Abhiroop Das
While Robert Rodat’s ‘Falling Skies’ primarily chronicles an alien invasion through the eyes of Tom Mason, a history professor turned resistance fighter, he constitutes a much larger resistance organization, namely the 2nd Mass. As a group, the 2nd Mass is far from homogenized, but every member comes together when it comes to protecting Earth from the nefarious extraterrestrial species known as the Espheni. A major chunk of the group’s offensive prowess is led by Margaret “Maggie” May, a fearless fighter who goes on to become a key figure in the narrative. Apart from her expert skills with ammunition and her romantic stints with Hal, one thing that stands out about Maggie is her tattoos, which not only add to her fiery spirit visually but also hold symbolic meaning.
Sarah Carter Got Temporary Tattoos For Her Role as Maggie in Falling Skies
Shortly after the release of the series finale, actor Sarah Carter confirmed that Maggie’s tattoos were not real and were a show-only feature. As such, it’s likely that she got temporary or semi-permanent tattoos during each individual season’s filming period. Carter’s social media presence across the years confirms that she was not actually inked for or during the show. While the actor has neither confirmed nor denied whether she has tattoos in real life, there is nonetheless a clear fictional element to Maggie’s body art. Still, given how prominently the designs feature across the story, the sense of realism in the tattoos is a feat by itself, made possible by the makeup crew of ‘Falling Skies.’
The confirmation of the tattoos being fake came as a surprise to many fans, but upon closer examination, their being temporary designs makes sense. Maggie’s tattoos are among the most iconic features of her character design, and to that end, they speak individually to her past and personality. Possibly, there is an additional layer of symbolism attached to some of the tattoos, which makes them wholly unique to Maggie. Thus, Sarah Carter has no reason to feature a character-specific body art even outside of the show’s shooting sessions. Carter has frequently discussed Maggie’s inner strength, and the tattoos stand out as a way of expressing this driving force, which is usually conveyed in subtlety.
Maggie’s Tattoos Comprise a Hindu Goddess and Other Mythical Entities
Throughout the show, Maggie features three prominent tattoos: one on her left shoulder, another across her right bicep and triceps, and a third on the right side of her back. While all three tattoos have their own stand-out features, the one on her right arm is undoubtedly a highlight, owing to its unconventional design. This tattoo depicts the Hindu goddess Kali, who primarily represents the concepts of death, change, and empowerment. Almost all of her unique characteristics, namely a garland of severed human heads, four limbs, and an assortment of weapons, are present in Maggie’s tattoo. As the most popular legend goes, Kali defeated a demon known as Raktabija, who could spawn clones of himself with every drop of his blood that touched the ground. The goddess killed him by drinking his blood and eating his corpse, marking the origins of her wrathful renditions.
It is possible that Maggie was inspired by the story of Kali, leading her to get the deity inked on her arm. Given that Maggie spends the bulk of the show fighting the Esphenis and their foot-soldiers, the Skitters, the parallels add up. In sharp contrast, however, the tattoo on her left shoulder depicts a crimson colored flower, most likely a Dahlia. Its dense structure, coupled with the spiky petals, makes that connection quite probable, and as such, the flower’s symbolic meaning can vaguely be attached to Maggie. Traditionally, Dahlias represent inner strength and confidence, and both of those traits fit Maggie perfectly. The stark difference between the tattoos might be intentional as well, as it effectively captures both her loving and intimidating sides.
Maggie’s third and largest tattoo doesn’t appear on-screen often, as it is inked on the right side of her back, beginning with her shoulder and blade and extending towards her waist. The design appears to be an imaginary bird, with bright blue, red, and purple plumage. While the bird appears to be headless, there is a good chance that this is a phoenix, a mythical being that symbolizes rebirth and transformation. With this, the body art’s first major appearance on screen gains new significance, as it is the scene where Maggie survives a critical injury via alien technology, almost literally coming back to life. Thus, her tattoos are more than just aesthetic add-ons to her look, but a visual canvas that simultaneously portrays the ups and downs of her journey in ‘Falling Skies.’
Read More: Falling Skies Season 6: Why Was it Canceled?
