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Posted By: Azziz Jun 22, 2001 - 07:28 pm

I missed D'Argo and Chianna but I really liked this ep!

Ben Browder did a good job with it.

It occured to me watching this ep that Farscape is a bunch of intriguing duos. Crais and Talon, Chianna and D'Argo, Cricton and Aeryn, Stark and Rygel ;o) Oh and can't forget Chianna and Jool even tho they were absent this ep.

Stark and Rygel are turning into quite the duo!

Again some funny lines this show. I loved when Cricton and Crais were having the pissing contest and Aeryn was talking to Talon about it.

Talon is a spoiled brat, isn't he.

And I am almost starting to like Crais.

Posted By: Crowe Jun 22, 2001 - 08:21 pm

I still don't like Crais, I think he's a good character. But I dont' like him

Ben did a fantastic job on this ep. I think this ep really shows how much influence Ben is on the show in general and a testament to why the writers went to bat for Ben to let him write one. I think we'll be seeing a couple more from him.

This ep had me really feeling what was going on. It was the performance from the cast, the direction and of course the dialogue. I think this is def one of my top 5 ep's.

---Crowe

Posted By: Azziz Jun 23, 2001 - 10:09 am

The touch that Talon wanted Crais and Aeryn and him to be one big happy family was a interesting twist.

It was a very well written episode in many ways.

Posted By: Iznardi Jun 23, 2001 - 11:38 am

Man, if this is an example of Ben Browder's writing, then they should let him write plenty of episodes. This was a pretty complex story, and yet it moved through a whole series of surprises without getting confused or lost. The double allusion to jealousy and the "buda" in the title is great.

Anyway, I think it was a good move to make Crais an untrustworthy ally instead of an actual foe. He and Talyn will remain a constant threat to Crichton's "leader" status, and they will always confront Aeryn with the problem of divided loyalties. I was glad, too, to see that Crais is now part victim--tied to Talyn because he has no where else to go, but forced to endure Talyn's erratic punishments.

Wonder how John B is going to react to John A's experiences on Talyn, or whether John A will even tell him?

Is it just me or does the pairing of Rygel and Starke seem a whole lot more entertaining than the pairing of Zhaan and Starke?

Like assiz I also have to wonder about leaving Dargo and Chiana out of too many episodes. Next week seems to be another Scropy episode. I'd hate to see the cast start to leave because they don't get air time. I remember there were problems with STNG when so many stories kept revolving around Picard and Data. Gigi Edgeley and Anthony Simcoe got highlighted a lot in the last season--this season, though, they seem to be part of the backstory instead of the main action.

Posted By: Iznardi Jun 23, 2001 - 11:46 am

and here's what Browder had to say about it:

"Browder Writes First Farscape

Ben Browder, star of The SCI FI Channel's original series Farscape, told SCI FI Wire that he's on pins and needles awaiting the June 22 airing of the episode "Green-Eyed Monster"--the first episode written by the star himself. "As an actor on a television show, you can always hide behind the script department if an episode fails to work. ... 'Hey, we tried but it just didn't work,'" Browder said in an interview. "As a writer, you could blame the actors for not understanding the deep intent behind the words. I'm so screwed. Acting and writing together leave no room for escape. If this thing sucks, it's my fault. If it works, thanks and credit belong to the director, Tony Tilse; the cast ... ; the crew, insert a hundred names; and the writers, who steered me through the arduous process of writing the script."

In the episode, Talyn is swallowed by a gigantic space monster (a Budong) and the crew must find a way to escape. "It's an old story--Jonah and the whale," Browder said. "Underneath the escape is another old story, 'the monster which doth mock the meat it feeds upon.' (I admit it, I'm a Shakespeare junkie.) And that's the story that really captured my imagination."

Series creators Rockne O'Bannon and David Kemper first approached Browder about writing an episode of Farscape two years ago, but it wasn't until the end of the second season that Browder's name was placed on the list of writers, he said. "Somehow, [Kemper] convinced the network and production company that it would be a 'good idea to let Ben write an episode,'" Browder said. "I suspect David made some promises and called in some favors that we really don't want to know the details of."

Browder worked out the basic storyline with the series' other writers. "We finished breaking the story at the end of our first week of shooting, Friday night, 12:30 a.m., to be exact. ... In the following weeks, I wrote on weekends, nights, between scenes on set, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. I visited the other writers, seeking advice. I ran scenes past my fellow actors to see if they were happy with their dialogue. I talked with Tony (the director) to see if he liked the direction the story was going. I drove my wife to distraction with the phrase, 'Honey, can you read this? Does this work?'" The shooting script was finished after four outlines, three full drafts, a complete rewrite of the third and fourth acts--and a title change, from "Das Budong."

Posted By: Azziz Jun 23, 2001 - 05:05 pm

Uh, Iz, there are no S's in my name ;o)

Posted By: The Master Jun 24, 2001 - 02:00 am

Rygel/Starke - yep I approve. They're both annoying, but oh so entertaining when annoying each other!

Another good ep, but not without flaws. I felt the Budong was wasted...the story revolved around the J/A/C relationships and "Talyn's secret". You could have taken the Budong out of it and it wouldn't have been missed at all. I was disappointed that there wasn't more to the creature part of the story. The quick-and-blurry trips down Talyn's corridors were overused and got tiresome. Too much of a good thing syndrome--and it seemed like the same loop over and over again.

I realize Talyn is unique and not a true Leviathan, but seeing what Talyn is doing to Crais, I couldn't help but think about Pilot's species and their relationship with Leviathans. Up to now, I was under the impression that Pilots unique mental-multitasking ability was the key (remember how hard it was for her to deal with when Aeryn had to do it?). Now, I have to wonder if the tie doesn't run much deeper than that.

What really stood out for me in this ep were the truly great one-liners...something FS is quickly getting a well earned reputation for having. I was busting out laughing more in this ep than most:

"You're loose!" "Not as loose as Chiana..." (Stark/Rygel)

"Sebeceans are ugly, not stupid" (Rygel)

"Talon, you've seen them both naked. Maybe you can tell us who's bigger?" (Aeryn)

"Why doesn't anyone ever listen to me?" (Aeryn...yeah, an in joke, but very funny!)

They just kept coming. If that was all Browder, he earns some more eps in my book. Oddly, I watched the credits for his name, and couldn't find it. Did anyone see it? Seems odd to leave a writing credit off if it wasn't there (I'd sure want that credit if I was him).

How the two Johns and Aeryn turn out just went up a notch. Will Aeryn be in love with only one of them? Or will both win her heart? And does it matter since they are the same person? Or are they the same person anymore? As more time passes and they have unique experiences, don't they become different people? I can't tell you how much I'm hoping they don't get rid of one before exploring this stuff!

So Scorpy's back next week. Yippie! They all think he's dead, so it should ge a grand surprise. Apparently Pilot freaks out too...that should be fun.

I don't think Chi and D'Argo have been left out. They were both very prominent in "Eat Me", which was only two eps ago (even though it seemed like forever because of the hiatis). D'Argo had one of the best lines last week..."I'm your Daddy". Its a small group, but there's a lot going on to shift the focus around. So "wait for the wheel".

Posted By: Bmat Jun 24, 2001 - 04:59 am

I didn't see any reason to think the two Johns shared a telepathic link so I suspect they are now two separate people. They may notice things at the same time or react similarly, but that is only because of the shared background and physical make up.

The one-liners are a pleasure to hear- they are slipped in during interesting events. It is getting so I have to pay full attention to the show to catch everything. My vote is also to have Browder write some more- even as part of a writing team.

Posted By: Crowe Jun 24, 2001 - 05:21 am

The Budong - Master I agree it wasn't used much. But the test of a story is can you take the story and put it anywhere and it stand on it's own? Yes, this story would have been just as good on a strange planet or something. But it did however add a few crucial elements. It put Talyn in a position to be afraid enough to need more help to calm opening the door for Crais to share his plight with Ayren. It thought that the Budong as a "vehicle" to tell the story was well used. We learned alot about them from seeing it sneak up on it's "candy" and the bowels are an inferno etc. I sure would have liked to have seen more, but I really like the way they kept the focus on the J/A/C/T relationships.

As for John B.. I think one of them has to go. I know Ben's a big part of the show's magic, but having him in two places at one time isn't going to fly. John B has to die now because John A got the girl

I think they are splitting up screen time pretty well. For one we are seeing some people in the lime light that usually don't get it to themselves. And last season Chi and D'Argo did get alot of close ups. I think that's one thing FS has been good at is sharing the screen time and really varying the story up.

One thing you might notice about next weeks show is that Scorpy is back - But I think it might just be memory. And it's back on Moya so it will focus on the other crew splitting the screen time up again. Maybe John B will give his life to safe the crew and thus "balance the equation" (Last weeks Outer Limits) and continue with the Season of Death(TM).

CREDITS: I saw Ben's name at the beginning and end. It was sepearte out like the O'bannons and the others. It was a big "Written By Ben Browder" thing on there.

I've read quite a bit about how Ben has always added stuff into the show. Most of the Chritonisms and such are really Ben's doing. Calling Chi Pip, Rygel Sparky, his guny Wynona - All Ben's adlibbing. I think the cast has a chemistry that really makes adlibbing seem much more natural. Like the Who's your daddy thing. I'd be willing to bet that's somethnig Ben and Anthony came up with. It seems like them. lol

At any rate, let Ben write more or at least co-write more! His influence on the show appears to be a very good thing indeed. Like Ben said the whole cast needs credit and praise for such a fantastic show and excellent episode. But a huge pat on the back needs to go to Ben as well - Job well done. Give that boy a raise.

--Crowe

Posted By: Iznardi Jun 24, 2001 - 06:25 am

I wonder if the "two Johns" was a plot device to allow the show to keep separate story lines running on Moya and Talyn for a while, and still always have the main character involved in each episode?

It doens't seem like there is going to be any immediate reuniting of the two leviathans--so having Aeryn and John on one ship, and the other John with most of the rest of the cast on the other, allows the writers to switch back and forth and still keep the fan's favorite character in the forefront.

It also might mean that the two John's eventually have to be "melded" back together, so that Crichton ultimately has the benefit of both of their experiences.

The previews with Scorpy talked about some type of experiment that had to be tested on a living person. I don't think it's a flash back. Maybe he is trying to assimilate the wormhole technology off the chip.

I assume Moya and Tayln will eventually have to confront the PeaceKeeper retrieval force together, and that will be the link for uniting the whole cast again.

iz


azziz--sorry, usually i spell it with all 'z's, must have been distracted.