Falling Skies - Reunion

Really?  Just like that he's gone?

Falling Skies had it's series penultimate episode with the entry, "Reunion" this past Sunday and what a reunion it was.  Making their return was none other than Lexi, Anthony, Pope and Rebecca or as we've been taken to call her, "Fauxbecca.

But what of Pope?  That's it?  No mano a mano fight with Tom Mason?  Isn't that we've been waiting for?  Wouldn't Pope want to dispel all his demons in a last grapple with Tom?

"From Hell's heart I stab at thee."

No?

To die in massive explosion seems rather impersonal.  So generic.  And what, no body?  I think we all know on TV if there is no body then there is no death.

But wouldn't that be insulting to the viewing audience to have Pope crawl out from the rubble to make one last stab at Tom?  We've seen that a million times and would reduce his "death" to a B level horror movie trope.

Not that I mind seeing Pope go.  He was always my least favorite character.  A square peg endlessly being fitted into the round hole.  From villain to hero to villain once again.  An inconsistent story line to the end.

But as much as I disliked him I thought his end would garner more meaning.  No last thoughts of Sara?  No final insult to Tom and his family as he rode his bike off into the sunset?

 It's a little difficult to walk (crawl) away from a blast like that.

Even seen from another angle the destruction seems pretty complete.

Pope also got his "send off" reaction shots from most of the series principles.

Tom and Weaver.

Hal and Maggie.  (You'd think Maggie would take the time to spit on the ground.)

Ben and Matt.   

Everyone got a last good look.

Here's our last look at Pope.  Spinning away from the fire.  No doubt that pillar saved him from the enveloping flame and the concussive blast.

Just a scratch! 

You won't hear me lament Pope's fate.  You will hear from me if he crawls out from the debris.  The last episode is titled, "Reborn."

God please no.

And speaking of flames, Lexi's back!

The awful platinum hair is gone too!

I guess the thinking that Weaver's old girl "Katie" was a one off experiment from the Espheni was wrong.  Here they are again with a "Lexi look a like."  Boy, they almost had me.  Maybe I just wanted it to be true.  

* Quick aside, can we see Lourdes again? *

Lexi made like a Trojan Horse and managed to worm her way into the Mason compound.  (Sorry 14th Virginia.) all courtesy of Matt Mason.  I have to say, ol Matt got off pretty lightly at the end when it was found Lexi was just another plant from the Espheni.  Everyone knew she was just a fake to worm her way into everyone's heart.  Hmm, if they have ear worms on Falling Skies does that make Lexi a heart worm?  There's pills for that you know.

So I guess that's it for the clones right?  Maybe Lourdes?

Or....

 

Aw, c'mon, no!  They wouldn't.  Would they?

Kind of a nasty send off for the Look-alike-Lexi.  Maybe we should call her Sparky from now on.  I do think it was a nice touch from the people at Falling Skies to give actress  Scarlett Byrne one last scene. They must have really liked her.

Speaking of likable cats.  Yay, Anthony gets redemption!  He takes a bullet for Anne and gets to issue an apology.  Good, he didn't belong with Pope's hateful fight gang anyway.  More points for the Falling Skies people.  (All to be deducted if a real Pope crawls out from the rubble.)

Here's Fauxbecca in all her porcupine-ish six legged glory.  She didn't seem to have her usual effect on Tom.  He seemed pretty stable for this episode.  Resisting Lexi's allure, not going all Mad Max warrior on Pope.

She brought her ultra cool spaceship too and with the beamer in tow.

Think we'll see these two craft play a role in the finale?  I do.  


Who will be in the final roll call?

Okay Dave, we get it, you want to see Lourdes again.

Anyone else we may see in the finale as a clone, dream sequence or hallucination?

 
They have to give Karen her due.  She went from cute girlfriend to major nasty.

Dai should get a homage.

Tector too.

Please, Deni also.  I hated the way she went out.

Seeing Jeanne again would be nice.

Anyone else?  

Would you like to see Porter one last time? Kadar? Uncle Scott? Crazy Lee? Marina Peralta, Jimmy, Rick or even Sara?

Just not you know who.  Please I'm begging you, no.

I said no!

I Dreamed I Saw the Best Falling Skies Episode of the Season.

Was that not the best episode of the season?

I'm not sure it advanced the plot line all that much but it gave us a window into what might of been, and where Tom's true love really lies.

Our favorite lapdog to the Overlords, Karen (I'm sorry Karen, was that harsh?) was up to her old tricks again.  This time she employed some face hugging technology in order to extract information from the captive Tom Mason.

The results were quite revealing.

Let's start with the most surprising reveal into the psyche of Tom Mason.

In this iteration of Tom's "world that could have been" his current love, Anne Glass, is the "other woman".  She's a temptress of sorts.  She knows all about him, and in a way, could lead to the destruction of the family life Tom holds so dearly.  She's intimate, sly, naughty and at the end, a little scary.

Why is this?  Is this the way Tom really sees Anne?  An interloper threatening to wreak havoc on his normal happy life?  We could excuse this paradigm shift as a machination of Karen's torture device.  Perhaps the face-hugger has a way of manipulating what you think and turns what you hold dear into something so unsettling.  That's not the way it played out for the rest of the characters so we'll have to keep an eye on the Tom/Anne relationship once they are reunited.

Speaking of the "Face Hugging Device" it looks a little Alien doesn't it?  Pun intended!  This device is obviously intended to delve into the sub-conscious mind.  In the movie Alien it was the host that impregnated the carrier with the Xenomorph entity. In this show it is the conduit to Karen's machinations.

Right?

I'm not sure of this but Karen does seem to have some influence on it's operation.  Maybe not total control but enough to "Police" it's purpose.  That's why we see her as pictured above. 

It's a tough question.  Is this Tom's mind acting independently or is Karen's device influencing his thought?  The answer to which will be crucial to the future of Tom and Anne's relationship.

Ok, before I get to spinning my wheels on that conundrum let's talk of the Greek Chorus that is Weavers' vagrant.

I loved this.  As the avatar of Tom's conscience, Weaver is constantly warning Tom to wake up.  This goes to show how close the two of them have become.  We've often heard from each of them how indispensable the other has become.  Here, Tom's sub-conscious seems to be acting independently of Karen's device.  Weavers' voice is full throated and ustakeable with it's intent, "Wake up Tom!"

So why is he a vagrant.  Filthy, downtrodden, abandoned by society.  Why should you trust him?  Ah, perhaps this is where the device has some input.  The message is getting through but make the messanger unreliable.  I think it's no coincidence that Karen is the trusted Cop in this scenario.

Devious.

So let's take a look at the rest of our cast and crew.

So Pope is a philosophy professor.  How charitable.  I guess that still makes him the free thinker in Tom's mind.  The agitator and counter culture voice that Tom deems invaluable.  Still a cad though!

What does Tom think of Lourdes?  Well, she's not working in the medical or counseling department.  Instead she seems second tier, a mere student.  One that is willing to sleep with her teacher also.  Tom doesn't seem to have a very high opinion of her.  Is this the Device's way of protecting her role as the mole?  Maybe so.  Pope"s "dream world" role seems about right but Lourdes?  Something doesn't ring true.  Device or dream?

How about Maggie's role?  She seemed a little flirty herself didn't she?  A little, in-your-face, I-know-what you're-thinking-professor type of gal.  Sure she's a confident go getter that predicts an easy A on the exam.  But, damn, that was a little too close girlfriend.  Dial back the charm a tad.  Is this how Tom sees Maggie?  We got a quick look on how Tom sees Hal's dream girlfriend.  Is this a bit of transference to Maggie?  I'm hoping not. 

Hopefully Tom sees Maggie as a true leader and that explains her can-do attitude.  It may come off a little strong but no harm intended.

It was funny how Tom saw Matt as his little "mole".  Tom's subconscious knows to look for the mole but under the influence of Karen's face-hugger his thoughts are sublimated to poor little Matt.  It's no surprise that "Mole Matt" is spying on Hal who was thought to be the original mole.  Nice touch.

Hal's a playboy in Tom's dream world and Ben is the sensitive one.  The boys seem happy and healthy just as Tom would wish them to be.  Hal seems independent but reckless (wear your rain coat son).  Ben is different now that he is harness free in real life.  The same but different, maybe better.  Is that why Tom's subconscious allows Ben to confront Tom in his office?  That's the professor's inner sanctum but Ben fears it not.

Impressive.

Let's look at the rest of the characters in Tom's dream world.

Good for Anthony to be held in such high regard.  He's leading the investigation to uncover the mole and according to Tom's subconscious he's the Dean of the School.

I miss Dai.  I still can't understand why they had to kill him off.  Well, he's back for this episode and he's the angry husband.  This could be some transference over Dai's death.  Tom feels responsible for the loss of Dai so his subconscious has brought him back to scold Tom for his irresponsibility.  Guilt can be an overpowering emotion.  You need to get over this Tom.  (And find more ways to bring back Dai.)

Jeanne Weaver plays a supporting role in Tom's dream world.

Literally.

She's his secretary.  OK, not to demean Jeanne, we could see her a as filter of sorts to protect Tom.  In that she is a gatekeeper to keep Tom from ill will.  It almost worked but Anne got through anyway.  (So if Jeanne is the Gatekeeper then is the Keymaster?)

Here's the toughest one of them all.

I love Jennifer Ferrin.  I first swooned over her for her role on "Life on Mars" (USA version).  I was happy for her when she landed a role on "The Cape".  When "The Following" came knocking I was thrilled to see her again.  Has that been cancelled?

Jennifer Ferrin gives such soulful performances.  Maybe it is her expressive eyes.  As Tom's wife, Rebecca, she still has a hold on Tom's memories.  This was the saddest part of the episode.  Tom finds his old home in Boston, complete with Christmas list left on the Fridge.  Tom wanders up to the bedroom when he hears a noise.  Finding nothing he lays his head on the pillow he once shared with Rebecca.

Her spirit pleads with him to move on, there is nothing here for him anymore.

"You're here".

Too bad they don't give out Emmy's to science fiction characters (right, John Noble?) Tom looked so incredibly sad and I'm sure everyone in the viewing audience felt his pain.

So, best episode of the season?

I still haven't decided which is more responsible for Tom's dream world.  The face hugging device or his subconscious.  I'm leaning towards the subconscious.  The device may have induced the state but the world building was up to Tom. 

It's a long walk back from Boston Tom, you're going to need the rest when you get to Charleston.  Try not to dream so much when you do.

I'm Bugged Over the Mole Problem *Updated!*

Lordy, Lordy, Lordy, Lourdes is the Mole.

It's not often I can be fooled by TV.  But they got me this time.  After weeks of speculation I had come firmly down on the side that Marina Peralta was the mole.  There was no doubt in my mind that Hal was a false flag and all signs pointed to Marina.

Wrong!

I fell for the ol' double false flag.  The ol' "pull the rug from out under you" TV trick.

Sucker!

I am chagrined.  So there are two things that I immediately gleaned from this.  (Aside from, one, being a sucker.)

1. I am so glad Marina isn't the mole after all.  I love Gloria Reubens in her role.  She's been such a great addition to the show.  Her chemistry with Noah Wyle has been unmistakeable.
2. Lourdes?  Seriously?  What is her connection with the Espheni?  Am I so jaded with the series by this time that I missed the interaction with Lourdes and the enemy?  When did she get "infected"?  (See Lourdes infection update below!)

Does this really work as Lourdes being the mole?  She just can't go on shooting everyone that is a threat.  Wouldn't she and the Espheni be better served if she just laid low and stole all their secrets?  Eventually, high profile murder is going to get you caught.  What kind of spy takes those chances?  Security is going to be so locked down now that no one would get even close to Peralta.  Well, except her doctor maybe and with Anne being gone I guess that leaves Lourdes.

Gulp!

We'll have to see how successfully Falling Skies pulls this off.  Are we going to get some back story into Lourdes interacting with the Espheni?  A series of explanatory flashbacks?

Or did she have sex with Hal and he infected her?

Yuck, I hope not!

So, now someone with the complete trust of all is their greatest threat.  Terrific.

I wonder what to make of the scene where Lourdes is knelt in prayer.  Is there a vestige of her former self still alive in there somewhere, the one that embraced Jesus as her savior?  Or was that another false flag just to perpetuate her cover for the benefit of the Charleston survivors and we the viewing audience?

Remember when Hal used to constantly fight with himself over the control of his tortured psyche?  The battle between good Hal and evil Hal?  Why doesn't that happen with Lourdes?  Shouldn't she stumble and out herself much like Hal did?

I'm guessing it's the sheer number of creepy crawly things that are now setting up shop inside Lourdes that is preventing this internal struggle.

She is way gone.

So now she is the savior of mankind right?

Cochise did say that once the Espheni Sky-Net goes up that all their Beings including their converted Skitters et-al will be immune to it's effects.  Humanity will die off within months according to our favorite Volm.  But what about the converted or hybrid humans?

Baby Lexie should be good right?

She's a product of the Espheni.  To a degree so is Ben and Tom.  Both infected.  Anne was infected also we have to assume.  Her baby was a product of her and Tom.  Tom was infected.  Hal was infected at one point and he slept with Maggie.  Are they both safe now?

It may well be that Lourdes intends on infecting everyone in Charleston with her bio-mechanical insects or perhaps even through some genetic level.  Everyone will be saved.  Infected and enslaved, yes, but saved none the less.

If Lourdes is outed as the mole we could also expect her to be captured.  This would afford Roger Kadar the "Rat King" to synthesize a cure either by getting Espheni DNA from Lourdes or taking the bugs from her and replicating and injecting them into the Charleston survivors.  Not a full dose, just enough to protect them from the Overlord Sky-Net.

Not a bad theory.

You may ask yourselves, "What if the Volm weapon is effective won't that save everyone?"

Eh, my other theory is that humanity with their mounting suspicions will drive the Volm away.  It'll turn out the Volm were the good guys all along but it will be too late for humanity and they will be left to their own devices.

C'mon Rat King!



Gif and tumblr photos courtesy of Classy but Sassy and Luihell.  Good stuff, check them out.

*Update!*

I was perusing the internet this morning for an image Lourdes for my Tumblr page when I happened upon this little gem.

It show Lourdes praying by the bedside of the recently returned Tom Mason from the season 2 opener, "Worlds Apart".  This answers my question when did Lourdes ever have the opportunity to be infected by the Espheni Bio-bugs?  I have to assume they came from Tom!  That means she's been infected since then and unbeknownst to Tom he was the carrier.

Twist!


Bedside picture courtesy of wormholeriders.net.

"A More Perfect Union" Part Two

At the end of my last blog post I asked some questions about some of the mysteries left behind by that season two finale.  So let's explore one of the more salient points and that would be that ear piercing shriek that heralded the arrival of the new species of alien.

The Shriek.

Judging by the screen grab above that shriek that sounded off when the new aliens began their descent I would say it was pretty harsh.  Could it be just a mechanical by product of their retro rockets firing off or is there a real purpose behind that ear splitting noise?  I vote real purpose!  My first thought was that it was a way to break the telepathic link between the Overlords and their minions.  It may also serve to shatter the mental reservoir the Overlords use to store their knowledge since it was divulged by Karen that they don't use computers.  (Or was it Ben that spilled that little gem?)  This audio disruption may even serve to break the mental link between each Overlord or as I should say, "The Eshpeni".

When I saw how it effected Ben I drew the conclusion that is why he couldn't detect the alien parasite that now infects Hal.  Earlier in the episode Ben embraced Hal just before the events of the Continental Army's massacre of the Skitter camp.  I thought that was deliberately inserted as foreshadowing to the events that came later as in "post Hal infection".  By the way, can we all agree that Hal was infected by Karen when she planted that eerie kiss on Hal once they were captured by the Overlords during the "Super-gun" attack?

It could be that Ben's link with the Skitters was broken once "Red Eye" died.  But then again Ben sensed the Overlord just before the breach to access the Super-gun and so this may mean his harness networks him with all aliens concerned.  The "shriek" inconveniently disconnected Ben from the Overlords so Hals infection now goes unnoticed.  Way to go new species.

Anne's Pregnancy.

Speaking of networking, Karen discovered Anne was pregnant by merely touching her or at least being in close approximation to her.  Did Karen just tip the hand of the Espheni's machinations?  Maybe now we have learned what happened to Tom once he was released by the Overlords in the first episode of this past season.  Tom may have been manipulated by the Overlords at a genetic level as some sort of lab rat so that if he impregnated somebody (poor Anne) a new skitter species may be born or some sort of Espheni derivative.  I'm thinking the Overlords are looking into making new minions much like the Skitters but this time without all the messy work behind getting a harness attached.  Seeing that the Skitters can maintain an independence of sorts, a new birth of Overlord slaves may prove more reliable.  Perhaps the Overlords are having problems with replicating but I think rather that this is a new form of slave to do their dirty work.

Karen's Prophetic Warning?

Just before Karen "skittered" up the wall of the Super-gun base she called out to Tom, "It's not over Tom, you'll never win".  When I first heard this I assumed that the Overlords may have lost a minor skirmish and Karen was just taunting Tom and the 2nd Mass and there are bigger battles to be fought.  But she may have meant more than that.  Knowing that the new aliens now have a toehold thanks to the Super-gun destruction, she may have been referring to the new aliens being worse for Earth than the Overlords.  "You'll never win" because these "newbies" aren't any better than the enemy you know.  Personally, I hope not.  I'd rather see this new bunch as a "third option".  Wherein, they aren't  Space Police or a "rival gang" but a species that manged to throw off the yoke of oppression of the Espheni and are now seeking retribution.  Their numbers may be small so by allying themselves with Earth we may be able to defeat the Espheni together.

The Espheni

I'll have to admit I was pretty disappointed that Tom slew the alien Overlord "off camera".  With the past that these two shared you'd think we'd see them locked in mortal combat.  I can only imagine that with the Overlord being a totally CGI'd character a battle between Tom and the "Fish Head" leader would have been too difficult to capture on film.  Now that Doug Jones has joined the cast as the new alien I'm sure we'll be able to see a closer interaction between the various aliens and we earthlings.  Look how far the Skitters have come in the context of how they are depicted on screen.

What I found interesting about the Overlord alien is that he had a "blade" extension that protruded from his wrist when it came time to do battle with Tom.  It reminded me of the extension that came from the alien from the movie "Signs".  Both were meant to incapacitate their respective foes and I wonder if the show-runners behind Falling Skies drew their inspiration from the Signs alien.  They are both certainly ugly enough!

Come to think of it the Signs alien is a little more humanoid and may even bear a closer resemblance to the new arrival alien of Falling Skies.  What do you think?

More clues are sure to be dropped during this off season, when they appear and they have any link to the season two finale I'll be sure to blog something about them.  Til then keep your heads down and your eyes to the sky.  It could be falling!