Episode Report Card Couch Baron: C+ | 1 USERS: C+ YOU GRADE IT Next Time, Just Count To Ten
By Couch Baron | Season 1 | Episode 14 | Aired on 07.29.1999
Moya. We quickly are able to infer that the crew has been searching all the inhabitable planets in the area, with no luck. Also, we know that Moya must restore her energy reserves after starburst, so it makes sense that Crichton would have disappeared before they could return. Look at me, explaining simple points of Farscape to you all. That's like me telling Sars that James Van Der Beek has bad hair and worse crying skills. Uncharacteristically, D'Argo is optimistic that the planet they're approaching fits with Crichton's last known trajectory, while Zhaan, quite as uncharacteristically, is ready to give up, given that they've already spent three months (a quarter of a cycle, if you prefer) searching. Interestingly, Zhaan blames Crichton for leaving during "a time of crisis," while D'Argo feels it's their fault for driving him to it, and calls Zhaan "cold." No, D'Argo, that's Aeryn. Pay attention. Zhaan says that while she still cares about "Crichton" (and again, interesting that in this state of mind she uncommonly refers to him by his surname), they're in danger of being discovered by the Peacekeepers, and besides, the only thing driving the search is "the guilt in your own hearts." D'Argo counters, "My hearts are private places. Stay out of them." I wonder if they altered D'Argo's anatomy just for the sake of that line. Regardless, hee. That was funny. Zhaan hopefully -- if misguidedly in my view -- solicits Aeryn's vote as the tiebreaker, but Aeryn votes to press on with the search, so Zhaan stomps off. When she's gone, Aeryn cautions D'Argo that "there will come a time when we may have to acknowledge that Crichton has met his destiny, and we are just not part of it." That's an awfully pretty way of putting it, considering that from their point of view of what could have happened to Crichton, a quick and painless death ranks as pretty desirable on the list. D'Argo guilt-trippily agrees.
Village, where everyone's doing just fine without technology. Crichton strides in with a local vest adorning his shorts and t-shirt. In the foreground of one shot, we see a rock outcropping that Will Be Important Later, and then Crichton is stepping into the village chief's hut and speaking some local expression of greeting. I could say something about this making no sense, given that it seems highly unlikely that the locals have translator microbes, but I was on the phone for an hour with Sprint this morning, so I'm already over my daily quota of beating my head against the wall. The chief, who clearly is fond of Crichton, kicks his guards out and invites Crichton to sit. Crichton warily notes that he's asking him to sit beside him, and his tone suggests that this command is code for the suggestion of something unbefitting a societal leader, unless said leader is Caligula. But no, it turns out that Crichton is reluctant because sitting beside the chief is a privilege he only affords to his best hunters, and Crichton doesn't wish to dishonor them. However, the chief wryly points out that refusing would dishonor him, so Crichton takes his place. The chief says they have much to discuss, starting with Lisala, who of course according to the conventions of television is his daughter, and who also happens to be giggling outside with a gaggle of girlfriends. "You see the way she comes alive when she looks at you?" Well, no, I don't see that, but a good casting director is probably hard to find this far out into space. Crichton tells the chief, "Kato-Re," that he only wants to be friends with Lisala, and he chose to build his home away from the village because he didn't want to interfere with their society. Kato-Re says that their traditions dictate that the female chooses her life mate. "It may be out of your hands, my dear Crichton." This guy may be supposed to be friendly, but he's coming off skeevy. I mean, there's manly bonding, but when it crosses into "Bone my daughter, PLEASE" territory, it's time to look at the nearest sundial and be all, "I didn't realize it was so late!"