Durka Returns

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“Durka Returns”
Farscape episode
A very atypical Nebari girl
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 15
Written by	Grant McAloon
Directed by	Tony Tilse
Production no.	10115
Original airdate	August 13, 1999
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List of Farscape episodes

"Durka Returns" is the fifteenth episode of the television program Farscape from the first season, written by Grant McAloon and directed by Tony Tilse.

Original airdate: August 13, 1999

This episode introduces the character of Chiana.

1 Synopsis
2 Guest stars
3 Notes
4 External links

[edit] Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Another of Moya's unexpected starbursts has her, upon returning to normal space, accidentally colliding with a transport carrying Nebari official Salis, Nebari criminal Chiana, and Captain Selto Durka, the ex-Peacekeeper Commander of the Zelbinion, whom Rygel immediately recognises as his torturer, but whom Aeryn reveres as a great hero.

Durka, however, has been mentally "cleansed" by the Nebari and rendered docile and incapable of violent behavior, and the same fate awaits Chiana once back on the Nebari homeworld, a fate she is desperately trying to avoid. Nebari Prime has a rigid social code that demands obedience and anyone who is deviant must be cleansed. Rygel attempts to kill Durka, Chiana tries to seduce Crichton into helping her, and Zhaan argues with Salis about the morality of mind cleansing. Chiana manages to escape her cell on her own, while Rygel's murder attempt succeeds only in reversing Durka's cleansing so that he reverts to his previous violent, ruthless state.

With Chiana and Durka on the loose in Moya, someone murders Salis in the confusion, and Durka takes over the ship, as well as taking Rygel and Aeryn hostage. Crichton and D'Argo must decide whether or not to trust the liberated Chiana before Durka carries out his threats of execution, and Aeryn painfully confronts the dishonorable behavior of Durka, who is remembered by the Peacekeepers as a hero. Durka ultimately escapes from them, while Chiana is freed from her bondage and the possibility of her staying is left open.

[edit] Guest stars

[edit] Notes

Originally intended to be killed off in this episode, producer David Kemper was so taken with Gigi Edgley's portrayal of Chiana that the script was rewritten for her to eventually be added permanently to the cast.
Durka, originally featured in flashback in PK Tech Girl, reappears in this episode.
Introduction of the Nebari and their mind control practices.
The question of who killed Salis is never answered. The best case can be made that Zhaan was the culprit.
Aeryn's Peacekeeper indoctrination takes a severe hit in this episode, as she discovers that the man she had previously idolized was nothing more than a sadistic brute acting in self-interest.
Durka escapes. Will he be seen again?
Another problem is caused by Moya's pregnancy.