The crew have been following Nexus coordinates for three solar days in search of Stark, who turns up with plans for a daring rescue. As always, things are not as simple as they seem...

Rygel: One - get out of statue. Two - use gadget to retrieve prize. Three - jump into containers full of riches. Problem is step one. Frell! The blue bitch said this would be easy.

Here we go!

After a mixed bag of episodes through the rest of the season we get to the big payoff at last. Much as the first season did with Nerve and The Hidden Memory, the writers, production team and cast floor the accelerator.

Unlike the Look At The Princess trilogy from earlier in the year, Liars, Guns & Money was designed from the ground up to be a three parter. And it shows. It is densely plotted, with revelation following counter-revelation following twist following surprise. It is perfectly paced. It has the biggest and most elaborate sets I have seen on any sf series (even those with bigger budgets). It has the two best aliens, in Scorpy and - startlingly - Natira, I've seen on any series, too. It packs in the best special effects on the show to date. And the acting and directing is nothing short of superb.

D'Argo: When you ask me to do something did I ever question if it was possible?
John: D'Argo...
D'Argo: No, I didn't. You're cowards, all of you.

So the major plot threads that have woven their way through the season finally collide. D'Argo's search for Jothee reaches a critical point as Stark returns in one piece with a plan for buying the Luxan's son out of slavery, along with several thousand Baneks. And Crichton's mental deterioration accelerates to the point where Harvey is literally whispering in his ear.

Stark's plan, at the outset at least, seems suicidal. But once he and D'Argo forge ahead with it, despite the reservations of the others, there is no turning back. A Shadow Depository is their target, a kind of intergalactic bank where criminals can store their ill-gotten gains.

Enter Natira. Ironic, seeing as Lisa and I were only talking about the guy the other day, but the new blue alien looks a lot like something that would have come out of the imagination of H R Giger. It looks like most of the season's budget has gone into creating her and her Depository. She is an amazing creation, totally alien and quite fearsome looking, and yet somehow very alluring. Sadly enough I felt the need to do some research on actress Claudia Karvan:





:wub: :drool:

Aaanyway... :rolleyes: :lol:

The plan seems to be going according to plan. Zhaan, doing her best Gabrielle impression, deposits a concealed Rygel in the depository and then leaves him to do what he does best.

Unfortunately that is precisely the moment Scorpy chooses to arrive and all hell breaks loose as the gang try to make their escape.

Scorpious: Insert the rod!
John: You're really not my type. Die you grotesque bastard - even if it means I die too.

The final confrontation between John and Scorpius is brilliantly done - the acting from both Pygram and Browder stunningly agonising. And, beyond all this, there is further conflict going on as D'Argo feels betrayed, by Crichton in particular, because the others refused to help him and Stark with the plan.

I must admit that, when I originally started buying the dvds, I wondered at several points during season 2 whether or not it was worth persevering with the series. There have been several classic episodes, but also a few wayward efforts which may have been acceptable in the first season but not so much here. After seeing A Not So Simple Plan I was delighted that I'd stuck with it. It is a brilliant piece of television, Farscape almost at the top of its game. It progressively ratchets up the tension towards the confrontation between Crichton and Scorpius, and it's exciting and funny and emotionally charged in the meantime. The characterisation is damn near perfect.

And it's only the first part.

I need to save some superlatives for the next three episodes, so I'd better stop now.

Now for my two cents worth.

Scorpy: Insert the rod!
John: You’re really not my type

Starks back, and he’s brought blueprints for a shadow depository. The plan, to steal enough money to buy the job lot of slaves at auction, a lot that includes many people of Starks race and Jothee, D’Argos son.

Good old Pip, she seems way too cheerful at the prospect of a bit of larcenary. The other on board Moya seem a little too cautious. This is D’Argos son after all..

You ever hear of KFC? It is, to my knowledge, unique in the universe, and unique is always valuable Only on Farscape could the Colonel’s secret recipe for his spicy chicken coating be used as a perfectly good ruse to rob a bank!

Stark seems as crazy now as when we first met him. Gone is the more rational and stable guy from the last few episodes (before he was blown up), to be replaced by the ‘Your side. My side” incarnation. John also seems more unstable, going off at the deep end and pointing Winona at Stark for winding him up.

At last Zhaan gets something to do. Black cat suit. Eye patch. Annoying sidekick. Wow!

Now, is it just me or has Scorpy gained a cod piece since we last saw him? Not that I’ve ever really looked before. And Ewww! Scorpy and Natira. The mental images that conjures up.

The FX of the depository are fabulous. Dark, wet, armed and dangerous. Just as it should be.

Looks like Harvey is getting stronger and John is finding it harder and harder to hold on. Maybe this because Scorpy is close by? Anyway, when John realizes how bad it’s getting he tries to tell Aeryn how he feels. But she knows. How sweet!

Funniest line “They went that way!!” Always worth a try, eh John.

The John/Scorpy showdown.. At last John finds out what Scorpy did to his head (well, finds out again). Scorpy’s ‘seed’ in John’s head. The mind boggles. That last amazing scene as John drags himself away, singing the star spangled banner in an attempt to drown out the voice that tells him to save Scorpy. The acting of both BB and WP is spot on. As always!

Is Scorpy really dead?

:lol: :lol: :lol:

That was pure class! :thumbsup:

Yeah. That and Doing what men do best. Looking for Baywatch

Did I mention that Claudia Karvan is hot? :unsure:

Maybe once or twice :rolleyes:

Oh, okay. Just checking.

No problem mate. Glad I could help ;)

Don't know about anyone else, but I was expecting Jothee to be about 6, noooooo, not another stroppy teenager :lol: :lol:

I've got to say, sometimes the set designs blow me away on Farscape, the Shadow Depository set is totally awesome :o

Okay, what is it with blue evil people, they seem to pop up everywhere. The Judge, Illyria, even on Firefly (okay, technically just the hands :lol: ) So now we have the evil blue Natira, just so glad she doesn't look like a smurf :lol: :lol:

Fabulous dialogue, design, plot, story, yay, can't wait for the next ep :thumbsup:

So, a Farscape bank heist, that surely can't go well. They have the plan, courtesy of Stark (see, I knew he'd come back, pffft :rolleyes: ) they have the incentive, to rescue Jothee, and a few thousand slaves, and even little toad Rygel on side. So Zhaan rolls up, totally agree with Steve, doing a Gabrielle impression, and things seem to go swimmingly :thumbsup:

Until Scorpy shows up, literally, as well as the 'in Crichtons head' version. ewwhh to Scorpy and Natira getting all funky :x

Fabulous showdown between Crichton and Scorpy, I think I was shouting at Crichton to move his ass away from Scorpy at that point :lol: :lol: I was wondering what was with the whole black PVC gimp look, now I'm the wiser ;)

And it looks like they get away it, except for the whole money turning into nasty creatures :fear:

So I wasn't the only one then, "Noooooo, don't do that! Get out of there man!!!" :lol:

Pretty much my reaction too :D

Well I enjoyed the first part of the Look at the Princess trilogy, but this one is so much better.

Unlike an previous episode of Farscape really.

Lots of setup, plenty of Humour (Yes, loved the KFC gag !!), and the return of certain characters. The visuals were superb, as were the costumes, and the story wasn't bad either :) More background on Scorpius, and an interesting cliffhanger.

I totally love these eps, love Natira great character

The whole idea of the heist is brilliant and the shadow depository is done so well.

The plots great, the action is great. Eyepatch Zhaan, Scorpy thrown into the mix to heighten the tension.

I think I'll have to watch it again :)

The Shadow Depository is my favourite setting in the whole series. :thumbsup:

For my money, from this point onwards the series rarely - if ever - looks back :)

:ermm:
Mind The Baby
The Way we Weren't
Crackers Don't Matter
Out of their minds
A clockwork Nebari
Won't get Fooled again
The Locket
Look at the Princess trilogy: A kiss is but a kiss
I do I think
The Maltese Crichton

I'd like to look back at these ones ;)

You know what I meant :rolleyes:

Its always been my favourite although season 3 has some suberb eps it just doesn't quite live up to it for me :)

Alex, a while back you politely requested that I stop trying to influence people's opinions of season 2, which I have done.

It would be nice if you'd let people make their own minds up about seasons 3 and 4.

You were doing it again though :p

That's you being paranoid :p

Actually, if you read it properly, I was giving these episodes the highest praise I could possibly give them ;)

You were giving this trilogy praise.

From this point onwards, how else can that be interpreted?

There are good and bad in every season

You think? To quote myself "I was giving these episodes the highest praise"

Fine, you want to force the issue, I will repeat my opinion that I have stated to you on numerous occasions before: in terms of consistency both seasons 3 and 4 are, in my opinion, better than season 2. Season 2 contains some of the very best episodes of the entire series, but it is also horribly uneven in terms of quality during it's first half.

I have never once said that it is a bad season - I love it - but I'm afraid it is a valid criticism and one that I have not been alone in voicing.

I accept and appreciate your opinion, Alex, because I know how much you love this season.

And the prize for stating the glaringly obvious goes to...

Mind The Baby
The Way we Weren't
Crackers Don't Matter
Out of their minds
A clockwork Nebari
Won't get Fooled again
The Locket
Look at the Princess trilogy: A kiss is but a kiss
I do I think
The Maltese Crichton
Liars Guns and Money: A not so simple plan
With friends like these
Plan B
Die Me Dichotomy

All great eps

the Ugly truth
Home on the remains
My 3 crichtons
beware of dog

average eps

Vitas Mortis - the worst
Taking the stone
Picture if you will
Dream a little Dream

weak eps

4 out of 11 is not horribly uneven
18 out of 22 good eps is frelling good for a season

I'm not alone in my opinion either, people generally either prefer the first 2 seasons or last 2 depending on their tastes.


Thanks for the prize but I was replying to from this point on the series rarely if ever comment. What do I get cookies

;)

Let it lie now, Alex, thanks ;)

nooooooooooooooooooo, no fighting in the Farscape forum. :cry: :cry: :cry:

:lol: No, it was totally my bad. Not a good morning, sorry Alex ;)

And of course, Alex's and everyone's opinions are welcome, despite the ogre called Willowroolz hiding in the corner. :rolleyes: :lol:

Naughty Steve :lol: :lol:

I think I'd take the view that this season would have been a little more average had they not had that strong run of episodes to close out the season (much in the same way that season one did I might add). Granted there were some great episodes, but there were also average episodes, and even a few awful ones.

The trilogy and finale, really pulled the season back around for me, and if Season 3 lives up to the backend of the season then great :thumbsup:

The thread's frelling funny in retrospect :lmao:

:lol: I would probably say the exact same thing, I still :wub: Season 2 :lol: :lol: like my episode list :lol:

Did you get the cookies? :lol: ;)

I'm thinking it's time for another rewatch :ponder: