Falling Skies – Connor Jessup provides insight into Red Eye – Interview

Since the second season of Falling Skies started, Ben (Connor Jessup) has been through a lot. He accidentally shot his father, Tom, while disobeying an order to retreat to kill a skitter in the premiere. Then, in last week’s episode, Ben went on a rogue skitter-killing mission which lead to Jimmy’s death. His harness-enabled super endurance and strength have assisted the 2nd mass in their battle against the aliens, but is Ben trustworthy? And, what about his secret interactions with Red Eye?

I spoke with Connor Jessup about these questions last week. Plus, he also discussed what he would personally want with him in a post-apocalyptic world.

Can you give some insight into what is going on with Red Eye?

Red Eye is an interesting character. Right now, he’s kinda a complete mystery. We know he was on the ship with Tom. We know that he has been following us. We know that he is for some reason interested in Tom and [Ben]. But we don’t know why. We don’t know anything about him. I can say that within the next couple episodes you will find out more about him or start to find out a lot more about him. and a lot more about why he is interested in [Ben] and interested in Tom. And he does become a very, very important character as the series goes on.

And, to have a face on the aliens, I think is very helpful for our show, because before they were like the horde like monsters, the faceless villain. And, now to have a face, a very distinctive face. It helps to humanize them. They were humanized partly at the end of last season when Anne took them apart and found a harnesses inside. Certainly, as this season goes on they become more and more complex. They are more complicated then we thought they were. So, Red Eye helps eliminate all that.

In the last episode, the 2nd Mass decided to head south to Charleston and when Tom was on the alien ship, they offered a safe haven for humans. Is there any connection between those two?

Spoiler territory — I can say it is a legitimate concern. I can see why the 2nd mass and the audience are concerned. It happened the episode after Tom was offered this green zone area. It’s certainly suspicious. I think the 2nd Mass will be weary.

Should the 2nd Mass be concerned that Ben still has the harness and worry about the possibly that he could be turned or working — knowingly or unknowingly — with the aliens?

I think Ben’s biggest fear is that he is a unwitting sleeping agent or unwitting agent of the skitters. He is terrified that he will hurt his family or friends and the 2nd Mass. And, that’s his greatest fear. It’s a similar fear to the one that Tom has now. If you’re in the 2nd Mass, it’s completely legitimate to be worried about Ben. Despite the fact that he has proved himself to be a good fighter and he’s killed a lot of aliens. He still hasn’t proved himself to be particularly trustworthy, in terms of, he’s not very good at following orders, he’s kinda indirectly responsible for Jimmy dying. He’s hiding information about the skitters and interacting with them. He hasn’t shown himself to be trustworthy.

Ben has been going out on rogue missions to kill aliens, will Jimmy’s death change that?

I think Jimmy’s death with have a major impact on him. Because until now, he’s been doing stupid stuff for awhile. As you saw in the premiere, he hasn’t been following orders for awhile. With Jimmy dying, it’s a consequence. A massive consequence. It puts focus on the reckless behavior he’s doing.

Will we see more brotherly bonding between Ben and Hale? And, his family?

Yes, as the season goes on, you will see the relationship between [Ben] and Hale will become more developed. And, it will be very different by the end of the season. The relationship between [Ben] and Tom will become more developed. Matt will take a different role within the 2nd Mass. Yes, it will change. I think the center of the show is the Mason family. I think the core of the show is this family drama.

A twitter question: Now that you have been through two seasons of filming a series about fighting aliens, what five items would you take and what two weapons would you want to use if you were personally in this situation?

First aid kit. Though I wouldn’t have the first clue how to use it. But, I figure I’d run into someone who would know how to use it.

Duct Tape. You can never go wrong with duct tape. I think duct tape will be like the currency of the post-apocalyptic world.

Books. I probably couldn’t survive mentally without a good book. Or, several good books.

A knife.  A knife is very versatile. Everyone in the 2nd Mass has a knife of some sort. Whether it’s a flip-blade or a utility knife of some sort. Something good that can hack and saw and defend if need be from the raging cannibalistic hordes.

The reason I’m having trouble is because in any real post-apocalyptic world, I would be dead. I’d be one of the first ones dead. Because to be alive you have to be either really really lucky or really really resilient. And, I’m not really either.

I can’t really think of a fifth item. I’ll save that for whatever I can grab first.

The gun I have on the show, which is pretty much the only gun I know how to use is a G36 assault rifle. I don’t know how easy it would be to get a G36 assault rifle, but if you could get your hands on one and get some ammo that would be nice.  And, I guess the knife I said earlier kinda counts as a weapon.

Oh, I know what to take for my last item, for my fifth one. Night vision goggles would be helpful. If you watch our show you would think that post-apocalyptic also meant permanent night.

For the second weapon, a glock pistol would be nice.

Falling Skies returns tonight on TNT at 9 pm ET/8 pm CT with “Young Bloods.” 

Clacked by Carla Day
on Jul 01, 2012 @ 11:58 EST5EDT