Season 1, Episode 15:
Durka Returns
Coming out of starburst, Moya collides with a Nebari transport ship captained by Salis. The purpose was to bring a fugitive, Chiana, back home. It gets worse when Rygel sees that Salis's right-hand man is Durka, the first Peacekeeper captain to torture him.
Tropes present in this episode include:
- Armor-Piercing Question: "Where were you when Salis was murdered?"
- Armor-Piercing Response: Crichton tells Chiana that if she wants to stay there are rules. Chiana (accurately pegging the Ragtag Bunch of Misfits she's just hitched up with) hits back that if she sees everyone else following them, she'll do the same.
- Broken Pedestal: According to Aeryn, Peacekeepers are taught a great deal about Durka's distinguished career, but she's surprised to learn that he did attempt to flee during the attack on the Zelbinion and that he did far worse than that in his time.
- Bullying a Dragon: Most of the crew prefer to play nice rather than antagonize a species that effortlessly took out the Zelbinion. According to Durka, his crew provoked that conflict by entering a Nebari sector.
- Dirty Coward: It's revealed that when the Zelbinion was being overtaken, Durka faked his death and tried to get off the ship.
- Enemy Mine: Chiana is no friend of the crew, but Crichton convinces her that Durka is too dangerous a mutual threat for her to just hide away somewhere.
- Everyone Has Standards: As irritated as she is by Rygel's actions (both in this episode and in general), Zhaan balks at the idea of turning him over to Salis for mental cleansing.Zhaan: Even Rygel, with his many faults, does not deserve that.
- Faking the Dead: The body that Rygel assumed was Durka was just an officer that he murdered and dressed up in his clothes.
- Going Down with the Ship: As Rygel surmises, Durka very much subverted this on the Zelbinion.Rygel: Apparently, he chose to end his distinguished career by faking his own death, all to save himself while his crew died around him.
- Heel Realization: While cleansed, Durka sincerely felt bad about all the awful things he had done. Once back in his proper, he acknowledges that he felt that, but he has no idea why he would.
- I Owe You My Life:
- Aeryn doesn't intend to thank Rygel for saving her life, but she says he handled himself well.
- Crichton notes that he owes Chiana for her help, which is why he's going to cut her slack. He warns her the others won't be as forgiving.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Rygel's attempt to kill Durka with a bomb only causes him to break free of the mental cleansing.
- Not Quite Dead: Durka.
- Oh, Crap!:
- Aeryn remains calm in the face of threats, until Durka reveals he's going to torture her by exposing her to intense heat.
- Rygel when he realizes Durka is free of the mental cleansing.
- Older Than They Look: Longer hair aside, Durka looks no different than he did in the earlier episode's flashbacks. It's also acknowledged that he should've died of old age decades ago. His more youthful look is credited to what he experienced during his time in Nebari custody.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Rygel delivers a memorable one to Durka, as he prepares to torture Aeryn.Rygel: Durka, you are pathetic. Look at you salivating to kill and maim someone who can't even defend herself, foaming at the mouth like a sick trelkez. Pathetic.
Durka: Why, Rygel, what's this?
Rygel: Something I should have said to you a long time ago.
Durka: Yet you didn't. I was going to save you for a bargaining tool. But now I'm wondering, do you think your shipmates would really care if I just burnt your face right off?!
Rygel: Go ahead and find out. I don't care because the all-powerful Durka is a failure. It's the TRUTH, DURKA! You tortured me without mercy, but you never broke me! You only made me stronger! And even if you kill me, I'll be laughing at you because the last thing I'll think of is you on Nebari Prime for another hundred cycles - being ground back down into nothing! - The Reveal: It was the Nebari who defeated the Zelbinion.
- Riddle for the Ages: It's left ambiguous if it was Chiana or Durka who killed Salis.
- Sympathetic Murderer: When Salis's body is first found, Chiana is the immediate suspect. Zhaan admits she's not surprised, given what was going to be done to her back home. She's more concerned about how the Nebari government will react to this. On the other hand, Chiana is still considered a genuine threat before Durka reveals his true nature, with D'Argo advocating shooting her on sight.
- Villainous Breakdown: Durka after he's left floating out in a damaged ship.Durka: Crichton, don't leave me out here. I'll hunt you down, and I'll kill you!
Crichton: Get in line, Durka. Besides, I don't think the Nebari are gonna let you do a lot of huntin'.
Durka: Crichton, listen to me!
Crichton: Give them my regards when they pick you up.
Durka: Crichton! CRICHTON! - We Will Meet Again: Durka promises to hunt down and kill Crichton.
- Wham Episode: Due to being Chiana's first appearance.
- Wrong Genre Savvy: Durka initially assumes the crew sabotaged his attempt at a starburst, but it's because of Moya's baby.
