Brief synopsis:
Whilst on a shopping expedition to find a cure for Rygel's illness, Crichton gets lured into the grip of a sorcerer Maldis. Crais is brought there too, and the pair are left to fight it out, whilst Maldis feeds off their pain and suffering. With mystical barriers surrounding them, its down to Zhaan to break through and free Crichton. However, to do this, she needs the help of Liko, once a High Priest, to unlock her ability to cause pain. As a Delvian priestess, this could be a challenge with disasterous consequences.

The Main Story:
In search of medicine to cure Rygel's flu, Zhaan, D'Argo, Crichton and Aeryn head down to a nearby planet to search for supplies. However, whilst Zhaan secures medication, Crichton manages to get lured into a trap. A pschic approaches him, with a great deal of knowledge about Crichton's past, tempting Crichton into the psychic's tent. However, this turns out to be a mystical gateway to the domain of a wizard, called Haloth. Haloth claims he "wished" John here, and proposes a plan to let Crichton talk with Captain Crais, allowing him to explain that the death of Tauvo, Crais's brother, was an accident.

Aboard the pursuing command carrier, Crais receives an order from High Command, instructing him to return from the uncharted territories, and give up the pursuit. Only Lieutenant Teeg witnesses this though, allowing Crais to destroy the message. However, before Crais can finish, Haloth arrives, and offers Crais the chance to kill Crichton. The wizard goes back to Crichton, and reveals he is in fact an evil sorcerer, called Maldis. He takes the two men, and pits them against eachother within his castle.

Thirsty for revenge, Crais begins to fight immediately, and Crichton is forced to defend himself. Meanwhile, outside of the castle, Aeryn notices John's absence, and with the help of D'Argo's sense of smell, they track John down, and find his body lying in the street. Liko, the man responsible for providing the medication Zhaan sought for Rygel, reveals that this is the work of Maldis, a sorcerer who feeds on pain and death, one that has killed more than half of the planet's inhabitants, and one that cannot be beaten.

While Aeryn and D'Argo adopt the soldier approach and plan to blast their way in, Liko and Zhaan know that the only way to defeat Maldis would be for the two of them to focus their energy together, and allow Zhaan to enter Maldis's realm and kill the wizard. To do this however, Zhaan must first overcome her fear of causing harm.

Back inside Maldis's lair, Crichton is figuring out the game plan, and knows that if he avoids getting angry, Maldis becomes weaker. He tries to convince Crais of this, and tells Crais it was all an accident, but Maldis steps in. The sorcerer shows them Crais's father, and the burden he put on Bialar to look after Tauvo. He then, shows Tauvo die as his Prowler collides with an asteroid, the accident caused by John Crichton. Crais fights again, with renewed vigour this time, and despite John's attempt at reasoning, and forming a truce to take out Maldis, Crais continues to fight.

As Aeryn and D'Argo think of a plan to destroy the wall of Maldis's castle, the sorcerer traps them in a force field. However, this does not matter for now, as Zhaan overcomes her fear of causing pain, and even uses it against Rygel when the Hynerian complains that the medicine he has been given is ineffective. She is then ready to attack Maldis using Liko's help. Zhaan and Liko join minds and spiritual energy, and prepare to attack Maldis.

Inside the castle, Crichton has had enough. He can't reason with Crais, and believes the captain to be an animal. He gives in, and begins to fight Crais, giving Maldis what he wants. Maldis then sends Crais back where he came from, and turns to Crichton. Crichton realises that the sorcerer wants the command carrier to pursue Crichton to the planet, giving Maldis a powerful means of leaving, and subjugating new worlds. Maldis decides to kill John then, but this provides a distraction allowing Zhaan to make Maldis tangible again, and so Crichton is able to push Maldis away, dispersing him completely.

Both John and Zhaan then awaken, and whilst John is fine, Zhaan finds Liko dying. Worse, the evil within her is awake now, and she must fight hard to contain it. Aboard the command carrier, Crais ensures there is no other evidence of the orders from High Command, and then executes Lieutenant Teeg.

References and continuity:

Crichton asks if Maldis is going to send him to Bermuda. This was exactly what Merlin, also a sorcerer, did to himself in the animated version of Sword in the Stone.

Zhaan was in Peacekeeper custody for her crimes, but has since trained herself as a Pa'u, a priestess, and thought herself incapable of violence.

Funny or interesting quotes: D'Argo: "His odour is even stronger than yours." Aeryn: "I don't have an odour." Luxans have an exceptional sense of smell, which D'Argo uses to locate Crichton. Aeryn however, believes, or at least hopes, that she herself has no odour.

D'Argo: "I suppose I would choose the lesser of the evils"

D'Argo demonstrates clear thinking which helps Zhaan overcome her worry. She knows she is unleashing a new evil in herself, but it is a lesser evil, so she is willing to make the sacrifice.

Episode Trivia:

The psychic reveals that John Crichton skipped third grade, his mother's maiden name was Macdougall, and he lost his virginity to Karen Shaw in the back of a 4x4 (see Season 4's Kansas).

John had a motorcycle accident many years ago, where he dislocated his shoulder. He had to pop it back in himself in order to get home.

Bialar and Tauvo Crais were not born into Peacekeeper society, but chosen, a great honour amongst Sebaceans.

The actress Christine Stephen-Daly who played Lieutenant Teeg, moved onto play a major character, Dr Lara Stone in the television series Casualty.

Writer:

Richard Manning wrote this episode, and was also responsible for:

Director:

This was the only episode directed by Brendan Maher.

Episode Aliens:
They meet a new species on the planet, one that has been subjugated by Maldis. Over half their population has been wiped out, but by the end of the episode, they are finally rid of the evil sorcerer. They also encounter Maldis, who is hopefully the only one of his species, as he is clearly powerful enough to destroy entire worlds. For now though, he has been dispersed, but will he return?

Farewell to:

• Maldis, for now, but look out for him in Picture If You Will.
• Liko, whose life energy is exhausted by the extreme effort used to take out Maldis.

Guest Stars:

• Christine Stephen-Daly as Lieutenant Teeg.
• Chris Hayward as Maldis.
• Grant Bowler as Liko.
• Wadih Dona as Tauvo.
• Duane Johnston as Bialar.

This was quite an interesting episode, though containing much less humour than others. It suggests a dark time may be ahead for Zhaan, but at the same time, it has brought her power forwards. If she can get it under control once more, then she could be even better as a priestess.

I would have liked to have seen more from D'Argo and Aeryn as they tried to assault the Maldis complex. However, it was interesting to see Aeryn gradually accepting that there are forces out there beyond the control of a pulse pistol.

	A planet is free, but is Zhaan?		6/10