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scifi_rewatchI’m struck, again, while listening to the ScapeCast how different my opinions are on certain characters. In this case Zhaan, the prime focus of the episode, which flashbacks before the beginning of season two to when she, Chiana and Rygel were searching for John, D’argo and Aeryn after the Gammak Base incident.
That being said, this is one of the worst episodes of “Farscape”; I might even name it as second worst after “Jeremiah Crichton.” Zhaan always gets the worst villains. Think back to Chiana, the focal point in the last eppy, who had to battle her own thieving proclivities as well as the scum that led her to. Zhaan just gets the one-dimensional mustache-twirlers like Maldis and now Ja Rhumann. (I miss the “Rhapsody in Blue” Delvians!) Litigara, with it’s most on-the-nose planet name ever, and it’s whole backstory, is just a big mess of lack of credibility, tied up with a desperate “we can’t think of a way out of this plot mess” ending. Aurgh.
Chiana and Rygel were desperately needed bright spots. And Zhaan, I think, wasn’t as off-kilter as the podcasters did. Maybe in the scene where she nearly chokes a guy. Or her relationship with the Aeryn hallucination—I pick that specifically because Zhaan historically trusts the Peacekeeper the least. But out of everyone on Moya’s crew, Zhaan is the one trying to keep the “family” together. So she’s stressed out and scared as the chances for survival for three crewmates fades, or when she’s incarcerated, bringing back all sorts of traumatic memories. As for her spirituality, I wonder sometimes if people hear “priest” and automatically assume said person is this ethereal source of self-confidence and clarity, rather than another schlub struggling to find faith and enlightenment. As someone who goes up and down every day with my own Jewish heritage, I have sympathy for our Delvian, and the fact that she doesn’t have it all figured out either.
Still, the fact that her renewed dedication to the Seek led to the beginning-of-the-season break from reality during a time of crisis seemed a bit far-fetched. And of course, watching that episode without seeing this one first, made the whole thing confusing and annoying. So yeah, I could’ve done without this entire clusterfuck, and found other ways to explore Zhaan’s spiritual crisis and maternal feelings towards the crew.
Episode summary is here, courtesy of the John and Aeryn Fansite.
I suppose there’s not much more to say other than to pick apart the horribleness of the Litigara plot. First off, how is it feasible that ten percent of the population could support 90? Assuming that someone needs to grow the food and clean the toilets while 90% of the population lawyers it up by—what, drafting contracts with off-worlders for grub and plummers? How do they have enough time to prosecute everyone on everything, including minor jay walking?
Secondly—the admirable CGI lends belief to the idea that Litigara is a highly technological place. More to the point, they’ve spent years expanding upon their laws (kinda like the Talmud and Midrash in Judaism, so that was cool,) and are highly dedicated to putting on a reasonable showing in the court room with no smoke, mirrors; just a shitload of textual evidence, I’m assuming, to justify whatever needs to be justified. Then why, oh why would they believe in a magical glowing stick to tell them the truth of things? And if they believed in magical, glowing stick, wouldn’t they just use it in all of their trials? It’s obvious that the writers thought up this “light of truth” crap, because they couldn’t conceive of any other way to get Zhaan off the hook. Laaaame.
I did love seeing Chiana and Rygel pull together in their own way to help Zhaan—some truly iconic lines about their inability to not lie, Chiana’s hilarious, hyper-drugged performance, and all of the dominar’s sardonic remarks. They really stepped it up, too, for such unreliable “children”! I even enjoyed Zhaan and the hallucinations, which were obviously there for her own mental health. I wish the show had expanded on all of this and left Litigara in the dust bin. (More of Pilot and Moya, and the tension between looking for John & co vs Talyn, perhaps.)
Do I care about Litigara’s social oppression of “The Utilities” at the end of the day? I’m more concerned with the fact that yet another group of aliens are obviously humans wearing paint. :P Come on, “Farscape,” I know you can’t splurge on a lot, but…really?? (And what was up with Zhaan and John trapped on a transport pod in present time? Much more intriguing question, yes.)
Finally, that courtroom looked a lot like the “Hunger Games” training room, just saying. :P Maybe this is where Lionsgate got it’s inspiration for the set design.
Favorite Crichtonism: Screw `em Zhaany! You're a 10th level Pa'u. You get to 11, we get a TV ministry.
Favorite Quotes:
*John starts off the on-the-nose episode*
John: Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you- Sweet dreams that leave your worries behind you- But in your dreams whatever they be- Dream a little dream of me.
*the John hallucination encourages Zhaan to face facts*
John: The chances that we'd survive, that you'd find us, were ten million to one. You knew that the moment you starburst away. You're just refusing to accept it. And now you must.
Zhaan: All this time since we escaped from the Peacekeepers, I drew my strength from you and the others. Now I will be incarcerated again - without you to help me. Oh John - I am so deeply alone. And afraid.
John: You're not alone. You have Rygel. And Chiana.
Zhaan: They're like children. How can I be responsible for them, and for Pilot, and for Moya and for myself? Not without you.
John: But it must be without us now.
*the lawyer is kinda funny after the murder charge*
Dersch: Well, the good news is you're no longer facing trial on the traffic violation.
*Chiana’s concept of lawyers is much more similar to Earth’s concept*
Chiana: You're a lawyer - Y'know - make something up!
Dersch: Do you know what would happen to me if I put on a bad face defense?
Chiana: You might win?
*Rygel reacts to a bad situation*
Chiana: If we put on a defense that includes falsehoods or, uh, or can in any way be construed as bad faith, then we share the same punishment as our client.
Rygel: You never told me that! How could you never tell me that? I thought we might even pull this off - but you and me, not lying? Are you mad?! GUARD! I DEMAND TO SEE THE JUDGE!
*the barkeep gives the most philosophically interesting interpretation of Litigara’s issues*
Bartender: As more and more people devoted themselves to The Law, The Law had to grow more complex to justify them all.
*the Aeryn hallucination encourages Zhaan to move past her guilt*
Aeryn: Why'd you leave us, Zhaan?
Zhaan: I didn't - leave you.
Aeryn: A few more microts and we all could have been aboard Moya, we all could have starburst to safety together.
Zhaan: You told me to go! If Moya had been captured, we would have all perished! I came back for you! I've been searching!
*Rygel’s reaction to Zhaan’s guilty plea as an attempt to save his and Chiana’s lives*
Rygel: We haven't lied yet. Of course, the trial's only been on for a few microts.
*later, he proves his point*
Rygel: I don't understand how you can call yourself an expert, when we know for a fact that the time of death couldn't be when you said because-
Chiana: You cannot - liiieee.
Rygel: -actually, my question goes to the cause of death. Would it shock you to know that we have experts of our own? Who are prepared to testify that- [dejected, after Chi swats him] No questions, Your Honor.
*perfect time for a farting helium joke*
Chiana: You little toad! You had to go fart helium now?
Rygel: I'm nervous! It happens. We're in court, so sue me!
*Chiana’s drug-addled episode*
Chiana: YesYourHonor! YesIhavequestionsforthewitnessIdo! OhohIdefinitelydo! OhIdefinitelydefinitelydo! DidIsayIdid? BecauseIdo! [to witness] You testified yesterday that Mr Zhaan the defendant, Mr Zhaan - Mr Zotoh Zhaan the woman standing right there - Right there! Do you see her because I see her - do you see her? Hm? She escaped during your shift - is that correct? Is it?
Guard: Yes Ma'am that's-
Chiana: Correct! And that you also stated that she escaped during a very short, very small, very minimal interval in which you and your guards, or you and your guard buddies were, were switching shifts, or changing shifts! Taking a leak, some going on, some going off... Okay! So if I were to-
Rygel: Your Honor, may I have a word with my co-counsel?
Judge: Please do.
*Chiana manipulates her latest man*
Chiana: Oh yeah - you've got blue eyes. You were out that night and so was the victim. Only you got burned, and he didn't. You became a city police officer how long ago? Oh - no no no! That's right, you told me last night - you've been in the force - what- 8, almost 9 cycles? And before that you said you worked in the private sector. Is that right? As a security officer. Am I right? For the law firm of Rhumann, Gwillian and Mandell. Is that right? The law firm of JA Rhumann?
*the bad guys twirl their mustaches*
Rhumann: You see, this is all about Utilities' rights, my dear. Utilities don't need any more rights.
Finzzi: They need - to work harder.
*the D’argo hallucination encourages Zhaan to rekindle her faith*
D’Argo: You seem to have gotten yourself into quite a fix without me.
Zhaan: Sweet D'Argo.
D’Argo: It's not the first time you've had to endure a cell like this. It's not the first time you've had to experience the sense of hopelessness. You survived it then. In fact, you flourished.
Zhaan: I had the Delvian Seek. My spiritual quest was the only thing that stopped my soul from shattering while imprisoned by the Peacekeepers. But I have set aside the Seek. Set aside my place as a Delvian Pa'u.
D’Argo: You've set them aside, yes, but you haven't abandoned them. Zhaan - Crichton, Aeryn and I - we-we can't help you anymore. Whether you survive this ordeal or face your execution tomorrow, from now on you must confront your demons alone.
*the tables start to turn…*
Pilot: Moya has chosen to give you a little more time.
Chiana: Thank you Pilot.
Pilot: Do not thank me. It's entirely her doing. Your comms were open all the while you were speaking with that man. That - Ja Rhumann. She could not leave you like that. Moya wants to know - I want to know - if you stay, will you be able to save Zhaan?
Rygel: I think I may have a way. It's chancy and will require lashings of deception and trickery.
Chiana: Finally. You and I get to play to our strengths.
___
That being said, this is one of the worst episodes of “Farscape”; I might even name it as second worst after “Jeremiah Crichton.” Zhaan always gets the worst villains. Think back to Chiana, the focal point in the last eppy, who had to battle her own thieving proclivities as well as the scum that led her to. Zhaan just gets the one-dimensional mustache-twirlers like Maldis and now Ja Rhumann. (I miss the “Rhapsody in Blue” Delvians!) Litigara, with it’s most on-the-nose planet name ever, and it’s whole backstory, is just a big mess of lack of credibility, tied up with a desperate “we can’t think of a way out of this plot mess” ending. Aurgh.
Chiana and Rygel were desperately needed bright spots. And Zhaan, I think, wasn’t as off-kilter as the podcasters did. Maybe in the scene where she nearly chokes a guy. Or her relationship with the Aeryn hallucination—I pick that specifically because Zhaan historically trusts the Peacekeeper the least. But out of everyone on Moya’s crew, Zhaan is the one trying to keep the “family” together. So she’s stressed out and scared as the chances for survival for three crewmates fades, or when she’s incarcerated, bringing back all sorts of traumatic memories. As for her spirituality, I wonder sometimes if people hear “priest” and automatically assume said person is this ethereal source of self-confidence and clarity, rather than another schlub struggling to find faith and enlightenment. As someone who goes up and down every day with my own Jewish heritage, I have sympathy for our Delvian, and the fact that she doesn’t have it all figured out either.
Still, the fact that her renewed dedication to the Seek led to the beginning-of-the-season break from reality during a time of crisis seemed a bit far-fetched. And of course, watching that episode without seeing this one first, made the whole thing confusing and annoying. So yeah, I could’ve done without this entire clusterfuck, and found other ways to explore Zhaan’s spiritual crisis and maternal feelings towards the crew.
Episode summary is here, courtesy of the John and Aeryn Fansite.
I suppose there’s not much more to say other than to pick apart the horribleness of the Litigara plot. First off, how is it feasible that ten percent of the population could support 90? Assuming that someone needs to grow the food and clean the toilets while 90% of the population lawyers it up by—what, drafting contracts with off-worlders for grub and plummers? How do they have enough time to prosecute everyone on everything, including minor jay walking?
Secondly—the admirable CGI lends belief to the idea that Litigara is a highly technological place. More to the point, they’ve spent years expanding upon their laws (kinda like the Talmud and Midrash in Judaism, so that was cool,) and are highly dedicated to putting on a reasonable showing in the court room with no smoke, mirrors; just a shitload of textual evidence, I’m assuming, to justify whatever needs to be justified. Then why, oh why would they believe in a magical glowing stick to tell them the truth of things? And if they believed in magical, glowing stick, wouldn’t they just use it in all of their trials? It’s obvious that the writers thought up this “light of truth” crap, because they couldn’t conceive of any other way to get Zhaan off the hook. Laaaame.
I did love seeing Chiana and Rygel pull together in their own way to help Zhaan—some truly iconic lines about their inability to not lie, Chiana’s hilarious, hyper-drugged performance, and all of the dominar’s sardonic remarks. They really stepped it up, too, for such unreliable “children”! I even enjoyed Zhaan and the hallucinations, which were obviously there for her own mental health. I wish the show had expanded on all of this and left Litigara in the dust bin. (More of Pilot and Moya, and the tension between looking for John & co vs Talyn, perhaps.)
Do I care about Litigara’s social oppression of “The Utilities” at the end of the day? I’m more concerned with the fact that yet another group of aliens are obviously humans wearing paint. :P Come on, “Farscape,” I know you can’t splurge on a lot, but…really?? (And what was up with Zhaan and John trapped on a transport pod in present time? Much more intriguing question, yes.)
Finally, that courtroom looked a lot like the “Hunger Games” training room, just saying. :P Maybe this is where Lionsgate got it’s inspiration for the set design.
Favorite Crichtonism: Screw `em Zhaany! You're a 10th level Pa'u. You get to 11, we get a TV ministry.
Favorite Quotes:
*John starts off the on-the-nose episode*
John: Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you- Sweet dreams that leave your worries behind you- But in your dreams whatever they be- Dream a little dream of me.
*the John hallucination encourages Zhaan to face facts*
John: The chances that we'd survive, that you'd find us, were ten million to one. You knew that the moment you starburst away. You're just refusing to accept it. And now you must.
Zhaan: All this time since we escaped from the Peacekeepers, I drew my strength from you and the others. Now I will be incarcerated again - without you to help me. Oh John - I am so deeply alone. And afraid.
John: You're not alone. You have Rygel. And Chiana.
Zhaan: They're like children. How can I be responsible for them, and for Pilot, and for Moya and for myself? Not without you.
John: But it must be without us now.
*the lawyer is kinda funny after the murder charge*
Dersch: Well, the good news is you're no longer facing trial on the traffic violation.
*Chiana’s concept of lawyers is much more similar to Earth’s concept*
Chiana: You're a lawyer - Y'know - make something up!
Dersch: Do you know what would happen to me if I put on a bad face defense?
Chiana: You might win?
*Rygel reacts to a bad situation*
Chiana: If we put on a defense that includes falsehoods or, uh, or can in any way be construed as bad faith, then we share the same punishment as our client.
Rygel: You never told me that! How could you never tell me that? I thought we might even pull this off - but you and me, not lying? Are you mad?! GUARD! I DEMAND TO SEE THE JUDGE!
*the barkeep gives the most philosophically interesting interpretation of Litigara’s issues*
Bartender: As more and more people devoted themselves to The Law, The Law had to grow more complex to justify them all.
*the Aeryn hallucination encourages Zhaan to move past her guilt*
Aeryn: Why'd you leave us, Zhaan?
Zhaan: I didn't - leave you.
Aeryn: A few more microts and we all could have been aboard Moya, we all could have starburst to safety together.
Zhaan: You told me to go! If Moya had been captured, we would have all perished! I came back for you! I've been searching!
*Rygel’s reaction to Zhaan’s guilty plea as an attempt to save his and Chiana’s lives*
Rygel: We haven't lied yet. Of course, the trial's only been on for a few microts.
*later, he proves his point*
Rygel: I don't understand how you can call yourself an expert, when we know for a fact that the time of death couldn't be when you said because-
Chiana: You cannot - liiieee.
Rygel: -actually, my question goes to the cause of death. Would it shock you to know that we have experts of our own? Who are prepared to testify that- [dejected, after Chi swats him] No questions, Your Honor.
*perfect time for a farting helium joke*
Chiana: You little toad! You had to go fart helium now?
Rygel: I'm nervous! It happens. We're in court, so sue me!
*Chiana’s drug-addled episode*
Chiana: YesYourHonor! YesIhavequestionsforthewitnessIdo! OhohIdefinitelydo! OhIdefinitelydefinitelydo! DidIsayIdid? BecauseIdo! [to witness] You testified yesterday that Mr Zhaan the defendant, Mr Zhaan - Mr Zotoh Zhaan the woman standing right there - Right there! Do you see her because I see her - do you see her? Hm? She escaped during your shift - is that correct? Is it?
Guard: Yes Ma'am that's-
Chiana: Correct! And that you also stated that she escaped during a very short, very small, very minimal interval in which you and your guards, or you and your guard buddies were, were switching shifts, or changing shifts! Taking a leak, some going on, some going off... Okay! So if I were to-
Rygel: Your Honor, may I have a word with my co-counsel?
Judge: Please do.
*Chiana manipulates her latest man*
Chiana: Oh yeah - you've got blue eyes. You were out that night and so was the victim. Only you got burned, and he didn't. You became a city police officer how long ago? Oh - no no no! That's right, you told me last night - you've been in the force - what- 8, almost 9 cycles? And before that you said you worked in the private sector. Is that right? As a security officer. Am I right? For the law firm of Rhumann, Gwillian and Mandell. Is that right? The law firm of JA Rhumann?
*the bad guys twirl their mustaches*
Rhumann: You see, this is all about Utilities' rights, my dear. Utilities don't need any more rights.
Finzzi: They need - to work harder.
*the D’argo hallucination encourages Zhaan to rekindle her faith*
D’Argo: You seem to have gotten yourself into quite a fix without me.
Zhaan: Sweet D'Argo.
D’Argo: It's not the first time you've had to endure a cell like this. It's not the first time you've had to experience the sense of hopelessness. You survived it then. In fact, you flourished.
Zhaan: I had the Delvian Seek. My spiritual quest was the only thing that stopped my soul from shattering while imprisoned by the Peacekeepers. But I have set aside the Seek. Set aside my place as a Delvian Pa'u.
D’Argo: You've set them aside, yes, but you haven't abandoned them. Zhaan - Crichton, Aeryn and I - we-we can't help you anymore. Whether you survive this ordeal or face your execution tomorrow, from now on you must confront your demons alone.
*the tables start to turn…*
Pilot: Moya has chosen to give you a little more time.
Chiana: Thank you Pilot.
Pilot: Do not thank me. It's entirely her doing. Your comms were open all the while you were speaking with that man. That - Ja Rhumann. She could not leave you like that. Moya wants to know - I want to know - if you stay, will you be able to save Zhaan?
Rygel: I think I may have a way. It's chancy and will require lashings of deception and trickery.
Chiana: Finally. You and I get to play to our strengths.
___
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