Farscape: Thank God it's Friday Again and PK Tech Girl. Our crew is gettin' lucky all over the place
Yes, Farscape rewatch continues. For once, it's an obsession that Mr. Mousie can enjoy too :)
Thank God it’s Friday Again: Crichton and Co come down to a planet looking for D’Argo. What they discover is a happy laborer hippie society that is a lot less benign than it seems. And Crichton gets to make a Mad Max joke.
I really like this ep. Maybe because it deals with one of my fave scifi tropes, a dystopian society. Maybe because for once, nothing too terrible happens to anyone. Maybe because Crichton in red, looking like a Flinstones extra, cracks me up.
This write-up is only spoilery for the ep itself.
Things I like:
1. Aeryn discovers science. More importantly, she discovers she can do it. I love it. Just as John will discover he can fight and fight well, Aeryn discovers she is not just a soldier automaton. Yay. Her panic and her equal delight when she succeeded? Awesome.
2. D’Argo gets some. Without complications, for once. Heeee. This, like the ep before it, is about D’Argo trying to belong, however twisted by the drug. That coda with him and Zhaan is rather heart-breaking.
3. John and Aeryn’s delight in each other: in snarking, in interacting, comes off them in waves. I am especially thinking of the conversation they have on the planet where he tries to get her to do his plan. They are talking really fast, fighting, snarking, grinning so as not to look suspicious, at the same time. And in the middle of it, John’s amused tenderness at Aeryn’s proud delight in doing the science stuff.
4. The ending is much less upbeat than one thinks. Does anyone doubt that when PKs come back, there will be a bloody war and the planet will be wiped out? Of course, the planet and its inhabitants are dying anyway, so they might as well go out with pride, but I don’t think Crichton realizes this yet. Later Crichton? Would.
5. I like how Crichton is gradually harder and edgier. It's imperceptible almost but its steady gradualness is totally awesome as one of the things I love about the show is how consistent in their progress characterizations are. Can't watch FS out of order.
6. Even in a not so bad to anyone ep, Crichton still got some pain. And nausea. Poor guy can't win. But I do love his getting dryer and dryer sense of humor. So many good lines. So much awesome snark. LOVE.
7. In a very small way, this is a foreshadowing of a running theme: John isolated, those around him delusional or disbelieving (whether because it's their fault or his because he is losing his mind). Having to hide even from friends. Not sure how well I am articulating it.
PK Tech Girl: Moyans come across a long-defunct Peacekeeper ship, the legendary Zelbinion. As they explore it to try to find something to salvage, they square off with a bunch of scavengers which want to fire on defenseless Moya. And Rygel flips because this is the first ship he was tortured on. On the plus side, they also find a tech who is hiding there. That tech is a she. And Crichton and she hit it off…
Warning: this ep write-up has spoilers for S4 and PKW.
How telling to see that this John automatically tries to protect Gilina (from being shot at, from Aeryn’s interrogation etc). I don’t think it’s entirely the fact that she is a pretty girl, or even the fact that this John is yet unscarred enough to offer complete kindness to a total stranger.
I am especially thinking of it in context of Aeryn’s interrogation where Aeryn barks at her and there is a definite bit of humiliation going on. John cannot bear that. Even later John cannot. Ever. Even when he is very very dark and hardened, even when it’s his worst enemy. Just look at the Arnessk eps, when Grayza presented him with twitching, drooling Scorpius on a leash. Crichton would kill Scorpius if he could, without a second thought, but utter helpless humiliation cuts a little too close to the bone, is a little too familiar, for him to ever feel comfortable dealing it to others. (Side note: How in keeping with the concept of the dark universe that neither Scorpius, nor Scarrans, nor Grayza are defeated, humiliated, destroyed, punished. They have to compromise somewhat but largely get what they want. Especially Scorpius. And why do I always digress into later FS anyway?)
My favorite moment of this whole ep? The conversation Aeryn and John have in one of the dark corridors. It’s the shipper in me. Aeryn is clearly annoyed at finding John and Gilina snuggling (and I love how Crichton thinks it’s general PK grumpiness and maybe comment on work ethic, but for Aeryn that is mixed in with jealousy.) And Crichton wants to explain himself to her (I love that he finds it important to do so, even though at this point in time they are in no way anywhere in the same Universe as a couple. He does view her as important, as a friend) and he asks her if she’s ever just clicked with anyone, just found them attractive. And she pauses and hems and haws and then blurts out “Yes, but I didn't let it....in the beginning I found you...interesting.” And I just love the look on Crichton’s face. He is completely stunned, completely surprised. And I think I love him a little more for that, that it didn’t even occur to him that someone like Aeryn could find him more than a nuisance. It’s clear he was attracted to her earlier but I think it’s after this that he feels (subconsciously) that it can be less sublimated. That there is a possibility, however farfetched. I just love how he asks “Me?” and she replies “Yes, but only for a moment.” And I love how he is sort of still reeling from it. And then he tells her it’s good to be on even terms and I realize that he is admitting, however obliquely, that he was attracted to her too.
EEEEE!
I confess I like Crichton with Gilina. I did a whole long post somewhat dealing with it, so I won’t go into it again, but I never had any problems with her, because it was so clearly pre-Aeryn and the poor guy clearly deserves some fun and niceness.
I do find it interesting that this Crichton is also learning, toughening. He automatically jumps to protect Gilina when Aeryn and D’Argo start firing but when Aeryn mentions she is from Crais’ ship, he crosses the line and stands with them.
But this Crichton still believes in communication solving problems: he tells the truth to Gilina, about his accident, about Aeryn. And it does work. I love the little chatty, bonding moment he has with her when they are working (and I love that she clearly is thinking ‘Cute. And a tech. Scooooore!’’) He just misses being equals, having a relaxed fun chat.
We also find more about PKs. They demoted Aeryn’s entire unit for her defection. You know, the more we find out about them, the more repulsive they are, honest.
Thank God it’s Friday Again: Crichton and Co come down to a planet looking for D’Argo. What they discover is a happy laborer hippie society that is a lot less benign than it seems. And Crichton gets to make a Mad Max joke.
I really like this ep. Maybe because it deals with one of my fave scifi tropes, a dystopian society. Maybe because for once, nothing too terrible happens to anyone. Maybe because Crichton in red, looking like a Flinstones extra, cracks me up.
This write-up is only spoilery for the ep itself.
Things I like:
1. Aeryn discovers science. More importantly, she discovers she can do it. I love it. Just as John will discover he can fight and fight well, Aeryn discovers she is not just a soldier automaton. Yay. Her panic and her equal delight when she succeeded? Awesome.
2. D’Argo gets some. Without complications, for once. Heeee. This, like the ep before it, is about D’Argo trying to belong, however twisted by the drug. That coda with him and Zhaan is rather heart-breaking.
3. John and Aeryn’s delight in each other: in snarking, in interacting, comes off them in waves. I am especially thinking of the conversation they have on the planet where he tries to get her to do his plan. They are talking really fast, fighting, snarking, grinning so as not to look suspicious, at the same time. And in the middle of it, John’s amused tenderness at Aeryn’s proud delight in doing the science stuff.
4. The ending is much less upbeat than one thinks. Does anyone doubt that when PKs come back, there will be a bloody war and the planet will be wiped out? Of course, the planet and its inhabitants are dying anyway, so they might as well go out with pride, but I don’t think Crichton realizes this yet. Later Crichton? Would.
5. I like how Crichton is gradually harder and edgier. It's imperceptible almost but its steady gradualness is totally awesome as one of the things I love about the show is how consistent in their progress characterizations are. Can't watch FS out of order.
6. Even in a not so bad to anyone ep, Crichton still got some pain. And nausea. Poor guy can't win. But I do love his getting dryer and dryer sense of humor. So many good lines. So much awesome snark. LOVE.
7. In a very small way, this is a foreshadowing of a running theme: John isolated, those around him delusional or disbelieving (whether because it's their fault or his because he is losing his mind). Having to hide even from friends. Not sure how well I am articulating it.
PK Tech Girl: Moyans come across a long-defunct Peacekeeper ship, the legendary Zelbinion. As they explore it to try to find something to salvage, they square off with a bunch of scavengers which want to fire on defenseless Moya. And Rygel flips because this is the first ship he was tortured on. On the plus side, they also find a tech who is hiding there. That tech is a she. And Crichton and she hit it off…
Warning: this ep write-up has spoilers for S4 and PKW.
How telling to see that this John automatically tries to protect Gilina (from being shot at, from Aeryn’s interrogation etc). I don’t think it’s entirely the fact that she is a pretty girl, or even the fact that this John is yet unscarred enough to offer complete kindness to a total stranger.
I am especially thinking of it in context of Aeryn’s interrogation where Aeryn barks at her and there is a definite bit of humiliation going on. John cannot bear that. Even later John cannot. Ever. Even when he is very very dark and hardened, even when it’s his worst enemy. Just look at the Arnessk eps, when Grayza presented him with twitching, drooling Scorpius on a leash. Crichton would kill Scorpius if he could, without a second thought, but utter helpless humiliation cuts a little too close to the bone, is a little too familiar, for him to ever feel comfortable dealing it to others. (Side note: How in keeping with the concept of the dark universe that neither Scorpius, nor Scarrans, nor Grayza are defeated, humiliated, destroyed, punished. They have to compromise somewhat but largely get what they want. Especially Scorpius. And why do I always digress into later FS anyway?)
My favorite moment of this whole ep? The conversation Aeryn and John have in one of the dark corridors. It’s the shipper in me. Aeryn is clearly annoyed at finding John and Gilina snuggling (and I love how Crichton thinks it’s general PK grumpiness and maybe comment on work ethic, but for Aeryn that is mixed in with jealousy.) And Crichton wants to explain himself to her (I love that he finds it important to do so, even though at this point in time they are in no way anywhere in the same Universe as a couple. He does view her as important, as a friend) and he asks her if she’s ever just clicked with anyone, just found them attractive. And she pauses and hems and haws and then blurts out “Yes, but I didn't let it....in the beginning I found you...interesting.” And I just love the look on Crichton’s face. He is completely stunned, completely surprised. And I think I love him a little more for that, that it didn’t even occur to him that someone like Aeryn could find him more than a nuisance. It’s clear he was attracted to her earlier but I think it’s after this that he feels (subconsciously) that it can be less sublimated. That there is a possibility, however farfetched. I just love how he asks “Me?” and she replies “Yes, but only for a moment.” And I love how he is sort of still reeling from it. And then he tells her it’s good to be on even terms and I realize that he is admitting, however obliquely, that he was attracted to her too.
EEEEE!
I confess I like Crichton with Gilina. I did a whole long post somewhat dealing with it, so I won’t go into it again, but I never had any problems with her, because it was so clearly pre-Aeryn and the poor guy clearly deserves some fun and niceness.
I do find it interesting that this Crichton is also learning, toughening. He automatically jumps to protect Gilina when Aeryn and D’Argo start firing but when Aeryn mentions she is from Crais’ ship, he crosses the line and stands with them.
But this Crichton still believes in communication solving problems: he tells the truth to Gilina, about his accident, about Aeryn. And it does work. I love the little chatty, bonding moment he has with her when they are working (and I love that she clearly is thinking ‘Cute. And a tech. Scooooore!’’) He just misses being equals, having a relaxed fun chat.
We also find more about PKs. They demoted Aeryn’s entire unit for her defection. You know, the more we find out about them, the more repulsive they are, honest.