Episode Report Card Keckler: A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT The One Where Talyn And Crais Elope
By Keckler | Season 2 | Episode 1 | Aired on 03.16.2000
On some abandoned landing strip, Aeryn gives Talyn a call. Crais responds, asking what took her so long. There isn't a big enough font for how dun-dun-DUN! that is. Aeryn explains that she can't always get away on schedule, "Don't forget I have to give Crichton a reason for my absence." More duns! "He still has no knowledge of our...arrangement?" Crais asks archly. He makes it sound like they have a Max and Rebecca DeWinter "arrangement" where Rebecca can have all kinds of sex with her gay cousin in a beach shack as long as she doesn't drag Manderly's name through the mud. Aeryn confirms that Crichton is in the dark. Crais thinks it might "facilitate" matters if Crichton were told the truth. "No," Aeryn interrupts. "Eventually, you'll have to," Crais reminds her. "Only when it's too late for him to interfere," Aeryn says and hangs up, rubbing her forehead. And the duns just keep flying!
Back at the abandoned mine, Crichton asks if D'Argo's memory is okay. He was without oxygen long enough to scare the nice and tight pants off Crichton. This bit of emotional information is delivered along with an appropriately manly punch to D'Argo's arm to de-sissify the whole thing. The last thing D'Argo remembers was the Gammak base being destroyed, "A magnificent sight." Crichton agrees and confirms that Moya got away. "But Talyn," he adds. "'Talyn'?" D'Argo repeats skeptically. "Moya's baby," John tells him. "Awful name," D'Argo says, repulsed. Of course he wouldn't like a name that Aeryn chose. Crichton tells D'Argo that Crais kidnapped the newborn ship. "We should NEVER have let him live!" D'Argo announces. "Yeah, I know," Crichton says in a fatigued can-we-get-past-this-already? tone. The command carrier is still in the area, Aeryn's spotted marauders in the asteroid field, but the Peacekeepers haven't located them yet. "So, now we have to evade Scorpius, and then we have to find Crais, remove him from Talyn --" D'Argo breaks off, annoyed, "Who the yotz named him Talyn?" His face is all screwed up in disgust. "I did!" Aeryn announces, marching in, "After my father." She tosses a crinkly metallic bag of food at Crichton. I guess she found a vending machine somewhere. "Aeryn," Crichton says pointedly, "Check who finally woke up from his little siesta." "Yes, I have eyes, Crichton," Aeryn says, making herself busy with other things and not looking at either of them. "I have eyes as well," D'Argo breathes, all lover-like in his appreciation, "And they're very pleased to see you alive." Aeryn angrily holds his gaze for the briefest of moments and continues fussing around. Crichton asks what her deal is. She explains that all she found was a little water, so she has to go right back out again. D'Argo thinks if the asteroid is so Motel 6, maybe they should consider moving. Crichton agrees. Aeryn doesn't. She says it's the only asteroid that can hide them from the marauder patrols. Crichton argues since D'Argo is now awake, they get up in the prowler and signal Moya to come pick them up. Aeryn reminds him that they don't even know if Moya is in range and they can't outrun a command carrier, so they have to stay hidden. More arguing about how long Scorpius can go on looking for John before he tires of it. Crichton knows that Scorpy wants him bad, real bad, so he's not going to give up anytime soon. D'Argo announces, "When the prowler's fuel runs out, we starve. As John once said, 'I would rather go down on a swing --'" Crichton contorts his brow for the briefest of moments as he tries to figure out where swings come into it all before correcting D'Argo in an undertone, "'Swinging.' That you want 'to go down swinging.'" "Swinging," D'Argo corrects himself, also in an undertone. I'll never be able to do justice to some of the interplay between these characters, but the line delivery here is incredibly natural and perfect. It's one of those little touches that really makes this show work on a very basic level and also convinces you how well the entire cast clicks. I mean, the chemistry between Browder and Black is undeniable, but the chemistry between Browder and Simcoe is almost as powerful and satisfying. In a totally different way, of course. I mean, I find D'Argo's chin extension so phallic that I really don't need that image in my head, you know? They argue some more before Aeryn shrieks at them to shut up, "If not for me you'd both be dead, all right? So stop fighting me!" Girl's got a point. Crichton gives D'Argo a look like, "Something's going on here" as he slaps a canister of something into the Luxan's hand. D'Argo's look answers back, "I know, but we can't get it out of her yet."