Farscape: Self-Inflicted Wounds (Part 2): Wait for the Wheel Rewatch

December 15, 2015 10:07 PM - Season 3, Episode 4

When it becomes clear that only one of the two ships must survive, the crews of Moya and the Pathfinder vessel must make a choice. In the end, one of Moya's own must make the ultimate sacrifice.[via]
posted by cshenk (2 comments total)

I had completely forgotten that this was Zhaan's send off. I think it was done well and as much as I always start off kind of ambivalent to Zhaan's character, I'm already missing her. I think there was a certain level of flatness to her character in the beginning, but over the course of the two previous seasons, they do a wonderful job of fleshing her out.

I appreciated the bad guy (the captain of the Pathfinder) was allowed to be clever enough to trick Jool into melting/weakening her handcuffs and the surprise affect on her head darts from the same screen was a nice touch. Brain Scorpy....hrm.

This episode, perhaps more than the last, really illustrated how much all of the characters care for each other in one way or another. Even Aeryn's kicking of Pilot to wake him up had a sense of sentimentality to it. She wasn't kicking him and shouting at him to save her butt, instead it was more reminiscent of someone pounding on another person's chest, trying to revive them and get their heart going again.
posted by Atreides at 2:20 PM on December 16, 2015 [2 favorites]

In case you didn't know, Virginia Hey had to leave Farscape because the make-up was making her ill. Her giving her life in trade for Aeryn's was written into the episodes (originally Zhaan survived). If you are keeping track at home, the death count is up to 2--Aeryn was still dead in the first episode of the season, and now Zhaan.

Love this exchange (does anyone write dialog like this anymore?):
Aeryn: It was a bad trade Zhaan - your health for mine.
Zhaan: Don't undervalue yourself.
Aeryn: I'm just a soldier. (Zhaan rises and lays a hand on Aeryn’s cheek.)
Zhaan: Don't underestimate yourself.
Aeryn: I'm being realistic.
Zhaan: Don't be afraid to understand yourself. We're not as different as you assume. Violent past, no faith in the future, and then a transformative experience aboard this very ship. My time grows short and yours stretches before you. Use it wisely.

I'm not sure why they felt the need to bring Jool in, they could've just had one less crew member, but I think they needed someone for the doctory kind of stuff.
posted by cshenk at 11:15 PM on December 18, 2015 [1 favorite]