134 replies to this topic

[TWoP Howard]

From ZAP2it:

Tom worries about Weaver's increasingly strange behavior; Hal and Tom encounter a left-behind woman; Anne and Lourdes make a discovery about the skitters; Pope tries to find a more efficient way to kill mechs.

Edited by TWoP Howard, Aug 5, 2011 @ 9:38 PM.

[Mikita]

LOL. "Isn't he the one that fired on your troops?" Pope "That was so three weeks ago."

Okay the new aliens are very freaky looking. I wonder why no one ever saw them before? Do they think that the humans no longer pose a real threat so it's safe for them to leave their ships?

Normally I hate characters like Pope, but I found myself really liking him tonight.

Hmm. Lourdes has always been good at keeping secrets.

Oh wow. I knew this discovery was coming about the skitters. It was telegraphed so early in the series that maybe they used to be something else before turning into skitters.

Holy shite! Karen. That freaky alien looking through the peephole gave me the shivers.

I like Pope.

[surfer]

So the skitters may actually be humans turned into aliens? That’s certainly an interesting development. And I guess Rick may be further along into his transformation than Ben?

The Karen reveal would’ve been more surprising had they not shown her in the previouslies. But at least she’s back. Too bad she’s been harnessed.

Weaver sure picked a bad time to have his little meltdown. But that sucks, inadvertently killing his kid by trying to remove her harness. I guess we’ll be meeting up with his wife next season?

The kids playing Ben and Matt are still horrible actors. Hoped for some improvement as the season went on, guess not.

Poor Nina Sharpe.

Edited by surfer, Jul 31, 2011 @ 10:04 PM.

[AimingforYoko]

Damn, Nina went crazy.
Well, kudos to those who called that the skitters were harnessed kids. Although this show does telegraph their punches.
And you folks tought Hal forgot about Karen. Shame on you for doubting true love.

[fester01]

Moon Bloodgood: "After all they went through to get him back..."

Me: "Shout-out!"

[Doom]

That freaky alien looking through the peephole gave me the shivers.

Yeah, I pulled a Jubal Early from Firefly like "That's somewhat unsettling".

I only saw one or two hugs this ep. And the episode was good, so lets keep this up, shall we show?

The first half drug, but the second half was good. I feel like that's every single episode of this show. They're all back-heavy. But regardless, the show is starting to redeem itself. Still way too much schlotz with Weaver. I don't care about him. I don't care about his wife. I don't care about his kid.

Can someone please, please off Ricky? Come on! I hate the way the writers wrote that kid! Do they need hint #4081 that Ricky is going to turn on them? Seriously!

The new alien shepherds are quite, quite creepy. This is probably the best episode to date, as a result.

[redshirtx]

Tommy Wiseau voice: "Oh, hi, Karen. Oh, hi, real alien overlords."

Apart from the above and Weaver's meltdown, the thing that stuck out about this episode was Rick and The Harness Issue. I'm guessing it was telegraphed more heavily in the last episode which I missed, but his running off the minute Ham popped off his Teflon-coated...er, Pope popped off his anti-mech round was a suitably appropriate bit of dramatic effect/foreshadowing. As for the skitters themselves being harnessed creatures of some stripe or another: I guess that goes with Weaver's comment about how they were using what appeared to be basic human-type construction techniques on the Boston Art Museum of Death and Pope's "recycling" quip: assuming the elongated guys are the real controllers of the piece, they use the skitters and mechs they already have to basically devastate a world, then use its materiel--which includes surviving indigenous lifeforms--to augment their forces and construct whatever facilities are needed. (Roman Empire? Space Mongols?)

[pretoriantoo]

Weaver sure picked a bad time to have his little meltdown. But that sucks, inadvertently killing his kid by trying to remove her harness. I guess we’ll be meeting up with his wife next season?

Maybe its just me, but I enjoyed every minute of it. I think it humanizes Weaver to give him such a colossal mistake like that. No wonder the rest of his family is no longer with him.

Edited by pretoriantoo, Jul 31, 2011 @ 10:19 PM.

[MDKNIGHT]

The master aliens remind me a little of the aliens that revived the kid A.I in A.I at the end of the movie

How the hell do people talk about attacks in front of children, civilians and of course civilian children who have been previously harnessed? You know when Adama in the BSG reboot talked about whether we (humans) DESERVE to survive? If he'd been down to these idiots the answer would have been no. You have already been shown that some humans will throw in thier lot with Skitters TWICE! How is it that you would tell everybody what you are going to do and trust that nobody is going to blab? HOW?

PS granted that these are relatively minor complaints....who the hell would test a weapon that could potentially recochet (HELL he KNEW it would when he was using the regular bullets) with people standing so close. (More dead idiots) And finally Moon would have told Lourdes before asking for the scalpel that you hand medical instruments ESPECIALLY scalpels handle first. It is the first thing they tell you when you are going to be doing any work with surgical instruments.

Given these and other bonehead moves I'm surprised it was still one of the better eps for whats that's worth.

ETA

(Roman Empire? Space Mongols?)

Some people call me the Space Mongol
Some call me the skitter of love
Some people call me #"%%*&"*&"& aka Maurice
Cause I speak of the pompitous (not a word not even in our language) of love

Edited by MDKNIGHT, Jul 31, 2011 @ 10:31 PM.

[peridot16]

I wasn't really paying attention in the beginning, so I jumped when the skitter jumped at Weaver. Yeah, I didn't like how the soldiers were telling all of their business in front of everyone. I loved seeing Nina from Fringe.

The camera work in this episode really bothered me, when Dai, Hal, Tom, and Weaver were talking and packing up their stuff the camera was reflecting off the glass in the door big time. I also hated how the camera seemed unsteady at times.

When Hal saw Ben was jumping rope for over 2 hours, he should have went to the doctor. Hell, he should have went when Ben did all those push-ups. I hate how important facts are being kept from people.

When Pope was giving his speech at the end, I loved all his bluster. "Look at me when I'm talking to you!" The show needs someone who isn't deadly serious all the time.

[Doom]

Cause I speak of the pompitous of love

I'm a Joker!
I'm a Poper!
I'm a skitter base scoper.

[Auntie Anxiety]

Well, that wasn't terrible.

Blair Brown doing her Grey Gardens re-enactment was pretty entertaining.
Weaver tried to sell it but I'm just not buying.
Harnessed kids growing an exoskeleton was as predictable as the day is long.
Pope (poor man's Sawyer) is still the most interesting character and he is a hackneyed cliche, at best.
Guess we didn't see Karen all these weeks because she was getting her harness all shined up.

[Glass Ocean]

Well well, we finally get to meet The Greys aka Alien Overlords. They're pretty standard in most alien abduction dreams and "memories". And Karen Razorback has returned in a high position as a direct messenger lady-in-waiting for the top dudes. Plus we gleaned the info that she's been gone for three weeks.

Blair Brown was mesmerizing as the batty old lady with the fancy schmancy tea set and with info to share. Was she really going to turn over her insights to the 2nd Mass contingent or was that simply a ruse to bring out some scones?

Too bad the general still didn't bring any communication devices like maybe tin cans and some string.

These people have the steepest learning curve ever! Why do they keep Ricky around in sick bay after his return from being the longest harnessed kid who continues to act weird as hell. Doctor Annie, have your trained powers of observation totally failed you? Hal has shared his doubts about brother Ben, you examine him and discover that the steel plugs are forming leathery "skin" around them, but you haven't checked Zombie Kid yet? By all means, feel free to discuss any and all secret skitter attack plans right in front of him. Jeez, I hope Ben did run after him at the end.

Pope is the only one with any brains or balls on this show.

[Make It So]

Well, I won't go so far as to say that the writing has improved exponentially, but I will say that this week the plot was moved forward at a rate that is much more appreciated.

Good things:
More aliens! And it looks like these may be the true Overlords! (I noticed the skitters bowing to them.) 

Moon Bloodgood!

Finally, the skitter autopsy we've been begging for!  And as many have theorized, it's looking like the skitters are just transformed into such from other beings. Now it may be becoming clearer why Rick is still thinking as one of them. Doesn't bode well for Ben.

Hi Karen! I had forgotten how pretty she was. Sad that she's harnessed, but at least she's alive.

Only one gripe this time:
So, Hal's amnesia suddenly clears up and he's gaga over Karen again just because he's seen her? Riiiiiight. 

But welcome back, Karen. :)

[thuganomics85]

Ah, busting out the Fringe stars aren't we, show? In all seriousness, it was cool seeing Blair Brown in this and she did a good job.

Karen does exist! Good to know; I was worried I might had imagine her the first few episodes. Noticed that Maggie wasn't in this episode; is there a requirement that only one young blonde actress is allowed to be in an episode now? And Hal's reaction would have been a lot better if they actually bothered to have him be upset over her capture in the last few episodes. In the end, when he was all "I'm going to find her, dad!", I just wondered why he didn't say that weeks ago.

Normal complaints aside, I thought this was much better then the past few weeks. At least we're finally going somewhere, even if it isn't the most original out there. Good job to everyone who called that there was another alien race that was actually running the show instead of the Skitters. And Dr. Annie discovers that the Skitters are other aliens transformed, including humans. Hmm, that's going to suck for a whole lot of kids.

Weaver's meltdown was kind of strange, although Will Patton did a great job with it. Still wondering what's the deal with him popping all those pills.

Can someone please, please off Ricky? Come on! I hate the way the writers wrote that kid! Do they need hint #4081 that Ricky is going to turn on them? Seriously!

I hate to wish ill on a kid, but yeah, he needs to go. It seems pretty clear that he'll be betraying the gang soon. Glad to see his father's death will be for nothing.

Pope was pretty awesome tonight. Had quite a few lines that cracked me up. He may be a cliche, but it's nice to have someone who can snark every now and then.

Moon Bloodgood continues to be one of the hottest doctors ever. Just putting that out there, heh.

Edited by thuganomics85, Aug 1, 2011 @ 1:25 PM.

[efroh]

Do people think that Tom was correct in blaming Crazy Nina for telling the Skitters where Weaver, Tom and Hal went off too? Because my first assumption is that Rick has been passing info to the Skitters and told them where Weaver was going to go. He can already read minds apparently (e.g. the drawing of Weaver's house). And he's been in almost every scene where something of military importance has been discussed or revealed (the attack/bombing discussions near Pope's bedside, the mech-killing bullet demonstration and his extremely suspicious behavior after).

Nice to see Karen again. Yes, apparently the producers finally realized that two young blondes with long hair might be confusing - good-bye, Maggie.

Ben's actor continues to mumble. He really needs to work on that.

[CGRealms]

I don't think Rick read Weaver's mind. I think the skitters (or the race controlling the skitters) "downloaded" the visual of Weaver's street from his daughter Sophia when she was harnessed, and then transmitted that image to Rick when they wanted to screw with Weaver's head.

[henriPootel]

Much better in several regards, with a bit of interesting development at last. Alas, weak points remain.

Didn't the general just tell them to guard Pope and not let him have access to live material? How long did that last? Folks suddenly seem wary of Pope when he was doing his doing his dog and pony show with the magic rounds, but not when he's alone with a kid and alien weapons? Also, was not Pope's first point that normal rounds just bounce off mechs, so did he need to demonstrate this in the middle of a crowd? Those ricochets gotta go somewhere.

Also, letting Pope go all PT Barnum with his discovery is terrible op-sec. When the mechs find out that you've got armor-piercing ammo, how long before they just give up the (utterly unnecessary) close-up encounters and just bomb the shit out of you from out of range? Chances are they'll get one chance to really surprise them so they risk it with hambone theatrics. Oh, and impressed as I am with Pope's ever-expanding résumé, I wouldn't be so quick to assume that he'll be able to find the proper equipment to melt or mill normal metal, to say nothing of adamechium. I get that Weaver let Pope carry on to drum up morale but nothing kills it faster than dashed hopes. But something tells me that, sure as nobody heard Rickie mumble 'I must tell my alien masters' as he ran off to spill the beans, they'll have super ammo-a-plenty in time for the attack in 3 days.

So Weaver is an unreliable druggie/drunkie, who abandoned his post to go recon then abandons the recon to drown his sorrows. And Tom decides to keep this between themselves ... why? A bad officer sounds like the surest way to get them all killed. I know this is the Hallmark apocalypse but having Weaver be so derelict in his duty doesn't make me like him more so much as wonder why anyone in their right mind would still want him in command.

Edited by henriPootel, Aug 1, 2011 @ 2:16 AM.

[BeenHere]

I like Ricky and Ben. I hope the writers don't kill them off. I want to see them interact more because they are both in different stages of their transformation.

When will Pope teach the rest of the population how to fight? These people should be getting shooting lessons.

Is the actor who plays the role of Ben related to the actor who plays the role of youngest brother? They look alike.

[Shades of Red]

GOOD episode. I don't really understand why the first seven had to be so slow in parts, but this was to some extent worth it.

Ahhh, Karen returns and Jessy Schram is back on my TV screen!!!!! Thankyouthankyou, TPTB! Goodness, is she pretty. And she can act.

Much better dialogue in this one, I thought. Very satisfying all around.

[Grindhouse]

MDKNIGHT

The master aliens remind me a little of the aliens that revived the kid A.I in A.I at the end of the movie

I think those were highly evolved robots (mecha), not really aliens.

Overall, I thought this episode was a considerable improvement. I think everyone has covered the high points: less stupidity, more aggression and "research" (autopsy, recon on the Alien Executive Suites downtown) on the humans' part as opposed to just wandering around like idiots, more willingness to embrace combat and weapon technology.

I did think the reveal that Weaver has a construction background was a bit convenient/gimmicky.

[morrigan2575]

Well, kudos to those who called that the skitters were harnessed kids. Although this show does telegraph their punches.

Are they harnessed human kids or some other race that was (previously) taken over by the new big bads? I wasn't sure which answer it was, only because I didn't remember if they mentioned the first time a skitter was spotted.

I liked this episode but I expected more action for the last episode before the 2-hour finale. I don't care about Karen and really didn't care about seeing her last night; I also don't think Karen/Hal are OTP or Twu Nub. The only thing I found funny was the fact that Maggie wasn't seen in this episode, maybe they didn't want to confuse the audience showing basically the same character (only Maggie's suffered more..and I actually like Maggie more).

I felt bad for Weaver and I just love Will Patton but that breakdown was some piss poor timing. At this point Pope is my favorite character and I'm totally annoyed that i couldn't figure out who he used to play, even now i can't believe he was Major Davis on StarGate SG-1.

I also can't believe that they're no one is paying attention to Rick, hell at least Ham and Julie figured out that Donovan's kid was converted. No one caught onto Rick lurking in the background and then running off, other than Ben (who's questionable as well).

Do people think that Tom was correct in blaming Crazy Nina for telling the Skitters where Weaver, Tom and Hal went off too?

Yes, that seemed to be the case and it was confirmed when Karen and the skitter showed up at the end asking her for more information and bringing tea. BTW was that a skitted that looked through the peep-hole or one of the new aliens? I wasn't sure.

I think the skitters (or the race controlling the skitters) "downloaded" the visual of Weaver's street from his daughter Sophia when she was harnessed, and then transmitted that image to Rick when they wanted to screw with Weaver's head.

Was it really Weaver's neighborhood or just part of his breakdown? I missed something in the Tom/Weaver exchange.

Edited by TWoP Howard, Aug 1, 2011 @ 10:52 PM.
Boards on boards

[19K Vet]

STUPID COMCAST, my DVR cut off after Ricki took three steps following the Mech bullet demo.

So, Tom if your CO tells you he's doing recon, then guess what, as 2nd in command you get to stay behind in command. You both don't get to run off and play scout. Oh, that's right they have no military experience.

Sad to report that 12 fighters of the 2nd Mass were killed during the demonstration.

Umm, clear this up for me, they travel from outer space and have to use scrap metal, and the indigenous populations ammunition? I guess that's one way to conveniently ignore logistics in a space faring Alien Overlord kinda way.

Better episode, they really tried to minimize the Too Stupid To Live Moments.

Better but still not good yet, It must be part of Rick's recovery therapy that he is present for EVERY major military decision and moment.

Like the humanization of Weaver. If anyone he should be able to confide in Tom, now that Mike threw his life away.


Looking forward to a scene from the Patriot where they build a giant smelter and make new mech bullets.

[morrigan2575]

Umm, clear this up for me, they travel from outer space and have to use scrap metal, and the indigenous populations ammunition? I guess that's one way to conveniently ignore logistics in a space faring Alien Overlord kinda way.

Actually that makes perfect sense to me, you're an invading force you've conquered the planet do you really want to deal with the logistics of setting up a supply chain from Planet X or use what you can find locally? It's cheaper, easier, and quicker to take the material that's available to you, especially if you're setting up a colony.

[Make It So]

Better but still not good yet, It must be part of Rick's recovery therapy that he is present for EVERY major military decision and moment.

That SERIOUSLY bugged me. Porter is discussing strategy with Pope out in the open, with Rick (and everyone else) right there. Other than for the reason of plot convenience, how could those leaders seriously think that was a good command decision? Even though the overall ep was a bit better, that was definitely a TSTL moment. I almost expect to find out that the skitters have been tapped into Ricky the whole time like a surveillance bug and know every step of the Stupid..I mean "Second" Mass.

I don't care about Karen and really didn't care about seeing her last night; I also don't think Karen/Hal are OTP or Twu Nub.

I think I'm more sarcastic about my elation of seeing Karen again. Yeah, she's cute, but they really never built her character. But the sarcasm is because Hal is supposed to wuv her so much and totally forgot she was alive, yet seemed perfectly comfortable and chummy around almost anything else with estrogen since Karen's been gone. Where was all the gusto about "getting her back" before last night?

Tom keeping Weaver's breakdown "between them" may come back to bite them...

...As may trusting Pope. I'll admit, I felt a bit bad for him when Tom kept treating him badly even after he helped save the kids when he could've been on his merry way. But the pragmatic side of me still sees that he's ultimately an opportunist, and unless he's completely changed (which is doubtful), he will no doubt use this newfound popularity with the Mass to his own selfish advantage - even if it's to the detriment of the others.

Edited by TWoP Howard, Aug 1, 2011 @ 10:51 PM.
Quoted post was edited

[Myrrhine]

I find Ricky pretty annoying too. He could just sneak off to the skitters if he is so unhappy with the humans. I am not sure if he is supposed to be idealizing his new alien family, but when he noted that "we [the creepy aliens]" would never kill each other, I guess he doesn't know that the skitters killed a whole group of harnessed kids in front of Hal? So either they do kill each other or they don't really consider the harnessed kids to be part of the alien team.

I did like the suggestion that perhaps even without the harness on, Ben might be transforming into a skitter.

I also enjoyed the reveal of the actual overlord aliens - creepy. And I am glad Karen is back. I can see her dying next week, to make way for a merry go round of love interests for Hal. But I am hoping she will be rescued. I liked her calm toughness and that she and Hal were a scouting team.

Also thrilled that the autopsy took place.

[bagert]

When I saw the new alien species, I thought of the aliens in the (Spielberg-directed) "Close of Encounters of the Third Kind" :)

[Make It So]

Yeah, it seems the Overlords are your standard fare alien. It was still good to see them, nonetheless. The skitters definitely look more like 'worker-bee' types than 'overseer' types.

Edited by Make It So, Aug 1, 2011 @ 10:47 AM.

[LyneaG]

The autopsy scene has been bothering me. I can't remember the headcount on civilians (there's got to be a 1 or 2 hundred based on what I can see in the background of scenes), but I find it hard to believe that Dr Moon is the only person among all those people that has medical experience....there isn't a single other Dr, nurse, CNA, school nurse, medical technician, former military medic, Dentist, or dental assistant in the entire place that has enough knowledge to help in the clinic? Psychiatrists have medical degrees and even morticians get some basic anatomy and could be pressed into service as an extra set of hands. How about a talented Mom who learned alot from all the scrapes her kids get? Not every problem requires intense and extensive medical knowledge. And Lourdes is the ONLY med student in all of Mass to end up with their group? Really?

Also, am I too invested if I had a dream last night that I offered to survey/identify the skills & knowledge present in the civilians and get people organized and working?? From what I recall of the dream, I whipped those people into shape.

[Accord64]

I thought it this was the best episode so far - but still far from what I'd consider good. Some interesting things actually happened, and hugs were kept to a minimum.

Some issues I had:

Why do these people think it's a good idea to discuss secret military plans in earshot of just about anyone? Just a lazy plot device to let that kid overhear things he shouldn't know.

An autopsy? Now? Why didn't they do one just after it was killed? Pretty casual too - They both might as well just wore their bathing suits in a potential hazmat situation.

Still taking casual walks and talks in combat zones? Just once I'd like to see a Mech jump them in mid-sentence.

Parking their motorcycles off the road in plain sight of anyone walking by.

Gloucester eh? I hope another unit didn't decide to move their operation there.