FALLING SKIES: Skitters, Mechs and Creepy New Aliens Abound

Last month at Comic Con, cable’s top series launch of 2011 – TNT’s new series Falling Skies – converged on the annual fete, taking one of the ballrooms by storm with an appearance by cast members Noah Wyle (Tom Mason), Moon Bloodgood (Dr. Anne Glass), Will Patton (Captain Weaver), Drew Roy (Hal Mason), Colin Cunningham (John Pope) and Sarah Carter (Margaret) as well as Executive Producers Mark Verheiden, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey. The panel was overseen by moderator Debra Birnbaum, Senior Editor of TV Guide Magazine.

After a rousing round of applause greeted the cast and creative minds, they were all asked what their favorite episode has been thus far. With Noah and Drew agreeing that the pilot was their favorite; Moon saying she liked the episode where Margaret taught Anne how to shot a gun; Sarah sharing she liked the final episode while Colin and Will both said they don’t have a favorite but Colin though the final episode is pretty good and Will saying he likes the episodes with action scenes best.

Noah Wyle and Moon Bloodgood (Photo Credit: Rueben)

Despite her best efforts, Debra was unable to draw any spoilers out of the cast and crew, but EP Mark Verheiden would share this about the Skitters: “(Details on why they want the children) will be parsed out slowly. You’ll learn more, just be patient.” EP’s Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey also took a few moments to salute co-Executive Producer Greg Beeman and writer Melinda Hsu-Taylor as well as mention that new EP Remi Aubuchon will take over Mark’s reins for season 2. They then briefly shared, “all we can say is we’ve wanted to create mysteries and then answer those mysteries and then create even more mysteries.”

Each of the cast members were then asked what is their favorite quality about their individual characters with Noah saying Tom’s sense of fatherhood; Drew commenting on Hal’s bravery; Moon mentioning Anne’s selflessness and giving-ness; Colin talking about Pope’s drive and myopic focus; and Sarah believing that Margaret is the “Phoenix rising from the ashes.”

Colin Cunningham and Sarah Carter (Photo Credit: Rueben)

Moon also talked about one of the pivotal scenes between Anne and Tom when Anne slams her bloody handprint on the bulletin board containing pictures of the missing children from those within the 2nd Mass. She shared “that was a really intense scene. I really remember shooting that scene and I had to get into the right (frame of mind). The writing is so beautiful and everyone has pictures posted but Anne doesn’t have anything to put up there (except that bloody handprint).” She went on to say that afterwards, “Noah left me a little note, saying that scene is when Tom falls in love with Anne,” which, of course, received a round of “Ah’s” from the audience.

Then Sarah briefly talked about her character Margaret, sharing that “she does have a really good heart. It’s just such an honor to be playing a character with that kind of depth.

When asked if it was harder working in the ER or battling aliens, Noah quickly answered “battling aliens,” further sharing that it is great “to look like a hero to my 8-year old son.”

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In answer to how much of the work on the show is real versus computer-generated images, the EP’s shared it is about 50/50 with the Mechs being completely CGI and an actor in a suit with puppeteers handling the multiple legs for the close-up scenes with the Skitters.

Drew Roy and Will Patton (Photo Credit: Rueben)

With a sneak peek at the next new episode (which featured the newly introduced creepy tall aliens) shown to the grateful audience, the inaugural panel for Falling Skies came to an end.

Make sure to tune in this Sunday, August 7 for a day-long marathon of Falling Skies episodes, leading up to the chilling two-hour season finale, starting at 9/8c on TNT.