Rhapsody in Blue
by David Kemper.
Directed by Andrew Prowse
REVIEW
Farscape has created a certain bubble where everything in it fits the science fiction mould and generally rises above it enough that the show feels stronger than others. But the bubble was pricked in this episode by taking us back to Earth because suddenly we were comparing it to ordinary drama, and those moments did not match up.
For all the deftness of the science fiction, the Earth love scenes felt very hammy and coming at the start of the episode, they detracted from it all.
That's not to say that there weren't excellent lines and good ideas. One especially good touch was in taking the stock SF concept of false memories being forced on the hero and then twisting the outcome. Usually it's inevitably that the hero will see through them, usually with a 'I deny you exist!" kind of line but not here.
Crichton does figure it out, repeatedly, and every time he's thwarted by a new memory planted in his mind. Uniquely, and very admirably, he would never have escaped from this if Lorana hadn't released him.
Still, Farscape has stuck fast to that other SF requirement, the need to have a mystical or at least very thorough culture for one of its characters. In Star Trek it's always been Worf who gets whole episodes devoted to his rather tedious Klingon background, in Farscape it looks like it's going to be Zhaan.
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FARSCAPE in the UK on BBC2. FARSCAPE © The Jim Henson Company 2001. © Hallmark Entertainment. FARSCAPE and all related characters and elements are trademarks of The Jim Henson Company. All Rights Reserved.
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