Farscape returns to normality in this polished hostage drama with a little twist - literally.

The solid plotting of I Shrink Therefore I Am will have cheered up all those fans disappointed with season four's surrealism. John as action hero is back, Aeryn is her old feisty self again, and there's the added joy of Scorpius - of all people - playing sidekick.

In true Farscape style, a premise that on the face of it is a daft as a brush-seller's suitcase was taken and integrated into an effective and believable story. The twists and turns of the tale came completely naturally, without the contrived feel of some of this season�s other episodes.

As well as the tense stand-alone plot, this episode also advanced the season story-arc without forcing the issue. The new Scarran threat was delicately introduced, then made into a central point of the plot.

After several episodes stuck boringly in his cell, Scorpy finally got a chance to shine too. The shifting relationship between himself and John was beautifully portrayed by Wayne Pygram. One stand-out moment amongst many in this episode was his realisation that he�d been used as bait - stuck out in front of an angry Coreshi with an empty pulse-rifle.

With such a great build-up, the fear was that the climax would fall short. But no, the mighty Scarran leader was finally defeated by an itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny leather-clad Peacekeeper meanie, then squashed underfoot like a bug in a funny, action-packed and entirely satisfying conclusion.

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