Episode Report Card Couch Baron: B | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Lewis Carroll Never Imagined This
By Couch Baron | Season 1 | Episode 17 | Aired on 09.09.1999
After a very cool-looking shot of the four Moyas on top of each other, Chiana's nervously babbling about the "creature" Crichton ran across, although from what we saw on screen, it seems like he's getting a little ahead of himself. Zhaan, briefly enough that it doesn't cause an eye-roll, talks about having wondered what was beyond time and space in the context of spirituality, and then Chiana butts in to ask what they're going to do. Crichton instructs them to get hold of some weapons in case the creature returns, and then heads off to Pilot's chamber...
...wherein Pilot is instructing him in the proper sequence to achieve full reverse. Crichton then asks why Moya has been schismed and not them, and is told that it's a matter of relative density -- the heavier the object, the greater the fissure. That still doesn't really answer why things that aren't actually part of Moya -- Rygel's painting, furniture, etc. -- should be duplicated, but at least they're trying. Crichton asks what happens when the sections get pulled apart. Pilot: "Molecular diaspora." That's probably less fun than it sounds. Crichton goes to stand next to Pilot as he tells him that Moya didn't have to go into starburst until she was ready. The ensuing scene is meant to be touching, and it achieves that to some degree, but I have to point out that the gravity is compromised to some degree by the fact that Ben Browder has to keep ducking to his right to avoid being clocked in the noggin by Pilot's enormous helmet head. Heh. Pilot mistakenly takes Crichton's statement as a recrimination, but Crichton disabuses him of that notion, and puts a hand on Pilot's shoulder as he asks how Moya's doing. Pilot's accent goes hyper-Aussie as he says that she's scared. Crichton tells him they'll do what they can. Pilot: "She knows." Aw. Damn you, affecting Muppets and bio-mechanoids!
Chiana and Zhaan are weaponed up, Crichton joins them, and they all walk down the corridor, just a slo-mo away from being the opening credits of Angel. However, a variation soon occurs in that the slashes in the air appear, causing our heroes to hit the deck. We get a creature POV as it approaches Crichton, so apparently his hotness is dimensionally as well as galactically transcendent. Crichton gets that "Oh, shit" look on his face for the third time as we go into the break.
When we return, the three of them arrive at the maintenance bay, but Crichton instructs Zhaan to go to Pilot's chamber to protect him, and to shoot the creature should it reappear. Zhaan: "Even if I was [sic] still a full Pa'u, I wouldn't hesitate." So spirituality's just another thing she's willing to kill. Crichton calls Chiana "Pip," and then throws Chiana into the vortex and follows...