But wasn't it textually implied that it didn't come with an off switch? That they didn't know how to reverse it? And only worked it out (very promptly, mind you) for our heroes' benefit?

I think that Jack asked "you can fix this, right" and what his name looked down sheepishly and then Jack said "oh, you don't know how, do you?"

But, we don't know if they ever even bothered to consider how to fix it. Typical government, go Eureka writers for reality!

(My nitpick would be that the weapon as described was supposed to make the subjects turn on each other, and the actual effect on Jo & co was to make them work together to turn on everyone else. So not very useful, really.)

perhaps it was the filtering of the paranoia through the movie that caused the change. I want to know why they all fixated on the same person as the alien? Why the senator as opposed to anyone else? and why did they all see the same thing?

Spencer created the crop circles by hand--or at least they said that was consistent with his physical condition.

I want to know why they all fixated on the same person as the alien? Why the senator as opposed to anyone else? and why did they all see the same thing?

I think it was a new guy paranoia thing. Which is how Jack tried to deflect suspicion onto himself as the second newest one around. Once they agreed on who it was, I assume they saw whatever the film had shown--they were reciting the lines verbatim at the end.

Spencer created the crop circles by hand--or at least they said that was consistent with his physical condition.

Right, but why would being paranoid about aliens make you create a crop circle?

Right, but why would being paranoid about aliens make you create a crop circle?

and why do you have to be naked while doing it?

why would being paranoid about aliens make you create a crop circle?

No fucking idea, really.

eta:

why do you have to be naked while doing it?

Oh, that one I know--because it's fun.

I think the idea of the weapon was to be able to shoot the mind-rays from anywhere, hence the satellite.

Right, but... why actually do that? They were demonstrating the mind ray, not proving that satellites work. So why not just pipe it in directly?

And yeah, my question on the crop circle was why. I kinda suspect there was something in the movie dialogue that explained it, but I haven't gone back yet to make sure.

They were demonstrating the mind ray, not proving that satellites work. So why not just pipe it in directly?

Maybe they were demonstrating that they could use satellite-distributed mind control.

Just fanwanking there. I could have paid a bit more attention to the tachyon disruptor shield discussion.

Why the senator as opposed to anyone else?

Oooh! I have a Liese-paranoia-theory; something is wrong with the senator, for reals, and their mind dysfunction allowed them to see it. (Hey, I was right about W&H planting bugs with their exterminator at the Hyperion. Paranoia is good for you!)

But as far as in the text of the ep, Spencer evidently interpreted his helicopter as his spaceship, so equally interpreted the senator as alien. And yeah, it makes sense about the movie they all watched characterizing the specifics of your mind control ray effects. I got nothing about the crop circles. Other than, I really really like crop circles. I want to go make crop circles. But we don't actually have crops out here in the desert. Maybe I could make sagebrush circles. But that seems like work.

I think Spencer created the crop circle because he was convinced there was an alien invasion and he'd been abducted, and crop circles happen when the aliens come, and since there wasn't one there, he had to make it and then forget that he made it. In order to reinforce his own delusion.

crickets