If the reactions of half the posters at various boards and lists were any indication, Taking the Stone, by virtue of its author, Justin Monjo, is the best thing since sliced bread. And wouldn’t you know it, mostly, they were right. The story about nihilistic youths who take a wounded Chiana into their fold is worthy of an award, but the few detractions all around leave this reviewer a bit upset and a bit worried and not a little bit cold.
Straight story: Chiana’s brother’s death leaves her needing to sort out her feelings. For some reason, the prospect of the most extreme sport we’ve seen in the Uncharted Territories appeals to her. Get the pitch right, and you, too, can jump off a cliff and be caught by a ‘sonic net’ that will cushion you and let you down safely. Needless to say, this is not safe; one clansman who tries ends up crispy and broken on the cavern’s floor. Seeing this, Moya’s crew, the planet-bound contingent of Aeryn and John, and occasionally Rygel (though he never bothers to take any interest in his wayward companion’s death fetish) are determined to stop Chiana from jumping.
Monjo does weave the tail with enough interesting tidbits to keep pace, and several references to the past are brought up just to remind the viewer that yes, these are the same people we’ve known since season one (see comments below about changed behavior to see why these reassurances were necessary). Chiana tells Crichton to frell off, reminding him that he said she could leave Moya at any time (see Durka Returns for this reference). After drugging Chiana, John and Aeryn have a short, but terribly pointed, conversation about loss, dredging up the well-established fact that both John and Aeryn have no connection to their old lives (at least not favorable ones, in Aeryn’s case), and that leaving their old ways behind is painful.
As for the underplot (I refuse to call the strange detour with Rygel a true subplot), I could have cared less, and so too could most anyone else. Rygel robbing graves is not only predictable, it’s pointless. What did snerching some dead being’s junk have to do with anything? Basically, one gets the idea that the whole fiasco was only a way to see that D’Argo, Zhaan, and Rygel had some appearance at all in this episode. The only real treasures unearthed by everyone’s least favorite Hynerian were his short, snippy exchanges with Zhaan and D’Argo.
Speaking of exchanges, it’s shipper time. The small contingent that embraces a John-Chiana pairing is going to be smarting after Taking the Stone. Sure, by episode’s end John and Chiana are joking again, but words were said, actions taken that will shake up any trust and friendship (or what have you if you choose to see more) they had going. Most of it is John’s fault, but let’s get into that later. The great Justin Monjo addresses the subtle flirting and whatnot between John and Chiana when she tells him off, proudly, vehemently declaring that she is not anything to Crichton…not sister, not kid, and not, if you interpret the alien word right, his whore/girlfriend/love interest (if someone can point out a better interpretation of ‘tralk’ I’d like to hear it…).
In praise and detraction from the genius of the screenwriter, it is time to speak to some character changes. Since D’Argo, Zhaan, and Rygel are barely apparent, focus must drift to the planet-bound, and Monjo adapts their mannerisms and behavior to make up for the lack of screenplay given to the other Moya crew. Aeryn suddenly perfectly understands, despite her avowing that she has little talent in the ‘nice’ department. Chiana’s problem is so easy for her to understand and plan around; Aeryn says she understands loss…but what, what really has she lost that can compare to losing a brother? A way of life? Maybe, but there sounds like there is more there.
Chiana is fully independent, but for some reason, she allows this society of age-a-phobes to convince her that the risk of death is worth risking her life. Essentially, despite not having the underground clan’s early termination cycle, Chiana wants to live and embrace their come heaven, come hell attitude. We’ve seen the Nebari act selfishly before, but this time, her actions have a healing aspect to them, so this self-absorption is more forgivable.
Speaking of being selfish, what the frell did Justin Monjo do to John!?! Maybe you hadn’t noticed my subtle (right, subtle as an atomic bomb) favoritism for Ben Browder’s character, but I must protest and make you aware now. John wants to help, always has, and he never stops trying. Why is it he could not see how Chiana needed to grieve, as Aeryn did? The first scene is him blowing Chiana off in favor of useless prying at the propulsion systems. His retrieval plan likewise lacked finesse. The whole time you can practically see what he had intended branded on his forehead: go in, ‘rescue’ Chiana, and get out. Not once did he consider why Chiana might not want to leave. Not only did he not consider why, he just did not stop to think about it as a possibility at all.
Where has this come from? Again, check out the progression of the second season. In Mind the Baby, Crichton is mad as any hatter, waving his pulse pistol around, making sarcastic (and loud) comments, even more than usual for him. In Vitas Mortis, it’s basically kill them all and let God sort them out as he charges into everything with his weapon (NOT LIKE THAT! MINDS OUT OF THE GUTTER PEOPLE!) leading. Now in Taking the Stone, he is not only using force as his solution, he is completely ignoring the application of it and to whom it is directed. Maybe his violent attempt at rescuing D’Argo in Vitas Mortis was out of concern, and maybe here it is too, but in this episode, the violent, uncaring actions are directed at the person he is supposed to care about…Chiana.
What makes this particularly distasteful is the knowledge that John is not usually like this. Something is seriously frelling wrong. Drugging Chiana? Where and why would Crichton even think of that? That move seems so out of character that it is hard to believe it is happening naturally. This is the same guy who greeted Chiana with a big hug in Mind the Baby? Gung-ho John is something that should just not be in the episode without some explanation. And as a side-note, what is going on with his other mannerisms? If Ben Browder keeps jerking his head to the side like he was doing in this episode, I’m declaring him a long-lost Nebari. Taking tips from Gigi, Ben?
The incident with the mushrooms was just out of place. Okay, I got the whole pissing contest dren, but the aftermath was bizarre. I could have done without Ben Browder’s strange attempts to bite the camera that was focused on him (that scene is too freaky to watch alone). Taking those drugs though, what does that say about John? Is it simple rebellion or honest desire to help Chiana? Aeryn hinted that she doubted it was the latter, and seeing as he didn’t learn anything to keep these kids from jumping, it served little purpose other than to incapacitate the ‘old man.’
Crichton’s unusual behavior aside, I have to (grudgingly though, since I am still not totally over his behavior and may not be for a while…God, why would they make him such an ass???) admit that the episode had quite a few great throwaway, humorous lines. Rygel, cantankerous as ever, in particular, made use of his limited time, and John and Aeryn bonded just a little bit more with their mutual admission of their own and each other’s faults.
One last word about appearances. Love, love, love the PK outfits that John and Aeryn are swiping from wherever. And although I seem to be in the minority, I think Ben Browder’s hair is fabulous with all the spikes! I must say, too, that after the crappy job in the last episode, Claudia Black’s makeup crew has fixed any and all mistakes (we saw the return of the official battle ponytail…even thought little ass-kicking was to be had on Aeryn’s part). However, Chiana’s hair was atrocious…I really hope that mud or whatever in her hair was essential to her jump because otherwise the sacrifice of her usual, prettier and spunkier do was not worth it. Her new clothes have the opposite intention of Virginia Hey’s turtleneck. If this outfit fits into regular rotation, Gigi Edgley is going to be picking up Virginia’s hours in the makeup room.
-John: What the frell? I am now convinced this altered state of mind has to be addressed (fanfic ideas anyone?). The writers have finally worked a verbal question into one episode, so at least some characters are aware (even if not terribly so). What made him act like such a selfish ass this time around? Why did he think he could have Moya and crew the way he wants forever? He should and deep down does know better. This had better be solved before I go nuttier than him.
“Yeah, like anybody cares.”
-Rygel and John
“Does this look
familiar?”
“Of course it looks familiar. That’s because all these tunnels
are exactly the same.”
“Are we lost?”
-John and Aeryn
“And try not to be too angry about the Prowler.
Be nice.”
“I’m not good at nice.”
“Just don’t shoot her.”
-John and Aeryn
“You robbed the
dead?”
“And believe me, that wasn’t as easy as it sounds.”
-D’Argo and Rygel
“Come on, don’t be like Crichton.”
-Aeryn and Chiana
“That life disk that we found on Moya was her
brother’s.”
“Then he’s dead?”
“Yes. I think that’s why she likes
it down here. I think she’s trying to prove she’s still
alive...”
“Aeryn, when I need your psych report on Chiana, I’ll let you
know.”
-Aeryn and John
“Fear, nixa. It overwhelms.”
-Molnon
“Oh will you please shut
up!?!”
“I’m doing this for your benefit,
Rygel.”
“Oh thank you. Now benefit me elsewhere! I’m trying to
sleep!”
-Rygel and Zhaan
“Have you ever considered that these items might
be protected?”
“Protected? By what?”
“A curse!”
“Oh, yotz, the only curse here is you!”
-Zhaan and Rygel
“In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m not your kid. I’m not your sister. And I’m only your…your tralk in your dreams.”
-Chiana
“Chiana, you realize that nobody here has a clue.
They’re nothing but stoned monkeys who jump off of
cliffs!”
“Then you tell me what we’re doing on Moya that’s so frelling
wonderful! Tell me that. At least they get to live before they die, Crichton.
That’s what I want to do.”
-John and Chiana
“Yo, Bob…Marley, you seen Molnon?”
-John
“Crichton? Here…what happened to
you?”
“I had a pissing contest with Molnon. I won…I
think.”
“Doesn’t look like.”
-Aeryn and John
“She wants to jump! She wants to kill
herself!”
“You can’t take her like this.”
“Yes, I
can!”
“No, you can’t.”
“I ca…Aeryn! What the hell is wrong
with you? You are the pin-up girl for frontal assault! You should be dragging
her back to the ship yourself!”
-John and Aeryn
“Lately, do I seem a little crazy to
you?”
“What do you mean lately?”
-John and Aeryn
“Hey old
man.”
“Hey little girl.”
-Chiana and John
