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scifi_rewatchWow, this episode. Part two of a trilogy usually gets a bad rap, but even if you hated the rest of it…gah, that ending!
And how could you hate this episode? So much going on—plot resolution, plot drama, a little bit of plot comedy with money and sex, most characters being pushed in intriguing directions. And perhaps most impressively, a lot of callbacks to supposedly episodic incidents. This was kind of “Farscape”’s movie reel for which aliens we’ve met in the Uncharted Territories, except that they compiled it into this compelling new story arc. Everything felt authentic and earned.
But gah…that ending! :P After listening to the Scaper Chronicles, it seems official that it’s torture for the fandom to end on that “to be continued” note and not immediately go to the finale. Luckily, in most cases today, we don’t have to. But for the moment, let’s dive into this particular episode.
Episode summary is here, courtesy of the John and Aeryn Fansite.
So…John and the wormhole chip plot. Scorpius is not dead, surprise surprise. But I appreciate the teaser drama of him (or Natira, morelike) swooping in on Jothee’s container and giving the Moya crew an ultimatum. For John, this means immediate feelings of guilt. He devises a plan, of course—more on that later. He also initiates conversation with the Scorpy chip (Harvey, from “Won’t Be Fooled Again,”) for the first time. Up in the air about how he can do this—because he’s human and not sebacean? Or because of all of his subconscious chats and Scorpy confirming his existence? Doesn’t really matter in the scheme of things. The chess match is on between these two components—John trying to be confident about knowing his antagonist’s intentions, and Harvey countering with subtle fear tactics. Ben Browder and Wayne Pygram have such chemistry. Anywho, the long short of it is that on “Farscape,” the best laid plans are often ruined by reality, and John finds himself at an impasse. The final scene of the episode is John admitting defeat—he also wants this damn chip out—and Scorpy declaring his checkmate with “as if there was ever any doubt.” GUH. The music, and that exhausted look on Ben Browder’s face! This is one of the greats.
Elsewhere, D’argo is going through some of his own drama. I liked the inclusion of the Jothee guilt device, though apparently some folks on the Scaper Chronicles were put off my two characters having hallucinations. :P In D’argo’s case, I think it’s a bit more of a temporary, internal guilt fix—he was so close to getting his son back, and how he has this terrible predicament—friend vs blood. Not to mention that there’s a lot of other unresolved issues that he sort of teases with Aeryn earlier—that he hadn’t seen his son since his wife was murdered by her brother. This brings up the Peacekeeper xenophobic hatred of “half breeds,” which also complicates Scorpius’s story, certainly. I really enjoyed Scorpy and Jothee’s brief talk, where they promised complications for D’argo’s son as well—maybe he feels betrayed by both sides of his heritage. Gah, I was thrilled when he came on board Moya, not only for the resolution of the “find my son” plot, or the look on Claudia’s face when Aeryn pieced together what happened to John (amazeballs,) but because of the promise of new character dynamics.
Chiana spends a fair bit of time being a comfort to her Luxan boyfriend, but I also appreciate that she’s part of the comic relief—not just for the levity, but as a reminder that her character is more than just a helpmate for D’argo. She also has her own agenda, and her own flaws. Insofar as trying to steal a little bit off the top is a flaw. :P At least when the money turns into ship-eating bugs, she has the decency to be horrified out of concern for others—unlike Rygel, who is just upset to be poor again. :P (She also gets some goo to the face when taking down a bug on Zhaan’s orders…there’s our “Farscape” gross-out, hee.)
But Rygel, too, gets a little more meaty action this episode, as he confronts the most built up of the guest characters—Durka! Durka has traveling with the Zenetian pilots from “The Flax,” also a device that John hopes to use in his heist. I have to say, I’m ok with Durka being introduced just to be killed off immediately; we saw enough of that relationship in season one for this to be the only conclusion. I’m not usually into “badass” behavior, but sheesh, seeing poor Ryg so terrorized by this madman, and now given the chance to take his head off (and later use it as a scare tactic with the other mercenaries)…well, couldn’t help but give him a little fistpump. :P Good grief, this episode was amazing for the “muppets,” first with Rygel’s storyline and then with Pilot, suffering along with Moya as she burned. :/ I’m with the ScapeCast on this one; there was no point in this episode where these creatures didn’t feel “real.” Hell, even Moya felt real, at least abstractly, as John and Aeryn wandered her burnt corridors, talking about her pain. It’s a true testament to the character and story development of this show for the last two seasons; they will never be muppets, set design or CGI to me.
Let’s take a deeper look at John’s Ocean 11esque plan, where not only did Rygel go after the Zenetian pirates, but our human, Aeryn and D’argo tracked down season one aliens as well—Bikesh, the Tavlek with the drugged up arm gauntlet, a firebreathing Sheyang, and the Vocarian blood trackers from “Til the Blood Runs Clear.” These mercenaries are meant to be paid with the stolen money that was supposed to go to the slavers, though the ramification of that money no longer being money will come into play more next episode. For now, D’argo tracks down the trackers who tortured him, Aeryn tracks down a Sheyang similar to the one she dealt with in “PK Tech Girl” and John goes after Bikesh. I really appreciate that these guest characters were given specific traits—the Sheyang, the victim of an attack, is weak but feels the need to prove himself; the blood trackers are on the run after a half-finished job, but the fact that the female is pregnant kind of makes them sympathetic to D’argo (and the money he’s offering) and then there’s Bikesh, who has found religion and is trying to live without the gauntlet. Perhaps most disturbingly of all is our boy John, who feels little guilt about bullying this former addict onto his drug of choice. Granted, the situation is dire for the Moya crew, but still. It’s a level of darkness that our human might not have been capable of a year ago. But anyway, for some levity, we have Scorpius and Natira engaging in growly, tentackly sex. :P I especially love how, right afterwards, Natira casually admits to trying to infest Scorpy’s ship with the ingot bugs; “you wouldn’t have respected me otherwise.” Talk about badass.
Finally, let us return to the ingot bug plot. Most of the crew is busy with Chrichton’s 11 when the situation is found out, but it really makes sense that this should be Zhaan’s department. Hearkening back for more continuity, we are reminded of the Princess trilogy when the builders basically made Zhaan Moya’s spiritual advisor. As a character, this was really Zhaan’s time to shine. Not shunted to the side for photogasms or prayer, we stick with her as she painstakingly looks for another option rather than burning down part of Moya; it’s a null. Meanwhile, she has to deal with Rygel being Rygel and Stark being Stark—he had a tough episode, too, after, Obi-Wan style, feeling the deaths of the Bannik slaves, and then attempting to throw Scorpy off the scent with a frantic “kill Jothee!” breakdown. Zhaan and Chiana didn’t take too well to that. :P Poor Zhaan’s work wasn’t finished, though; she offered to try and take Moya and Pilot’s pain; we heard her screaming a bit, then Chiana took exhausted Pilot’s hand afterwards. I admit; I was feklempt. But really, nothing beats Zhaan’s defeated, guilty look as she sat in her burnt out quarters, knowing that she caused the devastation. This whole episode is all about making cruel or painful choices for the right reasons. It’s the earned, emotional impact that has me coming back to this show with fresh feels years later. Excellent job, and we still have one installment of this trilogy left!
Favorite Crichtonism: *to Bikesh* You know, flossing could help you with that gingivitis.
Favorite Quotes:
*Rygel mocks Chiana’s sexuality*
Rygel: Hah! Every time I think that there's more to you than a pair of pushed up loomas in a corset - you disappoint me!
*Jothee and Peacekeeper xenophobia backstory*
D’argo: Last time I saw my son was the night my wife was murdered. I sent him away to be safe and - he ends up a slave.
Aeryn: And if you hadn't, he'd be dead by now D'Argo. Peacekeepers despise half-breeds.
D’argo: All those vital cycles growing up without me there... I almost hope he doesn't remember me.
Aeryn: All he'll care about is that you came back for him.
*Scorpy’s ultimatum*
Scorpius: John -- As recordings are so - sadly impersonal. I'll have to imagine what your face looks like now. Etched with failure, I expect. I have Ka D’Argo’s son. Surrender to me, or the boy dies.
*D’argo uses a hallucination of Jothee as guilt, then turns to Chiana*
Jothee: You're pathetic! You keep talking about how much I mean to you. How you'd do anything to get me back. But when it comes down to it - you fail me again! Like you always do!
D’argo: I did everything I could.
Jothee: Liar! You know what you have to do.
D’argo: I can't.
Jothee: No - you won't. Who means more to you?
Chiana: D'Argo? Hey - I - heard what happened.
D’argo: You don't understand. I, ah - I was prepared to give Scorpius what he wanted.
Chiana: What?
D’argo: On the Command - for a microt - I was ready to take Crichton by force and deliver him to Scorpius. It was all I could do to stop myself.
Chiana: Crichton is your friend.
D’argo: Jothee is my blood. My child. All I have left of my wife. Now why - is that not enough?
*backstory on why Stark was on the Gammack base*
Scorpius: Tell me - were there any Stykera amongst the other Banik slaves?
Akkor: Not according to the manifest.
Scorpius: Well. That's a pity. I could have used a replacement for the one that escaped my Gammak Base.
*John has a plan!*
Aeryn: How's D'Argo?
John: Not good. He blames me for losing Jothee - could be right. So, I've come up with a plan.
Aeryn: Oh there's a surprise.
John: The slaver said that Jothee’s lot shipped out on a freighter.
Aeryn: Right. Even if we can find it, we could never intercept it!
John: Aeryn, no - The point is, is that Jothee's still in transit. He won't get to the depository for a couple of solar days.
Aeryn: How can you be sure he's going to the depository?
John: I know - how Scorpy thinks. He doesn't have Jothee. Which means we still have time. We can beat him.
Aeryn: Forever the optimist.
John: Yeah well. It's a common human trait! *under his breath* In humans with a death wish.
*callback to season one*
John: 3 - We need a Tavloid-
Rygel & D’argo: "TavLEK"
*Stark’s Obi-Wan moment*
Zhaan: Stark! What's wrong? What's wrong?
Stark: Gone... Dead! All dead. All dead. I failed them.
Aeryn: What are you talking about?
Zhaan: The Baniks - they're gone. He's a Stykera. He's - he's attuned to the dying. He knows.
*selfless John initiates his first chat with Harvey*
John: Zhaan, we've got 1 solar day - 2, tops. If I'm not back by then, tell Scorpius where I went. He'll trade that for Jothee.
Zhaan: Understood John. May the Goddess be with you all
John: Okay Leatherface. Your turn.
Harvey: You never cease to amaze me John.
John: Man that's "Texas Chainsaw Massacre"! That's a classic!
Harvey: You weren't supposed to be able to initiate a conversation with this neural clone.
John: Yeah, kind of sucks having someone inside your head. Doesn't it?
Harvey: No matter. The task is almost complete. It wasn't easy. There are vast regions of your brain that are filled with nothing but - gibberish.
John: That would be high school. Like it or not Scorpy - I know how you think. We're sharing now. And that's how I'm going to beat you.
Harvey: Perhaps you only believe that, because that is what we want you to think.
*Natira gives backstory, proves her worth*
Braca: Sir. I'll inform you the moment the boy arrives.
Natira: Calm down. You'll have an accident.
Scorpius: My coolant system has advanced considerably since the original surgery.
Natira: Mm. Not enough to prevent this Crichton from almost killing you. Why do you want him so badly?
Scorpius: He destroyed my Gammak Base.
Natira: Revenge? He's not a Scarran. You wouldn't waste your hatred on anything else.
Scorpius: This is why I can't have you around. You know me too well.
Natira: Without me, you'd still be the same angry hotheaded young creature I took in so many cycles ago.
Scorpius: Without me - your head - among other things - would be a trophy on the wall at Peacekeeper Command.
Natira: See? We were made for each other. *growly kiss*
*Rygel and Chiana set to thievery*
Rygel: OOOh! Checking on our treasure? Or are you helping yourself?
Chiana: The way I see it? Beating you to it!
Rygel: How dare you! I -- hm - 50/50?
Chiana: All right. But just enough so no one notices. Yeah. It's always nice to have a little something tucked away when all hezmana breaks loose. *opens crate* Empty!
Rygel: What the frell-? It's gone!
Chiana: Someone's beaten us to it!
Rygel: But who? Crichton's too --honorable.
Chiana: Aeryn's too dull.
Rygel: D'Argo's too - ah-
Chiana: Say it.
Rygel: Simple?
Chiana: Well yeah, but he's not a thief!
Rygel: Somebody is! We've been robbed!
*Rygel’s priorities always remain the same*
Chiana: They looked like our money! OUR MONEY'S ALIVE!
Rygel: You realize what this means?
Chiana: They're eating the ship!
Rygel: Yes but - we're poor.
*Aeryn bored response to the weakened Sheyang fireball*
Aeryn: I’ve seen bigger.
*Jothee and Scorpius talk amidst social commentary*
Akkor: A Luxan-Sebacean hybrid?
Braca: Despite Peacekeeper Command efforts to keep the bloodlines pure, there seems to be a few more of them every cycle.
Scorpius: Have you got something against hybrids? Hm?
Braca: No! Of course not sir. Not at all.
Scorpius: Ka Jothee, is it?
Jothee: What the frell are you? Some kind of mutant?
Natira: His mother was a Sebacean. She was raped by a Scarran. Did the Luxan rape your mother too?
Jothee: No.
Scorpius: Your father abandoned you to a life of slavery. Is it his lineage you hate the most?
Jothee: My mother was murdered by her brother. Does that answer your question?
Scorpius: So you - hate Luxans and Sebaceans equally. How very interesting.
Jothee: You bought 10,000 slaves, just to get me. What do you want?
Scorpius: From you, nothing. But your father- would give me something I want very much. Pray to your Luxan mystics that he loves you still.
*D’argo wins the trackers over*
D’argo: You are a good torturer. Are you as good at tracking?
Rorf: Show him.
Rorg: It would be easy to overlook the scent of Hynerian and Delvian beneath the musk of Nebari on you.
D’argo: Will you help me?
Rorf: No. We-
Rorg: Yes! You saved our lives. We are obligated.
Rorf: I will not desert you!
Rorg: The Peacekeeper hunters are dead. There are caves nearby. I will be safe there to give birth. Our children will live. Because of him. If we can help restore his child, we must! And - we could use the currency.
*Stark takes a shocking gamble with Scorpius*
Stark: Speak to me.
Scorpius: Stark.
Stark: Yes. Your favorite food for the Aurora Chair. You murdered my people Scorpius. Thousands of Baniks as if they were nothing. And all for one boy! Well go ahead and kill Jothee if you want, because he means NOTHING to me! You're not getting Crichton!!
*Natira has a strange winning streak*
Scorpius: You intended - to destroy my Marauder. Kill my crew. Killing - me.
Natira: Yes. You wouldn’t have respected me otherwise.
Scorpius: How commendable. Very fortunate I was robbed.
Natira: Mm.
*dark John goads a recovering drug addict*
John: Hey Bikesh buddy - how ya feelin’? You’re lookin’ kinda crappy. You know - that gauntlet would fix you right up. Where is it?
Bikesh: I can’t tell you! The Writ of Taru says allowing another to inflict harm is an act of violence itself! I’m trying to make up for the things I’ve done!
*Pilot and Zhaan’s emotional confrontation*
Zhaan: Pilot, I think I’ve found a solution. I want to flood Mayas affected areas with adrexan vapor. After she has absorbed it into her body, you - you’ll be able to ignite it electrically.
Pilot: IGNITE?
Zhaan: Waves of heat will course through her body, then flames. The creatures will be destroyed.
Pilot: You’d BURN Moya?
Zhaan: To save her.
Pilot: NO! There must be another way!
Zhaan: I haven’t given up hope of trying to fine one. And I won’t! But if we run out of time Pilot - you must believe me. This may be Maya’s last hope.
Pilot: The Builders put our fates in your care Zhaan. Whatever you decide, we will - abide by it.
*Rygel’s gristly revenge on the Zenetian pirate ship*
Rygel: So your, ah - Flax net - will simply be used to ensure our escape. There is little risk and uh, great reward for your participation.
Durka: An interesting proposal. When the ship you abandoned me in -- was snared in the Zenetans net. They were little more than a disorganized gang of petty cutthroats. Under my direction, I have turned them, and the Flax, into a tool for power and profit.
Rygel: Is that a yes? Or a no? *grabs Rygel by the throat* We had a truce!
Durka: When I am finished with you - Dominar - death himself will pray for you!
Rygel: Hm. I thought you might say something like that. *whips out pronged cable and electrocutes Durka*
Zelkin: I liked your proposal.
*Zhaan, the self-sacrificer with continuity powers*
Zhaan: Pilot I will take as much of yours and Maya’s pain as I can.
Pilot: No! It will overwhelm you!
Zhaan: I will take that chance.
*foreshadowing John/Aeryn moment*
Aeryn: Moya’s in so much pain, she can’t even starburst.
John: Will she heal?
Aeryn: Pilot’s not sure.
John: Our money did this?
Aeryn: We did this. And since we have nothing to pay the mercenaries - do you think they are going to want to help us? Scorpius is going to kill Jothee.
John: No he won’t.
*Rygel and Chiana restore order among the mercenaries*
Chiana: You are being paid to work together!
Rygel: That’s right. *throws out Durka’s severed head* And that’s what we do to people who don’t.
Chiana: Good work, Ryg.
Rygel: You’re here to do a job. Start acting like professionals.
*the “find my son” plot is over, as Jothee comes to Moya*
Jothee: Father?
D’argo: Jothee. JOTHEE! IT’S YOU! IT’S REALLY YOU!
Jothee: Father! You’re choking me! *massive hugs*
D’argo: Everything you’ve been through - So many cycles… I’m sorry
Jothee: Not your fault.
D’argo: I never stopped thinking about you… Trying to find you… I almost lost hope.
Jothee: I didn’t. I knew you would come for me.
D’argo: My son.
*Scorpy/John checkmate*
Scorpius: Hello, John.
John: You want the wormhole technology? I want your implant out of my head. So, finally, the rift between us is not so great. You do what you got to do. You win.
Scorpius: As if there was ever any doubt.
___
And how could you hate this episode? So much going on—plot resolution, plot drama, a little bit of plot comedy with money and sex, most characters being pushed in intriguing directions. And perhaps most impressively, a lot of callbacks to supposedly episodic incidents. This was kind of “Farscape”’s movie reel for which aliens we’ve met in the Uncharted Territories, except that they compiled it into this compelling new story arc. Everything felt authentic and earned.
But gah…that ending! :P After listening to the Scaper Chronicles, it seems official that it’s torture for the fandom to end on that “to be continued” note and not immediately go to the finale. Luckily, in most cases today, we don’t have to. But for the moment, let’s dive into this particular episode.
Episode summary is here, courtesy of the John and Aeryn Fansite.
So…John and the wormhole chip plot. Scorpius is not dead, surprise surprise. But I appreciate the teaser drama of him (or Natira, morelike) swooping in on Jothee’s container and giving the Moya crew an ultimatum. For John, this means immediate feelings of guilt. He devises a plan, of course—more on that later. He also initiates conversation with the Scorpy chip (Harvey, from “Won’t Be Fooled Again,”) for the first time. Up in the air about how he can do this—because he’s human and not sebacean? Or because of all of his subconscious chats and Scorpy confirming his existence? Doesn’t really matter in the scheme of things. The chess match is on between these two components—John trying to be confident about knowing his antagonist’s intentions, and Harvey countering with subtle fear tactics. Ben Browder and Wayne Pygram have such chemistry. Anywho, the long short of it is that on “Farscape,” the best laid plans are often ruined by reality, and John finds himself at an impasse. The final scene of the episode is John admitting defeat—he also wants this damn chip out—and Scorpy declaring his checkmate with “as if there was ever any doubt.” GUH. The music, and that exhausted look on Ben Browder’s face! This is one of the greats.
Elsewhere, D’argo is going through some of his own drama. I liked the inclusion of the Jothee guilt device, though apparently some folks on the Scaper Chronicles were put off my two characters having hallucinations. :P In D’argo’s case, I think it’s a bit more of a temporary, internal guilt fix—he was so close to getting his son back, and how he has this terrible predicament—friend vs blood. Not to mention that there’s a lot of other unresolved issues that he sort of teases with Aeryn earlier—that he hadn’t seen his son since his wife was murdered by her brother. This brings up the Peacekeeper xenophobic hatred of “half breeds,” which also complicates Scorpius’s story, certainly. I really enjoyed Scorpy and Jothee’s brief talk, where they promised complications for D’argo’s son as well—maybe he feels betrayed by both sides of his heritage. Gah, I was thrilled when he came on board Moya, not only for the resolution of the “find my son” plot, or the look on Claudia’s face when Aeryn pieced together what happened to John (amazeballs,) but because of the promise of new character dynamics.
Chiana spends a fair bit of time being a comfort to her Luxan boyfriend, but I also appreciate that she’s part of the comic relief—not just for the levity, but as a reminder that her character is more than just a helpmate for D’argo. She also has her own agenda, and her own flaws. Insofar as trying to steal a little bit off the top is a flaw. :P At least when the money turns into ship-eating bugs, she has the decency to be horrified out of concern for others—unlike Rygel, who is just upset to be poor again. :P (She also gets some goo to the face when taking down a bug on Zhaan’s orders…there’s our “Farscape” gross-out, hee.)
But Rygel, too, gets a little more meaty action this episode, as he confronts the most built up of the guest characters—Durka! Durka has traveling with the Zenetian pilots from “The Flax,” also a device that John hopes to use in his heist. I have to say, I’m ok with Durka being introduced just to be killed off immediately; we saw enough of that relationship in season one for this to be the only conclusion. I’m not usually into “badass” behavior, but sheesh, seeing poor Ryg so terrorized by this madman, and now given the chance to take his head off (and later use it as a scare tactic with the other mercenaries)…well, couldn’t help but give him a little fistpump. :P Good grief, this episode was amazing for the “muppets,” first with Rygel’s storyline and then with Pilot, suffering along with Moya as she burned. :/ I’m with the ScapeCast on this one; there was no point in this episode where these creatures didn’t feel “real.” Hell, even Moya felt real, at least abstractly, as John and Aeryn wandered her burnt corridors, talking about her pain. It’s a true testament to the character and story development of this show for the last two seasons; they will never be muppets, set design or CGI to me.
Let’s take a deeper look at John’s Ocean 11esque plan, where not only did Rygel go after the Zenetian pirates, but our human, Aeryn and D’argo tracked down season one aliens as well—Bikesh, the Tavlek with the drugged up arm gauntlet, a firebreathing Sheyang, and the Vocarian blood trackers from “Til the Blood Runs Clear.” These mercenaries are meant to be paid with the stolen money that was supposed to go to the slavers, though the ramification of that money no longer being money will come into play more next episode. For now, D’argo tracks down the trackers who tortured him, Aeryn tracks down a Sheyang similar to the one she dealt with in “PK Tech Girl” and John goes after Bikesh. I really appreciate that these guest characters were given specific traits—the Sheyang, the victim of an attack, is weak but feels the need to prove himself; the blood trackers are on the run after a half-finished job, but the fact that the female is pregnant kind of makes them sympathetic to D’argo (and the money he’s offering) and then there’s Bikesh, who has found religion and is trying to live without the gauntlet. Perhaps most disturbingly of all is our boy John, who feels little guilt about bullying this former addict onto his drug of choice. Granted, the situation is dire for the Moya crew, but still. It’s a level of darkness that our human might not have been capable of a year ago. But anyway, for some levity, we have Scorpius and Natira engaging in growly, tentackly sex. :P I especially love how, right afterwards, Natira casually admits to trying to infest Scorpy’s ship with the ingot bugs; “you wouldn’t have respected me otherwise.” Talk about badass.
Finally, let us return to the ingot bug plot. Most of the crew is busy with Chrichton’s 11 when the situation is found out, but it really makes sense that this should be Zhaan’s department. Hearkening back for more continuity, we are reminded of the Princess trilogy when the builders basically made Zhaan Moya’s spiritual advisor. As a character, this was really Zhaan’s time to shine. Not shunted to the side for photogasms or prayer, we stick with her as she painstakingly looks for another option rather than burning down part of Moya; it’s a null. Meanwhile, she has to deal with Rygel being Rygel and Stark being Stark—he had a tough episode, too, after, Obi-Wan style, feeling the deaths of the Bannik slaves, and then attempting to throw Scorpy off the scent with a frantic “kill Jothee!” breakdown. Zhaan and Chiana didn’t take too well to that. :P Poor Zhaan’s work wasn’t finished, though; she offered to try and take Moya and Pilot’s pain; we heard her screaming a bit, then Chiana took exhausted Pilot’s hand afterwards. I admit; I was feklempt. But really, nothing beats Zhaan’s defeated, guilty look as she sat in her burnt out quarters, knowing that she caused the devastation. This whole episode is all about making cruel or painful choices for the right reasons. It’s the earned, emotional impact that has me coming back to this show with fresh feels years later. Excellent job, and we still have one installment of this trilogy left!
Favorite Crichtonism: *to Bikesh* You know, flossing could help you with that gingivitis.
Favorite Quotes:
*Rygel mocks Chiana’s sexuality*
Rygel: Hah! Every time I think that there's more to you than a pair of pushed up loomas in a corset - you disappoint me!
*Jothee and Peacekeeper xenophobia backstory*
D’argo: Last time I saw my son was the night my wife was murdered. I sent him away to be safe and - he ends up a slave.
Aeryn: And if you hadn't, he'd be dead by now D'Argo. Peacekeepers despise half-breeds.
D’argo: All those vital cycles growing up without me there... I almost hope he doesn't remember me.
Aeryn: All he'll care about is that you came back for him.
*Scorpy’s ultimatum*
Scorpius: John -- As recordings are so - sadly impersonal. I'll have to imagine what your face looks like now. Etched with failure, I expect. I have Ka D’Argo’s son. Surrender to me, or the boy dies.
*D’argo uses a hallucination of Jothee as guilt, then turns to Chiana*
Jothee: You're pathetic! You keep talking about how much I mean to you. How you'd do anything to get me back. But when it comes down to it - you fail me again! Like you always do!
D’argo: I did everything I could.
Jothee: Liar! You know what you have to do.
D’argo: I can't.
Jothee: No - you won't. Who means more to you?
Chiana: D'Argo? Hey - I - heard what happened.
D’argo: You don't understand. I, ah - I was prepared to give Scorpius what he wanted.
Chiana: What?
D’argo: On the Command - for a microt - I was ready to take Crichton by force and deliver him to Scorpius. It was all I could do to stop myself.
Chiana: Crichton is your friend.
D’argo: Jothee is my blood. My child. All I have left of my wife. Now why - is that not enough?
*backstory on why Stark was on the Gammack base*
Scorpius: Tell me - were there any Stykera amongst the other Banik slaves?
Akkor: Not according to the manifest.
Scorpius: Well. That's a pity. I could have used a replacement for the one that escaped my Gammak Base.
*John has a plan!*
Aeryn: How's D'Argo?
John: Not good. He blames me for losing Jothee - could be right. So, I've come up with a plan.
Aeryn: Oh there's a surprise.
John: The slaver said that Jothee’s lot shipped out on a freighter.
Aeryn: Right. Even if we can find it, we could never intercept it!
John: Aeryn, no - The point is, is that Jothee's still in transit. He won't get to the depository for a couple of solar days.
Aeryn: How can you be sure he's going to the depository?
John: I know - how Scorpy thinks. He doesn't have Jothee. Which means we still have time. We can beat him.
Aeryn: Forever the optimist.
John: Yeah well. It's a common human trait! *under his breath* In humans with a death wish.
*callback to season one*
John: 3 - We need a Tavloid-
Rygel & D’argo: "TavLEK"
*Stark’s Obi-Wan moment*
Zhaan: Stark! What's wrong? What's wrong?
Stark: Gone... Dead! All dead. All dead. I failed them.
Aeryn: What are you talking about?
Zhaan: The Baniks - they're gone. He's a Stykera. He's - he's attuned to the dying. He knows.
*selfless John initiates his first chat with Harvey*
John: Zhaan, we've got 1 solar day - 2, tops. If I'm not back by then, tell Scorpius where I went. He'll trade that for Jothee.
Zhaan: Understood John. May the Goddess be with you all
John: Okay Leatherface. Your turn.
Harvey: You never cease to amaze me John.
John: Man that's "Texas Chainsaw Massacre"! That's a classic!
Harvey: You weren't supposed to be able to initiate a conversation with this neural clone.
John: Yeah, kind of sucks having someone inside your head. Doesn't it?
Harvey: No matter. The task is almost complete. It wasn't easy. There are vast regions of your brain that are filled with nothing but - gibberish.
John: That would be high school. Like it or not Scorpy - I know how you think. We're sharing now. And that's how I'm going to beat you.
Harvey: Perhaps you only believe that, because that is what we want you to think.
*Natira gives backstory, proves her worth*
Braca: Sir. I'll inform you the moment the boy arrives.
Natira: Calm down. You'll have an accident.
Scorpius: My coolant system has advanced considerably since the original surgery.
Natira: Mm. Not enough to prevent this Crichton from almost killing you. Why do you want him so badly?
Scorpius: He destroyed my Gammak Base.
Natira: Revenge? He's not a Scarran. You wouldn't waste your hatred on anything else.
Scorpius: This is why I can't have you around. You know me too well.
Natira: Without me, you'd still be the same angry hotheaded young creature I took in so many cycles ago.
Scorpius: Without me - your head - among other things - would be a trophy on the wall at Peacekeeper Command.
Natira: See? We were made for each other. *growly kiss*
*Rygel and Chiana set to thievery*
Rygel: OOOh! Checking on our treasure? Or are you helping yourself?
Chiana: The way I see it? Beating you to it!
Rygel: How dare you! I -- hm - 50/50?
Chiana: All right. But just enough so no one notices. Yeah. It's always nice to have a little something tucked away when all hezmana breaks loose. *opens crate* Empty!
Rygel: What the frell-? It's gone!
Chiana: Someone's beaten us to it!
Rygel: But who? Crichton's too --honorable.
Chiana: Aeryn's too dull.
Rygel: D'Argo's too - ah-
Chiana: Say it.
Rygel: Simple?
Chiana: Well yeah, but he's not a thief!
Rygel: Somebody is! We've been robbed!
*Rygel’s priorities always remain the same*
Chiana: They looked like our money! OUR MONEY'S ALIVE!
Rygel: You realize what this means?
Chiana: They're eating the ship!
Rygel: Yes but - we're poor.
*Aeryn bored response to the weakened Sheyang fireball*
Aeryn: I’ve seen bigger.
*Jothee and Scorpius talk amidst social commentary*
Akkor: A Luxan-Sebacean hybrid?
Braca: Despite Peacekeeper Command efforts to keep the bloodlines pure, there seems to be a few more of them every cycle.
Scorpius: Have you got something against hybrids? Hm?
Braca: No! Of course not sir. Not at all.
Scorpius: Ka Jothee, is it?
Jothee: What the frell are you? Some kind of mutant?
Natira: His mother was a Sebacean. She was raped by a Scarran. Did the Luxan rape your mother too?
Jothee: No.
Scorpius: Your father abandoned you to a life of slavery. Is it his lineage you hate the most?
Jothee: My mother was murdered by her brother. Does that answer your question?
Scorpius: So you - hate Luxans and Sebaceans equally. How very interesting.
Jothee: You bought 10,000 slaves, just to get me. What do you want?
Scorpius: From you, nothing. But your father- would give me something I want very much. Pray to your Luxan mystics that he loves you still.
*D’argo wins the trackers over*
D’argo: You are a good torturer. Are you as good at tracking?
Rorf: Show him.
Rorg: It would be easy to overlook the scent of Hynerian and Delvian beneath the musk of Nebari on you.
D’argo: Will you help me?
Rorf: No. We-
Rorg: Yes! You saved our lives. We are obligated.
Rorf: I will not desert you!
Rorg: The Peacekeeper hunters are dead. There are caves nearby. I will be safe there to give birth. Our children will live. Because of him. If we can help restore his child, we must! And - we could use the currency.
*Stark takes a shocking gamble with Scorpius*
Stark: Speak to me.
Scorpius: Stark.
Stark: Yes. Your favorite food for the Aurora Chair. You murdered my people Scorpius. Thousands of Baniks as if they were nothing. And all for one boy! Well go ahead and kill Jothee if you want, because he means NOTHING to me! You're not getting Crichton!!
*Natira has a strange winning streak*
Scorpius: You intended - to destroy my Marauder. Kill my crew. Killing - me.
Natira: Yes. You wouldn’t have respected me otherwise.
Scorpius: How commendable. Very fortunate I was robbed.
Natira: Mm.
*dark John goads a recovering drug addict*
John: Hey Bikesh buddy - how ya feelin’? You’re lookin’ kinda crappy. You know - that gauntlet would fix you right up. Where is it?
Bikesh: I can’t tell you! The Writ of Taru says allowing another to inflict harm is an act of violence itself! I’m trying to make up for the things I’ve done!
*Pilot and Zhaan’s emotional confrontation*
Zhaan: Pilot, I think I’ve found a solution. I want to flood Mayas affected areas with adrexan vapor. After she has absorbed it into her body, you - you’ll be able to ignite it electrically.
Pilot: IGNITE?
Zhaan: Waves of heat will course through her body, then flames. The creatures will be destroyed.
Pilot: You’d BURN Moya?
Zhaan: To save her.
Pilot: NO! There must be another way!
Zhaan: I haven’t given up hope of trying to fine one. And I won’t! But if we run out of time Pilot - you must believe me. This may be Maya’s last hope.
Pilot: The Builders put our fates in your care Zhaan. Whatever you decide, we will - abide by it.
*Rygel’s gristly revenge on the Zenetian pirate ship*
Rygel: So your, ah - Flax net - will simply be used to ensure our escape. There is little risk and uh, great reward for your participation.
Durka: An interesting proposal. When the ship you abandoned me in -- was snared in the Zenetans net. They were little more than a disorganized gang of petty cutthroats. Under my direction, I have turned them, and the Flax, into a tool for power and profit.
Rygel: Is that a yes? Or a no? *grabs Rygel by the throat* We had a truce!
Durka: When I am finished with you - Dominar - death himself will pray for you!
Rygel: Hm. I thought you might say something like that. *whips out pronged cable and electrocutes Durka*
Zelkin: I liked your proposal.
*Zhaan, the self-sacrificer with continuity powers*
Zhaan: Pilot I will take as much of yours and Maya’s pain as I can.
Pilot: No! It will overwhelm you!
Zhaan: I will take that chance.
*foreshadowing John/Aeryn moment*
Aeryn: Moya’s in so much pain, she can’t even starburst.
John: Will she heal?
Aeryn: Pilot’s not sure.
John: Our money did this?
Aeryn: We did this. And since we have nothing to pay the mercenaries - do you think they are going to want to help us? Scorpius is going to kill Jothee.
John: No he won’t.
*Rygel and Chiana restore order among the mercenaries*
Chiana: You are being paid to work together!
Rygel: That’s right. *throws out Durka’s severed head* And that’s what we do to people who don’t.
Chiana: Good work, Ryg.
Rygel: You’re here to do a job. Start acting like professionals.
*the “find my son” plot is over, as Jothee comes to Moya*
Jothee: Father?
D’argo: Jothee. JOTHEE! IT’S YOU! IT’S REALLY YOU!
Jothee: Father! You’re choking me! *massive hugs*
D’argo: Everything you’ve been through - So many cycles… I’m sorry
Jothee: Not your fault.
D’argo: I never stopped thinking about you… Trying to find you… I almost lost hope.
Jothee: I didn’t. I knew you would come for me.
D’argo: My son.
*Scorpy/John checkmate*
Scorpius: Hello, John.
John: You want the wormhole technology? I want your implant out of my head. So, finally, the rift between us is not so great. You do what you got to do. You win.
Scorpius: As if there was ever any doubt.
___
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