Family Ties

Farscape Episode Review

In which John does something really cool and there is a cliff-hanger.

What Happened

Still trapped in the asteroid field, the crew of the Moya reconsider their options. Rygel, for example, reconsiders himself into a transport pod and goes to negotiate with Scorpius for amnesty. They cut a deal, until Crais, who is facing court-martial, points out how likely it is Scorpius will kill Rygel after he has Crichton.

So Rygel takes Crais back to Moya, where Crais asks for protection from Scorpius. Everyone laughs, then they toss Crais in a cell and gets back to planning their suicidal break for freedom. Crais swears that he is sincere in his desire to leave the Peacekeepers and survive, but no one cares.

Their plan is to load a pod with explosives and crash it into Scorpius' research station as a diversion so that Moya and the baby can starburst away. Crais points out that the only thing that will distract Scorpius is John, so he and D'Argo are elected to fly the pod.

They aim the pod, then eject into space, hoping to be picked up by Aeryn in her Prowler before anyone dies from oxygen depletion. In the middle of everything, Crais gets aboard the baby (now named Talyn after Aeryn's father) and directs him away from Moya, deeper into the asteroid field.

At first, Moya refuses to starburst away from her baby, but she is finally convinced to take Zhaan, Chiana and Rygel to safety. Left behind, Aeryn is unable to get through Scorpius' forces to John and D'Argo, who float helplessly in space as Scorpius' base goes up in flames.

What We Learned

• Our weakest link is often the smallest.
• His third helping for his third stomach. That's what happens: by the time it's full, the first one is empty again.
• It's a Jerry Springer kind of family.
• There is much in life that is unfair. We are all proof of that.
• We all have windows of usefulness.
• Time is short and so is D'Argo's temper.
• Pity Aeryn doesn't think a referral from Crais would mean much.
• John figures the right thing starts at the beginning of the day, not after you've been caught.
• Fear accompanies the possibility of death. Calm shepherds its certainty.
• This is not the time to give up selfishness.

Best Lines

John: "What did [D'Argo] just say [to Rygel]?"
Chiana: "Something about his corpse and a body function."
John: "Oh, that will help."

John: "You're letting Rygel be your advocate? You're worse off than you look."

John: "How you doing?"
D'Argo: "I have to pee."

What Did I Think?

Interesting move, tossing Crais into the mix.