Episode Report Card Couch Baron: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT The Enemy Of My Enemy Is...
By Couch Baron | Season 1 | Episode 15 | Aired on 08.12.1999
Zhaan has managed to make it to Pilot's chamber. He tells her that he's trying to override Durka's control, but Durka keeps anticipating his moves and heading him off. Zhaan has nothing to add, so we move on to...
...Crichton and D'Argo almost literally running into each other. D'Argo growlingly asks if Crichton heard Durka's ultimatum. Crichton: "Yeah. Nebari mental cleansing doesn't get the tough stains out." Hee. Crichton does better when he lays off the Southernisms. D'Argo says it's imperative that they regain command. Upon being asked if he's got a plan, D'Argo dismissively growls, "Have I got a plan." That's a...yes, then.
Seems so, as D'Argo opens the door to some sort of shaft. He tells Crichton that it leads directly to Command, and crawls in as he instructs Crichton to keep looking for Chiana. Crichton suggests he not fall out of the ship again, referring to the soon-to-be-recapped "They've Got A Secret," as I'm sure you're all well aware.
Unfortunately, Durka is similarly well aware of D'Argo's approach. He pushes some buttons, the door to the shaft closes, and then two walls drop down in succession, the first of which causes D'Argo to lose his Qualta blade, and the second of which prevents him from reaching it. A little convenient, perhaps, but okay. D'Argo yells for Crichton, when it seems like Chiana would be more of a help in this particular situation.
Durka tells Aeryn that she's witnessing a legend in action. Aeryn spits that he's a disgrace rather than a legend. Durka pointedly asks her why it is that she's not a Peacekeeper any more, and given how obviously that question cuts Aeryn to the core, the knife is his hand kind of seems like overkill. Durka then attempts starburst, but fails of course, due to Moya's pregnancy. Durka: "Score one up for the underdogs!" Durka, you're a pretty good villain, but letting you recap won't fit in with the limitations of my schedule. Those limitations being "my lifespan."
Pilot unnecessarily exposits why the starburst failed, and Zhaan nervously speculates that Durka will find out about the pregnancy soon enough.
Over the comm, Durka threatens to kill one of the hostages if starburst isn't reactivated. It's too bad the comm is disabled in the other direction, because I would have loved to see if everyone could have resisted the temptation to ask, "Which one?" Crichton seems to sense someone nearby, and indeed, we finally see Chiana moving about. Crichton moves down a corridor, and the camera goes all three-quarter speed as the creepy xylophone starts up again. He goes through a door into what looks like a cargo hold, although it's pretty hard to tell one room from another around here. Crichton seems to know Chiana's in there, because he calls to her, saying Durka's "gone Hannibal Lecter on us." Chiana: "I don't know what that means." And now you've officially met John Crichton. She chucklingly asks why he's bothering her, anyway. He says he's just there to talk, which doesn't really answer the question, but is as strange a spot as any to cut out of the scene...