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Captain Hornblower
Rates the Farscape Episodes
The Captain gives "Twice Shy" 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 not so fair episode
0 Moyas-a poor episode
Review:
When are the members of Moya's crew going to learn. Don't let Chiana
bring ANYTHING ALIVE aboard the ship!
In many ways, this episode reminds one of other great past episodes
of Farscape. The fact that the crew's minds are being messed around
with by someone brought onboard Moya by the crew is clearly similar
to the plot of "Crackers Don't Matter". Chiana bringing
aboard a seemingly innocent looking something that morphs into something
monstrous is a slightly altered copy of "Beware of Dog".
In fact, the story is so similar to those two previous episodes
that it almost makes one concerned about whether or not the producers
are running out of story ideas, and are relying too much on regurgitating
old, already used plots. Its happened to the best of shows.
But in this case, the viewers concerns can be alleviated by a simple
placement of two lines in this episode. Someone referenced the Vork
from "Beware of Dog" when they were discussing the fact
Chiana was bringing aboard something that looked so innocent. Crichton
also referred to having their mind messed with as someone pulling
a Traltixx, the name of the villain from "Crackers Don't Matter".
These references are each a well placed "wink-wink, nudge-nudge"
from the writers, telling the viewers, "we all know we did
these ideas before, but we promise it will play differently."
And it did.
By effectively altering and combining these past story elements,
with some new twists and turns tossed in, the producers managed
to put together a quite enjoyable action/adventure episode. The
creature was very convincing in both its forms. The innocent girl,
even in the same form, towards the end moves like a spider. And
the creatures she transforms into is very scary, especially given
the fact that you don't know where its going to pop out next. The
scene that best illustrates the last part was when it was stalking
Sikozu.
What results is a Farscape episode that may have lacked some originality,
but made up for it with suspense and thrills. If this had been all
there was to the episode, it probably would have gotten a 3 Moya
rating from me (meaning it was a good, solid episode, but not necessarily
a great one).
But this episode's most important moments are clearly in the last
five minutes, and it's these last five minutes that truly elevate
the episode to a level of excellence (the 4 Moya rating). Many of
the characters' actions from the beginning of the season crystallize
into an overall pattern, setting up a future conflict between two
forces on board Moya. Scorpius has plans for Crichton, and is looking
for a way to manipulate Crichton into giving him wormhole technology.
We the viewers kind of suspected this from the time Scorpius came
aboard Moya.
Yet, three things have now changed. 1) Sikozu is now firmly in Scorpius'
camp, and will be an ally in his schemes. 2) We now know that Crichton
knows something of what Scorpius has been up to when he reveals
to Aeryn that he believes Scorpius has been watching and monitoring
him, looking for a weakness to use against him. That is why he has
been putting distance between him and Aeryn, to protect her and
her unborn child from becoming pawns to be used against him by Scorpius.
3) Aeryn also knows about it now that Crichton has told her, and
being the only one who does, will be Crichton's best ally in defeating
Scorpius' plans.
This effectively sets up a coming contest of cunning and will in
the near future of the series. There are battlelines being drawn
on Moya, in secret and through clandestine means. Eventually, this
will break out into open conflict within Moya's crew itself.
On a side note, Crichton's revelation to Aeryn has allowed him to
finally show her what he truly feels, and has placed their relationship
back on solid ground, though secretly at the moment due to the threat
Scorpius poses to Aeryn and her baby. This creates a great deal
of emotional satisfaction among the many Scapers who have shown
a great deal of interest in their romance since the show began.
For those reasons, an episode which would have been good based solely
on the main plot, is raised to the level of being excellent because
it focuses the lens on many things that have been happening on Moya
this season (about damned time, too), and sets up a fascinating
future conflict among the characters.
That's my review. What did you think of the review, or the episode?
Let your voice be heard in a reply below.
Captain Hornblower
Keeper of Jenavia's Jewel Gun
Worshiper of Aeryn's Remarkable Vessel
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