284:. Injecting a child with a large dose of morphine before removing the harness would serve as a "bridge" to safely transition off of the alien drug without fatally shocking the brain, after which the child could be incrementally weaned off the morphine. Using this procedure, Harris and Anne are able to successfully cut the harness off Mike's son without killing him. However, Harris says that it is impossible to remove the tips of the needles that have fused into the child's spine: the points of the needles seem to be some sort of
397:] on the same night. Thatâs not necessarily a bad thing: While the first hour hummed along at a decent but semi-predictable pace, the second hour featured a fascinating detour into a high school that was more chamber drama than alien invasion. âPrisoner of Warâ returns to the format of the first hour, with an established theme depicted in the showâs title and a singular mission played out on multiple fronts. If anything stood out in this latest hour, itâs how shamelessly this show wears its narrative antecedents on its sleeve."
340:
correctly it looked perfect." Since he was directing both episodes, Beeman "shot the tunnel scenes for both episodes at the same time." (In the second episode, Pope takes Tom and his team hostage through a tunnel). For the actual
Skitter attack, the alien took 5 puppeteers to work it. The main one was a man who was in the suit. Two were working radio controls to operate its facial expressions and two more were needed to puppetteer its legs.
45:
272:
their vehicle, leaving Hal and Karen behind. Later, in a dark alley, Tom wakes up with Dai, Mike and his son. Dai tells Tom that Hal and Karen were left behind. Tom goes to find them and is attacked by a
Skitter, but Tom shoots two of its legs off with a shotgun and beats it half-to-death. Tom returns to the school with the Skitter and deems it a "Prisoner of War".
268:
certified (as if the other prisoners thought the food was bad, they would have knifed him). Uncle Scott tells Weaver about this and he interviews Pope about the possibility of letting him cook for everyone. Tom finds Anne and
Lourdes, and Anne tells Tom about Dr. Harris. Tom knows Harris and the two of them discuss Ben and Tom's late wife, Rebecca.
280:
brain's nerve receptors in some way that facilitates mind-control. Whatever this drug is, suddenly being separated from it made children die of shock. Harris theorized that while they didn't know exactly what the drug was, it must have vaguely similar effects as other drugs that stimulate the cognitive centers of the brain, such as
295:
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
243:
Back at the school, parents of harnessed kids come over and ask Tom if he saw anything. Mike tells them to back off as more and more badger Tom for the information. 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. Porter then tells
291:
Tom finds Hal alive and Hal tells his father of what he witnessed. Tom explains that the Nazis used similar tactics against Allied POW's in World War II: if one prisoner managed to escape, they would execute entire groups but leave one witness behind, to let the Allies know the harsh reprisal they
271:
Tom, Hal, Karen, Dai and Mike go to find Ben. Tom and Mike hide behind rubble. Mike sees his son and runs toward him, despite the danger of the Mechs and
Skitters. Mike grabs his son and Tom destroys a Mech. Another Mech, however, blows up a car, which knocks Tom out. Dai grabs him and takes him in
367:
Seeing the skitter run (skit?) across the ceiling was one of the more impressive visuals on the show so far, and it was very interesting to see Tom not only turn the tables on the thing but go to town on it, beating the hell out of it in a manner that proved he has some (understandable) bottled up
335:
was overseeing the script at the point the episode hit production. Yost wanted to open the episode with a scene on a rooftop, as did Beeman. The
Director of Photography, Chris Faloona and Beeman's production designer, Rob Gray "all wanted to go on the roof". They agreed the visual scope was a much
230:
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
339:
For the fight in the tunnel, Beeman said "The writer's came up with a concept that our heroes travel through abandoned sewer tunnels to travel between the school and the main part of the city." They found an old abandoned glass factory. "It was an above-ground tunnel - but when blacked in and lit
275:
Later that night, an injured Hal wakes up from on the ground where the Mech attacked. Harnessed kids (including Ben) come and drag an unconscious Karen away with them. Hal is delusional and weak and fails to stop them. A Mech and
Skitter gather a group of kids and the Mech executes them right in
267:
In his cell, Pope is given food but finds it disgusting. Here he tells Uncle Scott that he was a chef before the invasion. At first Scott is incredulous at this, but Pope explains that when he was in prison he worked the kitchen detail, and took cooking correspondence classes on the side to get
407:
said of the episode: "...there were some discussion-worthy things in "Prisoner of War," and I'm also curious to see ongoing reaction to the show..." He stated that he enjoyed the scene where the
Skitter attacks Tom, stating, "Noah Wyle takes out a skitter singlehanded! Tom dragging the creature
279:
Back at the school, Dr. Harris successfully removes the harness from Mike's son, with the help of Anne, Dai and
Lourdes. Harris explains that he figured out why children always died in previous attempts to remove the harnesses: they synthesize some sort of drug into the body, stimulating the
247:
Col. Porter calls a briefing for the fighters in a classroom. Long-distance communication collapsed when the
Skitters detonated their EMP attack at the start of the invasion six months ago, leaving the resistance to have to rely on sending scouts to physically run west to try to find out more
264:. 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.
419:
delivered my favorite hour of the opening three via "Prisoner of War." Not only did it shed new light on Tom - his overwhelming guilt at accidentally abandoning Hal made even more sense when we learned how his wife died - but it gave us plenty of insight into those invading Skitters."
357:. It marked a significant drop in viewership compared to the previous week's double episode, series premiere "Live and Learn" and "The Armory", which were both seen by 5.91 million household viewers. "Prisoner of War" received a 1.5 rating among viewers between ages 18 and 49.
239:
Tom, Hal, Karen, Anthony, Dai and Margaret watch as kids with harnesses collect scrap metal for the aliens. Tom sees his son, Ben and the group prepare to grab him. Karen accidentally knocks a loose piece of rock from the building, alerting the aliens and the group runs away.
408:
through the school was a nice moment (if, like most of the series, borrowed from another alien invasion story, in this case Will Smith in the desert in "Independence Day"), and I remain impressed by the effects work on the creature itself.
453:
299:
In the closing scene, Mike's son lays down on a stretcher and the scene cuts to the captured Skitter, which opens its eyes, it cuts back to Mike's son, who opens his eyes too.
461:
244:
him to bring Ben back safely. Tom meets up with Matt who heard that when a harness is removed, the kids die. Tom reassures his son that Ben will be fine.
802:
807:
292:
would exact. The Skitters let Hal escape because they want to discourage the human resistance from attempting to free more harnessed children.
248:
information, and the runners have finally returned. Porter reports that they contacted another human resistance militia in the outskirts of
707:
512:
792:
797:
336:
better way to open the episode. They went onto the roof and designed every shot a shooting sequence that would be most efficient.
573:
391:
premiered last week with a two-hour block that wasnât so much an extended pilot but two episodes that to happened air [
353:
In its original American broadcast, "Prisoner of War" was seen by an estimated 4.20 million household viewers, according to
759:
728:
637:
628:
194:
721:
700:
566:
534:
742:
735:
644:
321:
160:
769:
672:
714:
686:
618:
613:
608:
603:
598:
559:
438:
354:
184:
658:
207:
172:
135:
296:
wife and left her to die when the attacks began. Tom punches Harris in the face in anger.
8:
484:
679:
454:""Falling Skies" Falls 25% With Adults 18-49 Rating + "Leverage" Premiere Numbers"
210:
400:
285:
786:
583:
489:
215:
34:
252:, who in turn told them that they had contacted other resistance cells in
44:
693:
665:
332:
317:
224:
71:
260:, with fuzzy reports of surviving human resistance cells as far away as
764:
313:
261:
220:
120:
81:
231:
Hal, then releases Hal to deliver a message: take one, the rest die.
281:
253:
219:, which originally aired June 26, 2011. The episode was written by
126:
513:"Review: 'Falling Skies' - 'Prisoner of War': The wrong kid tried"
249:
551:
404:
331:
Beeman stated in his director's blog that executive producer
257:
393:
375:
288:
that grows into the spine the longer it is present.
206:" is the third episode of the first season of the
320:. Beeman previously directed the second episode,
784:
324:. He later goes on to direct the season finale,
387:awarded the episode with a B grade, stating: "
18:3rd episode of the 1st season of Falling Skies
567:
803:Television episodes about prisoners of war
574:
560:
439:"Falling Skies â Week 2 - Prisoner of War"
808:Television episodes about child abduction
535:"Falling Skies Review: "Prisoner of War""
532:
510:
451:
785:
436:
555:
482:
49:Hal and Karen are ambushed by a Mech.
13:
14:
819:
793:2011 American television episodes
581:
533:Richentha, Matt (June 26, 2011).
511:Sepinwall, Alan (June 26, 2011).
452:Seidman, Robert (June 27, 2011).
43:
798:Falling Skies season 1 episodes
729:Love and Other Acts of Courage
526:
504:
476:
445:
437:Beeman, Greg (June 20, 2011).
430:
307:
56:
1:
483:McGee, Ryan (June 26, 2011).
423:
302:
708:Shall We Gather at the River
343:
7:
312:The episode was written by
10:
824:
360:
348:
752:
627:
591:
368:rage ready to let loose.
193:
183:
149:
144:
117:
110:
95:
87:
77:
67:
54:
42:
32:
23:
234:
99:June 26, 2011
373:– Eric Goldman,
370:
355:Nielsen Media Research
411:Matt Richenthal from
365:
132:Martin Roach as Mike
680:What Hides Beneath
145:Episode chronology
780:
779:
485:"Prisoner Of War"
458:TV by the Numbers
200:
199:
179:
178:
112:Guest appearances
96:Original air date
815:
576:
569:
562:
553:
552:
546:
545:
543:
541:
530:
524:
523:
521:
519:
508:
502:
501:
499:
497:
480:
474:
473:
471:
469:
464:on June 29, 2011
460:. Archived from
449:
443:
442:
434:
379:
316:and directed by
223:and directed by
195:List of episodes
151:
150:
113:
106:
104:
58:
47:
21:
20:
823:
822:
818:
817:
816:
814:
813:
812:
783:
782:
781:
776:
748:
652:Prisoner of War
623:
587:
580:
550:
549:
539:
537:
531:
527:
517:
515:
509:
505:
495:
493:
481:
477:
467:
465:
450:
446:
435:
431:
426:
381:
372:
363:
351:
346:
310:
305:
237:
211:science fiction
204:Prisoner of War
170:
158:
111:
102:
100:
88:Production code
62:
50:
26:Prisoner of War
19:
12:
11:
5:
821:
811:
810:
805:
800:
795:
778:
777:
775:
774:
773:
772:
767:
756:
754:
750:
749:
747:
746:
739:
732:
725:
718:
711:
704:
697:
690:
683:
676:
669:
662:
655:
648:
641:
638:Live and Learn
633:
631:
625:
624:
622:
621:
616:
611:
606:
601:
595:
593:
589:
588:
579:
578:
571:
564:
556:
548:
547:
525:
503:
475:
444:
428:
427:
425:
422:
401:Alan Sepinwall
383:Ryan McGee of
364:
362:
359:
350:
347:
345:
342:
309:
306:
304:
301:
286:nanotechnology
276:front of Hal.
236:
233:
198:
197:
191:
190:
186:Falling Skies
181:
180:
177:
176:
164:
147:
146:
142:
141:
140:
139:
133:
130:
129:as Col. Porter
124:
123:as Uncle Scott
115:
114:
108:
107:
97:
93:
92:
89:
85:
84:
79:
75:
74:
69:
65:
64:
59:
52:
51:
48:
40:
39:
30:
29:
17:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
820:
809:
806:
804:
801:
799:
796:
794:
791:
790:
788:
771:
768:
766:
763:
762:
761:
758:
757:
755:
751:
744:
740:
737:
733:
730:
726:
723:
719:
716:
712:
709:
705:
702:
698:
695:
691:
688:
684:
681:
677:
674:
670:
667:
663:
660:
656:
653:
649:
646:
642:
639:
635:
634:
632:
630:
626:
620:
617:
615:
612:
610:
607:
605:
602:
600:
597:
596:
594:
590:
586:
585:
584:Falling Skies
577:
572:
570:
565:
563:
558:
557:
554:
536:
529:
514:
507:
492:
491:
490:The A.V. Club
486:
479:
463:
459:
455:
448:
440:
433:
429:
421:
418:
417:Falling Skies
414:
409:
406:
402:
398:
396:
395:
390:
389:Falling Skies
386:
385:The A.V. Club
380:
378:
377:
369:
358:
356:
341:
337:
334:
329:
327:
323:
319:
315:
300:
297:
293:
289:
287:
283:
277:
273:
269:
265:
263:
259:
255:
251:
245:
241:
232:
228:
226:
222:
218:
217:
216:Falling Skies
212:
209:
205:
196:
192:
189:
187:
182:
174:
168:
165:
162:
157:
153:
152:
148:
143:
138:as Dr. Harris
137:
134:
131:
128:
125:
122:
119:
118:
116:
109:
98:
94:
90:
86:
83:
80:
76:
73:
70:
66:
61:Season 1
60:
53:
46:
41:
37:
36:
35:Falling Skies
31:
27:
22:
16:
722:Young Bloods
701:Worlds Apart
651:
582:
538:. Retrieved
528:
516:. Retrieved
506:
494:. Retrieved
488:
478:
466:. Retrieved
462:the original
457:
447:
432:
416:
412:
410:
399:
392:
388:
384:
382:
374:
371:
366:
352:
338:
330:
325:
311:
298:
294:
290:
278:
274:
270:
266:
246:
242:
238:
229:
214:
203:
201:
185:
166:
155:
136:Steven Weber
33:
25:
15:
694:Eight Hours
666:Silent Kill
333:Graham Yost
326:Eight Hours
318:Greg Beeman
308:Development
225:Greg Beeman
72:Greg Beeman
68:Directed by
787:Categories
765:Anne Glass
760:Characters
743:Molon Labe
736:Homecoming
645:The Armory
424:References
413:TV Fanatic
322:The Armory
314:Fred Golan
303:Production
262:California
221:Fred Golan
161:The Armory
121:Bruce Gray
103:2011-06-26
82:Fred Golan
78:Written by
770:Tom Mason
673:Sanctuary
415:stated: "
344:Reception
63:Episode 3
629:Episodes
619:Season 5
614:Season 4
609:Season 3
604:Season 2
599:Season 1
540:June 26,
518:June 26,
496:June 26,
468:June 27,
282:morphine
254:Oklahoma
188:season 1
156:Previous
127:Dale Dye
55:Episode
753:Related
715:Compass
592:Seasons
361:Reviews
349:Ratings
250:Chicago
169: â
154:â
101: (
38:episode
687:Mutiny
405:HitFix
213:drama
659:Grace
258:Texas
173:Grace
542:2011
520:2011
498:2011
470:2011
256:and
235:Plot
167:Next
403:of
394:sic
376:IGN
208:TNT
91:103
57:no.
789::
487:.
456:.
328:.
227:.
175:"
163:"
745:"
741:"
738:"
734:"
731:"
727:"
724:"
720:"
717:"
713:"
710:"
706:"
703:"
699:"
696:"
692:"
689:"
685:"
682:"
678:"
675:"
671:"
668:"
664:"
661:"
657:"
654:"
650:"
647:"
643:"
640:"
636:"
575:e
568:t
561:v
544:.
522:.
500:.
472:.
441:.
202:"
171:"
159:"
105:)
28:"
24:"
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.