Four
Chiana learns that her brother is alive and well when two Nebari hunters take control of Moya.
(First aired on September 15, 2000)
Written by Lily Taylor
Directed by Rowan Woods.
GUEST STARS
Malcolm Kennard -- Meelak
Skye Wansey -- Varla
Simon Bossell -- Nerri
Wayne Pygram -- Scorpius
Lani Tupu -- "Crais"
WHAT HAPPENED
Crichton is returning to Moya with Chiana. She’s obtained some information on the slavers who have D’Argo’s son, but Crichton suspects D’Argo is not going to be happy about how she got it.
"I can look after myself," Chiana protests. She suggests that Crichton is just angry because his favorite gun jammed.
Aeryn and Rygel’s pod returns shortly afterwards. Aeryn walks in and stuns Crichton and Chiana by apologizing for her previous surly behavior.
"That’s scary," Crichton comments. Chiana notices that Aeryn doesn’t have her gun.
Aeryn and Rygel have a surprise for Chiana. The surprise -- another Nebari named Varla -- strolls into the room.
"Chiana, dear. It’s time to go home," Varla says.
Chiana realizes what’s wrong with Aeryn and Rygel. They’ve been "cleansed!"
Varla and Crichton both draw their guns and fire. His gun jams.
Hers doesn’t. The Nebari promptly knock Crichton and Chiana unconscious. (spoilers)
ANALYSIS
Well, that adds a few complications.
David Kemper has hinted that we would see more of Chiana’s people, and now it looks like they have plans for the Uncharted Territories -- plans that Varla indicates will be coming to fruition soon.
Four episodes left before the season finale, and we have Scorpius pursuing Crichton, conflict between the Peacekeepers and the Skarrans, D’Argo’s son about to go on the auction block and Moya's son's increasing aggressiveness, not to mention the usual romantic complications. That’s quite a stew, especially after you add a Nebari invasion, a resistance movement and an interstellar plague.
Is this all going to fit together in four more shows -- or five, if there’s a cliffhanger season finale and third season opener? Can it fit together at all?
Farscape's writers are certainly resourceful, and last year’s "final four" pulled together a lot of seemingly unconnected elements. On the other hand, most of the first season's plotlines were personal; bigger events are in motion this year.
Not everything has to be resolved now. But the once-simple political landscape of the Uncharted Territories is getting overcomplicated, and it would be disappointing if both the Nebari and Peacekeeper/Skarran situations are still entangling our heroes at the end of the season.
Season finale in sight
The last episodes of season two probably will focus on D’Argo’s son and the Nebari contagion. These stories have specific sell-by dates attached, they lend themselves to action-adventure plots, and they have less future possibilities than the other ongoing plots.
In the case of the boy, D’Argo will either find him or not -- it’s a binary plot without much room for variations. And while the Nebari look cool, their conformist society doesn’t sound interesting enough to explore in detail.
As for the other plots, Talyn will probably make another appearance this season, but there’s no reason he and Crais shouldn’t be making life difficult for the cast next year as well. The Skarran-Peacekeeper tensions are also rich with possibilities; there’s at least another season’s worth of mileage left in this plotline, and it would be a shame not to see the power pendulum swing a few more times where these two races are concerned.
Finally, there’s Scorpius. Again, we’ll probably see Wayne Pygram’s smiling face in the next few episodes, but don’t expect any permanent resolution to his story. He’s just too much fun not to bring back next year.
WHAT WE LEARN
Crichton has named his gun "Winona."
Chiana’s brother is alive and leading a resistance against the Nebari "Establishment."
The Nebari intend to control much of the Uncharted Territories. To accomplish this goal, Chiana and hundreds of other Nebari have been used as carriers for a viral "contagion" that will create simultaneous disorder on many worlds and prepare the way for Nebari "emissaries."
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
What exactly will the Nebari "contagion" do, and when will it become active?
TUNE IN NEXT WEEK
Reruns begin with "Vitas Mortis". D’Argo attends the death rituals of a Luxan holy woman, but will she lead him into temptation before the end?
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