Prisoner of War (Falling Skies)
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| "Prisoner of War" | |
|---|---|
| Falling Skies episode | |
 Hal and Karen are ambushed by a Mech. | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 3 |
| Directed by | Greg Beeman |
| Written by | Fred Golan |
| Production code | 103 |
| Original air date | June 26, 2011 |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Prisoner of War" is the third episode of the first season of the TNT science fiction drama Falling Skies, which originally aired June 26, 2011. The episode was written by Fred Golan and directed by Greg Beeman.
The 2nd Mass is joined by Dr. Michael Harris, the only doctor to have discovered how to safely unharness enslaved children. A failed attempt to reclaim Tom's son Ben leaves Hal and his girlfriend Karen at the mercy of the aliens. A Skitter later orders a Mech to kill the remaining kids in front of Hal, then releases Hal to deliver a message: take one, the rest die.
Tom's group and Margaret discover kids with harnesses collecting scrap metal for the aliens. Tom sees his son, Ben, and the group prepares to grab him. Karen accidentally knocks a loose piece of rock from the building, alerting the aliens and the group runs away.
Back at the school, Col. Porter tells Tom that a doctor has a theory on how to remove the harnesses and that he wants to test it on Ben. Col. Porter informed the 2nd Mass. that due to electronic communications being destroyed after the Skitters detonated their EMP attack at the start of the invasion, the resistance had to rely on sending scouts to physically try to find out more information, and the runners have finally returned. Porter reports that they contacted another human resistance militia. The Massachusetts resistance cell is no longer alone, and they are going to begin coordinating a nationwide guerrilla war against the aliens. Col. Porter says this means they have to start thinking tactically, gathering reconnaissance on Skitter tactics, technology, and troop deployments.
Tom learns that the doctor Porter bringing in was Harris, an old friend of him and his late wife, Rebecca and the two of them discuss Ben.
Tom's group goes to find Ben, but Mike sees his son and snaps, running toward him, grabbing his son before Skitters and Mechs attack them. Hal and Karen were separated while Tom was forced to flee with Mike and his son. While Mike heads back to the school, Tom goes to find Hal and Karen, and is attacked by a Skitter. Tom shoots its legs off and beats it half-to-death. Tom returns to the school with the Skitter as a prisoner of war.
Meanwhile, Hal sees the harnessed kids taking the unconscious Karen away before a Mech and Skitter gather a group of kids and the Mech executes them right in front of Hal.
Dr. Harris successfully removes the harness from Mike's son, with the help of Anne, and Lourdesm but it is impossible to remove the tips of the needles that have fused into the child's spine: the points of the needles have nanotechnology that grows into the spine the longer it is present.
Tom finds Hal alive and Hal tells his father what he witnessed. Tom recites that the humans used similar tactics: if one prisoner managed to escape, they would execute entire groups but leave one witness behind, to let the enemies know the harsh reprisal they would exact. The Skitters let Hal escape because they want to discourage the human resistance from attempting to free more harnessed children.
Tom returns to the school and finds Anne. He reveals that Hal blames himself for Karen's abduction and is not taking it well. Tom asks Anne where he can find Dr. Harris. Harris drinks, watching the captured Skitter. Tom confronts him about his deceased wife. It is revealed that Harris abandoned Tom's wife and left her to die when the attacks began.