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scifi_rewatchIt’s almost difficult to assess this episode, because it touches upon so much of what makes “Farscape” great. It’s the genesis for so much of the series that I can take for granted and spoil out of turn. :P And it really is the anti-final act of a trilogy!
Of course, much of the thematic goodness revolves around the idea of violence. What is Scorpius’s intent with the nuclear-level wormhole information in John’s head? On a much smaller scale, what does it mean that the crew of Moya will have to use violence to free their friend? One thing I wasn’t aware of when first watching this series is that some fans aren’t all that fond of John, pointing out that he amasses a large body count on the show. Personally, I might expand the blame some to the entire Moya crew, and particularly to Aeryn in this episode. :O I’d better get below the spoiler cut, at least, before going into more detail!
It’s also a big episode in how many characters it brings together—we’ve got Stark and the mercenaries, a tangible outcome to the D’argo/Jothee plot, the folks we’ve met down at the shadow depository and more! I commend “Farscape” for moving seamlessly between them, and for giving all of them complex and thought-provoking issues to face. It’s not just about John and the chip in his head (though good grief…holy Ben Browder acting grief. /spoilers!)
Episode summary is here, courtesy of the John and Aeryn Fansite.
So I’ll start with Aeryn, and what might be my controversial decision to saddle her with the lionshare of blame this ep. Near the end, she’s the one to come up with the plan to have Talyn bomb the shadow depository, effectively killing near everyone inside the large structure. Can we justify it by the fact that Scorpius had them trapped in a death battle? Perhaps, but it’s still a steep price to pay. Particularly when…well, they could’ve just left John to his fate. :P I’m a bad human representative. And you can’t help but feel for Aeryn this episode. First she has to talk down the Zenetian pirates when they take hold of Chiana and almost commandeer Moya, and she has to corral all of the mercenaries (admittedly with help from crazy!Stark and the others) to do the job when currency isn’t guaranteed anymore, she has to do her own parts of the battle, and on top of that, she has to contend with the possibility that maybe it’s too late to do anything but put a bullet to John. The look on Claudia Black’s face when she delivered that line…gah. By the time we get to her night vision goggles malfunction (which nevertheless doesn’t stop her from killing lots of soldiers,) it could mean so many things. But the greatest takeaway for me is how both she and John are battling with their heads.
And at least Aeryn sort of has to face her violence, when Crais and Talyn return in response to Moya’s distress call. You gotta appreciate how far Crais has come in self-actualization when he points out that people justify violence for all sorts of virtuous causes—talk about him in season one! Aeryn wants Talyn to help out, in direct opposition to her somewhat self-righteous attitude earlier in the season when she was afraid that Crais would be too vindictive a commander. The former PK captain has a bit of fun reminding her of that—remembering, also, when she left him for dead in the Aurora Chair, no doubt. But the big twist is when Aeryn “offers” herself to Crais for his assistance. The jury is out over whether that means sexually or not, but these two characters certainly have a bit of history that puts them at odds with the Moya crew. But at the end of the day, Aeryn doesn’t have to keep her word because it’s Talyn, not Crais, who chooses to help out. This may be the most foreboding news of all, though, that rambunctious and overly powerful Talyn has the inclination towards violence. Well, he’s hardly alone this ep.
The mercenaries—these characters we barely know—also encountered and responded to violence in varying ways. Maybe the most heartbreaking in a good way was Turec, who was obviously on his last legs after the destruction of his ship; the only way he could help in the end was to blow himself out by the generator, which he did to save everyone else. The most heartbreaking in a bad way was Bikesh, who grew so enamored with killing again that he was even firing his gauntlet at dead bodies. Perhaps he’s even worse now; not just killing for the heck of it, but with fanatical purpose, as “the holy warrior of Turu.” When he left the ship with the goodbye of “thanks for teaching me to kill again,” and gah Zhaan’s face…she had a lot to deal with concerning these two guys. I’m glad she wasn’t around to see Rorf get captured, lose his eye, and ultimately his life (and to think of his pregnant mate, too. :/). Ugh, that middle part squicked me out the first time. Medusa Natira is one sick puppy, as John would say. But again, I think this is the theme. “Farscape” is acknowledging that violence has costs.
Violence doesn’t always have to be about guns blazing, either. D’argo, who is already feeling guilty about his mistreatment of John earlier, now has to contend with a son who is awkward and bitter about his “life on the streets,” as a commentator on the Scaper Chronicles dubbed it. :P I love how they handled the father/son reunion from the off—it shouldn’t be easy, given their past history and all they’ve gone through ever since. Jothee gets a lot of flack, it seems, from the fandom for initially not wanting to help rescue John—though he quickly changes his mind and is only stopped by Daddy D wanting to keep him safe. But he’s also harsh on his dad in other ways—refusing to learn about his heritage; he even mutilated his body to get away from it. There’s so much texture to this character, I love it. And of course, his guilt over what he did on the streets to survive, well, it sounds a lot like Chiana, doesn’t it. Chiana’s having a busy time of it this ep, babysitting the double-crossing Zenetian pirates. Of course there’s this fake out when she gets the better of one and it looks like he shot her…more like the other way around. But nothing quite beats Chi’s Xena-yell when Moya comes swooping in on the planet. :P And it’s less macabre than Rygel carrying Durka’s head on a stick, just saying!
But if anyone’s violent predilections are on display this ep, it’s Scorpy’s. He’s basically a walking philosophy course. John believes that like the Romans, Scorp wants to conquer the known universe. Scorp denies this, claiming a more defensive role of swaying the balance of power. We’ve known for awhile—and with biting specific examples these past couple eps—that Scorpy hates his paternal species, the Scarrans. His mother was raped by one, and Natira even mentions that he wouldn’t waste vengeful thoughts on anything but the lizard men. (Side note—I think it’s because Scorp is uncomfortable with how well Natira knows him that he wants to kill her. But killing her painlessly speaks to his admiration for their relationship. Anywho.) He may or may not have killed the Bannik slaves; we’re not entirely sure of the particulars. The Scaper Chronciles guests have an interesting conversation about whether or not he did this, and why. Lots of possibilities there. What seems more certain is that Scorpius is a means-to-an-end guy. He’s not in it for the torture. Though he will let a man burn to death if he’s got shit to do, and he’ll kill John after chip extraction, even if he doesn’t have to. But, kind of like with Natira, perhaps John has too much power over him to be left alive.
And finally, our homeboy John. I’ll try to go full circle with him. In the beginning of the episode he leaves a message for the crew with some new, damning information—part of him doesn’t want the chip gone anymore. Harvey’s influence is growing. At first it’s less noticeable because Scorp has John where he wants him, on the crucifix ball. (And then Natira is checking out his “package”—far less impressive than his blue eyes—ouch.) When we’re inside John’s brain, we see him at a childhood hangout and wearing his innocent season one IASA suit—great way to establish where our human still sees himself, whether or not that’s supported by his path these past two cycles. But this ep, he’s obviously too far gone to be…much of anything. When Natira cuts him down, he’s batting at his own head to shut Harvey up. Then, when he’s back face-to-face with Scorpy, trying so desperately to run while his enemy just waits with a smile…as dramatic as the Luke/Vader psychic showdown in Empire. Ben and Wayne really nailed that. I’ll say that it’s even a little funny, sometimes, when John is absentmindedly picking a nosebleed during battle, or Aeryn knocks him cold to get him out of there. :P But then, in the very last scene of the ep, we are back to trauma again. John is singing “Daisy Bell,” which the Scaper Chronicles points out was used in “2001: A Space Odyssey” for a similar occasion of a character slowly losing his mind. He’s back to the chess board where Winona is pointed uselessly at the black king, and he meanwhile can’t get the white royalty to stand up. D’argo comes in to introduce Jothee but John doesn’t even see the boy; it takes everything he has to just beg his friend to kill him. :O What a note to go out on. Most trilogies in a series are supposed to escalate some drama in a mini-arc, but then resolve it. In the case of “Farscape,” though, things just go from bad to worse, whether it’s by the violence committed or the state of John’s mind. It’s dark, gritty, real and genuinely heartbreaking.
Favorite Crichtonism: Oh don't stop now Scorpy. Roll me over and baste the other side.
Favorite Quotes:
*John trying to keep a brave face on with Scorpius*
John: All right Frankenstein - let's get it on. Get your property out of my head.
Scorpius: It's controlling you isn't it John?
John: I don't know what you're talking about.
Scorpius: *taps his forehead* In there. My neural clone. It forced you to me.
John: Nothing forced me here. Annual check-ups are essential to good health.
Scorpius: You're lying John. I always know. Don't worry. Soon we'll take the pain away.
*Aeryn guilts D’argo*
John: *recording* This thing in my head - this chip. Part of me now wants it to control me. So I'm gonna go to Scorpy and have him take it out before it's too late - before I no longer want it gone. Goodbye my friends. At least by swapping myself with Jothee I can do you some good.
Aeryn: You see how you misread him?
D’argo: Yes.
*Aeryn plays a high stakes cat and mouse game*
Chiana: Well, um... We did have currency. Uh - what we thought was currency - actually turned into a creature. And it uh - it was alive, and we had to burn the ship...
Zelkin: Yes... yes... yes... yes. I understand that girl. But you see my problem, don't you? I don't do anything unless I get paid. And since you no longer have currency - *points gun at her* - Moya is now mine.
Aeryn: Go on, shoot her. You're an embarrassment Zelkin.
Chiana: Aeryn-
Aeryn: No you're worse. You're worse than an embarrassment. You're an idiot.
Chiana: Aeryn, what are you doing?
Aeryn: There are 30,000 containers in the shadow depository filled with riches that you could have, but you're rather point a gun at a girl!
Zelkin: What are you trying to do Aeryn? Shame me into going with you?
Aeryn: No. No because even if you wanted to, I wouldn't go into battle with you now. Do you know why? Because you're a coward and an idiot! What do you think you're going to get if you steal Moya? She's a half-burned Leviathan. *laughs* You have to be the stupidest pirates I've ever met!
*Crazy!Stark wins Rorf over*
Rorf: I THINK THIS WHOLE IDEA ROTS! I WANT -
Stark: I WANT! I WANT! MY SIDE! YOUR SIDE! ALL OF YOU "I WANT"!
Rorf: What's the matter with YOU frek-face?
Stark: MATTER? MATTER? I'LL TELL YOU MATTER! AMTI-MATTERMATTERMATTERMATTERMATTERMATTER! SCORPIUS KILLED 10,000 OF MY PEOPLE! 10,000 CAST INTO SPACE! 10,000 souls scream in my brain! The chair, the chair remember the chair!
Rorf: What chair? This frek is crrra-zy!
Stark: You coming? D'you agree? Agree?
Rorf: Will you fight like this down there?
Stark: Of course! Of course! Look! No hands! No hands!
Rorf: Then I change my mind Zelkin. This one has the spirit of the hunter and not the prey.
*While Natira is unimpressed with the, uh, sexual equipment of our species, Scorpy ruminates on power*
Natira: Scorpius, tell me something. Why are you so interested in this human? There's nothing impressive about the species.
Scorpius: *to John, as he examines him* Try not to move so much. One flinch at the wrong time and this will -- paralyze you.
John: It's kinda hard not to flinch here Scorpy, with Frau Blucher tickling my prostate.
Natira: What are you doing to him? Why don't you just take him and leave?
Scorpius: I must soften his neural receptors to see if my clone in his brain has reached the information I need. If I have - then I will call my Command Carrier back from battle and be away from you.
John: See - Flavius Scorpius here wants to visit foreign lands, meet foreign people - and conquer them.
Scorpius: You overestimate me John. I have no desire to dominate the universe. But know this - the wormhole technology in your brain will sway the balance of power as we know it. Imagine - the ability to move an army in an instant. The power to make hostile planets disappear.
*Crais lectures Aeryn on justifying violence*
Aeryn: We are planning to attack the shadow depository on the planet below.
Crais: And you want Talyn to help?
Aeryn: Scorpius is in the depository.
Crais: Tempting. I thought you didn't want to use Talyn for violence. You all said that from the beginning.
Aeryn: Yes, but this is different.
Crais: How? Is this violence more acceptable? Because it's for you?
Aeryn: No it's because Scorpius has captured Crichton and he's going to kill him if we don't get down there.
Crais: *chuckles* There's always a reason for violence Aeryn. Thousands of people die, for the most virtuous causes.
Aeryn: You don't have to lecture me Crais.
Crais: I believe I do. You've lectured me countless times! How long has Scorpius held Crichton?
Aeryn: 4 arns.
Crais: Then I recommend you bring down a basket without any holes - so that Crichton’s liquid remains are not lost. He's already dead Aeryn.
*Rygel plays the badass*
Rorf: What are you doing with that head?
Rygel: He's an old enemy. I like that he doesn't talk back.
*D’argo and Jothee grow strained pretty fast*
D’argo: Do you know what that is?
Jothee: No. What is it?
D’argo: It's uh - it's your blood ancestors Qualta blade. My father’s father used it in the Siege of Rekmek.
Jothee: You're kidding me - he fought with this? It weighs a drakik.
D’argo: It's perfectly balanced. I still use it myself. I'm uh, I'm sorry that we haven't spoken.
Jothee: Don't be sorry. I don't know what to say either.
D’argo: Who did this to you? Who mutilated you?
Jothee: You did. In a way - you've done everything that's ever happened to me.
D’argo: Jothee... Son... I had to send you away. After your uncle accused me of killing your mother-
Jothee: I'm not - angry with you. Look, what's going on on the ship -- you don't expect me to help you save Crichton do you?
D’argo: I thought you would want to, I-
Jothee: Listen! I'm interested in saving myself! For 10 cycles, I've been running. Trying to survive.
D’argo: I realize that, I want to know everything that has happened to you-
Jothee: NO! NO YOU DON'T WANNA KNOW! BELIEVE ME - you don't wanna know. I have done things - many things I am not proud of, to survive. I don't wanna shame you - but I am not going back to that planet. I only just got my freedom back. I'm not gonna risk losing it again.
*an intense promise*
Aeryn: You can have anything you want. Anything.
Crais: Aeryn Sun - are you... offering yourself? Crichton, if he's alive, must mean a great deal to you.
Aeryn: You take what you want and I won't stop you.
*Aeryn is having a rough psychological day*
Aeryn: Are you ready to go down now to get Crichton?
Zelkin: But we all heard his transmission. What if Crichton is worse - and won't be rescued.
Aeryn: Oh that's easy. I put a bullet in Crichton’s head and end it.
*Scorpy may have a sound strategy*
Braca: The Command Carrier's arriving 6 arns earlier than expected sir.
Scorpius: Well, that's too bad.
Braca: I thought you wanted to leave as soon as possible.
Scorpius: I do but uh - good news. I'm always suspicious of good news.
*John bates Natira, to his detriment*
Natira: Human. You are surprising. I've never seen Scorpius worry about anyone as much as you.
John: Don't be jealous Frau Blucher. He only loves me for my mind. Maybe you should come in and visit sometime.
Natira: Why would I ever want to go inside you?
John: So the Scorpius in my head can tell you exactly how he's going to kill you.
Natira: Well I can tell you - you're about to taste blood. *slaps his mouth*
John: *coughs up blood* Was that good for you?
*Natira’s second in command gets to make a joke*
Scorpius: Bounty hunter - why are you here?
Rorf: Well I was planning to make a deposit.
Akkor: Of what? Fur lice?
*John’s first ray of hope in awhile as Moya comes swooping down*
Natira: Blue eyes, look out at that. That is the last sight your eyes will ever see.
John: You are a sick puppy. Scorpius has to kill me and you're still getting your jollies.
Natira: Oh, he doesn't - he doesn't have to kill you blue eyes.
John: What? He - he can get the chip out without hurting me?
Natira: Oh, yes. *eye-gouging tentacles come out* First red. And now blue. Scorpius wants your brain. He said nothing about your eyes. Blue eyes... so soft. Very rare. *distracted by whooshing* What the frell is that?
John: That's Moya.
*Jothee may’ve had a point about the Qalta Blade…*
Aeryn: Good shot.
D’argo: I was aiming for between his eyes.
*Turac’s sacrifice*
Turac: Scorpius! Don't worry about her - worry about ME!
Akkor: Shoot him!
Scorpius: No don't! He's a Sheyang!
Turac: That's right! I'll explode if you shoot me! Good-bye Zhaan. This is not your fault. I always knew it had to end like this.
Zhaan: Turac! *explosion*
*Aeryn’s sightless performance*
Aeryn: Wait - I think I did it. My night visions are finally working. *lights come on; Aeryn is surrounded by bodies*
Bikesh: For someone who couldn't see - you did okay.
*Harvey delivers silky threats*
Natira: Tell me, Scorpius would never harm me, would he?
Harvey: Now I know why Scorpius found you so - enticing. To possess a beauty like you? To feel -- all of this.
Natira: Crichton's right. Scorpius is going to kill me.
Harvey: Oh my lovely - how fortunate you are. Your death will be painless.
*John’s affliction leads him to betray his crew in a climactic Scorpy faceoff, before his pals find him*
Rorf: CRICHTON GET BACK! *John doesn’t move; Rorf takes a gun shot for him* NOOOOOOO!
Natira: Let's go! We have a deal Crichton!
Rorf: Rooooorrrrrrg!
Scorpius: *all amidst John yelling as he fruitlessly tries to disobey* Leave him John.
Natira: Come on!
Scorpius: Leave him. And come to me.
Natira: CRICHTON! Take me to Moya! *finally realizes it’s hopeless* Frell you Crichton! Die alone.
*Talyn first embraces violence as vengeance against the backstabbing pirates*
Zelkin: Kurz? Kurz what's happening? KURZ!
Pilot: Kurz is dead! Talyn has destroyed your ship!
Zelkin: I'll take Moya then.
Chiana: You're not taking anything! *they struggle and someone is shot*
Zelkin: Oh... What a waste. *falls over dead*
*J/A’s only interaction this ep*
John: Aeryn? I'm uh - I'm gonna go to Scorpius.
Aeryn: Frell you are! *knocks him out cold*
*Zhaan’s personal nightmare episode end*
Rygel: Mine, mine, mine!. Can I have this? Can this be mine? We can all have anything we want now! Right? Any food, any female - anything! Right? Right?
Chiana: *unenthusiastic* Yeah.
Rygel: Ooooohhhh - don't be like them! You're like me Chiana! We did it! This is not like before - this won't eat the ship! So cheer up! we got Crichton back - and Aeryn and D'Argo and Jothee -and we're rich!
Chiana: Perfect.
Zhaan: Yes but Moya is still extremely ill. Pilot says that she may never fully recover.
Stark: And Rorf and Turac lost their lives.
Rygel: So? They knew the risks.
Bikesh: Don't worry about Rorf and Turac. On my oath - I will deliver their shares to their families. Farewell my friends. And thank you for teaching me to kill again.
*Talyn is in his teenage boundaries phase*
Crais: I had little control. Talyn came to free Moya -himself.
Aeryn: You didn't command him?
Crais: No. He acted alone. As much as any of us would want, he has the instincts of a warrior and does exactly as he pleases.
*John is still losing his mind :(*
John: Daisy... Daisy... Give me your answer do...
D’argo: John - I've brought my son, Jothee, to thank you.
John: ...I'm half... - OOOwhoa! - *fumbles with chess pieces* - ...crazy.. - *Harvey’s voice echoes in his head* ...all for the love of... you...
D’argo: Sshhhh...
John: He's here and um - he blames me. Blames me for killing Scorpius, so I've been trying to... But I can't -
D’argo: But you WHAT John?
John: *moment of most lucidity* D'Argo - kill me. D'Argo please - kill me.
___
Of course, much of the thematic goodness revolves around the idea of violence. What is Scorpius’s intent with the nuclear-level wormhole information in John’s head? On a much smaller scale, what does it mean that the crew of Moya will have to use violence to free their friend? One thing I wasn’t aware of when first watching this series is that some fans aren’t all that fond of John, pointing out that he amasses a large body count on the show. Personally, I might expand the blame some to the entire Moya crew, and particularly to Aeryn in this episode. :O I’d better get below the spoiler cut, at least, before going into more detail!
It’s also a big episode in how many characters it brings together—we’ve got Stark and the mercenaries, a tangible outcome to the D’argo/Jothee plot, the folks we’ve met down at the shadow depository and more! I commend “Farscape” for moving seamlessly between them, and for giving all of them complex and thought-provoking issues to face. It’s not just about John and the chip in his head (though good grief…holy Ben Browder acting grief. /spoilers!)
Episode summary is here, courtesy of the John and Aeryn Fansite.
So I’ll start with Aeryn, and what might be my controversial decision to saddle her with the lionshare of blame this ep. Near the end, she’s the one to come up with the plan to have Talyn bomb the shadow depository, effectively killing near everyone inside the large structure. Can we justify it by the fact that Scorpius had them trapped in a death battle? Perhaps, but it’s still a steep price to pay. Particularly when…well, they could’ve just left John to his fate. :P I’m a bad human representative. And you can’t help but feel for Aeryn this episode. First she has to talk down the Zenetian pirates when they take hold of Chiana and almost commandeer Moya, and she has to corral all of the mercenaries (admittedly with help from crazy!Stark and the others) to do the job when currency isn’t guaranteed anymore, she has to do her own parts of the battle, and on top of that, she has to contend with the possibility that maybe it’s too late to do anything but put a bullet to John. The look on Claudia Black’s face when she delivered that line…gah. By the time we get to her night vision goggles malfunction (which nevertheless doesn’t stop her from killing lots of soldiers,) it could mean so many things. But the greatest takeaway for me is how both she and John are battling with their heads.
And at least Aeryn sort of has to face her violence, when Crais and Talyn return in response to Moya’s distress call. You gotta appreciate how far Crais has come in self-actualization when he points out that people justify violence for all sorts of virtuous causes—talk about him in season one! Aeryn wants Talyn to help out, in direct opposition to her somewhat self-righteous attitude earlier in the season when she was afraid that Crais would be too vindictive a commander. The former PK captain has a bit of fun reminding her of that—remembering, also, when she left him for dead in the Aurora Chair, no doubt. But the big twist is when Aeryn “offers” herself to Crais for his assistance. The jury is out over whether that means sexually or not, but these two characters certainly have a bit of history that puts them at odds with the Moya crew. But at the end of the day, Aeryn doesn’t have to keep her word because it’s Talyn, not Crais, who chooses to help out. This may be the most foreboding news of all, though, that rambunctious and overly powerful Talyn has the inclination towards violence. Well, he’s hardly alone this ep.
The mercenaries—these characters we barely know—also encountered and responded to violence in varying ways. Maybe the most heartbreaking in a good way was Turec, who was obviously on his last legs after the destruction of his ship; the only way he could help in the end was to blow himself out by the generator, which he did to save everyone else. The most heartbreaking in a bad way was Bikesh, who grew so enamored with killing again that he was even firing his gauntlet at dead bodies. Perhaps he’s even worse now; not just killing for the heck of it, but with fanatical purpose, as “the holy warrior of Turu.” When he left the ship with the goodbye of “thanks for teaching me to kill again,” and gah Zhaan’s face…she had a lot to deal with concerning these two guys. I’m glad she wasn’t around to see Rorf get captured, lose his eye, and ultimately his life (and to think of his pregnant mate, too. :/). Ugh, that middle part squicked me out the first time. Medusa Natira is one sick puppy, as John would say. But again, I think this is the theme. “Farscape” is acknowledging that violence has costs.
Violence doesn’t always have to be about guns blazing, either. D’argo, who is already feeling guilty about his mistreatment of John earlier, now has to contend with a son who is awkward and bitter about his “life on the streets,” as a commentator on the Scaper Chronicles dubbed it. :P I love how they handled the father/son reunion from the off—it shouldn’t be easy, given their past history and all they’ve gone through ever since. Jothee gets a lot of flack, it seems, from the fandom for initially not wanting to help rescue John—though he quickly changes his mind and is only stopped by Daddy D wanting to keep him safe. But he’s also harsh on his dad in other ways—refusing to learn about his heritage; he even mutilated his body to get away from it. There’s so much texture to this character, I love it. And of course, his guilt over what he did on the streets to survive, well, it sounds a lot like Chiana, doesn’t it. Chiana’s having a busy time of it this ep, babysitting the double-crossing Zenetian pirates. Of course there’s this fake out when she gets the better of one and it looks like he shot her…more like the other way around. But nothing quite beats Chi’s Xena-yell when Moya comes swooping in on the planet. :P And it’s less macabre than Rygel carrying Durka’s head on a stick, just saying!
But if anyone’s violent predilections are on display this ep, it’s Scorpy’s. He’s basically a walking philosophy course. John believes that like the Romans, Scorp wants to conquer the known universe. Scorp denies this, claiming a more defensive role of swaying the balance of power. We’ve known for awhile—and with biting specific examples these past couple eps—that Scorpy hates his paternal species, the Scarrans. His mother was raped by one, and Natira even mentions that he wouldn’t waste vengeful thoughts on anything but the lizard men. (Side note—I think it’s because Scorp is uncomfortable with how well Natira knows him that he wants to kill her. But killing her painlessly speaks to his admiration for their relationship. Anywho.) He may or may not have killed the Bannik slaves; we’re not entirely sure of the particulars. The Scaper Chronciles guests have an interesting conversation about whether or not he did this, and why. Lots of possibilities there. What seems more certain is that Scorpius is a means-to-an-end guy. He’s not in it for the torture. Though he will let a man burn to death if he’s got shit to do, and he’ll kill John after chip extraction, even if he doesn’t have to. But, kind of like with Natira, perhaps John has too much power over him to be left alive.
And finally, our homeboy John. I’ll try to go full circle with him. In the beginning of the episode he leaves a message for the crew with some new, damning information—part of him doesn’t want the chip gone anymore. Harvey’s influence is growing. At first it’s less noticeable because Scorp has John where he wants him, on the crucifix ball. (And then Natira is checking out his “package”—far less impressive than his blue eyes—ouch.) When we’re inside John’s brain, we see him at a childhood hangout and wearing his innocent season one IASA suit—great way to establish where our human still sees himself, whether or not that’s supported by his path these past two cycles. But this ep, he’s obviously too far gone to be…much of anything. When Natira cuts him down, he’s batting at his own head to shut Harvey up. Then, when he’s back face-to-face with Scorpy, trying so desperately to run while his enemy just waits with a smile…as dramatic as the Luke/Vader psychic showdown in Empire. Ben and Wayne really nailed that. I’ll say that it’s even a little funny, sometimes, when John is absentmindedly picking a nosebleed during battle, or Aeryn knocks him cold to get him out of there. :P But then, in the very last scene of the ep, we are back to trauma again. John is singing “Daisy Bell,” which the Scaper Chronicles points out was used in “2001: A Space Odyssey” for a similar occasion of a character slowly losing his mind. He’s back to the chess board where Winona is pointed uselessly at the black king, and he meanwhile can’t get the white royalty to stand up. D’argo comes in to introduce Jothee but John doesn’t even see the boy; it takes everything he has to just beg his friend to kill him. :O What a note to go out on. Most trilogies in a series are supposed to escalate some drama in a mini-arc, but then resolve it. In the case of “Farscape,” though, things just go from bad to worse, whether it’s by the violence committed or the state of John’s mind. It’s dark, gritty, real and genuinely heartbreaking.
Favorite Crichtonism: Oh don't stop now Scorpy. Roll me over and baste the other side.
Favorite Quotes:
*John trying to keep a brave face on with Scorpius*
John: All right Frankenstein - let's get it on. Get your property out of my head.
Scorpius: It's controlling you isn't it John?
John: I don't know what you're talking about.
Scorpius: *taps his forehead* In there. My neural clone. It forced you to me.
John: Nothing forced me here. Annual check-ups are essential to good health.
Scorpius: You're lying John. I always know. Don't worry. Soon we'll take the pain away.
*Aeryn guilts D’argo*
John: *recording* This thing in my head - this chip. Part of me now wants it to control me. So I'm gonna go to Scorpy and have him take it out before it's too late - before I no longer want it gone. Goodbye my friends. At least by swapping myself with Jothee I can do you some good.
Aeryn: You see how you misread him?
D’argo: Yes.
*Aeryn plays a high stakes cat and mouse game*
Chiana: Well, um... We did have currency. Uh - what we thought was currency - actually turned into a creature. And it uh - it was alive, and we had to burn the ship...
Zelkin: Yes... yes... yes... yes. I understand that girl. But you see my problem, don't you? I don't do anything unless I get paid. And since you no longer have currency - *points gun at her* - Moya is now mine.
Aeryn: Go on, shoot her. You're an embarrassment Zelkin.
Chiana: Aeryn-
Aeryn: No you're worse. You're worse than an embarrassment. You're an idiot.
Chiana: Aeryn, what are you doing?
Aeryn: There are 30,000 containers in the shadow depository filled with riches that you could have, but you're rather point a gun at a girl!
Zelkin: What are you trying to do Aeryn? Shame me into going with you?
Aeryn: No. No because even if you wanted to, I wouldn't go into battle with you now. Do you know why? Because you're a coward and an idiot! What do you think you're going to get if you steal Moya? She's a half-burned Leviathan. *laughs* You have to be the stupidest pirates I've ever met!
*Crazy!Stark wins Rorf over*
Rorf: I THINK THIS WHOLE IDEA ROTS! I WANT -
Stark: I WANT! I WANT! MY SIDE! YOUR SIDE! ALL OF YOU "I WANT"!
Rorf: What's the matter with YOU frek-face?
Stark: MATTER? MATTER? I'LL TELL YOU MATTER! AMTI-MATTERMATTERMATTERMATTERMATTERMATTER! SCORPIUS KILLED 10,000 OF MY PEOPLE! 10,000 CAST INTO SPACE! 10,000 souls scream in my brain! The chair, the chair remember the chair!
Rorf: What chair? This frek is crrra-zy!
Stark: You coming? D'you agree? Agree?
Rorf: Will you fight like this down there?
Stark: Of course! Of course! Look! No hands! No hands!
Rorf: Then I change my mind Zelkin. This one has the spirit of the hunter and not the prey.
*While Natira is unimpressed with the, uh, sexual equipment of our species, Scorpy ruminates on power*
Natira: Scorpius, tell me something. Why are you so interested in this human? There's nothing impressive about the species.
Scorpius: *to John, as he examines him* Try not to move so much. One flinch at the wrong time and this will -- paralyze you.
John: It's kinda hard not to flinch here Scorpy, with Frau Blucher tickling my prostate.
Natira: What are you doing to him? Why don't you just take him and leave?
Scorpius: I must soften his neural receptors to see if my clone in his brain has reached the information I need. If I have - then I will call my Command Carrier back from battle and be away from you.
John: See - Flavius Scorpius here wants to visit foreign lands, meet foreign people - and conquer them.
Scorpius: You overestimate me John. I have no desire to dominate the universe. But know this - the wormhole technology in your brain will sway the balance of power as we know it. Imagine - the ability to move an army in an instant. The power to make hostile planets disappear.
*Crais lectures Aeryn on justifying violence*
Aeryn: We are planning to attack the shadow depository on the planet below.
Crais: And you want Talyn to help?
Aeryn: Scorpius is in the depository.
Crais: Tempting. I thought you didn't want to use Talyn for violence. You all said that from the beginning.
Aeryn: Yes, but this is different.
Crais: How? Is this violence more acceptable? Because it's for you?
Aeryn: No it's because Scorpius has captured Crichton and he's going to kill him if we don't get down there.
Crais: *chuckles* There's always a reason for violence Aeryn. Thousands of people die, for the most virtuous causes.
Aeryn: You don't have to lecture me Crais.
Crais: I believe I do. You've lectured me countless times! How long has Scorpius held Crichton?
Aeryn: 4 arns.
Crais: Then I recommend you bring down a basket without any holes - so that Crichton’s liquid remains are not lost. He's already dead Aeryn.
*Rygel plays the badass*
Rorf: What are you doing with that head?
Rygel: He's an old enemy. I like that he doesn't talk back.
*D’argo and Jothee grow strained pretty fast*
D’argo: Do you know what that is?
Jothee: No. What is it?
D’argo: It's uh - it's your blood ancestors Qualta blade. My father’s father used it in the Siege of Rekmek.
Jothee: You're kidding me - he fought with this? It weighs a drakik.
D’argo: It's perfectly balanced. I still use it myself. I'm uh, I'm sorry that we haven't spoken.
Jothee: Don't be sorry. I don't know what to say either.
D’argo: Who did this to you? Who mutilated you?
Jothee: You did. In a way - you've done everything that's ever happened to me.
D’argo: Jothee... Son... I had to send you away. After your uncle accused me of killing your mother-
Jothee: I'm not - angry with you. Look, what's going on on the ship -- you don't expect me to help you save Crichton do you?
D’argo: I thought you would want to, I-
Jothee: Listen! I'm interested in saving myself! For 10 cycles, I've been running. Trying to survive.
D’argo: I realize that, I want to know everything that has happened to you-
Jothee: NO! NO YOU DON'T WANNA KNOW! BELIEVE ME - you don't wanna know. I have done things - many things I am not proud of, to survive. I don't wanna shame you - but I am not going back to that planet. I only just got my freedom back. I'm not gonna risk losing it again.
*an intense promise*
Aeryn: You can have anything you want. Anything.
Crais: Aeryn Sun - are you... offering yourself? Crichton, if he's alive, must mean a great deal to you.
Aeryn: You take what you want and I won't stop you.
*Aeryn is having a rough psychological day*
Aeryn: Are you ready to go down now to get Crichton?
Zelkin: But we all heard his transmission. What if Crichton is worse - and won't be rescued.
Aeryn: Oh that's easy. I put a bullet in Crichton’s head and end it.
*Scorpy may have a sound strategy*
Braca: The Command Carrier's arriving 6 arns earlier than expected sir.
Scorpius: Well, that's too bad.
Braca: I thought you wanted to leave as soon as possible.
Scorpius: I do but uh - good news. I'm always suspicious of good news.
*John bates Natira, to his detriment*
Natira: Human. You are surprising. I've never seen Scorpius worry about anyone as much as you.
John: Don't be jealous Frau Blucher. He only loves me for my mind. Maybe you should come in and visit sometime.
Natira: Why would I ever want to go inside you?
John: So the Scorpius in my head can tell you exactly how he's going to kill you.
Natira: Well I can tell you - you're about to taste blood. *slaps his mouth*
John: *coughs up blood* Was that good for you?
*Natira’s second in command gets to make a joke*
Scorpius: Bounty hunter - why are you here?
Rorf: Well I was planning to make a deposit.
Akkor: Of what? Fur lice?
*John’s first ray of hope in awhile as Moya comes swooping down*
Natira: Blue eyes, look out at that. That is the last sight your eyes will ever see.
John: You are a sick puppy. Scorpius has to kill me and you're still getting your jollies.
Natira: Oh, he doesn't - he doesn't have to kill you blue eyes.
John: What? He - he can get the chip out without hurting me?
Natira: Oh, yes. *eye-gouging tentacles come out* First red. And now blue. Scorpius wants your brain. He said nothing about your eyes. Blue eyes... so soft. Very rare. *distracted by whooshing* What the frell is that?
John: That's Moya.
*Jothee may’ve had a point about the Qalta Blade…*
Aeryn: Good shot.
D’argo: I was aiming for between his eyes.
*Turac’s sacrifice*
Turac: Scorpius! Don't worry about her - worry about ME!
Akkor: Shoot him!
Scorpius: No don't! He's a Sheyang!
Turac: That's right! I'll explode if you shoot me! Good-bye Zhaan. This is not your fault. I always knew it had to end like this.
Zhaan: Turac! *explosion*
*Aeryn’s sightless performance*
Aeryn: Wait - I think I did it. My night visions are finally working. *lights come on; Aeryn is surrounded by bodies*
Bikesh: For someone who couldn't see - you did okay.
*Harvey delivers silky threats*
Natira: Tell me, Scorpius would never harm me, would he?
Harvey: Now I know why Scorpius found you so - enticing. To possess a beauty like you? To feel -- all of this.
Natira: Crichton's right. Scorpius is going to kill me.
Harvey: Oh my lovely - how fortunate you are. Your death will be painless.
*John’s affliction leads him to betray his crew in a climactic Scorpy faceoff, before his pals find him*
Rorf: CRICHTON GET BACK! *John doesn’t move; Rorf takes a gun shot for him* NOOOOOOO!
Natira: Let's go! We have a deal Crichton!
Rorf: Rooooorrrrrrg!
Scorpius: *all amidst John yelling as he fruitlessly tries to disobey* Leave him John.
Natira: Come on!
Scorpius: Leave him. And come to me.
Natira: CRICHTON! Take me to Moya! *finally realizes it’s hopeless* Frell you Crichton! Die alone.
*Talyn first embraces violence as vengeance against the backstabbing pirates*
Zelkin: Kurz? Kurz what's happening? KURZ!
Pilot: Kurz is dead! Talyn has destroyed your ship!
Zelkin: I'll take Moya then.
Chiana: You're not taking anything! *they struggle and someone is shot*
Zelkin: Oh... What a waste. *falls over dead*
*J/A’s only interaction this ep*
John: Aeryn? I'm uh - I'm gonna go to Scorpius.
Aeryn: Frell you are! *knocks him out cold*
*Zhaan’s personal nightmare episode end*
Rygel: Mine, mine, mine!. Can I have this? Can this be mine? We can all have anything we want now! Right? Any food, any female - anything! Right? Right?
Chiana: *unenthusiastic* Yeah.
Rygel: Ooooohhhh - don't be like them! You're like me Chiana! We did it! This is not like before - this won't eat the ship! So cheer up! we got Crichton back - and Aeryn and D'Argo and Jothee -and we're rich!
Chiana: Perfect.
Zhaan: Yes but Moya is still extremely ill. Pilot says that she may never fully recover.
Stark: And Rorf and Turac lost their lives.
Rygel: So? They knew the risks.
Bikesh: Don't worry about Rorf and Turac. On my oath - I will deliver their shares to their families. Farewell my friends. And thank you for teaching me to kill again.
*Talyn is in his teenage boundaries phase*
Crais: I had little control. Talyn came to free Moya -himself.
Aeryn: You didn't command him?
Crais: No. He acted alone. As much as any of us would want, he has the instincts of a warrior and does exactly as he pleases.
*John is still losing his mind :(*
John: Daisy... Daisy... Give me your answer do...
D’argo: John - I've brought my son, Jothee, to thank you.
John: ...I'm half... - OOOwhoa! - *fumbles with chess pieces* - ...crazy.. - *Harvey’s voice echoes in his head* ...all for the love of... you...
D’argo: Sshhhh...
John: He's here and um - he blames me. Blames me for killing Scorpius, so I've been trying to... But I can't -
D’argo: But you WHAT John?
John: *moment of most lucidity* D'Argo - kill me. D'Argo please - kill me.
___
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