Review: Falling Skies S01 Episode 6: 'Sanctuary: Part 1'

 Change seems to be the order of the day in this episode of Falling Skies. Tensions are rising in the camp of the Second Mass and not everybody is relieved to have Ricky and Ben back. They have a new insult term for the harnessed kids now - 'Razerback'. One family try to make a run for it after obtaining some medical supplies from Anne. Anne puts up a good fight, but in the face of a gun brandishing middle aged father, she cannot win. While Mason, Weaver and the gang are chasing after them to reclaim the meds, Terry interferes and helps them out.




 He informs then that the Seventh Mass has been destroyed and only a handful of adult survivors remained, while the children were harnessed. He also had knowledge of the aliens patrol group coming towards Second Mass. He convinces them to send the children and some fighters with him to a safe house. Then the rest of the Second Mass, along with the Third Mass, who were on their way there, could gather and come to the safe house.

 That night the patrol group finds out the Second Mass base and a fight ensues between the Mech and the fighters. One skitter goes behind, while everybody is involved with the Mech and attacks Jimmy, the thirteen year old, gun-toting kid. After a very cheesy crushing of the globe of the Earth, it is about to attack Jimmy when Weaver kills it from behind. The brave hearted Jimmy finally acts like a kid and hugs Weaver. Weaver is positive towards Jimmy and we can see there's a fatherly bond growing inside him.

 At the safe house, Terry takes a child out into the woods for an exchange with a little girl. The little girl is harnessed and a mech and skitter appear out of nowhere and reminds him to honor the deal he had made. He plans to surrender all the kids to them in a couple of days. The way this scene was handled was chillingly beautiful! Back at the safe house, we see Pope chained up like an animal. He is in a bad shape and we find out that he was the one who had given information about the whereabouts of the Second Mass, under an extremely difficult situation.

This episode was very predictable, but that does not mean that it was in any ways, boring. There was a lot to like about the writing in this week's episode. In fact this episode was one of the best in the season. We get to know more about the skitters without the information being blasted into our face, through Ben. Turns out the harnesses do more than get the kids disease-free. Ben is able to do a hundred push-ups without breaking a sweat now. He also explains that the skitters were more like family. Dr. Anne is now more alert and has a gun at all times to protect herself the next time somebody tries to attack her. Mason went from 'I'll not send away my kids anywhere' to 'They must go for their own safety'!

I love the way the skitters are being handled. Last week, the skitter in the hallway was very chillingly creepy. This week it was absolutely terrifying while attacking Jimmy. If they handle next week's episode right, then the predictability of this week's episode will fade from the mind and I will probably love it. And for goodness sakes, let Pope out!