Episode Report Card Jacob Clifton: A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT A Human Reaction
By Jacob Clifton | Season 1 | Episode 16 | Aired on 08.19.1999
John storms across the hangar, flinging papers and stuff left and right: "Wilson. We've spent our lives waiting for this moment! We sent Voyager, we left damn greeting cards on the moon, and as soon as they get here, look at what you're doing!" It's the human reaction. He stares. "They can help us. Just take a step back and you look at what you're doing. You think about it!" Wilson exits: "Don't worry. I've thought of everything, Commander." He's more right than John can comprehend. John mutters, hating the next thing: "You make me sick."
Back in the containment cell, John takes on his father's role again, as voice of the bad guys, hating every word: "Official word is...Rygel died from allergic reaction to the tranquilizer." Aeryn's not buying it; D'Argo pushes further: "And what do you think happened?" "It doesn't..." John swallows, about to cry, or maybe puke. "...matter what I think, D'Argo," he concludes. He looks up at Aeryn, who looks away, and hardens. "No," says John. "I think they killed him." D'Argo: "You know that those animals killed him!" And Aeryn, quieter, throat raw. "And then they cut him open." John protests that they were trying to restart Rygel's heart, but nobody's buying, including John. "They were studying him! Like an animal. Like an alien. Which one of us do you think they'll kill next, Crichton?" I'm guessing D'Argo. We've seen this story before. "D'Argo, it...it's not gonna go down like that," says John. He's broken; this is a travesty of denial. "Look, I know that you have no reason to trust me..." and D'Argo tells John he's fucking right. Aeryn's just gone cold. "You tell them," D'Argo says, cold and logical, "that when they come for me, I'll kill them." Against John's pleas, D'Argo continues. "We've tried it your way, and one of us is dead." Aeryn raises her head, looking at the wall, as D'Argo dismisses John: "Go." John crouches in front of Aeryn, begging her to look; she finally meets his eyes, sickened: "You know, Crichton, Peacekeepers wouldn't even kill their prisoners to study them." She just doesn't know yet, she's clinging to the same pack of lies that John now is, but we don't know that yet. (How is it that every episode of this show is a fucking monster cryfest of emotional horror -- or a ridiculous display of adolescent fart humor -- and yet never really seems all that overwrought? It tells these truths; it's a fairy tale.) Aeryn shakes her head almost imperceptibly, exhausted: "D'Argo's right. Just go." John looks at them, in turn; sighs; heads for the door. Aeryn covers her mouth, unsure how to cry. John asks for release, and leaves the cell.
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