Farscape Rewatch: “A Human Reaction” (spoilers)

Season 1, Episode 16: “A Human Reaction”
 **** out of *****

“It was a trout, Dad.” [1]

A wormhole appears out of nowhere that promises (er, figuratively) to take John home to Earth. In he goes…and meets an alien masquerading as his father. But at least he gets to have chocolate!

This is a great episode, and one that I understand some fans consider to be the best of the season. I don’t rate it quite that high–the very end seems a little rushed, and Jack’s true form looks like they were running low on their puppet budget–but I can respect the opinion. Meta-knowledge on the part of most viewers means John can’t be actually getting home (or at least not permanently), but the acting is done well enough at the beginning with all the goodbyes that it still has an effect. These characters don’t know they’re in a show, and they make us feel what they’re going through in those moments.

I admit that when I first saw it, while I didn’t buy for a second that John would ever get permanently home before the series finale [2], I did think he was back temporarily. The fact that there was nothing newer than when John left made me wonder if something terrifying actually had happened on Earth, but I didn’t initially suspect it was all a fake. So even before Rygel got dissected, the treatment of D’Argo, Aeryn, and Rygel frustrated me. Seeing them wheeling D’Argo in on a gurney was frustrating. Wilson pretty much had me wanting to punch him right from the start. And when we do see Rygel dead and opened up on the table, I admit I bought it. After all, he’s a puppet, and easier to kill off. Pissed me off. 🙂

Claudia Black sells the hell out of Aeryn’s mental state in this ep, by the way. Aeryn doesn’t emote much, but Black has a way of resonating Aeryn’s internal thoughts and emotions such that they’re still palpable. There’s a great scene after D’Argo’s been taken away when she’s clearly fighting her fear as she tries to do what she has to in order to survive.

One thing that struck me on this rewatch: I wondered how Zhaan would’ve reacted, had she come along. (Come to think of it, why was Rygel on the transport pod in the first place? He doesn’t strike me as the sort to be out there checking things out.)

This episode is further evidence that Farscape is becoming Farscape. The sweet taste of returning home turns to ashes in John’s mouth, tragedy occurs, and nothing seems to work out like it should. But at least Rygel’s not actually dead.

Last line:
“Maybe.”

Other Comments:
I would’ve liked to have seen D’Argo’s reaction when the Ancients told him what was actually going on.

——
[1] Okay, not the best quote of the episode, but I do like the callback to it we get three seasons later.

[2] Yeah, so I was wrong about that, too…