Episode Report Card Jacob Clifton: A+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Believing The Strangest Things
By Jacob Clifton | Season 1 | Episode 7 | Aired on 05.07.1999
John crouches outside the barn as, inside, Elliott and D'Argo stare at each other. Elliott finds the comm badge John dropped at the beginning, and then John and Elliott have a long ridiculous conversation that takes place entirely in twitches and winks. Ryymax orders the team standing around D'Argo to move out, and the couple that are left warn Elliott not to get too close to D'Argo, as John sneaks up behind them and knocks them out. D'Argo complains at John for taking his time, and John scowls at him as he unties him. He offers Elliott the chance to shake the hand of a real alieny-looking alien -- "Go ahead! He doesn't bite." -- and grins at D'Argo's scary look. John watches, happy, as Elliott and D'Argo shake hands. He can at least give the kid that, bicycle or no.
Stuff's now fully coming out of the walls on Moya -- that's gotta be one of the six signs to take your Leviathan to the ER. Rygel cuts, the lights flicker, Zhaan and Moya completely freaking out. Aeryn, bracing herself against Zhaan's back. I like any scene with the two of them, because it only works when they don't talk. You have friends like that? I like it. It makes sense, I think. (What the hell would they talk about? God? War? Anarchy? The awesomeness of rules? Prison recidivism? "This one time at Boot Camp?" And every time they do, it goes horribly wrong. But when they don't talk, it's beautiful.) They each have the strength that the other lacks -- and they touch the part of John where the other doesn't reach. Aeryn lends her this strength now, but she won't know how much strength Zhaan herself commands for a long time.
Outside the farmhouse, Elliott gives John his comm badge back as Lyneea explains she sent Ryymax off to Acon's Field -- opposite direction from the swamp. John wishes there were more he could do for her, and she chuckles: "You've altered the perceptions and beliefs of an entire planet." You've told them they're not alone. He smiles and agrees that this was a big day as far as the task list. D'Argo urges haste, and John says goodbye: "Keep watching the skies." He kisses Lyneea, tastes the chocolate, and she licks her lips. "That's how your people say goodbye?" He asks if, given all the similarities, they don't do that here. No bicycles and no kisses. What a shitty planet. She's lonely, too -- surrounded by soldiers, raising her son. I'm glad they got caught so she can get funding and stuff. I hope she does awesome things. She licks her lips and smiles adorably. I love her. Elliott shakes D'Argo's hand again, says goodbye to his first real alien, and they take off back to Moya. "You are the luckiest nine year old around. Someday you are going to have a very singular story to tell. Can't tell it for a long time of course but...someday." She bites her lip, tastes the chocolate, watches them leave. Of all the guest stars, I think she's probably my favorite. Well, Ancient Jack is pretty awesome too.