Scorpius and the Nature of Evil [Farscape Continues]
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.พ. 2025
- Watch to the end! Scorpius becomes Farscape’s main villain and arguably one of the best villains in all of sci-fi. But like with everything Farscape, we can’t take Scorpius at face value. A villain? Yes. Evil? Wellll, yes, but it’s not that simple.
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In my opinion one of the best written grey characters in cinema. I love that this show forces the watcher to think about philosophical concepts and psychological dilemmas. A masterwork.
Well said!
gota love good 'grey' characters.. they so often reflects all the parts of life ,nature etc that the goody two shoes or evil ones only can perceive rairly reflect
my all time favourite by a lightyear
most amazing real life thing about this is originally he was meant to be a one off character but Wayne Pygram' did such a fantastic job he became the main villain
Fantastic. Scorpius is the personification of the ends justify the means. I found him to be one if not the best written "villain" of any fiction. Really amazing to me how in their own ways, Rigel and Scorpius are similar. Both, self serving, survivors who can, if it serves them, help others. I do enjoy your videos, including the philosophy lectures. Looking forward to your next.
Thanks Roy, appreciate that. I enjoy combining philosophy with Farscape. I agree with you on Rygel, similar survival instincts but diametrically oppossed backgrounds. There's an idea for a video there. Not sure what topic to do next. I'll think about that.
So good
@@hibbidyjibbidyy i like jazz drummer Scorpius
Personally I can't decide between Scorpius a d Dukat. Both are amazing villains!
@@faith518say who do you think will an all out war gul dukat and the cardassian union ? Or scorpius and the sebacean peacekeepers ?
That "human, all too human" was great, a very suitable allusion.
Scorpy had such a great introduction, and as he got more and more time on camera he got more and more interesting. This is the exact opposite of what happens for many characters, once you learn more about them the less complex the seem. Another excellent vid
Couldn't agree more!
I honestly don’t think there has been a better sci-fi since or before Farscape
One of my favourite characters was Harvey, Scorpious' mind clone.
Really enjoyed the interplay with Criton.
Hands down the best Villain in Sci-Fi, and this is coming from an OG Vader Lover who turned Gul Dukat lover.
I did think Gul Dukat was a good character. Would have liked to see him and Picard go head to head.
@@FarscapeContinues wouldn't have worked as well, he was the perfect foil for sisko aka commander pimp slap.
Do like Gul Dukat, but Garak pips him at the post.
@@FarscapeContinueswho would win in a all out war darth vader and the galactic empire? or gul dukat and the cardassian empire? or scorpius and the sebacean peacekeeper?
I both love and miss this show so much that I cannot express it. I remember watching each episof3 for the first time and Scirpius genuinely scared me. I felt scared for Critchon to the point that when he wanted to marry that princess in that one episode trilogy, "Look at the princess etc" just so he could get a pardon from scorpius I actually understood the decision. Scorpius is as dedicated as Michael Myers, only scarier because he is super smart and has/had a goal that he would stop at nothing to accomplish.
Great video. Powerful message, well told.
Thank you kindly
I actually felt like Scorpius started to become like a mentor figure for Chrichton later in the show.
I have heard people say that; "Thanos is right, he's just going about it the wrong way". These people are insane. However, Scorpius is the real hero of Farscape, not Creighton. The peace achieved in the last of "The Peacekeeper War" would never have happened without the efforts of Scorpius. Yes, Creighton effected the "wormhole weapon" peace agreement. Yet, Creighton would never have gotten there or even chosen to go there without Scorpius. Also, Scorpius is the one character that sacrifices gravely to make the peace happen. Consider this, that peace is unlikely to last because the fundamental nature of the Scarrans has not been changed and they will eventually seek to dominate the rest of the galaxy again. If there is ever a revival or sequel, that could be it's basis. Maybe Scorpius will be the star of that series.
Your reasoning is very interesting and sound. It gives me an idea for a future video.
On the peace lasting - have you read the comics that continue the story after PKW?
In some ways I agree. Scorpius to me is admirable, and I felt for him and rooted for him by the end.
Thoughtful and brilliantly executed! Thank you!! =D
You're very welcome!
I'm glad you're making these video. I very much miss farscape :(
Glad you like them! More on the way as soon as I can get to them. Takes awhile to do a decent job.
@@FarscapeContinues The other day I was thinking about Scorpius. There was a character in season 4 who was involved in the episode where Dargo confronts his wifes brother and overcome the accusation that Dargo murdered his wife when in reality it was his brother in law. What had me reflect on this episode was the teacher and Scorpius. Scorpius showed this character a lot of respect which is something we rarely see from him. I thought maybe this character and the role they had in Scorpius's past (its suggested this character taught Scorpius to endure pain and control his temper, something that he does to identify with his peacekeep half as opposed to the scarran half) would be worth making a video on at some point. This is just a suggestion. If however, its too little material for a video I would love to hear your thoughts in this old thread.
@@biogerontology7646 Yes, delving deeper into Scorpius's past would be a greay video. We briefly hear that Scorpius has help from several people to become the more stable person he became, still consumed by the need for revenge, but not the wreck he was. Something to explore someday.
@@FarscapeContinues Perhaps if Scorpius as a character 'could' be redeemed (or 'should' as he really is one of the best villains in sci fi) it would be something nurtured by characters capable of explaining the importance of morality to him. As you said in your video Scorpius is completely responsible for Crichtons lack of trust in him. Despite all that Scorpius has in his cunning and pragmatism, a simple moral act towards Crichtons would have saved him cycles of time and resources that he lost in his relentless pursuit of John.
@@biogerontology7646 Well said.
I always thought of Scorpius as a brilliant mission oriented psychopath. He can be a great asset or a very damaging fifth columnist because he is so complex, you don't know where he actually stands and you can't trust him.
Well put!
you know where he stands ....you can trust him to act to get what he wants ....but you can't have any personal connection with him ..oddly he seems to develop attachments to others ...like cryton ..but there is no intimacy ...he is always either betrayed or he betrays them ....
@@silverkitty2503 Excellent observations. Yes, Scorpius doesn't do the personal. He is all about the plan and success at that plan. You either are there as an asset to help that plan succeed, or you are nothing to him,
He saw John as kind of a kindred spirit tho John was not the only human in the universe he was the only one out in the galaxy surrounded by other species and felt like he was alone thus Scorpius who was a one-of-a-kind hybrid felt like John was like him and possibly felt like he was the only one who could understand him and possibly be his friend
Thanks, this is great. Scorpius was a fantastic character, I think the best of the series, and perhaps even my favourite. I also felt great sympathy for him, and would have loved to have seen more of a rapprochement between him and Crichton. His backstory was tragic, moving, and imo the most compelling storytelling of the whole show.
I completely agree! Scorpius is mesmerizing, so deep and complicated. They did so many interesting things with him and the story is not over.
@@FarscapeContinues Yep, well said. Wayne Pygram gave a really wonderful performance.
I so do love the villains of Farscape, as they are truly relatable. They are not "evil" because of creed of just plain evilness but because they believe in their agenda, they truly believe that they are on the right path. The right path for justice, the right path for peace no matter the cost. That gives them the depth of character that villains in other franchises lack.
Very well said! Another reason Farscape must continue.
Its a trope but still very true, "a great villain is the Hero of his own story".
He's my favorite character in the show. He's a great anti-hero.
Yes!
I always low key hoped someone would write a crossover show where Scorpius, Garak, and Londo ended up in a room together and just talk.
I'd buy a ticket to that.
When you watch Incubator, Chriton kinda looks like hes holding back a bit of repulsion-agitation seeing what Scorpi went thru. When Scorpi revisiting-reliving Chriton actually tells him to stop, wa it that he thought Scorpi was wasting his time or he couldnt handle watching Scorpi go thru that torment?
Great observation. Crichton is compasstionate and doesn't like to see suffering, even Scorpius. That neural bleed of Crichton in Scorpius's mind never was able to transfer what was leaned in "Incubator" to the real Crichton. It would have changed things.
@@FarscapeContinues I don't think for some people it sinks in with thr gravity of what happens in that episode, yeah were are use to a pretty nasty man Called Scorp but when he was being tortured he was nothing but a 12 year old child, yeah he has a inhuman appearance and it makes it a bit more tolerable but still pretty harsh. I think alot of people missed out on that, when he was a child he was dehumanized and tortured. I have PTSD and I would say Scorpi features some of the symptoms like Hypervigilance seeking to destroy what he sees as a threat.
@@BenjaminSpencer-m1k I completely agree with you; it is one of the most important episodes in the original series for all that it explains. But, true, people don't talk much about it.
Best villains "In all of scifi"... no I'd argue in best villain ever made.
I have to agree.
He is evil, but he has sympathetic motivations.
He was willing to become a monster in order to stop even worse monsters.
@Ryan Arment....when you put it like that...it sounds like he's a hero🤔. Interesting. This is probably part of why I feel Farscape is better than Starwars.... Farscape has another level of depth, that massages my brain cells.
@Renee Acosta in a way he was. He knew what the scarrans would do to everyone if they were successful in conquest. They were monsters who were capricious and cruel.
Scorpius understood that the only way to fight against creatures like that is by being more cruel, becoming more monstrous. He knew that his allies would hate and fear him as much as the scarrans would. That his actions would force him to live apart from sebastions. But he was willing to make that sacrifice if it meant no one else suffered the way he or his mother did.
@@reneeacosta2438 it's called an anti-hero.
I'll admit it. I cried.
It's crazy to me how Wayne Pygram didn't become a huge star after his performance in farscape.
So true! His performance as Scorpius was matserful. He had a small part in one of the Star Wars movies, but not much else. I don't know his story as to why.
Not a lot of Australian actors make it big. They have to be super attractive.
@@redrick8900 Australia produces some amazing actors too, even the ones that may not seem it from the Hollywood roles they do get (and any deficiency in such roles is due to Hollywood being allergic to complex or risky characters)
1:02 I just love how he modulate his voice like Shodan :)
10:00. I really liked to the show up until that moment on the demise of the command carrier where Scorpius looks hurt… After that point, I absolutely loved the show and I still do.
You sent me a message to check this out i came i saw i liked...its been a while since this aired..but 15:09 yeah thats when it made me think alot the first time i saw it..Scorp had something beautiful inside.It was not all violence after violence..he would be the type of guy that if he had nothing else to worry about he would take a walk thru a garden..Ill post here again man love this stuff.Its good to know the community is still alive for Farscape..
Thanks, Ben, and welcome aboard! Much more to come.
Thank you for uploading this. Your channel is a blessing.
You are so welcome!
He's a tortured soul and funny at the same time😄
perfect analysis of scorpius . nice
Thanks, I appreciate that!
Brilliant video, I have not enjoyed a TH-cam video this much in a long time. Thank you. Liked and subscribed.
Awesome, thank you! Welcome to the community. Please spread the word.
Excellent analysis of a brilliant character. Farscape is brilliant.
Ive been watching Farscape content on youtube trying to hold myself off from another rewatch. This was a great treat as I find this character to be one of the best villains Ive ever seen if not the best.
I agree, Scorpius is an amazing character and best villain ever.
Scorpius is the ultimate pragmatist, and that means anything is acceptable if his final goal is achieved.
🏆well played my friend.... beautiful break down. This clip makes me wonder if I actually did see all to the episodes...I didn't remember seeing the one where he goes back to find out about his mom.
That episode was "Incubator" in Season 3. Incredible episode worth watching.
evil is a point of view, and scorpius is the best point of view
Good and evil are perspectives yes. Nietzsche wrote about that, though I think he'd say good and evil are interpretations we place on others. Extending his view, I think everyone would say that "evil," however defines, is always the worse perspective or mindset. I'm curious why you think otherwise.
@@FarscapeContinues first of all, sorry for the late response. What I meant to say we view scorpius as an evil person because he is the antagonist, but as we delve deeper into the series we see that he is a person who is willing to do anything to defeat his enemies. he does not see himself as evil but means to an end, and I sympathise with him.
Yes, I completely agree with you there. Thanks.
I VERY much agree. I LOVED that Scorpius was so damn multifacted. I love Farscape for the depth of its characters. So much.
Exactly, best characters in science fiction.
Scorpius is a horrible person. But he is a person
Scorpius is the true protagonist who wins in the end. He got what he wanted: A wormhole weapon to scare off the Scarrans. Crighton, et. al. broke down and gave Scorpius what he wanted. ... Such a great story. So much depth.
this
Loved your video. Scorpius has to be in my top 3 Farscape favorite characters.
This show is a masterpiece and I’m so glad I just discovered your channel it NEEDS to be dissected
Thank you. Hope I can continue to dissect the wonders of Farscape.
I usually favor the heroic protagonists, but Scorpius was my absolute favorite character in Farscape.
Scorpius the archetype of the Architect.
The real core of the plan is under layers of plans, tactics and strategies.
able to go to the greatest length to reach the goal and still even to seem naive and risks to expose himself if this suit the plan itself.
We got an INTJ here.
Damn intriguing...
Well said, I like that description.
@@FarscapeContinues cheers...
He is a chess player whit lots and lots of moves ahead
Easily one of the greatest villan/ anti-hero in scifi history! If I were to mention a similar fantasy charachter would be that of Kain from the legacy of kain videogames, born destined for pain and misery, made strong, viscious and seemingly evil, a tortured soul seeking a greater goal of peace.
always been my favorite character in the show
Juuuust the right amount of fetish overtones in costuming. Very subtle and tasteful.
There's this look on his face near the end of Peacekeeper Wars.
I interpret it as him realizing that he wasted most of his adult life
pursuing a weapon that'd annihilate creation itself & that his hatred
of the Scarrans blinded him to this. That, now, Scorpius has just lost
the very thing his existence revolved around. And, he doesn't know
what to do with himself.
That's a great observation. He is completely dumbstruck when he realizes what the wormhole weapon is. Later, when the Scarrans and Peacekeepers sign the peace treaty, Scorpius does look a little lost, his purpose now over. That perhaps explains his behavior when the story continues in the comic books.
@@FarscapeContinues It's why I prefer to simply stop at Peacekeeper Wars. Leave it ambiguous what happened afterwards. I love the way it ends: so much has changed, lives lost, beliefs shaken, yet the adventure continues. Too often great series persist until they degenerate into convoluted crap. I'd rather have a good send off for this show than a mediocre followup. Not to say the comics are lousy, but, sometimes you'd like things to wrap up. Nothing lasts forever. Also, I'm worried that, if Farscape is revived someday, it'll be for the worse. Having lost everything the original had going for it.
@@alexlemonds2838 That;s fair, but Rockne O'Bannon said the comics are based on his storyboarding for a "Season 6" that never was allowed to happen, "Season 5" being the basic material that got squashed down into The Peacekeeper Wars. To me, that means the comics are not an add on, but part of the grand story arc as O'Bannon originally conceived it.
Didja just kink shame Scorpius? :P Good video though.
I make no judgments.
Best SF character ever, he had everybody fooled. just genius.
one half practically allergic to the other half
for some letting go is hard or him he feels he can't due o the harsh life he has had
Scorpius is RUTHLESS and that makes him evil.
Ok - what about the Banik slaves Scorpi had killed once he'd bought the lot Jothee was in?
pointlessly evil, there was no ends justified by that
dope could have re-sold them and got some money back, once he had pulled Jothee out
OR EATING the chunk of Crichton brain, leaving him literally speechless on an operating table, after (supposedly) killing the only nearby surgeon?
hes a great villain, but he's still a twisted psycho that kills & torments for kicks alone
Maybe you didn't watch to the end of the video. It's amazing how many people don't.
nah... scorpius was not evil,more like a badass full of hatred and with a mission,compared to the scaraans and somer other people in the show,he was rather a nice guy 😆
best sci-fi show ever!
I think it's both. Scorpius is so obsessed with his mission that it is all he cares about and that is what evil is.
@@FarscapeContinues Evil doesn't need a mission and usually doesn't have one.
😢all time favorite 😊
scorpy character makes darth vader look like he was written by a 5 year old.
😆Human, with a mild taste for Crichtons brain. Spend that on the blood oath against Harvey if he knew about it. 🦇
He wasn’t evil though
i think he is just complex
I would not call him evil at all, extremist yes, but not evil.
Zhan is a plant and doesn't really factor into an animal centric morality scale so would be deemed amoral.
Crais fits the bill for me as he was an egomaniac tyrant till the end. His acts served no higher purpose or ideal and he didn't really have a redemption as he didn't make a choice to be "good" or join the "right" side he simply rebelled against his side when they told him no. Every last thing he did was self serving and meant to punish those that dared tell him anything.
Grayza much more than Scorpius as well as her betrayals held no advantage or purpose and all her actions were taken with an eye twords self advancement and power dominance over completion of her assigned goals.
Thanks for your insights! I disagree on Zhaan though, her being a plant is irrelevant, her being a sentient being means she can and does make moral choices.
Crais becomes pretty much a pacifist devoted to trying to raise his adopted son to be better than he was. Grayza is basically a diplomat devoted to peace. She's Neville Chamberlin.
0:51 LOL
Comic books ruin any possible future shows or movies. Their stories become “canon” (improper word for what it’s intended for) and any possible movies or shows are bound by them and the stories in them. What’s the issue? Comic book stories are goofy by nature.
I'm not a fan of comic books, they are goofy and that's being kind. That said, the Farscape comics are canon becaise Rockne O'Bannon wrote the grand story arc with the intention of bridging to a possible return to TV. I explained the pros and cons of the Farscape comments in another video:th-cam.com/video/RmPxZBesD40/w-d-xo.html
They just throw that junk out when they make a new thing in a worthwhile medium. Star Wars threw out it's comic book continuity twice.
Plenty of comic books aren't goofy at all.
👍
Dat chin thong
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Preach!!