Falling Skies – Sentiment equals weakness

Big questions were asked on this episode of Falling Skies:

• Tom discovers through Ben the Overlords are afraid of the rebellion. It scares them. Why? What is it they fear?
• The aliens have a “task” they are unwilling to reveal, something integral to their invasion, something necessary for them or to them. What? Through Ben (and in so many words), a captured Overlord reveals to Tom if the rebellion would just let them alone to complete this task, everything would be hunky dory.

(Of course, Tom isn’t going for any of that hogwash and, when Ben is threatened by the creature, he shoots it. *heheheheh* I didn’t really expect anything less.)

These things have me churning. Will the discovery of what the alien force is doing end up turning out to be moot where humans are concerned? Is it possible we could find the invasion is a big, fat, hairy, juicy mistake on the part of the otherworlders? Is it further possible mankind could be shown a mutual understanding between the two factions without pissing each other off? Or is there something more nefarious involved? (Why else would there be a coup building inside the alien machine?)

“Molon Labe” was an “in your face” episode that steam rolled along with intrigue and revelations providing more questions than answers. But in good ways. In addition to the above, we got some interesting “closure” between Tom and Ben.

The intense discussion between the two was a long time coming. Ben still harbors “alienness” within him — it wrestles alongside his innate fear of being a lackey of the invading forces who could still possibly use him for their own devices. With this in mind, it was a nice touch to see the almost ferocious love Tom spewed at Ben during their tiff about him leaving 2nd Mass. Tom’s love for his son is evident; Ben’s adamance about leaving is just as strong-willed. So it was the bow atop the package with the last good-bye between the two, their mutual understanding. Tom pulled back the emotion and paternal need to protect his son enough to let Ben go.

Earlier, with the “come and get us” attitude of the 2nd Mass, I had to tip my hat to what the writers did this chapter, effectively flipping the bird at the aliens while calling their bluff. Nice to have the ace in their pocket of a captured Overlord to bargain with.

Onward to Charleston …

Notes:

• More new menaces from our friendly neighborhood oppressors: Creepy crawlies that appear to be miniature skitters and remind us ever more of cockroaches. *shudder*
• Why did the Overlord state “I’m afraid he can’t hear you” when he was talking through Ben to Tom? I found that rather uncharacteristic of the creature …
• I gave a mental shout when Tom popped the Overlord. I was certain he was dead, right then and there.
• Nice set-up for a big (huge, even!) return for Ben this episode. No doubt about that.
• Another big character in Jamil is offed somewhat shockingly. (We saw Boon’s death, too.) Life and death has big meaning on Falling Skies. (But … we all know that.)
• Matt makes his bones. Bully.
• We discover Charleston is 500 miles away. News Flash: A lot can happen in 500 miles.
• The Overlords know full well “sentiment equals weakness” when it comes to humans. It’s one of their biggest advantages in their war against us.

Quotations:

“We need to think about what we’re going to do if those things get in here …” — Lourdes
“That’s easy: Die.” — Anne

“No matter what you do or who you are, something terrible is going to happen to you … all we have to do is wait …” — Lourdes to Anne

Clacked by Michael Noble
on Jul 23, 2012 @ 02:17 EST5EDT