Reviews & Overviews by Rod Cameron

        

Farscape Season 4 : Episode 1: Crichton Kicks
We last saw Crichton abandoned by his friends in the depths of space with little food and less air, and a nagging voice in his ear saying that Aeryn was pregnant ...  ... and now with beard he is aboard an aging Leviathan, Elack which is on its way to die in the Leviathan sacred death zone. Actually a reasonable plot-line as Crichton was abandoned by Moya in that vicinity. His only friend is a quirky DRD which he has trained to play the 1812 overture. His mission in life appears to be to improve the Spirit Still which he has built. He is not a little perturbed by thoughts of impending father-hood. His navel inspection is interrupted by the collision of a small escape pod which destroys the still, and his wormhole notes written on the side of the still. The occupant turns out to be a red-headed alien called Sikozu who can change her centre of gravity (walk up walls) and is an expert on Leviathans.  Unfortunately she is allergic to translator microbes, and has to learn languages from scratch. She is escaping from Grudek mercenaries, a tribe of aliens who feed off Leviathan nerve tissue. These aliens duly arrive and start to dismantle the Leviathan. Shortly after, Chiana & Rygel arrive looking for Crichton. Apparently the destruction of the Sebacean Dreadnought has resulted in the new Sebacian baddie, Commandant Grayza (Servalan lookalike - Blake's 7) putting out an APB for everyone's capture. So Chiana & Rygel immediately run to Crichton for protection. Chiana's 'skill' at seeing the future has become stronger, and each episode now leaves her blinded for a period of time. Rygel remains his usual chirpy helium-farting self. Feeling more his usual self, due to the additional responsibility of looking after C & R? or because of embarrassment over the way he looks, Crichton immediately shaves his beard off. Perhaps he wants to get back to normal - so stops drinking, feeling sorry for himself and acting like a mad man. Crichton feels grateful to Elack and her Pilot for rescuing him, and proceeds to get rid of the mercenaries. In gratitude, the Leviathan then starbursts them to a planet where they are likely to "meet their missing friends", killing itself in the process ...  Still Missing :		Zhaan - Still dead (and unlikely to re-appear due to an allergy to blue body paint)
	Aeryn Sun in Prowler + possible child fathered by 'other' Crichton (deceased)
	D'Argo in his own Luxan ship
	Moya (Leviathan) + Pilot
	Jool - orange haired girl who can blunt sharp edges by screaming. New alien Sikozu could be her replacement? Stark - alien with half a face and half a mind - last seen some time ago looking for Zhaan (was unavailable in Australian panto)
	Scorpius - but Harvey seen in Crichton's mind
	Bracca - Scorpius' assistant might have been saved by Scorpius Alien who is an expert in wormhole technology (look likes Crichton's Dad)
	Jothee - D'Argo's son - don't really care if he is dead or not
	Well-built (ok, fat) lass who is a mechanic
	The old lady with three eyes

So what did I think? Firstly, Widescreen at last! I had been waiting for the return of Farscape with eager anticipation - a bit like waiting for Christmas Day as a child - all those mysterious presents. Was it a disappointment? Not really, it was a quiet but confused start to the series, and not a little frantic - not sure that we could have expected much more in 45 minutes. I am prepared to wait for a few episodes to resolve the mystery over Aeryn, but not if it stretches out for half the series. All in all, a thumbs up. Enjoy, Rod