Falling Skies Episode 3 'Prisoner of War' Review

Tom Mason and his group spot the enslaved kids from the rooftop of a building. The aliens are making them collect metal scraps and wires. There are two Mechs and three Skitters guarding the kids and if they wait any longer, there would be more aliens along the way. But that plan is thwarted when Karen accidentally gives away their position and the group has to retreat. Back at the John. F. Kennedy High School, which is the place that Commander Porter had ordered them to meet up at, Tom is submerged with pleas from grieving parents enquiring about their kids. Commander Porter gives out orders to collect as much data as they can about the aliens and a chief surgeon had found a theoretical way to remove the harness from the kids without killing them in the process.

Pope, in his usual flair, even as a prisoner disdainfully badmouths the food being served and in the process we get to know that he was actually a chef before the alien invasion. He manages to convince them to let him cook for everybody. Meanwhile, Tom finds out that the surgeon who had come up with the new plan to remove the harness was actually his friend, Michael Harris. Tom’s wife and Harris were together scavenging for food when his wife dies and Harris went missing. Instead of feeling betrayed, Tom understands Harris’ predicament at the moment and lets it slide.

Tom and his group go back to rescue Ben and there one of the group’s men finds his son and rushes head-on to rescue the kid. Tom gets knocked off and Karen and Hal are taken prisoners. Later, on his way to rescue all the kids back, a Skitter attacks Tom and he valiantly fights against it and single-handedly wins against the beast. Next morning, he is seen dragging the half dead Skitter across the halls of John. F. Kennedy school. The Skitter is a ‘prisoner of war’, they could study it and learn its weaknesses. Though Weaver offers him two soldiers, Tom refuses him and goes alone to get his kids back.

That night, Hal witnesses the mass murder of all the other kids who were in the same group as the one who was rescued. The aliens were sending the humans a message by letting Hal go to report what happened to the others. Tom gets back to the school with Hal, where apparently the rescued boy is still alive even after removing the harness. Tom hadn’t got over his wife’s death, he and Harris get into a fight over a chat about the imprisoned Skitter. The closing shot of the episode shows the Skitter ominously opening its eyes widely and the rescued kid also opens his eyes, which has this fan very excited.

I love the writing and direction of the show. I really like Tom’s character, the emotional bond he has with his sons is very touching, especially with Matt. His reasoning and moral compass doesn’t waiver much even when he is under severe strain. But his emotions got the better of him this time with Harris. And that makes him human and all the more empathetic. I was really angry with that black guy, if only he had waited and made a plan with the others, they could have easily rescued both of the kids and Karen would not have been held a prisoner. Tom and Dr. Glass have a growing bond between them and they understand each other well and this could turn into a possible romance in the future. I also like the way they’re portraying Dr. Glass. They haven’t turned Bloodgood into a caricature hottie, which she easily could be, but hinting us through the interviews that she has a much meatier role than shown up till now.
We now know that the harness is a biological weapon which is like a plant and grows its roots to the back of the spine and releases a toxin which induces a coma-like state to the kids. The closing shot showed us that the Skitter still has control over the kid even though the harness is removed, which reminds me of zombies!

Were you angry with the black dude as much as I was? What does the ominous closing shot of the episode indicate? Will the creature escape? Can Tom rescue his son, Karen and all the other kids? Even if he does, how can they stop the Skitters’ control over the kids? And why are the aliens making the kids collect scrap metal?