Farscape fan favourite solely interacts with one character in your entire collection

By Jonathan Klotz
| Revealed 27 seconds in the past

Distant panorama could also be referred to as the “present with the puppets,” nevertheless it options a number of the greatest writing of any sci-fi collection, between John Crichton’s natural development and Aeryn Black’s relationship with the power to rework even the weirdest cerebral intrigues. the narration. That is the one purpose why Distant panorama did so properly with Harvey, a model of the villainous Scorpius who solely exists in Crichton’s head, a gimmicky character who grew to become a fan favourite regardless of the apparent limitations.

The Invisible Enemy by John Crichton

First appeared in “Crackers Do not Matter”, the fourth episode of Distant panorama In season 2, Scorpius’ hallucination is meant to be a part of T’raltixx’s psychological manipulations, however Scorpius would then seem time and again in instances of nice stress. The hallucination even started to trigger Crichton to observe sure actions, together with not killing the actual Scorpius, earlier than lastly revealing itself within the human’s thoughts. The hallucination was the results of a neural chip implanted by Scorpius whereas he was torturing Crichton; Mockingly, Scorpius’ clone revealed the reality throughout one other torture session of one other stranger whom he helped Crichton defeat.

Crichton nicknamed the hallucination of the Scorpion residing in his head Harvey, after the James Stewart traditional concerning the invisible rabbit. From then on, Harvey would seem a number of instances all through every season, typically as a extra seen hallucination than any of the others. Distant panorama the characters may see since he did not really exist, and different instances, in Crichton’s mindscape, the place he supplied useful recommendation like Jiminy Cricket in tight leather-based.

Superior method to preserve Scorpius concerned

The writers of Distant panorama made the selection to make Scorpius’ neural implant a model of Scorpius as a way to preserve the villain concerned with out his evil plans frequently failing. That manner, they might preserve Wayne Pygram concerned, discover totally different elements of Crichton as Scorpius displays, and preserve a way of hazard round the actual villain. Harvey might have began out as a psychological clone of Scorpius, however he ended up changing into his personal character.

Harvey appeared at Crichton in Hawaiian shirts and in a second that showcased Pygram’s expertise, even enjoying the drums like Ringo Starr. These offbeat appearances brought about followers and Crichton to view Harvey as extra of an ally than an enemy, and in fact, he was, however solely in the identical manner that the actual Scorpius was: to additional his personal targets. Actually, on the time Distant panorama In its finish, Harvey was profitable in reaching his targets and the rationale he was set out to take action within the first place, however in step with the spirit of the collection, it wasn’t fairly what he had deliberate within the first place. season 2.

Distant panorama is the one one science fiction collection I can consider that took what may have been a one-off gimmick for one episode and managed to make Harvey a long-lasting a part of the present’s legacy. Stargate SG-1 turned a gimmicky episode into one of many collection’ greatest, however they by no means included Apophis displaying up in a hazmat go well with or debating how Easter is widely known. Distant panorama managed to do so much with little or no, because of sharp writing and a gifted forged, with Wayne Pygram’s unhinged Harvey the most effective instance of what a bit of creativity and a willingness to throw out the foundations will get you.