USA Network's Colony is a mystery wrapped in a mystery, partially in thanks to its showrunner, Carlton Cuse, who also served as showrunner for Lost, another extremely enigmatic series.

Colony picks up after an invasion, presumably of the alien variety: Cities are surrounded by walls and divided into colonies, over which a Transitional Authority serves as that colony's version of Homeland Security.

Those who work for the Transitional Authority also work for the mysterious "hosts," and do their best to stave off those humans who would resist such an occupation. At the head of the Los Angeles Transitional Authority is Proxy Alan Snyder, who will do anything to end the "terrorism" of those resisting the change.

Behind Colony's Proxy Snyder is actor Peter Jacobson, who recently spoke to press about his role on the series and what we can expect next from his character, including hints as to what happens in tonight's episode.

One thing that fans of the series like about Proxy Snyder is that he comes across as a very different kind of villain.

"One of the things that I liked most about the script when I read it was that Proxy Snyder sort of jumped off the page to me as - at me, really - as somebody who is in sort of a very unique situation and is sort of a unique character in that we don't necessarily see him right away as sort of the typical villain," said Jacobson. "He's somebody who has a lot of mystery to him and he doesn't seem like the kind of guy whom would necessarily be in the position of power that he's in."

Part of being in a series like Colony involves a lot of mystery: like Lost, much of Colony's plot is a protected secret, one that even stays hidden from those involved with the show's production.

"That's part of being in a show with Carlton Cuse," said Jacobson. "You don't always know what's coming down the line. So I just knew from the pilot what was there. I never really knew much more than an episode or two ahead while we were shooting the first 10 episodes, which served me fine."

Colony just recently got picked up for a second season, too, but Jacobson admits he has no idea what will happen. However, viewers could learn more about Proxy Snyder during the next episode.

"This episode coming up will be the moment in the season when you really do begin to really sort of get some more detail and some specifics as to why Snyder is where he is and how he got there," said Jacobson. "That being said, I can't guarantee that the explanations he gives are necessarily the truth. I don't mean to make it more confusing than it is, but to me, it's my favorite episode of the season really for that reason - that we sort of begin to sort of see much more about who Snyder is and why he is who he is."

But what about the biggest mystery surrounding the series? Who are the invaders and where did they come from? Are they even aliens or are they something else? There are so many questions, but, fortunately, Jacobson promises that at least some of these questions will get answers this season.

"Yes," he said. "You will learn more. I'm not at liberty to say how much. There will be, you know, you will learn more but it's a very Carlton Cuse - in a very Carlton Cuse-ien way. The information will be doled out sparingly and the second season you'll be learning a lot more."

Viewers who watched last week's episode got a shock when one of the main players at the Transitional Authority, Phyllis, got killed by the resistance. This event will have a major impact on the organization, as well as on a personal level for Proxy Snyder.

"Well, there will be ripples in terms of who's in what position of authority," said Jacobson. "I will act to fill that vacuum. I already did. I put Phyllis in her position. So already we begin, you know, the ripple effects to her death. It's certainly the death that motivates Snyder in a big way because the shocking nature of somebody of that status being killed in the Green Zone - the place where we're all supposed to be protected - just shows how potentially more dangerous the Resistance is and can be.

"So Snyder's got that very much on his mind and it really does propel him forward in terms of the actions that he takes and also the fears and concerns that he has that fuel those actions. So it was a very pivotal moment. And again we'll see that in the more intense, personal, human level - the ways in which it's playing out for Snyder in this episode with three people stuck in the same spot under these intense circumstances. There's going to be a lot of sparks flying and a lot of - frankly, a lot more honesty than what we've seen so far."

Colony airs at 10 p.m. EST Thursdays on USA Network.

Photo: USA Network