Line #63 Recap/FarscapeS03E13ScratchNSniff


1	'''Season 3, Episode 13''':
2	!Scratch 'n Sniff
3
4	The scene changes back to ''Moya'', where John is attempting to explain to Pilot why he and the rest of the crew have returned after only two days from Lomo, the pleasure planet where Pilot and ''Moya'' sent them in the hope of a few days of peace and quiet away from their endless bickering.
5
6	According to John, he, D'Argo, Chiana and Jool were partying in a club when two passing girls slipped the guys a Mickey. John and D'Argo woke up scantily-clad, devoid of money, and missing Chiana and Jool. With the help of a somewhat untrustworthy local informant, Raxil, John and D'Argo discovered that the girls had fallen into the clutches of a local gangster, Fe'Tor. Fe'Tor's racket was to kidnap unsuspecting women and extract Freslin, an aphrodisiac drug, from their bodies, a process which can be fatal if taken too far. He intended to drain Jool to death and auction Chiana off as a sex slave.
7
8	John and D'Argo infiltrated the auction and, after the usual failure of a plan to survive contact with the enemy, rescued Chiana and Jool. Chiana killed Fe'Tor by pouring an overdose of Freslin down his throat. Raxil proved to have orchestrated the whole thing to regain control of the Freslin racket, which she first began but Fe'Tor took from her.
9
10	Pilot disbelieves the whole thing and announces that he has found a new destination for John and D'Argo, a nearby industrial planet that will be much less comfortable than Lomo.
11	----
12	! Tropes present in this episode include
13	* AmbiguousSituation: Was Crichton making it up or was it real? The whole ordeal is something that could plausibly happen in the ''Farscape'' universe and some details do correspond to it, but it is equally plausible that Crichton made it up and Pilot points out several holes in the story.
14	* AnachronicOrder: The episode has constant split-second flashes forward and back to earlier and later events.
15	* ArgumentOfContradictions: The ending of the episode fades out on one between John and D'Argo.
16	* AuctionOfEvil: Chiana is auctioned as a SexSlave. Crichton and D'Argo pose as buyers to get inside the building and rescue her and Jool.
17	* AudienceSurrogate: Pilot is just as confused with the disorienting and bizarre method Crichton tells the story as the audience is likely to be and points out several plot holes, before finally snapping.
18	* TheBadGuyWins: Raxil orchestrated the whole thing and will continue Fe'Tor's racket now he's dead.[[note]]However a DeletedScene aboard Moya from the ending has John and D'Argo break Raxil's data device, leaving her with nothing. An artifact of this ending is the scene of John and D'Argo high-fiving in Moya's corridor, which originated from this scene.[[/note]]
19	* BannedFromArgo: The ''Moya'' crew end up being banned from Lomo as a result of these events. Unfortunately Pilot and ''Moya'' still don't want Crichton and D'Argo on board, so they get packed off to another planet which will provide less opportunity to cause trouble.
20	* BatmanGambit: Raxil turns out to have arranged the whole thing to get her racket back.
21	* BetweenMyLegs: The RevealShot that Crichton is wearing ladies stockings. He ScreamsLikeALittleGirl and runs off.
22	* BrickJoke: Crichton and D'Argo arguing over the number of steps to Fe'Tor's chamber. When D'Argo has to walk there in the dark, he ends up walking into the door and concedes Crichton was right.
23	* BrotherSisterTeam: Possibly. Crichton briefly muses that the woman overseeing the milking room is Fe'Tor's sister, though he is admittedly unsure.
24	* ContinuityNod: D'Argo's comedy freaky-dancing under the influence is copied from "Won't Get Fooled Again" (even though the D'Argo in that episode wasn't real).
25	* CoolestClubEver: Lomo in general but the club where the episode begins is clearly meant to be one of these.
26	* CrazyJealousGuy: D'Argo's continued feelings for Chiana and dislike of seeing her with other men repeatedly cause problems. Even Crichton gets this during the auction, despite D'Argo being told what the plan was.
27	* CruelAndUnusualDeath: Chiana once again shows what happens when you ''seriously'' piss her off. She kills Fe'Tor by [[KarmicDeath pouring freslin all over him and force-feeding some of it to him, fatally overloading his senses]]. Her only regret is that the scumbag is going to die happy.
28	* DarkerAndEdgier: This episode looks a bit like a riposte to the Risa episodes in ''Franchise/StarTrek'', with a rather darker depiction of what a planet largely devoted to sex tourism might turn into.
29	* DeliveryGuyInfiltration: D'Argo doesn't quite get the idea.
30	-->'''Mook:''' Deliveries are round the back.\
31	'''D'Argo:''' Oh, oh, round the back?\
32	'''Mook:''' Yeah.\
33	'''D'Argo:''' OK, thanks. ''(punches mook in the face and walks in the front door)''
34	* DidntSeeThatComing: D'Argo over Raxil having heard of him and Crichton.
35	* DidTheyOrDidntThey: Crichton and D'Argo may or may not have slept together when they were drunk and blacked out. Crichton makes a point not to find out, and D'Argo needles him about it repeatedly.
36	* DistractedByTheSexy: Raxil paid the two women to flirt with Crichton and D'Argo so that they wouldn't be around to keep Fe'Tor from sniffing around Chiana and Jool.
37	* TheDogWasTheMastermind
38	* TheDreaded: Fe'Tor is a SissyVillain, but he has enough pull on the planet to make Kabaah very reluctant to cross him. Crichton has to hold Kabaah at gunpoint to force his compliance.
39	* DutchAngle: To emphasize Crichton's altered state of mind a lot of the episode is shot off-kilter.
40	* EverybodyMustGetStoned: Pretty much all the regular characters are drunk, high, stoned or hungover for most of the episode, and the visual style reflects this, with heavy use of RepeatCut, SmashCut, DutchAngle, ShakyCam, and others.
41	* EvilWearsBlack
42	-->''Fe'Tor. Bad guy. Dressed in black.''
43	* EyeScream: Milder than usual, but still yucky. John and D'Argo have to read Kabaah's memories by sticking his tentacles in their eyes.
44	* EyeSpy: Kabaah, a member of the Han-jee species, has this ability and uses it to act as a KnowledgeBroker. And [[PowerPerversionPotential pornographer]].
45	* FacelessMooks: Fe'Tor's muscle wear masks.
46	* FailedASpotCheck: Averted. Crichton immediately notices when Raxil pays Kabaah with brandar tiles (the kind of currency that was stolen from him and D'Argo).
47	* {{Foreshadowing}}:
48	** On second viewing, it's clear that various characters treat Raxil much more cautiously than they would if she were the unimportant petty crook that she imitates for John and D'Argo.
49	** Raxil is shown paying the two girls who later rob John and D'Argo.
50	* FridgeLogic: InUniverse. A scene shows us "the milking room," where Jool is in the process of being drained. All of a sudden the screen freezes.
51	-->'''Pilot:''' If they drained that much fluid from her, Crichton, she would be dead.\
52	'''Crichton:''' Shut up and let me tell my story!
53	** Compounding it, John wasn't even present for that scene.
54	* GirlOnGirlIsHot: A drunk Jool and Chiana acting flirtatious with one another definitely has this effect on guys in the club, and later Kabaah, probably as they planned. D'Argo of course, not so much.
55	* HandshakeSubstitute: Due to the link provided by Kabaah, Harvey gets to talk to D'Argo.
56	-->"Ka D'Argo, give me five!"
57	* HangoverSensitivity: Funniest when John and D'Argo are violently interrogating Raxil and she threatens to scream.
58	* HomoeroticSubtext:
59	** Crichton and D'Argo are MistakenForGay, and the next day John wakes up naked (except for ladies stockings) with D'Argo on top of him.
60	--->'''Crichton''': There were girls, right?
61	** Chiana and Jool dancing together.
62	* InopportuneImpersonationFailure: Late in the episode, D'Argo is given a pheromone disguise so he can get into Fe'Tor's slave auction without being detected; however, he is warned to stay calm or risk the "aura morph" wearing off before they can rescue Chiana and Jool. For most of the auction, D'Argo remains in perfect disguise, but just as it looks like the plan is going to go off without a hitch, D'Argo loses his temper over being manipulated by Raxil and reverts to his true form - triggering a massive shootout.
63	* JackBauerInterrogationTechnique: Used by both John and D'Argo on both Raxil and Kabaah.
64	* KarmicDeath: Fe'Tor dies of an overdose of Freslin poured down his throat by Chiana.
65	-->'''Chiana:''' Sad thing is, he's going to die happy.
66	* KillTheLights: ThePlan involves Crichton killing the lights and then the guards thanks to his NightVisionGoggles, while D'Argo follows Crichton's instructions to get to the milking room in the dark. As usual things don't quite go to plan, but they muddle through as always.
67	* LieToTheBeholder: Raxil gives D'Argo (without warning him) an unusual type of Freslin that makes him emit pheromones that cause people to see him as an entirely different species.
68	* LovePotion: The usual form of Freslin is an aphrodisiac.
69	* ManipulativeBastard: Raxil
70	* MeaningfulName: Fe'Tor has a PervertedSniffing habit and likes talking about people's smell. "Fetor" is a medical/archaic term for a (usually unpleasant) odour.
71	* MistakenForGay: The two girls in the club initially ask if John and D'Argo are "together".
72	* MoreDakka
73	-->'''Raxil:''' Two guns? You brought just two guns? I mean -- I thought you were the Great Crichton & D'Argo! ''[clip of D'Argo and John high-fiving each other on Moya]'' I mean [[FamedInStory you blew up a shadow depository!]] I mean, I thought you'd bring pelshfer charges! ''[clip of detonation in space that looks like a small sun]'' And a plasma bomb! ''[clip of the explosion that obliterated Scorpius' Gammak Base]'' And a really big gunship! ''[FLASH on nothing less than a Peacekeeper Command Carrier complete with its cloud of small fighter craft.]'' BUT NO! YOU BRING NOTHING! YOU BRING 2 LITTLE WEAPONS THAT WOULDN'T KILL A NEGNIK! ''[clip of a negnik]''
74	* MusicalisInterruptus: The scene of D'Argo dancing is interrupted by--
75	-->'''Pilot:''' Stop stop STOP! This makes no sense; YOU make no sense!
76	* NightVisionGoggles: John uses a single infra-red eyepiece after shooting out the lights at Fe'Tor's club.
77	* NotWhatItLooksLike: D'Argo hears Jool screaming and rushes to help her, only to find she was just screaming in joy at the footrub she was getting while in the bath.
78	* OnlySaneMan: Pilot.
79	* OpenMouthInsertFoot: D'Argo balking at going to the auction prompts a frustrated Raxil to spill the beans about planning all this. She immediately tries to take it back, as D'Argo angrily looms over her.
80	* PensieveFlashback: Kabaah's powers put John, D'Argo and Raxil into one.
81	* PleasurePlanet: A [[DeconstructedTrope deconstruction]] of the concept. Yes, Lomo is a fun place to hang out and party, but there's a Trafficking ring using unwitting victims as a source for drugs.
82	* PragmaticVillainy: Fe'Tor politely has D'Argo ejected from the building, as a greater show of force would complicate his operation. Raxil also notes that he would've avoided Chiana and Jool completely had Crichton and D'Argo stayed close by.
83	* {{Precognition}}: Chiana foresees Fe'Tor attacking John and removes his night vision monocle in precaution. One of the first signs of her developing talents.
84	* ProperlyParanoid: Despite D'Argo's changed form, Fe'Tor finds him somewhat familiar and eyes him suspiciously.
85	* RageBreakingPoint: At the auction, D'Argo is on edge after seeing Crichton get a little too close to Chiana while telling her the plan. Crichton manages to talk some sense into him, but D'Argo ends up exploding anyway when yelling at Raxil for causing this whole mess. This reveals his true form to Fe'Tor's mooks.
86	* RepeatCut: Occurs frequently due to Crichton's disjointed retelling of the events on Lomo.
87	* ScreamsLikeALittleGirl: John, when he discovers that he's in a shop window wearing women's underwear.
88	* ShipTease: In the jacuzzi, a drunk Jool invites D'Argo to hop right in.
89	* ShoutOut:
90	** John calls Raxil and Kabaah "[[WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow Ren and Stimpy]]".
91	** John talks about Raxil dosing D'Argo with "Love Potion No. 9".
92	** For the auction, Crichton adopts a GoodOlBoy accent, even quipping, "[[Film/ErnestPWorrell Knowhutimean?]]"
93	* ShroudedInMyth: Raxil has picked John and D'Argo because of their fearsome reputation and is somewhat disappointed.
94	* SissyVillain: Fe'Tor
95	-->'''John''': Does this guy just '''scream''' "Vegas" or what?
96	* SlippingAMickey: Crichton and D'Argo's drinks get spiked leading to them waking up in a shop window.
97	* SmashCut: Another technique used to disorient.
98	* SnarkToSnarkCombat
99	-->'''Jool:''' I'm out of currency.\
100	'''Chiana:''' Playland for the rich too classy for ya? \
101	'''Jool:''' Effervescent spirits cost more than cheap raslak. But you...you just keep on hunting for that [[SpaceTrucker long range cargo hauler]] of your dreams. 'Cos he's bound to [[LowerClassLout throw up in your lap one day.]]
102	* SneakySpySpecies: The Han-Jee, a near-mythical species with detachable eyes that can work remotely. For good measure, they can share the memories of what they've seen via the tentacles on their back. As such, Han-Jee apparently have a reputation for working as information brokers, to the point that D'Argo instantly recognizes the significance of meeting Kabaah as soon as they're introduced. However, it's also indicated that Kabaah has a sideline interest in making porn.
103	* {{Stripperiffic}}: Many of the walk-ons in various scenes, both male and female. This is supposed to be a pleasure planet, after all.
104	* ThisCannotBe: Pilot actually has heard of the Han-jee species before, but he is outright incredulous that Crichton encountered one.
105	* UnreliableNarrator: John may, possibly, have made up part or all of this in an effort to convince Pilot that he and the others didn't just get drunk and start a riot. Pilot breaks in to call bullshit a few times, and in the end doesn't believe a word of it.
106	* VariationsOnAThemeSong: The normal closing theme is replaced with the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKc_efND3As lounge-jazz music]] from the club.
107	* VerySpecialEpisode: According to various sources, this episode was originally intended to be a very gritty and serious examination of sex trafficking and forced prostitution. At some stage during the production, the producers decided that it was turning out to be heavy-handed, depressing, and boring, and decided to turn it into a gonzo farce instead.
108	* WeAreNotGoingThroughThatAgain: When John offers to explain what happened one more time, Pilot responds with a BigNo.
109	* WhatDidIDoLastNight: Oh ''frell'' yes.
110	-->'''D'Argo:''' Crichton...Crichton! Wake up! WAKE UP!\
111	'''Crichton:''' Unnnggghhh...what happened?\
112	'''D'Argo:''' What ''didn't'' happen?
113	* WhatTheHellIsThatAccent: John puts on a ludicrously fake "Texan" accent when infiltrating the slave auction as a buyer. It's not like there are any genuine Texans to notice.
114	* WholeEpisodeFlashback: The episode is this, framed by Crichton attempting to tell Pilot what happened.
115	* WorfHadTheFlu: At Fe'Tor's home, D'Argo could've taken the mooks in a fair fight, but they had guns in violation of the planet's laws, while he was unarmed.
116	* WouldHitAGirl:
117	** D'Argo quickly tires of Raxil's behavior, but learning she was responsible for this mess makes him go this far. Even Crichton is about ready to deck her for that, but D'Argo holds him back (because he wants first dibs).
118	--->'''Raxil:''' Please don't hit me. Please don't--\
119	''[D'Argo punches her in the face]''\
120	'''Raxil:''' ''[clutching her nose]'' All right, you can hit me just once! Just once!
121	** In the milking room, Fe'Tor backhands Chiana for her continued defiance.

Context Recap / FarscapeS03E13ScratchNSniff