The title of this episode was inspired by the 1963
science-fiction novel The Man Who Fell to Earth by Walter Tevis.
During the opening titles of this episode, actress Jessica
Steen is credited as Dr. Julia Stern instead of the
character's actual name of Dr. Julia Heller.
This episode is narrated by Danziger.
While Yale is adjusting the holographic emitter in his
robotic hand at 5:36 on the DVD, images of the planet Earth,
a mushroom cloud, and Adolf Hitler appear in the air above
his hand.
While he and True are walking through the scrub with Zero to
collect wood, Uly tells her that while he was with the
Terrians they told him all sorts of things about themselves,
like being to stretch their arms really long to pick up
something out of reach. We never see this particular ability
of the Terrians. He also says that their caves wind around
so they can confuse their enemies. What enemies are these?
The (not yet revealed to the group) penal colonists?
Gaal tells the Eden Advance team he was an astronaut with
the Pontel 7 project. Yale later responds to Bess' queries,
informing her that
the Pontel 7 project was a mission by over three dozen
single-person ships to explore an 11 light-year radius
from Earth. He notes the project ended in 2168, having made no
significant discoveries. You would think the team would find
his story suspicious considering he's claiming his ship, intended for an 11
light-year voyage, traveled twice that distance and
just happened to crash on G889, the only habitable planet
thus far found by humankind.
Yale comments that the days are much shorter and the years
much longer on G889 than on Earth.
As Gaal washes his face at 15:01 on the DVD, we see some
kind of design, like a tattoo or brand, on the back of his
right hand. We never get an explanation of what it is, or
its meaning. (In "Life Lessons" we see he has an
"E2" brand
on his neck and learn its meaning, however.)
While introducing himself to Gaal, Morgan reveals that he
was Deputy-Secretary of Interstellar Development back on the
stations.
Upon learning from Gaal that Commander O'Neill may still be
alive, the group heads back to his gravesite. They set up
camp in the area, so why do they not camp next to
the cargo pod like they were when they buried him in
"First Contact" Part 2?
They're camped on a sloping hillside instead, nothing like
the flat area they were at before. A possible explanation is
that when they left the area the first time, they had to go
around some hills to begin their trek to New Pacifica and
now find it quicker to stop the group at one of these hills
and send a smaller party to run over the hills to check the
grave.
The image on the monitor in the background from 20:56-21:43
on the DVD is an image of the continent the Eden Advance
team is on, including the region of New Pacifica.
Gaal tells Danziger that the Grendlers are capable of
carrying 7 times their own body weight and could crush a
man's skull with one hand if they wanted to. Of course, we
don't know how much we can trust what Gaal said; it's
possible he exaggerated their strength to scare the group
into thinking they needed his knowledge of the creatures
and this world that much more.
At 26:39 on the DVD, we can see that the implant on the side
of Yale's head has "Yale" printed on it, as well as a number
that is too difficult to make out. (In
"Better Living
Through Morganite" Part 2, we are able to identify the
number as 61162.)
At 35:31 on the DVD, Commander O'Neill is carrying a case
that has the universal radiation symbol on it. We're not
told what is inside.
At 45:25 on the DVD, notice that Gaal has left a piece of a
Terrian staff next to the Commander's dead body to
implicate
the alleged culprits.
Notice that at 45:35 on the DVD, Zero's robotic head is
resting on the front of the DuneRail.
Leather Wings
reveals that his head can be attached to the guidance
mechanism of the vehicle to steer it; the same novel reveals
that his body can continue to walk along with the group
minus the head (though we do not see that here; possibly
Zero's body is packed away in the TransRover at times to
conserve energy and prevent additional wear-and-tear).
Unanswered Questions
Is there a reason that the Eden Advance team just happened
to crash their escape pods in the same region that the penal
colonists were put down 15 years ago?
Memorable Dialog
nomad on a six-wheeled camel.wav
the Terrians are my friends.wav
I'm not the welcoming kind.wav
do the monsters visit in your dreams?.wav
you
know a lot, Yale.wav
I could just command them.wav
you're
right, True.wav
I'm trusting you don't have to learn your lesson a third
time.wav
I see how you manage your own daughter.wav
who else to rescue you from your demons?.wav
we were
craven.wav
I
can accommodate you.wav
at least we have a guide.wav
Back to Earth 2
Episode Studies
