Farscape Rewatch: Raphsody in Blue

[selenak]

Wiki summary: Zhaan is asked to help an outpost of fellow Delvians attempting to avoid the madness that threatens them.



This is also a case where the wiki episode order is different from the Amazon Prime one, which is why I watched "The Flax" first and was all set to write a post on this when I realised it was actually Raphsody in Blue time. Aaanyway.

This is probably the most we see of the Delvians throughout the show, at least as far as I recall, and it's through the perspective of an exiled faction/sect, so who knows how typical/atypical they are. But never mind the Jedi/Sith joke I couldn't resist, I suspect they, like the Bajoran religion on DS9, took their cue originally from Buddhism, or at least pop culture Buddhism. The show had established Zhaan used to be violent, and enjoy it, in previous episodes. Here, we get the most extensive version of her backstory we'll ever hear, and it's probably telling that the part that freaks John out the most is that she killed her lover during what he sees as sex. (Given the political context this story is placed in, I associated Judith, but then the bible takes care to tell us Judith did not have to have sex with Holofernes, she got him drunk first and killed him then.) Personally, what disturbes me still upon rewatch the most is the rewriting of memories the 10th level Paa'u can do. It's a sci fi gimmick not invented by Farscape, but it still works on so many fear levels for me, probably because if you can't trust your memories are real, then this calls everything into question on an existential level.

After the previous two episodes gave us some early glimpses at Crichton's own darker side, in this one he's definitely back to innocence, bouncy naivete and compassion as primary traits, from geeking out about the plant-fish-hybrids (and having a go at Aeryn for not seeing the wonder of it all) to being willing to share unity with Zhaan despite being informed of the mental risk and despite having freaked out about her backstory, so she can regain her sense of self and stability. It's important for the overall characterisation of both show and charactes, I think, that the series never ships Zhaan with John (though he's aware that she's a very attractive woman, and he does compare "sharing unity" with "ten times great sex" once it happens) - he's not doing this for romantic reasons but because he sees her as a friend/comrade whom he wants to help.

Mind you, I wish we'd have gotten a bit more on why Zhaan despite already severe doubts and having seen Tahleen do highly questionable things (manipulating everyone's dreams, rewriting Crichton's childhood memory) still goes along with this. Since the episode is meant to explore her dark side, it could be part of her wants Thahleen's mental powers and thinks it's worth the risk, and you can still interpret it this way but mostly we see Zhaan being in angst and torment, so to me it does not feel like she's truly in danger of losing herself. (The episode where we really see Zhaan acting ruthless in a chilling way remains "DNA Mad Scientist", and there it's so effective because that brand of selfishiness is so mundane and recognizable.)

Otoh, I do think it's a good storytelling choice per se to have Zhaan be the prisoner on Moya who actually got locked up for something she'd done (unlike D'Argo), and who used her years of imprisonment (17, as we learn) to change herself for the better (whereas Rygel just got tortured and traumatized to the nth degree) - none of which, of course, was intended by her captors. Some years ago when Andraste ran the Multiverse ficathon, I remember one of the most interesting stories had Zhaan encounter G'Kar (from Babylon 5), both before their respective enlightenments, and I could see the parallels then when I hadn't before.

Lastly: the episode introduces Alex, Crichton's pre-show girlfriend. Who shares some qualities with Gilina from "PK Tech Girl" - blonde, small, smart - to establish John has (had) a type - , but since the only time the real Alex appears is in the teaser, it's hard to say what she's like beyond that. (Since the constant "forget about Zhaan, think of me"s are all Lorana attempting to distract Crichton.)

Trivia: the conversation between Lorana and Hasket early on where Lorana thinks Hasket is just jealous of her sharing unity with Tahleen is, given the sexual coding of the "sharing unity" experience, an example of the show casually letting characters be bisexual. Given one of the few nitpicks I have with the next episode (you guessed it, the "female of my/your species" scene), it's worth keeping in mind.

The Other Days

Comments

[neuralclone]

Do you know what I found most interesting about this episode? It was the various fears that came bubbling up to the surface when Lorana and Hasket started messing with D'Argo, Rygel and Aeyrn's minds. D'Argo saw Jothee being taken away, Aeryn saw her weapons falling to pieces, and Rygel imagined himself shrinking until he was very, very tiny. It was quite a revealing glimpse into what makes these characters tick.

... Also interesting was the fact that Zhaan went to Crichton, of all her shipmates, for advice. And it was a good call, because though he was way out of his depth for most of the episode, in the end he was the one able to help her.

(Not, I noticed, until Lorana and Hasket relented and stopped messing with Crichton's mind, but he was well able to take over from there!)

And incidentally... TPTB love frelling with Crichton's mind, don't they? We're just halfway through the first season, and how many times has it been already...?

This is probably the most we see of the Delvians throughout the show, at least as far as I recall, and it's through the perspective of an exiled faction/sect, so who knows how typical/atypical they are.

I wondered that too. Do all Delvians have that core of rage, or is it only something that manifests when they start on the Delvian seek? It also sort of leaves the question hanging of what has been happening on Peacekeeper occupied Delvia (and come to think of it, whether the Peacekeepers often take over planets, and how long they've been doing it. Is it a recent innovation? Another series might take this plot point and turn it into a whole story arc!)

I suspect they, like the Bajoran religion on DS9, took their cue originally from Buddhism, or at least pop culture Buddhism.

The set decorations seemed to have been influence by traditional Chinese designs (though there would probably be more red and less blue in traditional Chinese design!) It was at once beautiful and eerie and disquieting, in the best kind of way. Once again my hat's off to the art/design side of the production.

[selenak]

in the end he was the one able to help her.

As Londonkds notes below, by the display of emotional intelligence, and that's something Zhaan has seen from John before. Also they had that conversation after they defeated Maldis together, so he knows she's afraid of her dark side. And consider the alternatives. Now D'Argo is arguably the crewmate Zhaan at this point is closest to, but if you ask him "should I help my people at the risk of my own sanity", Mr. HyperRage isn't going to reply with anything but "abso-frelling-lutely". Whereas Aeryn in this particular matter is somewhere Zhaan probably still sees foremost as a Peacekeeper. And Rygel is likely to just ask if he can keep her stuff should she go insane.

Re: Peacekeepers and Delvians, it occurs to me that if this story is anything to go by, Zhaan's lover was the one to originally bring them to Delvia, which might be how Things are handled in General - i.e. there's a local authority who calls for them, whether out of actual need or because of their own power seeking (hoping they'll be rewarded). On the planet in "Thank God, It's Friday Again" planet, only the leader knew they were all working for the Peacekeepers. This kind of procedure - going through the bother of a formal "invitation" could be a Long term echo of the fact the Peacekeepers started out as intergalactic cops.

[neuralclone]

Hmmm... the Peacekeepers sound a bit like vampires. They have to be invited in before they can take you over (and suck you dry).

[jesuswasbatman]

Yes, this is really a quite disturbing episode, given what the Delvian sect are willing to do to the Moya crew without crossing what they see as the moral line by using physical violence.

I again thought that John shows his real emotional intelligence, getting Zhaan to enter Unity with him by appealing to the darker impulses that are taking her over by accusing her of cowardice, and then bringing her back to herself with his love and admiration for her.

One part of this episode that doesn't really work for me, and I don't know if it's the writing or performance or both, is Tuzak. He basically seems too sane and wise to be viewed by the other Delvians as insane, or indulging his darker inner drives. Unless the idea is that he was such a saintly person originally that him overpowered by his dark impulses still qualifies as a lovable old chap by average standards?

On why Zhaan co-operates with Tahleen initially despite reasons to be suspicious, I suspect it's her ideological need to help free her people from Peacekeeper domination overriding her personal judgement of Tahleen.

[selenak]

given what the Delvian sect are willing to do to the Moya crew without crossing what they see as the moral line by using physical violence

Indeed. When JMS let Psi Cops do stuff like this in early B5, it was to signal these were the bad guys.

Tuzak: now that you mention it, yes, there are no scenes where he comes across as actually insane, or even sane and dark. (I wonder whether the Writers has something like Stark in "my side, your side" mode in mind?)

Or: Maybe Tahleen manipulated him into appearing insane to the other Delvians by her superior mental abilities?

[jesuswasbatman]

He describes himself as insane when talking to John, which makes deception by Tahleen less likely. There are a couple of flashes of unexpected rage when he talks to John by the Root, maybe they were meant to be stronger?