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.

A House Divided

Falling Skies usually invites comparisons to the American Revolutionary War but on last Sunday's episode, "Badlands", we got a distinct flavor of the American Civil War.

Brother was pitted against brother, father against son, friend fighting friend and Tom Mason had a distinctly Abraham Lincoln moment.

Let's start with the "Brother against Brother". 

Pope and his Berserkers were manning the outermost positions of the Charleston perimeter when they came under sniper fire.  Pope, Tector, Matt and Craze were in imminent danger. We got a look at the "Gloved hand of doom" that drew immediate comparisons to the gloved hand that shot Arthur Manchester.  See below.

 

This turned out to be a false flag but I can't help but think that Falling Skies is playing with us and we'll no doubt see more of the "gloved hand of doom".  Someday we'll know who the real shooter of Manchester is until then we'll still get these little teases.

The real sniper turned out to be a fellow human being, much to the angst of Tom Mason who had come to the rescue, and it is here where brother was pitted against brother.  The few denizens of Earth have enough problems without shooting each other but as we are to find out, trust is an issue.

 

Speaking of trust, we get an example of "Friend Against Friend"when Pope accuses Mason of working his people too hard and its Masons' fault that Craze was shot.  (I'm using the word "friend" loosely here as there is no love lost between Pope and Mason but as "friends" they are fighting on the same side.)

 For his part, Tom does not deny this.  This is very much a "Lincoln" moment.  For those of us that are students of history and for those who are fans of the recent movie "Lincoln" we well know that Abraham Lincoln was anguished over having to sacrifice thousands of men in order to preserve the Union.  Yet he persevered despite the cost much as Tom did when he admitted his "guilt" and walked away from Pope.

Such is the cost of Freedom.

A further allusion to the Civil War is the plight of the rebel Skitters.  Tom's interrogation of the sniper, Katherine Fisher, exposes how it must look to her and her people when they see Skitters fighting alongside the humans.  Here, the Skitters are much like the African American troops that fought for the North in the Civil War.  Both were granted their freedom from an expedient President and both fight for a higher cause.  Yet the decision by each President was met with much resistance and prejudice.

 Father was nearly pitted against son when Hal decided he wanted to reveal himself as the "gloved hand of death" that shot Arthur Manchester.  Despite the advice from Maggie, Hal was ready to give himself up.  This act surely would've torn the Earth alliance asunder as cries of coverup and complicity would have rang true despite their lack of veracity.  Fortunately for the Mason family and the Resistance, events snuffed out this moment.

It's hard to ignore the direct connections between Tom Mason and Abraham Lincoln.  Both dealt with a restless public that was tired of war without end.  Each man often spoke of sacrifice and hope although hope was in short supply.  Tom, why always bearded, has come to look more like Lincoln everyday including the hollowed out eyes and deep set wrinkles that come with the burden of war.  Poor Tom even learns there is another President much like there were two "Presidents" during the Civil War.

As pictured above, Tom had a bit of a "Gettysburg" moment when he went off script and spoke from his heart much as Lincoln did at Gettysburg.  Each man spoke of those that had passed and the "last full measure of devotion" was invoked in spirit if not in exact word.

Gettysburg marked the turning point in the American Civil War but as far as Falling Skies is concerned we are not there yet.  Mason did mark this point for the Resistance where the dead shall not have died in vain and with the dedication of the "Liberty Tree" we now have hallowed ground that was consecrated by those who gave their lives.

By this, I'm sure the last of humanity will be granted a new birth of freedom that will not perish from this Earth.

Next up, Full Metal Jacket and the Twilight Zone.

The Shadow Knows

Hello to everyone out there fighting the good fight and where ever you may be.  A couple of interesting images have popped up on the Falling Skies Facebook page recently and I wanted to comment on them.  As you can see by the title of this blog post I'm interested in all things "Shadow".

Let's take a look at the above image.  Here we have the iconic statue of Abraham Lincoln as it sits in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C..  I guess we have to be glad the Overlords decided not to incinerate the Memorial although it does seem to have suffered a little battle damage.   

Along with the battle damage we can see some graffiti, "You can't shoot us all" and "Die Skitter".   The first is a bit fatalistic in a sense.  Imagine seeking victory or mere survival by relying on the odds that not everyone can be killed.  Sounds a little desperate.  The graffiti to the right of Lincoln is a bit artistic, (maybe Banksy survived the apocalypse) we have a Skitter head being held aloft at the end of a bayonet with the rifle itself is  gripped by a bloody hand. The clenched fist (our bloody rifle hand) is an historic symbol of defiance so it shouldn't be a surprise to see it here.  (I wonder if the bullet holes are all that remains of where the artist once stood.)

So what is interesting?

Behind Lincoln is the superimposed relief of an Overlord.  Actually, it looks digitally imprinted  behind Lincoln.  Would a graffiti artist do this?  I would think not.  This seems to be the work of Earth's invaders the Espheni.  One could speculate that if the Memorial became a source of inspiration or a rallying point then the Espheni would want everyone to know that you could not even look at one of America's most treasured sites without being reminded who their real leaders are.

Additionally, Lincoln was know as the "Great Emancipator" the President that freed the slaves from their bondage and reunited the Union.  Again, the Espheni wants the message to be loud and clear. There will be no emancipation or freedom for anyone.  Earth's servitude and bondage will continue under their constant watch.  The new Lincoln Memorial makes that abundantly clear.

If I were to retain any sense of optimism about this picture it would be to speculate that the graffiti artist and his message came after the Espheni desecrated the Memorial.

The spectral shadow reappears in our next picture.  Here the silhouetted outline of an Overlord is much less defined than the Lincoln Memorial one.  Was this the work of the Espheni or did a resistance fighter paint this?  What's eerie is the disembodied arm of an Espheni or Skitter extending from the doorway seemingly completing the graphic rendition of the Overlord.

"We can still prevail" is painted in large letters along the wall and a target like symbol in red is painted over the Overlord shadow.  Did the Espheni paint themselves on the wall to remind Earth's survivors that they are everywhere?   Or did a resistance fighter paint the Espheni and then "target" him?

Take notice of the "Gas mask" sign that is hanging center left in this picture.  Was this a shelter to provide relief from the invasion?  Or is there a more grim and sinister meaning to the mask?  If you look further to the left we can see inside the wall.  In the deep background we can see what looks to be some sort of fireplace or oven.  This is where our story takes a dark turn.  What if this tableau represents some sort of charnel house of horrors?  There is blood over the doorway to the far right, is this where the victims and survivors were flung to their fiery doom?  Does the bloody doorway symbolize the last gasp of the downtrodden?

Who are our downtrodden?

Was this "Charnel House of Horrors" employed by the Espheni or are the humans using it to rid themselves of their alien victims?  Either way it would represent a grim turn by the writers of Falling Skies.

Alternate theories are welcome, let me know what you think or if I have missed something.

Next up; Have the Falling Skies writer ratcheted up the sexual quotient to their show?

"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!

"A More Perfect Union" Part One.

 We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

For a beginning let's start at the end.

When I say the end I am referring to the stunning conclusion to the season 2 finale of Falling Skies.  A new alien species has arrived (something I've been hoping for) and with this ending we have a new beginning.  But before I get too far let's take a look at this ending in the context of the this episode's title, "A More Perfect Union". 

There are two meanings to the episode title, (something that was drawn from the preamble to the Constitution), firstly, there is the literate meaning to to the phrase, "A More Perfect Union".  Our founding fathers realized that the idea of founding a more perfect union meant that it was an ongoing process.  That is why on the reverse side of the dollar bill we see the incomplete pyramid seal "Announcing (the) Concept" of a "Secular New Order".  In Roman numerals at the base of the unfinished and ongoing pyramid is the year 1776 when it all began.

Much of the inspiration of Falling Skies has been drawn from the American Revolutionary War.  The ragtag unit of the 2nd Mass mirrors the Minutemen that originally stood against tyranny and oppression.  Their struggle laid the foundation towards a more perfect union and the 2nd Mass has followed in their footsteps in rebuilding what or forefathers had wrought.  In fact, I would say it is their sacred mission.  The tyranny is the same only the faces have changed.

So is there a second meaning to, "A More Perfect Union"?  With the timely intervention of "Red Eye" and his rebel group of Skitters the 2nd Mass has destroyed the Overlord's "Super Gun" and apparently allowed the arrival of a new species of alien.  So does "A More Perfect Union" announce the alliance of this new species with the remnants of Earths population?  TNT flashed on the screen "Ally or Enemy" as the episode concluded.  With Red Eye out of the picture and the Skitters severely damaged the "Union" may well be a partnership between the new arrivals and we "Earthlings".  Will it be "more perfect'?  Or will this obviously superior race become our new masters?

The new alien did show his face (her face?) as he disembarked from his vessel and he held up no weapon despite being drawn upon by the 2nd Mass and the Continental Army.  We can construe from this that he means us no harm as these are universal peaceful gestures.  So the "More Perfect Union" could refer to the saving grace of this alien arrival.  I posited in my blog post. "An Overture From The Overlords" that the Overlords weren't the biggest fish in the pond.  That they were actually on the run from a bigger fish and their work on Earth was incomplete and hurried.  I was hoping that their incomplete victory was due to the fact that they were being pursued and whatever was chasing them wasn't far behind.  That "Whatever" is here now.

Are these new aliens a galactic police force looking to apprehend the Overlords for their interstellar crimes?  Or are they a rival gang looking to usurp their opponents gains?  Just because they seemingly come in peace doesn't mean that peace will last.  The "Union" could be just a convenient alliance until the Overlords, or the "Espheni" as we learned from Ben/Red Eye, are defeated and there is a new "Sheriff" in town. 

I'd love the "Cosmic Police Force" angle.  These new aliens seem to have come in force but the "Super Gun" only covered the eastern portion of North America so that may mean they need Earth's help before they they can develop their bridgehead to what is our Battleground Earth.  If they are a rival "space gang" the alliance will be a tenuous one until either the new aliens get what they want and leave or Tom Mason and his fellow earthlings will have a new enemy to fight.  If there is to be a fourth season of Falling Skies the safe money would be on the latter.

 I'd like to draw attention to one of the final scenes as the alien pod craft descended.  By the way,  I say, "pod craft" as it held only one alien so it stands to reason there is a mother ship in orbit around Earth that dropped all these single seater pods to Earth (I hope we get to to that "mother" next season!) (Are these new guys so bad ass they only need to land one at a time?)

Take a look to the right portion of the above screen cap. We see an American flag as graffiti painted on a concrete wall.  The words, "United We Stand" are partially revealed on the flag.  Do these words portend the arrival of the space cops and the new alliance or just "fighting words" in the context of the original invasion?  Also note the field of blue of our flag.  Normally, it contains stars representative of our Union's states.  Instead we find here alien "heads" possibly meant to depict our overthrow or perhaps a failed alliance between the Overlords and Earth.  The "failure" meaning Earth was duped by the Overlords and Earth accepted a Trojan Horse from the Overlords which allowed their easy victory.  The alien heads as stars could be a parody of our new government replacing our failed old one due to their naivete.

It's not the first time we've seen iconic imagery from America's past similarly transfigured.  The above picture from season one shows the "Uncle Sam, I Want You For The U.S. Army"  poster painted on a wall.  Was this a form of protest, as graffiti normally is, to show how Earth was duped and America usurped by the Overlords and we have to answer to a new master and due his bidding? Was the artist making fun of this new/old alliance?

So, with the inclusion of the flag graffiti with the alien heads as stars at the end of this episode, was it meant to tell us that we are to be duped again and as the "The Who" once sang meet the "new boss same as the old boss"?

"A More Perfect Union"  Have the "police" arrived?  A rival space gang? How perfect will this new union be? Join me in my search for answrs!


Next up on "Battlin' Boston".

• Karen's "prophetic" warning.
• Hal's embrace with Ben.
• Anne's pregnancy.
• The Skitter alliance broken?
• What was that sound?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

What is the Price of Greatness?

Mild spoilers ensue.

Tonight is the penultimate episode of the second season Of Falling Skies.  It's been titled "The Price of Greatness".  Pictured above is a familiar face especially to those that followed the TV show "Lost".  Terry O'Quinn will appear in the last two episodes of Falling Skies and with this addition let's hope the stakes are raised for our hardy band of survivors.

O'Quinn apparently plays an authority figure of sorts in the surviving underground US government.  He also seems to have ties with Tom Mason judging from some of the internet spoilers that have been circulating.  A former mentor?  Perhaps an academic superior or even a former professor of Tom's?  If so, this figure could exert a certain amount of influence on Tom.

So what would the price of greatness be for Tom?  It seems Tom's reputation has preceded him as they enter Charleston.  Will his former mentor thrust greatness upon Tom in the form of an exalted leadership position in the underground government?  Will he have to sacrifice his time to his sons with new responsibilities?  Looking at the picture above, Tom has been asked to speak for the 2nd Mass and to the collected survivors of the collective resistance.  Note the backdrop to Tom, excerpts from the Constitution or Declaration of Independence?  I actually hope its from the Gettysburg Address, that way Lincoln's phrase from that passage, "the last full measure of devotion" would resonate more clearly as it refers to those that died for the cause to preserve the Union.  This scenario also serves to illuminate some of my suspicions of the new government in Charleston.

If we take a look at the promo picture above we see the Southern United States in the background to O'Quinn.  We already know the new seat of government is in Charleston which also happened to be the birthplace of the American Civil War.  (It also reflects where the war has moved to much like it did in the American Revolutionary War.)  If you read my last post you are familiar with this information.  I also noted the introduction of the skitter character of "Tyler" who was a US president that was sympathetic to the Southern cause and actually served in the Confederate congress.  

With these tie ins can we suppose that the "price of greatness" is to join a US government that is complicit with the Overlord invasion?  Are they to betray the basic tenets of the Union and compromise their ideals much like the Confederacy did.?  Does this new government owe their refit and reconstitution to the world's new masters?  So why hide underground?  Well, if they do owe the Overlords with their resurgence if could be because as the proxies of the Overlords they would be extremely unpopular with any survivors especially if they act as a human police force or army with semi-autonomous power as long as they keep the rest of the resistance groups in line.

Would Falling Skies as a TV show be willing to go to this extreme?  I'd love to see it but it would be a gutsy leap.  Humanity has a long history of collaboration.  See Vichy France, the Holocuast and those who serve with the US Army during the American Indian Wars.

Another scenario would be that this government is working with the Skitter resistance.   This would be fun also.  It would paint the new US government in a better light and would be in keeping with our collective American mythology of fighting the oppressors and joining forced with those that are similarly oppressed.  As a "Mason" Tom would naturally fit in as one of the new founding fathers and help form a new goverment representative of the people.  Unless, of course, this new government is much less than representative and that is the "price" Tom has to pay is to join a government that doesn't truly reflect his ideals.

Whatever the latest iteration of the US government is, it looks as though Captain Weaver is on board.  In the above picture he is sporting a brand new uniform of the military.  Tom however as Weaver's number two is still in his civvies.  Was he not invited to join the fighting forces despite his fighting for the resistance?  Or is the "price" Tom has to pay is quitting the armed faction and joining the civilian government?  This would be more in line with the way Falling Skies is written.  Safely.

Whatever Tom's decision is, to quit the military faction and or join the new government, there are people that still look up to him.  Maybe the cost will be too high and the 2nd Mass will decide to leave Charleston if it doesn't fit in with the way they feel.  We may even see the civilian faction break away and the military unit stay behind.  There are only two episodes left and since we are getting a third season I suspect another cliffhanger is in order.  They have their work ahead of them if they can top last years.

So there you have it, what is the "price of greatness"?

Death March?

When I read the title of the last episode of "Falling Skies" was going to be "Death March" I had visions of historical references to the Bataan Death March that U.S. servicemen had to endure at the hands of the brutal Japanese Army in World War II.  Or, perhaps we would get a reference to the Trail of Tears that American Indians were forced to undergo and remains one of the darkest moments in American history.

In doing so I believed we would bear witness to the near death of the 2nd Mass as they struggled to reach Charleston and the excruciating torture they would encounter at the hands of the Overlords along the way.  This was not to be.  Unless, of course, you count the tragic radiator hose break that Hal, Maggie and Pope suffered as they blazed the way south.

So what did I miss?

Why call an episode "Death March", a term with such grievous historical significance, if the worst thing that happened was the aforementioned hose leak or the death of some anonymous poor soul from dehydration.  (Hmmm, an engine bereft of water and a human in the same condition, no that can't be it!)

I don't mean to deviate from the actual events of "Death March" but I thought the title so compelling that there must have been more to it.  Apparently I am mistaken.

So let's get to some of the events of Death March and the things we learned fro it.

There was a promotional Facebook post touting Maggie's big reveal and what did everyone think of it?  I saw the post but didn't read it not wanting to spoil the episode that I had scheduled to watch Monday night.  To tell you the truth I thought she was going to come out as a murderer.  Especially after watching the episode unfold and Pope taunt her with the "truth".  As it turns out she had fallen into despair after her bout with cancer, taken to drugs and drifting and experienced an unwanted (?) pregnancy.  While sad this is hardly Earth shattering.  Did Pope and Maggie think this tale of woe would doom any relationship with Hal?  Is Hal so naive that a woman that ran with Pope's armed thugs would be chaste?  At the very least he should have reached out to her upon hearing this revelation despite the fact that it was a lot to take in.  Maggie's problems are pretty miniscule when taken in context with 90% of the Earth's population being wiped out.  Aren't these people battle hardened yet?

Let's deal with another reveal of sorts and that is the introduction of the character, Jenny.   Tector (how's that for a great name? "Tector" is also a class of Star Destroyer from the Star Wars movies. I wonder if his parents were big fans?) gave her a good thump when she jaywalked in front of the convoy.  Being part skitter makes you pretty tough and it wasn't long before she was on her feet and asking questions.  And she had a lot of questions!  Isn't there and old saying if something smells like you know what it must be "you know what."  Weaver caved once again and it wasn't long before Jenny started pumping Matt for information.  Didn't they learn anything from Karen?  How naive are these people?  I would have screamed, "She's a spy!" at the TV if I didn't know how dense these people are already.

At least Jenny had some information of her own to spill and it provided us with more insight into the background of the skitters.  She refers to them as "Guardians" and the harnessed kids the Guardians care for refer to themselves as family with each being brothers or sisters.  Additionally the skitter that cared for Jenny's brood was a female, so at least you don't lose your sexuality once undergo full skitter conversion. I wonder if the male skitters are hunter gatherers and they rely on that primeval structure in order to survive or bend to the will of the Guardians?

Jenny's "brother" was named "Tyler" which made me think of the tenth president of the United States and who was also sympathetic to the Southern cause prior to the Civil War.  Tyler also served in the Confederate congress and with the 2nd Mass heading towards Charleston South Carolina where the Civil War began I thought the historic symmetry and symbolism looked rather gloomy for Boston's best.  (More on this in a future post.)

This being a science fiction show I also thought that the character of "Jenny" may have been a nod to the character "Jenny Hayden" of "Starman" renown.  Anyone else see that movie?  The Starman played by Jeff Bridges responded to the invitation recorded on Voyager 2.  I wonder if Earth accidentally beckoned to the Overlords.  The military did seem to be taken off guard in what little evidence we learned from season one.  We'll have to keep an eye on this to see if Earth dropped the ball and brought doom upon themselves by inviting the Overlords here and then had their welcome betrayed.

The last revelation of Death March was that Charleston wasn't a burnt out cinder after all.  Psych!  Either ending to this episode had to be a bit cliche.  We either get the "march for nothing" or we get "Kidding!"  "Charleston's alive and well underground."  Both are derivative of the way Battlestar Galactica ended.  So what is the other shoe that has yet to drop?  As we approach the Death Star that is Charleston all I can think is,  "I have a bad feeling about this." 

Next up, how bad can it be and what is the price of greatness?

A Homecoming of Sorts?

Falling Skies is now officially more than half way through it's second season and with it we get the episode, "Homecoming".  As I have often blogged before the test of family unity is often explored in Falling Skies and that theme is no different in this particular episode.  The title, "Homecoming" suggests an end of trials of sorts and a return to normalcy that one should get when one "comes home". 

Unfortunately, that is far from true for the 2nd Mass  and the word "normal" rarely applies. 

Let's start with the relationship between Tom and Anne.  (Above image courtesy of VaginaCon.com and is perfect for my discussion.)  It seems Tom and Anne's relationship has moved to the next level.  They have built a "home" of sorts despite the vagaries of war and find solace in each others company.  I'm all for this because I find nothing wrong with two mature people with common needs seeking the reassurance of love amidst the turmoil of war.  Sadly, this seems tenuous at best when the stress over how to treat the infected Capt. Weaver spills over and Tom reverts to his prior relationship and calls Anne, "Rebecca".  This shatters the illusion of this relationship and despite Tom's efforts to patch things up later and uneasy truce is settled upon.

Homecoming denied.

The most overt example of a "Homecoming" is the return of Karen to the fold.  In my previous blog post I wondered if the return of Rick as a "reborn" or Lazarus like figure was portentous of the return of the other children (Read A Skitter Call to Prayer.) and that seems to be the case as many of the harnessed children were found in the woods with Karen the only survivor. (Not much of a homecoming for those other children!)  Yet despite the obvious affection that Hal still has for Karen, we eventually find it all a ruse as Karen is linked to Ben instead and she not the person she used to be.  She's a Trojan Horse of sorts and her inclusion into the fold is also illusory and short lived.

Homecoming denied.

 The character of Ben has been a conflicted one ever since he returned to his family and the 2nd Mass.  The group as a whole is suspicious of him and their trust in him is at a pitiful low.  He's mostly reviled and insulted behind his back.  Even Ben is suspicious of himself and is well aware he is not the person he used to be.  His harnessed enhanced body sets him apart and he is uncomfortable in his own skin and with the others.  Even in within his own family.  When we learn of the connection between Ben and Karen and we, as the audience, become suspicious of Karen's motives we suspect Ben is a short timer in his familial surroundings.

Homecoming denied.

 Ironically, the most authentic homecoming belongs to the prodigal son Pope.  (Above image courtesy of Wormholeriders.net) At one time reviled and banished from the group, he returns with a crucial piece of information that the 2nd Mass has been duped by Karen and her Overlord masters.  Pope's return marks the most truthful part of the episode and instead of being illusory it exposes the facade that the 2nd Mass has been living behind in their stay in Richmond.  This is what Weaver may have been alluding to when he told Tom and the militia that they have become complacent and need to pull up stakes.  The illusion in that message turns out to be the very low stockpile of fuel.  Something that Weaver didn't confide in with Tom.

Homecoming realized with Pope but denied to Tom and the rest.

So once again we find the family unit tested and the sense of home broken.  Our hardy ban hits the road once more with none of the comforting solace they should find in their relationships, family or sense of roots.  The diaspora continues and the promised land is no where in sight.  What does the future hold?

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.