Farscape: Throne for a Loss

Season 1, Episode 4 — Throne for a Loss

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During a botched exchange of goods, Rygel is kidnapped by a gang of steroid abusers Tavloids Tavleks. They plan to ransom Rygel back to his "six billion subjects." 

Because Rygel stole a gem from Moya, which is actually an integral piece which influences her flight capabilities, the crew can't just leave him to deal with the consequences of his choices. 

The Tavloids (Aeryn, D'Argo, and Zhaan shout "TAVLEK" in unison) have bulky armor, and mottled skin with messed up scars. Most importantly, in a literal interpretation of "plot armor," they have a bracer which injects them with addictive, super-strength drugs, and creates a force screen... and bolts of energy. It's a super-soldier serum and weapon all in one! It also requires serious come-down time for its literal "users." 

One such user, a young Tavlek, is captured during the initial fracas. He's young, brash, rude, headstrong, and completely out of his depth. Zhaan, essentially alone on Moya  with this youth, chooses to nurse him back from his addiction sickness. She comforts and cares for him, despite the youth's resistance and rudeness. 

Over the course of trying to rescue Rygel from the 'roid raging gang, D'Argo, then Aeryn, then Crichton each have a chance to wear the bracer, experience the SPACE COCAINE, and show their hyped up versions of their character. D'Argo is more of a headstrong melee warrior. During her turn, Aeryn falls back into her commando training and is ready to tackle everyone as a tactical exercise. Crichton wants to go for a jog. There are no problems with wildly varying biology. There's no mention of problems from a shared needle. This part sucks as far as a PSA goes. 

From a continuity standpoint, this episode is noteworthy for some character bonding between D'Argo and Aeryn, spent after using the bracer, sit around and make fun of Crichton, and how badly he's likely to fuck this up. 

Crichton fucks it up. 

Well, technically, the bracer runs out of SPACE COCAINE right as he needs it to take out the boss. No more energy, no more force screen, no more bolts of whatever that was. Crichton is left to his wits to rescue Rygel. Let's face it, he's not a fighter... he's the group's Face, even when he's out of his depth. 

He manages to convince the gang's boss to let Rygel go, because Rygel is literally worthless. The boss, surprisingly, says he's refreshed to have someone speak honestly to him, and lets Rygel go. Ostensibly (though offscreen and unmentioned) this is also in exchange for the addiction-recovering young Tavlek. 

After the exchange, Rygel literally poops out the crystal he stole from Moya, and hands it back to Aeryn, theoretically it has been washed. Ew. In a farewell Skype with the Tavloids, the impetuous youth tells Zhaan that he's doing well, now that he is re-attached to his bracer full of SPACE COCAINE. 

She looks taken aback, realizing her efforts were ineffective. 

Addiction is a difficult topic, it was brave of Farscape to show that love and care for an addict will not save them, if they choose not to save themselves.