Air Date: Sunday, June 26, 2011 10PM E/P
Rating:
We already know the aliens arrived in their ships with seemingly advanced weaponry and artillery so why are they taking teenagers, harnessing them to collect scrap metal? As we catch up with Tom (Noah Wyle), he and his oldest son Hal (Drew Roy,) along with Karen (Jessy Schram,) Anthony (Mpho Koahu,) Dai (Peter Shinkoda,) and Margaret (Sarah Sanguin Carter), are scouting out an abandoned hospital where the aliens have several harnessed kids, including Tom’s middle son Ben (Connor Jessup.)
Col. Porter (center) meets with Weaver (l) and Tom (r)
At the beginning of last week’s premiere, we learned the aliens destroyed all the state capitals, including Washington D.C., but I’m curious if any of the top government officials, including the President, survived. We can only speculate how small military groups like the 2nd Mass formed but it’s clear they all respect the leadership and counsel of Col. Porter (Dale Dye). Porter makes an unscheduled stop to inform Capt. Weaver (Will Patton) and Tom about other resistance groups from Chicago and California. It brings a glimmer of hope knowing there are others out there who are fighting the same fight—to know they are not alone. However, alien structures similar to the one over Boston are popping up all over the country. Weaver seems to think the mother ships will return which begs the question – is fighting against these aliens futile? The structure over Boston can be seen from miles away so it makes you wonder how big the mother ships were that brought them. Or are the aliens who’ve been left behind using the enslaved kids to gather scrap metal to build these structures? It’s all very mysterious.
Weaver feels his resources are being wasted on trying to save the kids but Tom points out saving these kids gives hope to the parents. Keeping hope alive is the only way to defeat the aliens. As much as I empathize with Tom, I also agree with Weaver’s point of view. They are already stretched thin on provisions, and shacked up in an old high school. Saving the kids may renew hope but it also threatens their survival.
L-R: Tom (Noah Wyle) meets his old acquanitance Dr. Michael Harris (guest star Steven Weber)
Porter also brings Dr. Michael Harris (guest star Steven Weber) who has a new medical procedure that can safely remove the harnesses from the kids without killing them, as happened previously. Porter wants Tom to save only his son Ben so they can test Harris’ method. Anne (Moon Bloodgood) seems a little apprehensive about the procedure but I think her hesitation stems from her feelings for Tom rather than her confidence in Harris’ medical skills. It’s obvious there is a fondness between Tom and Anne. I think she’s worried that Ben won’t survive the invasive treatment potentially pushing Tom further away. But instead of bringing Ben back for the procedure, Mike (Martin Roach) sees his son Rick (Daniyah Ysrayl) and saves him instead, but at a cost. Tom is hurt and now Hal and Karen are missing.
L-R: Tom and Mike on the lookout for the harnessed kids at the hospital
There is obvious tension between Tom and Harris. Tom manages to capture a live Skitter, implementing tactics he learned from Pope (Collin Cunningham). While Harris is downstairs watching over the Skitter prisoner, he and Tom have a heated exchange which reveals the circumstances of Rebecca’s demise. Harris is an arrogant prick. At first he appears compassionate because he is doing whatever he can to remove the spinal harnesses from the kids, but then he belittles people, even Anne for whom he holds little regard because she’s only a pediatrician.
One of the things I love about Falling Skies is how they try to keep some normalcy for the kids. Continuing to have class sessions seems trivial in the wake of an alien invasion, but giving kids a routine helps keep their minds off the obvious hazards of their situation. Education and knowledge are key elements in assimilating to harsh environments. If you are unable to adapt to an ever changing atmosphere, you won’t survive.
Collin Cunningham as John Pope (resident Chef of 2nd Mass)
The comic relief in the doldrums of fighting off aliens comes from Pope. He’s a smart guy. He charms his way from his make shift prison cell by criticizing the food. “Nobody puts paprika on chicken! What are you? Hungarian?” Allowing Pope any freedoms, including letting him become the chef, isn’t going to end well, however, Pope does lighten the mood with his snide comments. “For the love of God, could somebody please find me some olive oil?”
Tune in to Falling Skies Sundays at 10PM E/P only on TNT.
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Judy Manning
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1 comments
This stupid show or UFC MMA action? UFC by a knockout. This show lost me the first week. It was so pathetic that I totally gave up on it.