Zhaan tells John about what the rest of the crew were doing during the time that he, Aeryn and D'Argo were away from Moya; Chiana, Rygel and Zhaan paid a visit to Litigara and engaged in a little trial and error with the natives...

Well, I think it's fairly easy to see why the producers decided that this episode wasn't strong enough to open the season: all in all, it's pretty dull.

On the plus side it does answer some of the questions thrown up by Mind The Baby, particularly if you watch the scenes that were removed from the original episode cut, Re:Union. Whereas, in this version, Zhaan is the one being tormented by the loss of Crichton, Aeryn and D'Argo, here we find her soothing Pilot's grief. And, rather than ending with another scene on board the transport pod with Crichton, the original ending shows Zhaan, Chiana and Rygel leaving Litigara, Zhaan having begun the Delvian Seek (which she continues in Mind The Baby) and Chiana admitting that Crichton and the others are gone. It's also made pretty obvious that Chiana has been living up to her reputation and using certain other "methods" to solve their problem. And, apparently (although it isn't shown here), the dream sequence that opens the episode was actually Rygel's, as he passes out in the bar.

I suppose it might have been interesting if the producers had decided to lead off with Re:Union - it would have been a very daring way to open the year, with no action, a lot of talk and - in the absence of the others - very little in the way of humour and/or chemistry. One thing this episode does show quite glaringly is that it is D'Argo and particularly Aeryn and John that hold the show together, give it zip and excitement. Sure, the scenes of Rygel and Chiana defending Zhaan in court do hold some amusement value and are, at times, laugh-out-loud funny, but it doesn't make for a riveting 43 minutes.

John: Screw 'em Zhaany. You're a tenth level Pa'u, you get to eleven, we get a TV ministry.
Zhaan: If I may be honest John, most of the time I have no idea what you're saying.
John: Neither do I.

So I pretty much agree with the decision to oust this from the lead-off position. It would probably have been a good idea if they had scrapped the episode altogether (I can't believe they didn't realise how weak it was just from the script) but obviously budgetary and schedule constraints just don't allow that kind of wastefulness.

Fortunately, as with the first season, as we approach the halfway point of the year things are about to pick up considerably.

Not another zhaan centric episode :o

Not the most entertaining episode, but I quite enjoyed it. I can see why the basis of this ep wasn't used as the opener for season 2, although it smacks of 'filler' episode, it did at least bridge the gap between the season 1 finale and Mind the Baby.

I didn't actually mind, the story set on Litigara. I think it made quite a political statement, if you can see beyond the metaphor. The lawyers holding all the power, whilst the remainder of the planet's citizens just being 'utilities'. Corruption and using an 'offworlder' as a scapegoat.

zhaan, tormented by the loss of her crewmates; I thought she came over as sympathetic for a change, instead of the usual whining waste of space, she normally is. Chianna and Rygel, also acting out of character, with the willingness to defend Zhaan, even knowing it could result, with them sharing her fate, well Chianna anyway. ;)

If nothing else, it provided the humour for the episode.

I wouldn't say it was totally cr@p, but I wouldn't rush to rewatch this one.

I totally overlooked the political side of it :rolleyes: :lol:

Nice one, Lisa :thumbsup:

Oh no an episode centered on Zhaan! Although as has been said you do feel some sympathy for her.

The courtroom/conspiracy/scapegoat plot seems as if it was mailed in with very little thought on the part of the writers.

What lifted the ep for me though was the exploits of Rygel and Chi in getting Zhaan off :lol:

You all pretty much summed up my thoughts exactly.

'Oh no, not another Zhaan episode' followed by 'Please, just kill her already' and then 'LOL, Chi and Sparky are pretty funny', and ending up with 'oh, thats the end is it'

So. I guess you could say this is not one of my favourite episodes ;)

I forgot my favourite quotes bit of the review :o

Pip : You little toad! You had to go and fart helium now
Sparky : I'm nervous. It happens. We're in court, so sue me!

He he he

On the one hand, another Zhaan episode. On the other, it's probably the best of the recent Zhaan centric episodes.

This one tends to plod along for much of it, but get's better towards the end. Rygel and Chi's antics to get Zhaan off were ingenious and amusing in equal measure.

On the downside, marks deducted for going down the Trek route and having a planet populated by one demographic of people, ie. a planet (nearly) full of lawyers, akin to Star Trek's planet of the Nazi/Romans etc.

An average episode. Not bad, but no great appeal to rewatch it any time soon.

I like this episode mainly because of the Pip & Ryg double act absolutely brilliant.

The plot I could take or leave but they steal the show :thumbsup:

An interesting episode for Zhaan, I like her imagining the crew, just these little touches bring it up a notch
:)