Aeryn turns to a planet of mystics for solace, but she finds more than she bargained for thanks to Crais's past duplicity...

This episode has an incredible atmosphere about it. The design, from the sets to the make-up and costumes is first class. I've never really been given such an impression of squalor outside of the movies before: the graffiti on the walls, the filth on the floor, the incredibly detailed panorama outside Aeryn's window, it's all excellent.

As an examination of grief it works well, with the usual Farscape twist. Rather than have a situation where Aeryn is receiving visitations from the ghost of Crichton for no apparent reason, we are given the central conceit right from the start, that Valldon is a planet where such things can happen, inhabited as it is by people who make a career out of channelling the spirits of the dead.

This, imo, makes Aeryn's visions of John far more acceptable and, for that matter, affecting. And the nature of those visitations is very believable. John comes to calm her when she needs him, I know I've thought similar things in difficult times.

What she doesn't know is that her mother is on Valldon and is intent on twisting the knife. Of course we all guessed that Crais hadn't really killed her, but the reality is finally announced here, much to the horror of Stark and Rygel who immediately take Crais to task.

Of course, on a planet where the appearance of ghosts is the norm, Stark and Crais don't believe Aeryn when she says she has been visited by her father, Talyn, who in turn brings a seer, Cresus (one of the most impressive creations yet from the Henson Creature Shop, if vaguely reminiscent of a similar character in Total Recall), to put her in touch with John.

This, for me, is where the episode gets a little confused. Whilst it is easy to assume that the creature claiming to be Talyn is not actually him, and whilst we are shown that he is in fact w**king for Xhalax, it's Aeryn's mother's motivation that leaves me a bit bemused. We are eventually led to believe that Xhalax wants Aeryn to suffer for causing her to kill Talyn (see Relativity). But she then admits that she saved Aeryn for love, after Aeryn's assertion that Peacekeepers do nothing for that emotion. Whilst I can see the logic there, in reality it just doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

What is interesting is how Aeryn seems to be prepared to throw away the progress she's made since meeting Crichton, as she talks to him in the mirror, seemingly dismissing his memory in the coldhearted way one would expect of a Peacekeeper.

It's an intriguing end to a daring episode, and leaves you wondering what's next for Aeryn, and for Stark who leaves their company having continually heard Zhaan's voice whilst on the planet, as Crais announces that Talyn believes he has located Moya.

Final word, though, for Claudia Black who, again, is simply outstanding. This is her big episode of the season, she carries it pretty much single-handed and pulls it off with an ease and confidence that makes you wonder how on earth she hasn't become a bigger star.

Great review Steve

The way I see it is its the same emotion for both of them, they were both proud of being peacekeepers but love conflicted with everything they had been trained to believe. So although they do love in their hearts at the same time they view it as abhorrent.

So Xhalax blames Aeryn for her love of Xhalax and the choice she was forced to make. Although Aeryn recently realised her own feelings towards John she was also trained to feel the same - her past treatment of Velorek is an example.

Thanks Alex :D

Yeah, I totally agree. I see the logic behind it, particularly with a view towards characterisation. It just doesn't sit well with me personally, I can't imagine anyone wanting their child to suffer based on a choice they made in order to save them in the first place.

But then I'm not a Peacekeeper. :lol:

In terms of characterisation it's probably spot on, it just left me feeling a bit... distanced. I can't explain it any better than that, sorry. :(

She doesn't really hate Aeryn though she is using her as a target for her hate of herself :)

She thinks she hates her, she thinks she blames her and so does the things she does but finally realises that she is projecting her own guilt on Aeryn.

Hard to imagine definitely and the closest comparison we can make are the atrocities that occur in wars due to soldiers having to shut off their emotions, after the war has ended comes breakdowns because they can't deal with the guilt but in Xhalax case the war hasn't ended :)

Ah, you see that makes perfect sense. I wish there was a smilie for me slapping my forehead: D'oh! :lol:

Thanks, Alex :)

:) Thats just the way I see it, not saying I'm right just my humble view on it.

Now you owe me an explanation of a character's behaviour ok :lol:

:unsure: Okay :unsure:

:lol:

I totally agree about the sets on this episode, they are so atmospheric, Aeryn is at her lowest ebb and its a planet that feeds off this weakness.

Love the ghost John as she walks in, and there are some really striking images of Aeryn in this great to see her in other clothes.

Superb performance by Claudia yet again. The episode rests on her great performance.

The seer Cresus is quite disgusting, it shows how desparate Aeryn is to actually go along with it. Good creation but horrible to look at, I wouldn't have touched it ewwww.

The Tayln fake never convinced me from the beginning, too co-inidental and Farscape never works like that. I do like the conclusion of Aeryns and Xhalax's relationship though.

Love Rygel hovering outside the building.

Aeryn confronting Crais, its a wonder really that after a few drinks she didn't kill everyone in sight.

I wonder though if they had kept the episode about John whether it would have worked better.

Makes you wonder exactly how high Rygel can go in that sled of his, cos that was damn high :unsure:

I'm not sure if keeping the episode about John would have made it w**k better. In a way this was about Aeryn confronting all her demons, not just how she felt about John, wasn't it?

Yeah I know but I would have liked it just to have been about John in a way.

Rygel is quite the flyer :lol:

I'm not sure. If it had been just about John it would have been covering the same ground other shows have covered before, wouldn't it?

Well that wouldn't have bothered me, they could have had a flash to the future to freak her out even more.

I liked the old John and Aeryn scene too.

If they had taken that route what do you think they would have done with Xhalax, in terms of dealing with her? I have an idea, but it's kind of spoilery.

I like the Locket based scene, too :)

Command carrier?

My idea is spoiler too.

I'm never really sure what I think about this episode. Visually, as you say, it is stunning. And CB really acts her little socks off in it, but something just doesn't seem to gel.

I love Rygels speech to Aeryn, even if it doesn't really w**k.

Oh and his line about it being "A planet full of Starks!" LOL!

Exactly how I feel, I don't know if it is the Tayln thing but it doesn't quite w**k

Yes, I agree, that aspect of the episode is a bit confused.

I must admit, I'd doubted Xhalax was dead. Given that it was Crais, and that we never actually saw it, it was a possibility at least. Clever though that they previously addressed that doubt in an earlier episode with Crichton's 'suspicion' of how the scene had actually played out.

Quite a downbeat episode this one, with Aeryn in mourning, and everyone else unable to do much about it. I couldn't figure out whether Talyn was really Aeryn's father or not, well, at least until they confirmed he wasn't :lol:

Sad to see Stark go, but check out the gun-toting act in the bar at the end :lol: Certainly hope he shows up again sooner rather than later, I've really enjoyed Paul Goddard's performance on the show this season.

As far as the visuals of the city go, perfect tone. They're akin to Bladerunner which itself was a sombre/downbeat movie.