Farscape s02e01: Mind the Baby

Series

Farscape^[1]

Season and episode

Season 2, episode 1^[1]

First aired (United States)

17 March 2000^[2]

Rights holder upload published

8 November 2024^[1]

Running time

44 minutes 16 seconds^[1]

Upload title

Mind The Baby^[1]

Summary

Mind the Baby opens the second season of Farscape, the science fiction television series co-produced by The Jim Henson Company and Hallmark Entertainment.^[3] It centers on John Crichton, Aeryn Sun and Ka D'Argo, who are stranded in an asteroid field while Scorpius searches for them,^[1] and it introduces Talyn, a gunship that is the offspring of the living ship Moya, now in the hands of the defected Peacekeeper Bialar Crais.^[4]

What happens in "Mind the Baby"?

Aeryn Sun has rescued John Crichton and Ka D'Argo from the aftermath of their escape and brought them to an abandoned mining structure on an asteroid.^[4] She reveals that she made a secret deal with Bialar Crais to save their lives, a confession that leaves the two men unsure of her motives.^[4]

Confined to the asteroid, Crichton and D'Argo pass the time arguing over the game of rock-paper-scissors, and at one point D'Argo, despite his weakened state, threatens to leave the rock and confront Crais aboard Talyn.^[4]

When Talyn detects Scorpius's broadband transmissions in the asteroid field, the young ship panics, complicating the standoff.^[4]

Scorpius is the show's most prominent antagonist, and the knowledge of wormhole technology locked in Crichton's mind gives his search a personal edge.^[3]

The episode ends with the crew still scattered and Crais still holding Talyn, leaving the new season's pursuit unresolved.^[4]

0:00 Mind the Baby The full episode as published by the rights holder, from the opening title card to the end of the broadcast.

Memorable quotes

“You should have let us die.”12:28

“Oh, what would you prefer, D'Argo? That Scorpius gets Talyn or destroys Talyn? Right now, even Crais's control is better than no control at all.”12:35

“I give. What do you want, Crichton? Simply to escape. To travel deeper into the uncharted territories. To re-examine my path.”17:41

“Don't give me any dren about how much you love me.”28:55

In the episode

1:00 D'Argo wakes from a long absence D'Argo wakes on an asteroid after an unknown number of days, and John explains that Aeryn rescued them and brought them to an abandoned mining site.

3:02 Memory check and bad news John tests his memory with Aeryn and learns that Crais has taken the young Leviathan called Taelan, while a command carrier remains in the area.

4:29 Conflict over staying hidden D'Argo and Aeryn argue about whether to leave the asteroid, and Aeryn insists they must remain hidden from marauder patrols and Scorpius.

5:31 Moya returns to the field Pilot reports that Moya is heading back into the asteroid field to search for her offspring, even with the command carrier nearby.

7:01 Scorpius considers new tactics Scorpius and his lieutenant discuss their inability to locate the prowler and decide to change their approach to the hunt.

8:02 Talyn acts out in fear The young gunship Talyn grows erratic and frightened, and Crais tries to calm him as mysterious signals flood his systems.

10:00 Games and awkward closeness D'Argo and John play a hand game to pass the time, and John nudges Aeryn toward revealing what she is hiding.

11:33 Aeryn confesses the bargain Aeryn tells D'Argo and John that she made a deal with Crais to save their lives and now helps him command Talyn.

13:31 Chiana asks the Delvian for help Chiana wakes Zhaan and asks her to convince Moya and Pilot not to risk re-entering the asteroid field for the baby Leviathan.

15:30 Scorpius pressures Crais Scorpius contacts Crais, demanding Crichton in exchange for letting Crais keep the gunship, and warns that his patience has limits.

16:31 Crichton confronts Crais John meets Crais aboard Talyn, and the two negotiate over the gunship and the crew's escape route.

18:30 Moya races into danger Moya hears a transmission from Talyn and accelerates toward the asteroid field, with Rygel, Chiana, and Zhaan aboard and unable to intervene.

21:01 Crichton docks with Moya Aeryn pilots a prowler to Moya and docks, reuniting with John and bringing Crais back aboard the living ship.

25:31 Talyn fires on Moya Talyn, panicking, shoots a warning shot at Moya and demands that Crichton be sent over so he can receive guidance.

33:00 Aeryn decides to stay with Talyn Aeryn tells John she will remain aboard Talyn with Crais to help guide the young gunship and keep him out of Scorpius's hands.

36:31 Crais seizes full control Talyn attaches a neural transponder to Crais, giving him direct command of the ship's weapons and systems, and ordering Aeryn and John to leave.

38:32 Aeryn returns to Moya Talyn expels Aeryn in a prowler just before Scorpius's carrier closes in, and Moya prepares for an immediate starburst.

41:00 Zhaan chooses the living over the Seek D'Argo visits Zhaan, and she decides to set aside her spiritual path in order to stay with her friends aboard Moya.

Air date, credits and where to watch

Mind the Baby first aired in the United States on 17 March 2000.^[2] It opens Farscape's second season; the series premiered on the Sci-Fi Channel's SciFi Friday on 19 March 1999.^[3]

The episode is watchable here because the rights holder published it on its own YouTube channel on 8 November 2024; the upload runs 2,656 seconds, about 44 minutes and 16 seconds.^[1] The upload is titled "Mind The Baby", which differs from the episode's title as recorded in the episode list, but a reader arriving from the channel is on the same episode.^[1][2]