The first season of TNT‘s Falling Skies drew to a close a few weeks ago, but as we say here on Seriable: story continues. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of that curtain closer came in the final moments. But what did the scene mean?
The following contains spoilers if you are yet to see the Falling Skies season 1 finale.
WHAT HAPPENED:
In the closing moments a harnessed Karen, flanked by a bipedal alien, asks Tom to come with them:
“They didn’t expect resistance on this level. They find that…interesting, and want to talk.”
After directing a verbal volley at the bipedal alien for having the temerity to want to talk, Tom reasons that going with them might help Ben, who still has a connection to the harness even though it has been removed.
Against the judgement of Weaver, Tom takes Karen’s hand and walks off into the lens-flaring spacecraft, along with the rangy alien. Fade to black.
CONSIDERATIONS
>”They didn’t expect resistance on this level.”
Resistance is both theme of the show and Tom’s mantra, but it raises the question — what were the aliens expecting?
It seems they were anticipating something of a walkover. It’s possibly the first time they have encountered such a resilient species, and may further contextualize the Skitters, who we know to be harnessed and speculate to be under the control of the bipedlers.
It’s intriguing though — what, or who, are they referring to by “resistance on this level”?
INTERPRETATIONS
- They could be referring to humanity in general. With communications down, this would give a perspective of the broader battle being played on across the world — are global resistance groups making an effective stand against the invaders?
- Alternatively, they could be referring specifically to Tom and the 2nd Mass. After all, he got Ben back, helped fry a bunch of Mechs, and he’s put a rocket up them.
CONCLUSION
Personally, I think it’s both. It has to boil down to the strength of humanity since Falling Skies has that sort of sentimentality. But I also think this will be harnessed, if you will, through the personal journey of Tom and the 2nd Mass.
That’s not to say the bipedlers are necessarily running scared or anything — it would seem they are still winning the war. But it’s possible they didn’t expect it to still be dragging on by this stage.
There seems to be a genuine curiosity amongst the invaders about the human spirit. Perhaps they see something in us that they lack within themselves? However powerful they seem, maybe it would be in their nature to roll over if the tables were reversed?
There’s a lot about them that we don’t yet to understand, so it’s a good thing that Tom is going to have this ‘chat’ (I’m sure tea and cream cakes will be on hand). I suspect that their overarching goal — which has yet to be revealed — will also come into play through the harnessing of children and interest in “resistance on this level.”
Do you have any thoughts on what this scene means?
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Well, brother I think the Bi-pedalers (BP’s, Tallboys?) are curious on an anthropological level. I’m sure they are used to romping over their opposition no matter where they go and they are the alien version of “amazed” that humans are still fighting back. Perhaps they’re thinking they don’t have to enslave us and some sort of bargain can be struck. Considering we are so industrious in our opposition. Maybe their resources are stretched too thin and they don’t have the time to fight a persistent resistance because they need to move on to the next planet. Better to get on with business than constantly putting out fires.
I don’t see how the human race can throw off the yoke of enslavement considering how handily they were defeated. It might be to “our” advantage to bide time and cut a deal before we are exterminated or turned into skitters. It just might be that the BP’s are on a timetable and need to move on. It would be fun to find out they are on the run themselves and need to scavenge and escape before whoever is pursuing them catches up.
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“It just might be that the BP’s are on a timetable and need to move on. It would be fun to find out they are on the run themselves and need to scavenge and escape before whoever is pursuing them catches up.”
Brother Dave, that’s a very interesting and fresh idea. That would certain put the Skitters amongst the pigeons, as they say.
What could they be scavenging for? Metal? Labor? Some as yet unknown resource?
If they are being hunted themselves it would increase the tension, and that might not be a bad thing.
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I’m struggling to believe that the aliens were referring to more than the Boston Resistance when Karen spoke those lines. And if they’re in any way referring to Tom’s ultra lucky shot, I’d have to laugh again.
First, what little resistance was shown, including the jamming radio, was paltry at best. There was no epic battle shown in the finale as hinted at, and we weren’t even shown the epic fail!
Second, IF the aliens were referring to some global resistance, then it makes it even more absurd that they should land their flexy flier in front of one Tom Mason of Boston, with whom they’d like to chat.
The backstory provided by TNT on the FS website tells us that the aliens outright killed 6 billion humans in their initial attack, turning all “mammals” into “human soup” which the Skitters were nice enough to clean up (hence the lack of dead bodies). And I’m supposed to believe that the aliens are impressed with the resistance? Or that they couldn’t easily squash the 2nd Mass all huddled at JFK high?
Third, given the initial attack and the aliens’ outright murder of a bunch of harnessed kids, their desire for children to harness seems more opportunistic than part of any major plan.
There’s a majot disconnect with this show between the characters and the plot.
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Skylar: I can understand many of your frustrations. At times the story they want to tell doesn’t quite sync with what plays out onscreen. It’s a high-concept premise so I can allow it some margin.
That said, I think the show can address some of these problems in season 2, and doing so will take it to the next level. The final scene for instance, sets up some intriguing possibilities.
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