Episode Report Card Strega: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Obligatory Rashomon Reference
By Strega | Season 2 | Episode 17 | Aired on 09.07.2000
Steve confirms that Stark fired the cannon. D'Argo says, "Yes, but I will never mourn the death of someone who deals in Novatron gas." Eydie asks why he's turning Stark in, then. D'Argo says that the rest of them shouldn't be held responsible for what Stark did.
Brig. Stark mopes that D'Argo's going to get him killed. Zhaan says, "But you didn't fire the cannon." Stark agrees.
Moya. Chiana enters Pilot's chamber and apologizes for yelling at him. She asks what the chances are that they'll find Talyn. "Miniscule," Pilot concedes. He explains that Moya feels guilty. "Talyn's her son, Chiana. She feels responsible for what he does." Chiana rather cleverly asks if Moya feels any responsibility toward the people she's abandoned. After pondering that for a moment, Pilot says that he won't force Moya to turn back, but he will ask her. Chiana asks what will happen if the others escape in the transport and don't find Moya waiting for them. Pilot says, "Moya understands your concern. [beat] And she agrees with it." Chiana seems to be surprised that she actually won an argument as the rest of the world is. Pilot says he's plotting a course back to where they were.
Brig. D'Argo returns in the elevator. Steve calls for Crichton. As Crichton descends, Aeryn twitches one eyebrow, which is a pretty emotional farewell for her. Stark and Zhaan look at each other sadly. D'Argo stares off into the blackness.
Interrogation chamber. Eydie shrilly asks who fired the cannon. Crichton says, "Nobody did. Must have been a malfunction." Suddenly an image D'Argo's face is projected onto Crichton's, which is an effect that's equal parts neat and disorienting. But now we know what the foot-lamp does. I wait for the Plokavians to say, "Whoops, sorry, we've got the projector facing the wrong way, just a sec," but that doesn't happen. Anyway, Crichton hears D'Argo say, "Stark was at the weapons console. He was frantic. Before I could stop him, he fired the cannon." Eydie asks if D'Argo was lying. Crichton offers, "He was confused." He goes on to say that Stark's never been on Talyn before, and wouldn't know where the weapons console was. There's a click, and now Aeryn's face is projected onto Crichton. Aeryn says, "Stark offered to raise Talyn's defense screen. He started towards the weapons console, but I stopped him before he could touch anything." Crichton says that it all fits together: D'Argo saw Stark near the console, so he assumed that Stark is the one who fired. Another click, and Zhaan's face is projected. She says that nobody was near the weapons console. "When it malfunctioned, Crichton started toward it, but Aeryn told him not to touch it." Eydie says that Crichton was the closest one to the console. Crichton sighs that everyone's stories are different because nobody sees things the same way. "We do!" Eydie objects. Crichton asks, "Ten Plakavoids see a fender bender and you get ten identical reports?" "Yes," says Steve. Crichton insists that most people will have inconsistent stories. Stark's face is projected, and we hear him saying, "Then Crais got angry and marched over to the weapons console and pressed a control. That's when the cannon fired." Crichton explains that Stark hates Peacekeepers, and doesn't mind using Crais as a scapegoat. "Stop!" Steve roars. An overhead light comes on as Eydie declares that everyone is lying. They begin wading out toward the chair. This time, because of the overhead light, we get to see their faces. Remember that part of Robocop when Paul McCrane is doused in toxic waste and gets all melty? They look like that. It's gross, but also kind of a letdown after all the mystery. Eydie says, "The executions will begin immediately!" Crichton looks... well, kind of bored, honestly. I think it's hard for him to take death-threats seriously at this point.