Farscape s03e11: Incubator

Series

Farscape^[2]

Season and episode

Season 3, episode 11^[1]

Writer

Richard Manning^[2]

Director

Ian Watson^[2]

First aired

13 July 2001 in the United States^[2]

Running time

44 minutes 16 seconds^[1]

Uploaded to YouTube

5 June 2025, on the Farscape channel^[1]

Summary

"Incubator" was written by Richard Manning, directed by Ian Watson, and first aired in the United States on 13 July 2001.^[2][3]

What happens in "Incubator"?

On an icy world, Scorpius declares that the missing element needed for his wormhole research has been found and flies a test of a Prowler-style craft.^[4] Back at his base, he summons the alien Brea and a nurse and has the Crichton copy's neurochip installed in his own head so he can interrogate it directly.^[4] The Crichton copy inside him confronts Scorpius about the truth of his Scarran heritage, and Scorpius recounts that as a child he survived a Scarran condition known as the living death.^[4]

Aboard Moya, John Crichton and Ka D'Argo argue about how long the crew should keep searching for a wormhole to take them home.^[4] A Prowler then arrives carrying a lone Ralgarian pilot, Raxil, who transmits a distress signal that the crew reads as a possible trap.^[4]

Memorable quotes

“I came to you on my own. Scorpius's obsession with wormholes is making him irrational.”16:26

“You killed her. Your birth was difficult. You killed her.”32:30

“I don't want power. I want revenge. I want to wipe out the scatters before they wipe us out.”35:36

“They'll be raped and slaughtered unless you help us.”36:40

“Do you think that neuro clones go to heaven? Well, wherever I wind up, when I see your mama, I'll be sure to give her your regard.”38:27

In the episode

2:32 Scorpius installs the recovered neurochip Strapper oversees the procedure as the device is seated into the hybrid's brain despite doubts about the risk.

4:31 Crichton's personality surfaces in Scorpius A bootleg copy of John Crichton's mind awakens inside Scorpius and rejects the arrangement, leaving the hybrid to argue with himself.

7:32 Scorpius recalls his childhood Memories play of the Scarran tutor forcing the young hybrid through endurance tests and declaring his mixed blood a weakness.

10:02 A Ralgarian arrives on Moya A distress signal leads to a Prowler whose pilot is welcomed aboard, and the crew bristles at the decision to grant access.

14:00 Lyn shares her backstory The Ralgarian recounts her escape from a Scarran dreadnought and her search for the truth about her parents.

19:01 Lyn bargains with the Peacekeepers Captain Molain trades Scarran intelligence for a chance to learn the hybrid's true origins.

21:32 Scarran attack replayed A reconstructed log shows a civilian Leviathan convoy ambushed by Scarran forces and a lone transport pod crashing on a world.

24:00 Scorpius is recaptured by the Scarrans A trap in the pod snares him and he is dragged before his Scarran trainers for another grueling session.

27:31 Crew argues over Moya's future Aeryn, D'Argo, and the others clash about Lyn's offer to take the living ship on deep space expeditions.

28:30 Lyn departs in her Prowler The Ralgarian suffers a fatal cellular breakdown and flies away alone to spare the crew.

30:30 Scorpius confesses the lie about his parents The Scarran tutor reveals that the hybrid's mother was a Sebaceian and that the mating destroyed her.

34:33 The chip's data is salvaged Strapper finishes extracting the wormhole calculations while monologuing about Scarran arrogance and his rise through Peacekeeper ranks.

38:01 Braca orders intervention Concerned officers watch Scorpius's temperature spike as the inner Crichton copy prepares to tear free from the failing chip.

41:05 Strapper transcribes the wormhole code Colonel Strapper records the new constants in his office, and the officers confirm that progress on the project can resume.

Air date, credits and where to watch

"Incubator" first aired in the United States on 13 July 2001, as the eleventh episode of season 3.^[2] The full episode can be watched on this page because the rights holder, the Farscape channel, published it on its own YouTube account on 5 June 2025; the upload runs about 44 minutes and 16 seconds.^[1]