Part 1 of 2

John discovers that the stab wound Larraq inflicted upon Aeryn is worse than originally thought. The knife pierced her paraphoral nerve and within fifty or sixty arns she will be dead. The only method of healing is a tissue graft from a compatible donor, so John concocts a plan. Posing as Larraq, he intends to infiltrate the secret Gammak Base that Larraq and his team heading for...

Wow! :o

When I first saw Nerve I just sat there thinking "Is this the same show?" :unsure:

And again, wow...

:thumbsup:

I'll post more later. :)

"Danger... Danger, Will Robinson... Beware of the chair... "

To nick a line from a certain other show: And so it begins. Everything, but everything, in this episode hits the mark. It is dark, intense and completely uncompromising. It introduces us to the finest villain ever to have graced a tv screen (in fact, Scorpy's first appearance, in the officer's lounge, is so low key it is totally mesmerising - no histrionics, just a stance and a look). It introduces us to another recurring character. It brings about the return of lovely Gillina. It gives Pip a place in the show. But, most importantly of all, it kicks off the storyline that will dominate the next three and a bit seasons (and possibly the mini series, too).

From the opening scene, as we learn of Aeryn's predicament, it is easy to tell from the deadly serious tone of the writing, directing and acting that this is the point the show had been aiming towards all along. As Crichton risks everything to save the woman he loves, as he marches headfirst into the midst of his greatest enemies, you can tell that momentous events are about to happen. The tension is cranked up as he has to undergo genetic testing to move deeper into the base, and yet further as he tries to make his escape.

The scenes of torture are harrowing, brutal and totally necessary. Seeds that were laid in A Human Reaction come to fruition. Ben Browder's performance is simply stunning. The D'Argo I know and love finally arrives. Claudia Black makes Aeryn's illness totally convincing.

And, as always, the little details shine through. Like the way Aeryn's body convulses in time with Moya's heartbeat. Like the expression that crosses Crichton's face when he realises that Crais and Scorpius are bluffing. Like the tips of the hat to movies such as Goldfinger (when Scorpius introduces himself and Crichton replies "But of course you are...") and Cool Hand Luke ("I've got my mind right boss!" in heavy southern accent).

Nerve is the finest episode of the first season, and one of the greatest episodes of the entire series. It drags the show kicking and screaming to its feet and then throws it into orbit. TV sf has rarely, if ever, been better. And life in The Uncharted Territories will never be the same again.

Wow Steve. What could anybody add to that, great review


What indeed to add. Well I watched both eps together, there was no way I couldn't, leaving it on a cliffhanger like that.

Wow, for the episode too. I guess this is showing the path to the relationship between Crichton and Aeryn. That he is willing to risk everything to save Aeryn. Okay, so Chianna and Crichton set off, with what looks like an incredibly flimsy plan. Can he pull of the appearance of being a high ranking Peacekeeper once more? LOL at the reaction to Chianna. I must admit, my heart nearly stopped during the hand print security test. How lucky indeed for Crichton, that the first Peacekeeper base he walks onto, contains the very stragetically placed Gillina..

So it looks good at this point. Gillina manages to get hold of the 'medicine' to cure Aeryn, everything is hunky dory, until a chance meeting in the corridor between Crichton and Scorpius. Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Scorpius, wow, I guess ugly would be an understatement. Seriously scary looking guy.( note, not on my list to be leather clad :D ) And the introduction of the Aurora chair. Now, I must admit, I'm a bit freaked out about chairs having other functions. Anyone who has actually seen the torture chair, used in the NIN video Happiness in Slavery, could well understand my fear at this point. This is seriously horrible, a machine that can peel back all the layers of the brian, to reveal every memory. (okay not literally) Now I'm assuming at this point, that there is a reason why Scorpius is so anxious to retrieve the knowledge from Crichton, about wormhole technology. Big plans to take over a universe?

At least Chianna manages to escape, with a bit of luck, a bit of violence, and LOL at her makeover. But she manages to retrieve the vial and heads back to Moya, to hopefully save Aeryn in time.

Back to events on Moya, the performances by Aeryn and D'Argo were so touching. I could feel the agony Aeryn was in, and was very moved by the concern shown by D'Argo.

Overall,wow, what can i say, excellent episode.
:thumbsup:

Well, there is really nothing more for me to add.

This is truely some of the best TV around :D

Oh, and it is interesting to note how easily Chi kills Commander Javio. Does this perhaps imply that she has killed before? But it is really nice to see her taking an active role as one of Moya's crew.

Can I just say "Wow" again? You know, for the record. :D

Sure. Go ahead ;)

This might be asking for trouble, but I get the feeling this episode (and the follow-up) will have more relevance in retrospect. From seeing it fresh, while it was a good episode, I didn't get the 'wow' factor I was expecting.

But, on a positive note, the series has up to this point has far exceeded what I was expecting after the first few lacklustre episodes :)

It's okay, Phillip - you can't help it :P

Very important episodes, this and The Hidden Memory, that resonate and have implications throughout the rest of the series. :)

LOL @ Steve :lol: :lol:

Phillip, you seriously don't rate this ep :o You have no soul :ph43r: :lol: :lol:

LOL Lisa :lol:

:thumbsup: This episode is when I changed from being a casual Farscape fan to having to watch every episode. To me it raised the bar and the tension and still remains one of my favourites, everything went a little bit darker. Can't say enough good things and I loved Chiana in these eps:)

Couldn't agree more. In fact I couldn't have said it any better, so I'll be quiet. :)

For once - before anyone else says it... :rolleyes: :lol:

:clap: Gee great minds and all that:)

I have to say, personally, I thought this episode was outstanding myself.

Steve mentioned earlier that he believes this episode to be the finest hour of the first season. Without seeing the final two just yet I can't really say, but for me, if the final two episodes are no better then this one (Nerve) is the season's second finest hour. Second only to the following episode The Hidden Memory.

I remember very vague flashes of this (and the following) episode from the original Beeb airing but I must have not been concentrating, as these couple of episodes definitely have the :o factor for me.

Everything works. There's certain groundwork that's been laid before, Crichton has another bold (or is that foolhardy :lol:) plan, we get the return of a couple of characters, the introduction of a few new ones, and a damned good story to boot.

The most shocking thing with this one is that it would have worked brilliantly as a seasonal cliffhanger.

Hats off to all concerned on this one. If this is a benchmark setting episode, then it's certainly setting the bar high.

Brilliant.

You've hit the nail on the head, James. Kemper and co structured Farscape's seasons a bit differently to a lot of other shows. It's probably best not to say anymore until you've seen a season or two more, though. :)