Die Me Dichotomy

Ratings
1.2 (US)
2.13 (UK)

Hugh Keays-Byrne...........Grunchlk
Wayne Pygram...............Scorpius
Matt Newton................Jothee
Lani Tupu..................Crais
Paul Goddard...............Stark
Thomas Holesgrove..........Diagnosan Tocot
David Franklin.............Lt. Braca

Wassup?

"Oh...God. What have I done?"

The crew brings Moya to a medical facility, hoping to cure her burns, and get the neural clone removed from John's brain. But the chip's control is now almost complete, and John escapes to signal their location to Scorpius, with tragic results.

Backstory

Diagnosians intuit disease through their olfactory senses

Jothee mutilated his own tenkas.

The chip is apparently now in complete control of John's mind.

The neural clone forces John to create a separate signal circuit outside of Pilot's control, and uses it to send a coded signal to Scorpius, in a pulse code known only to PK captains' rank and above (despite the fact that the code is unknown to John himself).

Aeryn is now ready to tell John that she loves him.

When Scorpius said he had planted a seed in John's brain, which had grown to touch every aspect of his personality and memory, he meant it literally; the chip has created a web of tendrils across John's brain.

When the neural clone assumes control of John, it may interfere with John's ability to remember the events later. John doesn't appear to remember the conversation in the neural cluster, prior to bashing in Aeryn's head.

The Diagnosan's cold storage facility houses "frelling millions" of bodies, allegedly all frozen a microt before each being's death. His assistant claims no bodies are accepted which could be "restored" to life later.

Zhaan comments that there are 5000 species represented in the cold storage facility. It has no humans in its inventory, but it does have three genetically compatible bodies. Grunchlk suggests that these bodies ("Interions") may be offshoots of the same genetic stock as humans.

Tocot says Moya will not be able to starburst for "some time".

The neural clone seems to possess some of Scorpius' Scarran mental abilities. When it tricks Zhaan into sharing Unity, she is unable to break free; in fact, the chip claims it would take a 12th level Pa'u to break the bond. As Zhaan is recovering later, she says there is nothing of John left in his mind.

Crais claims that, because his parents were moral, emotional and compassionate, he values those traits, and sees them emerging in Aeryn. He therefore approves of Talyn's choice of Aeryn to provide him with emotional guidance.

Crais also seems attracted to Aeryn himself (at one point appearing almost to be leaning in to kiss her), but still moves immediately to prevent Talyn from shooting down John, when the neural clone steals Farscape One.

Aeryn claims she's prepared to shoot down Farscape One, and John, if the neural clone doesn't land. The neural clone, meanwhile, claims John is now in a sufficient state of pain and misery that he actually wants to be found by Scorpius, to put an end to it.

The mechanism of Aeryn's restraint harness is apparently damaged by Farscape One's landing gear.

Intense emotion still seems to enable John to break through the chip's control, as when Aeryn is plummeting to her death.

Aeryn's body is added to the holdings of the Diagnosan's cold storage facility. She is interred with D'Argo's Qualta blade, and Rygel's badge of office. John retains only a lock of her hair.

John doesn't want his crewmates with him during the surgery.

Because there is no template of a human brain pattern on file, John must identify which bit does what for the surgeon during the procedure. He chooses to keep the memories of his dogs (of which he has apparently owned a fair number), but lose the memories of latter 20th century American politics. Whether or not he chooses to keep his memories of Aeryn is not clear. The surgeon also is able to locate John's wormhole memories.

Crais and Talyn have a PK data chip whose contents Crais thinks would have made Aeryn "the happiest soul among us".

Stark is planning to remain with the crew on a more permanent basis.

Rygel makes arrangements with Grunchlk to obtain his own ship, requiring that it be equipped for "speed, strength, and stealth".

Jothee has never stayed in one place long enough to build any relationships, before now.

Scorpius' Marauder locates the Diagnosan's facility undetected by Moya, but not, apparently, undetected by Grunchlk. Braca recognizes Grunchlk and calls him by name, when he finds him in the cold storage tube.

Braca observes (and presumably recognizes) Aeryn in the cold storage tube.

In order to remove the chip, the surgeon must disable Crichton's speech center; unfortunately, Scorpius kills him before he can restore the function.

Scorpius is humming The Star Spangled Banner as he enters the operating room; clearly, John's singing made an impression on him.

The Diagnosan is the doctor who installed Scorpius' cooling aparatus. Scorpius evidently assumes that no further mainentance of that system will be needed, since he kills the doctor.

Reactions

Questions

1. Does John keep his memories of Aeryn?
2. When the surgeon locates the wormhole memories, do they include the information implanted by the Ancients?
3. What was on the peacekeeper chip, that Crais thought would make Aeryn so happy?
4. How did the neural clone know that it would take a twelfth-level Pa'u to break the bond of Unity?

Observations

1. One scaper said that they could see the thread hole, on the large crystal that Rygel gave Grunchlk in exchange for obtaining a ship.

Bloopers (none)

Annotations

John: "Aeryn, as long as I stay busy...he leaves me alone. Sometimes if I sing, he leaves me alone." [hums "Ride of the Valkyries"]

This is the second time (see "Crackers Don't Matter", again) that John hums the famous tune from Richard Wagner's opera DER RING DES NIBELUNGEN.

Stark: "How do you feel?"
John: "Like a popsicle. Gotta love the sphincter end of the universe."
Stark: "They're just going to have a look, an examination."
John: "Make sure he puts the KY on the glove."

A popsicle is a "quiescently frozen confection", according to How Stuff Works.

KY Jelly is a lubricant manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, commonly used for examination or recreation involving the anus.

John/Harvey: "Ooo, fireworks."

catherine summers suggests that Ben Browder was imitating Robin Williams' character, Mork from Ork, in the delivery of this line.

Diagnosan Tocot: "Sorry, but...speech close to...neural implant."
John: "You're gonna take my memories, and I'm gonna talk gibberish? Why not just take my mojo while you're at it?"

Mojo, a word derived from an African language term for medicine man, is variously defined today as a magic spell, a charm, an amulet of significance in voodoo, or personal magnetism/charisma. The OED cites a 1926 source which defines mojo to be "'charms, amulets, or tricks', as 'to work mojo' on a person or 'to carry a mojo'". In a very broad sense, it can be taken as a type of personal spiritual power: "With his weather mojo working overtime he got four hot sunny days." The term was also used in AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME to refer to the title character's sexual prowess.

John: "You're gonna tell me my health plan doesn't cover this, right?"

A reference to the practices of most American health insurance companies, which often specifically exclude "experimental procedures" from the list of treatments for which they will cover the costs.

Translator Microbe Report

Quotables

"Sorry, Rygel, I misjudged you."
"It's becoming your career."
- Zhaan, Rygel

"You must confront your fears with strength."
"You're right, Aeryn...there's no Scorpius here...hmm...there's only me...yeah."
- Aeryn Sun, John Crichton/Neural Clone

"I am reminded at this point of a word that you actually brought to this vessel: hope."
"I would be lost without you."
"Then you'll never be lost."
"No matter what happens, you have worked your way into my heart."
"You've shown me that I have one."
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
"Mmm...you are so...my girl..."
- Aeryn Sun, John Crichton/Neural Clone

"Officer Sun cannot be blackmailed, or enticed. If she is to join us, it would have to be of her own volition."
[Talyn communicates]
"Agreed. If she joins us freely, we will tell her the truth."
- Bialar Crais, Talyn

"How do you feel?"
"Like a popsicle. Gotta love the sphincter end of the universe."
"They're just gonna have a look, an examination."
"Make sure he puts the K-Y on the glove."
- Stark, John Crichton

"You're gonna tell me my health plan doesn't cover this, right?"
- John Crichton

"Aeryn, did I say, or do, anything, to piss you off? I mean, other than caving in the side of your head?"
"Are you serious?"
- John Crichton, Aeryn Sun

"That's it, D'Argo."
"I don't feel my tongue."
"Whose fault is that?"
"Oh, frell you."
- Stark, Ka D'Argo

"He wants to live the quiet life. I want to live loudly."
- Jothee

"Pilot, you're high, okay?"
"I'm no higher than I've ever been. My position is fixed."
- Chiana, Pilot

"What are you up to?"
"Higher level reasoning, Aeryn. If a simple thought occurs, I'll call you."
- Aeryn Sun, Rygel

"This ship, this emotional ship, needs guidance. Talyn has chosen you, and I agree with his choice. There is much that you can learn that will surprise you."
- Bialar Crais

"Ah, the radiant Miss Officious...so sure, so confident in the void of space. Crichton was trained to fly in atmosphere, against gravity. Welcome to our world, baby."
- John Crichton/Neural Clone

"Look, John -- if you're even in there anymore -- look at what you're doing."
"You fail to understand the extent of your friend's misery. He wants Scorpius to find us. He wants to end his pain."
"No. I'll never believe that."
- Aeryn Sun, John Crichton/Neural Clone

"I don't have any options."
"Baby, you are not going to die like this. You are not going to die like this..."
"I hope you meant what you said in the neural cluster. I did."
- Aeryn Sun, John Crichton

"Oh...God. What have I done?"
- John Crichton

"The goddess graciously receives to her bosom all those that pass from this existence, regardless of faith or belief.
She holds, however, a special place for those who travel this life as a journey.
Aeryn Sun will surely harvest favor. Her life was a series of strides toward enlightenment. Casting off the chains of prejudice and hatred, reaching beyond violence and bigotry, she sought a balance of lasting inner peace. In her name --
May the goddess receive you with charity.
May the goddess sanctify your spirit.
May the goddess purify your soul.
May the goddess recite your name on the whispers of the wind."
- Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan (prayer at Aeryn's funeral)

"Aeryn. Forgive me. I love you."
- John Crichton

"The doc says, 'cause of that thing in your brain, there's no way you're responsible for what happened to that Sebacean."
"Yes, I am."
- Grunchlk, John Crichton

"Where will you be?"
"Anywhere else. I vomit when things get messy."
- John Crichton, Grunchlk

"Yes, Talyn. I too would have liked to have shown Aeryn what we learned from this chip. I think...I think it would have made her the happiest soul among us."
- Bialar Crais

"Tragedy often heralds flight."
- Zhaan

"American politics, Nixon to Clinton -- lose it."
- John Crichton

"Sorry, but...speech close to...neural implant."
"You're gonna take my memories, and I'm gonna talk gibberish? Why not just take my mojo while you're at it?"
"Remove chip....then attempt replace...you normal."
"What the hell. There's no one I really want to talk to. Not much worth remembering. Take the damn thing out."
- Diagnosan Tocot, John Crichton

"Don't need a translator microbe for that one, do we?"
- Scorpius

"You've cost me much, and I do not suffer disappointment well. I condemn you, John Crichton, to live, so that your thirst for unfulfilled revenge will consume you. ...Goodbye."
- Scorpius

Comments from Cast & Crew

David Kemper, January 27, 2000

• Moderator: <billjen>: is there a certain direction you're going with the series, or is there aN "anything can happen" attitude?
  

  DK: Both. For instance, I know where the second season is going to END UP.
  DK: However, HOW we get there?... That's the fun.
  DK: We have a remarkable staff of writers: Richard Manning, Naren Shankar, Justin Monjo,
  DK: Grant McAloon, Gabrielle Stanton & Harry Werksman, Jr., Lily Taylor,
  DK: and of course, I am in daily (oftentimes more than once) contact with Rock O'Bannon,
  DK: mostly to ask him if I'm crazy or not.
  DK: He always answers, "Yes."
  

• Moderator: <valleyofstags>: Now that you are "Executive Producer" will we be seeing any episodes in Season 2 "written by David Kemper"?
  

  DK: Tech correction: I've been Ex. Prod. since Ep. 7, first season.
  DK: To answer: Just finished writing the ep 10/11 2 parter. Will also script the season-ender.
  

Justin Monjo & Rowan Woods, May 11, 2000

• Moderator: <MALar> to <Moderator>: Do you know where the story is going in the long term, or is that a closely guarded Rockne/DK secret.
  

  RowanWoods: DK has dropped a few hints.
  RowanWoods: But I'll believe it when I see it.
  RowanWoods: I'm actually just about to meet with him in regards to the season finale.
  RowanWoods: and from what little I've heard, fun WILL be had.
  

Richard Manning, June 1, 2000

• Moderator: <Badnasser>: Can you tell us anything about future episodes? How far in advance are you creating episodes?

  FrooniumRicky: I CAN, of course, but...
  FrooniumRicky: David would have me killed.
  * FrooniumRicky blames the boss! *
  FrooniumRicky: We're just now beginning to shoot episode 22 of season two (yay!)...
  FrooniumRicky: A quick visit by the entire writing staff to the Betty Ford Clinic (or fine Australian equivalent) and we'll begin pondering the joys of season three.

Farscape Season Two Wrap, June 15, 2000

• Moderator: So, can you give us a report from the final day of filming? What's the mood down under?

  Kemper: Elation. Depression. A great thing is temporarily coming to an end -- however, we all NEED it to come to an end. Exhaustion and stuff like that.

• Moderator: <ricks8> to <Moderator>: So can you tell us what to expect without giving away any spoilers! Is it a big season finale? Are we going to be blown out of the water. Is it better than Season 1....? (Can you tell we're all a little anxious)

  Kemper: You WILL be blown away. And that's just Ep. 22. All the shows inbetween will probably do some damage
  Kemper: to little hearts everywhere, also. And as for it being better than Season 1, you be the judge. But I think it's not contest. Yes.

• Moderator: <Hermione> to <Moderator>: Hi All Congrats on finishing Season 2 Question: Do you feel you've accomplished everything you set out to do this year. Has the story flowed the way you thought it should?

  FrooniumRicky: Well, we set out to push the envelope...

  Kemper: And we ended up licking it, sealing it on ourselves.

  FrooniumRicky: Just so long as we don't get cancelled.

• Moderator: <scifigrrl> to <Moderator>: Hello, It was great seeing the character development the over the first season and into the 2nd. Which character will suprise us most at the end of the 2nd season?

  FrooniumRicky: Well, if we told you, it wouldn't be a surprise!

  DavidKemper: Well, I'd say, the least surprising characters will be the ones who are still alive.

  FrooniumRicky: (We're leaving some ALIVE, DK?)

• Moderator: Moderator has a question: when are we going to get more scenes with the star of the show. I'm refering, of course, to the mighty and valiant FARSCAPE ONE. It is the titular character, after all...

  FrooniumRicky: The titular character?

  Moderator: That's title character to you, Ricky.
  Moderator: Get your mind out of the gutter...

  FrooniumRicky: Oh, that was my second guess.
  FrooniumRicky: You'll see FS1 again...

  DavidKemper: Season finale should feature Farscape One prominently.

  FrooniumRicky: We're planning a romance for it.

• Moderator: <LadyJade> to <Moderator>: Ben, do you find that the second season for you has been more challenging acting wise than the first season?

  Ben: Season two presented a different challenge. We built off of the first year, but were not saddled with creating the world and characters.
  Ben: David Kemper did seem intent in season two on driving us further over the cliff.

• Moderator2: <Hoproman> to <Moderator2>: to Ben. Hi, is the Society Against Cruelty to Crichton (SACC) going to be happy or upset with the rest of Season2?

  Ben: The SACC will be picketing David Kemper's office.

Gigi Edgley, June 29, 2000

• Moderator: <D-Eclipse> to <Moderator>: What's your favorite ep of this season? You needn't spoil a thing, except well... the number of the episode of course:) <g>

  fweakn-Gi: 14 is one of my favs... 17 should be a goodie and the cliff hanger is one to watch out for!!!!!
  fweakn-Gi: duh!!!! he he hee

Pilot, with Sean Masterson (Puppeteer) & Lani Tupu (Voice of Pilot), July 13, 2000

• Moderator: <CraisLover> to <Moderator>: Lani, thank you for bringing such vitality to an incredible character like Crais. Is he what you expected when you took on the role or has he changed?

  LaniTupu: Hi CraisLover, when I took on the role I had no idea at that stage who Crais was and what he was to become. The challenge for me was to not make him a one dimensional character, and so I have succeeded in making him a two dimensional character (lol)... maybe by the seasons end I'll get to three?

• Moderator: I have to bring back a question from our last chat with Lani.
  Moderator: <optimusp> to <Moderator> Lani. In one sentence, how would
  Moderator: you sum up the last four episodes of the season, w/o giving anything
  Moderator: away?
  Moderator: to which you replied: "He'll hate it."
  Moderator: How about this time around?

  LaniTupu: Let me just say this 19, 20, 21 and 22! LOL
  LaniTupu: You will be blown away

Ben Browder, July 27, 2000

• Moderator: <myllenium> to <Moderator>: with the abundance of the gorgeous natures of Oz, will there be any eps highlighting some of those wide open places?

  Ben: Roos on skateboards
  Ben: watch for it in the big season finale.
  Ben: We did less location in season two.
  Ben: But built sets bigger than all of Australia.

David Kemper, with Richard Manning & Ben Browder ("Bruno"), August 17, 2000

• Moderator: <stargatetravler> to <Moderator>: Now that filming for season 2 is completed which ep would you say was your favorite and which was the most difficult to film? BTW great con in Burbank, you guys ROCKED! Thanks!

  Kemper: Most difficult.
  Kemper: The last 4 -- an arc -- of the season.
  Kemper: More in them than most features.
  Kemper: You watch.
  Kemper: You see.
  Kemper: You smile.
  Kemper: THEN
  Kemper: you bow to Sci-Fi.

• Moderator: <LittleLeviathan> to <Moderator>: To the wonderful David Kemper: Which was the most difficult show to produce?Costly?Time consuming?

  Kemper: Difficult?
  Kemper: "Family Ties" last year.
  Kemper: The last 4 eps this year.
  Kemper: Costly?
  Kemper: All of them.
  Kemper: And that's NOT a flip answer.

Wayne Pygram, September 21, 2000

• Moderator2: <LittleLeviathan> to <Moderator2>: Hi Wayne. What has been the most difficult ep thus far to shoot (acknowledging of course that it might not have happened yet and you might not be able to say why)?
  

  WaynePygram: The final stages of series two became a real continuity challenge for us all as we were working at completing four episodes at once, so on any given day you could be asked to complete scenes from four different story lines. This was doubley difficult for me as I have a habit of throwing my scripts away as soon as I've learned my lines. I think I had better make some adjustments to this technique.
  WaynePygram: I did not know if I was Arthur or Marther... do you comprehend?

• Moderator2: <Cush> to <Moderator2>: Without giving away spoilers, what adjectives would you use to describe the 4 part finale?

  Wayne: one word.... icey

David Kemper & Ben Browder, November 12, 2000

• Moderator: Blue_Dragon: what's been the hardest episode to make?

  David Kemper: Whooo. They're all tough. Ben?

  Ben Browder: The next one
  Ben Browder: always the next one

  David Kemper: If pressed, from a script point-of-view, I'd say "Out of Their Minds." From a production point-of-view, I'd say the

  Ben Browder: That was easy...

  David Kemper: huge four-part arc (upcoming) that ends the second season. ga

Justin Monjo, February 08, 2001

• Moderator: <Cush> to <Moderator>: Question for Ben: How was the Scorpy makeup?

  JustinMonjo: Ben wants me to answer for him, I think it looked great and was great. If you wear scorpy make up people freak out all around you. Keep him in mind for next Halloween or when the boss won't give you a raise.

• Moderator: <PKRulzes> to <Moderator>: Justin, I know you're probably not able to answer this but I have to know. Aeryn Sun is undoubtly one of most popular characters on the show and a lot of fans were greatly upset by the finale. Are there plans for Aeryn that figure in Season Three?

  JustinMonjo: Aeryn is dead...and when you are dead...you're dead.

Guy Gross, May 15, 2001

• Moderator: <GutPageant> to <Moderator>: The 'Agnus Dei" at Aeryn's funeral was beautiful-- but why use something so recognizable--and so HUMAN?

  Guy: Well, i'm a big fan of classical music (incase you couldn't tell)
  Guy: and I still find it "moves the savage beast"
  Guy: So lyrically it was an obvious choice
  Guy: but musically it's a kinda modern take on very well established baroque traditions

• Moderator: <RydraWong> to <Moderator>: What's been the hardest scene to score?
  Moderator: <QBall> to <Moderator>: What was the most difficult / challenging ep you've done, and why?
  Moderator: <stargatetravler> to <Moderator>: Hi Guy! Which one of the eps have been the easiest to score for, which the hardest and which one your favorite?
  Moderator: (three similar questions, all in one shot)

  Guy: The work I'm most proud of is on Die Me Dichotomy, particularly the dog fight and Aeryns death scene and of coarse her funeral

Ben Browder, Mat McCoy (w/Fiona Gentle and Tim Mieville), Lily Taylor, & Richard Manning, July 12, 2001

• Puppeteering Team: Fiona is famous for the Diagnosan Tocot from Ep 222

• Moderator: <Revolos55> to <Moderator>: Hi Fiona - What exactly did you do as Diagnosan Tocot?

  Puppeteering Team: The lip sync and the totally bizarre gibberish.
  Puppeteering Team: (Matt did the expressions and the nose.)

• Moderator: <stayler> to <Moderator>: Hi Fiona and Tim, Fiona, tell us about the facial portion of Tocot and what itr was like to operate/act in?

  Puppeteering Team: Thomas Holesgrove was actually in the body suit and therefor did the head movements.
  Puppeteering Team: Matt and I did the facial expressions (mouth, eyes, nose etc.)
  Puppeteering Team: He was really good fun to do.

Dave Elsey, July 19, 2001

• Moderator: <Jayce66> to <Moderator>: How did Ben Browder react when he found out he was going to be dressed up like Scorpius in the late season two episodes?

  DaveE: Ben loved it!
  DaveE: I think it was partly his idea anyway, or at least an extension of one of his ideas. Ben loved make-up and we love making up Ben! He's our hero as well as yours!
  DaveE: Season 2 he ended up being the Lon Channey of Farscape and he loves having the chance to not play himself.

Farscape Wrap Day Extravaganza, July 26, 2001

• Moderator: <pkgrl> to <Moderator>: All I really ant to know is why you and Rock never warned us about David Kemper's EVIL before now? Why did we have to see Aeryn DIE first?

  FrooniumRicky: You ain't seen nothing yet
  FrooniumRicky: all *I* really want to know is that it took you That Long to figure it out?