Classics: Farscape 2:9 - Out of Their Minds

Overall: 7.7

Bonus Points for Being Hilarious: 1.5

Final Score: 9.2

This is the definition of crack. The plot is as thin as tissue paper, but I don't care because, as I note above, it's hysterical. Absolutely hysterical.

Plot Synopsis:

The phrases "body-swap episode" and "hilarity ensues" pretty much cover it, but if you're so inclined, you can check out the summary over at Farscape World for more details.

The Skinny:

Yes -- as SABR Matt noted in his review of SG1's Holiday, the body-swap trope has been done to death and then done some more. And yes -- body-swapping is metaphysically and scientifically suspect. But there are ways to do body-swapping right, and this episode is one such way. Writer Michael Cassutt doesn't even try to paper over the ridiculous premise with technobabble. Instead, he spends most of his time exploiting the humor of the situation.

This is an episode that is filled to the brim with "Only on Farscape" moments. Only on Farscape, for example, would an entire scene be built around an alien trying to figure out how to pee in a male human body. Only on Farscape would another scene be built around Our Hero discovering his new body's breasts. There is one moment of profundity here (highlighted below) in which Pilot-as-Chiana marvels at the others' capacity for friendship and love, but generally speaking, this is an episode designed to be extremely fun. Just sit back with a bucket of popcorn and let the hilarity wash over you like a wave.

Writing: 9.0

This script is just good, bawdy entertainment. I love it! (Because I am secretly six.)

Acting: 8.0

Anthony Simcoe's interpretation of Gigi Edgley's mannerisms is a bit too exaggerated at times, but otherwise, the cast does a great job imitating one another. I'm betting they had trouble keeping straight faces during the filming of the episode.

Message: 6.0

Message? We don't need no stinkin' message!

Video Highlights:
(courtesy of "nickyotto" on YouTube.)



(ROTFLOLOLOLOLOLOL!)

Additional Highlights:

D'Argo-as-Pilot: I can't believe it - it's getting easier, Pilot. How are you feeling?
Pilot-as-Chiana: If I stay calm, I'm fine. But I still sense Chiana's body wants me gone. I never thought I'd be separated from Moya again. It's as though all my senses have... have vanished. I can't see, or hear, or feel like I did.
D'Argo-as-Pilot: I'm beginning to understand. The glimpses I get of what you experience, Pilot -- they make my own life feel insignificant.
Pilot-as-Chiana: That's not true, D'Argo.
D'Argo-as-Chiana: It is. I have memories of my son, of a wife - but you have seen the galaxies and the birth of stars.
Pilot-as-Chiana: But - I have no... no memories of love. Of friendship. None. You have the remarkable memories, D'Argo. (AWWWWWWWWWWWWW. It's uncanny how Pilot gets all the poignant scenes.)

Tak: I-I-I feel unwell.
Rygel-as-John: (as Tak moans and gags) Nononono! We are well-stocked for the first time in a million cycles. We have fela shanks, Hynerian mar-jools -
Tak: I sick! I-I- (And with that, he proceeds, amid much gut-wrenching burbling and belching, to vomit up masses of a bright red substance that looks rather like partially-set Jell-O.)
Rygel-as-John: Yes. Go on. Go on. Let it all out.
Tak: Excuse.
Rygel-as-John: Nono. That's all right. We do that sort of thing all the time here on Moya. I just peed in the maintenance bay. (LOL!)