Overall: 8.0
This is the first episode that comes close to the quality of later Farscape outings. It seems the cast and crew have finally begun to work out all the kinks.
Plot Synopsis:
Farscape World has a summary here.
The Skinny:
I usually don't care for "Love Interest of the Week" stories, but in this case, the writers use Gilina to achieve at least two important objectives. Number one, we learn more about the consequences of Aeryn's "defection" -- that she is now reviled throughout the ranks as a traitor and that Crais has summarily demoted Aeryn's entire unit. (Ouch.) Number two, Gilina's bonding with Crichton ultimately forces Aeryn to admit that she finds Crichton at least somewhat attractive. (Heh.) I'm not a huge Crichton/Aeryn fan, mind, but I do like that, once again, Aeryn is opening up and revealing that she does have feelings -- that she does have a soul.
In the meantime, the writers hand another great story to Rygel. Indeed, Rygel's personal battle to overcome the horrific memories of his time on the Zelbinion is perhaps the best part of this episode. The revelation that he was not only imprisoned but also tortured allows us to feel genuine sympathy for the froggy little rascal -- and when he finally finds his tormentor's corpse and at last conquers his fear, I honestly feel like cheering. Bravo!
Writing: 8.5
This script is far less awkward - less uneven - than the previous six. The story definitely holds together well, and the characterization work - with Rygel especially - is quite good.
Acting: 8.5
The regular cast members also seem to be getting more comfortable in their roles -- and for once, the guests didn't annoy me. As a matter of fact, I think Alyssa-Jane Cook puts in a solid-to-strong performance as Gilina.
Message: 7.0
As Rygel learns in this episode, you can't let fear paralyze you. In order to overcome it, you must confront its source head-on.
Highlights:
Gilina: Thank you for stopping her from killing me today.
John: Well, I try to save a life a day. Usually it's my own. (They walk into a large compartment. Crichton is stunned.) Oh, man. If you guys would only use your know-how to-
Aeryn: To do what? To fulfill your vision of who we should be?
John: To do good.
Aeryn: We are Peacekeepers. Other cultures hire us to keep order. To keep harmony.
Rygel: As well as assassinations, torture, kidnap. (And with that, he spits in Gilinas' face.)
John: (grabbing Rygel and pulling him away) You knock it off, weasel!
Rygel: I've barely gotten used to sharing my accommodation with one of these... abominations! Dispel the thought of two! (Wow. That's real hatred right there. Earned hatred, but still...)
Rygel: Durka! Is it really you, Durka? (He sees a weapon in the corpse's hand.) You killed yourself, Durka. You coward. You once told me I'd never leave your ship alive. You robbed me of so many cycles. But no matter what you did to me, I'll always remember one thing: You lose! (And he spits in the corpse's face. Nice.)
John: You know, in my world, they say that loss is the hardest emotion to deal with...
Aeryn: In my world, showing pain is a sign of weakness.
John: How can you not feel pain after what you've been through?
Aeryn: Don't presume to understand me, John.
John: That's not fair. It's not fair, Aeryn. You bash me all the time for being soft. Well the fact of the matter is that sometimes it's an advantage, and this is one of them. I think I understand you.
Aeryn: There's no way you can know how I feel.
John: If I somehow, someday, get a chance to return to my world... walk around my old neighborhood... see my old house... Dads' truck... best friends' bike on the lawn... and then I get a chance to go inside. I walk through the living room upstairs to my room. Had a poster of Clint Eastwood. "The Good, The Bad And The Ugly." And then I think: what if everyone were dead? What if all my friends and family were lying there, dead. Now what would it be like to go home then?
Aeryn: I stand corrected. (Indeed.)
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