Despite their lack of enthusiasm when John first broached the plan, Moya's crew has made it a team effort to stop the Peacekeepers' wormhole research. While Rygel and D'Argo barter an uneasy truce with Scorpius to get John et al safely aboard the Command Carrier, the rest of the gang waits tensely for news -- until Talyn cracks under the strain...

I'm probably, in fact almost definitely, going to go against the popular opinion here, but I really like this episode. Granted Sko and Wa are the two most irritating aliens to have appeared on the show for quite some time (their constant monkey noises and dog howling are grating) but some of the things that go on around that part of the story are fascinating.

The Talyn storyline is traumatic. The moment when he destroys the medical facility is one of pure shock, and the aftermath is incredibly sad, from the crews' reactions to Moya's herself. And this, of course, is followed by Talyn turning his weapons on his own mother, a moment of sheer horror and yet totally believable. I think this had been brewing for some time, but the scenes where Crais, Aeryn and John shut Talyn down are very emotional.

Then, of course, there is the bargaining between Rygel and Scorpius, which is quite brilliantly done, and very funny. It also goes to show how devious the pair of them are, and quite remorseless at the same time.

In some ways you can almost feel the way the beats of the story were worked out. The I-Yensch bracelets serve to set up the situation where Rygel is forced to shoot Braca. Because Braca and D'Argo are wearing the bracelets it gives Rygel a get out, saying that he cannot shoot Braca because it would kill D'Argo, who is the only person who can pilot Lo-Lan. Cleverly thought out.

And, of course, some of the slapstick humour between David Franklin and Anthony Simcoe is hilariously done, perfect timing all round.

Rygel's ruthlessness is not to be underestimated either, as he declares when Scorpius questions him after being shot by the Hynerian, it didn't matter whether Scorpy was wearing body armour or not, either way Rygel couldn't lose.

There is also a recurrence of Pip's foresight, which is nicely played again, and leads to more confrontations with Jool. I found it interesting that Chiana was ready to leave Moya asap in light of Crichton's plans to go to the command carrier, and yet she is so adamant that Jool shouldn't leave.

In essence this episode is a pause for breath before the big finale. It's a good episode, nicely putting elements for the last three episodes into place. The situation between John and Aeryn is still playing out nicely, the Talyn/Moya situation is very edgy, and Scorpy's glee at finally getting what he wants at the expense of the Scarrans is tangible.

It's another episode where the main plot is actually fairly irrelevent, it is the surrounding character driven material that engages.

I've got to change that to ever.

They ruined the episode for me which is why I didn't want to rewatch it.

I the I - Yensch bracelets were a great idea and used to full effect in this episode, and the Tayln story is heartbreaking. Thats what annoys me so much about this episode it could have been great.

Scorpy and Rygel are a match made in heaven whispering plots to each other and strategising. Starting from the beginning I love D'Argo's revenge on the peacekeepers knocking them all out mind you he didn't do too badly unarmed at the start.

Nice use of Nagil to bring extra meaning to the destruction of the medical craft.

Its totally unexpected when Tayln fires on the craft and disturbing that Crais cannot stop him. Crais finally realises that he cannot control him and it is great to see Moya so distressed by the situation.

Loved Chiana slugging Jool yet again :thumbsup: only this time we learn it was to save her after she saw herself in mourning for Jool.

About Chiana wanting to leave, I believe it was because she was freaking out about D'Argo thinking he was dead and she was doing the only thing she knows how to and that was to run away from the problem so that her fears weren't confirmed.

I just wish those two aliens hadn't been in it or had calmed it down a bit, they looked annoying though as well as sounding annoying.

I enjoyed Rygels shooting of Scorpius, great although we know that Scorpy is hard to kill and wouldn't have been killed in such a manner.

Aeryn is the go between again for Moya and Tayln explaining that they are taking the action to power Tayln down out of love and concern. Its great that we see Pilots reaction to this as well, such an emotive puppet.

As you say Steve, great ending, John and Aeryn are finally communicating and she shares with him that she can't bare to watch him die again and he shares his regret that he wasn't the one that she finally opened up to :(

Yeah definitely. They're the sort of sub-standard aliens you'd expect to find on other shows, not here.

Peter Andrikidis - director

From Season 3 companion.

Biggest mistake I should say, I think you are right, they got the wrong show!

Well, he's got to defend it, being the director :lol:

The writer, Matt Ford, isn't particularly great, I don't think. After all, he wrote Meltdown as well :lol:

Boo Matt Ford :lol:

Harsh guys, harsh. But true ;)

Actually, I think we've been leniant :lol:

I think the only thing about this episode that I don't like is the pair of bumpkin aliens :rolleyes:

Besides that, I thought the episode worked really well.

The two storylines were both quite effective. At a point in the season where they're building towards a big storyline, both threads to this episode go some way to propelling things forward. The 'Cantina' story is great (apart from the pair of tw*ts mentioned above), especially the Rygel/Scorpy maneuvering. I found Scorpy's initial idea for Crichton and Braca to wear the bracelets rather amusing. As Rygel pointed out, Scorpy probably wouldn't think twice about letting Braca die :lol:

The highlight of the episode for me though was the continuing Talyn storyline. When the story started off towards the end of season 1 I must admit to not thinking too much about it, but with every appearance, Talyn has become one of the show's great characters. This is compounded also by some truly fantastic w**k from Lani Tupu. Whilst Talyn was slightly disturbed before the events of Relativity, you can clearly see that in the aftermath Talyn's becoming psychotic. It provides an emotional platform for the ultimate turn of events whereby they agree to shut Talyn down. It's a superbly played story thread that one.

And by the episode's close, things appear to be set up nicely for Crichton's trip to the Command Carrier.

Arggghh they were so irritating weren't they <_<

Farscape's very own version of the Pakleds :lol: