Episode Report Card Couch Baron: C | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT He Said, She Said
By Couch Baron | Season 1 | Episode 12 | Aired on 07.15.1999
On Moya, Zhaan confirms that they will try to keep the pirates distracted. She signs off, and then, seeing Rygel burping up a cloud of smoke that seems perhaps to be more, um, "soothing" than I initially thought, sighs, "I will strive to keep them distracted." Don't be too tough on him, Zhaan. His puppeteer's probably stoned too.
Establishing shot of a sleek ship approaching Moya, and then Kcrackic and a henchZenetan appear as Zhaan greets them and slings some crap about how his reputation for cruelty is well known. Kcrackic comes back that she's lucky their Leviathan is pregnant, as he once tried to commandeer a pregnant Leviathan, and eighty men died. Now that the small talk's over, Kcrackic asks after Staanz, whom Zhaan denies knowing, and then says he sees nothing of value, and is about to leave until Zhaan introduces Rygel. Rygel takes the opposite tack regarding the game than he did with Staanz, saying he's an excellent player, and he believes Kcrackic to be an easy mark. Zhaan surreptitiously glares at him, but then looks at Kcrackic with an apologetic "Hynerian Dominars will be Hynerian Dominars" look. Kcrackic smiles.
Pod. Crichton discovers that their air supply has been compromised, and he'll need to fire up a welding torch to fix the problem, only there's too much pure oxygen in the pod at the moment to risk doing so. Aeryn suggests they put on their space suits and depressurize the cabin. Just then, Crichton hears something creaking on high, and is just quick enough to tackle Aeryn out of the way before a bulkhead or something collapses on the space they were just occupying. Crichton, of course, takes way too long to get up off of Aeryn, prompting her to ask, "Are you comfortable? Can I get you a pillow?" I know slang doesn't always translate, hon, but I don't think he's lacking for pillows at the moment. And they'll come in handy in the tent he just pitched. Anyway, chastened, he gets up.
Shiphole. Staanz tells the engines, "Sing for your Daddy," and that's not the first reference to Staanz being male, just for future reference. The scene is pointless until they get caught in the Flax, affording D'Argo a great opportunity for a baleful glare. Actually, it's a great opportunity to toss Staanz into the furnace, but even a hothead like D'Argo knows that that would be counterproductive to his situation.
On Moya, Rygel makes what looks like a nice move, only to have Kcrackic find an even better parry. Rygel looks like he's reached flop-sweat time, not, of course, that it's easy to tell.