Falling Skies – Weaver discovers a face from his past

In the first season-and-a-half of Falling Skies, I’m not sure I thought once what kind of father Weaver was before the war. It’s interesting, considering how much the series is about what kind of father Tom is, that I’d never really made that connection. It’s a much different kind of connection between Ben and the skitters that is beginning to worry me. With no Red Eye to drive that particular story, I’m less sure of where it is going.

When you think about it, it should come as a surprise that Weaver wasn’t exactly a picnic of a father. Jeanne’s outburst in front of the leadership of the 2^nd Mass could have been more discreet, but it did lead to a nice conversation later between Weaver and Tom. While I understand from a character perspective why Jeanne would want to stay with Diego and their rag-tag collection of children, I was disappointed by the decision. With this one instance, Falling Skies has probably maxed out it’s “miracle reunion” quota for the series; anything else would just be cheap and manipulative – So I don’t want to see Anne Glass’ family magically show up, ‘ya here? But losing Jeanne so quickly after he found her – and so closely following the loss of Jimmy – it is a tough burden to lay down at Weaver’s feet.

Maybe the compass will help Jeanne find the way back to the 2^nd Mass in the future – figuratively speaking of course. But it is an important item that’s been passed around a couple of characters now, and has now found its way to the person that was supposed to have it. So perhaps we haven’t seen the last of it, or Jeanne. I would like to get the opportunity to see what kind of father Weaver has become.

Fatherhood is an evolving challenge for Tom Mason, even if he is supposed to be the character who has it locked down. It was inevitable that he would have to let Matt get into the war, I just didn’t think it would happen so soon. As much as the youngest Mason was obviously out of place, I absolutely loved the cold open of the episode; I thought it was a dream sequence, but kept wondering who it was that might be dreaming. His reaction to the exploding skitter heads was absolutely classic.

I’m nervous about where Ben’s storyline is going. I like the idea of playing out some type of connection with the skitters, but I appreciate it a whole lot more when he hates it and it drives him to vengeance. Keeping things to himself – even when Hal obviously knows that something is going on – worries me that he might be considering embracing that connection down the road. Ben’s been rescued; I’d rather not see him fall back into the alien fold.

Clacked by Ivey West
on Jul 01, 2012 @ 22:00 EST5EDT