Episode Report Card Couch Baron: A | 162 USERS: B- YOU GRADE IT Do Not Go Gentle
By Couch Baron | Season 1 | Episode 19 | Aired on 2000.01.07
Elsewhere, Chiana has donned a tech jumpsuit and a short black wig. Gilina: "I don't even think John would recognize you." I hate to rain on your parade, Gilina, but she kind of just looks like the anime version of herself.
More memories. "Back And Back And Back To The Future." "DNA Mad Scientist." "Thank God It's Friday, Again." Scorpius: "Your memory holds an impressive array of other races, Crichton." That's all well and good until you're the one that has to describe them, you recapper's nightmare. He instructs Niem to search for information on who sent him to the base. Crichton laughs: "It's déjà vu all over again!" He gets zapped for his trouble. I'm surprised that never happened to Yogi Berra. After all, electroshock therapy did have its day.
And now we get to the crux of the matter: Crichton's conversation with the Ancient, posing as his dad, in "A Human Reaction." But before we get any further, the machine shuts down, and Niem informs us that he's put up a "neural block." Crichton denies responsibility, and I'm inclined to cut him a break, given that he's finally dropped THE ACCENT for good. He giggles, but Scorpius tells Niem to increase the extraction level and break through the barrier. She pushes it, and from Crichton's reaction, this thing goes to eleven. We now see something new, something Crichton doesn't remember: the Ancients' instructions for creating a wormhole. "Jack" tells Crichton that he won't remember this part of their encounter in his conscious mind, for if he's not smart enough to discover wormhole technology on his own, he's not smart enough to handle it wisely. Poor Crichton. Couldn't his perceived level of judgment be linked to how hot he is instead? He'd certainly get home faster that way. "Jack" goes on that the unconscious knowledge he now possesses will guide him, nothing more -- but the good news is that he's already on the right path. Well, sure, if you don't count a trip to a torture chair controlled by a scary, obsessive, unnatural creature. But I suppose one has to focus on the bigger picture. Scorpius theorizes that Crichton's interest in wormhole technology is the reason he came to the Gammak base, and Crichton insanely laughs as he realizes that's the purpose of the base's existence. Scorpius orders Niem to find the wormhole knowledge. "Segment his mind. As many layers as it takes." If you want a lot of layers from Crichton's mind, Scorpius, I'd suggest you cut pretty thin. The machine gets another workout, and through the extended pain and yelling, Niem notes, "Or his mind will simply liquefy." Scorpius opines that his species is exceptionally strong, but nonetheless orders a short recuperation. Good, I could use it. Crichton slobbers all over himself...