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Captain Hornblower
Rates the Farscape Episodes
The Captain gives "I Shrink, Therefore I am" a rating
of:
4 Moyas
Captain's Rating Scale:
5 Moyas-one of the best episodes
4 Moyas-an excellent episode
3 Moyas-a good episode
2 Moyas-a fair episode
1 Moya-a less than fair episode
0 Moyas-a poor episode
Review:
"I Shrink, Therefore I am" is not exactly great drama.
But in the case of this episode, it doesn't have to be, because
it is just a really fun action/adventure story. This is a Farscape
shoot-em-up episode done in fine style, with a firm plot behind
it and genuine tension driving the action. What the audience gets
as a result is a fun, edge of your seat thrill ride.
Crichton as the John McClain type character (reference to Die Hard
films) really puts him in the place where he has to be the hero.
This is not one of those "team working together to solve the
problem" stories like most of the episodes of Farscape are.
In this episode, its all on Crichton. Now, a couple of years ago,
that might have been a problem. But now, Crichton is a battle hardened
veteran, and truly lives up to the fearsome reputation he has acquired.
He shows great skill, great agility, and quick on his feet thinking.
But there is an interesting element mixed into John's one man heroism
in this episode-he has no one to help him but SCORPIUS. The "what
to do about Scorpius" question comes to a head in this episode,
when it becomes quite clear that Scorpius was only staying in his
cell because he chose to. Not only that, Scorpius proves himself
to be a useful ally to Crichton and crew in this latest adventure,
though it certainly doesn't mean the crew trusts him now. But it
does make the relationship between Moya's crew and Scorpius much
more complicated.
The aliens in this episode are big, tough, and dangerous. The idea
of the exoskeleton was well thought out, and gave these bad guys
a big advantage over Crichton and crew. These guys even look scary!
Open up on them with pulse fire, and they just keep coming. And
their ability to shrink the crew, and place them in their chest
plates, makes killing the bad guys that much more difficult for
Crichton. Even though the shrinking idea is an old one to science
fiction, the producers manage to give it a few original twists and
play the plot device effectively.
On a side note-I really liked Crichton's cultural references in
this episode. Calling the bad guys Cylons, and the lead bad guy
the Imperious Leader-great Battlestar Galactica references. And,
of course, the Gort and "Klatuu, Barada, Nikto" references-to
my favorite science fiction film, the Day the Earth Stood Still.
Very well done. Though, I do wonder what is with Crichton and all
the Spanish phrases this season. Did he go to Berlitz while he was
separated from Moya's crew in between seasons?
Towards the end of the episode, we get the idea that the tension
of pursuit has been jacked up a few notches this season. The enemies
of Crichton and crew are multiplying, and they are running out of
places to hide. Even the vast Uncharted Territories are not a safe
enough place to hide in anymore. Though we know that the Peacekeepers
and Scarrens have been after Crichton for a while, it does seem
like they are closing in on Moya. And now, they are heading for
a region of space called the Tormented Space (I believe that is
how they put it). From the look on Aeryn's face, this might be a
clue to where she was and what she was doing while away from Moya.
All in all, "I Shrink, Therefore I am" is a great shoot-em-up
adventure story, well backed by a great plot and nail biting, edge
of your seat tension. I predict this one will become a classic action/adventure
episode of Farscape.
So, what did you think of this episode, or this review? Please,
do provide feedback. Let your voice be heard on the episode or this
review.
Captain Hornblower
Keeper of Jenavia's Jewel Gun
Worshiper of Aeryn's Remarkable Vessel
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