111 replies to this topic

[TWoP Howard]

From ZAP2it:

Hal begins to distrust Clayton's image of the farm; Mike and Hal must battle an unforeseen enemy.

Edited by TWoP Howard, Jul 30, 2011 @ 8:42 PM.

[AimingforYoko]

For some reason, just seeing Pope in that rugby shirt cracked me up. What's next, Dockers?
So obviously, Rick was under harness a lot longer than Ben, if he doesn't even consider himself human anymore. And I'm sure that won't come back to bite them in the ass.

[Doom]

Alright, well that got a lot better in the second half! Pope's initial moments talking about asparagus were ridiculous. Lourdes and Hals behavior at the house was really dumb. But after the firefight started, the rest of the episode was pretty good, and next week actually looks really good. Maybe this show will turn out decent after all.

It has its problems still. I wish they would make Lourdes the harbinger of doom. Every time she sings or does something I keep wanting the skitters to act to it. Like she goes to play the piano while the kids are sleeping and they show the skitters entering the house upstairs and harnessing them.

I hate that they killed off Mike, but it was a great way to go and they didn't just forget him, they gave him a great funeral and treated it like a life lost, as opposed to the guy that died from an arrow to the chest and got forgotten 4 minutes and 36 seconds later, along with Karen (still no mention of Karen).

Pope looked like a retired Old Navy model at the end. He just looked like a fat lump sitting on the hospital bed - so funny. I had to roll my eyes at Weaver playing doctor and outdoing Dr. Anne ("Weaver did most of the work"). Of course he did! Because even when you're a dr., if you're a woman, the man has to waltz in and save you.

But anyway, next week actually looks good. I guess I'll have to start taping it again.

[fester01]

For some reason, just seeing Pope in that rugby shirt cracked me up.

I busted out laughing. What a great wardrobe choice for that character:)


"If this war's coming, it's taking it's sweet time." - Couldn't have said it better, Mr. Wyle.



I must say, the people who cast this hit a home run with the guy playing Hal. He moves, talks, and even laughs exactly like Noah Wyle. People have mentioned it before, but it really showed tonight. Great acting by him.

[Frost]

Like she goes to play the piano while the kids are sleeping and they show the skitters entering the house upstairs and harnessing them.

I actually got up and started pacing when she played the piano, I was so irritated. You morons are trying to hide from desperate degenerate adults with automatic weapons and you deliberately chose to make an obviously human generated noise that carries? How freaking idiotic can you be?

Edited by Frost, Jul 24, 2011 @ 10:12 PM.

[TVspectator]

Okay, after watching this episode, I actually have more questions about the overall plot of the series, like:

1). If Clayton knows why the Skitters need the kids, why are writers not brothering to telling us why? Alternatively, more importantly, why didn't Mike, Hal, or Tom ask Clayton "why”?
2). So, the Skitters have to have a certain amount of kids, why?
3). Where did they get those clothes, that Pope, was wearing at the end?
4). How was Weaver (after helping to deliver a baby) and the rest of the 2nd Mass, were able to get to the house so fast?
5). Why must Tom keep reminding us that he was a history professor?
6). When Mike, Hal, Lourdes, and et al. were running away from the "Kiddie Farm of Doom" why didn't they just hop in one of those pickup trucks that were conveniently parked in front of the farm (do they even work or are they there for lawn decoration purposes only)?

Edited by TVspectator, Jul 24, 2011 @ 10:18 PM.

[surfer]

That was pretty anti-climactic. Everyone, sans Mike, is safe. No skitters at all in this one. Pope kind of redeems himself. And Lourdes apparently plays the piano and sings.

Did enjoy Tom killing Clayton at the end.

And is Hal the only good-looking, 20-year-old male hanging around the 2nd Mass? Karen, Lourdes, Maggie, now random daughter of bad guy?

The whole baby subplot seemed kind of pointless except to soften Weaver a little bit.

[TVspectator]

And is Hal the only good-looking, 20-year-old male hanging around the 2nd Mass? Karen, Lourdes, Maggie, now random daughter of bad guy?-surfer

I think that Hal, Maggie, Lourdes, and Karen are all supposed to be around the ages of 16-18 years old (I am not really sure, the writers seem intent to constantly change their ages).

The whole baby subplot seemed kind of pointless except to soften Weaver a little bit.-surfer

I have to agree with you, the baby scenes were really not related at all to the main story, nor to any sub-stories, unless it was supposed to be related to the whole "baby shower" scene from a couple of weeks ago.

Edited by TVspectator, Jul 24, 2011 @ 10:24 PM.

[ShortyMac]

I thought Mike's death was dumb just because I didn't want him to die. lol But I'm glad they were able to escape, I honestly thought they were gonna get stopped at the last second.

I did think it was dumb to let Ben go out ahead of everyone when they spent so many episodes to get him back.

Everyone was stupid for blindly trusting Clayton, for not suspecting anything.

I'm so happy that Tom and everybody didn't get "captured". I was so mad when Clayton was gonna take them all back, glad he's dead.

LOL at Pope at the end.

Next week looks good.

[Glass Ocean]

Good grief, the African-American population is diminishing at a steep rate with Ricky looking like he's either going to defect or call in his new "family".

How did the 2nd Mass get to the Kiddie Farm ahead of Tom who had been on a cycle? Especially after Weaver was bitching about the condition of their little fleet.

Nice set design with the authentic-looking log cabin buildings complete with mud cement and light filtering thru the chinks. Did anybody else find it odd that nobody thanked Pope for saving the day and their cute ragtag gaggle of blood kin moppets?

Enough already with Lourdes and the spontaneous religious outbursts. At the graveside ceremony I was half expecting her to come up with new words to "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing":

Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and skitters reconciled...

[Auntie Anxiety]

I have to agree with you, the baby scenes were really not related at all to the main story, nor to any sub-stories, unless it was supposed to be related to the whole "baby shower" scene from a couple of weeks ago.

Oh, I think the baby is supposed to be the anvil of hope for the future. Probably next week we'll see a skitter giving birth or some such contrived thing.

This episode was a C-, which is a step up from the epic fail since the premier.

[Make It So]

So Pope criticized the smell of the vegetables because he can cook! He can cook!!! Cook! He. Can. Cook.

Will the show please give an explanation as to why Ricky is half-a-zombie while Ben is not?

So, Lourdes is about 19, right? And Maggie about the same age or older? And so is the new 7th Mass girl? And the really want us to believe that Hal is supposed to be 16?

So, after Clayton tried to convince Mike to join him, he just llet him go back to the kids unsupervised?

And sorry about the getting killed thing, Mike, but TSTL.

The expectant mother has never heard the term 'breech'?

When Hal let Ben go I thought 'Not Again!', but it's a good thing Ben conveniently (out of all the places in the whole woods) ran into his father.

Edited by Make It So, Jul 24, 2011 @ 10:59 PM.

[sleekandchic]

The whole baby subplot seemed kind of pointless except to soften Weaver a little bit.

This was the first time that I heard the baby's daddy was actually a sperm donor. When the mama said she had been inseminated a mere six weeks before the Invasion, I was really hopeful that we were gonna see a Baby Skitter being born. You know? Like an alien scouting detail visited a sperm bank or somethin? And, then, when Dr Anne detected a "problem," I was positive we were in for a fun ride. But, nooooooo! The baby was breech. Big deal. Between that revelation and Margaret/Maggie (I think it was her?) talking about handing out cigars to celebrate the new baby, I got a word stuck in my head, and I couldn't forget it. Hackneyed.

Shouldn't Mike have devised a plan, any kind of plan, a little bit of something or other, before he told Hal the story Clayton told him, then abruptly announced, "Let's go!"? It seemed so, I don't know, spur of the moment. I mean, he had a few minutes to, at least, ruminate between the time he had his Clayton chat and his re-arrival at the comfy suburban home (where board games were available for good times!).

And is Hal the only good-looking, 20-year-old male hanging around the 2nd Mass? Karen, Lourdes, Maggie, now random daughter of bad guy?

Man. I was waiting for the big girl-fight over Hal. Why doesn't his hair ever move? If Drew Roy is going to continue to play 16 or 17 year old boys, he needs Botox in his forehead.

And Lourdes apparently plays the piano and sings.

She is sanctimoniously multi-talented! But! She gets pissy when another girl flirts with her Hal!

Pope's horribly phony wig stops me in my tracks every time! It's the hairline. I cannot tear my eyes from that hairline.

I agree that the previews look pretty good. Show, redeem yourself! Only two episodes to go.

Enough already with Lourdes and the spontaneous religious outbursts. At the graveside ceremony I was half expecting her to come up with new words to "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing":

Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and skitters reconciled...

Oh! How perfect is this?!

Edited by sleekandchic, Jul 24, 2011 @ 11:00 PM.

[peridot16]

Rick sure does know how to bring the creeps. At the end, I don't know if it was him talking or a Skitter talking through him. Finally something interesting happens.

Was anyone else getting the feeling that Maggie and the pregnant woman are going to start something? I didn't notice Pope in his shirt, I was laughing at his shorts.

This was a lot better than previous episodes. I'm still irritated with Hal and his constant flirting, but it was kept to a minimum.

[maraleia]

One thing that bothered me about these last two episodes is the fact that there should've been way more kids that had to leave the school.

Other than that the episode was pretty good.

[thuganomics85]

I'm actually kind of enjoying the running gag of every young woman falling for Hal. I mean, I like him and I'm sure a lot of women would be attracted to someone like Drew Roy, but it's still kind of hilarious that he just has to look at them, and they automatically want to have his babies. Maybe they are going at this the wrong way; if there are female Skitters, just send Hal to them. He could be the modern Captain Kirk.

One of the better episodes, but it still had it's dumb moments. Agree that the piano bit was just so stupid. I was waiting for a Skitter or mec to burst through a window during that. And while I feel bad for Mike, he really was an idiot for not having any kind of plan for their escape. Frankly, even if might have been kind of cruel, instead of just letting the girl go and yell to everyone they were escaping, he should have let Hal grab her and at least use her as a hostage. The dad would have probably thought twice about opening fire if that happen.

The pregnancy scene was kind of boring and pointless, except to watch Moon Bloodgood and Sarah Carter together some more. Well, and I guess also seeing Weaver show a softer side and help out, but that's about it.

Saw the ending coming, but I still liked Weaver busting out and saving the day, and then Tom putting down Clayton.

Pope's shirt in the hospital bed was hilarious.

So, it looks like something is going on with Rick that isn't happening with the other kids who where taken. Interesting. And next week's previews do look solid. We shall see.

Edited by thuganomics85, Jul 24, 2011 @ 11:14 PM.

[Rickster]

Agree this episode was better than most. It still made no sense though how the 2nd Mass got to the farm so fast.

[ctcasares]

I cannot believe how dark this show is.

Literally.

I was worried my old TV was dying, and then the commercials came back on--color! The worst was looking through leaves at a black/green horribly underlit scene. It's like a radio show!

What was Claytons plan, anyway? The 2nd Mass has 300 some people. Who will be pissed when they discover their kids are gone. So why steal kids from a much larger contingent? That's going to go well how?

And then they just leave those people? I hope they took all the weapons/machinery. It's not like they can't tell the skitters that the kids are back at the school a few miles away as part of a "deal".

These people are too dumb to live. They would not act like this six months into an invasion. This wouldn't be the first episode of victimization, and just leaving the traitors behind, free to cause chaos wouldn't be an option.

Everybody is playing this game like it's just the Russians who attacked us, and not aliens bent on destroying the planet.

[Glass Ocean]

I'm really hoping the 2nd Mass took all the fresh veggies and apples and herbs and spices when they left Camp Happy or else Pope is gonna be super pissed. He might even overcook the pasta as revenge.

And why exactly did they leave the traitors there on their nice comfy farm? Please note that nobody buried the two unnamed military escorts who were rotting under the apple tree. But then, they didn't have speaking parts or maybe there weren't enough American flags to go around. Still, Lourdes could have sprinkled some holy water or censered some incense just to be on the safe side.

[Roundtheworld]

The scene with Lourdes making fun of the girl (Tessa?) who told Hal he didn't have to help made me laugh, it seemed almost identical to Karen's (the forgotten Karen!) reaction to Lourdes offering to carry water for Hal back in the pilot.

So it seems to be confirmed that: the de-harnessed kids are physically 'improved', healthier, stronger, faster.
The skitters, at least the ones interacted with, are soldiers with orders to follow.

Agree that there's should have been more kids with the 2nd mass. We've seen more in class with the littlest moppet, but none of them were sent away.

[Auntie Anxiety]

And Lourdes apparently plays the piano and sings.

She is sanctimoniously multi-talented! But! She gets pissy when another girl flirts with her Hal!

Next week Lourdes finds the cure for cancer. And then starts a youth ministry. After which, she visits a leper colony.

[mrs peel]

I'm starting to fast forward through parts of this, not good. The plotlines can be seen a mile away. And I hate having simple stuff constantly reinforced.

How DID Pope get back to the school?

[TWoP Howard]

Good grief, the African-American population is diminishing at a steep rate with Ricky looking like he's either going to defect or call in his new "family".

Seriously. Isn’t that the third black man they’ve killed off? Any remaining African-Americans in the 2nd Mass should run for the hills and form their own militia.

I enjoyed this episode from start to finish. It was good to have the focus be away from Tom and company for a while, and we got confirmation from Clayton that the Skitters are taking the kids under orders from some other power. And while I was not surprised that Pope showed up to help the kids, I still enjoyed seeing that and the eventual rescue.

The were two main downers for me. Lourdes sitting at the piano and playing a hymn, for chrissakes, was one. All the music in the world, and she has to play a Christmas carol? Then there was the whole baby drama. I have a feeling that TNT thinks that we women need to see babies or we won’t watch, because they are just shoving those aspects into the story.

The birth scene did give Weaver a chance to show his softer side, which I liked. He needed a chance to redeem himself after being such a dumbass about Clayton. Clayton lied to them about everything, yet Weaver still believed they needed to wait because of Clayton’s lie that they were to stay put and wait.

Even though Hal looks a lot older than 16, I can see why they cast him. In the scenes when he was bending over getting orders from Mike to take Rick and run, he looked a lot like a concerned young Dr. Carter.

And why exactly did they leave the traitors there on their nice comfy farm?

That made sense to me, assuming they were smart enough to take a lot of supplies. There were too many of them for the 2nd to successfully keep them prisoner, and they sure couldn’t trust them to join up with them. They had enough trouble with Pope.

[KnitTzu]

Awww, moppets playing kickball, how adorable. Surely the Skitters are going to pick this moment to attack, right? Right? ... Oh, fine. Just moppets playing their innocent little games. How darling.

"Always liked you Mike... that why I'm gonna talk." Yes, that's what this show needs more of -- boring people flapping their jaws. We wouldn't want to accidentally have any excitement around these parts.

What the hell is wrong with Rick? And why on earth is Ben apparently completely normal? Aside from the fact that he's the precious, precious son of Our Hero?

The pregnant lady doesn't know what a breech birth is, SERIOUSLY? These people are way beyond stupid.
And even the faux-military-commander has nothing better to do than birthin' babies. How convenient that he knows how to perform an external cephalic version! I guess getting their surgeon killed turned out to be no biggie after all -- what a relief.

Where are the Skitters, anyhow? Did they all pack up and leave? Come back, Skitters, you're the only thing keeping me awake!

"Because Tom is smart enough to realize that--" I have no idea what the rest of that sentence was, because everyone I was watching with was howling and screaming with laughter.

There's only two episodes left, really? It feels like nothing has happened aside from getting precious Ben back (twice) and a few people of color being killed.

[henriPootel]

Somewhat better but still a rich harvest of stupidity.

And why exactly did they leave the traitors there on their nice comfy farm? Please note that nobody buried the two unnamed military escorts who were rotting under the apple tree.

'I know you murdered my men, collaborated with the enemy in the worst way, and sold innocent children into worse-than-death, but you do it one more time and I'll ...' Honestly, what do you have to do to get shot around here? Commit extra atrocities after being told to knock it off?

So Clayton fills Pope in on his diabolically evil plan then leaves him in an escapable position and posts no guard. Huh.

Then Clayton fills Mike in on his diabolically evil plan, then leaves him alone so he can tell everyone else, and again posts no guard. At all. Had his daughter not been peckish in the night all the kids would have tromped out to freedom and everyone would have spilled the beans.

"The first rule of combat is to survive" - really Tom? Which in this case means the first rule of combat is 'surrender'? You have the drop on these guys, who are all bunched up in a poor position, you shot one and they have no idea if you've got one guy with you or 20. Couldn't come up with a historical precedence for bluffing? Didn't cross you mind to maybe tell them that the 2nd Mass is a minute behind you, so best they skedaddle while the gettin's good? How about this: 'I know you've been selling kids to the skitters, Clayton, everybody knows. There's a competition to see who can shoot you first. You might want to consider fleeing, like right now'.

And my personal favorite for the TSTL moment of the episode: stopping to hug your kid in the middle of a firefight. When everyone is depending on your one-man rear-guard action. Thank you, Mike, you died as you lived - stupidly.

Edited by henriPootel, Jul 25, 2011 @ 12:52 AM.

[3headedmonkey]

I am getting seriously sick of every girl falling all over Hal. And where the hell was Karen? IMDB promised me Karen, dammit!

Where were the dozens of little kids who were watching Matt skateboard? The rest of the deharnessed kids? Did the skitters get them all already? Good thing they didn't have to worry about dragging them along while escaping!

Seriously. Isn’t that the third black man they’ve killed off? Any remaining African-Americans in the 2nd Mass should run for the hills and form their own militia.

No kidding. They're the ones who really need a protective detail.

Edited by TWoP Howard, Jul 25, 2011 @ 9:02 AM.
Unnecessary spoiler tags

[Yvaughn]

How bad is it, that while I was aware that playing piano while armed men (and skitters) are hunting for you is a tactically foolish move, I didn't worry because I knew the Laws of Melodrama and Poignant Moments would protect them? Am I being assimilated?

So, Lourdes is about 19, right? And Maggie about the same age or older? And so is the new 7th Mass girl? And the really want us to believe that Hal is supposed to be 16?

Well, those walls in that house-before-the-school were awfully thin, and Hal and Karen didn't know it. Maybe the gals of the Second Mass know something we don't.

'I know you murdered my men, collaborated with the enemy in the worst way, and sold innocent children into worse-than-death, but you do it one more time and I'll ...' Honestly, what do you have to do to get shot around here?

I wondered the same thing. Was it because the murderous, enemy-collaborating, child-selling traitors were mostly civilians? 'Cause I was honestly expecting firing squad action.

[mparcher]

I think they must have given the Skitters the night off due to a limited special effects budget.

[lfdtv23]

I'm losing interest fast! Anyone else notice how every black person on this show seems to be marked for death. The only one left is Anthony and he hasn't had lines since the episode where they thought Dai was a better choice to keep an eye on Pope in the bike shop. Seriously, Anthony was a freaking cop! Pope murdered, kidnapped and tried to extort from the 2nd Mass, but let's not let the former cop keep an eye on him. Let's let the guy who probably worked in the local library do it. What's up with Karen by the way? Did the writers just forget about her?

Overall this episode bothered me because Mike's sacrifice was unnecessary. Also, Tom surrendering at the house was ridiculous. Clayton should have shot him right then and their. He didn't need him and I would have to think that's what he did to Eli's parents. If he and his 7th Mass buddies are that content to giving children to the skitters, I can't believe they have a problem killing Tom where he stood. They sure had no issue killing Mike!

Edited by TWoP Howard, Jul 25, 2011 @ 9:07 AM.
15/15

[19K Vet]

Okay,

Armed men, that have killed people you know are following you, so logically you put all the young kids to sleep and then play the damn piano. Of course why didn't I think of that? Oh, that's right because making noise DEFEATS the purpose of hiding. I like to think that Clayton and the guys heard the piano and thus knew exactly which house to surround.

Okay, so Pope just killed one of the bad guys you didn't trust, so naturally you take his rifle and throw his clip away from him because he has a leg injury. Because you needed them to lead you back to the farm? Because the kids didn't know the way?

How about introducing a young woman who doesn't instantly fall in love with Hal?

Of course Lourdes is a child prodigy 19 year old medical third year, who sings opera, counsels war vets, and plays the piano what other skills are they going to create for her? Undiscovered marksman? Auto mechanic savant? Kung-Fu expert?

I know he's the star of the show but damn, Tom should have been shot when surrendering. Maybe a wounding.

Without Mike, I care even less about Rick. Who would have guessed that Harnessed Rick would be less of a buzzkill than Unharnessed Rick. Seriously, does Rick have any other facial expressions besides scowl, and zoned?

TOO STUPID TO LIVE

With Hal backing him up, and working a rear guard action, Mike could have held the traitors off the entire way back to the school. Then factor in Jimmy the fighter as an extra with one of the extra guns those two had tucked away and they could have worked the traitors over pretty good.

One more episode, and I'm dropping this from my dvr. Its getting harder and harder trying to explain why I continue to watch this show to my other sci fi friends that have dropped it.