Falling Skies Cast: Falling Skies Recap for Two-Hour Series Premiere

Falling Skies Recap for Two-Hour Series Premiere Part 1: “Live and Learn"

The opening voice over tells us how the aliens arrived in big ships, and we didn't attack them with nuclear weapons which was a mistake since they didn't want to be friends. EMPs (the bright lights) caused all forms of electronics to stop working. Then the aliens blew up army bases, capitals and major cities all around the world. Then the Skitters and Mechs came that started capturing kids and put harnesses on them.

Dr. Anne Glass has the children drawing pictures and telling stories about what happened to help them deal with the horrors they've faced. Matt Mason tells her how his mom died, and that his brother Ben was at Nick's house and he might have been taken. Matt is worried about his dad and Hal because they are out fighting.

Tom and Hal are running away from Mechs. We see a person get shot. They're pushing a cart of food, and a targeting system (that looks like the one the predators used in the predator movies) is targeting them and shots at them hitting the cart full of food, which is left behind. They make it to a line of defense and cover, but it is quickly blown up. Tom and Hal find an abandoned store and hide as the Skitters come. They were a strange noise as the Skitters approach, and see one person killed, and a girl who was knocked down by a blast, apparently stunned not killed. She is soon surrounded by skitters. Tom and Hall get away and run into Weaver who says that they barriers are down and that they are falling back. They witness a ship fly over and see another EMP blast. Tom tells the screaming girl to be quite, the noise attracts Skitters and Mechs.

Hal tells Jimmy that they lost, Captain Jamison, Jarred's cousin and a bunch of guys he didn't know. The fighters make there way into their makeshift camp, and Tom finds his youngest son, Matt. Anne and Lourdes are serving soup. Tom only has one can of Tuna to give to Anne. Anne shows Tom the pictures that Matt drew of the family. Tom is called to a meeting with Porter.

Porter tells his people that the city is lost and they have to split up, hide and scavenge. Tom says that they can't leave the city, because of the harnessed kids. Weaver agrees that they can't leave and he wants to stay here and fight. Porter says that the Skitter's aerial units are picking up groups of 500 to 600 humans. They are spitting up into units of 300 (100 fighters and 200 civilians). Porter has already sent out 9 of these units and they are the last three. Anderson takes the 10th Mass to Marblehead (with a Battle Droid and a Padme from Star Wars Episode I on the table). Sam has Jefferies as his second in command and they are to move west along route 3 until they get to Revere. Weaver is given command of the 2nd Mass, to replace Jamison, and he gives him Mason as his second in command. They are to move west Acton. Weaver wants to know what to do if they start picking up group smaller than 300, and Porter says they'll break up into smaller units and continue. Weaver wants to fight, mostly because the mother-ships have left and they are less of them now than when those ships come back. Porter says, "We're gonna to split. We're gonna run. We're gonna hide, and we're gonna survive."

Porter gives them each a list of food store along their routes. He also says that the medical and science people are coming with him. They are still working on getting the harnesses off, that they lose two more kids today. They'll move out in the morning.

Weaver had 8 years active army, and 6 six years reserve, and Porter saw him in action in Desert Storm. Prof. Mason has read a lot of books. Porter put Mason as 2nd in command to defend the civilians. Porter reminds him it's not over.

Anthony and Click are telling Jimmy, Dai a story about the a guy from the 5th Mass that is out of ammo except for 2 bullet in a 45 automatic. The second guy from behind the dumpster took a head shot and killed the skitter. Anthony and Hal look at the alien ship over the city of Boston. Hal wants to find a way into kill the lizard in charge. Dai would like 7 or 8 eight trucks full of C4 and maybe a couple of boats to go at the ship. The professor says that the outside would be like a fortress, and they need to get inside like a Trojan horse or like the WWI sampers, tunnel underneath and plant a big pile of TNT underneath, or like the Romans at Pontess, and he was interpreted. Anthony gets back to work getting the 50 caliber attached to the car. Hal asks his dad if tunneling would work and Tom says it has throughout history, Alexander, Macedonians. Hal tells him

to ease up on the history lessons.

Karen and Hal are discussing the best way to use motorcycles for scouting, and Karen is not too happy when Lourdes comes over offering soup to Hal. Karen makes fun of Lourdes saying, "I'm glad you're okay."

They are preparing to move out the next morning. Tom and Anne has a conversation. Anne says the silver lining is that she would be dealing with flu shots and neurotic mothers, and Tom says he'd be grading midterms or at least starring at a stack of them. Tom says, "Retreat, Regroup, Return, Revenge."

Weaver tells Tom to listen, not agree, to his orders. Scott is working on a station wagon, while his wife Kate is inside. Anne, their niece, wants to know if she should pack the medical supplies in the car, and as they doubt him to car starts. Matt is upset about the move, because it's the 8th and it was supposed to be his party. Hal got a birthday party. Tom says that they will try to something once they get settled. As they gear p Tom sees a stack of books. He grabs Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne, and a Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. He tries to make a decision on which he should take and finally goes with Dickens. The 2nd Mass moves out, with the great score playing underneath. Most of the people are on foot.

Anne says that she knows one of the houses they walked by. Her husband had a landscape piece there, and that she remembered going out that night to seal the deal and their child was crying. Tom changes the subject and says that they are on Bartlett Hill and about 400 years ago it was a native American settlement. As Anne noted, he is ever the history professor, and he is hopefully humans will be here in another 400 years, and we see the ship station on top of the city.

The group stops at a food store, but there’s not much there. Hal reports that every food store between here and Acton is picked clean. Weaver says that there is too many of them. Tom volunteers to go back and get food from a shop smart but wants half the fighters to go with him. Weaver only gives him the pickup and six fighters. Weapons only what they got plus the mags they can carry. They are to meet back up at the Littleton bridge. Anne questions this mission. Tom as her to take care of Matt. Tom gets Karen and Hal as scouts. Tom asks Karen to get Anthony, Click and Dai. Dai has some C4, and is helping Jimmy prepare for the mission

Matt is talking about his party. He doesn't want to tell his dad his wish. Tom reassures him with the fact that Rule 619 says, "you can tell me anything." His wish is for everything to go back to the way it was. Tom tells him that he does too and that it's going to get better. Matt and Hal have some brotherly moments.

Tom lays out the plan to get to the Shop Smarts. Hal and Karen have to check out the road to see which way the Skitters and Mechs would be coming. Tom asks if Hal needs anymore Hollow-nose, and Hal corrects him to say Hollow-point and he says could use an extra clip. Tom corrects him Mag. Hal thinks it's funny how seven/eights months how different things were, and his dad wouldn't let him ride his bike without a night light and now he's offering him extra ammo. They share a hug and tell each other to be safe.

Tom and the gang wait on the recon from Karen and Hal. Tom sees a young dead boy with a harness partially removed. The boy was about the same age as his other son, Ben. Hal is by a river looking for Sitters and Mechs, and a group walks by him on the bridge. In a scene a little reminiscent of Lord of the Rings, Hal hides in the mound of dirt as they go by. Hal sees his brother Ben with a harness, along with several other kids.

They rush back and tell the group that Ben is alive. He wants to go get him. Everybody's in, but Tom says they have to stick to the mission and then they can get Ben. Tom wants to get him, but he doesn't want Matt to lose his other brother and father, because if they do this the wrong way they all die.

They're heading for the Water Town Shop Smart. They will do their recon, and that Tom and Dai will go in after dark. The plan is for everyone to leave if something goes wrong. Tom says that if they make this costly enough the aliens will leave, and that "History is full of inferior forces creating so much trouble that the invading army leaves." He gives the example of the Athenians at Marathon, the Scots against the British at Sterling Bridge, the American Revolution, and the Red Soxs/Yankees '04.

Night has fallen and Tom, Dai and Hal have gone into the warehouse. They survey the place, and bring in the pick-up. They start loading food up, and we see an Skitter's hand on the side of a rack as Karen passes by. Hal falls off of a ladder when a Skitter lunges at him. They shoot the skitter, but to no avail and then a Mech arrives. Tom uses his block of C4 and sopping cart to destroy it. The six legged two armed Skitter is making its way towards Tom and Dai shots it with a shotgun in the head. We see the dying alien, has on a uniform and what looks to be battle armor.

The two motorcycles and pickup arrive at the bridge, and everyone is happy to see them, especially, Matt, Anne and Lourdes. Tom reports to Weaver that they got a truckload of food and that Hal saw Ben. Tom says that after they take the Acton Armory, he'll be going back to get him. Weaver says that we're not going back, you're not going back. Tom says that he's my son (reminded me of Michael on LOST a little), and asks Weaver what he would do if he could get his family back?

Anne has a little cupcake and a match for Matt for his birthday. Matt asks about his wish before making a wish. Hal comes up with the "thing" and tells Matt its from dad, a Rip Stick skateboard, and Dai gives him the helmet. Matt takes it out for a little spin and even shares with some of the other kids, which give us another little family moment and a break from the bleakness of the world. The fighters and civilians get some smiles from the play. Weaver motions to Tom, and he announces that it's time to go. Karen is forward and Hal is flank. They are headed toward a meadow with good cover. The swelling score picks by up once again as we see the Alien ship in the distant.

Falling Skies Recap for Two-Hour Series Premiere for Part 2: “The Armory”

The second part of the premiere opens at Acton Armory, with Tom’s team running towards the armory. Dai notices Mech tracts. Tom says that the tracks are six hours old. Tom is about to throw a ball towards the building, and Tom bets Hal $5 million, but Hal would rather it be for a stick of gum. The dog chases after the ball, and a Mech comes out in response to the dog, and Jimmy messes everything up over the dog. They run, and it seems they get away from these things pretty easy when there is only one of them.

We see Matt in a bedroom of a little boy and it almost seems like a flashback at first. Hal is being asked by a lot of people if he saw their kids. Matthew is upset by oatmeal again. Tom is off to a meeting with Weaver. Weaver is getting the break down on what happened over coffee. Tom says that they did go in, that they didn't want to attract Skitters. That Jimmy, the 13 year old fighter, was the break down in discipline that caused a problem for the mission. Weaver orders him to go back tonight. Mason says that like the food stores and pharmacies, the armory is probably empty and the Skitters are staking it out.

Anne comes to Weaver because she has heard the complaints from the civilians, and it appears is starting to become their voice to Weaver. The civilians don't think its fair that the fighters are sleeping in the houses while the civilians are in tents. Weaver says that his fighters need the best rest to protect everyone else. Anne also says that they have heard the fighters refer to the civilians are called "eaters" by the fighters.

Anne and Tom walk and talk about the situation. Tom wants egg, bacon, hash browns, and an English muffin with a lot of butter. Tom says that civilians are a liability and hindrance, but also the best motivation to fight. Anne, says that uncle Scott wants to talk to him about the aliens.

Tom is teaching the kids science class. The most miraculous gift is life itself. Matt says that they are not grateful for Skitters. Tom agrees that they are not grateful for them, but they are grateful for the chance to study them which should help us fight them.

Scott had his older students brain-storming about the aliens, and one of his older female students made the observation that whenever we've come up with robots they've basically been like ourselves with two arms, two legs. Why did the skitters, who have six legs, make bipedal robots? Tom theorizes that they've been studying the earth for a while and maybe they have two legs to create a great psychological impact.

Rick comes up to Hal and doesn't ask about his son, but Hal knows that his son Rick is out there. Mike wants to go out with them whenever they go look for Ben. Lourdes comes asks Hal if he needs any help with the jugs he's carrying. Karen says that she could carry her's. Hal says that she's kidding. Loudres says that she was in a church praying, she's catholic. She saw them come back in and that he looked tired. Karen sarcastically says, "I wonder if the Skitters have a God." Lourdes says that a lot of people have lost their faith, but her faith is stronger than ever. She doesn't ask God to give her things when she prays. She asks God to show what she could do for Him.

Hal and Karen get a room, literally. Hal notices the Harry Potter books and says that his dad used to read them to him. Karen says maybe Lourdes could read them to you. Hal says that she is just being nice, but Karen says that Lourdes is trying to get in his shorts. They embrace and it looks like something might happen, when Tom comes in and says get a room, Hal responds, "We did." Tom goes on to tell them that Weaver has ordered them to go back to the armory. Karen says she in, as do Click and Anthony from other rooms. Tom says, "Thin walls, I guess everybody hears everything," and points at them.

Night falls and Tom tells Jimmy to sit this one out. Click is replacing him, because he's bigger if they find weapons, but we all know it's because he messed up last time. The six of them head out as the score swells. They make there way into the armory, and Click is shot with two arrows. He fires his weapons on the way down and hits one of the unseen attackers. Tom wants to know what they want.

Pope says you and your guns. Tom is going to fight, until they see that they have captured Karen and Hal. Tom and his group put down their guns. Whitey and Cueball, get the injured Billy as a Mech enters the armory. Everyone is inside an access tunnel, headed back to Pope's base, the members of the 2nd Mass have hoods over their heads.

They are led to an auditorium. Pope wants to know if any of them are board certified micro surgeons so they could fix his brother. Pope says that they are obviously not family. Tom denies that they are part of a resistance. Pope, channels Sawyer from LOST, with his nicknames. Tom is dubbed Papa Smurf. Karen is sexy freedom fighter girl. Hal is strapping young man. Anthony is a gang banger. Dai is called an oriental of some kind. Pope's band of marauders are all redneck racists apparently. They say that they don't want a Anthony because of his race, and they says that Asians are good at fixing things.

For some reason Pope has a sword right now. Pope says that they don't need another leader. Hal admits that they are a part of the 2nd Mass and they can get him more guns. Pope knows all about the 2nd Mass, 111 fighters and 200 civilians camping in a meadow. Pope figures out that Tom is his dead. Pope says that he wants to trade these five for the 50 cal and the car. Pope has a sense of humor for a seemingly bad guy.

After the others are lead out, Pope talks with Tom about his life before all this. Tom tells him that he was an American History teacher. Pope says that instead of colonists and British, isn't this more like we're the Indians and they're the never ending tide of humanity coming in from Europe. Pope says that the arrivals of these evil creatures is the best thing that ever happened to him, and that they've been on a bug hunt for the last six months.

Hal talks with Maggie and tries to get her to consider joining the 2nd Mass. Hal tries to attack her, but she takes him down, and sends him back on his way with the bag over his head.

Pope asks what Tom calls the spidery aliens, and Tom says Skitters. Pope and his group call them Cooties, like the kids game. He says that before the Cooties, he was always up against the cope and people like him. Tom says that he's killed a few Skitters, and a rifle to the head does the trick. Pope says to take out a couple of legs to slows it down and weaken it, and then you take the head shot. Pope has the carcass of one of the Cooties that he took down solo. When they raided the armory they got a bazooka, and they lit an VW engine on fire and attacked a ship. They shot at it, but the shipped must have sensed something and got out of the way. Tom asks for a beer.

Maggie tells Hal that he's got one hour. Weaver is back on camp in his house. Anne walks in and talks with him. Weaver says that people in this area were taken to a camp near Stockton. Hal interrupts them her before she can address the needs of the civilians with Weaver. Tom is asked about his boys, and says that he has two other boys and one is harnessed.

Pope says that he has a boy and a girl. They were with their mother in Florida. Pope wants to know when Tom was going to make his move, since Tom has been eyeing Billy's gun. Pope thinks that they were having a good conversation, but Tom had ulterior motives. Tom asks him to join the resistance, and that he could guarantee good conversation. Pope doesn't see any hope for the future. Weaver calls in Mike. Mike is ready to make the trade, but Weaver says that we don't negotiate. Anne is told to wake up the civilians and they need to ready to move in 10 minutes. Weaver says if all they had were fighters they would go and look for them. He tells Mike to take him next door and watch him. Mike lets him go, which is funny. Anne comes in and says she may be able to help.

Anne and Hal get back to the rendezvous point, and Anne tells Maggie that she is doctor and she may be able to help. Pope wants to know if the GTO is in the parking lot. Anne says that she's a doctor and she might be able to help his brother. Pope channels Sawyer again, calling Anne, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. Pope and a few of his people set out to rob the 2nd Mass. Billy, Maggie and Cueball are left behind. Weaver says that they will be consequences for Mike, for letting a 17 year old over powering him.

Pope talks with Weaver. Pope says that a control ship is going to pick up on these flares. Pope wants to the food, the GTO and the 50 cal in exchange for his friends. Weaver tells one of his people to leave the food.

Billy tells Karen to get up and let him look at her. Maggie must have had a little flash back. She quickly shots Billy and Cueball, and says that Billy deserved it and Cueball thought he was better because he brought chocolate, he wasn't.

Tom and crew make it back to camp and open fire on Pope's group. Weaver tells Mike to "take 'em." One of Pope's men get on the 50 cal and opens fire, but he gets shot. Tom tells Pope to join the 2nd Mass or die, and Pope tells Tom that you better run professor. Pope says that he wants to sit tight and sees how the air strikes go. A control ship flies over and pretty much blows up the remainder of Pope's people. Pope is stopped by Weaver, and he disarms him.

They go to John F. Kennedy High School as their new base of operations. Weaver says that today was no good, they almost lost Tom and his squad. Hal and Anne were reckless, and they don't want to lose their doctor. This time it worked out. Weaver tells him to go look for his son. They're going to check out a hospital, Weaver is giving him three days. Tom is instructed to escort Pope to his cell before he leaves. Pope is content to sit in his cell for a little while, but Maggie wants to earn her citizenship by being a fighter. Pope says that, "Being a leader of a post-apocalyptic gang of outlaws has been exhausting."

Tom thanks Anne for coming with Hal, and then we get another Father son moment his father days, as Matt and Tom play catch (Lacrosse Style) with the sticks Matt found. They are about to head out to find Ben. Maggie is going to lead them to the hospital. The End until Falling Skies returns next week at 10/9c pm on TNT.

Alien Questions:

Why are they here?

Why are the Skitters kidnapping the kids?

Why are the Mechs bi-pedal?

How many people survived?

Character Questions:

What happened to Tom's wife?

What happened to husband and child?

Pop Culture References:

Two-Hour Series Premiere – Part 1: “Live and Learn”

Stars Wars - Battle Droid, Padme From Episode I

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea & Tale of Two Cities