Ep 22. Farscape: S3 E22 - Dog With Two Bones

John Crichton has come a long way since he was first flung through a wormhole and found himself stranded on the other side of the universe with a mismatched team of aliens. Now, in the series season 3 finale of Farscape, he's faced with a difficult decision: stay in this strange new world or return home to Earth.

The episode titled "Dog With Two Bones" begins with Crichton - played by Ben Browder - lying alone on a desolate beach, gazing up at the planet he's grown to know so well. He's come to Luxan space to ask for their help in finding a way back to Earth, but their response has been less than encouraging. Even his friends - D'Argo, Chiana, and Rygel - are uncharacteristically distant. He's starting to feel like he doesn't belong there anymore.

Meanwhile, Aeryn Sun - Crichton's on-and-off love interest, played by Claudia Black - is on a reconnaissance mission with the Peacekeepers, the ruthless military force she once belonged to. The Peacekeepers are on the hunt for Scorpius, a half-Scarran, half-Sebacean hybrid who's been causing chaos throughout the galaxy. Aeryn has a personal stake in his capture: Scorpius is the one who implanted a neural clone of himself in her brain, controlling her actions and thoughts for a time.

As the episode progresses, Crichton and Aeryn both find themselves grappling with difficult decisions. Crichton has to decide whether he's ready to leave this world behind and return to Earth, where everything and everyone he knew has moved on without him. Aeryn must confront the lingering effects of Scorpius's cloning, which have left her with a dangerous compulsion to kill him.

Along the way, they both encounter unexpected help and resistance from various allies and enemies. A mysterious woman named Noranti provides Crichton with some valuable advice, while his old nemesis, Scorpius, returns to the forefront of the action. D'Argo, Chiana, and Rygel each struggle with their own separate problems and doubts, adding to the overall sense of tension and unease.

Despite the heavy themes and emotional stakes, "Dog With Two Bones" still manages to deliver some of the show's trademark humor and zaniness. There are moments of camaraderie and levity that help offset the darker aspects of the story. And, as always, the production design and special effects are top-notch, creating a vivid and immersive universe for the characters to inhabit.

As the season finale, "Dog With Two Bones" offers a fitting conclusion to the arc that's been building throughout the past several episodes. It provides closure for certain storylines while leaving others open-ended, paving the way for future seasons (which, fortunately for fans, did in fact arrive). And, of course, it leaves viewers with a tantalizing cliffhanger that sets the stage for the next chapter in Crichton's adventures.

Overall, "Dog With Two Bones" is a standout episode of Farscape, showcasing the show's strengths in terms of storytelling, character development, and world-building. It's a satisfying end to a complex and engaging season, and it's sure to leave fans hungry for more.