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selenakEasterly greetings, Scapers! Remember, your Dominar approves of sugar highs, so have at it with the chocolate.
Wiki summary: Rygel's plot to appear regal backfires when he, along with a much needed part of Moya's propulsion system, are snatched by Tavlecs who possess drug-dispensing power gauntlets.
This one isn’t one of the Farscape greats, but it does show our crew in the still getting to know each other stage. The series is a bit obvious in (literally) throwing John at Aeryn and vice versa at every given opportunity, but that gives future vidders a lot of material work with. 😊
More seriously, the show really does take its (realistic-feeling) time for its crew bonding. Aeryn is after all a (just about) former Peacekeeper – who didn’t leave because she thought Peacekeeper policies towards Luxans were bad - , so D’Argo’s hostility and distrust are earned, but then so is the tentative bonding over mutual warriorness. That Aeryn knows about Luxan physicality enough to save his life here is an interesting detail; at a guess, Peacekeepers weren’t taught about the non-Sebacean races to help them…
Zhaan’s subplot with the Tavlek shows she’s both compassionate and strong (physically and morally, and btw, I don’t recall Zhaan showcasing this kind of physical strength in later seasons? But then it’s been years) – though other than making this character point about Zhaan and telling the audience „no lectures“ at the end when he goes back todoping using the gauntlet, it feels somewhat random.
The white bleeding: I was spoiled for Zhaan being a plant the first time I saw this episode way back then, but I probably would have written it off as „different blood color for aliens = standard trope“ things otherwises, see also D’Argo in this episode. Mind you, I really like that there are plant-based life forms in humanoid shape in this universe, it’s part of what makes it different, but it’s been so long that I don’t remember – other than Zhaan’s people, do we meet more species that are plant based?
This is when we first learn that for all of Rygel’s insistence on his royal dignity, he’s been deposed, and very aware no one cares whether he lives or dies, including his new crew mates on Moya.(Whom the plot has been careful to give the ruby as a reason to retrieve Rygel.) There's a bit of a chicken/egg thing re: how this explains Rygel. From what I remember Rygel mostly is used as comic relief early on, with his more thoughtful moments – and the part where Rockne O’Bannon’s or David Kemper’s observation that he’s the most intelligent regular on Moya is verifiable – coming later, but his reaction when Jotheb wants to use him in the Consortium is an early hint. Also, once you’ve seen the Peacekeeper Wars, it’s impossible not to grin when it comes to Rygel swallowing that gem for additional reasons than those the episode offers.
Crichton being able to deal with the glove for longer without going crazy than the more naturally aggressive D’Argo and Aeryn could: works with early John, but somehow I doubt later Crichton would qualify. I don’t mean he’s by necessity more attack prone, but he is, due to several season’s worth of trauma, much more paranoid, and presumably the glove would bring that out…
The other days
Wiki summary: Rygel's plot to appear regal backfires when he, along with a much needed part of Moya's propulsion system, are snatched by Tavlecs who possess drug-dispensing power gauntlets.
This one isn’t one of the Farscape greats, but it does show our crew in the still getting to know each other stage. The series is a bit obvious in (literally) throwing John at Aeryn and vice versa at every given opportunity, but that gives future vidders a lot of material work with. 😊
More seriously, the show really does take its (realistic-feeling) time for its crew bonding. Aeryn is after all a (just about) former Peacekeeper – who didn’t leave because she thought Peacekeeper policies towards Luxans were bad - , so D’Argo’s hostility and distrust are earned, but then so is the tentative bonding over mutual warriorness. That Aeryn knows about Luxan physicality enough to save his life here is an interesting detail; at a guess, Peacekeepers weren’t taught about the non-Sebacean races to help them…
Zhaan’s subplot with the Tavlek shows she’s both compassionate and strong (physically and morally, and btw, I don’t recall Zhaan showcasing this kind of physical strength in later seasons? But then it’s been years) – though other than making this character point about Zhaan and telling the audience „no lectures“ at the end when he goes back to
The white bleeding: I was spoiled for Zhaan being a plant the first time I saw this episode way back then, but I probably would have written it off as „different blood color for aliens = standard trope“ things otherwises, see also D’Argo in this episode. Mind you, I really like that there are plant-based life forms in humanoid shape in this universe, it’s part of what makes it different, but it’s been so long that I don’t remember – other than Zhaan’s people, do we meet more species that are plant based?
This is when we first learn that for all of Rygel’s insistence on his royal dignity, he’s been deposed, and very aware no one cares whether he lives or dies, including his new crew mates on Moya.(Whom the plot has been careful to give the ruby as a reason to retrieve Rygel.) There's a bit of a chicken/egg thing re: how this explains Rygel. From what I remember Rygel mostly is used as comic relief early on, with his more thoughtful moments – and the part where Rockne O’Bannon’s or David Kemper’s observation that he’s the most intelligent regular on Moya is verifiable – coming later, but his reaction when Jotheb wants to use him in the Consortium is an early hint. Also, once you’ve seen the Peacekeeper Wars, it’s impossible not to grin when it comes to Rygel swallowing that gem for additional reasons than those the episode offers.
Crichton being able to deal with the glove for longer without going crazy than the more naturally aggressive D’Argo and Aeryn could: works with early John, but somehow I doubt later Crichton would qualify. I don’t mean he’s by necessity more attack prone, but he is, due to several season’s worth of trauma, much more paranoid, and presumably the glove would bring that out…
The other days
no subject
Date: 2020-04-12 11:52 am (UTC)Like you, I appreciated the way Farscape took its time showing the crew bonding. At this stage they can sort-of work together, but it's not really teamwork. D'Argo distrusts Aeryn, Aeryn considers D'Argo a barbarian, both hold Crichton in a mild sort of contempt, and everyone despises Rygel.
(And while Rygel is played for comic relief in these early episodes, I think at heart he's a fairly sad character. I think the scene where he laughs at the fact he is of no value to anyone sort of hints at this facet of his nature.)
Lastly: I loved the snark in this episode. There were some memorable lines: "You call that a plan? Wylie Coyote could come up with a better plan" and "Imagine a planet full of Crichtons" to just pick two that I liked.
no subject
Date: 2020-04-12 04:59 pm (UTC)Quite. Also: late 90s US-Australian tv, when an heroic male US character (from the South, no less) could have that attitude.
I think at heart he's a fairly sad character. I think the scene where he laughs at the fact he is of no value to anyone sort of hints at this facet of his nature.
*nods* Yes, agreed. He's also, as we'll find out, (much) older than the rest, and spend so many years locked up that it's suprising he didn't go mad.
no subject
Date: 2020-04-12 06:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-04-13 08:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-04-12 08:01 pm (UTC)John is still so young here, too. Only five years pass in the series, but John of PKW, John of S4: that older, brutalized John will shoot first.
no subject
Date: 2020-04-13 09:54 am (UTC)Re: Aeryn - her assuming that John will back her up regardless of her just having knocked him out - does she regard him as esentially reliable in this sense, does she count on the emergency situation?
no subject
Date: 2020-04-13 12:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-04-12 08:25 pm (UTC)I didn't remember that this is the episode where we discover that D'Argo's Qualta Blade incorporates an energy weapon, and also the "percussive" Luxan approach to first aid.
Aeryn knowing about Luxan physiology - well, in the later "Different Destinations", Aeryn immediately explains D'Argo's presence to the historical Peacekeepers as "he's a Luxan mercenary", with no suspicions aroused, so the idea of Luxans fighting alongside Peacekeepers isn't entirely implausible.
Rygel - yes, his determination to retain his dignity and his world-weariness are established in this episode, but stealing a vital part of Moya to decorate his sceptre is stupid in a way that he wouldn't display in the future. (Has anyone else here seen the 1980s BBC dramatisation of Olivia Manning's autobiographical Balkan Trilogy as Fortunes of War? Rygel reminds me a good deal of Ronald Pickup's depiction of the untrustworthy but lovable Russian nobleman Prince Yakimov in that.)
In relation to the subplot about Zhaan and the Tavlek prisoner, I suspect that it was an early example of Farscape signalling to the audience "this is not a ST:TNG type show where all aliens will immediately be converted to a 1990s centre-left political outlook as Obviously Correct with no resistance".
no subject
Date: 2020-04-13 10:00 am (UTC)Fortunes of War: afraid not, though it's been on my list for eons.
but stealing a vital part of Moya to decorate his sceptre is stupid in a way that he wouldn't display in the future
That's true, and probably why I headcanon he did it to ensure Moya wouldn't leave without him. :)
Good point re: "Luxan mercanaries".
, I suspect that it was an early example of Farscape signalling to the audience "this is not a ST:TNG type Show"
Most likely, I agree.
I suspect that it was an early example of Farscape signalling to the audience "this is not a ST:TNG type show
no subject
Date: 2020-04-15 01:10 pm (UTC)Jumping in to say that I remember that they filmed the first four episodes after the premiere in two episode blocks of filming, something that they quickly dropped after realising that it wasn’t so great for episode quality. But I think that’s why there’s always been some confusion about the correct order for those early episodes? I believe that the original air dates were in the wrong order, and it was then corrected for the DVDs, although the lack of any strict continuity in these early episodes means that it doesn’t really make that much difference what order you view them in. The only real difference it makes from what I recall is that I, E.T has Aeryn complaining in the beginning about being stuck with escaped prisoners, something that works better if you view it as the second episode immediately after the premiere as intended, rather than it originally airing as the fourth episode when she’d presumedly already been travelling with them for a while by then
no subject
Date: 2020-04-15 02:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-04-13 02:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-04-13 06:13 am (UTC)The only other worthwhile part of I, E.T. is Rygel admitting to Zhaan that he worries he's not useful for anything, something that's certainly reinforced here. For all he tries not to show it, getting deposed and tortured did effect his ego.
(I also rewatched Exodus From Geneisis, and we're really not missing anything there. Except the rad eye-liner on the PK Commando squad, I guess.)
no subject
Date: 2020-04-13 10:04 am (UTC)That's true. Incidentally, wasn't there a scene for the two of them in "The Peacekeeper Wars" which brings that up, or am I misremembering?
Thank you for nobly watching what we don't and keeping us updated.:)
no subject
Date: 2020-04-14 02:02 am (UTC)I honestly have no idea, but I look forward to finding out when we eventually get there! (One of the fun things about this rewatch is rediscovering all of the things I had entirely forgotten over the past two decades.)
Thank you for nobly watching what we don't and keeping us updated.:)
Just don't expect me to throw myself in front of Jeremiah Crichton :). Nobody needs to watch that twice in one lifetime.
no subject
Date: 2020-04-13 03:29 pm (UTC)It's most memorable for being one of the show's first memorable versions of a classic TV plot-of-the-week (in this case, the "Groundhog Day" time-loop ending in disaster each time plot) and Aeryn showing off her abs. But I'd forgotten how good an episode it is for D'Argo, with us seeing him in love in both predictably combative, but also tender, mode, and the first revelation that he hadn't been telling the whole truth about why he was in prison.
John's increasing mental unbalance as the repeated timewarps hit him also give us a hint at how he'll develop in the future, and the line about it being "about time" for him to go "plain ole bonkers" is pretty painful.
The only bad thing about the episode on rewatch is how crudely femme-fatalish Matala is right from the beginning (although it fits with D'Argo being emotionally less mature than he likes to seem that he's fooled), and how annoying the actor's voice is.