Farscape Episode 1.21: “Bone to be Wild”

[chavalah.livejournal.com]

This episode with the eye-rolly pun title may not be as dynamic as the ones, which proceeded it, but it still packs a lot of punches! The main storyline is the most redundant, a callback to “DNA Mad Scientist” and questions about ethical scientific research. We also learn something a bit surprising about Zhaan here. The ancillary storylines are much more interesting to the ongoing plot of “Farscape.” On one hand, we have Aeryn bonding with Moya’s child, a relationship with long-reaching consequences. Similarly, Crais and Scoripius, now aboard the former’s command carrier and in hot pursuit of John and the Leviathans, continue as they did before. No, Crais isn’t strapped to the Aurora Chair, but it’s clear that our primary villain is being relegated a bit to the background.

Also, quite excitedly, we are introduced to two new recurring folks in the “Farscape” universe—one as a character and one as an actor. David Franklin makes his first appearance as Lt. Braca, Crais’s right-hand man (for however long he’s in power.) And in the actress’s seat, we have Francesca Bueller, wife to none other than Ben Browder aka John Crichton, playing the role of M’Lee, the female creature aboard the asteroid. Francesca will play four distinct characters throughout the four seasons of “Farscape” but thanks to Henson magic, the writers’ abilities and her own incredible acting, you could never tell on sight. But I’ll be here to tell you as we go through the series. :P

Random aside: whatever happened to Stark? I know it’s not entirely important whichever mass they dropped him off at, but then again it had to be high stakes given that the Peacekeepers were after them. We’ll see if we ever lay eyes on that character again. :P In the meantime, on to this week’s story!


Moya and liiiiitle tiny baby Moya float like whales in an asteroid system. The crew sits together in darkness, huddled in blankets. Pilot explains that they’re currently being PK-scanned—why the lights and heat are off; energy signals. D’argo guesses that Crais’s full command carrier is on their tail, and Chiana asks uncovered Zhaan why she’s not cold; her body is self-regulating. File that away for later. :P We get a quick view of the command carrier near the asteroid field, proving big D is correct. Meanwhile on Moya, she’s picking up a distress call! Pilot puts it on the clamshell—a humanoid alien whispers for help, that she and her family are in danger…sudden cut of transmission as a monstrous roar comes for her. The crew briefly debate if this is a Peacekeeper trick but they quickly put that idea down; came from too close an asteroid; signal is too weak for Crais to even detect. Aeryn suggests that maybe this girl and her family have charts to navigate the asteroid field, leaving Rygel to scoff at the idea of going down there. Chiana and John sarcastically mock the situation: “Distress call. Directed at us?” “How stupid is that?” :P

On Crais’s command, a disheveled-looking captain throws some papers at none other than Lieutenant Braca! Let’s hope he ends up better than Teeg, whose grim fate we were reminded of during Crais’s time in the Aurora Chair. They discuss scan interference from the asteroids, leaving the good captain to posit that they enter the field. Anyone else thinking of Vader and the Millennium Falcon in Empire Strikes Back? There’s problems with this plan, as Braca points out. Scorpius scrolls in without knocking, which annoys poor Crais. Guess he’s decided to actively pursue John as well. Scorp steps in close with a new plan—target the baby with multi-frequency signals, prompting him to panic and reveal himself. Braca prompts Crais for orders, and the captain says his orders from earlier still stand. He won’t be bossed around by Scorpy!

The Moya crew discard their blankets as the PK scan passes. Interestingly enough, our human hasn’t reverted back to any semblance of his IASA uniform, but continues to wear the PK-getup. Hello, character changes! :P Aeryn, John, Zhaan and D’argo prepare to go to the asteroid, but Pilot asks Aeryn to stay for something. So she gives John some friendly flying advice and they split up for most of this episode, much to the chagrin of J/A shippers looking for some continuation to issues from last episode. :P Zhaan suggests they turn off their coms for safety’s sake.

The asteroid looks like an Endor-ish jungle. D’argo, sneezing violently, is having an awful time but Zhaan is in heaven. She talks about how this place is “the Goddess’s pharmacgosnia” where nothing exists beyond plants, more filing away for later. As it stands, D’argo is useless for tracking smells right now, as he and Zhaan discuss in a humorous exchange. Luckily they can all use their ears; roaring followed by feminine screaming is heard! The crew runs towards it, finding the transmission woman on the ground, a huge creature that looks like it belongs in a 1950s horror flick about “creatures from the deep” standing over her with a rock! John fires at the creature, who runs with D’argo in pursuit. The female clings to John, begging and hyperventilating. She’s humanoid, very tan colored with a thick skin around her body and a pulsating bubble encasement around her head. Good job, Henson! :P She explains that her family has since been killed, alas. D’argo returns empty-handed. Zhaan attempts introductions and calm; we learn the woman is named M’Lee. She confirms that there are no asteroid field-navigating maps, alas. Time to go back to the transport pod…M’Lee starts hyperventilating again; the creature will find it! Nice shot of them entering the shuttle from the ground…and indeed, “the creature” is inside, lunging at D’argo and injuring him badly. He escapes amidst weapons fire (which also injures the pod, emitting gas); this time John goes in pursuit but loses him. A slurring D’argo thinks he’s bleeding internally and crippled the ship. John will have to fix it as Zhaan attends to the Luxan. M’Lee watches quietly.

Aeryn is again huddled under a blanket; guess they’re still playing it safe on Moya after all. She’s talking to Pilot in person in his den. Moya and the baby are having communication problems; baby knows he’s different. Tension abounds. But Aeryn is part-Peacekeeper (and part Pilot, even); perhaps she can go aboard and establish a connection. That’s right, kids; we’re getting our first in depth look at the baby! Moya gives permission…does the baby? Aeryn counters. But next we see her on the baby’s command removing her space helmet (guess the air is breathable.) Aeryn looks around in wonder—PK weapons panels and organic, red-tinged Leviathan structure. Pilot is able to speak through a direct laser connection that Crais can’t penetrate. As Aeryn muses about things she needs—more light, communications array, access to the baby’s canon, etc, panels light up voluntarily, leading her to understand the ship quickly. Baby’s very inviting! Aeryn kneels down and says hello; the baby beeps all friendly and she smiles. We also get a great view expanding outward from command and into space. Baby is bigger than I gave him credit for!

Crais enters his rather opulent personal quarters and finds Scorpius lounging, uninvited, on his chair. The good captain is furious and Scorp takes the time to leisurely mock him in all sorts of ways. “I’ve never understood the need of some warriors to memorialize their conquests. Does this display of—decaying flesh—remind you of past instances when you were powerful?” And just in case Crais isn’t getting the message, Scorp’s response to his “I want you off my ship!” are more catty remarks about how Crais has failed his duties and might not be in command much longer anyway. Yikes.

John attempts to fix the pod while Zhaan attempts to get woozy D’argo to swallow something unappealing. M’Lee comes close to John, sniffing him. They make small talk about her backstory—her people, 41 in all including close family, came to colonize the asteroid but “the creature gets ravenous often.” Zhaan approaches with a grocery list of healing plants outside; M’Lee sniffs her and notes that she smells like “out there.” Zhaan confirms “I am also flora,” which makes John laugh before he does a double-take. She’s a plant?! Zhaan laughs at him; bothered much? “No, it doesn’t bother me…you’re a vegetable?” :P Our human is having a hard time wrapping his mind around this. D’argo is annoyed that John isn’t up to speed with common knowledge. He snarls at M’Lee as she attempts to sniff him.

She joins Zhaan and John outside as they collect plants and scientist John geeks out over this new discovery. She has cartilaginous fibers instead of bones; remember in “Through the Looking Glass” she said “her fibers” were torn! :P Continuity ftw. She’s blue due to chloroplast tintilation; John finally picks up on how she likes light because of photosynthesis. They laugh; see, this whole sentient plant thing isn’t too weird! (I love it, personally. Kudos to “Farscape” for raising the alien bar.) Meanwhile M’Lee looks a bit distracted; John asks if she’s eaten lately to which she responds somewhat dispassionately “I’m not hungry yet.” OK… But she can smell the creature approaching! Her bubble pulses red! John hisses for Zhaan, who is still gathering supplies. M’Lee runs and John pursues. As the creature, concealed a bit by foliage, draws near, Zhaan “goes invisible,” aka blends in like flora. The folks on ScapeCast pointed out that during “Till the Blood Runs Clear” she also masked her scent from Vocarian blood trackers. But other that, we never see Zhaan exhibit this type of behavior again, and the lack of continuity annoys me. Unless I’m forgetting something from later episodes, in which case I’ll have to eat my hat. :P Meanwhile, the creature isn’t even fooled; he sees the air shimmering, fakes an exit, and as Zhaan reveals herself he lunges for her!

Back in the transport M’Lee apologizes for Zhaan’s abduction, blaming herself for her fear, which of course John brushes off. D’argo looks a little better—no longer slurring, leaning against the bulkhead. He blames John for not looking after Zhaan; hey, can’t Zhaan look after herself? Some defensiveness then back to business; M’Lee, where did the creature take her? Probably his eating grounds; she’ll have to take him. John’s hesitant about leaving D but he insists he’s ok for now. Outside, M’Lee leads him to a clearing strewn with rotting flesh. “Ugly leftovers,” he notes; also, no Zhaan and M’Lee is suddenly different…groaning about hunger and suddenly spikes jut out all over her body! Her bubble switches from blue to red…John’s been looking elsewhere, trying to figure out a plan to find Zhaan but suddenly he senses the danger in front of him as M’Lee lunges with ravenous teeth! The creature plunges on top of him, grabbing his gun and shooting at a disappearing M’Lee. He gasps firmly at John: “I…am…not…your…enemy! She…is!” At the moment, John is inclined to agree.

Crais is back in his comfy chair, formally requesting Scorp’s presence this time. Our unwanted houseguest has been overstepping his boundaries—suggesting to the top officials that they shouldn’t adjust current position, which they seemed to appreciate, Scorp buts in. Crais starts out calm—you can’t question my command; I haven’t been recalled…dude, do you not remember that Scorpius saw all your memories in the Aurora Chair? He certainly does. Yeah but…he’ll bring in the baby and all will be ok again, Crais struggles. Scorp leaves with the backwards comment that his superseding orders still stand. Crais has no power anymore…

We get our first look at the creature in his lab—he’s sentient though he looks like he came out of Tim Burton’s Batman film. :P Some incredible make-up and costuming looks with the vegetative body suit and two sorta mouths with teeth…awesome. Also, he sounds like David Thewlis playing Professor Lupin in the Harry Potter franchise. :D Though he looks more real than the CGI-Potter werewolves, oh yeah. :P Anywho! Zhaan is here too, examining John’s most recent wounds; she calls the creature Br’Nee. Br’Nee explains that he couldn’t communicate much before because the atmosphere is difficult for him. M’Lee is a calcivore—she feeds on bone! Now we know where the silly title comes from, and what she was doing with John in the feeding area. John’s still a little distrustful of this sudden change of good guy/bad guy. But he and Zhaan have a rapport, chuckling at bad jokes, enjoying pharmacology and botany. His ancestors seeded this asteroid 300 cycles ago. He led the first harvesting team here…but they all died. He grows angry, hurling stuff. “There weren’t supposed to be any predators here! No animals at all!” M’Lee lived with them awhile, learning their ways then killing them off. The only time she is weak is when she’s in her dormant, blue state. But when she’s hungry, “the beast” takes over. Br’Nee seems resigned to the idea that M’Lee will have to eat one of them…John, not so much. But M’Lee starts to howl…

Aeryn is still on board the baby; Pilot cuts in to say PK scans are back. Baby’s sig must be reduced. Little baby is in less of a helpful mood now; he tribbles suddenly. “Make him understand,” Pilot implores. Aeryn struggles with the proper words…the Peacekeepers are trying to communicate, but you can’t trust them. Yes, “in a perverse way,” both you and I come from them. (I think it’s meaningful that her hair is completely loose, in contrast to the official tight PK braid.) There’s no time, so Aeryn makes her appeal short and powerful. “You are going to have to decide if you are going to trust your mother—us—if you’re going to trust me.” Insta-bond. The ship pauses, then powers down, apparently choosing a side. I love how we also get close-ups of Pilot’s eyes during this time; animatronics ftw.

In the lab, the howling sound stops. Does that mean D’argo is a goner??? John, for obvious reasons, wants to pick it up and go; Zhaan’s moving rather slow, given the circumstances! She and Br’Nee discuss and gather plants from his stores. At one point, Br’Nee finds a tiny specimen and makes it life-sized with a “Honey I Blew Up The Kids”-esque laser. Zhaan is more impressed than John. Br’Nee implores John to stay behind and scare M’Lee away with his weapon. John, perhaps remembering D’argo’s rant from before, refuses to leave Zhaan alone with him, but Zhaan speaks up for herself; she’ll be fine. Br’Nee wants his lab protected and he’ll transport vials to Moya. John OKs it but alone he stops Br’Nee and threatens that he’d better be back in an arn “or M’Lee won’t be the only one hunting you down.”

Speaking of—moment he’s alone he hears a vicious hiss nearby…M’Lee roaring “I’m hungry, John!” Anyone else getting a horror flick vibe? :P John keeps his hand on the pulse rifle, skirting around the room especially when she comes into sight. She also says she heard what Br’Nee said about her—our human needs to know the truth! “Is that before or after I supply your daily recommended dose of calcium?” John fires back. M’Lee leaps on him with a feral shriek! He fires the gun and she steps back, still spiky and red in “hunger” mode. It’s an incredible performance from Francesca. She explains that Br’Nee’s ancestors brought hers to this planet to eat all the animal life. After it was all gone they were basically left to their own devices—ended up eating each other and Br’Nee’s people when they arrived. She’s the only one left…and she has enough foresight to realize that even if she kills all the bone-bearing folks here, she’d still eventually starve to death. So what if they help her find a permanent food supply instead? Br’Nee knows where her people are from, but John’s incredulous—take her with them?? Does sound like an awful risk. But she obviously means it.

Onboard the baby, Aeryn is activating the cannon with a few quick, deft steps. “I can’t fully explain it, Pilot, but this ship and I seem to have reached a bit of an understanding,” Aeryn says, caressing the ceiling tenderly. Pilot is also encouraged—baby’s communication with Moya is improving. Chiana and Rygel, sitting next to Pilot still bundled in their blankets, look more cranky. :P Aeryn continues about how at home she feels around the PK systems. “We couldn’t be happier. Honestly. You deserve a home where you’re wanted,” Rygel chips in. :P Always the best lines. Aeryn doesn’t take kindly to this, and Ryg and Chiana scramble to make their larger point—the baby might be their only weapon against the Peacekeepers. “I’m not dragging this ship into a conflict not of it’s making,” Aeryn says forcefully. “Who says we had a choice?” Rygel counters. Honestly, best lines!

In the transport pod, D’argo, usually a skeptic of healers, is completely well again and shares his thanks with Br’Nee. But when John enters to Br’Nee’s astonishment (what, expected him to get eaten?) D’argo quickly trains his weapon on him as John relays the whole story. That D’argo is loyal, man—I mean to John, he really is. Br’Nee goes on the defensive: bringing M’Lee’s people here was the only way to make sure the plants would thrive! And then she killed all his mates! There’s a larger mission here…one that Zhaan seems to be agreeing with, to my surprise! She usually doesn’t condone loss of life. Then again, they very quickly paint this as an “animals vs plants” thing with a foot-in-the-mouth moment by John. Br’Nee, meanwhile, is astonished to realize that Delvians actually exist. D’argo’s had enough—let’s get this “tree-hugger” out of here, but Br’Nee counters that he has charts to navigate the asteroid field! Good card. John says take me there but Zhaan quickly jumps in—they need “a cool head behind that trigger.” John hesitates, then hands the pulse rifle over, and Zhaan and Br’Nee leave.

Crais is eating in his quarters when as usual, Scorpius arrives unannounced. He’s written his report to High Command, detailing the good captain’s acts of insubordination. He lowers Crais’s table and kicks his food away. “You are unfit for duty by any measure. I personally intend to see you stripped of rank and office.” Scorp touts his control over the command carrier and Crais reacts violently with another “Get off my ship!!!” He bangs Scorp into several pillars, even getting him into a strangle-hold. But Scorp is stronger than he appears—he pries the captain’s hands from his throat and shoves him back on a raised dias with a bestial growl. “Why must you force me to display my physical superiority to your kind as well?” he asks in the growly voice. Whoah. What IS Scorp, cos he obviously stands pretty apart from the Peacekeepers! For the time being, he brings his voice back to normal and leaves Crais with a pithy remark. But it’s obvious…he’s won.

We’re back in Br’Nee’s lab with no sign of him or Zhaan—John enters, apparently looking for them. Transport’s repaired—gotta go! He hears a groan from the floor—it’s Br’Nee! He says M’Lee injured him and took Zhaan! John will find them at the eating station. John runs! He finds no one, but that doesn’t keep him from yelling out in anger about how M’Lee betrayed them. But as he yells he looks upon the remains from earlier and remembers what she eats… bones. John curses himself and runs back to Br’Nee’s lab.

Chiana and Rygel are waiting for Aeryn when she enters command. They have a new tactic—how fast is the baby? Maybe fast enough to speed them away? Aeryn simply grabs them both by the ear and lectures that we won’t be separating the Leviathans, period. Honestly, guys, you should know better than to provoke her. :P Meanwhile, Pilot is still checking for a sign from the others…Aeryn dictates that if they’re not back in an arn, they’ll go down and search. Chi and Ryg aren’t particularly happy about this turn of events, either.

In the transport pod D’argo hears someone enter from behind, assuming it’s John and Zhaan. He turns…nope, it’s M’Lee! He quickly snarls and grabs his Qalta blade. Don’t kill me; I came to talk! M’Lee pleads. D’argo notices something else…she’s blue and un-spiky and calm. “That means—you’ve eaten.” M’Lee only smiles. *GULP* But then she claims she didn’t eat anyone—she just used her remaining calcium to present herself as docile. Because she wants them to listen! Her calm breaks; she screams and starts to revert. She’s STARVING TO DEATH! D’argo awkwardly says he has nothing to offer, but she cries and begs. D’argo considers…the Peacekeepers will likely follow them down here. Thousands of people; “no one will regret their passing.” Whoah. I know Scorp and Crais are after you, but that’s a dire sentence to pass on to thousands of people! Then again, desperate measures; besides it’s kinda out of his control anyway. M’Lee breathes in and stutters; she will control her urge until they come.

Br’Nee is up and about in his lab, packing his supplies. John enters, again to Br’Nee’s surprise; our human notes that the botanist looks loads better. Br’Nee makes up some excuse as John takes a look through some of his bottles. So did he kill M’Lee? Nope, John says disaffectedly. Br’Nee is obviously desperate for him to leave, but John’s onto him—it took a little while, but he got there. :P Zhaan’s a plant…no bones! So M’Lee wouldn’t go after her. So that leaves only one person who took her. John pulls out his gun. More protests and anger while John continues to prowl through the specimens. And there’s Zhaan…a tiny, bottled Zhaan! :-O Br’Nee attacks with a savage growl, but due to his difficulties with the atmosphere and exertion, John is able to push him off. He finds Br’Nee’s laser and attempts to work it…Br’Nee has John’s pulse rifle in hand. He explains that Zhaan was too incredible a species to pass up. “She has a name,” John says evenly. “It’s Zhaan.” Br’Nee promises no harm will come to her. Kinda similar to “DNA Mad Scientist,” isn’t it? Both involve characters who feel no ethical immorality in scientific testing on sentient beings against their will. John obviously stands in the opposite camp. And he was smart enough to remove his chakran oil cartridge so Br’Nee ain’t shooting dren. :P John pushes the button and Br’Nee lunges…into it’s path. He’s spliced in two! We see his legs and part of one arm. Zhaan is made whole in time to call it “justice…” she’s kinda annoying me this ep. Seems she has a selective view of the concept. Though I can’t fault her for wanting vengeance on this guy.

One final steal to the command carrier. Braca enters Crais’s quarters where his commanding officer sits and stares into space. Looks like they pinpointed the location of one of the Leviathans; Scorpy has already ordered marauader teams in there. Braca is nervous. “Is it true what they say? That Scorpius can sense our fears and weaknesses?” Crais still says nothing, and Braca reminds him that he’s waiting for his orders. But Crais is defeated; “do what he says.”

Once again, John is trying to tear Zhaan away from collecting plants so they can get back to the transport. Sudden appearance of M’Lee! He’s nervous, but she’s so obviously in pain. Zhaan kneels and said she wishes they could help (ok, there’s the Pa’u I know and love. :P) John even considers taking her with them, but M’Lee herself asserts that she’d ultimately eat them all. She’s trying to hold on for the Peacekeepers, but she needs something NOW. Kinda sounds like what she’s been saying all along…but luckily this time they have something! John motions her towards Br’Nee’s remains and she runs. Off camera we hear the crunching sound of bones being devoured…very spooky. Zhaan and John observe with haunted looks on their faces. “There is much cruelty in the universe,” says Zhaan. “Yeah. And we seem to have a roadmap to it,” John replies. Ominous prediction.

Final shot of Moya and the baby—still in the asteroid field. The crew is reunited and back in their blankets in the dark. Turns out the charts thing was true; they can navigate out of here now! Everyone turns to separate quarters to converse one on one. Aeryn starts telling John about the baby. Zhaan is disappointed to leave the miracle herbs asteroid behind; she knows she’ll never be back. D’argo predicts that someone else will find them in the future and be able to utilize them for healing. “When did our roles become reversed sweet D’argo?” Zhaan asks. “When you required it.” Nice moment. Followed by another more amusing scene between Chiana and an un-seen Rygel… “If your hand is still there in one microt, I’ll snap it off and use it as a good luck charm.” He wiggles out from beside her. Pilot jumps back in when everyone is readying to leave, thanking her again for what she’s done for the Leviathans. And Moya has a request—she wants Aeryn to name her son! :-O Everyone, including Aeryn, looks impressed by the offer. But of course we don’t get our name this ep. :P It’s coming!

Scorpius, Braca and other PKs have finally made it to the asteroid; they’re searching Br’Nee’s lab. Scorp dictates protocol for finding itel—Braca reports they’ve found someone who spent time with “the fugitives.” It’s M’Lee! She runs into Scorpy’s arms, repeating the same story from the distress call. Braca moves to strike, but Scorp detains him. “We must know when to be strong—and when to show compassion.” Whoah. He pulls her in close…and her head piece glows red! Is this the end of our Peacekeeper problem??

All in all an enjoyable episode; had some major, if disjointed points. Loved seeing the power shift among the villains, which really sets things up for the future. Scorp is formidable…perhaps especially because of his scene at the end. He’s no loose canon like Crais; he can control himself, be calm and manipulative. Loved the establishment of Aeryn’s relationship with the baby. And in a less over-arching way, Francesca was great and M’Lee was entrancing to watch. Also some nice, complicated morality issues (I should go easier on Zhaan, perhaps. She’s not a one-dimensional angel—she has a dark, selfish past, and her big interest this episode was in healing.) One minor quibble—why were Br’Nee and M’Lee’s names so similar when they were obviously from different species? Maybe they’re somewhat related…but it seems like lazy writing.

___