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scifi_rewatch2013-02-20 02:06 pm
chavalah.livejournal.com) wrote in scifi_rewatch2013-02-20 02:06 pm
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Farscape Episode 2.02: “Vitas Mortis”
I’d say that overall, this is one of the weaker episodes of “Farscape.” Not as cringe-worthy as “Jeremiah Crichton,” but still awkward, questionable and overall unnecessary. And yet, there were some good parts, too, small niggles of more important character interaction.
Plot fallacies ruled the day where the Orican, aka Luxan mystic, was concerned, but we did get to meet the actress, Melissa Jaffer, for the first time. She’ll have more roles on “Farscape,” yup yup. :D
We also got to see some subtle, relationship-building moments between D’argo and Chiana, we got a reminder that Pilot trusts Aeryn more than anyone, plus a look into his backstory with Moya; we’ll get a far deeper expose later. :D Aeryn and Chiana are sniping at each other, which fits their characters but makes me want to force them to sing a womanly kumbaya. :P Oh well, can’t have it all.
And finally, this episode introduces us to spiky-haired, cynical!snarky John. No longer the wide-eyed wonder boy of the first season; the Uncharted Territories have done a number on him and he’s not afraid to make his voice heard concerning how much everything around him sucks. :P He’s like a sullen teenager…who actually seems to have gained an understanding about the world around him from time to time.
Summary:
John, Zhaan and D’argo enter a cathedral-like space on a windy, chilly planet. They’ve heard rumors from a nearby commerce planet that a Luxan might be here. A young attendant merely scurries away from them and D’argo ominously recognizes an object that’s supposed to ward off evil.
Suddenly the doors to a bedchamber open and an old woman, sitting up in her blankets, beckons them closer. She recognizes that D’argo is a Luxan, Zhaan is a Delvian and John, of course, is an unknown. She’s only interested in D’argo, commenting when he introduces himself that he’s young to be a general (the meaning of “Ka”! The more you know.) She introduces herself as Nilaam but as D’argo gets a good look at her he’s suddenly afraid and urging his companions out the door. But she doesn’t want that, despite the fact that she’s an Orican, or Luxan holy woman. She’s really looking for someone to help her cross over to death and she asks D’argo if he’s “strong” enough. They test this theory as she reaches into his chest for his heart! :O John rushes forward as D’argo screams and Nilaam is none too happy; she calls D a fraud and flings him out the doors, which shut on the group.
So now D’argo and John both want to leave but Zhaan thinks they should stay, since D’s been humiliated by a revered woman from his background. Would be best to fix that, I guess. John is having none of it and questions what she’s doing alone in the Uncharted Territories anyway. D’argo, rising and wincing, insists that her honor is not in question; his is. He explains that he did take on the tattoos of a general, even though he wasn’t one, to save his superior officer from interrogation. His companions immediately find this sympathetic and Zhaan encourages him to explain the situation to Nilaam. And although the Orican is at first irritated to be disturbed again, she says she likes D’argo’s “fire” in insisting on explaining the situation.
A quick stop on Moya where Chiana is washing D’argo’s clothes in a Moya fountain of amnexus fluids, which someone on the ScapeCast pointed out kind of sounds like washing your clothes in fluids from your car. :P Aeryn walks by with some clothes of her own for Chi to wash, but the Nebari girl brushes it off; what am I, your slave? As for washing D’s and not A’s: “I like D’argo.” :P
D’argo is back to helping Nilaam cross over, which John immediately dislikes. D and Zhaan focus on how it’s a “ritual passage” to ease transitions, but all John hears is stuff about potentially dangerous energy transfers. D’argo gets fed up and calls him Rygel, hee. Zhaan is actually jealous of D for getting a glimpse of the other side. The human quite obviously finds the whole situation nuts, but there’s not much he can do about it.
The two religious-type people return to Moya to collect Luxan objects; Rygel tries to encourage D’argo to sell them to Nilaam. Chi comes in, puts a hand over the Hynerian’s mouth, and awkwardly asks D’argo if the ritual is dangerous. D pauses and then lies to her, saying no. Neither Chi nor Rygel are conned by that. :/
John stays on the planet to grill Nilaam. She challenges him with the assertion that he doesn’t care about spirituality: nope, he just cares about his friends. Sure she could die naturally like anyone else, but she just doesn’t want to. It’s been nine years since she’s seen one of her own kind; can’t John relate to that at all? Boom.
The human still acts as backup guy, waiting outside the closed doors as D’argo and Nilaam start their ritual. Chanting and blood letting with the qualta blade…which is suddenly rising in the air! On Moya, back in the amnexus fluid, Chiana seems to hear them as well, or at least sense something. Nilaam keeps gushing about how strong D’argo is as objects rattle. D’argo screams and John attempts to break in, but he can’t. It’s like a cyclone in there! The blade falls…so does D’argo and John finally gets in. As he pulls out his gun, Nilaam, with her back to him, magically forces it out of his hand. As she turns she gushes about how the ritual worked—she’s not dead, but she’s much younger.
On Moya Chiana calls for help; the amnexus fluid is frozen around her! Aeryn comes and mocks Chi with her words from earlier. Even Zhaan seems to think Chiana is to blame. Pilot chimes in that Moya’s hydric system is failing, but he’s not sure why.
John continues to fret over D’argo, but although the Luxan is confused, he’s ultimately not harmed. In fact he’s…more than fine. He and Nilaam start some flirting action and John exits quickly before the sexy times. :P
Aeryn and Zhaan’s attempts to unfreeze the amnexus fluid with force and science, respectively, aren’t working. Meanwhile Pilot starts reporting outer hull breaches. Uh oh… John is called back to help. Aeryn gets her grenades, much to Chiana’s dismay. :P D’argo is having a considerably more happy post-coital time as Nilaam doesn’t only relish in her newfound youth and energy; she promises that she can guide Moya home, help all of D’s friends and even find his son. Sudden turnaround for the crew…if they even have a ship!
Rygel is called in, still in his bathrobe, to assist the DRDs in looking for hull breaches. Ryg is his usual selfish self when it comes to assisting others…but in the middle of this minor drama, MAJOR drama comes in the form of an inner hull breach in this very room! Chiana, of course, isn’t going anywhere; John grabs onto the fountain and tries to grab Ryg, but along with some tools, the Hynerian goes flying towards the sudden opening. …and then his butt gets stuck inside like a butt plug. Trust “Farscape” to always bring the kinkiness. :P John gets kind of dom-like, too, insisting that Sparky stay still and stop wiggling because it’s a good, tight fit. Oh my.
Aeryn returns with a piece of Moya’s hull, which broke off easily into her hands. D’argo and Nilaam are finally back to try and help, but as the Orican tries some healing incantations, Moya only shudders and gets worse! Nilaam is bewildered and goes off to meditate, but D’argo realizes the problem and confronts her privately. The Orican didn’t take his energy but Moya’s. Nilaam insists she didn’t know, and only tried for a renewal ritual rather than a death one because she thought it was D’argo’s strength. For now, they’d best go back to the planet where she has academic resources. Also—as she demonstrates with a hand, getting another shudder from Moya—she’s “disease” to this ship.
Elsewhere, Aeryn is coming to the same conclusion about Nilaam with Zhaan, but the former Peacekeeper is called away by Pilot. Inside his den, Aeryn sees that he’s old and gray! Moya’s rapid deterioration is starting to effect him. Aeryn is now certain that Nilaam is to blame and once Pilot gives her a location (headed to the transport bay with D’argo) she grabs a huge-ass gun and goes after them. John runs into her and tries to stop it, but as Aeryn comes across the two Luxans, she fires a huge shot. In slow-mo D’argo steps in front of it, Nilaam casts the fatal blow aside and encases John and Aeryn into some freeze device. They shatter out of it only after the transport is gone.
On the planet Nilaam is having no luck and D’argo is growing frustrated. This feeling only intensifies as the Orican suggests that they make a run for it. The two of them get into an ethical argument—isn’t her wellbeing more important than a ship’s? D’argo refuses to leave his friends. Doesn’t she realize, as a holy woman, that all of these signs means she’s stolen something that isn’t hers?
John arrives alone with his pulse rifle but as D’argo emerges from Nilaam’s chamber with his qualta blade, the human puts his gun down to signify a truce. He does have a new word for what the Orican is doing, however: murder. D’argo insists that it wasn’t intentional, but John points out that that’s not the issue anymore. What are we going to do to fix this? D’argo is anguished, realizing what he must do, and John sits by him.
Nilaam has come to terms with what must happen, but first she thanks D’argo for these fleeting gifts of youth and vitality. They start another ritual with chanting but this time she takes the qualta blade and plunges it into her body. She’s back to being an old woman as she whispers her goodbyes. D’argo holds her for awhile.
With Moya back to normal Chiana enjoys her newfound mobility again. Rygel is much less agreeable, despite Zhaan’s circulation assistance and teasing. Aeryn is in Pilot’s den where their navigator is back to his old self. They share brief words about the ultimate length of a Leviathan’s life versus a Pilot’s life: a Leviathan can live for about 300 cycles, a Pilot for a thousand. But when a Pilot bonds with a Leviathan, he or she truncates his life. Gladly so, according to our Pilot. On the planet, John finally deigns to enter the Orican’s room, looking at her empty bed. He asks D’argo, on a chair nearby, if he wants some space. D’argo thinks about it, says yes, but not right now.
Thoughts:
There’s plenty of discrepancies with the Orican plot, but I’ll start with maybe the least important. What is she doing in the Uncharted Territories? I know it’s not central to the plot, but it’s weird (and convenient, of course,) that a random holy woman would be alone, so far away from her flock. I mean, even John brings that point up, so it’s worth thinking about on some level. But of more eyebrow-arching concern to me is how Nilaam could have mistaken Moya’s energy for D’argo’s. D’argo is a strong man, no doubt, but Moya is a huge-ass SHIP. Also, if someone should have died or exploded from the energy transfer, shouldn’t it have been Nilaam or D’argo before Moya? Sheesh. Other than that, the Orican wasn’t developed enough on her own to feel much for.
The Nilaam/D’argo moments were ok because it’s understandable that D might want a little slice of home. But they ultimately weren’t as moving as, say, D’argo and John’s friendship, or Pilot and Aeryn’s, or any of the other smaller character moments aboard our Leviathan. It was a nice way, as well, to get more backstory on D’argo, his history and his continued quest for his son. Aeryn’s devotion to Pilot and Moya, if extreme, was still touching. I don’t deny appreciating Zhaan’s zeal for spirituality—though she obviously has a lot more wisdom than this Orican. Also the ep had some nice moments of humor, particularly in the clash between the females and Rygel as the Butt Plug. :P Not much more to say about Rygel this hour, really.
If I’m to analyze the Aeryn/Chiana dynamic seriously, which I probably shouldn’t, I’d say it seems to be in character. Aeryn is sort of used to delegating people into roles, and it seems plausible that she’d see Chiana as the domestic gal while she’s the action gal. :P For Chiana, cat-fighting with other ladies is her MO, her way of trying to stake her claim. The Chiana/Aeryn relationship will continue to be developed in later eps.
Ultimately, however, none of these character beats were dependent on this episode; we could have gotten a feel for them without it. I’d say the biggest reveal comes from Aeryn and Pilot about lifespans, but as mentioned that will be explored more deeply in a far more meaningful episode that not only has more emotional resonance but ties the narrative together in new ways. But I’ll leave all that to future recaps!
Favorite Quotes:
*first impressions of Nilaam’s abode and scurry-off companion*
John: Take a number, have a seat, no magazines. Typical.
*the laundry exchange*
Aeryn: Here's some more.
Chiana: Some more what?
Aeryn: Clothes to be cleaned.
Chiana: Oh, no problem - room for us both.
Aeryn: No, I want you to wash these.
Chiana: Oh do you? What? Are you-are you allergic to Moya’s amnexus fluids or something?
Aeryn: Just wash them will you?
Chiana: Um, when exactly did I become your-your servant? Why do I have to wash your clothes?
Aeryn: Well you're cleaning D'Argo’s aren't you?
Chiana: Yeah, but I like D'Argo.
*Sullen John vs Zhaan and D’argo on the ritual bonding issue*
Zhaan: An emotional and spiritual link is forged John. As I understand it, when the Orican dies, the attendant sanctifies the ascent by transferring energy to her.
John: Strike two! I do not like the sound of “transferring energy” either!
D'Argo: The process only involves little risk.
John: How little risk? Oh, no, let me put it this way: How wrong can it go?
D'Argo: I could die.
John: I do NOT understand D'Argo! What do YOU get out of it?
D'Argo: You know what? You sound like Rygel!
*Nilaam’s ultimate pitch to John*
Nilaam: Have you any idea what it's like to be separated from your own kind?
John: Yeah, matter of fact, I do.
Nilaam: Then you can't begrudge me this one last wish.
*Rygel makes his pitch to D’argo about getting some money out of Nilaam*
Rygel: This is one of your countrymen. You don't want to sully your relationship with commerce. Let me do that.
*aftermath of the frozen amnexus fluid*
Aeryn: What have you done?
Chiana: Nothing.
Aeryn: Well you must have done something.
Chiana: I didn't do anything. I-i-it just froze up all around me. Get me out of here?
Aeryn: When did I become your servant?
Chiana: Don't frell around. Just... just get me out of here okay?
Aeryn: What's the hurry Chiana? You're not allergic to Moya’s amnexus fluids, are you?
Chiana: Oh yeah. Very funny Aeryn. Look, can you please just do something? (Zhaan enters) Zhaan. Finally, someone who's a little more useful!
Zhaan: (to Aeryn) What did she do?
*John is taken down a peg or two*
John: Look Princess. You damn near killed him!
D'Argo: Actually, I've uh... I've never felt better.
Nilaam: Neither have I.
John: Yeah, well you... you could've... killed him.
*Chiana is still imprisoned in the amnexus fluid*
Aeryn: I wonder if I've got any grenades left.
Chiana: She was kidding - Right? Tell me that she was kidding.
John: Well with Aeryn... you never know.
*On Rygel the butt plug*
Chiana: Well, what do you know? He has made himself useful.
***
Aeryn: (on seeing his backside in space) You seem to be all there. But I can't say I looked too closely.
*D’argo stands up to Nilaam*
D'Argo: How can an Orican justify taking life? Have you forgotten who you are?
Nilaam: Have you forgotten what I can do?
D'Argo: I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN WHAT YOU CANNOT DO, WHICH IS RESTORE MOYA’S LIFE! Does that suggest to you that you have taken something that you really should not have?
*Pilot and Moya on the backstory on Leviathans*
Aeryn: Pilot, what is the normal life span of a Leviathan?
Pilot: Uh, many have lived over three hundred cycles.
Aeryn: What about your species?
Pilot: Normally, a thousand cycles or more. However, when we bond with Leviathans, we live no longer than they do.
Aeryn: So, when Moya eventually does die...
Pilot: I will go as well. I would not have it any other way.
___
Plot fallacies ruled the day where the Orican, aka Luxan mystic, was concerned, but we did get to meet the actress, Melissa Jaffer, for the first time. She’ll have more roles on “Farscape,” yup yup. :D
We also got to see some subtle, relationship-building moments between D’argo and Chiana, we got a reminder that Pilot trusts Aeryn more than anyone, plus a look into his backstory with Moya; we’ll get a far deeper expose later. :D Aeryn and Chiana are sniping at each other, which fits their characters but makes me want to force them to sing a womanly kumbaya. :P Oh well, can’t have it all.
And finally, this episode introduces us to spiky-haired, cynical!snarky John. No longer the wide-eyed wonder boy of the first season; the Uncharted Territories have done a number on him and he’s not afraid to make his voice heard concerning how much everything around him sucks. :P He’s like a sullen teenager…who actually seems to have gained an understanding about the world around him from time to time.
Summary:
John, Zhaan and D’argo enter a cathedral-like space on a windy, chilly planet. They’ve heard rumors from a nearby commerce planet that a Luxan might be here. A young attendant merely scurries away from them and D’argo ominously recognizes an object that’s supposed to ward off evil.
Suddenly the doors to a bedchamber open and an old woman, sitting up in her blankets, beckons them closer. She recognizes that D’argo is a Luxan, Zhaan is a Delvian and John, of course, is an unknown. She’s only interested in D’argo, commenting when he introduces himself that he’s young to be a general (the meaning of “Ka”! The more you know.) She introduces herself as Nilaam but as D’argo gets a good look at her he’s suddenly afraid and urging his companions out the door. But she doesn’t want that, despite the fact that she’s an Orican, or Luxan holy woman. She’s really looking for someone to help her cross over to death and she asks D’argo if he’s “strong” enough. They test this theory as she reaches into his chest for his heart! :O John rushes forward as D’argo screams and Nilaam is none too happy; she calls D a fraud and flings him out the doors, which shut on the group.
So now D’argo and John both want to leave but Zhaan thinks they should stay, since D’s been humiliated by a revered woman from his background. Would be best to fix that, I guess. John is having none of it and questions what she’s doing alone in the Uncharted Territories anyway. D’argo, rising and wincing, insists that her honor is not in question; his is. He explains that he did take on the tattoos of a general, even though he wasn’t one, to save his superior officer from interrogation. His companions immediately find this sympathetic and Zhaan encourages him to explain the situation to Nilaam. And although the Orican is at first irritated to be disturbed again, she says she likes D’argo’s “fire” in insisting on explaining the situation.
A quick stop on Moya where Chiana is washing D’argo’s clothes in a Moya fountain of amnexus fluids, which someone on the ScapeCast pointed out kind of sounds like washing your clothes in fluids from your car. :P Aeryn walks by with some clothes of her own for Chi to wash, but the Nebari girl brushes it off; what am I, your slave? As for washing D’s and not A’s: “I like D’argo.” :P
D’argo is back to helping Nilaam cross over, which John immediately dislikes. D and Zhaan focus on how it’s a “ritual passage” to ease transitions, but all John hears is stuff about potentially dangerous energy transfers. D’argo gets fed up and calls him Rygel, hee. Zhaan is actually jealous of D for getting a glimpse of the other side. The human quite obviously finds the whole situation nuts, but there’s not much he can do about it.
The two religious-type people return to Moya to collect Luxan objects; Rygel tries to encourage D’argo to sell them to Nilaam. Chi comes in, puts a hand over the Hynerian’s mouth, and awkwardly asks D’argo if the ritual is dangerous. D pauses and then lies to her, saying no. Neither Chi nor Rygel are conned by that. :/
John stays on the planet to grill Nilaam. She challenges him with the assertion that he doesn’t care about spirituality: nope, he just cares about his friends. Sure she could die naturally like anyone else, but she just doesn’t want to. It’s been nine years since she’s seen one of her own kind; can’t John relate to that at all? Boom.
The human still acts as backup guy, waiting outside the closed doors as D’argo and Nilaam start their ritual. Chanting and blood letting with the qualta blade…which is suddenly rising in the air! On Moya, back in the amnexus fluid, Chiana seems to hear them as well, or at least sense something. Nilaam keeps gushing about how strong D’argo is as objects rattle. D’argo screams and John attempts to break in, but he can’t. It’s like a cyclone in there! The blade falls…so does D’argo and John finally gets in. As he pulls out his gun, Nilaam, with her back to him, magically forces it out of his hand. As she turns she gushes about how the ritual worked—she’s not dead, but she’s much younger.
On Moya Chiana calls for help; the amnexus fluid is frozen around her! Aeryn comes and mocks Chi with her words from earlier. Even Zhaan seems to think Chiana is to blame. Pilot chimes in that Moya’s hydric system is failing, but he’s not sure why.
John continues to fret over D’argo, but although the Luxan is confused, he’s ultimately not harmed. In fact he’s…more than fine. He and Nilaam start some flirting action and John exits quickly before the sexy times. :P
Aeryn and Zhaan’s attempts to unfreeze the amnexus fluid with force and science, respectively, aren’t working. Meanwhile Pilot starts reporting outer hull breaches. Uh oh… John is called back to help. Aeryn gets her grenades, much to Chiana’s dismay. :P D’argo is having a considerably more happy post-coital time as Nilaam doesn’t only relish in her newfound youth and energy; she promises that she can guide Moya home, help all of D’s friends and even find his son. Sudden turnaround for the crew…if they even have a ship!
Rygel is called in, still in his bathrobe, to assist the DRDs in looking for hull breaches. Ryg is his usual selfish self when it comes to assisting others…but in the middle of this minor drama, MAJOR drama comes in the form of an inner hull breach in this very room! Chiana, of course, isn’t going anywhere; John grabs onto the fountain and tries to grab Ryg, but along with some tools, the Hynerian goes flying towards the sudden opening. …and then his butt gets stuck inside like a butt plug. Trust “Farscape” to always bring the kinkiness. :P John gets kind of dom-like, too, insisting that Sparky stay still and stop wiggling because it’s a good, tight fit. Oh my.
Aeryn returns with a piece of Moya’s hull, which broke off easily into her hands. D’argo and Nilaam are finally back to try and help, but as the Orican tries some healing incantations, Moya only shudders and gets worse! Nilaam is bewildered and goes off to meditate, but D’argo realizes the problem and confronts her privately. The Orican didn’t take his energy but Moya’s. Nilaam insists she didn’t know, and only tried for a renewal ritual rather than a death one because she thought it was D’argo’s strength. For now, they’d best go back to the planet where she has academic resources. Also—as she demonstrates with a hand, getting another shudder from Moya—she’s “disease” to this ship.
Elsewhere, Aeryn is coming to the same conclusion about Nilaam with Zhaan, but the former Peacekeeper is called away by Pilot. Inside his den, Aeryn sees that he’s old and gray! Moya’s rapid deterioration is starting to effect him. Aeryn is now certain that Nilaam is to blame and once Pilot gives her a location (headed to the transport bay with D’argo) she grabs a huge-ass gun and goes after them. John runs into her and tries to stop it, but as Aeryn comes across the two Luxans, she fires a huge shot. In slow-mo D’argo steps in front of it, Nilaam casts the fatal blow aside and encases John and Aeryn into some freeze device. They shatter out of it only after the transport is gone.
On the planet Nilaam is having no luck and D’argo is growing frustrated. This feeling only intensifies as the Orican suggests that they make a run for it. The two of them get into an ethical argument—isn’t her wellbeing more important than a ship’s? D’argo refuses to leave his friends. Doesn’t she realize, as a holy woman, that all of these signs means she’s stolen something that isn’t hers?
John arrives alone with his pulse rifle but as D’argo emerges from Nilaam’s chamber with his qualta blade, the human puts his gun down to signify a truce. He does have a new word for what the Orican is doing, however: murder. D’argo insists that it wasn’t intentional, but John points out that that’s not the issue anymore. What are we going to do to fix this? D’argo is anguished, realizing what he must do, and John sits by him.
Nilaam has come to terms with what must happen, but first she thanks D’argo for these fleeting gifts of youth and vitality. They start another ritual with chanting but this time she takes the qualta blade and plunges it into her body. She’s back to being an old woman as she whispers her goodbyes. D’argo holds her for awhile.
With Moya back to normal Chiana enjoys her newfound mobility again. Rygel is much less agreeable, despite Zhaan’s circulation assistance and teasing. Aeryn is in Pilot’s den where their navigator is back to his old self. They share brief words about the ultimate length of a Leviathan’s life versus a Pilot’s life: a Leviathan can live for about 300 cycles, a Pilot for a thousand. But when a Pilot bonds with a Leviathan, he or she truncates his life. Gladly so, according to our Pilot. On the planet, John finally deigns to enter the Orican’s room, looking at her empty bed. He asks D’argo, on a chair nearby, if he wants some space. D’argo thinks about it, says yes, but not right now.
Thoughts:
There’s plenty of discrepancies with the Orican plot, but I’ll start with maybe the least important. What is she doing in the Uncharted Territories? I know it’s not central to the plot, but it’s weird (and convenient, of course,) that a random holy woman would be alone, so far away from her flock. I mean, even John brings that point up, so it’s worth thinking about on some level. But of more eyebrow-arching concern to me is how Nilaam could have mistaken Moya’s energy for D’argo’s. D’argo is a strong man, no doubt, but Moya is a huge-ass SHIP. Also, if someone should have died or exploded from the energy transfer, shouldn’t it have been Nilaam or D’argo before Moya? Sheesh. Other than that, the Orican wasn’t developed enough on her own to feel much for.
The Nilaam/D’argo moments were ok because it’s understandable that D might want a little slice of home. But they ultimately weren’t as moving as, say, D’argo and John’s friendship, or Pilot and Aeryn’s, or any of the other smaller character moments aboard our Leviathan. It was a nice way, as well, to get more backstory on D’argo, his history and his continued quest for his son. Aeryn’s devotion to Pilot and Moya, if extreme, was still touching. I don’t deny appreciating Zhaan’s zeal for spirituality—though she obviously has a lot more wisdom than this Orican. Also the ep had some nice moments of humor, particularly in the clash between the females and Rygel as the Butt Plug. :P Not much more to say about Rygel this hour, really.
If I’m to analyze the Aeryn/Chiana dynamic seriously, which I probably shouldn’t, I’d say it seems to be in character. Aeryn is sort of used to delegating people into roles, and it seems plausible that she’d see Chiana as the domestic gal while she’s the action gal. :P For Chiana, cat-fighting with other ladies is her MO, her way of trying to stake her claim. The Chiana/Aeryn relationship will continue to be developed in later eps.
Ultimately, however, none of these character beats were dependent on this episode; we could have gotten a feel for them without it. I’d say the biggest reveal comes from Aeryn and Pilot about lifespans, but as mentioned that will be explored more deeply in a far more meaningful episode that not only has more emotional resonance but ties the narrative together in new ways. But I’ll leave all that to future recaps!
Favorite Quotes:
*first impressions of Nilaam’s abode and scurry-off companion*
John: Take a number, have a seat, no magazines. Typical.
*the laundry exchange*
Aeryn: Here's some more.
Chiana: Some more what?
Aeryn: Clothes to be cleaned.
Chiana: Oh, no problem - room for us both.
Aeryn: No, I want you to wash these.
Chiana: Oh do you? What? Are you-are you allergic to Moya’s amnexus fluids or something?
Aeryn: Just wash them will you?
Chiana: Um, when exactly did I become your-your servant? Why do I have to wash your clothes?
Aeryn: Well you're cleaning D'Argo’s aren't you?
Chiana: Yeah, but I like D'Argo.
*Sullen John vs Zhaan and D’argo on the ritual bonding issue*
Zhaan: An emotional and spiritual link is forged John. As I understand it, when the Orican dies, the attendant sanctifies the ascent by transferring energy to her.
John: Strike two! I do not like the sound of “transferring energy” either!
D'Argo: The process only involves little risk.
John: How little risk? Oh, no, let me put it this way: How wrong can it go?
D'Argo: I could die.
John: I do NOT understand D'Argo! What do YOU get out of it?
D'Argo: You know what? You sound like Rygel!
*Nilaam’s ultimate pitch to John*
Nilaam: Have you any idea what it's like to be separated from your own kind?
John: Yeah, matter of fact, I do.
Nilaam: Then you can't begrudge me this one last wish.
*Rygel makes his pitch to D’argo about getting some money out of Nilaam*
Rygel: This is one of your countrymen. You don't want to sully your relationship with commerce. Let me do that.
*aftermath of the frozen amnexus fluid*
Aeryn: What have you done?
Chiana: Nothing.
Aeryn: Well you must have done something.
Chiana: I didn't do anything. I-i-it just froze up all around me. Get me out of here?
Aeryn: When did I become your servant?
Chiana: Don't frell around. Just... just get me out of here okay?
Aeryn: What's the hurry Chiana? You're not allergic to Moya’s amnexus fluids, are you?
Chiana: Oh yeah. Very funny Aeryn. Look, can you please just do something? (Zhaan enters) Zhaan. Finally, someone who's a little more useful!
Zhaan: (to Aeryn) What did she do?
*John is taken down a peg or two*
John: Look Princess. You damn near killed him!
D'Argo: Actually, I've uh... I've never felt better.
Nilaam: Neither have I.
John: Yeah, well you... you could've... killed him.
*Chiana is still imprisoned in the amnexus fluid*
Aeryn: I wonder if I've got any grenades left.
Chiana: She was kidding - Right? Tell me that she was kidding.
John: Well with Aeryn... you never know.
*On Rygel the butt plug*
Chiana: Well, what do you know? He has made himself useful.
***
Aeryn: (on seeing his backside in space) You seem to be all there. But I can't say I looked too closely.
*D’argo stands up to Nilaam*
D'Argo: How can an Orican justify taking life? Have you forgotten who you are?
Nilaam: Have you forgotten what I can do?
D'Argo: I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN WHAT YOU CANNOT DO, WHICH IS RESTORE MOYA’S LIFE! Does that suggest to you that you have taken something that you really should not have?
*Pilot and Moya on the backstory on Leviathans*
Aeryn: Pilot, what is the normal life span of a Leviathan?
Pilot: Uh, many have lived over three hundred cycles.
Aeryn: What about your species?
Pilot: Normally, a thousand cycles or more. However, when we bond with Leviathans, we live no longer than they do.
Aeryn: So, when Moya eventually does die...
Pilot: I will go as well. I would not have it any other way.
___