Brief synopsis:
A group of Delvians, living in a colony far from Peacekeeper control, lure the crew of Moya to their home. Here they appear friendly, but trick Zhaan into giving her secret up to Tahleen, the current leader of the group. With Zhaan losing control of her emotions and the rest of the crew apparently imagining things, their only hope lies with the few Delvians who aren't willing to go to Tahleen's extremes.

The Main Story:
John wakes up, and surprisingly, is lying next to a woman called Alex. The two are clearly very close, but Alex tells John she is leaving for a job at Stanford. We see John put away a wedding ring, showing that this was a critical point in John's life before his journey to the Uncharted Territories. He is woken up by being thrown out of bed, and finds Moya in an extended starburst, heading for the location of a distress signal.

Before arriving, D'Argo, Rygel and Crichton realise they were all dreaming about their last encounter with their wife or girlfriend (or wives in Rygel's case). Their thoughts are interrupted though by a transmission from a group of Delvians, apologising for the deceit used to draw Moya here (as there is no distress), but asking the crew to journey to the planet. On the surface, they meet Tahleen the leader of the group hiding on the planet, away from the reaches of the Peacekeepers.

The Delvians have fine hospitality, and John is amazed at the food, a pool of creatures which never run out. Tahleen reveals to Zhaan why she asked her to visit. She wants to know Zhaan's secret for overcoming the madness that is partnered with the use of power to do evil. Zhaan had killed her lover, but overcome her madness, and now this group of Delvians need the same key in order to retake Delvia from the Peacekeeper influence it has fallen under.

Aeryn is asked to leave, giving Zhaan the space she needs to discuss her problem with John. She shows him the murder, and asks his opinion. Impatient, Tahleen keeps Crichton distracted by altering his memory and making him believe that his former love, Alex, had in fact married him, and come with him aboard Farscape One to the Uncharted Territories. The crew of Moya are similary distracted when Aeryn believes her pulse pistol to be broken, D'Argo thinks he sees his son, and Rygel imagines he is even smaller than normal.

Tahleen then shares unity with Zhaan, but again deceives her, and rips from Zhaan the secret she needs. It doesn't help Tahleen though, and worse, it leaves Zhaan with extreme madness and the thirst for revenge. Tahleen, as if testing herself, then kills her own father, Tuzak, as he becomes an obstacle, causing her insanity to grow. Fortunately, her gradual journey to evil encourages her followers to switch sides.

As Crichton discovers Zhaan's predicament, he discusses it with Alex, and this affection for others shines a light into the soul of Lorana, one of Tahleen's closest friends. The Delvian, impersonating Alex in Crichton's memory reveals herself and confesses to Crichton. She and Hasko replace all the memories of John and the other crew, and agree to help John and Zhaan as they confront Tahleen. Firstly though, Crichton convinces Zhaan to share unity with him.

Though at first Zhaan is reluctant, she gives in to curiousity and joins in unity. She feels the same ray of light that Lorana did, and sees herself in Crichton's eyes, allowing her to gain control of her anger as she had done before. Zhaan and Crichton then go to chop down the twisted roots of the sanctuary whilst Lorana distracts Tahleen. When Tahleen does finally catch up with them, she is unprepared for Zhaan's new found strength.

Tahleen tries to kill Crichton in the same way she killed Tuzak, but Zhaan protects the human, and overpowers Tahleen. Having shared unity with the woman, Zhaan had also absorbed a part of Tahleen, and now the tables had turned. Zhaan and Crichton then leave Tahleen and her followers with the realisation that they had deviated from the true path. Zhaan however, decides that for now she cannot function as a Pa'u, and retires from priesthood for the time being.

References and continuity:

Zhaan was a ninth level Pa'u, and one that had taught herself during her time as a prisoner. When she first met John, she was a peaceful creature incapable of causing harm, but her encounter with Maldis and the events of this episode unlock her evil side which were in her after she killed Bitaal.

D'Argo runs after Jothee aboard Moya, who is the Luxan's son. D'Argo hasn't seen him for many cycles. This is because D'Argo's imprisonment meant Jothee had to be smuggled away.

Funny or interesting quotes:

Crichton: "Wives plural? Big fella!"

Crichton's image of Rygel is improved when he discovers the little Hynerian once had many wives.

Aeryn: "You, are the most bizarre creature I have ever met."

When Tahleen fiddles with some of Crichton's memories, he is sent jumping away from the water, and Aeryn is given no clue why.

Zhaan: "I have always wondered what could possibly go on in there."
Crichton: "Not a lot, I'm a guy."

John tries to get Zhaan to share unity with him, but admits that like most men, he has a one track mind.

Episode Trivia:

• The Delvians had been surviving from a self-replenishing food source. Crichton names the creatures Trigapods.
• Zhaan's crime is revealed - she killed her lover Bitaal as he posed a great threat to the true Delvian way of life.
• When Zhaan becomes a Pa'u of the tenth level, she learns the ability to protect (luckily for John who would have otherwise been killed by Tahleen).
• This is the first of 11 episodes which are written by David Kemper, *and* directed by Andrew Prowse.

The writers of this episode were David Kemper and Ro Hume. Other Farscape episodes written by David Kemper are:

Co-writer Ro Hume was also responsible for:

Director:

The director of this episode was Andrew Prowse. He went on to direct many other Farscape episodes:

New Aliens:
Though there are no new alien species, these are the first Delvians John has met, other than Zhaan, and certainly the first male Delvians. He discovers that not all members of the species are as controlled and peaceful as Zhaan.

Farewell to:

Tahleen and her wacky bunch		But could they return in Won't Get Fooled Again.
Tuzak		Killed by his own daughter, Tahleen.

Guest Stars:

• Kate Raison as Tahleen.
• Darlene Vogel as Alex, and also Lorana.
• Michael Beckley as Hasko.
• Max Phipps as Tuzak.

Personal Opinion:

Highlights of the episode for me are Aeryn in John's boxing shorts, and also the way the crew cope with their altered memories. Aeryn and D'Argo in particular seem to be having fun aboard Moya, whilst Rygel's even smaller size certainly gives him something to think about. It would have been fun to see Pilot get affected in some way though.

The one problem though in my view was that for a species capable of so much (for example mind control and memory alterations at great distance), they seemed pretty useless. Tahleen was almost totally nuts and yet still didn't seem willing to tap into any real power. Just imagine what somebody like Captain Crais would have done with those kinds of skills!

	Delvians really are a crazy bunch!		6/10