"DNA Mad Scientist" exhibits many of the numerous qualities that set Farscape apart from nearly every other sci-fi series. On Star Trek, for example, the main cast usually works together in perfect harmony, and disagreements are often the subject of entire episodes. In Farscape, the main cast consists mostly of escaped prisoners with their own agendas. In the course of "DNA Mad Scientist", much of the cast turn against each other, willing to do anything to reach their goals.
As the episode opens, an alien named NamTar offers the crew maps to their home worlds (or at least worlds where they would again be accepted) in exchange for DNA samples. Rygel, D'Argo, and Rygel eagerly comply. NamTar then states that he also needs one of Pilot's arms - resulting in an absolutely shocking scene where Rygel, D'Argo, and Rygel violently cut of an arm from a protesting Pilot. This is perhaps the greatest demonstration in the series of the nonaligned nature of the main cast - the crew members are capable of committing such a violent act on someone who has been their close ally since the start of the show. Interpersonal conflict doesn't stop there - the three soon turn on each other when they realize that only one of the maps NamTar gives them will function.
Something needs to be said about NamTar as well. He's one of the most awesome creatures yet created for the show for sure. I've never seen any creature remotely like him, and his genetically enhanced strength makes him an extremely formidable villain.
Anyway, eventually NamTar injects some of pilot's DNA into Aeryn, resulting in a bizarre, painful, and disturbing transformation in another impressive display of makeup and special effects. Crichton teams with Kornata, NamTar's servant, who reveals that NamTar was a test subject who took over after he was greatly enhanced. The climax features more exceptional special effects as NamTar is reduced back to his original figure. The special effects are all believable - the episode never disintegrates into mindless technobabble like the similarly DNA-themed "Threshold" from Voyager.
All in all, "DNA Mad Scientist" is a first-rate Farscape production, ranking with "Back and Back and Back to the Future" as one of the strongest episodes in the first half of season one. 3.5/4
As the episode opens, an alien named NamTar offers the crew maps to their home worlds (or at least worlds where they would again be accepted) in exchange for DNA samples. Rygel, D'Argo, and Rygel eagerly comply. NamTar then states that he also needs one of Pilot's arms - resulting in an absolutely shocking scene where Rygel, D'Argo, and Rygel violently cut of an arm from a protesting Pilot. This is perhaps the greatest demonstration in the series of the nonaligned nature of the main cast - the crew members are capable of committing such a violent act on someone who has been their close ally since the start of the show. Interpersonal conflict doesn't stop there - the three soon turn on each other when they realize that only one of the maps NamTar gives them will function.
Something needs to be said about NamTar as well. He's one of the most awesome creatures yet created for the show for sure. I've never seen any creature remotely like him, and his genetically enhanced strength makes him an extremely formidable villain.
Anyway, eventually NamTar injects some of pilot's DNA into Aeryn, resulting in a bizarre, painful, and disturbing transformation in another impressive display of makeup and special effects. Crichton teams with Kornata, NamTar's servant, who reveals that NamTar was a test subject who took over after he was greatly enhanced. The climax features more exceptional special effects as NamTar is reduced back to his original figure. The special effects are all believable - the episode never disintegrates into mindless technobabble like the similarly DNA-themed "Threshold" from Voyager.
All in all, "DNA Mad Scientist" is a first-rate Farscape production, ranking with "Back and Back and Back to the Future" as one of the strongest episodes in the first half of season one. 3.5/4