Review: Falling Skies "Youngbloods"

Non Spoiler Review:

As the 2nd Mass heads to Charleston, Ben and Hal get their bikes stolen and stumble upon a group of adolescent survivors, one of whom has a connection to Weaver. Tom's also the new head of the berzerkers, and takes issue with how they're using Matt on their missions.

A rather straightforward episode, it still carried a decent emotional arc. It also delivered some creepy alien chills and a more detailed look at the harnessing process.

While Falling Skies has pretty much nailed the character stuff, it has developed a rather annoying (and potentially damaging) trend at glazing over the tactical situation, allowing the characters and the 2nd Mass as a whole to enter and escape dangerous situations with very little explanation.

Spoilers Now!

Matt is exploring an empty town as a scitter pursues him. He finds himself surrounded. Then both get their head's blown off by the berzerkers. He's covered in blood, but thinks it was all pretty  awesome.

Ben and Hal survey a factory that the aliens are using, wondering what's going on inside. Then their bikes are abruptly stolen by two kids. Ben uses some mysterious abilities to hear their engines, and determines they're heading east.

Ben and Hal track the bikes to a warehouse where a bunch of teens and kids are holed up. Hal enters with hands up and is told to get the hell out. Ben has them all in his sights, so they stand down. They introduce themselves to the leader, Diego, and are told to just take the bikes and go. Hal realizes there are no adults. Hal invites them back to their camp, so Diego brings a few to come check it out and get a warm meal.

Tom brings Anne a chocolate bar he found and they share a kiss that's interrupted by Lourdes. Apparently Tom is aware of Matt's mission, too. Matt's become a minor celebrity among the berzerkers celebrating their scitter kill. Tom realizes that Matt led the scitters into a trap, not just a runner as his father intended. Tom is furious and punishes those involved with sanitation duty, with Matt sitting out the next few missions. Matt's angry with him.

Hal and Ben return with their guests and Weaver and Tom greet him. Only Diego's second in command Jade is Weaver's daughter and they enjoy a happy reunion. Later they discuss her mother's death when she ran out of her medication, as well as Weaver's tendency to let his anger get the best of him.

Diego gives them intel on the factories and are invited to join them on their march south. He'll consider it and thanks them for their help. Diego tells Lourdes that her part of Mexico was destroyed. He and Jade lead a convoy of supplies back to the rest.

As night falls they come upon a burning truck in the road and their warehouse torn apart. They find a survivor who says the scitters took everyone. Back at the 2nd Mass they discuss a plan of attack against the factory which they assume is a harness facility. Weaver and Diego get into a heated disagreement about a plan of attack, upsetting Jade. Diego goes off without their permission and takes his people with him. Matt tags along. Weaver gathers their forces only to realize Diego has left. 

The 2nd Mass gets to the factory, while inside Diego, Jade and the others (including Matt) have all been captured and are in their harnessing facility. Matt and Jade watch one of the boys get harnessed. Next is Matt, but Tom arrives to kill the scitter in time and removes the harness before it can merge with him. 

Ben walks up to the harness incubator where he sees them swimming inside. His implants glow as one comes towards him. He fires into it and blows it apart. Maggie has freed Diego and the others. A scitter jumps on Weaver's leg. Jade tears it off and they kill it. 

They manage their escape from the factory. Weaver gets mended by Anne. He tells his daughter she was right his anger let them all down. She's thankful that he's a great leader and appreciates him as a father. Diego and the others don't want to be part of the resistance, hoping for survival by avoiding the aliens. He gives her his (Jimmy's) compass. As his meds kick in she stays with him, then leaves a note and rejoins Diego. Weaver finds it and learns she's not coming with them to Charleston and she has her own life with Diego and the others. They need her like the 2nd Mass needs him.

Lourdes fills Jamil in on her family in northern Mexico. He tells her not to stop hoping for a better life. Hal finally confronts Ben about what's going on with him, given he saw his spikes glow. Ben prefers to ignore it but won't sign his death warrant with the rest of the survivors who will never trust him. Hal needs to back off.

The Verdict:

Another emotionally heavy episode. The harnessing process was suitably grotesque, especially with the scitter lovingly stroking the hair of the victim. Jades appearance was yet another coincidence, especially considering how far the 2nd Mass must have moved from Boston since the invasion. But at least it ended on a decent note with her leaving with Diego.

Another weak thread was the sketchy attack and escape from the factory was highly glazed over. And the level of coincidence we're experiencing almost suggests the aliens are pulling the strings with everything.

Review: True Blood "Let's Boot and Rally"

Non Spoiler Review:

The search for Russell comes to a head as Eric and Bill enlist Sookie and Alcide to form their own Scooby Doo Mystery Team. Lafayette loses control of his dark side. Terry and Patrick find out the truth about Iraq. Andy and Jason investigate the shifter murders and Sam stumbles onto a greater threat to his kind.

Another strong episode, and again the strength lies in Tara, Pam and Jessica's evolving relationships and the vampire politics goings-on. Jason seems to be embarking on a new quest that will hopefully become a meaningful storyline for him. 

Again, too many characters. But once Russell is back perhaps they'll winnow down the cast. However there has been movement on all of these plots this week, including Lafayette and Iraq, so there's still hope they could grow into something more interesting. The title Let's Boot and Rally rang true, as it did not feel like filler at all.

Spoilers Now!

Alcide and Sookie head upstairs to the bedroom. But when they get into it Sookie throws up, and Bill and Eric appear in the doorway. Lafayette comes home to see his demon face in the mirror. He attempts to pray it away. Andy and Jason both wake up naked in their respective homes. Jason has a vision of himself as a child with Sookie having breakfast with their parents. Bite marks appear on their necks. Jason wakes up to a phone call alerting him of the shifter murders.

Terry and Patrick are tied up and asked if anything followed them there. Evan explains what happened with the others who burned in the fire. After they got back from Iraq he was crashing on their friend's couch and the house caught fire one night. Evan watched the flames move and intercept them, and he saw something looking at him. He ran. It's an ifrit (obviously), a being of smoke and fire that's coming for all of them.

Terry has another flashback immediately following the massacre. Terry had found a woman alive but Patrick ordered him to kill her. She cursed them that the ifrit burns them all and those they love. Terry shot her and they burned all the bodies. Terry saw the ifrit in the fire.

Terry realizes it was waiting to get them all together in one place, so they need to leave. Evan frees them but Patrick punches him out. Terry tells Patrick he isn't lying, but Patrick doesn't believe anything. Terry climbs out of the cellar and has a cigarette outside while Patrick tells him there's no such thing as an ifrit. In the cellar the smoke appears and burns Evan alive.

Debating the Russell situation leads to an argument between Alcide, Bill and Eric. Sookie realizes the madness is never going to end no matter what choice she makes. She agrees to help hunt Russell. They go to one of Alcide's employees involved in the burial and she attempts to get into his mind to see if he's been glamoured. He saw a woman dig Russell up with her hands and she has a necklace with a bat—a female member of the authority. Nora is wearing the same necklace. 

Salome continues to watch her torture. She notifies Eric and Bill they have until dawn to find Russell or be terminated. She then finds Roman in the vault pensive about Drew's betrayal. The chamber contains the supposed actual blood of Lilith which the secular Roman doesn't believe. Salome suggests he throw the religious base a bone and control the message. But later on Roman informs his chancellors about the choice ahead of them. He will not stand by while zealots hijack their cause.

At Fangtasia, Tara makes her appearance. Pam seems proud to see her out and about and wants her to bar tend. She immediately feeds on a willing patron which raises Pam's ire about her feeding in public. If she does anything to mess with Fangtasia she'll silver her and stick her in a coffin.

Jessica witnesses the altercation and orders a drink, then attempts to commiserate about being turned. She offers to hang with Tara if she wants a friend. Tara says she feels crazy in her head. Jessica assures her the feelings aren't bad and succeeds in making Tara feel better. Tara sees Hoyt outside and they share a cigarette. He's a fangbanger now. She tells him to go home when he propositions her. But later in the bathroom Jessica hears Tara feeding on Hoyt and the two get into a fight.

Jason and Andy arrive at the murder scene of the two shifters. Jason wants to know what Andy remembers about the night before, and explains they had a fairy encounter. Andy says they won't talk about it anymore because he doesn't want to mess up his good thing with Holly. Andy then interviews Sam and he admits the victims were shifters like himself.

Lafayette wakes up and sees Jesus' head on his coffee table with his mouth sewn shut. His mother also has the same vision in her hospital bed and seems to have a conversation with Jesus. She says she'll tell Lafayette and starts calling out to him.

Sam informs Luna about the deaths. When he goes to leave there's a truck of masked men calling out shifter and shoot him. He goes down and sees Luna come out. She gets shot too. Emily comes out and runs, changing to a wolf and scampers off. Sam sees the attackers drive off and passes out.

Alcide, Sookie and his employee head toward an old hospital with Bill and Eric, following the trail from his memories. Sookie gets a flash of someone taking Russell inside the hospital. Alcide senses wolves have been there. They come upon a room full of drained victims. Next they find several living people tied up and they arrive in Russell's room finding him nearly healed lying in bed. Eric tells him they've come to finish what they started. Russell tells them to give it their best shot. Alcide abruptly gets pulled out the door.

The Verdict:

Let's Boot and Rally was a stronger episode, with plenty of great vampire scenes, including a touching one between Tara and Jessica, and a nice closing monologue from Roman. Too bad Sookie and Alcide's hook up was derailed.

While Terry's plot has gotten some explanation, do we really need yet another supernatural subplot that's not apparently connected to anything else? At least the shifter crimes might be tied to the vampires or werewolves, but the Bellefleurs seem to be off in their own world for the moment. But on a positive note, all of them got advanced, and the scenes with Jesus' phantasmal head making it's rounds was pretty effective. Most important, it looks as though the Russell teases are finally over and whatever is behind his return will be revealed. 

Review: True Blood "We'll Meet Again"

Non Spoiler Review:

Tara continues to adapt to her new life while Pam has a reunion with Eric. Romans struggles to get more information out of Nora about the sanguinistas, while realizing the conspiracy runs deeper among the Authority. Bill and Eric start their search for Russell. Sookie comes to terms with losing nearly all her friends.

Another full episode, this one was an improvement on the last. There's still quite a muddle of characters, and even though Terry's plot gets a lot more development it still remains very uninteresting with the host of other stuff going on. The Pam and Tara stuff is a pleasant surprise. It's quickly growing into one of the great relationships on the show.

Spoilers Now!

Pam rescues a horribly burned Tara and commands her never to try it again. Tara just wants release. She returns to Fangtasia to find Eric and Bill waiting—both have been freed by the Authority for their mission. That leads to explanations how she's turned Tara. Bill counsels Tara on her new life. She's definitely not a fan of Sookie anymore and warns him to stop worrying about her because there will always be some fool to take a bullet for her.

Eric suspects Pam of freeing Russell but she vows she's never betrayed him and had just about enough of him. She tells him to just release her and get it over with if that's what he wants. Eric rejoins Bill and admits he believes Pam. Bill suggests Nora might be behind it given no one else would know of Russell's imprisonment.

Meanwhile, Alcide takes off in a huff as Lafayette walks out to realize Sookie told him everything. She wants to start doing right, but he calls her the angel of death and storms off too, leaving her to cry and run to Jason's. She wants to turn herself in for Debbie's murder. He gets filled in about Lafayette and Tara as well, which leaves him with a lot to absorb. Jessica overhears and comes out.

Meanwhile the Authority is pondering if Eric and Bill actually killed Russell and are just using this as ruse to rally the sanguinistas. As Salome comes to bed, Roman is watching Nora's torture on video. He needs her to talk to her to get more information.

Sookie finds it difficult to work with everyone's minds thinking on how horrible a person she is. Lafayette has another transformation into his demon persona and tears up Sookie's car. While driving home the car accelerates on its own and she jumps out at the last minute. She gets home and gets drunk.

Alcide talks to Debbie's parents about the truth of her death, that she was killed by Marcus. They tell Andy they got what they came for and return to Mississippi. Jason is only too happy to hear that, but Andy smells a rat. He decides to get a search warrant. Jessica abruptly shows up and glamours Andy to close the pelt case. Problem solved.

In South Dakota Patrick and Terry are on the trail of their missing comrade. Terry flashes back to Iraq when they got drunk in a prayer tower. When a man tries to stop them, they shoot him. That brings out a crowd of people and when shots are fired that leads to a gunfight and massacre of the civilians.

They find their comrade's home seemingly abandoned but a compartment under the floor with a room covered in drawings of a fire monster. But he's still there and pulls a gun on them.

Pam rises and watches Tara sleep. Eric comes down to chat. He confesses the Russell search is a suicide mission. He doesn't want her there when the end comes and admits she's right. He has to release her. But only because she is his only progeny and he wants a legacy. She understands. Pam later gets Tara up, bringing a girl to feed her. Tara resists at first, but Pam commands her and teaches her to feed.

Bill and Jessica look for bugs in the mansion to find the source of the leak. Jessica asks if he's still king, and he tells her so. He finds a cigarette and she admits she had a party. She asks if he's going to see Sookie as she's had a rough couple of days. He warns her not to make a habit of rescuing her like he did. But Jessica thinks Sookie's falling apart, and it's different between her and Bill. He hugs her and tells her he's done well with her, then leaves.

Roman and Salome talk to Nora one last time. Nora accepts her death but Salome won't see her martyred. Roman doesn't see her as a leader and wants to know who recruited her. They threaten to kill Eric. Salome swears on the blood of Lilith to ensure their safety if she betrays who the true infidel is.

Sam gets a visit at Merlotte's from two of his shifter friends. They want him to come back and run with them. Sam shows up later to join them, but both have been shot in the head.

Roman addresses the Authority about his suspicions that another has betrayed them, while holding an elaborate stake made out of the Judas Tree. He's having their quarters searched. The guards return with a laptop belonging to Chancellor Drew which has a video of a human being tortured and fed on, and sent to known enemies of the Authority with a message of solidarity. Drew protests he was infiltrating them. Roman kills him and warns there will be no further rebellions.

Sookie gets a call from Lafayette who has found her car. He needs to talk to her but she assures him she's okay. Alcide shows up so she hangs up. He explains what he's done with the Pelts. She's grateful and offers him something to drink. Sookie and Alcide get drunk. They start making out, but Bill is watching from the window. Eric joins him and comments Sookie seems to be recovering nicely. Bill suggests Sookie could be useful in their search and this time they don't give her the choice.

Judge Clemens invites Andy to a party to celebrate his son's ticket being expunged. Andy and Jason get into a limo with Judge Clemens full of women and are taken to a meadow where one of the girls uses fairy magic to open a portal. They appear at an elaborate party. Jason is led off while Andy finds Morella and realizes seeing her wasn't a dream.

Jason finds his cousin Hadley. She's surprised to hear Sookie is alive and they need to go get her. She thinks Jason is a refugee from the vampires too, as this place is a safe house from the vampires. She warns the vampires will kill Sookie just like they did his parents. That comes as a shock, and the other girl sends Hadley away. Jason runs after but gets in a fight and both he and Andy are thrown out in the meadow. They get hit with a fairy blast.

The Verdict:
Pam and Eric have a great scene, and it's good to see the two reconcile. Now that Pam is a maker, her relationship with Tara shows a lot of promise. This is definitely one of my new favorite plotlines, and refreshing that Tara has an invigorating storyline. And, of course, more Bill and Jessica. So plenty of vampire sweetness this week.

While I do find the Authority stuff interesting, Salome looks to be the obvious traitor in the ranks, but it could all be a red herring just because it is so obvious. The Authority chancellors are all rather a weak set of characters compared to her and Roman, so Drew's loss wasn't a big deal. But vampire politics remains one of the more compelling plotlines.

I'm not sure what to think yet of the return of the fairies and how they're roping in Andy and Jason, though the twist regarding his parents is probably good for his character and gets him more intelligent storylines (no panthers ever again, please).

Review: Falling Skies "Compass"

Non Spoiler Review:
Jimmy and Ben have made a habit of hunting scitters, which inevitably backfires. The 2nd Mass makes preparations to move as winter is coming, but the question of where to go remains a source of contention. Pope makes his move against Tom, while the survivors get a surprising visitor.

Compass was a depressing episode and hammered home that Falling Skies is going to keep it dark. Lots of threads and questions emerge about what's happening with the scitters, the harnesses and the outside world. There's some hope on the horizon, but is it genuine? 

Spoilers Now!

Jimmy and Ben are out hunting scitters, managing to bring one down that Ben takes pleasure in finishing off. Meanwhile Weaver and Tom agree it's time to move from the aircraft hanger before winter, as the aliens are combing the countryside. Weaver wants to go north and disappear into the hills, but Tom says it will send the wrong message to the aliens that they're defeated.

Tom is ambushed by Pope and his men and taken into the woods. Pope offers him the chance to walk away because he won't have him in the 2nd Mass given his suspicion Tom was compromised. Before Pope can force him to leave Ben takes Pope with a knife and forces the others to disarm. He and Jimmy are on their way back from patrol. They take them to Weaver to pass judgement.

Weaver wants to leave Pope and his berserkers behind, but Tom suggests Pope is just the problem. Anthony plays devil's advocate and wonders if Tom is a walking time bomb. As a compromise Tom suggests he return to duty, assigned to the berserkers so he can keep an eye on Pope.

Jimmy and Ben track the scitter with the red eye. They're overpowered and the scitter manages to take control of Ben by accessing his harness (which glows on his back). It leaves, Ben regains his senses and goes to Jimmy's aid, who is impaled on a tree.

He's brought back to Anne. Weaver is furious to learn they've been hunting scitters. Tom and Weaver come to terms with the reality of their world that their kids will grow up fast and there will be casualties. Weaver orders the berserkers to sweep the area. On patrol, Tom finds Jimmy's compass at the site of the battle. The scitters return and they watch a mech come to collect the dead. 

As everyone waits to hear if Jimmy will live, a plane lands at the airport. Avery Churchill is her name, and she's been looking for the 2nd Mass. She's one of four pilots who left Charleston looking for survivors on direction of the new Continental Congress (elected by 3000 civilians in Charleston). She wants them to get to Charleston where the militias are assembling to form a united force. They have made contact with Europe, as well. Weaver is skeptical and needs to detain her until they move out. Tom thinks Charleston is a better option than the mountains. Avery has even heard of Tom and his time with the invaders. They need people like him in Charleston, she tells him. 

Ben is sitting with Jimmy when Tom finds him. Jimmy stops breathing and Anne is unable to save him. Weaver digs his grave while Ben and Tom prepare the body. Jimmy's compass is missing and Tom finds it with Pope. That inevitably leads to a fight. Tom finally gains the upper hand and has to be pulled off Pope. But he gets the compass. 

Pope goes to Weaver to demand some repercussions given Tom should be under his command, but Weaver tells him if he wants to leave then go. Pope tells Tom he should have killed him when he had the chance, but his berzerkers won't go with him, except for Anthony, who says he owes him. Anthony tells Weaver someone has to make sure Pope doesn't double back and endanger the 2nd Mass.

Anne, who has been keeping track of the dates, is upset that it's her daughter's birthday, and Jimmy died on it. They bury Jimmy and Weaver delivers a fitting eulogy. Avery flies off as Ben comes to see Weaver at the grave. He gives him the compass. Ben finally breaks down.

With only 176 people left, Weaver has changed his mind to go to Charleston. He owes it to Jimmy and everyone they've lost to stay in the fight and Charleston seems like a good place to do that, especially with winter on the way.

As Ben sits in the woods he's grabbed by the red-eyed scitter who seems to exert mental control over him then leaves. Hal arrives for Ben and he rejoins them.

The Verdict:
Overall this was a great episode, delivering quite an emotional punch and surprise with Jimmy's death. Ben also performed well, and the chilling aspects of how easy the scitters can control him do not bode well for the future.

Pope's behaviour was a mixed bag. I realize he's quite erratic to begin with, but the way no one seems to obey Weaver's orders these days doesn't speak well for the future of the 2nd Mass. Why Anthony is off with him seems an unusual step, as well.

The big news from Charleston is screaming a trap. Is Charleston and the Continental Congress real? It appears too good to be true, and too suited to Tom's military history background that it seems constructed just to rope him in. I also question the wisdom of having such a congested amount of people in a city. What is the alien tactical situation? Can they not locate this centre of government. It's almost as though they have no satellite or mother ships monitoring the planet anymore. Or are they allowing it to happen in order to get everyone in one place?