**Warning: This contains spoilers of episodes yet to come from a recent preview shown after the premiere and theories**
The 2 hour premiere was packed with action and suspense but also a lot of questions. Tom doubts whether he is himself or not and keeps reminding Weaver not to fully trust him. Ben has gone through drastic changes that leave many to wonder how much control the aliens have over him.
In the preview shown right after the premiere showing a look ahead on season 2 we get a deeper look at just how far Ben is going. The first scene shown Ben is telling Hal he is sorry just before he grabs Hal by the throat. In the background we see Karen. The unanswered question here is whether Ben is protecting Hal who is likely poking his nose in Bens business or following him, or is Ben losing control?
We get another glimpse of a factory turned into a harness producing location. Does that mean we get to see how these harnesses work and how a kid gets harnessed? I think so. The creepy thing we see after this is the spikes on Bens back glow while Ben was near the harnesses and Hal saw them. So the connection with the aliens is growing. It’s interesting to note that when we interviewed the man who designed the harness, he mentioned that TNT told him the aliens were aquatic in nature and we see that shown with Bens ability to swim and the harness factory. The glowing also indicates a level of communication and possibly control. If the aliens can light those up, what can they do to Ben? Can they upload or download information?
It’s also clear Tom finds out that Ben has been in communication with the aliens and he isn’t pleased. The 2nd mass barely trusts Ben as it is and if they found out he was communicating with the aliens, they might kill him. We also see an interesting scene where Bens back is lit up and the skitter we met with the red eye seems to be controlling him. Rick returns and his state of mind seems to be in no better shape. He warns that everyone is in danger, but we are not sure what he may be talking about. Obviously the we are in danger the aliens are trying to kill us, but there seems to be something more going on. Some of the season 2 episode descriptions seem to be some pretty telling tales of what is to come for everyone. We know in one episode Ben is betrayed by someone he thought he could trust, but who? I am guessing its whomever told Tom about Bens glowing spikes which right now is only Hal.
We see Tom find Hal on the ground, knocked out. I am guessing this is an extension to the Ben grabbing Hal scene and looks to be Ben protecting Hal by stopping him from following him and Karen. Looking at Karen, at 0:46 we see a deharnessed Karen standing next to Ben, both of them with their spikes glowing, both in a state of shock or pain. My theory on the spikes glowing is that is a nearly finished end-product of the harness process. I think that Ben and Karen have completed the process that the harness is needed for, and now the rest is left up to biology. What this means is the aliens intended for the harnesses to be removed at this point in their evolution. The spikes glowing is an obvious communication from the aliens but what does Karen want to show Ben? These spikes will likely remain outside of any exoskeleton that forms and would be used by the aliens to control them but again to what end?
Hal and Maggie’s relationship continues to grow and we see Hal carrying her out, apparently injured. With Karens return, we are left to wonder how Hal will choose and deal with that fact. It seems to me perhaps Karen is more interested in Ben now that Hal, for reasons that only Ben understands but wont share with everyone else.
Whats your theory on Ben, Hal and where the season is going? Join the conversation on our new joint Falling Skies topic forum. We have teamed up with FanBolt.com.
