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scifi_rewatchThe more I think about this episode, the less I like it, “Dorian Gray” or not. I think that when I saw it back when it first aired as a teenager, the shiny space station screamed “cool scifi” to me—all futuristic and mercenary at the same time. No more basement sets for “Farscape,” at least for the time being. :P Much of the first half was largely Chiana-centric, and I love me some Chiana.
That being said, this week featured the return of one of the worst villains of all time, Maldis. UGH. I mean, even the showrunners must’ve realized how pathetic he was, given John’s villain-twirls-mustache line. :P Fortunately (spoilers!) this is the last time we will ever see him, unless I’ve blocked out some future show event just to save my sanity.
This hour was also disjointed in who the main protagonist was meant to be, but I’m assuming, given Maldis’s directed vengeance, that it’s Zhaan. It didn’t really work for me. There was absolutely no arc for our favorite Delvian—she was scared, she hatched a plan, the end. It didn’t move her along as a character at all. In fact, this episode did pretty much nothing for any of the characters, save for making D’argo’s growing attraction to Chi a bit more noticeable. :P Mostly, the hour felt like a series of hammed-in flashbacks; “remember the defense screen?” “remember Delvian unity?” mixed with a plot that feels like some of my iffier tries at Space Cases fanfic when I was 14. :P Interestingly enough, elements of Maldis’s fate at the end will be repeated with another character in an upcoming episode…nah, it’s not interesting enough to merit the entire story here.
Don’t hate it; just kinda MEEEEEEH.
Summary:
Chiana, Rygel and an irritated Aeryn-babysitter are in a shiny store-ship in space. Chiana is looking at some glass portraits while Rygel grumbles over how fake the merchandise is. The merchant, Kyvan, has one of those weird accents that’s better than season one aliens, but only slightly. She shows Chiana a new portrait that resembles her, and makes our Nebari uncomfortable. After Rygel haggles for a fake Hynerian tiara (cost him a food cube) and Aeryn tries to herd the flock out the door, Kyvan produces an even newer portrait of Chiana with her favorite, lost necklace. :O She offers it for free, advising that it’s a “window into time.”
On Moya, John and D’argo examine the defense screen. Our human tries to haggle with Pilot about secretly taking some DRDs off of Aeryn’s prowler detail, but the peacekeeper has returned, along with her charges. We cut to Chiana walking down the corridor with her portrait, only to run into a DRD carrying her necklace! :O The portrait changes to depict Chi with a broken leg! As she stands to examine it, the DRD weaves like a cat under her; she trips and breaks her leg! She screams at the portrait in pain and horror.
Later, she tries to explain her theory of the portrait=future teller to a skeptic John while Zhaan sets her leg. Our cynical spiky, haired human is looking for other options—Aeryn or Rygel playing a trick on her?—while Chi is insistent that the portrait is magical. Zhaan wants to run tests, but Chi will only give up a small piece from the corner. Girl has a new favorite toy.
Meanwhile Rygel is conducting chemical tests on his own fake object—only to discover that it’s real! :O As he cackles over their newfound fortune, Zhaan enters and takes him by the ear. He wants to hightail it back to Kyvan’s ship, of course, to make more of a killing, but Pilot and Zhaan nix that one. D’argo, meanwhile, is hanging tentatively with an eager Chi. It’s like she’s at a magic show, waiting for the next trick. D’argo poses the theory that maybe the portrait is causing events to happen, not just reading them. They start discussing the merits of knowing the future vs staying in the dark, starting with the portrait, Jothee…then their own relationship. :P Hmm. Seems like there’s something going on here. They end with a quarrel, however, as D implores Chiana to be “sensible” and dispose of the portrait—instead she disposes of the Luxan. :P
Elsewhere, Aeryn and John discuss the same issue, but their conversation skews into how Rygel and Chiana keep getting the crew into trouble. Our peacekeeper is being very ruthless in insisting that the best way to go is to throw both of them off the ship…and maybe some other people. :P Seems like this is less about others and more about Aeryn herself.
Zhaan hears faint whispers in her lab; she’s on edge when John enters and calls out her name. The portrait is testing out normal. But that doesn’t mean Chiana is hallucinating—she’s in great danger! Zhaan grabs John by the shoulders and tersely asks him if he trusts her enough to do as she says, no questions. John seems a little taken aback by the sudden drama, but he consents to it. First order of business: let’s destroy the portrait! D’argo is totally on board and the boys head on over to Chiana’s quarters. The Nebari is screaming in fear; the portrait just changed again to show her consumed by fire! D’argo scoops her up to take care of her, Aeryn trailing along behind, while John gets the portrait to Zhaan. Chi wants to be put in a freezer to keep from burning; D’argo is ok with it, but Aeryn is perturbed and still trying to explain away the situation logically. She points out the Chi will suffocate in the freezer, but John is back to negotiate with Pilot how to make sure that doesn’t happen. The two argue over their methods with Chiana’s madness as D’argo puts her into her new home. Once the doors are closed, however, something combusts! :O Pilot is beside himself; what’s in there that’s combustible? Chiana starts to whimper, then scream, as red flames appear behind and then in front of her. The boys, then Aeryn, try unsuccessfully to break the door down. Chiana is enveloped by flame and then disappears. :O
When the doors finally open, all that remains of our favorite Nebari is a pile of ashes and her favorite necklace. For the moment, the crew mostly takes this death in with stunned silence. Rygel confronts Zhaan about it, insisting that they had forewarning with the portrait, whereby Zhaan snaps back that Ryg was probably eating or sleeping at the time. D’argo and John enter as Zhaan banishes the Hynerian, and D gently tries to keep Zhaan from blaming herself. They all “coulda shoulda.” John’s on board with destroying the portrait now, which Zhaan does, fittingly, with fire.
Aeryn is in Pilot’s den where she is insistent on finding any flaw with the fridge that caused what happened. Pilot maintains that Moya isn’t malfunctioning, making Aeryn grow more desperate. John enters, and of course makes her defensive when he suggests that she feels guilt. Wanting someone off the ship and wanting them dead are two different things, an upset Aeryn reminds him. John starts to get on her case for keeping people at a distance, but is interrupted by the others calling them to the central chamber. The portrait is back…with D’argo’s image inside! Once again the crew destroys it, though they’re a little less certain that it’ll stay gone now. So they shatter it and send it out the airlock. Aeryn decides it’s time to interrogate Kyvan, but because of the prowler maintenance referenced earlier, she’s gotta take John’s “bucket of dren” module. :P Once she’s back, they’ll starburst the frell away from here.
Zhaan is distracted by the whispering voice speaking her name more clearly as John looks on, bewildered. Meanwhile, in his module, Aeryn finds she has company by way of Rygel. He’s here to make sure Kyvan pays for what she did…and maybe to get a few more objects. :P Elsewhere on Moya, the portrait has reappeared and D’argo stares at the image of himself in mute shock—being impaled by a qualta blade. Zhaan and John enter; Zhaan is nearing hysterics and John is trying to keep cool. But D has accepted his fate, and says his goodbyes to our human as Crichton tries to get him to a wide open, unpointy space. In a “Final Destination” move, however, as they pass Aeryn’s sparking prowler, it starts to move and ends up impaling D’argo through the chest. Even more shocking, the Luxan shatters like glass before John’s startled eyes!
We stay with D’argo as he’s transported to a swirly, brightly-lit world of geometrical shapes. Chiana’s voice is calling to see if anyone is there, and D ultimately finds her hanging upside down, disproportionately large, in an archway. She theorizes that they’re in the portrait, given similar geometric shapes, but when the Luxan tries to go through the archway to get to her, she disappears.
On Moya, John is certain that D’argo can’t really be dead; there’s no body or anything. They need to find him…but Zhaan is more interested in the portrait, which now shows John being electrocuted. Our human takes the news with agitated fury, and says he’s ready for whatever the frell the Delvian’s plan is. But she has no answers for him right now.
Aeryn and Rygel have gotten back to Kyvan’s shop, and our favorite Peacekeeper uses brute force to get the merchant to talk. She ultimately admits that Maldis forced her to make the portrait. Our crew members are shocked, but they relay the info via comm to an equally shocked John; we destroyed that guy! Zhaan posits that since he was merely dispersed, he’d coalesce someday. She still doesn’t have a plan; in fact, she’s zoning out with her hands over her face. John tells Aeryn to stay on the ship and gather intel from Kyvan. On Moya, Zhaan grasps our human and speaks to him through their Unity bond from last season; she says he has to keep Maldis’s attention focused on him for as long as possible, and to ignore what she says next. She releases him and continues to hyperventilate about the situation. John plays around, just briefly, until Zhaan pushes him into an exposed wing of Aeryn’s prowler where he’s electrocuted and shatters.
John is next to materialize in the weird portrait world, where he ultimately finds a big-head D’argo in one of the archways. John calls out for Maldis, using Crichtonisms to get him to appear behind him. :P In lothario villain tradition, he lays out his desire for revenge—not against John or the others, who are pretty useless, but against Zhaan. The hilarious Crichtonism-mockery continues; definite highlight of this scene (John’s doing his work well), until Maldis speaks Zhaan’s name—obviously he’s the whisperer from before—and down she tumbles into the portrait!
Zhaan sobs about being too weak as John kneels next to her. Maldis sneezes into two archways where D’argo and Chiana’s bulbous heads appear, and the crew introduces Chi to this episode’s recurring villain. John encourages everyone to stay calm so that Maldis can’t suck anyone’s life force, but Zhaan appears to be in her own zone. Maldis imprisons John’s head in an archway and draws out the fear in his three non-Zhaan subjects—what if he went to Earth? What if he messed with Jothee? Or sent Chiana back to Nebari Prime? Chi attempts to play tough chick—you don’t scare me!—but Maldis pffts her, and says that this realm will dissolve and leave their life forces for his lunch. Zhaan begs her captor, but he only walks over her crunching body as she screams. Yikes. He raises his arms and forms an archway to Moya; I guess he wants to take their ship along with them.
On Moya, Pilot comms Aeryn with a priority message from Zhaan—kill Kyvan and get the frell out of there. Aeryn does so unquestioningly –Kyvan explodes like glass, and Aeryn and Rygel barely make it back to the module before the ship does, too. The destruction of the ship and Kyvan obviously has an effect on Maldis as he shudders inside the portrait. Zhaan is now stronger than he is, and with a growl she rises and shoves him through John’s archway. It shatters and the crew members are able to walk out of their prisons. D’argo and Chiana make it through the portal to Moya as the portrait realm starts to shatter. Zhaan has collapsed from exertion, but John stays to force her out. But Maldis isn’t finished yet; a grotesquely huge hand comes sweeping out at them! D’argo and Chi escape, and John uses a DRD and then Aeryn’s prowler to fire at the portal. It takes a small bit of doing, but finally the portrait realm completely shatters. John and Zhaan share a few bewildered words about her plan. :P
Later, Rygel and Chiana try to bring some logic to the situation where none is to be had—if everything was fake, why is Chiana’s leg still busted? Think the writers are giving up on this story, honestly. :P Zhaan and John share a little more of a serious moment by her altar; unsure if Maldis is gone for good this time, but the acting scared thing wasn’t an act. Turns out Zhaan isn’t quite as strong or fearless as John previously thought. Yikes.
Thoughts:
I just…yeah. The fact that they even threw in that final scene between Rygel and Chiana really proved to me that they were beyond caring about the logistics of this story. :P Maldis is such an over-the-top villain, and maybe they just brought him back for shits and giggles. Give Ben Browder a little more time to work on his sardonic humor. :P
There were little nuances I enjoyed, especially the continued development of the D’argo/Chiana attraction. D is showing a kinder, softer but still paternalistic side, and Gigi Edgley is doing such a great job of trying to flirt around it and figure out his end game. John/Aeryn was good, too; it didn’t really drive any character change for either of them, but it felt organic to have John getting a little frustrated by Aeryn’s continued aloofness. Similarly, I was reminded of “Taking the Stone” when the two of them argued over the best way to help Chiana—cater to her fears/play it safe or try to talk to her logically? Total pre-parent moment, hee.
But yeah, the special effects reeeeeally didn’t do it for me, but maybe it’s an unfair criticism, given budget constraints. Mostly, I’m just disappointed for Zhaan, because this episode was obviously meant to center on her, but it just didn’t come through for me. In a detached light, I guess I understand the true danger that Maldis posed by making this portrait dimension or threatening Earth or whatever, and I get that Zhaan was scared, but her altercation with Maldis otherwise didn’t change her at all, add to her self-confidence, give her new insights into the world, whatever. It’s just a reminder that “yup, everyone can be scared.”
And I never bought for a second that Maldis was an actual threat, so why get too worked up about what’s happening to the crew? (OK, I admit I was a little upset after Chiana’s “death.” She’s my favorite character!) “Farscape” can, has and will do better in creating villainous situations that test our characters in believable, heart-wrenching and life-altering ways.
So long, Maldis. Stay dispersed this time. :P
Favorite Quotes:
*Chiana lays down her shopping habits*
Chiana: If it's not worth anything, I don't like it.
Kyvan: Oh-ho! So young, and yet so mercenary!
*D’argo and Chiana ramp up the flirtation*
Chiana: I think you're just being a superstitious Luxan.
D’argo: I am being a concerned Luxan.
Chiana: Aren't you sweet. What? You really care what happens to me?
D’argo: Shouldn't I?
Chiana: Of course you should. I'm glad you do. Wonder if the portrait will show both of us next - give us a glimpse into our future.
D’argo: I am not sure I want to know about that either.
Chiana: Why? Because of what it might not show? Or what it might?
D’argo: Listen to me. I do care about you. That's why I want you to start being sensible and get rid of that.
Chiana: Oh, okay. So I'm not being sensible now? Well, I'm so sorry to disappoint you, but I'm keeping it. I need to rest now. Alone.
*after Aeryn nonchalantly OKs throwing several crew members off the ship*
John: Pilot! Let's get rid of Pilot. That'd be good. Then you can have the whole ship to yourself.
Aeryn: Mm. Is that an offer?
John: Well, let's start with this room, see how it goes.
*Aeryn argues with John about the best way to deal with Chiana’s fears*
John: Pilot! How long can Chiana last in there?
Pilot: Indefinitely. If I raise the temperature, and maintain air flow.
John: Do it!
Aeryn: Don't tell me you're going along with this nonsense too!
John: I don't see any harm in playing it safe.
Aeryn: You cater to her fears, you make them worse!
*Rygel and Zhaan react to Chiana’s death*
Rygel: It's true then? Chiana's dead?
Zhaan: It's true.
Rygel: And she died that way? [the way the portrait indicated]
Zhaan: Yes.
Rygel: Then why couldn't you save her? You had warning. You could have done something!
Zhaan: At least we tried - which is more than I can say for you! Where were you when she died? Sleeping? Eating?
Rygel: Had anyone seen fit to inform me, I could-
Zhaan: Get out!
*Aeryn’s response to Chiana’s death triggers issues between her and John*
John: Aeryn! Knock it off. It's not your fault.
Aeryn: Who said it was?
John: You're grilling Pilot looking for a reason. You're not the reason.
Aeryn: No I'm not. Why would I be?
John: You wanted her off the ship.
Aeryn: I never said I wanted her dead Crichton.
John: Fine-- No. Are you always gonna do this?
Aeryn: Do what?
John: Keep the entire world at a distance! Keep everybody away. Is that ever gonna change?
*Aeryn and Rygel play good cop/bad cop with Kyvan*
Aeryn: I'm only interested in one thing, and that's the thing you gave Chiana.
Kyvan: Oh! Weell, I hope she's enjoying that portrait-
Aeryn: Don't frell with me! You know exactly what happened, don't you?
Rygel: (It's a very bad idea to annoy her when she's in this sort of mood. [Aeryn smashes some objects] See what I mean? If I were you, I'd tell her everything.
*John starts using Crichtonisms against Maldis*
Maldis: Have you forgotten? Fear makes me stronger. Fear and the terror of helplessness. These are a few of my favorite things.
John: Oh, could you do that farewell good-bye song the kids sing? It's one of my favorites.
*The boys explain Maldis’s backstory to Chiana*
Chiana: Who's that little man?
John: His name is Maldis. He's your basic evil vampire.
D’argo: He sucks the life force out of people.
John: He just plain sucks.
*Aeryn and Rygel get the frell out after destroying Kyvan and her ship*
Rygel: How did you know all that would happen?
Aeryn: I didn't.
Rygel: And you shot Kyvan anyway?
Aeryn: Crichton said I should follow Zhaan's instructions without question.
Rygel: Did he? Well, he didn't bother to tell me!
Aeryn: Of course not. When have you ever followed instructions?
*general “Farscape” reaction to any crew member’s plan :P*
John: [bewildered] That was your plan?
Zhaan: Yes. Like it?
John: Well, what's not to like?
___
That being said, this week featured the return of one of the worst villains of all time, Maldis. UGH. I mean, even the showrunners must’ve realized how pathetic he was, given John’s villain-twirls-mustache line. :P Fortunately (spoilers!) this is the last time we will ever see him, unless I’ve blocked out some future show event just to save my sanity.
This hour was also disjointed in who the main protagonist was meant to be, but I’m assuming, given Maldis’s directed vengeance, that it’s Zhaan. It didn’t really work for me. There was absolutely no arc for our favorite Delvian—she was scared, she hatched a plan, the end. It didn’t move her along as a character at all. In fact, this episode did pretty much nothing for any of the characters, save for making D’argo’s growing attraction to Chi a bit more noticeable. :P Mostly, the hour felt like a series of hammed-in flashbacks; “remember the defense screen?” “remember Delvian unity?” mixed with a plot that feels like some of my iffier tries at Space Cases fanfic when I was 14. :P Interestingly enough, elements of Maldis’s fate at the end will be repeated with another character in an upcoming episode…nah, it’s not interesting enough to merit the entire story here.
Don’t hate it; just kinda MEEEEEEH.
Summary:
Chiana, Rygel and an irritated Aeryn-babysitter are in a shiny store-ship in space. Chiana is looking at some glass portraits while Rygel grumbles over how fake the merchandise is. The merchant, Kyvan, has one of those weird accents that’s better than season one aliens, but only slightly. She shows Chiana a new portrait that resembles her, and makes our Nebari uncomfortable. After Rygel haggles for a fake Hynerian tiara (cost him a food cube) and Aeryn tries to herd the flock out the door, Kyvan produces an even newer portrait of Chiana with her favorite, lost necklace. :O She offers it for free, advising that it’s a “window into time.”
On Moya, John and D’argo examine the defense screen. Our human tries to haggle with Pilot about secretly taking some DRDs off of Aeryn’s prowler detail, but the peacekeeper has returned, along with her charges. We cut to Chiana walking down the corridor with her portrait, only to run into a DRD carrying her necklace! :O The portrait changes to depict Chi with a broken leg! As she stands to examine it, the DRD weaves like a cat under her; she trips and breaks her leg! She screams at the portrait in pain and horror.
Later, she tries to explain her theory of the portrait=future teller to a skeptic John while Zhaan sets her leg. Our cynical spiky, haired human is looking for other options—Aeryn or Rygel playing a trick on her?—while Chi is insistent that the portrait is magical. Zhaan wants to run tests, but Chi will only give up a small piece from the corner. Girl has a new favorite toy.
Meanwhile Rygel is conducting chemical tests on his own fake object—only to discover that it’s real! :O As he cackles over their newfound fortune, Zhaan enters and takes him by the ear. He wants to hightail it back to Kyvan’s ship, of course, to make more of a killing, but Pilot and Zhaan nix that one. D’argo, meanwhile, is hanging tentatively with an eager Chi. It’s like she’s at a magic show, waiting for the next trick. D’argo poses the theory that maybe the portrait is causing events to happen, not just reading them. They start discussing the merits of knowing the future vs staying in the dark, starting with the portrait, Jothee…then their own relationship. :P Hmm. Seems like there’s something going on here. They end with a quarrel, however, as D implores Chiana to be “sensible” and dispose of the portrait—instead she disposes of the Luxan. :P
Elsewhere, Aeryn and John discuss the same issue, but their conversation skews into how Rygel and Chiana keep getting the crew into trouble. Our peacekeeper is being very ruthless in insisting that the best way to go is to throw both of them off the ship…and maybe some other people. :P Seems like this is less about others and more about Aeryn herself.
Zhaan hears faint whispers in her lab; she’s on edge when John enters and calls out her name. The portrait is testing out normal. But that doesn’t mean Chiana is hallucinating—she’s in great danger! Zhaan grabs John by the shoulders and tersely asks him if he trusts her enough to do as she says, no questions. John seems a little taken aback by the sudden drama, but he consents to it. First order of business: let’s destroy the portrait! D’argo is totally on board and the boys head on over to Chiana’s quarters. The Nebari is screaming in fear; the portrait just changed again to show her consumed by fire! D’argo scoops her up to take care of her, Aeryn trailing along behind, while John gets the portrait to Zhaan. Chi wants to be put in a freezer to keep from burning; D’argo is ok with it, but Aeryn is perturbed and still trying to explain away the situation logically. She points out the Chi will suffocate in the freezer, but John is back to negotiate with Pilot how to make sure that doesn’t happen. The two argue over their methods with Chiana’s madness as D’argo puts her into her new home. Once the doors are closed, however, something combusts! :O Pilot is beside himself; what’s in there that’s combustible? Chiana starts to whimper, then scream, as red flames appear behind and then in front of her. The boys, then Aeryn, try unsuccessfully to break the door down. Chiana is enveloped by flame and then disappears. :O
When the doors finally open, all that remains of our favorite Nebari is a pile of ashes and her favorite necklace. For the moment, the crew mostly takes this death in with stunned silence. Rygel confronts Zhaan about it, insisting that they had forewarning with the portrait, whereby Zhaan snaps back that Ryg was probably eating or sleeping at the time. D’argo and John enter as Zhaan banishes the Hynerian, and D gently tries to keep Zhaan from blaming herself. They all “coulda shoulda.” John’s on board with destroying the portrait now, which Zhaan does, fittingly, with fire.
Aeryn is in Pilot’s den where she is insistent on finding any flaw with the fridge that caused what happened. Pilot maintains that Moya isn’t malfunctioning, making Aeryn grow more desperate. John enters, and of course makes her defensive when he suggests that she feels guilt. Wanting someone off the ship and wanting them dead are two different things, an upset Aeryn reminds him. John starts to get on her case for keeping people at a distance, but is interrupted by the others calling them to the central chamber. The portrait is back…with D’argo’s image inside! Once again the crew destroys it, though they’re a little less certain that it’ll stay gone now. So they shatter it and send it out the airlock. Aeryn decides it’s time to interrogate Kyvan, but because of the prowler maintenance referenced earlier, she’s gotta take John’s “bucket of dren” module. :P Once she’s back, they’ll starburst the frell away from here.
Zhaan is distracted by the whispering voice speaking her name more clearly as John looks on, bewildered. Meanwhile, in his module, Aeryn finds she has company by way of Rygel. He’s here to make sure Kyvan pays for what she did…and maybe to get a few more objects. :P Elsewhere on Moya, the portrait has reappeared and D’argo stares at the image of himself in mute shock—being impaled by a qualta blade. Zhaan and John enter; Zhaan is nearing hysterics and John is trying to keep cool. But D has accepted his fate, and says his goodbyes to our human as Crichton tries to get him to a wide open, unpointy space. In a “Final Destination” move, however, as they pass Aeryn’s sparking prowler, it starts to move and ends up impaling D’argo through the chest. Even more shocking, the Luxan shatters like glass before John’s startled eyes!
We stay with D’argo as he’s transported to a swirly, brightly-lit world of geometrical shapes. Chiana’s voice is calling to see if anyone is there, and D ultimately finds her hanging upside down, disproportionately large, in an archway. She theorizes that they’re in the portrait, given similar geometric shapes, but when the Luxan tries to go through the archway to get to her, she disappears.
On Moya, John is certain that D’argo can’t really be dead; there’s no body or anything. They need to find him…but Zhaan is more interested in the portrait, which now shows John being electrocuted. Our human takes the news with agitated fury, and says he’s ready for whatever the frell the Delvian’s plan is. But she has no answers for him right now.
Aeryn and Rygel have gotten back to Kyvan’s shop, and our favorite Peacekeeper uses brute force to get the merchant to talk. She ultimately admits that Maldis forced her to make the portrait. Our crew members are shocked, but they relay the info via comm to an equally shocked John; we destroyed that guy! Zhaan posits that since he was merely dispersed, he’d coalesce someday. She still doesn’t have a plan; in fact, she’s zoning out with her hands over her face. John tells Aeryn to stay on the ship and gather intel from Kyvan. On Moya, Zhaan grasps our human and speaks to him through their Unity bond from last season; she says he has to keep Maldis’s attention focused on him for as long as possible, and to ignore what she says next. She releases him and continues to hyperventilate about the situation. John plays around, just briefly, until Zhaan pushes him into an exposed wing of Aeryn’s prowler where he’s electrocuted and shatters.
John is next to materialize in the weird portrait world, where he ultimately finds a big-head D’argo in one of the archways. John calls out for Maldis, using Crichtonisms to get him to appear behind him. :P In lothario villain tradition, he lays out his desire for revenge—not against John or the others, who are pretty useless, but against Zhaan. The hilarious Crichtonism-mockery continues; definite highlight of this scene (John’s doing his work well), until Maldis speaks Zhaan’s name—obviously he’s the whisperer from before—and down she tumbles into the portrait!
Zhaan sobs about being too weak as John kneels next to her. Maldis sneezes into two archways where D’argo and Chiana’s bulbous heads appear, and the crew introduces Chi to this episode’s recurring villain. John encourages everyone to stay calm so that Maldis can’t suck anyone’s life force, but Zhaan appears to be in her own zone. Maldis imprisons John’s head in an archway and draws out the fear in his three non-Zhaan subjects—what if he went to Earth? What if he messed with Jothee? Or sent Chiana back to Nebari Prime? Chi attempts to play tough chick—you don’t scare me!—but Maldis pffts her, and says that this realm will dissolve and leave their life forces for his lunch. Zhaan begs her captor, but he only walks over her crunching body as she screams. Yikes. He raises his arms and forms an archway to Moya; I guess he wants to take their ship along with them.
On Moya, Pilot comms Aeryn with a priority message from Zhaan—kill Kyvan and get the frell out of there. Aeryn does so unquestioningly –Kyvan explodes like glass, and Aeryn and Rygel barely make it back to the module before the ship does, too. The destruction of the ship and Kyvan obviously has an effect on Maldis as he shudders inside the portrait. Zhaan is now stronger than he is, and with a growl she rises and shoves him through John’s archway. It shatters and the crew members are able to walk out of their prisons. D’argo and Chiana make it through the portal to Moya as the portrait realm starts to shatter. Zhaan has collapsed from exertion, but John stays to force her out. But Maldis isn’t finished yet; a grotesquely huge hand comes sweeping out at them! D’argo and Chi escape, and John uses a DRD and then Aeryn’s prowler to fire at the portal. It takes a small bit of doing, but finally the portrait realm completely shatters. John and Zhaan share a few bewildered words about her plan. :P
Later, Rygel and Chiana try to bring some logic to the situation where none is to be had—if everything was fake, why is Chiana’s leg still busted? Think the writers are giving up on this story, honestly. :P Zhaan and John share a little more of a serious moment by her altar; unsure if Maldis is gone for good this time, but the acting scared thing wasn’t an act. Turns out Zhaan isn’t quite as strong or fearless as John previously thought. Yikes.
Thoughts:
I just…yeah. The fact that they even threw in that final scene between Rygel and Chiana really proved to me that they were beyond caring about the logistics of this story. :P Maldis is such an over-the-top villain, and maybe they just brought him back for shits and giggles. Give Ben Browder a little more time to work on his sardonic humor. :P
There were little nuances I enjoyed, especially the continued development of the D’argo/Chiana attraction. D is showing a kinder, softer but still paternalistic side, and Gigi Edgley is doing such a great job of trying to flirt around it and figure out his end game. John/Aeryn was good, too; it didn’t really drive any character change for either of them, but it felt organic to have John getting a little frustrated by Aeryn’s continued aloofness. Similarly, I was reminded of “Taking the Stone” when the two of them argued over the best way to help Chiana—cater to her fears/play it safe or try to talk to her logically? Total pre-parent moment, hee.
But yeah, the special effects reeeeeally didn’t do it for me, but maybe it’s an unfair criticism, given budget constraints. Mostly, I’m just disappointed for Zhaan, because this episode was obviously meant to center on her, but it just didn’t come through for me. In a detached light, I guess I understand the true danger that Maldis posed by making this portrait dimension or threatening Earth or whatever, and I get that Zhaan was scared, but her altercation with Maldis otherwise didn’t change her at all, add to her self-confidence, give her new insights into the world, whatever. It’s just a reminder that “yup, everyone can be scared.”
And I never bought for a second that Maldis was an actual threat, so why get too worked up about what’s happening to the crew? (OK, I admit I was a little upset after Chiana’s “death.” She’s my favorite character!) “Farscape” can, has and will do better in creating villainous situations that test our characters in believable, heart-wrenching and life-altering ways.
So long, Maldis. Stay dispersed this time. :P
Favorite Quotes:
*Chiana lays down her shopping habits*
Chiana: If it's not worth anything, I don't like it.
Kyvan: Oh-ho! So young, and yet so mercenary!
*D’argo and Chiana ramp up the flirtation*
Chiana: I think you're just being a superstitious Luxan.
D’argo: I am being a concerned Luxan.
Chiana: Aren't you sweet. What? You really care what happens to me?
D’argo: Shouldn't I?
Chiana: Of course you should. I'm glad you do. Wonder if the portrait will show both of us next - give us a glimpse into our future.
D’argo: I am not sure I want to know about that either.
Chiana: Why? Because of what it might not show? Or what it might?
D’argo: Listen to me. I do care about you. That's why I want you to start being sensible and get rid of that.
Chiana: Oh, okay. So I'm not being sensible now? Well, I'm so sorry to disappoint you, but I'm keeping it. I need to rest now. Alone.
*after Aeryn nonchalantly OKs throwing several crew members off the ship*
John: Pilot! Let's get rid of Pilot. That'd be good. Then you can have the whole ship to yourself.
Aeryn: Mm. Is that an offer?
John: Well, let's start with this room, see how it goes.
*Aeryn argues with John about the best way to deal with Chiana’s fears*
John: Pilot! How long can Chiana last in there?
Pilot: Indefinitely. If I raise the temperature, and maintain air flow.
John: Do it!
Aeryn: Don't tell me you're going along with this nonsense too!
John: I don't see any harm in playing it safe.
Aeryn: You cater to her fears, you make them worse!
*Rygel and Zhaan react to Chiana’s death*
Rygel: It's true then? Chiana's dead?
Zhaan: It's true.
Rygel: And she died that way? [the way the portrait indicated]
Zhaan: Yes.
Rygel: Then why couldn't you save her? You had warning. You could have done something!
Zhaan: At least we tried - which is more than I can say for you! Where were you when she died? Sleeping? Eating?
Rygel: Had anyone seen fit to inform me, I could-
Zhaan: Get out!
*Aeryn’s response to Chiana’s death triggers issues between her and John*
John: Aeryn! Knock it off. It's not your fault.
Aeryn: Who said it was?
John: You're grilling Pilot looking for a reason. You're not the reason.
Aeryn: No I'm not. Why would I be?
John: You wanted her off the ship.
Aeryn: I never said I wanted her dead Crichton.
John: Fine-- No. Are you always gonna do this?
Aeryn: Do what?
John: Keep the entire world at a distance! Keep everybody away. Is that ever gonna change?
*Aeryn and Rygel play good cop/bad cop with Kyvan*
Aeryn: I'm only interested in one thing, and that's the thing you gave Chiana.
Kyvan: Oh! Weell, I hope she's enjoying that portrait-
Aeryn: Don't frell with me! You know exactly what happened, don't you?
Rygel: (It's a very bad idea to annoy her when she's in this sort of mood. [Aeryn smashes some objects] See what I mean? If I were you, I'd tell her everything.
*John starts using Crichtonisms against Maldis*
Maldis: Have you forgotten? Fear makes me stronger. Fear and the terror of helplessness. These are a few of my favorite things.
John: Oh, could you do that farewell good-bye song the kids sing? It's one of my favorites.
*The boys explain Maldis’s backstory to Chiana*
Chiana: Who's that little man?
John: His name is Maldis. He's your basic evil vampire.
D’argo: He sucks the life force out of people.
John: He just plain sucks.
*Aeryn and Rygel get the frell out after destroying Kyvan and her ship*
Rygel: How did you know all that would happen?
Aeryn: I didn't.
Rygel: And you shot Kyvan anyway?
Aeryn: Crichton said I should follow Zhaan's instructions without question.
Rygel: Did he? Well, he didn't bother to tell me!
Aeryn: Of course not. When have you ever followed instructions?
*general “Farscape” reaction to any crew member’s plan :P*
John: [bewildered] That was your plan?
Zhaan: Yes. Like it?
John: Well, what's not to like?
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