"A Bug's Life"
Air Date: September 17, 1999

From the title I hoped that we'd finally see a Pilot-centered episode. For those new to the show, Pilot is the ship's navigator. He and the ship Moya are separate species but conjoined both mentally and physiologically. Basically, without Pilot, Moya's crew can't steer the Leviathan.

In case you've never seen the character, Pilot looks like a cross between a cockroach and a mugwump from Cronenberg's Naked Lunch. And while his relationship with Moya makes him the most important member of the crew, he has remained the most underrepresented, getting very little in the way of meaningful screen time. Okay, so he's a muppet voiced by actor Lani John Tupu. That doesn't change the fact that I really like Pilot and find his sketchy backstory incredibly fascinating.

Anyway, "A Bug's Life" isn't about Pilot at all but rather about a virus. A smart and dangerous virus that infects everyone with which it comes in contact, wreaks all kinds of havoc, then leaves the victim with no memory of being possessed or what she or he'd done while possessed.

If you've ever seen the movies Alien, Fallen, and The Hidden and/or the first season X Files episode "Ice", then you'll recognize a lot of familiar elements. The virus plot in "A Bug's Life" is just a variation on a theme; the premise of possession in various physical and metaphysical forms which has not only been done better but also more originally. While it wasn't a truly horrible attempt, it did seem a bit tired. Half point off on that count.

Points also have to be shaved off for blips in continuity. Right now the series runs as if the episodes were being shown out of order. As far as the Aeryn and Crichton arc is concerned, "A Human Reaction" should have been shown after "A Bug's Life". If "Through the Looking Glass" threw you off regarding any ramifications of The Kiss, then "A Bug's Life" will really leave you feeling ticked off and confused; not only are the vibes between Aeryn Sun and John Crichton still annoyingly platonic, she even develops a little short-lived chemistry for another Peacekeeper. Color me frustrated. Stop with the teasing, already!

Ben Browder's fake Brit accent deserves an A for Effort. His performance as a PK Captain, playing the sinister bit as understated, also deserves an A. Alien virus possession aside, everyone was in character; and the introduction of the covertly operating Peacekeepers was interesting, too. As expected, not everyone's possession was showcased as much as Crichton's and so "A Bug's Life" came off as being mostly about Browder playing dress up as a PK Captain Guy and going on a bug hunt.

It's not a bad way to spend an hour, so chill and eat something crunchy. Or not.

-- Vivian E. Lee