Episode Report Card Jacob Clifton: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Kiss Of The Spider Woman
By Jacob Clifton | Season 4 | Episode 14 | Aired on 01.23.2003
"What's your name?" To strange clicks, hums, a sound like harpsichord: Talikaa. She lowers her gun arm and stands near the girl; she points the gun at her head. "Here's the deal. We take her, or I take her head off." A choice she would have appreciated; a choice she's nearly taken before, on her stupid Nebari planet. If it were just about Chiana's rape trauma, that would be one thing, but we're looking at all of her now: a girl whose fire was dampened before the season began, who's been dark and fractured and burnt all season, never speaking or telling. Rygel tells them all to go hell, but D'Argo sees the desperation in Chiana. "Rygel, pay them." Rygel stalls, D'Argo screams. John catches on: "Sparky! Cough it up." It's not about money, it's about Chiana. Impossible questions. John grabs some cash from Rygel and -- Winona skyward -- hands it over. "A smart purchase," grins the trader. "You'll have fun with her." Chiana screams again, pain and rage. Scorpius watches, concerned. He knows where he came from. D'Argo and John agree it's a bad idea, but they know they can just drop her off on the first "nice planet" they find.
None of them have ever been chattel, except Chiana. None bought and sold like this. Chiana promises Talikaa she's a friend; Talikaa whimpers. Monstervision close-up on Chiana as Talikaa looks at her. She touches the bare skin of Chiana's chest and pushes away, gasping. She bounces from Moyan to Moyan, in a complicated choreography, less chaos than total coverage: from Aeryn to John, from Rygel to Scorpius, who -- of course -- finally catches the terrified girl. Each of them in monstervision, each of them touched by the mirror. She reaches up to touch the skin of his cheek, near his eye, but he pushes her hand away. D'Argo grabs her and hands her off to Chiana: "Take her to your room. She is your responsibility." Chiana leans in: "Hey, Talikaa. Come on. I'll get you some food and some better clothes." They leave, Scorpius follows. Noranti watches everything, as Pilot informs the crew that the traders' vessel has left the bay. How much does she know? Ever? She spends so much time being mysterious.
John breathes in, quickly. Turns to Aeryn, who slowly looks back. He stands, thumbs in belt loops, and walks to meet her face to face. "So you're angry with me? Let's talk." We've heard this one before: "I don't want to talk." He starts to try again, but she clubs hell out of the side of his head, and he staggers. Aeryn leaves with a swish of duster and long fake hair. Credits.
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