Season 1, Episode 12:
Rhapsody in Blue
Zhaan is asked to help an outpost of fellow Delvians attempting to avoid the madness that threatens them.
Tropes present in this episode include:
- Cutting Back to Reality: A group of Delvian priests use their Enlightenment Superpowers to keep the crew preoccupied with illusions while they deal with Zhaan. In one case, they convince Aeryn that her pulse rifle has been smashed to bits, but a quick cut to D'Argo's perspective reveals that it's actually still intact. D'Argo exasperatedly tries to get her to see through the illusion by picking up the rifle and giving it back to her, but she only perceives it as him giving her the broken-off scope.Aeryn: [obliviously shaking the entire rifle] I don't have any training to use this bit!
- Deceptive Disciple: Tahleen approaches Zhaan, asking to be taught how to control her darker impulses; when Zhaan agrees, Tahleen quickly realises that she doesn't have the time to learn the technique through normal tuition, so she simply tears the information out of Zhaan's mind, driving her insane in the process.
- Erotic Dream: Crichton starts the episode having one about his ex-girlfriend. D'Argo and Rygel confirm they were having their own dreams about their previous partners. Zhaan initially acts dismissive about the whole thing but later admits to Crichton that she did dream about someone she loved.
- Gold-Colored Superiority: Tahleen has gold leaf decoration across her face, something no other Delvian has, which may be to show her high rank.
- Mind Rape: One of the other Delvians basically "steals" Zhaan's self-control to use her strength for his own agenda, rather than take the same time she took to learn such control naturally.
- Sexy Shirt Switch: They hadn't actually slept together but Crichton accuses Aeryn of wearing his underwear. She claims they're not his because they say "Calvin Klein" on label.
- Shout-Out: Crichton wearing Calvin Klein boxers.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Essentially how Crichton helps Zhaan get back to herself; he engages in a moment of Unity with her and lets her take his perception of her trained self to help her regain her sanity.
