ext_185193 (![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
chavalah.livejournal.com) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
scifi_rewatch2015-04-25 08:01 pm
chavalah.livejournal.com) wrote in scifi_rewatch2015-04-25 08:01 pm
Entry tags:
Farscape Episode 3.02: “Suns and Lovers”
In this cleverly titled episode about two sets of lovers, the shit finally hits the fan. That’s not the only thing that hits the fan here, but it’s definitely the more important. The b storyline, though wonderfully visceral physically and emotionally, was mostly throw-away. Beyond the love affairs gone wrong, we did get some glimpses into continuing storylines—concerning John’s interons and Zhaan’s illness. A nice way to keep these important matters in the periphery. But if one actor stole the show here, it was Anthony Simcoe. GUUUUH.
But here’s a sticking point somewhat related to the b plot—we’re now in season three, and there’s a new transition for our favorite homeboy. First season, he was our naïve little astronaut, in the second he was getting his bearings by being an unwitting science experiment, and generally growing physically and mentally harder. Now, people know him. He and the Moya crew have blown up enough shit to build up some infamy in the Uncharted Territories. This intrigued me when I first watched this come up in the opening scenes; I’ve grown to appreciate the detail. It’s nice to know that the Moya crew doesn’t live in little episodic bubbles from week to week. Their actions have more far-reaching consequences.
Episode summary is here, courtesy of the John and Aeryn Fansite.
So the b plot is pretty perfunctory. Most of the Moya crew (sans Chiana, Jothee and Rygel) are on an intergalactic space station shopping mall of sorts to get supplies, and convening in a bar afterwards. John is talking the ear off of the bartender, a more humanoid version of Jabba the Hutt called Moordil, before a member of security, more humanoid with yellow eyes and facial scars called Borlik, recognizes him as the infamous John Crichton who blew up a gammak base, among other things. (Aeryn tries to pretend they don’t know who this “John Cretin” is, but our human gets a bit worked up when Borlik damages his reputation by gossiping that he’s raped and pillaged.) The station is being rocked by what should be harmless gamma storms, but before the titles roll the place is mostly destroyed. Borlik suggests that the station is cursed for being built in holy space called the Sacred Stillness; two other stations in the area have also been destroyed by storms. Pilot detects that this storm is being attracted by a signal from within the station; once the DRDs come in (one is John’s taped up buddy from the premiere!) they detect that it’s from Borlik herself. She’s a religious fanatic! And can attach herself like a magnet to surfaces while chanting. :P Due to twisty plot issues, they just can’t kill her outright. So John is able to grab a capsule that was housing one of the Interons (more on that later) to redirect Borlik’s power, stick her in the box, and put her aboard Moya where they’d ship her out into space, taking the storm with her. Minor complications arise when she’s able to get out of the capsule and stick to Moya…but it turns out that she chose a detachable door. :P Woops. So out she goes, a gamma ray gets her, and all else is saved.
I’ll put off the inevitable relationship drama for a little while to talk about some other drama. Maybe all this talk about John being a pillaging rapist with his “grunt,” Aeryn, is affecting my opinion somewhat (I can see how Borlik’s largely accurate account might have cemented some anti-John views in the fandom,) but he’s a bit ruthless in this episode, isn’t he? Kind of like with T’raltixx last season, he’s come across a dangerous fanatic and he feels no remorse when, in this case, he “sucks this bitch out” to her death. Even Pilot is in on it this time, cackling like a maniac as he lets the door go! (And Rygel’s having a lot of fun head butting her or stuffing cloth into her mouth to shut her up. :P) I’m not sure we can blame the chip this time since it’s out of his head and Harvey is in the dumpster. :p And John, as evidenced throughout the rest of the episode, still has his positive traits with his shipmates. It’s just worth noting how the Uncharted Territories have changed him. Granted, with Zhaan’s impending death, everyone—especially Stark—is on edge. He goes from showing extreme charity to some lowly workers, to screaming at her to take a look at her head. Looks like she’s sprouting the sores that she had while hungry in “Home on the Remains,” except this time they’re infused with pus. A commenter on the ScapeCast has made his peace with Zhaan not dying immediately after saving Aeryn by remembering that she’s a plant and that plants don’t die all at once. :P And by this episode, the larger endgame of the Moya crew is to find her a good planet with fertile soil for healing. I like these tie-ins, but not as much as I do the character beats. Stark, who routinely eases the dying over to the other side, can’t face up to the death of his love. Zhaan, meanwhile, turns back to her empathetic roots, and stays with Moordil, who is passing from the wounds he received when the storm struck the station. Perhaps best out of everyone, she is able to retain her grace.
John maybe gets some of his back in his moments with D’argo. When the ladies and the estranged sons are hassling, it’s always the time for bromance. :P Unfortunately they’re in the middle of a crisis, and they need the big man to remove some cables from Moya’s outer hull. John has a tough task ahead of him, to provide sympathy and ask his friend to play a part—he doesn’t do too good of a job, given D’s reaction to his overwrought “they’re not as brave as you, they’re not as smart as you,” yadda yadda. But, although drunk post-confrontation with Chiana and Jothee, he decides to go out on his own. Pilot’s pretty concerned (with some great eyebrow movements, thanks to the puppetry,) and Chiana is hysterical, though of course D’argo won’t listen to her. He’s tethered to the ship but John has to go rescue him after the Luxan touches some charged cables and goes flying into space. D also has to save our human, because this working with dangerous materials in space thing can be hazardous! :P But he still doesn’t want to go in and face the betrayal in his life. John ultimately coerces him by refusing to go in alone, but nothing beats Anthony Simcoe’s performance here, particularly post-breakup when he’s such a broken man. D’argo’s drunken irateness, tears and tantrums could come off as ridiculous, but instead they are very earned. He’s lost the son he fought for, the happy ending he hoped for… I’m almost in tears myself watching D’argo burn the unity tattoos that he started the episode buying for Chi. On the upside, though, he finds a small space ship in the debris and brings it into Moya… /zips lips :P
The ScapeCast crew, already pretty anti-Jothee, brought out the big guns while reviewing this episode, even entertaining the notion that D’argo’s son made some secret deal with Scorpius. :P He’s a rotten teen, but I can’t help but feel a little bad for him, since Chiana’s a bit of a rotten teen, too. From Jothee’s perspective he’s angry, resentful, a slave on his own for most of his life, and now his dad is back and trying to act like Norman Rockwell. :P There’s a Crichtonism, right John? Anywho. He’s a hothead, but it’s not like he’s had any sort of stable upbringing, either. Yeah, he can’t take a joke, but maybe you’d be hypersensitive, too, if this was the first time in forever that you had a dad. :P (And the Interon whom he and Chi woke up with their—activities—subtly insulted his performance, too! Poor kid.) I mean, he obviously feels guilt, wanting to go out with John and take care of D’argo after. I always kind of wish that he’d stayed on the ship, that this would be the beginning of his character arc rather than the end. But alas, the show already had its focus; not enough time to center on whether Jothee’s shame turned to honor, as he puts it. (Either way, D’argo burning him with the tattoos had to be pretty traumatizing. Kind of sexist, too, as though Chiana is property. :/) I think Jothee deserved more of a chance from the fandom, and hopefully, ultimately, the Moya crew. Alas. I’ll give my parting kudos to actor Matthew Newton, who brought this traumatized, frustrated teen to life.
I’ll do a quick transition to Aeryn before coming back to Chi. She spends most of the episode searching for trapped children within the station, and ultimately uttering some fan favorite lines: “frell me dead.” :P (She also has to crawl through lots of dead bodies, plus the kids are trapped with the guardian’s corpse. “Farscape” isn’t backing away from the gristly reality that Borlik’s plan brought!) But before that, she reneges slightly on her deal last episode with John where they’d quit their relationship cold turkey—now she’s open to “reducing fluid levels,” aka sex. As the ScapeCast pointed out, she’s playing the stereotypical male role in this relationship, while John is joking about checking with his diary, hee. I’m still a little eyebrow archy that she seems willing to get it on in the middle of a rescue mission, but maybe I’m misreading her. (Talking about sex while on the move I get, but actually taking the time to do it??) Maybe unzipping her top is only meant to be a sign of “you don’t have to be afraid of my body; this doesn’t have to mean anything.” But of course, thanks to the magic of broadcast television, she falls through the floor before John can get a good look. He should have already had his fill from “Out of Their Minds” anyway. :PP
Chiana has a pretty rough time of this episode, though granted it’s a mess of her own making. Obviously D’argo’s through with her and John, arguably her closest companion on the ship, is disgusted as well. (I’m always a bit wibbly when John tells Chiana that D’argo was the only person on the ship who would’ve done anything for her—like she’s an outsider again. :/) But even Rygel, with whom she’s usually as thick as thieves, can’t stomach this sort of betrayal; he makes a porno tape and then insults her. To add insult to injury, her admission of guilt, such as it is, is brought on by the fact that she thinks D’argo can smell the two of them on each other when he’s actually focused on something completely unrelated. But of course Chiana’s whole endgame is ultimately to have the shit hit the fan. I’m not sure Jothee is actually thinking so far ahead, but Chi recognizes her innate fight-or-flight behavior for what it is by the end of the hour. Thanks to the ScapeCast for pointing this out—she and Aeryn are really quite similar when it comes to love. Both are pretty terrified of it. Aeryn doesn’t know how to deal with those emotions after a lifetime of stoic peacekeeper training (and after things ended so badly with Velorek, surely). Chiana, meanwhile, doesn’t know how to compromise with D’argo (who is bad at it himself)—she loves him, imho, but she doesn’t want to fit into his plans as a farmer’s wife. Like Aeryn, she has little prior experience with genuine, loving relationships. Also like Aeryn, she generally sees sex as recreational, though our former PK seems to be changing her tune. By the end of the hour, maybe she’s shelved her offer of sex because she realizes that it can’t erase her emotional attachment to John. For Chiana, sex with Jothee is something D’argo can’t forgive. It’s a horrible betrayal, absolutely, and her being ostracized is understandable. But I’m still sad for my Nebari girl, for having to learn the lesson that such acts are usually a form of self sabotage. She’s destroyed more than she realized she would, and now she has to live with it. So too do Jothee and D’argo, because neither of them have been Mr. Perfect in their relationships these past few weeks. But damn does that make for good character development, and a compelling show.
Favorite Crichtonism: Hey fridge magnet! I got something for you to feel.
Favorite Quotes:
*John’s version of chatting up the barkeep*
John: See, to me it's unbelievable. Y'know? I can come to the Mall of the Uncharted Territories, buy anything I want 'cos I'm rich and that leather S&M faced wacko Scorpy clone? He's-he's, locked in here - *taps head* - so, you know, I- with all - y'know everything, is going to be just fine. But no! My friend, she's sick, so we gotta find a place where she can heal - and you have no idea what I'm talkin' about, do ya?
Moordil: No.
*D’argo shares his plans for Chiana with a hesitant John*
John: Hey yo Heavy D! Hey man have you tried one of these things? *re: his drink* They're terrible, but once you get past the blue slime? Underneath - pure aviation fuel!
D’argo: Yeah, yeah- Look what I got me and Chiana! They're Union Tattoos! They're burned into our skin!
Moordil: ...ugh...
John: Cool.
D’argo: You know, I- I never though I was going to get married again, but then - What?
John: What?
D’argo: Have you been talking to Chiana?
John: Nope. No.
D’argo: I know - she's angry with me- But when she gets these-
John: Yeah - D'Argo, look - I could be wrong - right? Um- probably am. She probably wouldn't - but - Chiana could - say no.
D’argo: Pft! How could she say no?
*setting up plot for why Chiana and Jothee are doing their dirty business near the Interons*
Jothee: This is crazy.
Chiana: Yeah.
Jothee: And creepy. Why are we in here with these bodies?
Chiana: Because it's cold. Your Dad, D'Argo - D'Argo hates the cold. So he won't catch us if he comes back early.
Jothee: I'm half Luxan. I'm not crazy about the cold either.
Chiana: I'll warm you.
*Stark is a hippie leftist*
Stark: Take those to our vessel.
Porters: Yes Your Eminence! Thank you!
Zhaan: "Your Eminence" just gave them a 300 fedik tip! That's more than a years wage!
Stark: The servant class is never rewarded enough.
*Introductions: Borlik is crazy, Aeryn isn’t amused, and John is himself :P*
Borlik: Are you Crichton?
John: Who are you?
Borlik: Security. And are you Crichton?
Aeryn: No he's not. And we don't know who this "Cretin" is.
Borlik: You know, I heard he destroyed a Peacekeeper Gammak Base. Murdered an entire Nebari battalion - even laid waste to a shadow depository- Guy was a devil. He raped and pillaged-- he popped eyeballs-
John: Whoa-whoa! Where-? Where do they get these stories? Let's set the facts straight. First off - there was no raping, very little pillaging, and Frau Blucher popped all the eyeballs.
Borlik: I knew you were Crichton.
John: Look... I'm not here for any trouble. I'm just lookin' for some aviation fuel shooters.
Borlik: That's great. That's great because, in here, everything's on me. We hate Peacekeepers. Hey Moordil! Moordil - Intoxicants for Crichton and his - his grunt.
Aeryn: I'm not his grunt.
Borlik: Yeah. So - you here to kill somebody? Can I help you?
John: No, no, no. My grunt does all my killing. I'm strictly R&R.
*Rygel confronts Chiana in a rather R-rated HBO way*
Chiana: OOF! Watch it! Watch where your goin!
Rygel: Watch yourself - slut.
Chiana: What did you say?
Rygel: Out of my way. Zhaan needs these medical supplies on the station.
Chiana: What's the matter with you Ryg?
Rygel: I heard you.
Chiana: You heard nothing.
Rygel: Freezer chamber. Young half-breed. Any of this getting you wet?
Chiana: If you tell D'Argo, I will rip out your tongue and shove it up your faddik!
Rygel: You idiot! I won't have to tell him - he's Luxan! He'll smell Jothee all over you!
Chiana: Keep your lips shut!
Rygel: You do the same with your legs!
*store this object for later episodes…*
Pilot: How's Moya?
D’argo: Well her epidermis seems intact, but she's tangled up in some of the station’s cables.
Pilot: I'll see if I can reverse us clear.
D’argo: Pilot wait - there's another ship close by. It seems intact. Try to bring it in using the docking web.
*Borlik spins her tale of curses while everyone else worries about the dead and dying*
Zhaan: Don't move Moordil. The beam has pierced your modin artery.
Moordil: What does it matter? The station's destroyed. There must be hundreds dead- hundreds!
Zhaan: Shhh - stay calm! Moordil - there's nothing we can do about those souls anyway.
Moordil: Everything's gone.
Borlik: Then those stories must be true.
John: What are you talking about?
Borlik: You see, there were once 3 commerce stations near the twin suns of Qel. But one has been destroyed by asteroids. One has been burned by fire - and we are the last remaining station. There were stories that we were cursed.
Stark: Why would you be cursed?
Borlik: Because this station is built on what we call The Sacred Stillness. This is where some say the great Gods were born.
Moordil: That's just dren! There's no curse. It was - it was just storms!
Borlik: No! They weakened before they reached us! But you know this last cycle? It's been gaining in strength! The storms have been compacting to funnels just 6 parisns wide - each storm getting closer. It's as if they were aimed at us.
Aeryn: Can't aim a storm.
Borlik: Then the curse must be true. This is Gezma's revenge for buying and selling in his Sacred Stillness.
*Jothee talks to the Interon man and gets some insight into his backstory, plus a little bit of a burn :P*
Interon man: Where am I?
Jothee: On a Leviathan. We found you in a medical lab. You don't remember how you got there?
Interon man: No... I just... I was on a expedition. We were looking for the Dimordis Tomb in the Berjer Nebula. I got sick... Stanis and me got sick. Jool found us.
Jothee: When you were in there - before you woke up. You hear anything?
Interon man: I sensed... some movement... kind of a thumping sound. It didn't - last - long - *starts choking and gagging*
*Aeryn’s proposal about “reducing fluid levels” Bow chica-bow wow…*
Aeryn: You know - I've been thinking - about us.
John: You want to talk about this now?
Aeryn: It's a good time - no one here to bother us. I know the pressures of living close - how it can affect the safety of an entire battalion - unless tensions are relieved.
John: So what do you suggest?
Aeryn: Well in Peacekeepers, it was common practice to, ah - reduce fluid levels.
John: Fluid levels. Like - well like Valvoline, like brake fluid?
Aeryn: Like sex. We can have sex if you want.
John: You know what? Ah - now is not a good time. How about I, uh... check my diary and get back to you later in the week.
Aeryn: It would - relieve the tension.
John: Is this for you or for me?
Aeryn: For both of us.
John: You know what? I got two hands. I can alternate. I can release all the tension I want. I don't need your charity.
Aeryn: And I don't need your emotions. But we can have sex if you want.
*The Moya crew put their usual crisis-dealing cards on the table*
John: Pilot says there's another storm on the way. It's gonna hit us in less than 2 arns and it's bigger than the last one.
Stark: Hit us? This station can't take another hit.
John: Yeah I know that.
Rygel: Then let's all get onto Moya and haul out of here!
Zhaan: I can't pull the spike out of Moordil and I can't just leave him here!
Rygel: Well he's gonna die isn't he?
Zhaan: Well yes but-
John: Blue -
Rygel: What does it matter if we leave him?
John: Blue, Sparky - just knock it off. We've got at least 2 arns, Aeryn can use that time to try and free the trapped girl.
Rygel: I don't give a syzles ass about a trapped girl!
John: Yes and that's what makes you a great humanitarian, Buckwheat. But we are not leaving. It's Scooby-Doo time.
*the rumblings of a metaphorical storm ahead…*
D’argo: What's that smell?
Jothee: I bathed. I did. Twice.
D’argo: Are - you wearing... perfumed wash?
Chiana: Yeah. I gave him some from Zhaan’s chamber.
D’argo: Yeah well, ah - you smell very nice.
Jothee: Give me a break.
D’argo: Oh no - Really you do! You smell just-
Jothee: Find your own way into the frelling ship!
D’argo: Jothee! I was only teasing! Jothee! Um - you look attractive.
Chiana: Do I?
D’argo: Yes. Like you're happy.
Chiana: I'm not.
D’argo: I know I've been a trasnik, and I want to apologize.
Chiana: Look don't worry about it okay?
D’argo: Really. I am so sorry. And there's, uh - something I'd like to talk to you about if-
Chiana: Aaaah - look D'Argo, I'm not- I'm not ready to talk now okay?
D’argo: What do you want me to do, beg? I said I'm sorry! I-
Chiana: NO! I don't want you to beg! I'm just - I'm not ready to talk. Just because you're ready to talk, it doesn't mean that I am.
D’argo: Okay.
Chiana: I'm sorry, I - Uh - Pilot's- Pilot's got 2 more hatches for me to check and I just want to do that first okay?
D’argo: Fine.
Chiana: Fine. Okay.
*Stark is struggling to come to terms with Zhaan’s condition*
Zhaan: Don't worry about me Stark. It's all right.
Stark: Let me look at your head.
Zhaan: No! Just stop!
Stark: I said let me look at it! Let me look at it NOW!! *reacting* The sores are worse. The weakening is progressing-
Zhaan: Stark don't.
Stark: -much faster, much faster than we predicted - much- But I-I will find you a planet. A planet with the right soil and moisture.
Zhaan: Calm yourself Stark. Please. You're the expert here. You've witnessed more death than anyone else. So many dissatisfied souls dying before they felt ready.
Stark: Yes - I'm an expert on dying. I'm just not an expert on you dying.
*the proverbial storm hits*
D’argo: What's that smell?
Jothee: I told you, it's just this scented - wash.
Chiana: You know - the perfumed wash.
D’argo: Nonononono. There's something else...
Chiana: Well I don't smell anything.
D’argo: Why are you both in here?
Chiana: I told you - we were just checking on the dead guy.
D’argo: I don't believe you.
Chiana: Did you talk to Rygel?
D’argo: About what? *realization strikes* You have betrayed me.
Jothee: D'Argo-
D’argo: With my own manin.
Chiana: I'm not your manin.
D’argo: Obviously.
Chiana: I didn't mean that, I-
D’argo: Well what did you mean?
Jothee: D'Argo let's not-
D’argo: Let's not what? Get angry? Or - kill you? *shows Jothee union tattoo* Do you know what this is?
Chiana: D'Argo this is my fault - mine! Not Jothee’s.
D’argo: Get away from me now. It's a union tattoo. It's a Luxan symbol of courage, honor and loyalty. I was going to give it to Chiana but I was wrong. I want you to have it.
Jothee: D'Argo - I don't want to have to...
D’argo: No -I INSIST that you have it!
Chiana: D'Argo let him go!
D’argo: GET AWAY FROM ME! *brands his son*
Chiana: D'ARGO!
D’argo: *turns on her* But you - you will never get these.
Chiana: D'Argo listen to me-
D’argo: NO! I will never listen to anything either of you have to say again.
Chiana: D'Argo - *as he’s leaving* D'ARGO!
D’argo: I know what it was I smelled before. It was a burned out function cell in the cryo-chamber.
*a chant that really needs an exorcist after hearing it more than once…*
Borlik: Lakma-ruka-be. Lakma-ruka-be. Lakma-ruka-be. Lakma-ruka-be. Lakma-ruka-be.
*Rygel gets some aggression out with his thronesled*
Borlik: Wooorrrm - are you ready to die in the cleansing apocalypse? Lakma-ruka-be! Lakma-ruka-be! Lakma-ruka-be! Lakma-ruka-be! Lakma-ruka-be!
Rygel: Worm? Are you ready to die in a cleansing ramming?
*John attempts a soothing bromance speech before impending peril*
John: Hey D. How you doin'?
D’argo: You know don't you?
John: Yah.
D’argo: Did you know when I showed you the union tattoos?
John: No I didn't.
D’argo: They're bragging about it aren't they?
John: D'Argo it's not like that. Rygel found out and he told me what- We don't have time for this.
D’argo: Yes I know. I heard you talking to Pilot. You want me to go outside and help free Moya.
John: While I go grab Borlik.
D’argo: Well why don't you get Chiana and Jothee to do it? They like working together-
John: D'ARGO! They CAN'T free the cable! They're not as strong as you are. They're not as brave, they're not as smart-
D’argo: OH LOOK DON'T! ALL RIGHT? JUST DON'T! They broke my heart John.
John: I know that. But if you don't go out on Moya and pull that cable off we're all gonna die when that storm hits.
D’argo: Then we all die.
*a bitter, drunk D’argo decides on a dangerous mission*
D’argo: Yeah - "We need you D'Argo." "We - need you." "Oh and by the way, would you mind putting your hands against the wall and spreading your legs so I can kick you up the mivonks? 'Cos you have got to be one dumb tresnak!" *coms Pilot* I'm starting depressurization.
Pilot: I've created an inertial field on Moya’s skin so you can move around some. But be careful, the winds are reaching speeds of 300 nilits.
D’argo: I've got a breathing regulator in case I have to stay out there.
Pilot: Crichton told me you weren't going out.
D’argo: Well you know what? I changed my mind.
Pilot: Why?
D’argo: Goodbye Pilot.
*John keeping guilty Jothee and Chiana at bay*
Jothee: Is he dead? Is my father dead?
John: I don't know.
Jothee: I'll go with you! I'm half Luxan - I can survive out there! I'll help-
John: You don't know that Jothee and I can't be rescuing two people! Now get out of here!
***
Chiana: Get to him. Get to him now!
John: Heading for the cables.
Chiana: I'm coming out there myself!
John: NO CHIANA! STAY THE HELL WHERE YOU ARE!
Chiana: Frell!
*obligatory famous quote as spoken by Aeryn once she found the kids*
Aeryn: Frell me dead.
*Borlik and John battle for the last laugh*
Borlik: I think I'll be able to share my purification. It took all my strength, but I was able to reconfigure the magnetics and stick here. By the time you cut me down, the storm will be upon us. Lakma-ruka-be! Lakma-ruka-be! Lakma-ruka-be!
John: You're too smart.
Borlik: Where are you going?
John: Oh uh - you win. We lose. You-you outsmarted us. But that door you're stuck to? It's detachable.
Borlik: NO!
John: YES!
Borlik: NO! YOU LIE! NO! YOU WILL STILL BE PURIFIED! THE HOLY GEZMAS PUNISHMENT WILL BE BROUGHT DOWN UPON-
John: Blah-blah, blah-blah, blah- Pilot! I'm clear! Detach the door - and suck this bitch out!
*Aeryn retracts her sexy offer, but friendly flirtation persists*
John: Been ah - thinking about that thing we talked about. About charity, and ah - maybe...
Aeryn: Maybe you were right. We should do nothing.
John: What about body fluids?
Aeryn: There'll be a backlog.
Rygel: Fluid levels? Backlog? Is there some kind of problem?
John: Shut up.
Rygel: What did I say?
John & Aeryn: Shut up!
*Jothee says goodbye to Chiana and, unknowlingly, D’argo*
Chiana: You really gonna - gonna leave without saying anything?
Jothee: Yeah. D'Argo's right. I know nothing of Luxan honor or integrity. I'm a half-Luxan. I betrayed him - and if I stay, I'll probably do it again.
Chiana: It wasn't all your fault.
Jothee: Yeah I figured that bit. Why did you do it?
Chiana: I don't know - D'Argo had plans... For - for me... For a stupid farm. I didn't want any of them. I knew he wouldn't take no for an answer, so I-I figured I had to do something he'd never forgive.
Jothee: You used me.
Chiana: Yeah. A little. But you enjoyed it. Didn't you?
Jothee: Tell my father - if he'll let you - that I'm sorry. And that one day I'll return, and make it up to you both.
Chiana: I'll tell him.
___
But here’s a sticking point somewhat related to the b plot—we’re now in season three, and there’s a new transition for our favorite homeboy. First season, he was our naïve little astronaut, in the second he was getting his bearings by being an unwitting science experiment, and generally growing physically and mentally harder. Now, people know him. He and the Moya crew have blown up enough shit to build up some infamy in the Uncharted Territories. This intrigued me when I first watched this come up in the opening scenes; I’ve grown to appreciate the detail. It’s nice to know that the Moya crew doesn’t live in little episodic bubbles from week to week. Their actions have more far-reaching consequences.
Episode summary is here, courtesy of the John and Aeryn Fansite.
So the b plot is pretty perfunctory. Most of the Moya crew (sans Chiana, Jothee and Rygel) are on an intergalactic space station shopping mall of sorts to get supplies, and convening in a bar afterwards. John is talking the ear off of the bartender, a more humanoid version of Jabba the Hutt called Moordil, before a member of security, more humanoid with yellow eyes and facial scars called Borlik, recognizes him as the infamous John Crichton who blew up a gammak base, among other things. (Aeryn tries to pretend they don’t know who this “John Cretin” is, but our human gets a bit worked up when Borlik damages his reputation by gossiping that he’s raped and pillaged.) The station is being rocked by what should be harmless gamma storms, but before the titles roll the place is mostly destroyed. Borlik suggests that the station is cursed for being built in holy space called the Sacred Stillness; two other stations in the area have also been destroyed by storms. Pilot detects that this storm is being attracted by a signal from within the station; once the DRDs come in (one is John’s taped up buddy from the premiere!) they detect that it’s from Borlik herself. She’s a religious fanatic! And can attach herself like a magnet to surfaces while chanting. :P Due to twisty plot issues, they just can’t kill her outright. So John is able to grab a capsule that was housing one of the Interons (more on that later) to redirect Borlik’s power, stick her in the box, and put her aboard Moya where they’d ship her out into space, taking the storm with her. Minor complications arise when she’s able to get out of the capsule and stick to Moya…but it turns out that she chose a detachable door. :P Woops. So out she goes, a gamma ray gets her, and all else is saved.
I’ll put off the inevitable relationship drama for a little while to talk about some other drama. Maybe all this talk about John being a pillaging rapist with his “grunt,” Aeryn, is affecting my opinion somewhat (I can see how Borlik’s largely accurate account might have cemented some anti-John views in the fandom,) but he’s a bit ruthless in this episode, isn’t he? Kind of like with T’raltixx last season, he’s come across a dangerous fanatic and he feels no remorse when, in this case, he “sucks this bitch out” to her death. Even Pilot is in on it this time, cackling like a maniac as he lets the door go! (And Rygel’s having a lot of fun head butting her or stuffing cloth into her mouth to shut her up. :P) I’m not sure we can blame the chip this time since it’s out of his head and Harvey is in the dumpster. :p And John, as evidenced throughout the rest of the episode, still has his positive traits with his shipmates. It’s just worth noting how the Uncharted Territories have changed him. Granted, with Zhaan’s impending death, everyone—especially Stark—is on edge. He goes from showing extreme charity to some lowly workers, to screaming at her to take a look at her head. Looks like she’s sprouting the sores that she had while hungry in “Home on the Remains,” except this time they’re infused with pus. A commenter on the ScapeCast has made his peace with Zhaan not dying immediately after saving Aeryn by remembering that she’s a plant and that plants don’t die all at once. :P And by this episode, the larger endgame of the Moya crew is to find her a good planet with fertile soil for healing. I like these tie-ins, but not as much as I do the character beats. Stark, who routinely eases the dying over to the other side, can’t face up to the death of his love. Zhaan, meanwhile, turns back to her empathetic roots, and stays with Moordil, who is passing from the wounds he received when the storm struck the station. Perhaps best out of everyone, she is able to retain her grace.
John maybe gets some of his back in his moments with D’argo. When the ladies and the estranged sons are hassling, it’s always the time for bromance. :P Unfortunately they’re in the middle of a crisis, and they need the big man to remove some cables from Moya’s outer hull. John has a tough task ahead of him, to provide sympathy and ask his friend to play a part—he doesn’t do too good of a job, given D’s reaction to his overwrought “they’re not as brave as you, they’re not as smart as you,” yadda yadda. But, although drunk post-confrontation with Chiana and Jothee, he decides to go out on his own. Pilot’s pretty concerned (with some great eyebrow movements, thanks to the puppetry,) and Chiana is hysterical, though of course D’argo won’t listen to her. He’s tethered to the ship but John has to go rescue him after the Luxan touches some charged cables and goes flying into space. D also has to save our human, because this working with dangerous materials in space thing can be hazardous! :P But he still doesn’t want to go in and face the betrayal in his life. John ultimately coerces him by refusing to go in alone, but nothing beats Anthony Simcoe’s performance here, particularly post-breakup when he’s such a broken man. D’argo’s drunken irateness, tears and tantrums could come off as ridiculous, but instead they are very earned. He’s lost the son he fought for, the happy ending he hoped for… I’m almost in tears myself watching D’argo burn the unity tattoos that he started the episode buying for Chi. On the upside, though, he finds a small space ship in the debris and brings it into Moya… /zips lips :P
The ScapeCast crew, already pretty anti-Jothee, brought out the big guns while reviewing this episode, even entertaining the notion that D’argo’s son made some secret deal with Scorpius. :P He’s a rotten teen, but I can’t help but feel a little bad for him, since Chiana’s a bit of a rotten teen, too. From Jothee’s perspective he’s angry, resentful, a slave on his own for most of his life, and now his dad is back and trying to act like Norman Rockwell. :P There’s a Crichtonism, right John? Anywho. He’s a hothead, but it’s not like he’s had any sort of stable upbringing, either. Yeah, he can’t take a joke, but maybe you’d be hypersensitive, too, if this was the first time in forever that you had a dad. :P (And the Interon whom he and Chi woke up with their—activities—subtly insulted his performance, too! Poor kid.) I mean, he obviously feels guilt, wanting to go out with John and take care of D’argo after. I always kind of wish that he’d stayed on the ship, that this would be the beginning of his character arc rather than the end. But alas, the show already had its focus; not enough time to center on whether Jothee’s shame turned to honor, as he puts it. (Either way, D’argo burning him with the tattoos had to be pretty traumatizing. Kind of sexist, too, as though Chiana is property. :/) I think Jothee deserved more of a chance from the fandom, and hopefully, ultimately, the Moya crew. Alas. I’ll give my parting kudos to actor Matthew Newton, who brought this traumatized, frustrated teen to life.
I’ll do a quick transition to Aeryn before coming back to Chi. She spends most of the episode searching for trapped children within the station, and ultimately uttering some fan favorite lines: “frell me dead.” :P (She also has to crawl through lots of dead bodies, plus the kids are trapped with the guardian’s corpse. “Farscape” isn’t backing away from the gristly reality that Borlik’s plan brought!) But before that, she reneges slightly on her deal last episode with John where they’d quit their relationship cold turkey—now she’s open to “reducing fluid levels,” aka sex. As the ScapeCast pointed out, she’s playing the stereotypical male role in this relationship, while John is joking about checking with his diary, hee. I’m still a little eyebrow archy that she seems willing to get it on in the middle of a rescue mission, but maybe I’m misreading her. (Talking about sex while on the move I get, but actually taking the time to do it??) Maybe unzipping her top is only meant to be a sign of “you don’t have to be afraid of my body; this doesn’t have to mean anything.” But of course, thanks to the magic of broadcast television, she falls through the floor before John can get a good look. He should have already had his fill from “Out of Their Minds” anyway. :PP
Chiana has a pretty rough time of this episode, though granted it’s a mess of her own making. Obviously D’argo’s through with her and John, arguably her closest companion on the ship, is disgusted as well. (I’m always a bit wibbly when John tells Chiana that D’argo was the only person on the ship who would’ve done anything for her—like she’s an outsider again. :/) But even Rygel, with whom she’s usually as thick as thieves, can’t stomach this sort of betrayal; he makes a porno tape and then insults her. To add insult to injury, her admission of guilt, such as it is, is brought on by the fact that she thinks D’argo can smell the two of them on each other when he’s actually focused on something completely unrelated. But of course Chiana’s whole endgame is ultimately to have the shit hit the fan. I’m not sure Jothee is actually thinking so far ahead, but Chi recognizes her innate fight-or-flight behavior for what it is by the end of the hour. Thanks to the ScapeCast for pointing this out—she and Aeryn are really quite similar when it comes to love. Both are pretty terrified of it. Aeryn doesn’t know how to deal with those emotions after a lifetime of stoic peacekeeper training (and after things ended so badly with Velorek, surely). Chiana, meanwhile, doesn’t know how to compromise with D’argo (who is bad at it himself)—she loves him, imho, but she doesn’t want to fit into his plans as a farmer’s wife. Like Aeryn, she has little prior experience with genuine, loving relationships. Also like Aeryn, she generally sees sex as recreational, though our former PK seems to be changing her tune. By the end of the hour, maybe she’s shelved her offer of sex because she realizes that it can’t erase her emotional attachment to John. For Chiana, sex with Jothee is something D’argo can’t forgive. It’s a horrible betrayal, absolutely, and her being ostracized is understandable. But I’m still sad for my Nebari girl, for having to learn the lesson that such acts are usually a form of self sabotage. She’s destroyed more than she realized she would, and now she has to live with it. So too do Jothee and D’argo, because neither of them have been Mr. Perfect in their relationships these past few weeks. But damn does that make for good character development, and a compelling show.
Favorite Crichtonism: Hey fridge magnet! I got something for you to feel.
Favorite Quotes:
*John’s version of chatting up the barkeep*
John: See, to me it's unbelievable. Y'know? I can come to the Mall of the Uncharted Territories, buy anything I want 'cos I'm rich and that leather S&M faced wacko Scorpy clone? He's-he's, locked in here - *taps head* - so, you know, I- with all - y'know everything, is going to be just fine. But no! My friend, she's sick, so we gotta find a place where she can heal - and you have no idea what I'm talkin' about, do ya?
Moordil: No.
*D’argo shares his plans for Chiana with a hesitant John*
John: Hey yo Heavy D! Hey man have you tried one of these things? *re: his drink* They're terrible, but once you get past the blue slime? Underneath - pure aviation fuel!
D’argo: Yeah, yeah- Look what I got me and Chiana! They're Union Tattoos! They're burned into our skin!
Moordil: ...ugh...
John: Cool.
D’argo: You know, I- I never though I was going to get married again, but then - What?
John: What?
D’argo: Have you been talking to Chiana?
John: Nope. No.
D’argo: I know - she's angry with me- But when she gets these-
John: Yeah - D'Argo, look - I could be wrong - right? Um- probably am. She probably wouldn't - but - Chiana could - say no.
D’argo: Pft! How could she say no?
*setting up plot for why Chiana and Jothee are doing their dirty business near the Interons*
Jothee: This is crazy.
Chiana: Yeah.
Jothee: And creepy. Why are we in here with these bodies?
Chiana: Because it's cold. Your Dad, D'Argo - D'Argo hates the cold. So he won't catch us if he comes back early.
Jothee: I'm half Luxan. I'm not crazy about the cold either.
Chiana: I'll warm you.
*Stark is a hippie leftist*
Stark: Take those to our vessel.
Porters: Yes Your Eminence! Thank you!
Zhaan: "Your Eminence" just gave them a 300 fedik tip! That's more than a years wage!
Stark: The servant class is never rewarded enough.
*Introductions: Borlik is crazy, Aeryn isn’t amused, and John is himself :P*
Borlik: Are you Crichton?
John: Who are you?
Borlik: Security. And are you Crichton?
Aeryn: No he's not. And we don't know who this "Cretin" is.
Borlik: You know, I heard he destroyed a Peacekeeper Gammak Base. Murdered an entire Nebari battalion - even laid waste to a shadow depository- Guy was a devil. He raped and pillaged-- he popped eyeballs-
John: Whoa-whoa! Where-? Where do they get these stories? Let's set the facts straight. First off - there was no raping, very little pillaging, and Frau Blucher popped all the eyeballs.
Borlik: I knew you were Crichton.
John: Look... I'm not here for any trouble. I'm just lookin' for some aviation fuel shooters.
Borlik: That's great. That's great because, in here, everything's on me. We hate Peacekeepers. Hey Moordil! Moordil - Intoxicants for Crichton and his - his grunt.
Aeryn: I'm not his grunt.
Borlik: Yeah. So - you here to kill somebody? Can I help you?
John: No, no, no. My grunt does all my killing. I'm strictly R&R.
*Rygel confronts Chiana in a rather R-rated HBO way*
Chiana: OOF! Watch it! Watch where your goin!
Rygel: Watch yourself - slut.
Chiana: What did you say?
Rygel: Out of my way. Zhaan needs these medical supplies on the station.
Chiana: What's the matter with you Ryg?
Rygel: I heard you.
Chiana: You heard nothing.
Rygel: Freezer chamber. Young half-breed. Any of this getting you wet?
Chiana: If you tell D'Argo, I will rip out your tongue and shove it up your faddik!
Rygel: You idiot! I won't have to tell him - he's Luxan! He'll smell Jothee all over you!
Chiana: Keep your lips shut!
Rygel: You do the same with your legs!
*store this object for later episodes…*
Pilot: How's Moya?
D’argo: Well her epidermis seems intact, but she's tangled up in some of the station’s cables.
Pilot: I'll see if I can reverse us clear.
D’argo: Pilot wait - there's another ship close by. It seems intact. Try to bring it in using the docking web.
*Borlik spins her tale of curses while everyone else worries about the dead and dying*
Zhaan: Don't move Moordil. The beam has pierced your modin artery.
Moordil: What does it matter? The station's destroyed. There must be hundreds dead- hundreds!
Zhaan: Shhh - stay calm! Moordil - there's nothing we can do about those souls anyway.
Moordil: Everything's gone.
Borlik: Then those stories must be true.
John: What are you talking about?
Borlik: You see, there were once 3 commerce stations near the twin suns of Qel. But one has been destroyed by asteroids. One has been burned by fire - and we are the last remaining station. There were stories that we were cursed.
Stark: Why would you be cursed?
Borlik: Because this station is built on what we call The Sacred Stillness. This is where some say the great Gods were born.
Moordil: That's just dren! There's no curse. It was - it was just storms!
Borlik: No! They weakened before they reached us! But you know this last cycle? It's been gaining in strength! The storms have been compacting to funnels just 6 parisns wide - each storm getting closer. It's as if they were aimed at us.
Aeryn: Can't aim a storm.
Borlik: Then the curse must be true. This is Gezma's revenge for buying and selling in his Sacred Stillness.
*Jothee talks to the Interon man and gets some insight into his backstory, plus a little bit of a burn :P*
Interon man: Where am I?
Jothee: On a Leviathan. We found you in a medical lab. You don't remember how you got there?
Interon man: No... I just... I was on a expedition. We were looking for the Dimordis Tomb in the Berjer Nebula. I got sick... Stanis and me got sick. Jool found us.
Jothee: When you were in there - before you woke up. You hear anything?
Interon man: I sensed... some movement... kind of a thumping sound. It didn't - last - long - *starts choking and gagging*
*Aeryn’s proposal about “reducing fluid levels” Bow chica-bow wow…*
Aeryn: You know - I've been thinking - about us.
John: You want to talk about this now?
Aeryn: It's a good time - no one here to bother us. I know the pressures of living close - how it can affect the safety of an entire battalion - unless tensions are relieved.
John: So what do you suggest?
Aeryn: Well in Peacekeepers, it was common practice to, ah - reduce fluid levels.
John: Fluid levels. Like - well like Valvoline, like brake fluid?
Aeryn: Like sex. We can have sex if you want.
John: You know what? Ah - now is not a good time. How about I, uh... check my diary and get back to you later in the week.
Aeryn: It would - relieve the tension.
John: Is this for you or for me?
Aeryn: For both of us.
John: You know what? I got two hands. I can alternate. I can release all the tension I want. I don't need your charity.
Aeryn: And I don't need your emotions. But we can have sex if you want.
*The Moya crew put their usual crisis-dealing cards on the table*
John: Pilot says there's another storm on the way. It's gonna hit us in less than 2 arns and it's bigger than the last one.
Stark: Hit us? This station can't take another hit.
John: Yeah I know that.
Rygel: Then let's all get onto Moya and haul out of here!
Zhaan: I can't pull the spike out of Moordil and I can't just leave him here!
Rygel: Well he's gonna die isn't he?
Zhaan: Well yes but-
John: Blue -
Rygel: What does it matter if we leave him?
John: Blue, Sparky - just knock it off. We've got at least 2 arns, Aeryn can use that time to try and free the trapped girl.
Rygel: I don't give a syzles ass about a trapped girl!
John: Yes and that's what makes you a great humanitarian, Buckwheat. But we are not leaving. It's Scooby-Doo time.
*the rumblings of a metaphorical storm ahead…*
D’argo: What's that smell?
Jothee: I bathed. I did. Twice.
D’argo: Are - you wearing... perfumed wash?
Chiana: Yeah. I gave him some from Zhaan’s chamber.
D’argo: Yeah well, ah - you smell very nice.
Jothee: Give me a break.
D’argo: Oh no - Really you do! You smell just-
Jothee: Find your own way into the frelling ship!
D’argo: Jothee! I was only teasing! Jothee! Um - you look attractive.
Chiana: Do I?
D’argo: Yes. Like you're happy.
Chiana: I'm not.
D’argo: I know I've been a trasnik, and I want to apologize.
Chiana: Look don't worry about it okay?
D’argo: Really. I am so sorry. And there's, uh - something I'd like to talk to you about if-
Chiana: Aaaah - look D'Argo, I'm not- I'm not ready to talk now okay?
D’argo: What do you want me to do, beg? I said I'm sorry! I-
Chiana: NO! I don't want you to beg! I'm just - I'm not ready to talk. Just because you're ready to talk, it doesn't mean that I am.
D’argo: Okay.
Chiana: I'm sorry, I - Uh - Pilot's- Pilot's got 2 more hatches for me to check and I just want to do that first okay?
D’argo: Fine.
Chiana: Fine. Okay.
*Stark is struggling to come to terms with Zhaan’s condition*
Zhaan: Don't worry about me Stark. It's all right.
Stark: Let me look at your head.
Zhaan: No! Just stop!
Stark: I said let me look at it! Let me look at it NOW!! *reacting* The sores are worse. The weakening is progressing-
Zhaan: Stark don't.
Stark: -much faster, much faster than we predicted - much- But I-I will find you a planet. A planet with the right soil and moisture.
Zhaan: Calm yourself Stark. Please. You're the expert here. You've witnessed more death than anyone else. So many dissatisfied souls dying before they felt ready.
Stark: Yes - I'm an expert on dying. I'm just not an expert on you dying.
*the proverbial storm hits*
D’argo: What's that smell?
Jothee: I told you, it's just this scented - wash.
Chiana: You know - the perfumed wash.
D’argo: Nonononono. There's something else...
Chiana: Well I don't smell anything.
D’argo: Why are you both in here?
Chiana: I told you - we were just checking on the dead guy.
D’argo: I don't believe you.
Chiana: Did you talk to Rygel?
D’argo: About what? *realization strikes* You have betrayed me.
Jothee: D'Argo-
D’argo: With my own manin.
Chiana: I'm not your manin.
D’argo: Obviously.
Chiana: I didn't mean that, I-
D’argo: Well what did you mean?
Jothee: D'Argo let's not-
D’argo: Let's not what? Get angry? Or - kill you? *shows Jothee union tattoo* Do you know what this is?
Chiana: D'Argo this is my fault - mine! Not Jothee’s.
D’argo: Get away from me now. It's a union tattoo. It's a Luxan symbol of courage, honor and loyalty. I was going to give it to Chiana but I was wrong. I want you to have it.
Jothee: D'Argo - I don't want to have to...
D’argo: No -I INSIST that you have it!
Chiana: D'Argo let him go!
D’argo: GET AWAY FROM ME! *brands his son*
Chiana: D'ARGO!
D’argo: *turns on her* But you - you will never get these.
Chiana: D'Argo listen to me-
D’argo: NO! I will never listen to anything either of you have to say again.
Chiana: D'Argo - *as he’s leaving* D'ARGO!
D’argo: I know what it was I smelled before. It was a burned out function cell in the cryo-chamber.
*a chant that really needs an exorcist after hearing it more than once…*
Borlik: Lakma-ruka-be. Lakma-ruka-be. Lakma-ruka-be. Lakma-ruka-be. Lakma-ruka-be.
*Rygel gets some aggression out with his thronesled*
Borlik: Wooorrrm - are you ready to die in the cleansing apocalypse? Lakma-ruka-be! Lakma-ruka-be! Lakma-ruka-be! Lakma-ruka-be! Lakma-ruka-be!
Rygel: Worm? Are you ready to die in a cleansing ramming?
*John attempts a soothing bromance speech before impending peril*
John: Hey D. How you doin'?
D’argo: You know don't you?
John: Yah.
D’argo: Did you know when I showed you the union tattoos?
John: No I didn't.
D’argo: They're bragging about it aren't they?
John: D'Argo it's not like that. Rygel found out and he told me what- We don't have time for this.
D’argo: Yes I know. I heard you talking to Pilot. You want me to go outside and help free Moya.
John: While I go grab Borlik.
D’argo: Well why don't you get Chiana and Jothee to do it? They like working together-
John: D'ARGO! They CAN'T free the cable! They're not as strong as you are. They're not as brave, they're not as smart-
D’argo: OH LOOK DON'T! ALL RIGHT? JUST DON'T! They broke my heart John.
John: I know that. But if you don't go out on Moya and pull that cable off we're all gonna die when that storm hits.
D’argo: Then we all die.
*a bitter, drunk D’argo decides on a dangerous mission*
D’argo: Yeah - "We need you D'Argo." "We - need you." "Oh and by the way, would you mind putting your hands against the wall and spreading your legs so I can kick you up the mivonks? 'Cos you have got to be one dumb tresnak!" *coms Pilot* I'm starting depressurization.
Pilot: I've created an inertial field on Moya’s skin so you can move around some. But be careful, the winds are reaching speeds of 300 nilits.
D’argo: I've got a breathing regulator in case I have to stay out there.
Pilot: Crichton told me you weren't going out.
D’argo: Well you know what? I changed my mind.
Pilot: Why?
D’argo: Goodbye Pilot.
*John keeping guilty Jothee and Chiana at bay*
Jothee: Is he dead? Is my father dead?
John: I don't know.
Jothee: I'll go with you! I'm half Luxan - I can survive out there! I'll help-
John: You don't know that Jothee and I can't be rescuing two people! Now get out of here!
***
Chiana: Get to him. Get to him now!
John: Heading for the cables.
Chiana: I'm coming out there myself!
John: NO CHIANA! STAY THE HELL WHERE YOU ARE!
Chiana: Frell!
*obligatory famous quote as spoken by Aeryn once she found the kids*
Aeryn: Frell me dead.
*Borlik and John battle for the last laugh*
Borlik: I think I'll be able to share my purification. It took all my strength, but I was able to reconfigure the magnetics and stick here. By the time you cut me down, the storm will be upon us. Lakma-ruka-be! Lakma-ruka-be! Lakma-ruka-be!
John: You're too smart.
Borlik: Where are you going?
John: Oh uh - you win. We lose. You-you outsmarted us. But that door you're stuck to? It's detachable.
Borlik: NO!
John: YES!
Borlik: NO! YOU LIE! NO! YOU WILL STILL BE PURIFIED! THE HOLY GEZMAS PUNISHMENT WILL BE BROUGHT DOWN UPON-
John: Blah-blah, blah-blah, blah- Pilot! I'm clear! Detach the door - and suck this bitch out!
*Aeryn retracts her sexy offer, but friendly flirtation persists*
John: Been ah - thinking about that thing we talked about. About charity, and ah - maybe...
Aeryn: Maybe you were right. We should do nothing.
John: What about body fluids?
Aeryn: There'll be a backlog.
Rygel: Fluid levels? Backlog? Is there some kind of problem?
John: Shut up.
Rygel: What did I say?
John & Aeryn: Shut up!
*Jothee says goodbye to Chiana and, unknowlingly, D’argo*
Chiana: You really gonna - gonna leave without saying anything?
Jothee: Yeah. D'Argo's right. I know nothing of Luxan honor or integrity. I'm a half-Luxan. I betrayed him - and if I stay, I'll probably do it again.
Chiana: It wasn't all your fault.
Jothee: Yeah I figured that bit. Why did you do it?
Chiana: I don't know - D'Argo had plans... For - for me... For a stupid farm. I didn't want any of them. I knew he wouldn't take no for an answer, so I-I figured I had to do something he'd never forgive.
Jothee: You used me.
Chiana: Yeah. A little. But you enjoyed it. Didn't you?
Jothee: Tell my father - if he'll let you - that I'm sorry. And that one day I'll return, and make it up to you both.
Chiana: I'll tell him.
___