Farscape Rewatch: "Incubator" (3.11.)
Wiki summary: Hoping to gain access to the wormhole knowledge, Scorpius tells his life story to a neural clone of Crichton created by the chip that was once in Crichton's head. One of Scorpius' scientists absconds and heads to Moya to offer Crichton the secret of wormhole travel.
This was and upon rewatch remains a favourite among Farscape episodes for me, despite the in-story justification for revealing Scorpius' backstory - him telling the tale to Neuralclone!John in the hope of gaining the still missing wormhole data - is a bit thin. (Does Scorpius really think a version of John Crichton which has just experienced Aeryn's death and the year from hell is going to be swayed by the traumatic youth of the man who did this to him?) Despite the B-plot on Moya, this is a one hour pov switch to the main antagonist, and it works really well, down to such details as Braca getting fleshed out somewhat as well, as we see him making the call of risking Scorpius' life, not because of any animosity but precisely because of loyalty both to Scorpius and the greater Peacekeeper good, thereby impressing Scorpius. In restrospect, if there's a key moment where Braca stops being random PK stooge and becomes a person through both writing and acting, it's probably this one.
As for Scorpius' backstory: I don't know who first told me the "darkside Spock" comparison, but it really comes to mind here. Scorpius is the product of rape and experimentation between enemies instead of love and free choice between allies; he grows up in his biological father's culture but ends up choosing to live in his mother's (to put it euphemistically); he is highly intelligent and has a slashy relationship with the lead of the show yet aims not for the top job (or claims not to). Now I had originally marathoned the first three seasons and watched the fourth season in real time, so I remember there was still some debate as to whether or not Scorpius tells NeuralJohn in this episode actually is the truth. (Though I think Word of God confirmed it at the time.) One argument for "it's the truth" I recall was that we see Scorpius, in his memories of finding the remnants of Reilani's escape pod, note a flower which the audience has seen at the start of the episode and will see at the end again in his quarters, without Scorpius-the-narrator pointing it out in any way to NeuralJohn, meaning that the memory must be real. This was called into question again when s4 changed the meaning of the flower by making it a key Scarran vulnerability, but all in all, I think fandom settled on regarding the backstory we see here as being the genuine deal. With obvious gaps, like the s4 Scorpius and Staleek backstory, and clearly designed to evoke sympathy in John Crichton, but quintessentially the truth. And having spent his first twelve years in a constant state of abuse and pain does explain a lot about Scorpius (wiithout making him less responsible for his current day acts.) I also appreciate the almost mythic way he kills Tauza - the closest thing to a mother he had, as she raised him (in a non stop abusive way) - by blinding her first.
One thing I can never completely make up my mind on is how Scorpius really feels about Sebaceans. (As opposed to Scarrans.) The episode lets him give two motives for his actions to John - wanting revenge on the Scarrans, and wanting to protect the Sebaceans (not just the PKs) from getting wiped out by them; he says the difference between Peacekeepers and Scarrans is that the Scarrans aren't just after universal domination but universal genocide of all other sentient species. Both are plausible motives for wanting to join the Peacekeepers and rise in their ranks to the point where you can do something about the Scarrans, something Scorpius, no matter how smart and ruthless, could not to as his own lone single agent/warlord. (And the Nebari wouldn't take him without altering his mind.) However, it might also be the need to belong somewhere, coupled with the fact that the Peacekeepers do accept him (their own racism not withstanding). And there's always the possibility of identification with the parent who was tortured and abused, and once he finds out this was the Sebacean one, that's it. His reconstruction of Reilani - the only part of what he shows John that he admits is not based on memory - emphasizes her vulnerability and affectionate nature (while being very unlike the women we see adult Scorpius beng attracted to, Natira and later Sikozu).
Linfer connects the Scorpius A-Plot to the Moya B-Plot, and I appreciate she's not a double agent or evil (beyond, you know, having worked for Scorpius for a considerable time in a research project that got people turned into soup), not another guest star attempting to hijack Moya. She also prompts one of Pilot's hands down best gems of understated snark, in reply to Linfer's comment that Scorpius has grown irrational in his wormhole obsession: "Scorpius is not alone in this regard". This episode being yet another case in point for MoyaJohn. It's the season for drawing parallels between Crichton and Scorpius. Linfer's arrival is also noteworthy for causing Jool's first participation in a Moya crew debate where her previous "spoiled princess" characterisation is by now completely lacking, and she comes across as a person who even gets the verbal better of John in her pointed remark on how he only supports Pilot's wishes if they want the same thing. The drinking scene between John and D'Argo is another great friendship scene between them, which after the "stuff like this got Zhaan killed" was really emotionally needed.
Up for debate: Say Linfer would not have died, her tech would have upheld, and Pilot and Moya would have chosen to go with her provided that everyone else gets brought to their destination of choice first. I can see Jool leaving, but were would D'Argo go, now that his dreams of a farm with Jothee and Chiana fell through? And Chiana literally can't go home. Finding the Nebari resistance and through them Neri would be really difficult. Going with D'Argo is out. Would she ask John whether she could go with him? As for John, he might be able to find Earth in such a scenario, but would he really give up on the chance of seeing Aeryn again? Yes, he knows another version of him is with her, but still.
The other episodes This entry was originally posted at https://selenak.dreamwidth.org/1436909.html. Comment there or here, as you wish.
This was and upon rewatch remains a favourite among Farscape episodes for me, despite the in-story justification for revealing Scorpius' backstory - him telling the tale to Neuralclone!John in the hope of gaining the still missing wormhole data - is a bit thin. (Does Scorpius really think a version of John Crichton which has just experienced Aeryn's death and the year from hell is going to be swayed by the traumatic youth of the man who did this to him?) Despite the B-plot on Moya, this is a one hour pov switch to the main antagonist, and it works really well, down to such details as Braca getting fleshed out somewhat as well, as we see him making the call of risking Scorpius' life, not because of any animosity but precisely because of loyalty both to Scorpius and the greater Peacekeeper good, thereby impressing Scorpius. In restrospect, if there's a key moment where Braca stops being random PK stooge and becomes a person through both writing and acting, it's probably this one.
As for Scorpius' backstory: I don't know who first told me the "darkside Spock" comparison, but it really comes to mind here. Scorpius is the product of rape and experimentation between enemies instead of love and free choice between allies; he grows up in his biological father's culture but ends up choosing to live in his mother's (to put it euphemistically); he is highly intelligent and has a slashy relationship with the lead of the show yet aims not for the top job (or claims not to). Now I had originally marathoned the first three seasons and watched the fourth season in real time, so I remember there was still some debate as to whether or not Scorpius tells NeuralJohn in this episode actually is the truth. (Though I think Word of God confirmed it at the time.) One argument for "it's the truth" I recall was that we see Scorpius, in his memories of finding the remnants of Reilani's escape pod, note a flower which the audience has seen at the start of the episode and will see at the end again in his quarters, without Scorpius-the-narrator pointing it out in any way to NeuralJohn, meaning that the memory must be real. This was called into question again when s4 changed the meaning of the flower by making it a key Scarran vulnerability, but all in all, I think fandom settled on regarding the backstory we see here as being the genuine deal. With obvious gaps, like the s4 Scorpius and Staleek backstory, and clearly designed to evoke sympathy in John Crichton, but quintessentially the truth. And having spent his first twelve years in a constant state of abuse and pain does explain a lot about Scorpius (wiithout making him less responsible for his current day acts.) I also appreciate the almost mythic way he kills Tauza - the closest thing to a mother he had, as she raised him (in a non stop abusive way) - by blinding her first.
One thing I can never completely make up my mind on is how Scorpius really feels about Sebaceans. (As opposed to Scarrans.) The episode lets him give two motives for his actions to John - wanting revenge on the Scarrans, and wanting to protect the Sebaceans (not just the PKs) from getting wiped out by them; he says the difference between Peacekeepers and Scarrans is that the Scarrans aren't just after universal domination but universal genocide of all other sentient species. Both are plausible motives for wanting to join the Peacekeepers and rise in their ranks to the point where you can do something about the Scarrans, something Scorpius, no matter how smart and ruthless, could not to as his own lone single agent/warlord. (And the Nebari wouldn't take him without altering his mind.) However, it might also be the need to belong somewhere, coupled with the fact that the Peacekeepers do accept him (their own racism not withstanding). And there's always the possibility of identification with the parent who was tortured and abused, and once he finds out this was the Sebacean one, that's it. His reconstruction of Reilani - the only part of what he shows John that he admits is not based on memory - emphasizes her vulnerability and affectionate nature (while being very unlike the women we see adult Scorpius beng attracted to, Natira and later Sikozu).
Linfer connects the Scorpius A-Plot to the Moya B-Plot, and I appreciate she's not a double agent or evil (beyond, you know, having worked for Scorpius for a considerable time in a research project that got people turned into soup), not another guest star attempting to hijack Moya. She also prompts one of Pilot's hands down best gems of understated snark, in reply to Linfer's comment that Scorpius has grown irrational in his wormhole obsession: "Scorpius is not alone in this regard". This episode being yet another case in point for MoyaJohn. It's the season for drawing parallels between Crichton and Scorpius. Linfer's arrival is also noteworthy for causing Jool's first participation in a Moya crew debate where her previous "spoiled princess" characterisation is by now completely lacking, and she comes across as a person who even gets the verbal better of John in her pointed remark on how he only supports Pilot's wishes if they want the same thing. The drinking scene between John and D'Argo is another great friendship scene between them, which after the "stuff like this got Zhaan killed" was really emotionally needed.
Up for debate: Say Linfer would not have died, her tech would have upheld, and Pilot and Moya would have chosen to go with her provided that everyone else gets brought to their destination of choice first. I can see Jool leaving, but were would D'Argo go, now that his dreams of a farm with Jothee and Chiana fell through? And Chiana literally can't go home. Finding the Nebari resistance and through them Neri would be really difficult. Going with D'Argo is out. Would she ask John whether she could go with him? As for John, he might be able to find Earth in such a scenario, but would he really give up on the chance of seeing Aeryn again? Yes, he knows another version of him is with her, but still.
The other episodes This entry was originally posted at https://selenak.dreamwidth.org/1436909.html. Comment there or here, as you wish.