"This is where you're supposed to twirl your moustache and gloat."

[danceswithwords]

Standard disclaimer: this post and/or the comments may and probably will contain spoilers for the entire series. Previous episode posts here.

Comments

[katie_m]

I voted for Taking the Stone, because after watching it I had to have it explained to me. I don't know if it was the deeper accents or what, but seriously, it felt like several middle points of the plot were missing.

[danceswithwords]

I had a hard time understanding some of the teenagers (and the crap sound mixing on the DVDs didn't help). But the plot also does not make the most sense in the world.

[asta77]

One of the reasons I didn't miss Zhaan after she was gone was because, like you, I found her becoming increasingly unnecessary to the shows storylines. I don't know the history behind the series very well, but I wonder if Zhaan was a victim of Virginia's leaving the show? If the writers knew she wasn't going to be around much longer, I can see where they may have chosen to focus on the stories of the other charaters and begin distancing them from her.

And I vote for 'Taking the Stone' because it annoys the hell out of me. Who thought watching stoned teens for an hour was a good idea? Then there was the, imo, silliness of the B plot with Rygel and his cursed artifacts.

[danceswithwords]

ixchup says that Virginia Hey discussed this in the extended interview on one of the Starburst volumes, and I guess that the makeup was already becoming an issue and she herself requested the B plots to minimize the time she had to spend in it. It's too bad, but I do think it sort of eased her out of the show; she was so much less central by the time of her death that I was sad to see her go, but didn't really notice anything missing after that.

I'm not going to defend the "Taking the Stone" B plot with Rygel because, yes, stupid. I really loved the interaction between John and Aeryn and Chiana in that episode, though, so that redeemed it a lot for me.

[danceswithwords]

I didn't know the makeup problem had asserted itself that early; that certainly explains why Zhaan was shunted to the B plots and ended up not doing a ton of scenes with other characters, since I'd imagine that meant the minimum time in makeup.

I love Season 2, but it's definitely a season I think of in terms of standalones, some of which worked better than others. I tend to really enjoy most of the episodes that I don't think are objectively that good; this is the only one I really don't care to rewatch at all.

[laurashapiro]

I voted for "The Ugly Truth", because it's so gross I can't watch it, but I think it's probably not the worst episode of the season (it just "does it for me the least", to use your phrase). I mean, every show has to do its Rashomon, right?

Unlike many people here, I love "Taking the Stone", because I love Chi's arc in it, and the way she and John grow closer through it. And "Beware of Dog" is funny and a great send-up of the Alien movies, so you won't get me to say anything bad about it. (: The others, yeah, I could pretty much chuck 'em. I share your dislike of Maldis, and of "Picture If You Will."

[danceswithwords]

Unlike many people here, I love "Taking the Stone", because I love Chi's arc in it, and the way she and John grow closer through it.

I really like it for that reason too, and for Aeryn and John clashing over how to handle the situation, switching places, and for the way Aeryn has that watchfulness about John, knowing something's wrong, not sure what to do about it. Really, even though I think most of the episodes in the poll are misses in one way or another, I get a lot of enjoyment out of most of them; this is the only one I could cheerfully never watch again.

[danceswithwords]

Wah! "Taking the Stone" gets no love.