And now, on Farscape...
D’Argo and Rygel meet with Scorpius to discuss an alliance, while the rest of the crew deals with Talyn, who is running amok.
This is one of those episodes that is enjoyable to me only in parts. Everything that is happening on Moya is very compelling, but the action in the diner does not hold my interest very well.
How many shows have a diner mayhem plot that is similar to this one? I can think of many; it’s kind of funny how characters on film can get shot, taken hostage, and have to deal with criminals when they go out to eat or go to a bank. Now, myself, I’ve never had that happen to me, but I guess that is a good thing.
I did like the Yensch bracelets and the way that Braca and D’Argo were kept together with each one feeling the other’s pain. Poor Braca; I just love the look of resignation he gets on his face when Scorpius tells him to do something that he knows will be unpleasant. I love that guy. D’Argo and Braca were very funny together. I also enjoyed Scorpius dealing with Rygel. Their scenes together were good, and darn, did Scorpy do a great bar dive at one point. However, the diner’s cook and waitress were lame and the diner part just seemed to go on too long.
Back on Moya, things are not going so good. Talyn is experiencing extreme paranoia and destroys a hospital ship for no reason. He also fires on Moya. I loved how Crais was acting, this time. He was sad, compassionate, and truly concerned for Talyn’s welfare, not just Talyn’s usefulness for him. He has come a long way as a person after leaving Peacekeeper life.
John and Aeryn are still avoiding each other and not looking in each other’s eyes for most of this one. It’s just heartrending to see how wary and careful they are with each other. What an impossible situation. I’m sure that every time that Aeryn forgets, just for a moment, that he is not her John, her heart must break all over again. John is trying to take the other John’s advice and give her time, but it is so hard for him. He wants so badly to talk to her and to figure a way out of this mess, but there isn’t anything he can do now, except make it worse. The angst of this show just gets me so verklempt. I need a hug.
The crew knows that they must do something about Talyn, but Moya responds by shaking every time they talk about what to do. They try to reassure her that they don’t want to harm Talyn, but a reboot of his systems is necessary. This will take away his personality and he will not be the same, ever again. Poor Moya and Talyn, they have had a rough go of it in his short life.
Space Oddities:
Jool’s costume has this neck collar thing that looks really uncomfortable. I’d rip that thing off and refuse to wear it. I don’t even like turtlenecks; they make me feel like I’m choking.
The robbers in the diner were blue monkey alien things. They were very strange, but fun, I suppose.
Everyone acted their hearts out on this one. This cast is amazing.
The John and Aeryn Relationship Weather Report: Temps dropping rapidly, frosty conditions continue. Patches of black ice reported; step carefully, John.
Cosmic Quotes:
Chiana: “Give us a hand here, Princess.”
Jool: “I can't believe Talyn blew up Moya.”
Chiana: “I'm sure it was an accident — bet he was really aiming for you.”
Chiana: “What happened to you guys? Why... why didn't you call in?”
D'Argo: “Well, the restaurant, it, uh, sort of burned down — I don't want to talk about it, it's a long story.”
Aeryn: "I have a bad feeling about the Command Carrier."
John: "Do you think we should go?"
Aeryn: "I don't think we have a choice... if Scorpius masters wormholes, then..."
John: "Yeah, some things — you die for."
Aeryn: "I just can't watch that happen again. It was perfect, we were so... perfect and you're just like him, I mean, you are him."
John: "No, I'm me. I was here. I missed that dance, Aeryn… don't come with us."
Aeryn: "No, we started this together, Crichton. That's how we'll end it..."
They are moving the story along and setting up the action for the end of the season. There were a lot of good things to enjoy, or to feel bad about in this chapter, so overall, it did its job.
Three and a half out of five diner cheeseburgers.
Mallena loves her DVR, her Pug, almost anything in the sci-fi, fantasy, and supernatural genres, and her family. Well, maybe not in that exact order.
So glad someone shares my Braca love! He's awesome :)
ReplyDeleteDavid Franklin was so great as Braca. There was just something about him that made him interesting in every episode he was in. He never played Braca as emotionless, but as a real person who was doing his duty as well as he could. It also became funny how many times that poor guy was put in bad situations, but he never complained.
ReplyDeleteApparently they had big plans for Braca in season 5 and David Franklin was promoted to season regular. I wonder what would have happened to this awesome character.
ReplyDeleteA fine episode, especially the B story involving D'Argo and Rygel trying to do a deal with Scorpius & Braca.
ReplyDeleteThe two alien hijackers looked both stupid and incredibly dangerous at the same time, but I do feel sorry for the two cooks, especially the woman who was not "in" on the plan regarding the restaurant, and ended up with nothing!
I must also give a lot of respect to Crais and his dealings with Talyn. He really has levelled out over the last season or so, and I hope he stays that way. Although I suspect he may well flip back to the old renegade Peacekeeper at the slightest moment.
The John/Aeryn Thing was handled very well. Her coldness towards John was understandable, although come the end of the episode you could tell she was slowly thawing out and I guess it won't be too long before we them reunited.
Very pleased to see Rygel "man up" (or should that be puppet up?) He more or less took centrestage, even outshining both D'Argo and Scorpius during the hostage scene.
And I loved the Braga-D'Argo chain-of-pain!
ReplyDeleteI found the diner scenes with the blue aliens mostly tedious, they were too goofy. The yensch bracelets were a cool concept for security and Rygel proved he is very good at reading the room and quite the strategist.
Chiana has visions again, is the general consensus this is a by product of having been possessed by the energy rider? It was entertaining she had to deck Jools to save her.
But it always comes back to John and Aeryn for me. John is trying to give Aeryn space, he is letting her initiate conversation but it is clear he wants to do and say more. They dont make eye contact dancing around each other, she calls him Crichton not John, whereas black tshirt had become John.
Aeryn's pain is palpable when she finally admits she "can't watch that happen again. It was perfect, we were so... perfect and you're just like him, I mean, you are him" and all Crichton can offer is for her to stay behind, which would be worse.
I also really enjoy Braca, such a shame we never got that 5th season to see what they had planned for him.