This week’s episode of Falling Skies, “Sanctuary, Part 1,” opens with Dr. Anne Glass examining a child, and subsequently getting mugged at gunpoint by the child’s father. Freaked out by the death of Dr. Michael Harris (so I guess someone was affected by it) and the presence of formerly harnessed kids, the man and his family plan to leave the 2nd Massachusetts, and demand medical supplies that they can use to barter. Unfortunately, this just proves that, even when Earth is being assaulted by an extraterrestrial life form, you still can’t count on the decency of your fellow man. Or is it that you especially can’t count on them in such dire times?
Either way, when Weaver, Tom and Mike pursue the family to retrieve the stolen meds, they run into the general of the 7th Massachusetts — a unit that has been almost entirely wiped out by skitters. The general warns them that an attack is imminent, and tells them that the 2nd Massachusetts will have to join the 7th to help fight the aliens off. He also suggests that they send the children to a safe place with what’s left of the 7th Mass. Many parents — Tom included — resist being separated from their kids, and they spend a large portion of the episode debating what course of action to take. It's ultimately Tom's decision, however, by virtue of his influential position as liaison between 2nd Mass' man-in-charge Weaver and the civilians.
This article appears in Jul 14-20, 2011.