Look at the Princess: I Do, I Think

Hi everyone.

I'll tell you the truth, after watching the show last night for the first time I dreaded doing a review. It was an excellent show, and powerful television...considering it haunted me all night and today. And there were some scenes that were so extraordinary in how emotional they were that it was painful to watch again. So this review was difficult to write. As always, all ideas are my own, and huge honkin' spoilers are inside.

Overall:

• There is no way to easily sum up this show, not just because it's part 2 of 3. It continues the frustration with Aeryn being unable to say what she needs to say to Crichton, ends the life of Pilot and Moya, and finally gives us an idea of how weary Crichton is of being the UT's most wanted human. Chiana was right in a way when she said men are stupid and you have to be clear with them, and unfortunately Aeryn does not listen to this advice. Crichton will not force Aeryn into a relationship, and is one of those wonderful men who believe that no means no. But he's not just tired of being chased, he's tired of the chase.

  Of course the fact that Aeryn don't want to hear how weary Crichton is doesn't help. She's come to expect him to be perpetually energetic, optimistic, and ready and able to fight until the very end for what he believes...and when that energy is lost, instead of giving Crichton the support he needs she uses it at as another reason to run away.

Crichton:

• This is the worst episode physically to date since Nerve and Hidden Memory. If you place the electrocution in last weeks show, we have being smacked by the Princess, gassed by the Obi-Wan training ball of Death, wacked a few times by a PK, deep space freeze and all the wonderful side effects of that experience, and being turned into a statue the hard way.  This eppy get's a Middle Child Feeling The Pain rating.
  
• At least he didn't die.

The Good:

• I was defiantly not expecting Genavia to be an undercover PK. That was a nice surprise, although it made the politics even more muddy.
• Who didn't enjoy watching Crichton get to "bitch slap" the Prince? Chiana definitely enjoyed hearing about it!
• Watch Crichton wince when the Princess slams the door...classic married couple picture right there.
• It's obvious Zhaan has respect for the Kahynu, it's so unfortunate that he has very little for Zhaan or Pilot.
• Aeryn is very good at telling people (men especially) what she doesn't want. Obviously she also appears to enjoy having someone chase after her...she want's someone who will take NO and keep coming.
• "It's just such a burden being right all the time." Well that's what you get for being a major character. :-)
• We finally get to see Rygel in his element, doing what he does best. And even though he takes a lot of flack for it, he does come up with a good plan to keep Crichton safe. It wasn't his fault that ro-Na was selling them out.
• Speaking of ro-Na, it's interesting to see how well she hides how smart she really is. You first get a glimpse when Scorpy hands her a device and she knows what it is. Watch the surprise in Scorpy's face when she admits to knowing what the device is and how to use it...I think he just realizes she is very intelligent and that's why he orders her killed after the mission is over.
• So we finally get to hear Moya...so heartbreakingly sad, and yet beautiful.
• And if Moya isn't sad enough, Zhaan's absolute despair when Moya shuts down is heartwrenching. That last shot of Moya is moving and sad and tragic: floating dark, silent, dipping into the clouds, not even background music...
• My man Crichton, a fan of Charlie Parker! Sweet...
• So not only do we get a snob-off in the bathroom worthy of 90210, but then Aeryn makes the perfect entrance to smack around those "overly made-up faces" While the scene itself was kind of pointless, it was fun to watch!
• Chiana does a great job with the Scarren until the very end when she starts to loose it as her bluff gets too big. The problem is she doesn't really have an objective when she goes in except to try and be intimidating... unfortunately she's good at sly and sexy, not intimidating.
• Wow, if we thought Crichton was nuts during "Crackers"...his performance in the ship just blew that whole episode away!!
• And now we finally get a glimpse of what has been tormenting Crichton all this time since Nerve/Hidden Memory. I think I'd be a bit on edge of I had Scorpy in my head telling me what to do...forcing me to stay alive no matter what the cost. His reckless, sometimes dangerous behavior this season now takes on a new light...while I do NOT thing he's trying to kill himself, Crichton has never been one to take orders well, so he could be putting himself in harms way just to spite the voices in his head.
• "Three near death experiences in one day and the Empress will do nothing?"
• Once again D'Argo is the only crewmember to keep his wits about him and do the right thing. He gives Crichton the straight dope, and comes right out and says he'll back whatever Crichton decides. If only Aeryn could take a page from his book...
• Aeryn and Crichton's last conversation...hurts. Crichton is doing everything short of begging Aeryn for support, and Aeryn is unfortunately giving that support in the wrong way. Crichton has just admitted to Aeryn he has no fight left in him, that he's tired and needs help, and she tells him if that's true then he's not the Crichton she knows. And when there is no fight left, you run away? Well Aeryn, isn't that what Crichton is doing?
• And now the worst/best 5 minutes of the whole show. Two intense scenes back to back. Start with Crichton, alone in his room curled up protectively on the bed after Aeryn has just walked out on him for the last time. You can just feel the torment and ache...and the whole scene is just heartwrenchingly beautiful from Ben's acting (without words) to the music to the lighting to the camera shots. Then switch to the scene that made me cry...and probably everyone else. Zhaan hugging Pilot as they say goodbye. By the time Pilot reaches his line about how he is ready to die because "I have seen the stars" I was curled up in my friends arms crying. Both Virginia, Pilot's puppeteers and Lani do magnificent work in that scene, giving it dignity, grace, sorrow, and such feeling...there aren't words to describe those two scenes, those five minutes of television, and not enough awards to do it justice.
• Continuing to the wedding, poor Crichton looks almost dead as he stands there getting married.
• Trust D'Argo to give Crichton one last laugh, "Chiana and I are having fantastic sex."

The Bad:

• One big honkin' problem. I know it's a science fiction show and some suspension of belief is required. And in most cases they are small suspensions that I can easily manage. Farscape is usually very good about keeping it "real". But I just DO NOT believe a human can leave a ship wearing no kind of protective suit, fly through empty, vacuum, freezing space for quite a long time (at least 20 seconds if not more), and survive. There are just too many reasons, and probably more that I don't know since I'm not a scientist and I don't know a lot about vacuums. But I just don't believe it.

The Nitpicky:

• So the weapon used on Crichton also disintegrated all the bodies and evidence? What was it, a Zat gun?
• Did anyone else think Kahynu looked like Grampa Munster?
  

I'm proud of you.
For what, getting my ass kicked all over the galaxy? - Aeryn and Crichton
Lauren (OboeCrazy)
SACCer #1: The Most Vocal Defender