another one of the children (the future, remember?) returns to the fold in the form of Ricky and by episodes end he is dead.  It wasn't that long ago that Jimmy met a similar fate (Another lesson lost on Weaver) in the episode "Compass".  Maybe that's the point, these people have no compass and they have lost their way.  They can't even preserve and protect their future. 

It could be that the writers want to beef up the maturity of the show and do without so many "child" story lines.  I can understand that.  Jimmy wasn't much of a character anyway.  I was thinking it would be interesting to introduce a pregnancy into the show and replicate some sort of "Flight to Egypt" type of biblical analogy as they flee their oppressors.  Then again we had a pregnancy in season one and we haven't heard from that again!

Strikingly, the Overlords and the skitters seem to understand the value of children.  If it wasn't for the harnessing of the children the Overlords would have no one to impress into slavery.  So do you see what I mean by a contradictory message delivered by Falling Skies?

OK, one last example.  Tom Mason, as in Masons being the founding fathers of our country and our aptly named Tom as the new leader of a new world?  Nope, children are dying all around him.  What are we to think Falling Skies, should Matt be watching his back?

I think I've made my point no matter how fractured my presentation.  Perhaps the first half of the season is all about the splintering of the family unit and the second half will be about it's re-integration and preservation.  One can only hope.  At least Tom and Anne have the right idea, judging by their off camera "room exploration".  Remember you two, the children are our future!!!

Next up:  A skitter call to prayer?