TNMC
This site’s design is only visible in a graphical browser that supports web standards, but its content is accessible to any browser or Internet device.
Greetings you nefarious Nebari nitwits!
To me, Chiana has always seemed a little underdeveloped. So it was definitely a nice change to see her get a significant amount of screen time this week. Besides that, how can you not like an episode that pays homage to A Clockwork Orange, Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece about ultra-violence and subsequent mind-cleansing?
A Clockwork Nebari - Original Air Date - 09.15.00
Crichton and Chiana are returning to Moya just having obtained some information on the slavers who have D'Argo's son. John quips that D'Argo may not be pleased when he learned just how Chiana got the info, but she assures him that she can look after herself. She suggests that he is merely upset that his favorite gun jammed, which we learn he has affectionately dubbed Winona.
Anyway, about this time, Aeryn and Rygel walk in, but something is clearly wrong. Rather than commencing another verbal diatribe against Chiana, she is apologetic for her previous surly behavior. As it turns out, she's been mind-cleansed by Varla and Meelak, two nebari who've come looking for Chiana. Why's Chiana important? Apparently, her brother Nerri, is quite a threat to the Nebari Establishment.
The Establishment, as we learn, is not content to let the Scarrans and PeaceKeepers fight for galactic supremacy by themselves. For the past 20 cycles, they have been spreading a virus. There will be no symptoms until a specific date in the near future, when the virus will activate and throw the populations of many worlds into chaos. At this point, the Nebari step in and do everybody a favor by wiping away any aggressive tendencies people may have. Nerri, however, is the leader of a rebellion that threatens the whole operation. Chiana must either give away his location or be used as bait.
One by one, each member of Moya is cleansed, and it is not a pretty sight. I could barely watch when we see the process applied to Crichton. Though I doubt it's physically possible (in fact I know it's not), it's disgusting nonetheless to see somebody's eyeballs pulled out of their skull and have microchips implanted onto the optic nerves behind them. Like I've said before, Farscape never fails to surprise...
Wow, so now we really have a lot going on in the Uncharted Territories: Scorpius is pursuing Crichton, the conflict between the Peacekeepers and the Scarrans, D’Argo’s son about to go on the auction block and Talyn's increasing aggressiveness, not to mention the usual romantic complications. That’s quite a stew, especially after you add a Nebari invasion, a resistance movement and an interstellar plague. Good stuff.
Episode Rating: 7 out of 10
Highlights:
- Crichton's mind-cleansing procedure
- While Chiana is chained up, to prove to her that he's his old self, Crichton cops a feel. "My thoughts are as dirty as ever..."
- Finally seeing some emotional depth to Chiana
- Crichton opening up a lil bit of whoop-ass on Rygel
- Pilot finally says "frell"
Quotes:
Pilot: If you've also come to tell me what a wonderful thing the Nebari are doing for you, I am not interested.
Crichton: No, Pilot, I'm here to tell you that the Nebari are a bunch of geeks! And that the damn mind-cleansing doesn't work on Mama Crichton's baby boy -- John Crichton... Astronaut... Master of the Universe!
Crichton: You aren't into self-preservation. You are the king of it!
Rygel: Not king! Dominar!
Crichton Earth References:
What's next --
Season two is taking a long hiatus. Reruns will have to do until January, at which point we will get the final four episodes - a stand alone, and a three episode arc to finish it off. Farscape's other three episode arc was its finest hour, so let's hope they can duplicate that success with a killer cliffhanger. If so, it'll be well worth the wait. Thanks to 'Brenda' for the scoop.
Til All Are One -
your resident Farscape guru, Ultra Magnus
What do you think? Talk about it on the Forums
