Michael G. Munz

Farscape Rewatch: “Won’t Get Fooled Again” (spoilers)

July 13, 2014 By Michael G. Munz 2 Comments

Season 2, Episode 15: “Won’t Get Fooled Again”
***** out of *****

“I like your style, hombre. But this is no laughing matter. Assault on a police officer. Theft of police property. Illegal possession of a firearm. Five counts of attempted murder. That comes to… $29.40. Cash, check, or credit card?”

Won’t Get Fooled Again is very nearly the weirdest episode of Farscape. (It’s not John Quixote, but it’s close.) John finds himself back on Earth as if the Farscape project did NOT hurl him into the uncharted territories. Instead, he actually just crashed the module. Were the past two years all a dream???

Of frelling course not! Being savvy television watchers, we know this. Being a savvy television character, John does, too. After his experiences in A Human Reaction, he wastes no time trying to figure out if it’s real or not. He KNOWS it’s a sham from the moment he wakes up in that nauseatingly green hospital room. It’s not about what’s going on so much as WHY it’s going on, and who’s doing it. [Read more…]

Farscape Rewatch: “Beware of Dog” (spoilers)

July 3, 2014 By Michael G. Munz Leave a Comment

Season 2, Episode 14: “Beware of Dog”
out of *

“Our parasite problems are solved.”
“Rygel’s decided to leave us, has he?”

This is a simple little episode, perhaps made simpler by its coming right after a three-parter, but it’s not without its charm. It’s also a critter ep (John: “I hate critters!“) with a parasite getting aboard Moya to cause havoc, as sci-fi parasites are wont to do. It’s a fairly standard plot trope for sci-fi, yet Farscape manages to add its own particular twists to make it enjoyable. [Read more…]

Farscape Rewatch: “Look at the Princess, Part III” (spoilers)

July 2, 2014 By Michael G. Munz Leave a Comment

Season 2, Episode 13:
“Look At The Princess, Part III” (The Maltese Crichton)
1/2 out of *

“I know, it hurts. You want it to not hurt? Well next time, hold onto THE FRELLING WALL!!”

And the third part of Farscape’s first three-parter comes to a close in a (mostly) satisfying way. To summarize:

I need one of those things. Because reasons.

John loses his head before the opening credits and spends at least the first quarter of the episode as a MacGuffin while everyone tries to either destroy the head, steal it, hide it, or reattach it. John gets (his) head, the Scarren kills Prince Too-Stupid-To-Live, then gets killed himself, and John escapes the planet after it’s decided that they may as well let the princess’s boyfriend pretend to be John since John can’t re-statuefy anyway.

Aeryn learns a lesson out in the barren lands (namely, gravity is a cruel bitch-goddess, and don’t go climbing with strangers), Zhaan proves worthy to watch over Moya, D’Argo does his best Caped Crusader impression to save Chiana (“How Batman was THAT?”), and we find out Scorpius has some sort of hidden influence on John.

Oh, and also John and Aeryn seem to be biologically compatible, and are reasonably pleased about the fact.

While I feel there’s slightly too much time spent on Aeryn’s climbing expedition out to the Devastator Reefs (which I believe are located south-southeast of the Cliffs of Insanity) and the still-lackluster Kahaynu plot, this is still a great episode. There are one or two plot…issues (3 hours in acid and John’s head is fine? And why doesn’t anyone think to ask Katralla who cut off John’s head?), but they’re minor bumps in the road so far as I’m concerned.

Captain Kirk would be proud.

One thing that did strike me as a bit odd is the whole bit with John sleeping with Jenavian while he’s in hiding. While he’s not really in love with his current wife, he doesn’t seem the sort to cheat even on that sort of relationship. Jenavian is arguably the one doing the seducing, but Crichton’s certainly willing to go along with it. Did he do so to make sure she stays an ally now that she knows he’s not a spy, or just is he just having a bit of life-affirming sex after nearly being killed? (I’m struck with the idea that he’s Captain Kirk being seduced by a female James Bond.)

Despite my thinking Aeryn’s subplot drags a little, it was at least nice to see that Sebacean-Ken (who claims to be rated “expert” at climbing but winds up being “novice” at heights) turns out to have some depth to him. He counsels Aeryn on her feelings for John–which he rightfully points out she runs from because she’s uncomfortable with things she’s not trained to deal with–in a genuinely stereotype breaking moment:

“Emotional pain you wear like a badge. It means you’ve been there. And it can’t get calloused because each fresh hurt stings like the first.”
“And why would you WANT that?”
“Because of all the days before it hurts. The good days, when you’re in love.”

“Now that’s REAL acid, so I want to see GOGGLES, people!”

Finally, this episode further develops things with Scorpius. For one thing, we finally get a reason for Scorpius’s outfit and cooling rods. Even better, there are now some definite signs that he’s done something to John. Scorpy tells D’Argo, “You underestimate the strength of the relationship. Even your friend does not yet understand.” Plus John can’t seem to bring himself to kill Scorpius. It’s a great touch when, afterward, Scorpius just gets up, glides his hand through the acid like a cocky bastard, and walks off with a grin. Admittedly, I didn’t understand quite what was happening in my original viewing, but of course in hindsight he was likely just testing the neurochip’s control.

Last lines:
“And I have noticed that you’re not talking to me.”

Other Comments:
That’s some dense acid, given how Crichton’s metal noggin floats in it. Later, the Scarren sinks when he falls in, so I guess Scarrens must be REALLY dense. On a side note, I still love the design of the Scarrens. It’s just a shame they couldn’t articulate his mouth better.

For some reason, there’s just nowhere with less security than the room in which completely helpless planetary regents are kept. Speaking of which, I can’t imagine being stuck as a statue for 80 years, conscious and aware the whole time, without going insane.

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Farscape Rewatch: “Look at the Princess, Part II” (spoilers)

June 27, 2014 By Michael G. Munz Leave a Comment

I bet you thought I’d forgotten about doing these, didn’t you? (Or maybe you didn’t even know I did them at all?) Time to change that!

Season 2, Episode 12:
“Look At The Princess, Part II” (I Do, I Think)
out of *

“Look, Aeryn, ALL men are stupid, okay? Men: Stupid! If you want them to know something you’ve got to TELL them!”

(And even though I left off after part one of this three-parter six months ago, the “previously on Farscape” has me right back in the thick of it. Well, that, and my own memory, I suppose. After so long, experiencing the opening credits again feels better than I anticipated. Cool.)

So, yes, to sum up Part 1, Sebacean independent colony, princess with sabotaged DNA who can only have kids with humans, and Crichton trapped between 80 years as a statue/ruler or being fed to Scorpius. Also, Scarrens for the first time. Also Zhaan/Moya/Pilot off on their own. Also D’Argo-Chiana pairings. Also John about to be killed at the end. [Read more…]

Farscape Rewatch: “Look at the Princess, Part I” (spoilers)

December 10, 2013 By Michael G. Munz Leave a Comment

Season 2, Episode 11: “Look at the Princess, Part I”
****1/2 out of *****

“After we’re married, and I mean RIGHT after, they turn us into statues.”
“That. Is. Fascinating!”
“Excellent. D’Argo discovers science.”

This is Farscape’s first three-part episode, which I expect likely surprised some people at the end of part 2. (Did anyone really do three-parters then?) Crichton finds himself at the center of some royal political intrigue when it’s discovered that his funny human genes are the only ones on the whole planet compatible with the colony’s princess. Soon it’s either marry her and live out his life there, or get handed over to Scorpius’s Brain Vivisection Emporium.

This is a great episode, and a great series of episodes. Caught as the planet is between the Peacekeepers and the Scarren Empire[1] the episode is primarily filled with political intrigue. It’s intriguing to watch the maneuvering all around Crichton as he tries to just figure a way through it all, torn between freedom, safety, and death. There’s not much action in this episode, but the political maneuvering keeps things tense. Scorpius is menacing even when he’s just talking calmly to D’Argo in a bar [2]. Rygel gets to play quite competently in his element (politics, I mean, not water). It’s clear he’s used to such arenas (and quite happy to be in them again, even for just a while). Someone put Rygel into Game of Thrones, hmm?

Meanwhile, Aeryn gets all cranky and complicated and frustrated because she doesn’t know how to–or is afraid to–show her feelings. It sets her on a trajectory that will lead to her soon running off with a male model.

D’Argo gets a fair bit to do too [3], and much more than one would have expected in the early part of the first season. He’s John’s sounding board, especially since Aeryn’s all riled up. In counseling John, especially after he’s just found out about the statue, D’Argo’s advice grows more philosophical than we usually see from him. It’s a nice new side to the character, and there’s a bit of subtext in that when D’Argo’s talking about all the positive things of settling down in a stable place and raising a family, there’s likely a huge part of him wishing he were in Crichton’s place. Also that scene has a great end to “cut the treacle” a little: “If I do this, you’re going to have to be my best man.” “Ah…I’m with Chiana now, John.”

Of course, it ends with John’s face being melty-warped (seems like that’d be hard to recover from), and a “to be continued…”

Last line:
“Here’s your wedding present, from Prince Clavor.”

Other Comments:
The bit in the bar where Aeryn kisses Rygel is possibly one of the funniest scenes in Farscape.

The pyramid shape of royal palace is evocative of a goa’uld Ha’tac ship from Stargate. ‘Cept pointier.

If the Scarrens are trying to get the prince into office so they can gain influence, but the prince won’t actually begin ruling for at least 80 years, they’re playing quite the long game. Or maybe we’re just not supposed to think of that.

——
[1] Scarrens as a race were briefly mentioned before, but this is the first time we see one, and the first time we hear of the Scarren Empire being a major force.

[2] Is this one of the few scenes he has with D’Argo in the whole series?

[3] Including Chiana…

Farscape Rewatch: “My Three Crichtons” (spoilers)

November 29, 2013 By Michael G. Munz Leave a Comment

Season 2, Episode 10: “My Three Crichtons”
*** out of *****

“I always thought I was the good guy, Chiana. But it was the least developed one of me, the one I thought least likely, who did the right thing. Somehow you knew.”
“I know you.”

A glowing energy sphere-O-mystery penetrates Moya and absorbs Crichton, then spits him back out along with two additional versions: one devolved, one evolved. Oh, and the sphere demands at least one of them back or else it’ll suck all of Moya into another dimension. This would be bad.

I wasn’t terribly excited to be watching this episode again. It’s not bad, just mediocre. It feels like an adapted plot from the original Star Trek series, though the Farscape characters are still acting in-character, so that’s not exactly a bad thing. I don’t think anyone on the Enterprise would be pulling out a phaser and threatening to shove the first Kirk he sees into the sphere the way Rygel does. As I write this, I find myself thinking that what hurts the episode is just that it’s a little too self-contained. Nothing really changes at the end [1], and while there are of course other Farscape episodes of that nature, they at least have a little more of a Farscapian flavor to them.

Or maybe I was just tired when I rewatched it. Who knows?

It is interesting to see how the characters react to the individual Crichtons. Zhaan quickly despises evolved-Crichton for his coldness. Rygel is as pragmatic and self-serving as can be, and just wants the whole thing over and done with. Chiana, meanwhile, is at first proto-Crichton’s only advocate. I wonder, does she help him because Crichton did the same for her when no one else wanted to take a chance on her[2]?

Last line:
“I know you.”

Other Comments:

While watching this time, I noticed that evolved-Crichton looks a bit like Jake Busey. Now I can’t un-see it.

There’s a weird fish-eye lens effect used for some shots of Pilot in this episode that I don’t recall ever seeing before. It’s an interesting idea, likely to try to make things feel a bit more chaotic, but I’m not sure how well it works.

——
[1] Though, really, did we expect they’d have TWO Crichtons in the show for more than one episode? That could never happen! 😉

[2] “He’s everything I ever liked about you.”

Farscape Rewatch: “Out of Their Minds” (spoilers)

November 17, 2013 By Michael G. Munz Leave a Comment

Season 2, Episode 9: “Out of Their Minds”

****1/2 out of *****

“Disgusting! ‘If you say so, John!’ ‘Trust me. It’ll be all right!’ And she believes it! Well, yotz, if I said that you’d all VOMIT!”

Body-swapping is such a common occurrence in sci-fi/fantasy television that I’m sure it’s got its own page on TVTropes. (Yep!) Even so, I’m going to go on record as saying this may be the most entertainment body-swapping episode in all of TV. It’s one of my favorite Farscape episodes, and a welcome high point in the sometimes mediocre first half of season 2.

Moya runs across a damaged alien ship that turns out to be Halosian [1] and a survivor of a recent battle with Crais and Talyn. The Halosian’s weapon interacts with Moya’s partially-functioning defense screen in the utterly logical way of making people near each other switch bodies. [2] Hilarity ensues.

I put this episode above all the other body-swap episodes I’ve seen for two reasons:

The actors. They’re excellent at portraying their fellows in both body language and tone of voice. Claudia Black manages an American accent, Jonathan Hardy’s voice coming out in non-cranky fashion is a curious novelty, and Anthony Simcoe does such a great Chiana-in-D’Argo that I can’t help but wonder if he’d been doing impressions of her on the set already.
It goes where most body-switching eps don’t in terms of how the characters deal with the fact of being in new bodies that they might have previously admired.[3] Plus with the characters being aliens it adds another element to it. Yeah, so it might be bathroom humor, but the bit with John, mortified, telling Rygel how to urinate (and Rygel’s utter enthusiasm for the process) is priceless. Too bad he didn’t warn him about zippers.

It’s not all played for humor, though. There’s a great moment between Pilot and D’Argo where they discuss all the things that their respective lives give them and deny them. It’s a very grass-is-greener moment, and considering Pilot’s existence of being bonded to Moya for the rest of his life, very poignant.

The episode’s only weakness may be Zhaan aboard the Halosian ship. In order to provide enough time for things to develop on Moya, it seems the plot requires her to spend a little too much time reasoning with the Halosians via using arguments that would sway her but clearly have no effect on them. Granted, having her take such an approach is in character for her, but she keeps it up a bit too long before changing her approach.

Last line:

“Excuse me?”

Other Comments:

It’s amazing that the Halosians can speak so well without lips. (Yeah, okay, so they did look like Skeksis, but the mouths were…not the strong point of the design.)

Boy, this episode’s version of the semi-recurring Chiana/Rygel “let’s bail and run” scene has an entirely different feel to it, doesn’t it?

——

[1] Upon my first watching, even before the body-swapping began, I liked this episode just for the Halosian’s resemblance to another Henson creation, the Skeksis. I was disappointed that Crichton didn’t make a reference, but he does eventually do so in a later episode, if I remember correctly…