The Way We Weren't
Nitcentral's Bulletin Brash Reflections:
Farscape:
Season Two:
The Way We Weren't
Whoa! I finally got to see this episode. I missed it the first time around and, I must say, I'm sorry I did. This was one of the best episodes I've ever seen.
But enough of that. On to the summary (which is major big since it's practically two stories in one).
We open with a recording of Pilot, but he sounds different, more feminine. That's because she's Moya's FIRST pilot. That's right friends! Our shellhead friend who's there now is not the first one. We see another familiar face, it's Captain Crais. He's giving an order to a friendly (for a Peacekeeper) subordinate to fire. They kill the old Pilot. We move around the room until we come to a Pleisar soldier who takes off her helmet to reveal.... you guessed it, Officer Sun.
The screen fizzles and we see Crichton and Chiana viewing this log file. Crichton says that Pilot better NEVER see this tape.
But they do show it to everyone else, including Aeryn. Everyone is deeply hurt and surprised by this revelation. Aeryn looks like she's in more pain than Crichton in an Aurora Chair. Everyone on the ship's against her except for her buddy Crichton.
We find Aeryn beating the stuffing out of a punching bag. She's having flashbacks to the time she killed the first pilot. (it should be noted that Aeryn didn't know that it was THEIR leviathan that she was aboard) She knocks the bag over and collapses to the ground in tears. John enters and comforts her.
The comfort is short-lived when the monitor comes on and Pilot is there holding the recording. Aeryn goes to see him alone. (Big mistake) Pilot goes psycho on Aeryn and almost strangles her. Fortunately Crichton arrives in time to save her.
Crichton is getting suspicious. They one ripped off one of Pilot's arms and all he did was toss off some nasty remarks. He believes there's something more that he's hiding.
Aeryn's hiding something too. Through a series of flashbacks, we find out that Aeryn had a relationship with a fellow Peacekeeper named Velorek. Velorek's job was to artificially bond Pilot to Moya. (normally it takes three cycles to do it naturally) Now, Peacekeepers normally just have sex with each other and go about their business. Feelings of love are not exactly commonplace. This is what makes Aeryn uncomfortable.
Turns out that Velorek is not exactly a loyal Peacekeeper. He thinks Crais is a madman (well DUH) and he plans to sabotage Crais's plan. Velorek wants Aeryn to join him.
Meanwhile, Pilot, who's not too darn happy about remembering stuff, refuses to move a inch until Aeryn leaves. Aeryn, overcome with guilt, agrees.
Crichton goes to see Pilot. He wants the truth. (YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH) We get a flashback that reveals that Moya was forced to bond with Pilot and that Pilot is in constant pain from the artificial bonding. Back with John, Pilot completely disconnects himself from Moya. Moya starts to go all weird and life support starts to go down the drain.
Aeryn and John go to see Pilot. Now John wants the truth about Aeryn. He already found out about Velorek, but he senses something more is going on with him. She reveals that they were having an intimate moment when Crais bursts in. Apparently, Aeryn informed Crais of Velorek's plan in order to get a Prowler assignment again. Velorek is taken away for torture and probably death.
It should be noted here that Crais's secret plan was to impregnate a leviathan with a Peacekeeper weapon ship. (Talyn). Velorek put in the contraception shield that D'Argo unwittingly broke back in Season one.
Back in the present, Crichton and Aeryn enter Pilot's chambers. Pilot reveals why he's so guilty. Velorek came to what I assume is Pilot's homeworld to find a pilot. Our Pilot sees him because the elders would not allow him to control a leviathan. Pilot's ultimate dream was to see the stars. Velorek offers him this opportunity and Pilot accepts even though he knows that the former pilot would have to be killed. Hense Pilot's grief.
Aeryn convinced Pilot to not punish others and Pilot tells them how to reconnect her to Moya.
Pilot's new connection will be natural and without pain even though this will mean a weaker connection to Moya.
Whew! Long Synopsis! But it's an important episode so it's important for all to understand what happened in this ep.
By Gordon Lawyer on Sunday, November 09, 2003 - 5:57 am: Personally, I found this one to be a bit too talky for my tastes.
By Mike Nuss on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 11:56 pm: Too talky? Bah! This was a great episode. Not a funny one, but there was a lot of character development/revelation going on.
By Josh M on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 9:09 pm: Yeah, I love this one. Poor Aeryn and Pilot. Very emotional ep.