Moya's crew seek out an alien geneticist who claims to be able to provide star charts to a species homeworld just by taking samples of their DNA...

I love this episode. It is so weird and freaky and it pretty much marks the point where Farscape really starts to find its feet. It contains a lot of aspects which become standards for the show over the following years from the bickering, divided crew - and the extremes they will go to - to the "mad" experimentation of the geneticist, Nam Tar.

We are immediately reminded of who these people are - escaped convicts whose only motivation is to escape and get home - by their actions in the first five minutes. I'm starting to sound like a scratched record, I know, but how many other shows would allow their characters to perform such an extreme action without agonising and moralising about it for the first three acts? Farscape gets it done straight away. There is no moralising - the individuals involved feel that what they are doing is the only way forward for them. There is guilt (except, of course, from Rygel :rolleyes: ), but it is dealt with in a mature way - no sappy emotions here. The real repercussions come in the shape of the twist that sets those involved upon each other and the result is some very good, and believable, conflict.

This episode also has a fascination with deformity. It's not pleasant (another Farscape trait) and is, in fact, quite shocking. The lengths that Nam Tar (a brilliant creation, btw) will go to in order to get what he wants are all too believable.

Quick mention for the effects - some of the shots of Moya orbiting the asteroid are quite stunning. The lab rat is hilarious. I want one.

In fact, the only thing the episode loses points for is the name Nam Tar. Jeez, did they think no-one would get it?! <_<

Otherwise, fantastic! :thumbsup:

But why does Nam Tar have those stupid legs. Surely they were not the best example in legs he could find, they looked so ungainly and he always seemed to have trouble moving around (probably cos it was a man on stilts in a costume, I know). Just bugs me is all.

Oh, and just how yuck was the needle in the eye thing :fear:

And, I know I harp on about this but the scenes between John and Aeryn were just beautiful, especially when she started to change. I think their relationship is one of my favourites ever in a series, can you tell? ;)

It is a wonderful relationship, and very maturely dealt with all the way through.

I liked the way Rat Man moved, though. He's a brilliant creation. His "other" self is hilarious, though, and I'm not sure whether it's intentional or not... :unsure:

I think his 'other self' was pretty crap, it totally looked fake. And hilarious.

He looked like a turd :lol:

I just don't see that, but whatever.

No imagination :rolleyes:

He was grey!! Have you ever seen a GREY turd?

I meant the lab rat, silly!!! :lol:

Thats what I meant. Don't get all uppity with me buster.

Whatever.

STOP SAYING THAT!!!

Please.

Well I was going to do a review of this, I've just finished watching it, but I'm afraid my head will be bitten off :lol:

Steve stop picking on Melian, you big bully :P

*Ahem* Anyway, back on topic... :rolleyes:

*****SPOILERS FOR FOLLOWING EPISODE*****

It's kind of strange how in this episode and in They've Got A Secret, the crew are just a few seconds away from disabling Moya - by uploading the map from the crystal in this one and be severing Moya's higher functions in the other. First time around I was a bit worried that it might become like the overdone malfunctioning holodeck/warp drive plots on Star Trek, but thankfully they stayed well away from it.

No it won't. Your opinions are welcome, good or bad.

And you'll notice that it is melian that starts it every time. :P

Oh no it isn't!!!

And thank you Lisa, at least someone is nice to me.

See :rolleyes: :lol:

It's amazing how unpriestess like Zhaan becomes, and how quickly she forgets loyalties. I can't believe they cut off Pilot's arm :o

Very interesting episode, I loved seeing a more defenceless side of Aeryn, and to understand a bit about, how she feels about her situation, I was beginning to wonder. I loved the fact that it was John who was so instrumental in curing her, so sweet, yes, take her back to Earth John, if you get there. I'm enjoying seeing different sides to the characters. Although I have to ask, why would Zhaan and D'Argo be so anxious to return to their home planets? The irony is there, John would be welcomed back to Earth, but no one knows where it is, the others could possibly be helped in finding their planets, but I don't think anyone else on Moya would be welcomed back, funny old universe :lol:

I'm not sure what to make of Nam Tar, the design looks familiar, but not , at the same time?

And a big eeewwwwhhhhh, to the needle in the eye.

Nice review, Lisa. Why did you think you'd get your head bitten off? :unsure:

Thats what I was thinking. Are we really so scary? :o

Well, he is but I'm not :D

:angel: :angel: :angel:

You'll have to try harder than that!!!

I didn't want to get into the middle of a domestic :lol:

Nothing that civilised, Lisa :lol:

:lol: :lol:

I think this was maybe some fallout from her loss of control in the previous episode when she "dealt" with Maldis :unsure:

I suppose that would make sense. :)

That makes a change for me! :P

This was the episode that got me hooked.

I think it's absolutely outstanding, both in story, effects, and performance.
This the point when you realise this series is unlike any other made.
The characters are real, breathing nasty people, especially Rygel.
Zhaan shows us exactly why she was feared, and D'argo his spoilt mean side.
Namtar is great as well, i would have loved a reprise role for him down the line.
Johns concern for Aeryn is touching, and i think this is the real beginning of the romance.

And they advance the plot in oh so subtle ways, what with Aeryn now having an almost mental link with Pilot, who was also great in this Ep.

Roland rat for a villain, who'd have thought it!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

One of the earliest signs of off-the-wall, lunatic Farscape. Classic! :thumbsup:

:thumbsup: I love this ep, its the hint of the darkness to come.


I love Aeryns reaction to John, she is so surprised that he stands by her and its nice to see how ruthless the crew can be. It reflects how hard their lives have been and how desparate they are to return to their homeworlds.

:D