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Farscape Season 1, Vol. 5 - DNA Mad Scientist/They've Got a SecretRating:
Release Date: 24 July, 2001 Retail Price: $24.98 OUR Price: $22.48 You SAVE: $2.50! Cast: Complete Cast (5 total) |
Farscape Season 1, Vol. 5 - DNA Mad Scientist/They've Got a Secret Reviews
Problematic characterization mars otherwise excellent ep
One of the best things about "Farscape" that sets it apart from most SF programs is that there is genuine conflict among the main characters, who do not all necessarily share the same agenda. Even so, the viciousness and back-stabbing that they display in "DNA Mad Scientist" is way over the top. When the mad scientist of the title demands that the crew give him one of Pilot's arms in exchange for his help, they immediately comply, hacking the desired appendage off while Pilot screams and struggles. They then fall to plotting against each other. I understand the time constraints of a television program, but it simply doesn't ring true for our heroes to be at each other's throats within the first few minutes of the episode without suitable build-up. It's not that I don't think D'Argo (Anthony Simcoe), Zhaan (Virginia Hey), and Rygel incapable of such behavior, it that it was too abrupt. Especially when they are positively tender with each other in the next episode, the far superior "Secret." This pivotal episode sets in motion certain events that will have enormous consequences in episodes to come...
It's No Secret, One of these episodes is really bad.
As you can tell from my title, one of these episodes does not impress me at all.
"DNA Mad Scientist" features one of the best Henson creations of the series with Namtar, who is the title character of this episode. Basically, he is a fully realized alien species complete with backward knees (like the rear legs of dogs or horses).
The storyline is pretty straightforward. Namtar is collecting DNA from a variety of species and offeres the Moya crew a complete map of the galaxy in exchange for one of Pilot's arms. D'Argo, Rygel, & Zhaan go behind Aeryn & John's back to collect the arm (with Pilot screaming in agony, this is one of the most shocking scenes in Farscape history). With the DNA collected from the arm, Namtar then infects Aeryn and she begins to transform.
Although you can probably guess how it will turn out, there is an interesting surprise that's revealed at the end of the show about the origins of Namtar. The special effects are once again top notch, especially the scene with the map of the planets floating in Namtar's office. Overall, this is a fine episode and one of the better ones from the pre-Chiana days.
"They've Got A Secret" is simply the most boring episode of Farscape ever produced. Unfortunately, this episode cannot be ignored because it began two of the most important running plots in the series. The first one deals with D'Argo as he was accidentally cast out of Moya during the teaser. He is recovered, but his mind is drifting and we get to know something important about his past. His "secret" does manage to produce a tender scene with Zhaan, but that's about it.
Moya also has a "secret" and while it's revelation is somewhat interesting, the time it takes to get there may have you fast forwarding the DVD to get to that point. Basically, we have a twenty minute show stretched into fifty minutes with one long, pointless scene after another with the crew guessing as to what is wrong with D'Argo & Moya. I swear to the Lord above that one scene alone with John & Aeryn conversing about "what is going on", time itself comes to a stop.
I know that many 'scapers will disagree with me about my review of this episode. And all I can say is that I call 'em like I see 'em. This could've easily been a thirty minute show with room to spare and we wouldn't have missed a thing.
Ken
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