Farscape Episode 1.05: “Back and Back and Back to the Future”

[chavalah.livejournal.com]

Watching this episode with post-season eyes is sort of like a “temporal dislocation” as a fan! Talk about a prototype for all sorts of issues that will make a bigger appearance later on—seeing the future, quantum weapons used in inter-species war, women who use their sexual wiles for nefarious purposes, and a whole lot of people not being who they say they are. This was also a big episode for D’argo, seeing him interact with a race close to his own people (there’s another repeating theme!) and learning that he hasn’t been truthful about what he was imprisoned for. Not that he comes out with it with John, but the fact that John knows D’argo is keeping this secret is the first personal thing that binds them together. That and their mutual desire for some smooch-time with the opposite sex. :P


A strange ship is disintegrating in green flashes. Aboard Moya, Zhaan wants to help but D’argo and Rygel are all about getting out of there. Enter John…in a black tee! This gives Zhaan a nice chance to explain the previous few sentences. :P Meanwhile a pod darts out of the ship, and a scratchy image of two tentacled-creatures appears, the woman pleading faintly for help. Suddenly, D’argo changes his tune, and orders Pilot to bring them aboard.

The ship lands in the docking bay, and Aeryn covers the boys as they go inside to bring out survivors. They find the two creatures from the transmission and then John goes in to look for some more. While there, he purposefully puts his hand near an electrical charge. :-O I mean wtf, John? Weren’t you an MIT graduate? Earth’s best scientist zones out and D’argo comes in, saying the same muffled message four times in a row. Who wants to guess something freaky’s going on here? :P

Zhaan laments not being able to search the disintegrating ship for more survivors, but Moya’s out of there. Turns out it doesn’t matter; the male creature, Verrell, says that he and the female, Matala, were the only crew. They noticed some abnormal ship readings, but only when it was too late to do anything about it. They’ve also saved some cargo, and Aeryn demands to know what it is. This causes suspicion from the creatures, until John and D’argo assert that she’s a former Peackeeeper, now one of them. Aww, progress. The cargo is explained as scientific data. Verrell asks if they can be carpooled to a nearby cruiser. D’argo is so friendly and hospitable towards these folks that he was about to abandon that the rest of the crew gives him the arched eyebrow. What’s going on here? Matala stops by John to thank him in her slow voice that will soon get on everyone’s nerves. :P At the moment John has other concerns. He suddenly flashes to a vision where he and Matala are getting freaky! And I mean freaky. She’s sort of squealing on a high-pitched note, and running her hands over him in a way that seems half painful, half pleasurable. Whoah, Johnny. Now we know you’re into the kinky stuff. :P Aeryn is not impressed by his stammering in real time.

Zhaan locks in the coordinates for the rendezvous and Matala thanks her. Rygel, meanwhile, is trying to work out a monetary “expression of appreciation,” but D’argo poo-poos that idea, yanking on the Hynerian’s ears to shut him up. He explains that their species, the Ilanics, are genetic cousins to Luxans, and he asks them to forgive Rygel. “His manners match his size.” Pilot comms in to say that they’ll reach their destination in 12 arns…that would be hours for us on Earth. :P Matala asks for food for Verrell, and she and D’argo leave together.

D’argo admits to Verrell that they are a ship of escaped prisoners, but the older man brushes this off; so long as he’s not guilty of treason, “exile from your own people is atonement enough.” Since D’argo’s been in Peacekeeper custody, the Ilanics have been at war with a neighboring race, the Scorvians. The Luxans, of course, are doing their part to help their cousins. D’argo joins the call; he wants to help as well. “Getting us to the rendezvous point will help the war effort more than you know,” Verrell promises. Sounds foreshadowing.

Matala finds Aeryn fiddling around on her transport, and tells her in passive but no uncertain terms to back off. Aeryn obviously doesn’t trust the new woman on board. Things get tense enough that they both resort to fight poses! D’argo appears in the doorway and Aeryn says she was doing readings to see how the DRDs could help fix the shuttle. Despite her good intentions, Matala still wants her to back off, specifically away from the cargo. D’argo, too, turns on the former-PK, leaving her to stalk off and tell her suspicions to John and Zhaan that Matala is leading the menfolk around “by their mivonks”…don’t think I have to translate that. :P As if to prove her point, John is back in freaky town! He sees Matala throwing him against the wall, lifting up his shirt and saying in her squeaky voice that this will feel good…John’s face scrunches up in not-quite pain as Henson enters Adult Territory. :P No Kermit here! Back in the present, John says he needs air and staggers off. “We have air in here,” Aeryn gripes. “What is the matter with him?” “He is Crichton,” is Zhaan’s wise reply. :P

D’argo is also showing an interest in Matala; Verrell assures him that their relationship is strictly professional, and that the Luxan should go for it. They’re in the maintenance bay so that the two Ilanics can continue to work on their scientific experiment. Matala enters and thanks D’argo for his work bench. She guesses that he’s in the middle of building a shield cloak, and D’argo admits that she’s right. John rushes in and asks D’argo for a word in the hall. As our two guys leave, Matala mutters something about “trouble.” Uh oh.

John wants to know of Ilanic women have “special pheromones” or “telepathic powers of seduction” when it comes to getting men. D’argo folds his hands across his chest. “You are fantasizing about her,” he says in a stern, paternal voice. “Remove her from your thoughts.” “Trust me, I’m trying!” John proclaims as his friend growls and stalks off.

John has a new kind of vision now—he sees Aeryn in the corridor, to ask if D’argo is still sucking up to the Ilanics. Aeryn moves her hand in front of John’s confused face, then we re-join the other John again. He leaves for the corridor and sure enough, he bumps into Aeryn for that convo! John starts stammering so Aeryn leaves him alone. He’s theorizing…if this vision came true, is it possible he’s seeing the future? (Crazy alien sexy time?) As if as confirmation, Matala walks slowly in front of John as some wailing, sexual music plays. I’m not sure what it says about me that I distinctly remember watching this scene in 1999. :P

Later, John stops in front of the mirror in his quarters to think things through. He flashes to another vision—himself and D’argo finding Verrell’s body with a knife sticking out of it! Matala comes from behind, unseen, and takes the other men out with a “Xena”-like pinch. Once John is incapacitated, she comes to him and snaps his neck. :-O Yikes. That was hard to watch! Was certainly hard for John, too, as he snaps back to the present. He runs to the maintenance bay where he stops D’argo from going in. D’argo accuses him of just trying to stand in the way of his relationship with Matala. “Open your ears or your tentacles or whatever orifice it is you listen with!” John shouts. “Matala is dangerous.” But when the maintenance bay door opens, Verrell steps out unharmed.

Matala is with Aeryn, and they’re off to do some “physical conditioning” together, aka girlfight! John thinks this is a good idea…so long as Matala is in the cargo bay for awhile nothing bad can happen, right? Matala grabs his hand and asks how it is. John gives a freaked out “ok.” The ladies exit and our human rubs his hand on his pants. :P Cooties!

Zhaan and Rygel are in the mess hall. Rygel is stuffing his face, but Zhaan wants him to listen to Moya and give his opinion on whether anything is wrong with her. Rygel stop chewing for a second and declares Moya fine. :P But Zhaan still doesn’t agree. “Something feels out of balance.” Maybe she should ask Pilot?

There’s a nice, aerial shot of the gals moving towards each other on a Peacekeeper mat, whose red and black algebraic shapes were influenced by Soviet artwork, interestingly enough. As they engage in martial arts fighting, they also do some smack talk. :P I also remember this scene from 1999…probably because it reminded me of Harlan and Radu on “Space Cases.” Anywho! Peacekeeper ladies are so very dimwitted, Matala says airily. They know nothing of art or culture or seducing males. Unlike other species who can only achieve their goals through seducing males, Aeryn shoots back. To prove her point, she’s able to knock Matala to the ground a couple times. Things are looking up for Officer Sun…until Matala puts the pinch on her! Aeryn faints on a long, red triangle. “Thanks for the exercise,” she says in her squeaky voice.

Matala leaves and runs into Zhaan in the corridors. The Delvian wants to know if Matala has any thoughts on Moya’s irregularities, seeing what happened to her own ship. Matala brushes it off and asks about John instead. “I’m curious about Crichton.” Zhaan brushes that off, claiming he’s too complicated to get to know “in the short time you’ll be here.” Just wait until later in the season, ladies. Zhaan goes to Verrell instead, but he also brushes off Moya’s irregularities. Every time someone says something isn’t worth worrying about…

John is trying to formulate a plan to attack his visions while Rygel continues to gorge. “Must you gibber while I’m eating?” he complains to the human. “Or at all?” John once again flashes to Verrell’s death. This time his vision self looks around for Matala and when she comes he’s able to fight her off. John’s suddenly back in the present, shoving Rygel into some of his food! As Zhaan walks in to help the choking hynerian, John runs out.

In the maintenance bay Verrell admits to D’argo that their “scientific research” is in fact weapons testing. D’argo’s hurt they didn’t trust him with this intel before, but now they need him to calm down his crew mates over the Moya disturbances. They assure him that the leviathan is in no danger. Uh huh.

John talks to Zhaan in her room about his future flashes while he holds a blue mask. Zhaan says the concept sounds fascinating, but John’s more interested in how he can stop the murders. And why does Matala want to kill them anyway? He breaks the mask in his agitation. Klutz. He’s off to talk to Verrell about his dangerous partner, but he runs into Matala instead. “Back off, future girl!” He grabs a lead pipe and demands explanations for his visions. As D’argo comes in Matala drops to the floor. She says John “knows the truth and is threatening to tell the others,” and that he was rough with her. Before John can defend himself, D’argo is on him with his Qualta blade! John goes down and Matala pinches Verrell and D’argo.

…and John’s back in Zhaan’s room, holding the mask! He breaks it almost immediately. He’s still freaking about being stabbed, and Aeryn comes in with vital information—Matala is Scorvian. :-O Or at least she fights like one. (The pinch is a “Scorvian neural stroke.”) And that gives her motive! John guesses that the “scientific research” is more than their new friends are letting on, and that D’argo’s in on it. Aeryn’s all for forcing the truth out of them, but Zhaan says they must talk to Verrell alone. Pilot interrupts, asking someone to check Moya’s worsening phase imbalance. Zhaan decides to ask D’argo, assuming he’ll take Matala and leave Verrell ripe for the picking. John goes to talk to the old guy, but first he spies on Matala and D’argo. Matala wants them to ignore the problem, and D’argo assures her that his crewmates aren’t Scorvian sympathizers. Matala wants to know if D’argo will join the cause, and she gets a little frisky with his tentacles. :P Yowza. D’argo says he can’t, due to his true crime, which no one aboard Moya knows. :-O Yikes! He lied to Zhaan in the premiere! In war, one can have only one of two allegiances, Matala says, going for the Luxan’s mivonks. Me-ow. John finally realizes it’s his time to go. :P He meets Verrell and tells him that Matala is a Scorvian spy, which Verrell denies. John tells of his time flashes, which Verrell calls “temporal dislocation.” John slowly ekes it out of him that the secret weapon they carted off their ship is part of a black hole. :-O John’s exposure has led to some temporary flashes. “If you’re right about Matala, then she will kill for it,” Verrell says. What a great time for Matala to return, and with D’argo! Verrell confronts Matala and Matala takes D’argo out! She kills Verrell, takes his work and leaves. Aeryn comes in and shoots the shuttle, despite John’s protests. In a great CGI shot, John looks at the shuttle start to turn green before taking Moya down in a black hole!

…and then we’re back in Zhaan’s room with John and the mask!!! I gotta say—I found this one a disconcerting shift. This time, John deliberately steps on the mask as if he’s trying to control his destiny (but also be really inconsiderate with Zhaan’s things. :P) He waits for Aeryn to come and spill her secret, then he beats her to the punch. The gals make the same suggestions as last time but John poo-poos them; been there, done that. D’argo is the key. The longer he’s with Matala, the worse the timeline gets. Somehow they have to find a way to get him alone.

Zhaan goes to the maintenance bay to ask D’argo to talk to Rygel, who is once again creating bills for the Ilanics. That sets D’argo off! He storms into the command and finds the rest of his crew but no Ryg. They bring their intel to the Luxan, who is understandably skeptical. John takes it deeper, recounting the conversation (which hasn’t happened yet) where Matala will offer him a place in the Ilanic war effort, as a way to keep him off his guard. Still nope. So John asks for the gals to vamoose. When he’s alone with D’argo he says that he knows his friend lied about his “true crime.” That gets D’argo listening. The soundtrack thrums as D’argo demands to know how John heard. Future talk! D’argo looks defeated. No girlfriend for him (not yet! :P)

Aeryn comms to say a vessel resembling an Ilanic ship is approaching. But is it a secret Scorvian, like Matala? D’argo has a plan—hail them and demand visual confirmation, because the two species look nothing alike. If it’s a trap, Aeryn can drive this ship the way she did in the premiere. Sure enough, the clamshell transmission is fuzzy! “We regret that our comm system has a malfunction…” Yeah, right. Aeryn’s ready to move. Meanwhile D’argo bolts to the maintenance bay and John runs after him.

D’argo demands that Verrell stand aside from Matala…she’s not who she says she is! “Trust your heart,” Matala entreats him while secretly pulling a weapon from her behind her back. “Your heart knows the truth.” She takes the weapon and holds it to Verrell’s chin. D’argo kicks his qualta blade off to the side, and Matala stabs Verrell in the back! Damn…I really felt for this guy. After seeing him die so many times, I really hoped he’d come out unscathed. Alas. John dives for the qualta blade while D’argo and Matala fight. Then Matala drags John out, too, for more alien beatings on our favorite human. :P Matala ultimately escapes to her transport, but John’s able to stop D’argo from shooting it. “You’ll kill us all!” D’argo looks trusting, but furious that he has to let his enemy go—and with a black hole weapon, no less.

Aeryn flies Moya away, but Vorrell is still clinging to life! He has his console with him, and he pushes something to make a compartment open in the transport. It’s the black hole! John realizes the danger and comms Pilot—we need to starburst ASAP! As Moya disappears in lines of white, Matala’s transport, plus her secret Scorvian ship, turn green and then collapse into a black hole. It really is a beautiful piece of visual editing.

John joins Rygel in the food bay, where Rygel is finally too full to keep eating. John still taunts him with food cubes. :P Frat boy. Rygel leaves on his throne sled and D’argo comes in. John mocks D’argo lightly as well; “you’re not the first one to have your head chopped off by a chick.” D’argo says he doesn’t want to talk about his personal life, including his true crime. He looks defeated…he’s lonely and it’s been a long time since he’s had some female companionship. “Well, that I understand,” John says. The music is sad. Aww.

…but really, Mr. Fly Boy? I know you’re away from home, but it hasn’t been that long, has it? You’re kind of like the sex stud of IASA! To mention nothing about where the rest of this series is headed. *zips lips*

This was a fun episode. It was nice to see the crew overcome an obstacle when it’s obvious they’re trusting each other more. (Though I suppose we can note Rygel’s absence. :P) It was also nice to learn something more about Luxans in general and D’argo in specific. D’argo remains one of our more militant characters…but he has a soft side. What is his “true crime”? Are you intrigued? Trust me, it will make for one interesting ride!

___