Episode Report Card Jacob Clifton: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT A Message From the Ministry Of Awesome
By Jacob Clifton | Season 4 | Episode 16 | Aired on 02.06.2003
"It's too late, they've already signed." Sikozu tells Aeryn to shoot her ass anyway: "They will never enforce a treaty if she's dead." The witness, Pennoch, mills around in front of her line of sight, and she can't get a shot. She lowers the rifle. Braca approaches and mutters that there was no Nebari found. "No matter, Captain Braca," she says, high on success and forthcoming successes, and Aeryn tries again to sight on her.
"This was an historic day," she smiles at Braca, and he congratulates them. "Pennoch," Ahkna orders, and he zaps Braca -- Sebacean, remember -- with the Scarran heat breath, holding him still and groaning. Pennoch uses the rifle in his other hand on the Commando that was with Braca, then two more Commandos. Grayza turns and looks at Ahkna. Commercials. This could go either way. This is really cool if you think about it, because they've been little, for so long, having their adventures, and now with Ahkna replacing Grayza -- so suddenly! -- in the rotating "powerful dangerous" enemy slot, we climb up into actual politics. Not one Peacekeeper, but all of them. Not just one Scarran half-breed, but the Scarran fleet. Not reengage PK commanders, one after another, but Command itself. They've gotten big enough, engaged enough territory, worked out their shit enough, that they're equal to the task. It's nice to be rewarded.
Sikozu and Aeryn watch in amazement as Grayza, suddenly subject, threatens Ahkna. "This is an act of war!" Aeryn cocks again, and again Pennoch blocks her shot. Ahkna assures the Commandant that she won't be missed, and Grayza scoffs. "You would not dare murder me!" Ahkna says they're just going to torture her to find out about the PK wormhole capabilities. "You already know that you'll learn nothing," Grayza hisses, and Ahkna: "No, not here. But our facilities are so much better on Katratzi." (Heard that word before? You'll wish you hadn't. A thousand times.) Aeryn continues to try and get a clear shot; Pennoch growls and yanks Grayza away by the shoulder. The contingent leaves.
Aeryn lowers her rifle: "They'll interrogate her now." Sikozu wonders what will happen when they find out the truth, and Aeryn assures her they won't. "We can't let them." The whole show clicks now, as the Scarrans stop being theoretical and start being real. It's not so much that they have to side with the Peacekeepers against a greater threat as it is that they're now in a battle with more sides than the Tronball. There's the Moya family, who are on their own. There's the Peacekeepers, who are not necessarily acting in Sebacean best interest, and Grayza (don't count her out entirely) who's not necessarily acting in Sebacean best interest either. There's the Scarrans, specifically Ahkna. And there's Sikozu, and Scorpius, who have a lot of tasks on their To-Do Lists that don't necessarily coincide with any of the above. And at the middle: John Crichton. When he brings peace, it won't be through science and it won't be through violence. But we're not there yet, because he hasn't lost everything yet, on this new level of the game.