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Captain
Hornblower Rates the Farscape Episodes
The Captain gives "What Was Lost Part 1" a rating of:
2 Moyas
The Captain gives "What Was Lost Part 2" a rating of:
3 Moyas
Overall Rating: 3 Moyas (that's rounded from 2.5)
Review:
After a more than shaky start to Season 4, Farscape finally turns
in a good episode in its new season. While not a spectacular installment
to the series, the "What Was Lost" two parter was a pretty
good adventure story with some great moments, a decent overall story,
but still tempered with some problems.
Its really the second part of this two part adventure that carries
"What Was Lost". The first installment was really a whirlwind
of confusion, laced with too many unanswered questions connected
with Crichton's reunion with D'Argo, Jool, and the Old Woman. Add
the fact that it was filled with confusing flashbacks and flashforwards,
and you really get a first installment that leaves you thinking
"what the frell was that all about?" Cerebral can be good,
but the first installment was just too cerebral. There is such a
thing as too much of something, and this is a good example.
Luckily, the second part of this adventure is really where the story
comes together. Most of the confusion from the first installment
is explained and the pieces are put together in the puzzle to allow
the plot to take shape. This is really, in general, a story that
has been done before on Farscape several times. "Crichton gets
captured and the others have to rescue him." But, this time,
there are some twists tossed into the story that really let's you
ignore the fact that this general plot has almost been done to death
on Farscape.
First, Crichton is really in a position where he doesn't wait for
the others to save him for a change. He goes a lot further to save
himself, by turning the tables on Commandant Cleavage and leaving
her in her own stirrups. Go Crichton! (Though this did contain an
element of unfavorability which I will explain late). Then, he get's
into a shootout with Bracca that begins with a great one liner from
our hero.
Second, the girls. Chiana and Jool-that scene in the cell where
they kick those two Peacekeeper's buts, with a little help in distraction
from Sikozu. This really showed how the relationship between Jool
and Chiana evolved into a great, thought reluctant partnership.
Its unfortunate that it appears Jool has been written out of the
series with this ep because she had been developed, over time, into
a good character, one that could have been taken even further.
Third, Scorpius. It appears he is pretty much booted out of the
Peacekeepers (and we know he can't be dead and buried forever-Scorpy
can't die-that's now a Farscape tradition). In a way, this leaves
his character wide open and a rogue element in the series. Will
he remain a villain out on his own? Perhaps the Nebari, or some
other power will put his expertise to good use? Or will he embark
on a journey similar to that of Crais-becoming a question mark for
a while with eventual evolution to semi-hero status? This last one
would be hard to do, because Scorpius' villainy was more profound
than Crais' and a more prolonged element to the series.
Now, although this was a good adventure story, there were still
a few elements that made this ep less than spectacular, and along
with the episode's pluses, these not so good elements should also
be considered:
1) Yet again, we are given no backstory on what happened to D'Argo
after he left in search of Macton, or Moya after she went down the
wormhole at the end of Season Three. And what happened to Aeryn,
and her possible pregnancy? They are prolonging this out too long,
and need to do much more resolution of season 3 ending plot elements.
Its still a distraction that is holding up the forward motion of
the plot, and is manifesting itself as plot holes.
2) What happened with that connection between humans and other races
in the Uncharted Territories? It was barely mentioned after the
temple was discovered, only with an offhand remark by Jool to Crichton
"hey, I guess our races our connected". How? When? Why?
You would at least think Crichton could ask Jool "hey, if you
find out the connection between your race, Sebaceans, and my race,
let me know, okay." It would have given the issue more closure,
and a more defined future in the series to come. Now, its almost
left as a dead issue, perhaps never to be brought up again. I understand
why it should be left open for future plot exploration, but they
left it TOO open ended.
3) Elack's death scene had all of the emotion of a toilet being
flushed. This Leviathan and its Pilot sheltered Crichton for months,
and helped him, Chiana, and Rygel be reunited with the others at
the expense of dying where they wanted to. And who gives their sacrifice
any recognition? Rygel! That's all. I mean, its good Rygel did,
and that show's some evolution in his character, but the others
don't even seem to care. That could have been a very emotional moment,
and it ended up being just a half way decent explosion sequence.
Not very well played out.
4) Commandant Grayza is not a compelling villain. Its unfortunate,
because the producers could have gotten creative with a female villain-look
what they did with Natira. Instead, we have a villain who uses a
breast sweat aphrodisiac to control men with sex. Its an old, cheap
plot element that one would expect from a little boy's fantasies,
not the creative Farscape production staff. Even with the explanation
of how her breast sweat works doesn't change the fact that she uses
something as stupid as breast sweat as the method of her villainy.
And Crichton escapes her by finding a way to beat her breast sweat.
Now, we have Grayza chasing Crichton and crew. Why? Crichton beat
her breast sweat and left her in the stirrups. Give me a break!
Crais and Scorpius had far better reasons for chasing Crichton than
that. This villain is way to over the top, and lacks the complexity
that Farscape villains in the past have exhibited.
Despite the two parter's flaws, it was still a good two part episode.
Part 2 was especially needed after the poor to mediocre start Season
4 got with "Crichton Kicks" and "What Was Lost Part
1". This probably won't be a two parter as well remembered
as many other episodes of Farscape have been, but it was still a
good, decent episode.
Before I sign off, I want to make one final comment about the preview
for next weeks ep. I was actually dreading tonight's ep (believe
it or not) because of the preview they showed for it this past week,
in combination with the fact I had been disappointed before this
ep with Season 4 (some of you may have read my post from last night
about this). The preview for this next week's ep didn't look good
either. I think I know why now, what these two previews had in common.
They are putting too much emphasis on the wacky, over the top stuff,
like Crichton with Grayza in the stirrups and the Old Woman stripping
in this next preview in the previews. And in reality, at least with
this week's ep, the over the top sex stuff had very little to do
with the ep. I hope the same holds true for next week. Some say
that Scifi used to do this with Lexx as well. Sci-Fi Channel-change
your schema for ep previews, please. Your making our show look bad
in previews.
That's all. What did you think of "What Was Lost 1&2"?
Feel free to let your voice be heard on the ep, or this review.
Feedback is always welcomed.
Captain Hornblower
Keeper of Jenavia's Jewel Gun
Worshiper of Aeryn's Remarkable Vessel
Caretaker of Porthos, the Enterprise Dog
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