Falling Skies, an apocalyptic science fiction drama from Dreamworks Studios, is entering its second season on TNT. It stars Noah Wyle as a father of three sons doing his best to keep them alive and fighting back against an alien invasion force.
As a teacher of American History, Tom Mason (Wyle’s character) knows all about resistance against a superior enemy invasion force. He uses examples from the American Revolutionary War to teach the others that as long as they keep fighting, there is hope.
The history teacher in Tom Mason might not be able to explain it, but Falling Skies has become a very popular show. This series is one of survival in the face of an overwhelming enemy.
According to TNT, “Falling Skies opens in the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. In the months since the initial invasion, the few survivors have banded together outside major cities to begin the difficult task of fighting back. At the center of the series is Tom Mason (Noah Wyle), a Boston history professor whose family was torn apart.
Anne Glass (Moon Bloodgood) is a pediatrician who becomes the primary medic of the 2nd Mass. Capt. Weaver (Will Patton) plays a fierce leader of the resistance.
One must ask, what is it about Falling Skies that is attracting so much attention?
Despite premiering on Father’s Day in North America, Falling Skies turned in a winning performance Sunday June 17 with a “Prime Time” victory of 4.5 million live viewers (US only).
Falling Skies scored well for a holiday evening with solid ratings of 1.5 in the critical with adults between 18 to 49 years of age and nearly reaching 2.2 million live adult viewers in the 25 to 54 age group. Not since Stargate SG-1 has a science fiction program attracted so many adult viewers.
Seemingly down 25% from the 2.0 rating earned during the 2011 series launch, overall viewership is expected match the 2011 numbers, increasing to approximately 6 million when “Plus 7” DVR and on-line numbers are factored in.
This from a public who often time shifts their entertainment viewing to on-line network sources, mobile devices and or recorded sources (DVR) now widely available in many homes. Perhaps even more telling is the huge crowd that joined the Falling Skies cast at the dedicated Falling Skies TNT web site to participate in “2nd Watch”.
2nd Watch is an on-line program web cast that is conducted after the broadcast at the TNT Network web site. 2nd Watch, hosted by Wil Wheaton, set the Twitter and Facebook world on fire Sunday evening as eager fans set off to invade the TNT web site where they can chat and send text messages to the host and guests!
In this weeks episode of 2nd Watch, Mpho Koaho (Anthony) and Colin Cunningham (John Pope) will be awesome! Speaking of Pope, this week TNT also launched “Pope’s Blog” featuring insight into the enigmatic “bad boy” portrayed “in character” by Cunningham!
Here is the answer: Stories like the ones told by the TNT writers of Falling Skies attract us because they reflect humanity’s greatest strength, the power of adaptation. As a social animal, people are very curious about how others overcome challenges that might terrify us. We are fascinated by the thought that a person’s attitude can make a difference between life and death.
But it is more than that. Falling Skies has come along just as problems in the United States and around the world seem to be spinning out of control. The heroes in this show are doing more than just surviving.
They are people who are able to stay calm and reasonable in the face of fear; people who have retained their optimism and determination in spite of great odds. They are survivors focussed on others rather than themselves, either thinking about their families or their fellow survivors.
And that, I believe is what makes the show important at this particular time in America. Many Americans are facing challenges known only to their grandparents from the Great Depression often referred to as “the dirty thirties”.
Many today have lost their homes or have gone bankrupt. Many others cannot find jobs. The United States government is basically bankrupt. Horror stories from other countries abound. The world seems to be going crazy.
So, Americans and others around the word watch television as a means of escape. Comedy helps them feel better for a half hour at a time. Crime dramas produce a feeling that justice can occur and the good guys will win in the end.
Falling Skies has chosen to use a period in American history to support the characters belief that they will prevail over an enemy with better technology and greater numbers. Americans need that. It provides a sense of hope and empathy. “If Tom Mason and his group can survive all these bad things happening to them, maybe we can too”.
By watching how others cope with a traumatic event, even if it is fictional, we learn to cope with challenges in our everyday lives. “The biggest difference between our cool-headed heroes and the rest of us is not that those people are somehow fearless; it’s that they relate to their fears in a much more harmonious way than others do. In other words, these poised people have learned to work with their fears rather than against them — they don’t get preoccupied with their nerves or struggle to eradicate their anxiety — and this important shift frees them to focus on the moment and perform their best”, says Taylor Clark, author of the book, Nerve, a book about dealing with fear and stress.
During periods of upheaval, we look more to entertainment to help us feel better about ourselves. For example, during the depression in the 1930’s, popular films at the time were Gone With The Wind, The Wizard of Oz and Frankenstein.
These are all films where a few heroes were forced to overcome what seemed like insurmountable odds in order to survive. I believe that our entertainment often reflects the difficulties that we face as a culture. When the economy is booming, our entertainment is far different from what we watch when things seem to be falling apart.
As the creators of Falling Skies state, the show, “focuses on the resilience of the survivors and their determination to maintain their humanity when all else has been destroyed. It is a tale of endurance, commitment and courage in which everyday people are called upon to become heroes. They may be outmatched, outnumbered and outgunned, but nothing can beat the human spirit. Most of all, the series is about the ties that bind people together in the most difficult of circumstances”.
“Tom, I’m old and I can’t remember stuff from one day to the next, but who is that new guy at the back?”
Despite our circumstances, we as a civilization will adapt and change. It is who we are as a people. Falling Skies shows us the best and worst of us in compelling ways. It helps us to learn more about who we are. And it shows us what we are capable of.
Please feel free to leave a comment here, click an icon below to share this interview or you can visit and follow me on Twitter by clicking on my avatar to the right.
On Friday, September 30th, Mpho was kind enough to sit down with the WormholeRiders News Agency for an exclusive Skype interview from his home in Vancouver, Canada.
Mpho Koaho has appeared in a number of television shows, such as animated series MetaJets, Combat Hospital, Rookie Blues, Flashpoint, and most recently TNT’s new sci-fi drama, Falling Skies. The show was a massive hit for the network and it is what we spent the majority of our conversation with Mpho discussing.
Falling Skies, which is produced by Steven Spielberg, told the story of the aftermath of a crippling alien invasion, that has wiped out nearly ninety percent of the Earth’s population. The monstrous race of beings that seemingly lead the invasion are fast, six-legged, and insect-like; which prompted people to call them “Skitters.”
The Skitters main weapon against humanity are towering robotic “Mech” soldiers that are made out of a near-indestructible metal. As if this would not make them a dangerous enough foe, the Skitters also capture and brainwash young earth children; by use of mechanical “harnesses” that attached to their spines. The aliens used them to do their bidding and as cannon fodder.
It is eventually discovered that these harnesses do much more than just control the minds of the children they are attached to – they also mutated their bodies into monstrous creatures much like the Skitters. As the show’s first season continued on, it was discovered that the Skitters were merely foot soldiers, themselves a “harnessed” and mutated race of conquered beings, that are doing the bidding of tall, thin grey-skinned aliens who rarely appear to the people of earth. The show focuses on a group of resistance fighters, called the “Second Massachusetts” (2ndMass).
On the show Falling Skies, Mpho Koaho plays Anthony; a former Boston police officer who has allied himself with the Second Massachusetts. Anthony became close with another resistance fighter named Dai (Peter Shinkoda), as well as the unit’s second in command, Tom Mason (Noah Wyle), a former college professor who joined the unit to better protect his three sons Hal (Drew Roy), Ben (Connor Jessup) and Matt (Maxim Knight).
During our exclusive interview, Mpho Koaho spoke about his time working on Falling Skies and past projects that he has done including being one of two finalists for a role in Stargate Universe with his friend Brian J. Smith (they both recently tweeted with other ).
Mpho’s character, Anthony, has become a fan favorite character on Falling Skies and is slated to appear in the show’s second season. Falling Skies will begin production in mid October in Vancouver, Canada. Be sure to follow Mpho Koaho’s fan page on Facebook by clicking here. Have fun and enjoy our audio interview with Mpho to find out interesting tidbits like who would be Mpho’s dream guest-star on Falling Skies, what kind of physical training he undergoes, and what his favorite moment is on the show.
Special thanks to Kenn for orchestrating the details of this interview and embedding the video. Also, a HUGE thanks to Mpho Koaho for his time.
Feel free to share this article by clicking the social media icons below. You can visit WormholeRiders or me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars here. In any event, the Wormhole Riders will look forward to Seeing You on The Other Side on Twitter to tweet about Falling Skies.
Series creators Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank and Mark Verheiden joined Turner Broadcasting Executive Michael Knight who introduced the press world to what we are certain will become a runaway science fiction hit!
The atmosphere was fun and relaxed. Frankly, I was surprised there were not more press there. This reviewer is sure that will change when the secrets of this great series completes the process of spreading around the world! We are sure that next year there will be far larger interest after a renewal for a second and hopefully third season of Falling Skies!
Please feel free to leave a comment here or if you prefer, click the social media icons below to share this news article.
Or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit WHR on Twitter, or visit me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story. Team WHR and I look forward to Seeing You on The Other Side“!
Prior to the Falling Skies season one two (2) hour finale on TNT, we bring you a couple of items we would like to share and consider to be very special! First we include an extended “Mutiny” sneak peek that clearly illustrates the excitement about Steven Speilberg’s science fiction drama has been growing around the world.
Therefore, without further adieu we bring you the entire series of Falling Skies “Mutiny” sneak peek clips courtesy of TNT. Thank you TNT! One of the best lines in the “Mutiny” finale (as you will see and hear for yourself), “Someone has been drinking the Kool-Aid”!
Second (and a lot of fun) is a video courtesy of a good friend in the UK. DarcyAtATO (her Twitter name) has a wonderful and unique cat named Lyla. Much like a cat I once had named Ferris, Lyla the Cat watches television! And apparently one of her favorite programs is Falling Skies! We include the video below for your pleasure and enjoyment.
Falling Skies continues this Sunday August 07, 2011 with the season one "Mutiny" two hour finale. In the meantime we hope you enjoyed the sneak peek courtesy of TNT! as well as Lyla the Cat! I hope you enjoy both as much as I did! :-)Thank you for visiting WormholeRiders News AgencyPlease feel free to leave a comment here or if you prefer, click the social media icons below to share this news article. Or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit WHR on Twitter, WHR on Facebook or visit me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story. I and the WHR team look forward to and will be Seeing You on The Other Side"! Thank you. Best Regards, Kenn
Under direction of Dreamworks Television, the previous weeks episode “Sanctuary Part 1” is awesome! It seems like our survivors might be getting some help from the Seventh Mass. Well, what is left of it anyway.
When we last saw our survivors, Hal Mason (Drew Roy), Tom Mason (Noah Wyle) and Margaret (Sarah Sanguin Carter) had rescued the children from the hospital and Dr. Anne Glass (Moon Bloodgood) had surgically removed all of the harnesses from their backs. All but one child survived and to my surprise Ben Mason (Connor Jessup) actually remembered his father.
We learned that our tough girl Margaret is a cancer survivor and her and Hal seem to be getting close. I hope to see more of a relationship for these two in the future. We found out the Skitters have a maternal bond with our children. Speaking of mothers, Sarah (Melissa Kramer) had her baby shower which brought a bit of normalcy to the survivors. Anne Glass and Captain Weaver (Will Patton) both mourned the loss of loved ones quietly and we actually got to see Anne turn bad ass and kill a Skitter. What sweet revenge!
This weeks episodes title “Sanctuary Part 1” actually makes you wonder where on earth would you find a sanctuary amidst an alien invasion. Could it even be possible? According to Terry Clayton (Henry Czerny of The Tudors) of the Seventh Mass there is sanctuary. Where did Terry Clayton even come from? He came out of nowhere just in time to save the day as the episode opened.
While Anne is treating Eli, a desperate set of parents hold her at gun point and demand all her medicine. Medicine has been so hard to come by for the resistance, and Anne is reluctant to give it up. It looks like the pair is gonna get the medication until Terry Clayton comes along. Thank goodness it is someone that Captain Weaver recognizes. Weaver thought that the 7th Mass had fell apart after most of it was destroyed by aliens.
Terry Clayton looks tired, beaten, and very frustrated that his entire unit was taken out by the Skitters. He tells Tom Mason, Captain Weaver. Dai (Peter Shinkoda) and Mike (Martin Roach) that the Skitters are on their way to the school within days! According to Clayton, Porter (Dale Dye) wants him to take anyone under the age of 20 and leave the camp. He is to go to a farm that is not too far from the school. It seems reasonable that the children would be safe there.
According to Clayton, the Third Mass is in between them and the last attack. Finally a new face with ideas on how to keep the children safe! A few of the parents are reluctant to send their kids away. Tom Mason does not like the idea but of course Captain Weaver, who always has the final say, makes Tom relay this information to the rest of the parents. I would not want my children to be away from me if there were Mechs and spider-like aliens roaming around.
Newly recovered Ben Mason seems to be doing well this episode. So well in fact he can do 102 sit ups without even breaking a sweat. What on earth did the Skitters do to him? Talking to his younger brother Matt Mason (Maxim Knight), Ben tells him how the Skitters were like family to the children. The Skitters knew what they wanted and when they needed it without saying a word. Ben said he actually missed that. Missing multi-legged aliens? Hal hears Matt and Ben talking and takes his concerns to Anne. Hal is impressed that Ben is no longer a brat!
Jimmy Boland (Dylan Authors), who had been in trouble for an incident involving a pet dog and a robot, is eager to be put back to work. Captain Weaver agrees to let him act as a sentry and stand watch over the school. Parker and Jimmy are on sentry duty and see an approaching Mech. Parker who is not thrilled to be working with a 13 year old, is killed and Jimmy comes face to face with a Mech! Barely escaping Jimmy runs through the camp yelling “Mech Mech” to anyone that can hear him.
Captain Weaver comes to the rescue killing the Skitter and gives Jimmy a warm hug. We get to see a softer side to Captain Weaver. Jimmy is visibly shaken and what 13 year old would not be. This theme plays out in every episode we see. Humans being forced to deal with inhumane situations. The writers have done an excellent job with the script and each episode the characters get back in touch with their humanity. We still see humans fighting with humans in a fight for survival.
Some of the camp members are suspicious of Ben and the children that were rescued. One of the members refers to them as “razor backs”. Ben tells his father that he wants to leave with Clayton. He appeals to his father’s love of history by comparing the blitz of London in world war II to their parents having to send the children out first to keep them safe. Tom realizes his son has grown up and decides to let Matt and Ben go with Clayton. Tom is convinced the Third Mass will be there the next day so he convinces the other parents to let their children go as well.
There are touching moments between the Mason family this episode. Hal feels guilty having fought with Ben the day their mother died. Hal’s promise to his mom was to look after his brother and father. The one thing I did love this episode was we saw Tom Mason and Anne Glass hold hands towards the end as they watch the children leave with Clayton. I could not tell if they were feeling some sort of hope or was Anne lending support to Tom as his children leave.
Finally the children arrive at the farm and there are happy faces everywhere. Once the children get settled Clayton goes to see someone. That someone turns out to be Eli! Eli is the child whose parents left the camp with him just the day before. Where are his parents? Clayton says he is taking Eli to see his parents. Taking Eli to a path in the woods, he meets up with a girl named Megan.
Megan tells Eli she is taking him to see his family. Megan has a stoic look on her face and Eli starts feeling apprehensive. He makes one futile attempt to go back to camp but a Skitter quickly grabs him and takes him away. Clayton has just given one of the children to the aliens! I have contemplated over this for days now. How does Clayton benefit from this? Clayton leaves Eli with the Skitter and goes back to the farm. It is very obvious the survivors trusted their children with the wrong man.
Clayton heads back to camp and goes to the basement with a bowl of food in his hands talking to someone sitting at a table. I was excited to see that is was John Pope (Colin Cunningham)! Pope told Clayton about the children at the school in exchange for his life. I hope to see a lot more of Pope in the coming episodes. His comic relief adds extra to the show that Steven Spielberg has already made a winner.
This episode begs the question what do the Skitters want with our children. Ben talked fondly of the Skitters in one scene and it leads me to believe they have some control over the children even after they escape. I think we will be getting answers to this very soon.
Falling Skies continues this Sunday with “Sanctuary Part 2” followed by “What Hides Beneath” on July 31, 2011. In the meantime we include the full “Sanctuary Part 1” episode below courtesy of TNT!. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
If you prefer, click the social media icons below to share this news article or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit the WHR on Facebook or me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story. In any event we will look forward to Seeing You on The Other Side“! Thank you.
We are now entering the sixth and in my opinion the critical turning point in awesome series. Unless you have been living on another planet you should know that Falling Skies has been renewed for an exciting sure to be super second season!
If you have not heard this news via tweets, our posts and news around the Internet we are going to send you to the Skitters and their two legged metallic minions “The Mechs” to be harnessed along with the rest of the children on planet Earth!
This is a pre-review of this evenings episode entitled “Sanctuary” (part one). In this analysis we examine several aspects of the story arc so be forewarned that although no spoilers will be discussed herein other than what is already revealed by TNT (known facts), the images are. So If you do not like spoilers, please stop reading and looking now. Thank you.
As we shared last week, the ideas we discuss herein are as private among our Falling Skies review team. The WHR Falling Skies review team is led by RedOne68 (Sandra), and includes DragonBayne (Angela), OffworldTravelr (Ginger), Celtica (Jen) and myself. We will say it again that we all believe this is an excellent series produced in coordination with TNT by Dreamworks Television Studios!
Our entire Falling Skies team is very much looking forward with excitement and in fact absolute glee to covering the series this coming week at Comic-Con in San Diego! Let me share with you here and now that the eight (8) of us who contribute to WHR whom are attending Comic-Con in San Diego (and you can be sure) that we will all be on patrol for Falling Skies Skitters, Mech’s and for that matter Gummy Bears too!
(You will find out why that last item is important tonight!)
Speaking of Gummy Bears, poor Lourdes and Anne may not get much of a chance to eat any based on what happens in the first few minutes of “Sanctuary” part one as discussed by Noah Wyle in the promotional trailer included below courtesy of TNT.
As the promotional trailer below indicates, a new guest star arrives after the trouble with Dr. Glass. Known to Captain Weaver it is one Lt. Terry Clayton portrayed by veteran actor Henry Czerny (Mission Impossible, The Tudors, and The A-Team [2010]) who warns of an impending Skitter Mech attack on the safety of the John F. Kennedy High School compound.
The following main characters including Uncle Scott (Bruce Gray), Captain Weaver (Will Patton) , Porter (Dale Dye) Hal Mason (Drew Roy), Mike (Martin Roach), (Daniyah Ysrayl) do not have Twitter account as of drafting this article. Hint, hint, hint your Twitter followers await you!
SPOILER ALERT: For those who must know, the answer is YES, Colin Cunningham returns in this evenings Falling Skies. Now that really is not much of a spoiler since everyone can go to IMDB and see for themselves he is scheduled to appear in several more episodes. However we will not tell you the what, where, why or when in the episode.
Let us simply share that you will be as pleasantly surprised as we were when we first saw Sanctuary part one many weeks ago. We will however give you a single image frame so you can savor the return of the one and only John Pope to Falling Skies! All we can say is it is simply awesome!
As we continue our coverage I would like to pay homage to two other critical contributors that some take for granted, and the series wonderful guest or supporting stars.
First I would like to mention Julia Valente and her crew for an outstanding job with make-up in Falling Skies. For those who may not be aware, the make-up used on set locations is crucial to obtaining the correct look and feel of the final product due to set lighting conditions. Well done Julia to you and your team!
Next a note (pun intended ) to Noah Sorota for his fine original series music score and accompaniment in Falling Skies.
This is another area that fans often forget when they are caught up in the willing suspension of disbelief when watching a superb science fiction drama such as Falling Skies. Without the hard work of a person like Mr. Sorota, the series would surely be lacking. So our thank yous to the musical Noah of Falling Skies for bringing the haunting and melodic scores to our homes to accompany scenes like the one below!
I mention these individual actors because when I read peoples tweets or articles about Falling Skies and other series we all tend to focus only on the leading actors, actresses as celebrities. I can certainly understand their sentiment, it is an easy thing to do. Although we all love the lead stars in any series or movie, we must not forget the supporting actors and actresses whom help make the scenes so believable and enjoyable.
So our sincere thanks to all supporting cast members for all that you do!
As we alluded to last week trouble and friction is brewing in the local community. This time it is not about keeping a Skitter in the resistance compound at John F. Kennedy High School. No it is something entirely different that anyone who is a true family person at heart will understand; being separated from your children even if that is what is best for them.
Falling Skies returns each Sunday 10 PM east/pacific, 9 PM central time in the United States. “Sanctuary” (part one) is the sixth episode in the series, but is the fifth in terms of air dates.
This evening the story arc takes a tremendous turn about several things including the where, why and what for regarding the enslavement of the children! And much more will be revealed in this fabulous first part of a two part Falling Skies Sanctuary! In the meantime, we include the episode sneak peek below courtesy of TNT for your enjoyment!
Thank you for visiting WormholeRiders News Agency and reading the theories, book history back story and historical reference material imparted by the creators in Prisoner of War.
Please feel free to leave a comment here or if you prefer, click the social media icons below to share this news article. Or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit WHR on Twitter, WHR on Facebook or visit me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story. I and the WHR team look forward to and will be Seeing You on The Other Side“!
We are halfway through the season and already the TNT network has picked Falling Skies up for a second season! It certainly appears Steven Spielberg has a winner with this new show that introduces us to spider-like aliens called Skitter and their mechanical monsters the “Mechs”!
I cannot help but notice the resemblance between the Skitter’s and the aliens portrayed in J.J. Abrams movie Super 8 which Steven Spielberg was also involved in.
However, I must point out that while similar, Neville Page is the man who created the Cloverfield monster and was the individual behind the alien out of Super 8..
I am excited to be writing about this weeks episode of Falling Skies “Silent Kill”. Under the direction of Dreamworks Television we learned even more about the characters and one shocking thing about the Skitters! When we last saw our group of survivors they had just discovered that the Skitter have a vulnerable spot inside their mouths behind the soft pallet. Uncle Scott (Bruce Gray) and Matt Mason (Maxim Knight) found that the Skitter also communicated through radio waves to deliver their messages to their victims.
This must be how they control the children, telepathically via short distance radio waves. We know this because the caged Skitter actually used Ricky (Daniyah Ysrayl) to communicate with the humans of the resistance. The Skitter appeared frightened or even scared, but I suppose maybe it is because it is a prisoner of war. The Skitter asked the members of the resistance to kill it via its mental link to Ricky.
Could it be that bad going back to Skitter high command without his child prisoner? Is there a punishment by the higher echelon in the Skitter hierarchy for failure? It appears so since the Skitters we have observed are actually be the foot soldiers in the Skitter army that watch over the children. The question lingers though; Why so much interest in our children?
Falling Skies illustrates how humans can band together in a time of crisis to fight for their freedom and the safety of their families. We started the series six months after the invasion. That was enough time for our survivors to get over the shock but not far enough into the future for their mourning to be over.
With Tom Mason (Noah Wyle) losing his wife the very first day of the invasion and Dr. Anne Glass (Moon Bloodgood), a pediatrician, losing her son there are moments in the show where we get to see real human emotions. Falling Skies nails that! During the “Silent Kill” episode we saw a softer side to both Captain Weaver (Will Patton) and Anne who have been mourning their own family losses quietly.
Falling Skies is not your typical alien invasion show. We were spared the spaceships arriving, the blowing up of buildings, as well as world leaders including our President trying to communicate to make peace with the aliens.
Also nice were the scenes not included like people running around frantic in panic. They have been here for six months and let us all face the facts; the Skitters kicked our ass plain an d simple. They then proceeded to kidnap our teens and turned them into slave worker drones!
Silent Kill opens with Margaret (Sarah Sanguin Carter) and Hal Mason (Drew Roy) getting back from a recon mission with hard drugs, in fact narcotics that they had procured from the local drug pusher. We do not know the precise details, but thanks to Margaret’s street smarts and survival instincts, the drugs have been obtained while Tom prepares for a mission to save the enslaved children!
During this and future episodes, Doctors Michael Harris (Steven Weber) and Anne Glass will need these drugs to keep the victims from dying during removal of the harnesses from the backs of the children. But are the harnesses nothing more than bugs with metallic drug injecting tentacles into the children?
The reason the invading aliens attach these harnesses to the spine of the children is more than troubling. The act literally turns them into walking zombies that follow every command the Skitter give them. It now seems certain that the harnesses are a bio mechanical interface between the humans and the Skitter. The harness can inject an opiate like substance to control the children and when removed, the children suffer from withdrawal and die. Keeping the children addicted to the drugs that the harness releases is an easier way to keep the children obedient. It appeals to their pleasure seeking side that all humans are prone to favor.
As we learn during “Silent Hill”, it appears that each Skitter controls a certain amount of teens so they can work the children around the clock. Are they training them so later the children can go inside the Mech? Could it be the two-legged Mech’s are actually operated by harnessed children like poor Rick (Daniyah Ysrayl) who remains haunted by his time with the Skitters?
Tom Mason, Hal Mason and a small group of soldiers are planning on going to the hospital intent on rescuing the children and using the harness removal procedure observed in “Grace” to save the children and the “missing”.
Margaret, who was (against her will) with John Pope’s (Colin Cunningham) group at first, has proved herself to be quiet useful. With her crossbow skills and her knowledge that helps her navigate the soldiers around the hospital. Tom and Hal have a lot to thank her for. .
Doctors Anne Glass and Michael Harris are at odds on how to treat the alien that Tom Mason brought back. Anne is giving the skitter water and trying to communicate with it. Does it really know what she is trying to do? I think we will come to find that the Skitters understand much more than we give them credit for.
Dr. Michael Harris has such a dislike for the Skitter that he shows it no mercy while he is holding it captive. Antagonizing it seems to be something he enjoys. In the end though it is the Skitter who has the last laugh as he kills Dr. Michael Harris. I saw that coming. Did you as well?
However, I did not think it would come so quickly in Falling Skies. Steven Weber is such a brilliant actor and I really would have liked to see more out of him in this series. With Harris’ death by Skitter, now it is up to Anne to remove all the harnesses from the children. With the loss of her own son she has found she can get peace of mind knowing that she can save others. In one scene that to me was full of emotion, Anne shows Hal and Tom how they can actually kill the Skitter.
We see Anne remember when Mike (Martin Roach) knocked the skitter unconscious by hitting it in a nerve center behind the soft pallet. Not wanting to risk the mission and Hal’s life on a theory, Anne takes a scalpel and plunges it into the Skitter mouth and twists it until she kills it!
Hal and Tom are shocked at what they just witnessed but if you asked me it was time Anne actually got mad at the aliens for killing her family. Storming into the hall, Anne goes to the bulletin board with all the missing family members and tells Tom that she does not have anything that belonged to her family that she could put up. The only thing that she has is the blood from the skitter that she had just killed. Anne slams her hand onto the bulletin board and smears it with blood. She walked off leaving Tom standing there in disbelief. Actually, I think it was really good to see Anne getting angry and taking her revenge out on the skitter.
In Silent Kill, we get to observe a side of Captain Weaver’s character that we did see not in the previous episodes. A softer side that shows he is suffering a loss of sorts. What exactly the loss is that he is experiencing is yet to be told. Could it be the loss of his wife or the loss of his child? Maybe that loss is what has turned him into a hard yet determined man. Together with Mason’s knowledge on military tactics surely they will find a way to keep the civilians of the “Second Mass” safe from the Skitter and bring the children home safely.
In the first few episodes it appears that the Skitter are just using our children for hard labor. In Silent Kill we see a different side of the Skitter. As Hal Mason sneaks into the hospital with the harness strapped to his back, he follows the other children to a room. The Mech looks at Hal Mason but does not notice that he is not with the group. One can only speculate as to why. The children all lie down in a circle and the Skitter climbs over them and protects them like a mother protecting her children.
The Skitter rubs each of them on the head as if it is showing the children affection. Why are they doing this? Could there really be children inside the Mechs? Maybe the Skitters are training the kids by making them work so hard to get them ready for insertion inside the Mechs?
After the resistance soldiers raid the hospital and they rescue the children, they are all taken back to the camp where Anne, assisted by young Lourdes (Seychelle Gabriel), Tom and others remove the harnesses. Speaking of Lourdes, I am hopeful she gets more lines and more of a character in the future. Lourdes helps and the harness removal procedures are successful for all the salved children except for one child who perishes in the process. We are immediately reminded that with the loss of a patient, a child, proves to be a painful reminder to Anne about her own loss.
However, even with removal of the harness, are the children really saved? With Ricky, he did not even remember his father. We observed that he even strapped the harness to his own back in last episode to try and free the captured Skitter. Can removing the harnesses really free these children from the Skitter control? Why does Ricky not notice and recognize his father? The answer is that some of the children are obviously affected and brainwashed more than others “bonded” to their Skitter masters.
With each episode we see the characters getting closer to each other and forming new relationships. Could this mean something for Tom and Anne? It would seem so. I for one would not mind seeing a relationship form between these two characters. Both of them suffer the loss of someone. Maybe bringing the two of them together will help them heal. Hal and Margaret seem to be getting closer to one another in a budding romance.
My biggest question would be what happened to Karen after she was kidnapped by the Skitters and harnessed? No one has been looking for her which I think is odd, but maybe I am just impatient? Hopefully in future Falling Skies episodes we will see what has happened to Karen (Jessy Schram). I hope it is possible that Hal or the others will be able will rescue her? as you may recall Karen was last seen being dragged off likely to be harnessed! 🙁
Overall, “Silent Kill” was a very good episode. Anne and Margaret both took on a much more important role in the show, which had mainly focused on or been about Tom Mason and his efforts to rescue some of the harnessed kids including his son Ben. After the harness removal, much to my surprise Ben wakes up and actually recognizes his father. This being said, it was heartwarming to see Ben (Connor Jessup) and father Tom reunited at the very end of the episode.
In the Silent Kill episode I definitely missed John Pope’s crazy antics. However what the episode lacked in “Pope comedy” it made up for with several touching moments over and above the reunion of the Mason family. None of the moments were more touching than Captain Weaver (Will Patton) listening to the record at the end of the show. I hope we soon find out who it was that Weaver lost during the invasion. Maybe Weaver will eventually put a picture up on the bulletin board with the rest of the missing?
I would like to share a few more observations; Will our survivors be able to remain at the abandoned John F. Kennedy school? Or do they plan to move to a more safe and secure location? Some sense of normalcy was kept in this episode with Sarah (Melissa Kramer) and her baby.
Anne Glass showing up to demonstrate her support at the baby shower was a step towards healing for her and was quite touching. And will we see John Pope again soon? It seems certain because Colin Cunningham is listed for more episodes, so I cannot wait to see what he has been up to. I also hope that he is written into season two of Falling Skies!
Falling Skies returns each Sunday evening in the United States at 10 PM E/P 9 central on TNT. Make sure to tune in to the next episode. “Sanctuary” (part one) and find out what is about to happen to our band of heroes! In the meantime we include the video recap of “Silent Kill” courtesy of TNT!
If you prefer, click the social media icons below to share this news article or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit the WHR on Facebook or me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story. In any event we will look forward to Seeing You on The Other Side“! Thank you.
We are now four episodes into this great series and based on the overwhelming support from the fans, as I am sure you have heard by now, Falling Skies has been renewed for an epic second season! The tweets and posts around the Internet confirm that fans are enthralled with the Skitters, their two legged metallic minions “The Mechs”, their plans for enslaving the Earth, and most mysterious of all, the reasons behind the “harnessing” of the children!
In this pre-review of “Silent Kill” we will explore a few theories without revealing spoilers about a turning point episode in the mid season.
Please bear in mind these are our theories, nor do we look at other peoples reviews or tweets with one exception below. The ideas shared herein are as discussed privately among our Falling Skies review team by people many of you tweet with. The WHR Falling Skies review team is lead by RedOne68 (Sandra), and includes DragonBayne (Angela), OffworldTravelr (Ginger), Celtica (Jen) and myself. We all believe this is an excellent series produced in coordination with TNT by Dreamworks Television Studios!
Before continuing with our theories, one of the most exciting aspects of the series on TNT was a hint that a second season was a virtual certainty if you looked for the clues much like the budding adult romance we are sure to see between Tom and Anne and the adolescent love growing between Margaret and Hal Mason.
Simple, the contest sponsored by the great people over at by Klout! What contest you may ask? What the heck kind of rock have you been sleeping under for goodness sakes?!? The contest giving away tons of swag AND a walk on role in Falling Skies, that’s what contest! Well, if you missed it you can still rally your forces for The Resistance by clicking the link below and re-tweeting your favoriite Falling Skies tweeter with the #FSInCentivized hash tag!
SPOILER ALERT: Now on to our theories about the Skitters and the Mechs in Falling Skies. To reiterate although we have seen the first seven (7) episodes, no one at any official TNT or Dreamworks source related these theories to us. And while we may be wrong, what I am about to share with seems highly logical and fits the story arc.
During several recon missions, a few of which were aborted due to the harnessed one apparently giving away the positions or activities of the resistance, we always noticed the Skitters and the Mech’s are in close proximity. These pair of aliens operatives in each circumstance always seem to be looking after the harnessed kids carefully. To further complicate the theory, several on Twitter have asked, myself and members of WHR team included, why do the Mech’s walk on two legs?
As many a recon party have returned to base, they always reported to Dale Dye as Porter and Will Patton as Captain Weaver that wherever a Mech was, a Skitter was close by. Our theory? That the harnessed kids are in training to see which ones will qualify to be placed inside the Mech metallic body shells. Further proof that this is likely the case? The images below tell the tale of the emotional state of the young harnessed victims.
Lastly, some may say what about the harnessed slave children killed by the Skitters in “Prisoner of War”? Does this not negate the theory? Perhaps, however as in any circumstance, not everything works out in life. My hypothesis is that the harnessed kids who were sacrificed did not “pass” the test to be inserted into a Mech. If you go back and look at their faces, they were obviously in a drug induced state so they were used to set the example and send the message the Skitters wanted to deliver to the resistance.. Their expressions below also illustrate the facts of the matter for the poor “sacrificial lambs”.
As we observed in episode four “Grace”, Anthony willingly place the bio-mechanical harness back on his own body even after removal when prompted by the caged Skitter. Nearly dying in the process, Anthony was mesmerized to do the bidding of the caged alien invader oblivious to the consequence since he he was obviously telepathically controlled to do so. What could make more sense that to have the most compliant and cooperative harnessed adolescents be placed inside a Mech body to be controlled by a Skitter?
Silent Kill is a more intense and serious episode as the elements and characters explored so far coalesce. Now that John Pope (Colin Cunningham) has escaped, it is clear that there will be no more fine cuisine for the resistance to feast on. We know Pope will resurface because he is listed in the cast credits at IMDB for more episodes. The question for all of us to consider is what kind of trouble will John Pope get into before he surfaces again?
Other troubles in the local community are a growing aversion to keeping a Skitter in the resistance compound at John F. Kennedy High School. Specifically Steven Weber who portrays Doctor Michael Harris is in vehement disagreement with keeping the alien alive any longer. Many feel the same way and a confrontation is definitely brewing as is revisited at the chow line.
Now as to the episode itself and thrust of where the story has been heading. It is no spoiler to say that Tom Mason has been steadfast in his determination to plan and effect the rescue of his missing son Ben (Conner Jessup) from the Skitters whose picture he placed on the honored wall of the enslaved along with so many other missing kids.
Then we come to the name of the episode itself, “Silent Kill. From the title we know it is entirely obvious that death is going to occur. Is it a Skitter, a resistance member? Both? More children sacrificed? All three? More than one? As the Falling Skies screen fades to black, we will be left to wonder; Where is John Pope? Will the children be saved? How do the Skitter actually treat their captives and what role will Dr. Anne Glass play to make things happen? And will Dr. Harris continue to help or hinder the circumstances?
Falling Skies returns each Sunday 10 PM east/pacific, 9 PM central time in the United States. “Silent Kill” is the fifth episode in the series. As we have mentioned before, I suggest you do not want to miss Silent Kill. Why? Key plot elements about the where, why and what for regarding the enslavement of the children are revealed! In the meantime, we include the episode sneak peek below courtesy of TNT for your enjoyment!
Thank you for visiting WormholeRiders News Agency and reading the theories, book history back story and historical reference material imparted by the creators in Prisoner of War.
Please feel free to leave a comment here or if you prefer, click the social media icons below to share this news article. Or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit WHR on Twitter, WHR on Facebook or visit me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story. I and the WHR team look forward to and will be Seeing You on The Other Side“!
The “Skitters” have attacked Earth. Downed the Power and technology which humans have relied on for years now. Adults are killed and young humans are captured and harnessed by the “Skitters”. When the youngster gets ‘Harnessed’ they seem to become under complete control of the Skitters. In past episodes, we have seen the teens walking like subdued zombies, doing menial tasks.
When one sees a Skitter around, there are usually guards of a robotic nature nearby. These guards are called “Mechs” in this case, meaning Mechanical. The Mechs are quite tall, walk on two legs like man, and have powerful lights and emit a long droning sound as they search the terrain for humans who would pose a threat to the Extraterrestrials’ mission. In the last episode, a Skitter was caught and Anthony, Dai (Peter Shinkoda), Hal Mason (Drew Roy), Margaret (Sarah Sanguine Carter) and Karen (Jessy Schram) are going to try to learn more from it.
“Grace”
In this episode, our band of resistance fighters Tom Mason (Noah Wyle) and some of the people they care for are in their refuge which used to be John F. Kennedy high school. We see the captured skitter in a large holding cage being wheeled through the hallway. The resistance members are speculating about their hostage. Doctor Harris (Steven Weber) says; “For all we know, he’s a prime specimen. The Brad Pitt of Skitterworld…”
They also wonder what the creature must be thinking of them. Dr. Harris then says “They could be making sounds that exceeds the scope of human hearing. For all we know he could be cussing us out right now.” Anne Glass (Moon Bloodgood) says; “Look at his eyes… He’s probably studying us just as we are of him.”. The caged Skitter is indeed looking at the humans intently. One can tell by their eyes seen in earlier episodes…. and the fact they got to Earth from where ever it is they came from, that these Skitters are intelligent. Unlike the Mechs, the Skitters are a biological, living species. The cage and humans arrive in a part of the medical area where a fortified holding cell has been set up. With the use of electric ‘cattle-prods’, they guide the Skitter into its’ new home.
John Pope (Colin Cunningham) is questioned by Captain Weaver (Will Patton) and is then taken by Tom and Ben Mason (Conner Jessup) along with Anthony (Mpho Koaho) to go off to find Motorcycles which they might be able to use from a bike shop nearby. Tom wants to go save his son, Ben from the Skitters, but Captain Weaver tells him that would have to wait. Of course the tactic being that having this transport will make it easier to get the drugs they need for the unharnessing of kids, getting other supplies, with the ultimate goal of getting the kids back from the skitters.
Good point. One means to an end. If I am correct, the bikes are not as ‘electric’ based as modern cars or the EMP (Electro-magnetic pulse) would have rendered the motorcycles useless as well. EMPs pretty much disables anything with a circuit board.
In the medical area, Anne is examining Rick, with Rick’s father Mike present One of the unharnessed kids. Before the invasion, this boy had Cystic Fibrosis. A debilitating lung disease “CF” as it is usually called results in chronic, potentially fatal congestion, among other whole-body symptoms, needing medications, inhalers, nebulizers and ‘cupping’ which is where one’s cupped hands are pounded over the back of the patient in order to break up the congestion, assist in clearing the mucus and allow some relief. But normally, CF patients are faced with a shorter life span, respiratory failure etc.
In this case, Ann is finding that Rick has gone through a spontaneous remission of the disease. “His lungs are completely clear” she tells Mike. “Are you sure he had cystic fibrosis?” Mike replied “Five specialists in three states sure. He had to go o n a nebulizer twice a day just to be able to breathe” It seems that being ‘Harnessed’ by the Skitters has actually cured him of CF! I guess it is practical that they keep their ‘slaves’ healthy.
A recon team returns and tells Captain Waever (Will Patton) that they saw some harnessed kids at the hospital off Second street; Same one they were at before. Weaver speculates the invaders and their mechs have decided to use the hospital like a base. As the others in the party return to wherever they are situated in the school,
Capt. Weaver and Margaret (Sarah Sanguine Carter) face each other as she asked Weaver if he had others keeping tabs on her. Weaver says that he has. Reminding her that the convicts trusted her with a gun asking if she had ever thought of using it. Margaret replied that she had. On herself at first, then later, on them. Weaver asks her “and what about now?” Margaret replies “I’m just taking it one day at a time.”
As the lead men all take off ..with Pope… to the bike shop, Matt tries to go with them, but Tom lays down the law and tells his son to stay at the school. Next, we are walking through the woods with the guys about a half mile from the bike shop. Pope is asking what gang Anthony was in before the invasion. Bloods? Crips? Slitheren (Shades of Harry Potter anyone?). Anthony tells Pope he was in one of the largest gangs in the world; The Boston Police Department.
Pope makes a comment about “smelling a little ham…” when Anthony retorts back about after all this being over and Pope not being needed anymore, they would have a chat about (Anthony’s) friend called “Clip” as he held his rifle out a bit. He has made his point. Hal and Tom talk a bit about life before the invasion, and Dai sidles up to Tom as Hal moves forward with the others. Tom said he missed his wife Rebecca most at these times.
Next, we’re in the School at the wall where pictures of the missing are. Amy stands there touching the pictures. when asked what she is doing she said she was saying a prayer for the missing.
Once the humans have their captive Skitter ensconced in a side part of the Medical area, Ann is showing it photographs of Earth, The local solar systems and galaxies. She is hoping to get a reaction from the extraterrestrial. Short of a few sounds from ‘him’ in reaction to other people in the room, she is not having much success and is being ridiculed by Doctor Harris. “You think he’s going to start speaking in skitter-ese?”. I note it is interesting how -again- females are the communicators.
She is at least trying to communicate with it albeit on a very basic level, while Dr. Harris is standing back with his own ideas of how the creatures might communicate. “Well, if that doesn’t work, you can try exchanging recipes…No fear, conscience or remorse, maybe that’s why it’s so easy for them to kill us.” Anne tells Harris to “Read what you want. I think it’s scared out of it’s mind” then she looks at the Skitter intently she said “I wonder what it sees when it’s looking at us… Are we as hideous to it? As strange?” Dr. Harris picks up; “Yeah, that’s a good question…I got an idea..”.and leaves the room
Captain Weaver enters one of the classrooms in the school, to find Uncle Scott (Bruce Gray) Building and trying to set up radios. He used parts from an old fallout shelter survival kit and is making what he hopes will be a listening device for their group, as well as anyone else, to listen for activity outside of the “2 Mass” base. He has made a dynamo-style crank up radio receiver.
Captain Weaver is looking it over as he says “The other regiments will be working on their radios. We’ll need to monitor the frequencies…See if they’re up and running. But, I don’t want it to take you away from making explosives.” Uncle scott agrees and on impulse gestures to Matt Mason saying “That’s why I brought along a very capable volunteer!” Matt comes down off the stool he was sitting on and comes to ‘Uncle Scott’ as he continues; “See, all he has to do is wind the handle and slowly turn the dial… He’s lookin’ for something to do…” Capt. Weaver says ‘right.’ as he walks out. Uncle scott Scott tells Matt, “Guess what? I just made you the communications Officer”
Back with our intrepid group on their way to the bike shop, Poke veers away from the others. “I thought I smelled something” He gestures to the others who are telling him to stay in the tree line, and we see he is looking at a few Skitters, hanging like bats under an old bridge. Hal cmes up seeing the skitters and wants to shoot them. Poke says “SHHHH, You’ll wake ’em!’ As he smiles broadly.
Gently, the team gets closer to the sleeping skitter and speculate about the creatures. Poke says “I guess they get a bit of shut eye when ever and where ever they can… ” Tom Mason continues “Like soldiers anywhere…” Tom looks like he is readying his gun to fire, but Dai comes up from scoping the surrounding area. “Mechs, North and south… Sleep mode”. Poke wants to open up on the Skitters, but Tom says “The minute we open up on them, those Mechs will open up on us!” Shaking his head he continues “Engaging them is not the mission. Let’s go.”
Back in the Medical area, Anne is offering the Skitter a bowl of water. The Skitter seems to feel calmer, but is not accepting, it just stands back from the window of the cage as Anne passes the bowl in. As she withdraws her hand, Dr. Harris comes in “Get your hand out of that cage!” We see he is pushing a gurney into the room covered with a sheet. He speaks to the Skitter directly “Hey, Chief, remember that Skitter Poke and his boys killed? -watch this…Remember this guy?” as he whips the sheet off the dead skitter with a flourish.
The caged Skitter becomes very upset, and we can see maybe they DO have emotions…Like fear, or could it be grief? It is at this same time Matt Mason, back in the ‘radio room’ hears a burst of static on the radio he is monitoring. Back in the medical area, the Skitter is trying to reach through the cage and we can hear it ‘screaming’ as it seems to be reaching for its’ colleague…or the humans… Harris secures the window to the cage as he tells Anne “Want a friend? Get a dog!” As the skitter looks directly at Anne, I felt that Anne looked a bit sad. Uncle Scott and Mat at the radio, no longer hear the burst of static.
Our fearless group has reached the bike shop and are now looking for bikes that can run. They find some gasoline in the repair bay and Poke is wordlessly told to start siphoning gas from the tanks for the bikes in front of the store.
Hal and Tom see a very nice little keyring with a motorcycle on a pink background. Hal said Karen would have loved that. “She wasn’t a ‘Girly-girl’ but… she would’ve taken this” Hal said. “We could leave an IOU…?” Tom muses. Hal and Tom remember Karen and they also talk a bit about Rebecca-Tom’s wife who died during the takeover.
Tom guesses at what Rebecca would have said at this time, but Hal said “She would’ve just said ‘Suck it up!’… and if that was your attempt at parenting, uh, it was pretty lame…” They both got a smile from this. Eventually Tom gives Hal the keyring and they leave. Not sure, but it is as if they hope to see Karen again.
Dr. Harris is now laying out surgical tools and Anne is saying he cannot do this. That their job is to try to communicate with the Skitter. Porters’ Orders. Harris just meets her remarks with total derision saying “I’m not going to be second guessed by a pediatrician” Okay, I understand that the ties between Tom and Harris is that each was with the others’ spouse when they died during the attack. Harris could be like most Doctors. They seem to want to be able to “FIX” anything and when they cannot, they face a lot of frustration. But Dr. Harris had best know the true enemy is NOT Anne or anyone else in this situation.
-Gosh, nothing like a bit of Ego maniacal chest-beating. One thing I note about Falling Skies, is that as they fight an invading force, many people here hold onto their sexists, or racists feelings. They begrudgingly unite with each other to fight the Skitters, but I believe if they win, they will go back to their everyday lives with the same prejudices they always had.
Mike is sitting at his son Rick’s bedside in the infirmary, as the skitter in its’ cage looks on. Rick opens his eyes and asks Mike “Who are you?” Mike replies “It’s me, Ricky, It’s Dad” Rick asks again, as if not understanding the words… “Who are you?” Mike replies “I’m your father.” Rick rises a little from the bed and looks over at the Skitter who looks back at him making their noises. Rick stares for a while and then back at Mike. Resting his head back down on the pillow he says in a heavy sigh “Father”.
Mike gets up and walks over to the Skitter. He tells the Skitter that the boy in there is is son. He is everything to Mike. and he is healthy, probably because of that thing the skitters put on him. The Skitter is making his usual guttural, growls and ‘whines’ but does not seem agitated at the moment. Mike said to the Skitter that that is why it gets this chance….To live, or not. At this point the Skitter gets a bit riled. am thinking they can understand what a human says, but cannot articulate in our language. Mike is telling the Skitter that it is alive right now because the humans want to communicate with it. Mike tries with the pictures again and finally, walks over gets his rifle and comes back to the cage. “So maybe you didn’t understand me, or you need some motivation” as he aims the rifle at the Skitter.
Back in the radio room, Anne, Matt and Uncle Scott hear static on the radio again. It seems to happen when the Skitter is agitated or frightened. Anne wonders what is causing it, and at this point no one knows. Meanwhile, Mike is provoking the Skitter and shoves the rifle hard into it’s face, while yelling at it to “SPEAK!” when this happens, the static on the radio goes crazy. The Skitter seems to pass out and the static stops.
Next, we see Mike explaining to Anne and Harris that he was just trying to get the Skitter to talk. “What, by sticking a gun into it’s mouth?” Anne asks him. Harris said the Skitters’ heart and breathing seem fine. It seems during the dissection of the other skitter, they found there is a vulnerable spot between a nerve bundle and soft palate in the Skitters. Harris said it could be a pressure point, Mike most likely gave it a concussion. Anne said “So… this just happened five minutes ago?” Ah, I think she has clicked on to the possibility of the Skitters effect on radio waves.
Uncle Scott walks into an area where the dead Skitter is. Seems the connection is made of the Static and the Skitter. Seems the static bursts happened during the times their captive became agitated.
Back in the infirmary, the caged Skitter is looking at Ricky. I am impressed that as ugly as the Skitters are, I actually think the eyes are really expressive. The effect of seeing big, expressive eyes in a Skitter face is a bit unnerving. Rick gets up and sees the ‘harness’ he once wore on a tray beside him.
The Skitter looks on and seems to be talking to Rick telepathically or somehow. Rick gets up and in a trance-like state, slowly goes to the harness, picks it up and lays the harness back onto his back. The CGI with the harness attaching itself to Rick is pretty cool.
Rick seems to be comfortable with this thing on his back and the Skitter seems also pleased.Rick is back in a more direct communication with the Skitter.
In the other room where the dead skitter is, Anne, Mike Harris and Uncle Scott are told by Anne that it has been dead too long. “There’s mush in there.” Just at that point the static becomes very audible and intense. Harris says “There’s your proof right there!” Anne asked “what?” Harris says “That the skitter and the static are unrelated! It’s not being provoked, we’re all in here, it’s all alone unless it’s hangin’ itself right now…” Mike says “Ricky’s in there!” and they run to the infirmary!
They find Rick is trying to open the cage. Mike is restrained by the others as Harris asks the skitter (or Rick!): “What do you want from us?” Rick, looking very unemotional and almost zombie-like looks at them and says “You want to hurt me” Harris replies “We just want to know why you’re here.” Ricky is in fact being used by the Skitter to speak to the humans.
Rick says to the group “Let me go.” Harris tells him/it; “No we can’t do that. Ricky in monotone says “This child is one of ours.” Harris tells him/it “Not anymore. we cut off his harness”. Ricky (Skitter) replies “Then I’ll be punished.” The skitter-through Ricky then says “Help me”. “How can we help you?” Harris asked. Through Rick, the Skitter replies “Kill me”. It is at this point Mike loses control, runs to Rick and forcibly pulls the harness back off from him. The Skitter seems to ‘scream’ and Rick falls to the ground.
Back in the bike shop, they got one of the bikes to start and others start up soon too. Pope tells Dai that the gas can is dry. As Dai goes to investigate, Pope hits Dai, rendering him unconscious and Pope speeds off on one of the bikes. The others go in to get Dai, and assuring that he is alright, They see Pope speeding off on a bike from the side of the shop. they take off to the front of the shop to get going.
But Pope is now stopped by the sleeping skitters under the bridge and has gasoline, and what appears to be a grenade. Poke says “Rise and Shine!” as he tosses this super-sized Molotov cocktail right into the cluster of sleeping skitters!
The explosion is heard by the others at the bike shop. They all stop for a second and Hal said “That wasn’t good…” They all go outside to see a plume of smoke off in the distance. “Looks like Pope’s work” one says and Tom says “That’s going to draw some attention…”
Now, our heroes are getting ready to leave with their new transport when they are surprised by a group of armed harnessed kids. They know a Skitter is nearby because they always seem to be in the vicinity of the kids, and Mechs are also usually around. The harnessed kids advance on the bike shop and start to fire assault rifles into the store. Dai is hit and is dragged into the store. Anthony says the unthinkable and Tom shouts back “NO!! We’re NOT shooting Kids!”
… Maybe another reason the Skitters harnessed the youth. People are so hesitant to fire on or hit the youth… even if the youth ARE being controlled by the invading force. Tom says something about getting the Skitter who is controlling the kids instead. As the guys all get ready to make a break for freedom, they hop onto the bikes and start out. using an old truck as a distraction, blowing it up with a smaller Molotov.
As Dai is helped onto a bike with Tom, a Skitter comes out of what seems to be an office in the store, crawling up a wall and jumping out in front of Dai and Tom.
Shots ring out from Toms’ gun and the Skitter falls back. As they race past, the Skitter tries to give chase, but Dai takes it out with his gun. They fly out through the window frames and past the emotionless kids…. who now are standing still and facing ahead. Not seeming to care about those escaping. Dai asks Tom “What about those kids?” Tom says “Next time”… As they drive away.
Back at the school, we see Dai being taken in for treatment on his leg, Captain Weaver asked why, with the Mech superior weaponry, why the Skitters had to arm children. Tom replies he does not know. “Human shield… we’ve been doing it for thousands of years. Psychological warfare…” Weaver replied “It worked… You couldn’t shoot ’em. No one would be able to” Tom said “Oh, we’ll figure it out… There is a silver lining” Weaver says “I’m not seeing it” Tom points out that “The more we get to know them, the more we see they’re not so different from us which mean we can understand them. Means we might be ablt to gain them (the kids) back if we figure out how we could end up beating them” Capt. Weaver says “We are a long way from figuring that out” Tom says “Well, we know a helluva lot more about ’em then we did yesterday.”
Hal Mason is putting the motorcycle keyring into a box as Tom walks in. Hal holds up a book “I didn’t know you still had This!” The book was “Harry Potter Deathly Hollows” Tom remembers he and Ben were halfway through the book when the attack happened. As they spoke about Ben, Hal said when he took Karen, he was staring at him…and it wasn’t Ben looking back.
In the infirmary, Anne is saying the good news is that the Skitters’ radio frequency isn’t very strong, otherwise it could have sent out for reinforcements and they would have been attacked. She tells Tom about Matt’s new job with uncle Scott and the dinner bell chimes out for all to come eat. Tonight’s meal includes freshly baked bread. A gift from Pope. As they all gather at tables, remarks of what they are thankful for are said, and Pope’s bread is passed around. Then grace is said.
My Take… For what It is worth…
I know it is important for people in general to hang on to things that comfort them in trying times. at a time like this when your own family may be gone or scattered, those around you become a ‘second family’ so to speak. This seems not so much an invasion TV show, but more of how the characters try to hold their familiars close to them in times like this. It is indeed a human trait to want to be with others of a like mind or belief when surrounded by chaos and uncertainty. I am a bit saddened to see that while some are reaching out to others, there are those which hold on to the destructive traits of racism and sexism
I also found the Skitter’s comment through Rick interesting. Instead of facing it’s species in defeat, to be “Punished” it wanted to be killed. Perhaps this speaks of a ‘society where it is better to die at the hands of the enemy than it is to return in defeat…Seems the Skitters forgive nothing on their operatives. Like some cultures here in this world.
Falling Skies returns on TNT this Sunday at 10 PM EST/PST 9 PM central time with “Silent Kill”. Check back soon for our exclusive pre-review on the exciting fifth episode of this exciting series created by Dreamworks Television Studios for TNT! We include the full episode below courtesy of TNT!
Please feel free to leave a comment here or If you prefer, you may also click the social media icons below to share this news article or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit the WHR on Facebook or me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story and or we will See You on The Other Side“!
The premiere of TNT’s exciting new science fiction television series brought us a new perspective on the classic alien invasion story. In Falling Skies, the human population has been decimated by extraterrestrials who appear to be bent on killing everyone—except teenagers, for some mysterious reason. The surviving adults, young children, and teens not captured by the aliens have banded together and are struggling to survive and to find some way to fight back.
Falling Skies has just about everything a scifi fan could want: great aliens and alien technology, cool-looking ships and weapons, exciting action sequences, and strong human interest elements. Add to that the combined expertise of Steven Spielberg, Dreamworks Television Studios, and a host of others, and you get a very promising new television series.
There was certainly a lot of drama and excitement in “Prisoner of War,” and you can look forward to more of the same in Episode #4: “Grace.” Without revealing anything that has not already been shown in trailers and sneak peeks from TNT, questions that come to mind:
What will happen with the Prisoner[s] of War from Episode #3? What is the Resistance going to do with its unexpected captive? Interrogate? Perform medical experiments? Try a prisoner exchange? Will the prisoner break out of his/her/its makeshift prison and get away? If he/she/it escapes, will he/she/it take anyone with him/her/it? (And have you noticed that the English language still has no good solution to the problem of referring to living beings as gender-neutral?). Below is a special from NT on animating the Skitters!
Why are the Skitters making the harnessed kids gather scrap metal? Is that why they came to Earth in the first place? Are they here for the resources? Is this an “invade-the-planet-and-strip-it-bare” scenario?
At the start of the series, the aliens have been on Earth for six months. Are they planning to stay? Is this a wipe-out-the-residents-so-we-can-colonize plan?
What are those harness things, anyway? They look like they are part biological, part mechanical. Do the Skitters engineer them somehow from tissue? Are they another type of alien creature that the Skitters are just using on us (kind of like our leeches)? Maybe there is some kind of queen bee Skitter that gives birth to the harness things, or maybe they are actually young Skitters, like larvae, that need a host before they are fully developed.
Episode 4’s title, “Grace,” does not reveal very much about what it might be about. “Grace” could be someone’s name, or it could refer to a state of grace, or saying grace, or even moving with grace. Here is the official episode sneak peek from TNT:
Just for fun, while you are watching “Grace,” see if you can pick up on the Harry Potter references. I noticed two in this episode, but would love to hear from you if you notice more.
Falling Skies returns each Sunday on TNT at its new scheduled time 10 PM east and west, 9 PM central. The WHR Falling Skies reporting team will be tweeting during the airings and look forward to your tweets too!
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Falling Skies, an apocalyptic science fiction drama from Dreamworks Studios, is entering its second season on TNT. It stars Noah Wyle as a father of three sons doing his best to keep them alive and fighting back against an alien invasion force. 
The history teacher in Tom Mason might not be able to explain it, but Falling Skies has become a very popular show. This series is one of survival in the face of an overwhelming enemy. 
This from a public who often time shifts their entertainment viewing to on-line network sources, mobile devices and or recorded sources (DVR) now widely available in many homes. Perhaps even more telling is the huge crowd that joined the Falling Skies cast at the dedicated Falling Skies TNT web site to participate in “2nd Watch”. 
Here is the answer: Stories like the ones told by the TNT writers of Falling Skies attract us because they reflect humanity’s greatest strength, the power of adaptation. As a social animal, people are very curious about how others overcome challenges that might terrify us. We are fascinated by the thought that a person’s attitude can make a difference between life and death.
And that, I believe is what makes the show important at this particular time in America. Many Americans are facing challenges known only to their grandparents from the Great Depression often referred to as “the dirty thirties”. 
So, Americans and others around the word watch television as a means of escape. Comedy helps them feel better for a half hour at a time. Crime dramas produce a feeling that justice can occur and the good guys will win in the end. 
By watching how others cope with a traumatic event, even if it is fictional, we learn to cope with challenges in our everyday lives. “The biggest difference between our cool-headed heroes and the rest of us is not that those people are somehow fearless; it’s that they relate to their fears in a much more harmonious way than others do. In other words, these poised people have learned to work with their fears rather than against them — they don’t get preoccupied with their nerves or struggle to eradicate their anxiety — and this important shift frees them to focus on the moment and perform their best”, says Taylor Clark, author of the book, Nerve, a book about dealing with fear and stress.
Thanks to Kenn for assisting with the audio video embeds for my Falling Skies review and analysis. And thanks to you for stopping by WormholeRiders News Agency! 
