As his wedding day approaches, Crichton dodges assassinations and kidnapping attempts. Meanwhile, Moya’s creators deem her unfit to live.
(Originally aired on July 28, 2000)
Written by David Kemper
Directed by Andrew Prowse and Tony Tilse
[inset]
GUEST STARS
Matt Day – Councilor Tyno
Felicity Price – Princess Katralla
Wayne Pygram – Scorpius
Jonathan Hardy – Kahaynu
Francesca Buller – Ro-Na the Tailor
Tina Bursill – Empress Novia
Felix Williamson – Prince Clavor
David Franklin – Lt. Braca
Bianca Chiminello – Jenavia
Aaron Cash -- Dregon Casanova
Gavin Robins – Cargn
Among his other accomplishments, Jonathan Hardy is known to Farscape fans as the voice of Rygel.
WHAT HAPPENED
(
Last week on Farscape)
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Prince Clavor’s assassins are disintegrating
Crichton. Suddenly, Jenavia – Clavor’s fiancée – rescues him, killing the assassins with a whirlwind of kicks and a spiked blade that springs from her wrist.
"Which branch are you with?" she asks the stunned human astronaut. (
spoilers)
ANALYSIS
Can we declare Farscape to be the best science fiction series on television?
"I Do, I Think" certainly shows off all of the show's best elements -- humor, strong characters, a bit of pathos, and lots of action -- in what may be the most exciting episode yet. From Jenavia’s kickboxing entrance to Crichton's leap out of a burning spaceship without a helmet, the pace never lets up.
Of course, one reason for the non-stop action is that this is the middle segment of a three-part episode. The first installment set up the story and the plot doesn’t have to be wrapped up until next week; so all the Farscape team has to accomplish this week is get from one thrilling complication to the next.
That’s no mean feat, but the real challenge comes next week, when all the impossible situations built up over the last two weeks have to be resolved.
A lot of multipart episodes on other science fiction shows have crashed and burned in the last hour, but Farscape's first season
cliffhanger and its conclusion were thoroughly successful, and the preview for next week's "The Maltese Crichton" looks promising.
If that episode lives up to expectations, then Babylon 5 and Star Trek may have to resign themselves to being the second and third best science fiction shows ever made. Farscape may not have Trek’s 30-year history or B5’s carefully designed "novel for television" structure, but it’s delivering hour after hour of pure fun.
Moments of character
Character development isn’t a high priority in "I Do, I Think" -- there’s too much going on. However, there are still a couple of revealing moments.
As
discussed last week, Aeryn still can’t come to terms with her feelings for Crichton. When she has a chance to take Chiana’s advice and tell Crichton that she needs him, she can’t do it.
We also get a brief look into Moya’s heart.
I haven’t given much space to Moya’s plotline in this episode. It’s a little contrived -- intended mostly to keep her away from the others so that they don’t have an easy escape from their predicament -- and it’s highly unlikely that Moya, Pilot and
Zhaan are being written out of the show.
The most interesting development has been hearing Moya "speak." Her echoing, singing voice beautifully conveys her size, age and alien nature.
She has an unusual viewpoint on her impending death. Zhaan rages against it, but Moya seems to almost rejoice in it – she treats her death as a religious experience, and has no reservations about sacrificing herself for a higher purpose.
That’s a trait she shares with Crichton, who marries the Princess because he feels an obligation to keep the incompetent Clavor off the throne. It will be interesting to see if Moya and Crichton’s inevitable revivals also parallel each other.
WHAT WE LEARN
Jenavia Chatto is a spy from the Peacekeeper Special Directorate with orders to stop Clavor from becoming Emperor.
Moya’s creators built the Leviathans as messengers of peace. They are shocked that Moya was altered to
give birth to a gunship.
Some of Crichton’s favorite things on Earth were his Charlie Parker holos and his ’62 Thunderbird.
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
Crichton’s a statue, Moya has committed suicide, Pilot is dying, and Aeryn’s vacationing with a guy named Dregon Casanova. How the frell are they going to get out of this one?
Who was that voice in Crichton’s head?
TUNE IN NEXT WEEK
Crichton gets decapitated, Chiana hangs around, and the "Look at the Princess" epic comes to a thrilling conclusion in "The Maltese Crichton".
What do you think? Send your comments to the
editor.
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