A mysterious signal from an abandoned asteroid. A defector from the federation ranks. A badly injured rebel leader. All of these things conspire to drive Blake mad and collide at a meeting of Federation governors that could topple the regime.
Two words kids. Space. Yoga. That's how this episode opens. With Cally meditating, Avon in down dog, Jenna looking like she needs a margarita and Blake in a poor mans cobra position complaining about the ringing in his ears. Yeah. We've reached new heights guys, or something. Apparently Cally's idea of relaxing is to torture the rest of the crew.
We fairly quickly get to the story though. Blake begins acting erratically. He changes course from a pleasure planet to that of a deserted asteroid/mining facility without consulting anyone else. Obviously this course of action does not sit well with Vila as the pursuit of pleasure is his main reason for living. They confront Blake who is having bad dreams and mumbling in his sleep.
We fairly quickly get to the story though. Blake begins acting erratically. He changes course from a pleasure planet to that of a deserted asteroid/mining facility without consulting anyone else. Obviously this course of action does not sit well with Vila as the pursuit of pleasure is his main reason for living. They confront Blake who is having bad dreams and mumbling in his sleep.
Bad dreams, or, you know stuff.
Someone, probably Avon, is smart enough to realize that they have a telepath on board. Maybe, and here is a crazy thought, she can listen in on his dreams and see why he's gone nutter butter. Cally listens to said dreams and hears all the little voices in Blakes head. Whatever shall we do? I know. Let's hook him up to Orac. Seriously, I think the only thing Orac can't do is brew coffee.
They discover that he is receiving a signal that is triggering implanted thoughts in his head. Skmethjng that happened as part of his brain washing years ago. For some poorly explained reason they need to hook Blake, Orac and a third party up together. Lucky Jenna gets volunteered and off we go. It does not end as planned. People are shouting. Vila interrupts. And Avon finally gets to judo chop Blake.
After all this Blake talks his way free and convinces Vila that everyone else is planning to betray them. Some days Vila is on top of things. Today? Not so much. They trap the rest of the crew and fly to the asteroid where Vila teleports Blake down. When he enters the mining facilities and goes silent Vila has no choice but to free the others. Who are surprisingly forgiving.
Coming to Blakes rescue they find him chilling with Shivan, a rebel leader who was presumed dead, Ven Glynd who was an arbiter in Blake's trial and random goon number 27 otherwise known as Nagu.
They discover that he is receiving a signal that is triggering implanted thoughts in his head. Skmethjng that happened as part of his brain washing years ago. For some poorly explained reason they need to hook Blake, Orac and a third party up together. Lucky Jenna gets volunteered and off we go. It does not end as planned. People are shouting. Vila interrupts. And Avon finally gets to judo chop Blake.
After all this Blake talks his way free and convinces Vila that everyone else is planning to betray them. Some days Vila is on top of things. Today? Not so much. They trap the rest of the crew and fly to the asteroid where Vila teleports Blake down. When he enters the mining facilities and goes silent Vila has no choice but to free the others. Who are surprisingly forgiving.
Coming to Blakes rescue they find him chilling with Shivan, a rebel leader who was presumed dead, Ven Glynd who was an arbiter in Blake's trial and random goon number 27 otherwise known as Nagu.
Do I have something on my face?
Ven Glynd has defected from the Federation and claims to have evidence that could topple the regime. Shivan mostly just mumbles painfully. Nagu just scowls. Glynd is in contact with a governor named Le Grand. Glynd and Le Grand that the three of them can meet with the other Federation Governors on Atley and use Glynds data to peacefully overthrow the Federation. Blake buys the story hook line and sinker of course.
Obi Wan? Is that you?
Of course the others have zero faith in Glynd and Co. Especially after Orac tells them that the signal controlling Blake is now coming from on board. They confront Blake before he teleports down to Atlay but he refuses to believe them. Just when you thought he couldn't make worse decisions someone comes along with some mind control and proves you wrong. Glynd, who has made no bones about the mind control device, agrees to leave it on the ship. Blake, Jenna and Vila teleport down with Le Grand and Glynd and immediately fall into a Federation trap. Raise your hand if you saw that one coming. But hey, at least they let Jenna out of the kitchen. I mean off of the ship.
Back on board Liberator we learn that Shivan isn't really Shivan. Poor Nagu doesn't make it but we knew that was going to happen. He gets knifed in the back by none other than Travis.
Back on board Liberator we learn that Shivan isn't really Shivan. Poor Nagu doesn't make it but we knew that was going to happen. He gets knifed in the back by none other than Travis.
If you can't trust a mummy who can you trust?
Le Grand buys the farm and Glynd gets shot before our pesky rebels can barricade themselves into a room. Travis turns the mind control machine to 11 which starts to cry what's left of Blake's mind. He then does the ridiculously stupid thing and teleports down to Atlay. Avon, being the only smart person in the crew, smashes the machine which frees Blake up to escape. Oh and Glynd gets shot again and dies. Free from the mind control Blake does remember anything but quickly gets back to being an average douche and all is well again. The end.
Final Thoughts:
There were several things that I liked about this episode and several things that I felt were a little weak. I like that they've reached back to earlier episodes to establish a tighter continuity. That is one area that I feel modern shows do better than shows from this era. I also liked seeing a defector. Humans being human even in space I can easily foresee quite a few officials and officers questioning the morality of what they are asked to do.
I did question the governor meeting being able to topple the Federation government. As we've seen in Countdown the Feds will go to extreme lengths to insure a planets cooperation. The idea that a few planets can just dissolve the council seems far fetched. I've always viewed them as essentially puppets when I've thought about them at all. Still, I can see why the idea is seductive in its simplicity.
Rating: 3.5 out 5
Memorable Quote:
Vila: And then he just stopped talking.
Avon: Why don't you follow his example?
Coffee of the Day:
Joe's Tall, Dark and Handsome. We found this for cheap at TJ Maxx and wow was it worth every penny. It's not a true K-Cup but it's Keurig compatible. I grabbed it on a whim but it is a very nice dark roast. It normally retails for $8 and for that price you cannot go wrong.
There were several things that I liked about this episode and several things that I felt were a little weak. I like that they've reached back to earlier episodes to establish a tighter continuity. That is one area that I feel modern shows do better than shows from this era. I also liked seeing a defector. Humans being human even in space I can easily foresee quite a few officials and officers questioning the morality of what they are asked to do.
I did question the governor meeting being able to topple the Federation government. As we've seen in Countdown the Feds will go to extreme lengths to insure a planets cooperation. The idea that a few planets can just dissolve the council seems far fetched. I've always viewed them as essentially puppets when I've thought about them at all. Still, I can see why the idea is seductive in its simplicity.
Rating: 3.5 out 5
Memorable Quote:
Vila: And then he just stopped talking.
Avon: Why don't you follow his example?
Coffee of the Day:
Joe's Tall, Dark and Handsome. We found this for cheap at TJ Maxx and wow was it worth every penny. It's not a true K-Cup but it's Keurig compatible. I grabbed it on a whim but it is a very nice dark roast. It normally retails for $8 and for that price you cannot go wrong.