War of the Worlds/Among the Philistines

Among the Philistines
Season 1, Episode 12
Airdate	January 9, 1989
Written by	Patrick Barry
Directed by	William Fruet
← 1x11 Epiphany	1x13 → Choirs of Angels
War of the Worlds — Season One

Among the Philistines is the twelfth episode of the first season of War of the Worlds.

Jared Martin (Harrison Blackwood), Lynda Mason Green (Suzanne McCullough), Philip Akin (Norton Drake)

and Richard Chaves (Colonel Ironhorse)

Special Guest Star: Cedric Smith (Adrian)

Also Starring: Rachel Blanchard (Debi), Corinne Conley (Mrs. Pennyworth), Larry Reynolds (Kensington), David Calderisi (Advocate #1), Ilse Von Glatz (Advocate #2)

Featuring: Gregory Cross (Chubs), Cliff Woolner (Alien Trucker), Richard Beach (Alien Driver), Clyde Whitham (Soldier)

Plot Overview

When a sting operation on the aliens is botched due to leaked information, the Blackwood Project finds its the fault of a linguistics expert. Questioning him at a safe house, they learn he's managed to decipher the aliens' transmissions. Finding him to be a potential new ally, they consider adding him to the team. However, once they bring him to the Cottage, things begin to fail to add up.

Notes

Teaser Quote

"Don't you see? It's not just our problem. If we lose this war, we lose the entire planet."

Base Three

• The three alien soldiers a part of the hijack operation.

• Adrian suggest the aliens might be using a trinary code in their transmissions.

Timeline

• Harrison tells Adrian that they've been fighting the aliens "this time, for over a year" with the alien colonists to arrive in "about 4 years".

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• The Cottage gets a dog for Debi, which is able to detect the alien within Adrian. As a result, Adrian kills the dog in an effort maintain his cover.

• The killing of Kensington marks the team's first loss.

Characters

• Norton has been taught to wield a staff, demonstrating that he is capable of defending himself despite his handicap.

• Suzanne seems to have become a bit smitten with Adrian. However, nothing becomes of this once he is discovered to be an alien.

Referbacks

• The information given to Adrian comes from what Quinn told Harrison in "The Prodigal Son".

Trivia

The Show

• When Norton is analysing the transmissions with Adrian, a space at the bottom of the computer screen reads "TOO DOE NAKOTAE" and something that appears to be "TO DA NAKATDO". This, of course, is "To Life Immortal" written phonetically as it is spoken in the aliens' native tongue.

• Airdate-wise, this marks the first of two appearance of the government safe house the Blackwood Project uses. The other episode would be "He Feedeth Among the Lilies" were it's used to interview alien witnesses.

• This episode marks the final appearances of Kensington and Mrs Pennyworth.

Behind the Scenes

• For reasons unclear, this episode was bumped up in order before "The Prodigal Son", which evidence suggests it was intended to air after.

Allusions and References

• When trying to get Adrian's attention through the intercom, he calls out "Yo, Adrian", reciting a famous quote from the Rocky films.

Memorable Moments

• Ironhorse spars with Norton and learns he cheats by having a staff with iron core.

Goofs

• In the last scene of the teaser act, the camera shows three figures as Ilse Von Glatz speaks, identifying them all as the Advocacy. However, David Calderisi is heard when it cuts to an isolated fourth figure. This and his dialogue seems to depict him as something along the lines of a Commander, contradicting the actor's credit as one of the Advocacy.

• Adrian's radiation sores are well concealed, but inexplicably some appear on his neck and up his face when Kensington shoots him.

Quotes

• Ironhorse: Harrison, you've got to get yourself out of this. This isn't good. This isn't good for the mission. More importantly, it's - it's not good for you. I know what you're feeling. At the Point, the prime discussion was the mission. Fighting an enemy that you can't see... it takes everything you have just to hold it together. Look, I've been there. We fought all night at Que Son. Pinned down... The screams, the dying that night. We all knew we'd be overrun; we'd be dead by the end of the night. In the morning, the mist cleared... in the valley. And they were gone. We'd done it. We'd held our position. We won. But that night... was a million nights long. You're going through a night like that, Harrison. But the mist will clear... and we will have won.

• Adrian: I understand your problem.

Harrison: It's not that. It's not just our problem. If we lose this war, we lose the planet.

• Ironhorse: You understand the need for maintaining the secrecy of our location.

Adrian: Of course. Anyway, I like being blindfolded in the back of a van. It's my idea of a good time.

• Adrian: I have three doctorates and I'm blindfolded in the back of a van on my way to fight extraterrestrials. What is wrong with this picture?

• Norton: My teacher always said, "Endeavour to surprise your opponent."

Ironhorse: This staff has an iron core!

Norton: Surprise.

• Adrian: No need to be scared. We both want the same thing: peace and cooperation.

Norton: Give me a break.

Adrian: It's all over. You lose.

Norton: I only lose if you get out of here. And you have to get past me.

Adrian: You and your wheelchair.

Norton: Yeah. Me... and my wheelchair... and my staff.

Adrian: Your piece of wood doesn't intimidate me.