User Reviews

While on a planet looking for a cure for Rygel's cold something strange happens to Crichton; his spirit is snatched from his body by a being called Maldis. It soon becomes apparent that Maldis is very powerful... he also summons the spirit of Captain Crais. There bodies are left were they were but whatever happens to them in Maldis' strange realm also happens to their real bodies which is a bit of a problem for Crichton as Crais is determined to kill him! While Crichton is struggled to survive there the others are trying to find out what has happened to him; a man named Liko tells them of Maldis and how he has ruined the planet; he believes that there is only one way to defeat him; Zhaan must use her own powers against him; powers that she had struggled so hard to keep suppressed.

Early on I thought I wouldn't like this episode but soon changed my mind; Maldis may have been a pantomime villain but actor Chris Haywood hammed it up delightfully making him fun to watch. It was also good to see Crichton and Crais finally get together; even if it was only their spirits fighting it was effective as the consequences were real and the fight scenes were entertaining. Having only seen the peaceful side of Zhaan so far it was good to see her dangerous side; Virginia Hey did a fine job portraying this dangerous character who craves inner peace... it will be interesting to see how what she did in this episode affects the character later in the series. Rygel provided some good laughs as he performed a version of his species last rites for John before stealing his stuff... he may be a puppet but he is a very real character. Fans of Christine Stephen-Daly, who plays Crais's loyal underling Lieutenant Teeg will be a bit disappointed by the ending... he repays her loyalty by killing her to protect a secret that could get him court-martialled... a pity as I rather liked her character but it did underline Crais's ruthlessness.

Captain Crais has been pursuing John Crichton and Moya since the Premiere episode - and "That Old Black Magic" provides the only direct face-off between him and Crichton so far. Crais is certainly a formidable antagonist, but his lack of screen presence throughout the first season season keeps him from having too much of an impact. In "That Old Black Magic", Lani Tupi shines as he, blinded with rage, relentlessly attacks Crichton, seeking to avenge his brother's death.

The plot concerns an omnipotent villain named Maldus who controls an entire planet. Revealed slowly throughout the episode is the fact that he gains energy from hate. When the crew of Moya arrives innocently at the planet, Maldus discovers Crichton's past. He takes the minds of Crais, present on his ship, and Crichton, forcing the two into a fight to the death in what appears to be some sort of giant castle. Meanwhile, Zhaan and a red ally she finds on the planet, Liko (Grant Bowler), combine their strengths to defeat Maldus.

Most of the episode consists of well-choreographed hand-to-hand fights between Crais and Crichton. These sequences all work - the sets are impressive, and the truth behind the relationship between Crais and his brother is fully revealed, allowing Crais to be better understood as a believable character. Grant Bowler and Chris Haywood (Maldus) are both effective in guest roles. The production designs for the whole planet are entirely believable, still a little sketchy but nevertheless convincing - the Farscape universe is truly like no other. The climax, in which Zhaan confronts Maldus, is awesome.

Only a few details go wrong - Liko's sudden explanation of Maldus and the state of the planet comes across as rather silly. Also, I'm a bit distraught that the only tangible conflict (this is kind of related to future episodes) between Crais and Moya in the first season is made possible entirely due to the magical requests of an omnipotent super-being. Where exactly is Moya going, and how important is it that Moya expels tons of energy evading Crais if he's too incompetent to ever find them, ever? Oh well, a few nitpicky problems aside, "That Old Black Magic" is a solid outing. 3/4

The gang's first real confrontation with the Peacekeeper captain sworn to kill Crichton is set against the backdrop of a spooky alien wizard who draws power from violence. The Day of the Dove-style setup resolves quite differently from the Star Trek episode from which this episode clearly draws inspiration.

The alien world enthralled by the mysterious wizard is gloomy, well-designed, and instantly convincing. Even its animals are memorable. Zhaan is revealed to be every bit as dangerous as the alien enemy when she lets her violent past overcome her instinct to resolve every problem peacefully.

D'Argo and Sun do nothing in this episode except serve to prove that force alone will not solve the problem. While Crichton duels with Crais, Zhaan duels with her own demons. Crichton, Crais, and Zhaan are all neatly propelled to violence by forced reminders of their own pasts, most graphically Crais being driven to rage by the alien wizard's cruel visions of Crais's dead brother.

Crichton succumbs to the instinct for violence to no meaningful end, where when Zhaan gives in to the same impulse she is at least able to temporarily subdue the alien wizard at least long enough to disperse him and save the day.

This otherwise extremely dark episode is lightened only by Rigel's lighthearted B-plot that contributes nothing to the story but some much needed levity. Henson's seeming predilection for alien mucus gives us some momentary relief from the anger and rage that bleed from half the cast most of the episode.

Where Star Trek's crew defeated its death-eating wizard nemesis with laughter and merriment, Zhaan defeats evil by unleashing perhaps a greater evil within herself. The episode ends with an ominous promise that the Zhaan we know now is as possessed by malevolence figuratively as Crichton and Crais are literally for most of the episode.