Farscape s03e01: Season of Death

Series

Farscape^[3]

Season and episode

Season 3, episode 1^[1]

First aired (United States)

16 March 2001^[2]

Created by

Rockne S. O'Bannon^[1]

Produced by

The Jim Henson Company^[1]

Running time

44 minutes 14 seconds^[1]

Summary

"Season of Death" is the first episode of the third season of Farscape, the science fiction series created by Rockne S. O'Bannon and produced by The Jim Henson Company.^[1] In the rights holder's description, Aeryn Sun has been placed in a cryogenic chamber to await a burial in space, and Scorpius is working to avoid being discovered by those pursuing him.^[1]

What happens in "Season of Death"?

After a "previously on Farscape" recap, the episode picks up in the aftermath of surgery to remove the Scorpius chip from John Crichton's brain.^[4] Elsewhere, a Peacekeeper officer reports that Scorpius's command carrier will arrive to rendezvous with them, while Scorpius himself works to avoid discovery.^[4]

Ka D'Argo and Stark ask a doctor whether a neural tissue transplant could restore Crichton's speech, and are told that performing it would cost Zhaan her life, because Zhaan is described as already dead at the start of the action.^[4][1] Zhaan is asked to share Unity with Crichton so that the crew can learn whether the Scorpius clone remains in his mind.^[4] Crichton records a monologue addressed to Earth describing his situation, and later confronts the Scorpius presence left in his head, telling it that the chip's tendrils are dead.^[4]

0:00 Season of Death The episode as published by the rights holder, from the start.

Memorable quotes

“I don't wish to remain here therefore you must die”3:55

“it's time to pray scorpion pray for your soul scorpion if you have one and pray for the soul of man”21:16

“soldiers and emotional attachments in battle they distort your think”41:48

In the episode

1:32 Moya awaits word from the planet The crew waits aboard Moya for any news about John Crichton, while tensions rise over the threat of a Scarran command carrier.

3:44 Crichton awakens inside his mind John wakes in a mental landscape where the Scorpius clone demands that he die so the parasite can be free.

5:30 Scarran officer plans pursuit A Scarran officer learns that Scorpius has been beaten and lays plans to pursue Talyn while awaiting backup from a command carrier.

7:31 D'Argo prepares to descend D'Argo announces he is going down to the planet with Zhaan, leaving Rygel on Moya with orders to flee if the carrier arrives.

9:38 Diagnosan admits the operation failed The Diagnosan in the surgery room concedes he cannot restore John's speech and is running out of options.

11:30 D'Argo questions the doctor D'Argo confronts the Diagnosan about the use of frozen bodies as donors for the surgical procedure on Crichton.

14:00 Zhaan attempts a mental rescue Zhaan enters Unity with Crichton in an effort to force the Scorpius clone out of his mind, but the attempt fails.

19:31 Crichton confronts the clone Aeryn urges John to fight the Scorpius remnant, and he engages the parasite in a final struggle inside his own mind.

22:02 Cryo pod begins revival The Diagnosan notices a cryogenic pod starting an automatic revival sequence and goes to investigate alone.

24:32 Diagnosan reveals his treachery The Diagnosan confesses that he was paid to hide Scorpius and had set the auto-release as insurance before being killed.

29:30 A Scarran ambush outside Zhaan and Stark find a Scarran waiting for them outside the facility and scramble to find an exit.

33:00 Zhaan shares life with Aeryn Zhaan performs a Unity ritual to transfer her remaining life energy to Aeryn Sun in order to revive her.

37:00 Crais confronts Scorpius Captain Crais intercepts Scorpius in his Marauder and destroys it, avenging Aeryn's apparent death.

42:01 Zhaan accepts her fate Aeryn reveals what Zhaan's sacrifice cost her, and Zhaan quietly accepts that she is fading away.

Air date, credits and where to watch

The episode opens the show's third season, picking up after the events of the second season's finale.^[1] Ben Browder plays John Crichton.^[1]

The rights holder published the full episode on its own YouTube channel on 29 March 2025 under the title "Farscape S3E1 FULL EPISODE | Season Of Death", which differs from the episode's own name.^[1] The upload runs 2,654 seconds, which YouTube displays as about 44 minutes and 16 seconds.^[1]