Line #27 Recap/FarscapeS01E04ThroneForALoss


1	'''Season 1, Episode 4''':
2	!Throne for a Loss
3
4	Moya's crew plan to meet with a group of Tavleks and make a deal to transport cargo for them. However, when the Tavleks arrive onboard Moya, they use their superior gauntlet weapons to overpower the crew, kidnap Rygel and leave, though not before Crichton manages to knock one out- which automatically detatches the gauntlet. It transpires that during the early negotiations, Rygel had been bragging about being the Dominar of the Hynerian Empire, and now the Tavleks plan on ransoming him. Worse, Rygel took a crystal from Moya's neural links for his "royal sceptre", and now Moya will lose orbit and crash into the neighbouring planet without it.
5
6	D'Argo tries on the captured Tavlek's gauntlet, but the stimulant it pumps into his system drives him to super-aggression and he tries to kill the rest of the crew. Crichton and Aeryn manage to knock D'Argo out; shortly afterwards, the two of them go down to planet to find Rygel. Rygel himself is faring very poorly, having been buried up to his waist in mud to keep him from running away; however, he does manage to start bragging about his empire again, this time to his cellmate, Jotheb (next in succession to preside over the Consortium of Trao), another captured royal. This bragging actually manages to save Rygel's life when the Tavlek leader Bekhesh loses patience with him- only for Jotheb, hoping to absorb Rygel's empire, to claim, "If the ransom is not paid by his people, it will be paid by mine."
7
8	Meanwhile, Zhaan helps the captured Tavlek ([[AllThereInTheManual Named Kyr in the script]]) through his gauntlet withdrawals and tries to convince him to give up the gauntlet altogether. Kyr is resentful for the "sermons," but begins to warm to Zhaan's treatments- and eventually [[BewareTheNiceOnes learns not to mistake Zhaan's kindness for weakness.]]
9
10	On the planet, Aeryn has a turn with the gauntlet and suffers similar effects just before D'Argo- who followed them down after recovering- knocks her out. Eventually, they find the camp where Rygel is being held, only to discover that Bekhesh is moving Rygel to a more secure location; worse still, D'Argo gets wounded in their attempt to leave. Aeryn has to stay behind [[BizarreAlienBiology to "pump" D'Argo's wound until the blood runs clear (not doing so will poison him)]], meaning Crichton has to go on alone after Bekhesh -- with the gauntlet. Thankfully, he manages to catch up with Bekhesh and defeat most of his bodyguards, but the gauntlet's juice runs out barely seconds into the fight with Bekhesh himself. Crichton eventually manages to convince the Tavleks that Rygel is worth absolutely nothing--not even to the Consortium of Trao--proving this by allowing Kyr to speak to them via the comms and confirm the crew's poverty.
11
12	As the part is returned to Moya and Crichton recovers, Zhaan receives a message from Kyr. He's feeling a lot better...now that he has the gauntlet back on.
13	----
14	!Tropes present in this episode include:
15
16	* AccidentalMisnaming: Crichton keeps calling the Tavleks "Tavloids," resulting in numerous corrections from the others.
17	* ArmCannon: The Gauntlet.
18	* BaldOfEvil: The Tavleks are uniformly bald, and all of the ones encountered are pirates.
19	* BenevolentBoss: Bekhesh is this for his mercenaries. He keeps them supplied with food, weapons, and work. When he speaks to Kyr he openly states if the young one has been mistreated or they are coercing him into lying about their lack of funds and other valuable materials, he will take their shuttle up to Moya and "slaughter the lot of 'em."
20	* BizarreAlienBiology: We first learn about Luxan blood, and its use as an indicator of when a wound is no longer serious.
21	* BlindfoldedVision: Bekhesh wears a metal faceplate that completely covers his eyes, apparently as a cybernetic replacement for the top of his head; the actor, John Adam, spent most of this episode seeing through the scars and dents in the faceplate.
22	* TheChewToy: Rygel has a ''very'' bad day.
23	* ChildSoldiers: Zhaan notes that Kyr is younger than most of the other Tavleks- specifically in his early teenage years.
24	* DoesNotLikeGuns: Crichton will find a place in his heart for a special gun as the series progresses, but in this episode he argues with Aeryn about carrying a gun to meet their possible trading partners.
25	* DramaticallyDelayedDrug: After Crichton knocks one of the Tavleks out, D'Argo immediately tries on his Gauntlet... and none of its functions work, leaving him gesturing impotently while the other Tavleks kidnap Rygel. After the credits are over, several minutes later, D'Argo flings a metal pedestal across the room with very little effort, indicating that the Gauntlet is finally having the desired effect. Unfortunately, the simulant also [[PsychoSerum enhances ego and relaxes inhibitions]], leaving Moya's crew struggling to subdue the increasingly aggressive D'Argo instead of trying to save Rygel.
26	* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: D'Argo talks about "hours" rather than "arns".
27	* FaceOfAThug: Again, the Tavleks; even without the battle scars, they're pretty ugly.
28	* GotVolunteered: Aeryn is getting ready to go down to the planet and find Rygel without the Tavleks knowing, and insists that Crichton go with her. Crichton naturally refuses, suggests that they try negotiating with the "Tavloids"--and then Aeryn knocks him out with a single punch.
29	-->'''Aeryn:''' Tav''leks!''
30	* HumansAreSpecial: Crichton is able to use the gauntlet without experiencing any aggression problems. On the other hand, he faints from prolonged usage and gets a much smaller dose. Also given what's later revealed about Luxan hyper-rage, they may be more vulnerable than other species.
31	* IntimateHealing: After concocting a potion to relieve Kyr's withdrawal symptoms, Zhaan applies it to her lips and kisses him.
32	* IronicEcho: When Zhaan tries to talk him out of using the addictive gauntlet, Kyr irritably tells her he isn't interested in sermons, then claims that he never had a choice about wearing it. Zhaan replies that there are always choices, but agrees not to give him any more sermons. At the end of the episode Kyr returns to using the gauntlet, saying it's his choice. Zhaan sadly replies, "No sermons."
33	* IWillTearYourArmsOff: D'Argo threatens to tear off all of the Pilot's arms.
34	* MixAndMatchWeapon: D'Argo reveals that his sword is also a blaster.
35	* PercussiveMaintenance: Aeryn has to repeatedly hit D'Argo's wound as hard as she can until the blood turns clear again.
36	* PhlebotinumOverload: Readying to fire a pulse weapon without ''actually firing it'' can result in an explosion.
37	* PrepareToDie: A Tavlek says "And now you die" as he fires up his gauntlet and aims at D'Argo, but Crichton comes to the rescue.
38	* ProperlyParanoid: Aeryn refuses to meet the shuttle unarmed. Her suspicions turn out to be justified when the Tavleks open fire and throw Rygel into a BagOfKidnapping.
39	* PsychoSerum: The Gauntlet stimulant; though it increases the strength and stamina of the wearer, it also results in [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity aggression and megalomania]], though if Bekhesh's calmer behaviour is any evidence, this is most prevalent in new users. In his next appearance Bekhesh reveals he's built up so much of a resistance to the drug that he has to use a triple dose to get any benefit at all.
40	* ShamefulStrip:
41	** Kyr accuses Zhaan of doing this to him after Aeryn borrows his armour. Then, in a stunning display of bravado, he sneeringly asks if she's "afraid you might like what you saw" and flashes her; Zhaan's only response is to raise an eyebrow and remark, "Quite respectable for your age."
42	** Zhaan then performs a [[DefiantStrip very shameless strip]] while [[NoNudityTaboo asking if nudity is a taboo in Kyr's culture]]. Kyr is left gobsmacked.
43	* ShouldersOfDoom: The Tavlek armour.
44	* ShoutOut:
45	** Crichton describes an armed Aeryn as doing an impression of Creator/JohnWayne, and when she thinks he is talking about one of his relatives, Crichton goes on to reference ''Film/TrueGrit'', ''Film/TheSearchers'', and ''Film/TheCowboys''. He also says that "everyone makes a bad movie" in relation to Wayne playing UsefulNotes/GenghisKhan in the ''Film/TheConqueror''.
46	** Crichton further argues against Aeryn greeting their potential business partners with a gun in her hand, by pointing out that Kwai Chang Caine in ''Series/KungFu1972'' never carried a gun.
47	** Crichton compares using the gauntlets to the willpower of the [[Franchise/GreenLantern Green Lanterns]].
48	* StarfishAliens: Jotheb, who seems mainly composed of tentacles and a large pair of red eyes.
49	* SwissArmyWeapon:
50	** D'Argo finally unveils his Qualta Blade's energy-weapon function.
51	** Also, the Gauntlet functions as a medium-to-close range energy weapon, a melee weapon, and a shield.
52	* TalkToTheFist
53	-->'''Crichton:''' Look, Rygel is an obnoxious gas bag and who's gonna shell out for that?
54	-->'''Rygel:''' He's right! I'm unloved, unwanted, unpopular--
55	-->''(Bekhesh kicks Rygel viciously in the head.)''
56	-->'''Rygel:''' [[ShuttingUpNow Unconscious...]]
57	* TalkingYourWayOut: Crichton manages this with Kyr's help. He is able to tell Bekhesh that the crew of Moya is piss poor, that Rygel is unwanted by his own people and they won't pay, and Jotheb has rescinded the offer to cover the ransom. Bekhesh notes that it has been so long since someone was truthful with him, he almost forgot what it sounded like.
58	* TapOnTheHead: Aeryn manages to knock Crichton out with a single punch; apparently, this is called a [[FantasticFightingStyle Pentak Jab]], and Crichton was just a [[PunyEarthlings little more susceptible than most]].
59	* TractorBeam: Crichton asks Pilot to get a tractor beam on the Tavlek shuttle, but Pilot does not know what he is talking about, so Crichton clarifies with "graviton field, attracto-ray, or [[TheTriple superglue]]." Pilot responds with, "You mean the docking web?"
60	* UnPaused: "We could negotiate with the... you ''hit'' me!"

Context Recap / FarscapeS01E04ThroneForALoss