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 |  | 'Farscape' Starts Tying Its First Season Together With 'Nerve'
By Chris Aylott
Associate Editor
posted: 11:07 am ET
25 February 2000
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Aeryn's injury at the hands of the possessed Captain Larraq has unexpected complications, and Crichton and Chiana must infiltrate a top-secret Peacekeeper base to find medical supplies needed to save her life
Aeryn's injury at the hands of the possessed Captain Larraq reveals unexpected complications, forcing Crichton and Chiana to steal medical supplies from a top-secret Peacekeeper base in order to save her life.
Additional credits
Kent McCord - Jack Crichton
Lani Tupo - Capt. Bialar Crais
Wayne Pygram - Scorpius
Alyssa-Jane Cook - Gilina
Paul Goddard - Stark
written by Richard Manning
Directed by Rowan Woods
Though not listed at the beginning of the episode, Commander Javio is played by Stephen Leeder and Lt. Heskon is played by Anthony Klerann.
What happened
In the training room aboard Moya, Aeryn practices her martial forms with even more ferocity than usual. She's interrupted by Crichton, who wants to know why she's ignoring the call to dinner.
As he asks her what's wrong, she spits up blood and collapses.... (more extensive spoilers)
Analysis
What a difference one episode can make.
Farscape's first 18 episodes mostly stand by themselves. A few characters recur and backstory is developed, but there isn't much connection between episodes.
That all changes here. "Nerve" is the first episode in a four-part season finale, and its unresolved plotlines look forward to the next three installments. By bringing in elements from several previous episodes, the entire season is tied together into a cohesive whole.
The plot comes directly from " A Bug's Life", Gilina the guest heroine returns from "PK Tech Girl", and even series arch-villain Captain Crais makes an appearance.
More importantly, writer Richard Manning makes good use of the returning elements, taking into account the changes have occurred since their introduction. Crichton's growing affection for Aeryn complicates his relationship with Gilina, while Scorpius uses Crais's renegade status to force his cooperation.
Looking behind, looking ahead
Even as "Nerve" ties the season together, though, it's pointing to changes ahead.
D'Argo's respect for Aeryn seems to be changing into a more overtly romantic attraction. Crichton has an opportunity to find out what his father has buried in his mind. And while Scorpius might or might not survive this season finale, he's entertaining enough to become a new regular villain.
Chiana also grows up a little during this episode. Until now, she's been almost as self-centered as Rygel, openly refusing to help the group when it seemed dangerous or unpleasant.
Now, though, she seems surprisingly sincere about wanting to "pull her weight" when she asks to come along with Crichton, even if he doesn't believe her. She's also sensitive to Gilina's insecurities about Crichton's affection, though her reassurances are driven more by the need to secure the Peacekeeper's help than the wish to make her feel better.
It's never stated in "Nerve", but perhaps Chiana understands that it was her curiosity that unleashed the virus in "A Bug's Life", beginning the chain of events that led to Aeryn's injury. In her own way, she may be trying to make amends.
If so, it's just one more moment in this episode where the events of past episodes pay off. Farscape has pulled off a difficult trick, successfully creating self-contained episodes that combine much into a greater whole.
Reality check
What's a "paraphoral nerve?" Perhaps it has something to do with Aeryn's alien physiology.
Dangling plot threads
It's a cliffhanger, so there are lots of questions in the air. Can Crichton escape? Will Gilina be exposed as a traitor? What's so important about the madman that they keep putting him in the aurora chair? Is a love quadrangle developing between Crichton, Gilina, Aeryn and D'Argo? How close to a working wormhole has Scorpius gotten, and what does he want to do with it?
Tune in next week
The four-part season finale continues with "The Hidden Memory". Crichton's friends from Moya try to save him from the Peacekeepers -- and just why did his father hide those equations in his head, anyway?
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