Bad timing - propulsion using starburst?

[TalynLives]

One thing bugging me about this episode. All the way through Farscape, starburst has been presented as an emergency escape technique. When you're in dren, you starburst not knowing where you come out at the other end, you just hope it's better than where you are now. But in "Bad Timing", Moya miraculously gains the ability to starburst in a specific direction (and I'm not just talking about the extended starburst they did). What's that about?

[mjwillia]

Good Catch!

You are right - in the earlier seasons it was implied that you couldn't really determine your destination via Starburst. This is just another example of weird inconsistencies that bugged me through out Season 4. It is as if the "Proof reader" for the Series (or who ever that person is that is supposed to keep facts consistent) had been fired. Now don't get me wrong - I LOVED Season 4 but, unlike the previous 3 seasons there were a lot of inconsistencies... I'm just hoping that the Mini clears the inconsistencies all up!

[talyn3]

I never thought about it. hmmm. Starburst nullifys all navigational points, but you still starburst in a certain direction, shooting blind basicly. Most times starburst is just let's go this way kind of an event, but if you want to go to a specific point, just point that way, light the engines and hang on. When you get out, you wouldn't know exactly how to get back or exactly where you are, but you are much closer than you were.

[Jeff O'Connor]

I think there were several things about Bad Timing that didn't make too much sense, but like I've said we notice these things a great deal more in it than in other episodes because after all we thought it was the ending for a bit till we kicked our feet into the dirt and charged full throttle.

[mjwillia]

You got that right!

I can't/won't give up hope that all these little "oopsies" will be addressed in the Mini (ie. All of Season 4 was a dream or something) because Farscape has always been SO WELL DONE. I just can't believe that the quality of the writing would have slipped in Season 4. There must be a fantastic and surprising answer to all of our questions!

[evilnos_unholy]

bleh, I kept thinking that as moya gained experience and pilot learned more that it was a step in the leviathan evolution to learn to use starburst properly...

but maybe I am wrong and while moya was in the wormhole einstein or one of the ancients could have passed this ability to her?

[rinnicbob]

I gotta go with evilnos on this one, too. Remember that Pilot wasn't Moya's original, Moya's "chosen", Pilot in the first place. I, for one, have never had the same problem with this alleged inconsistency. It's perfectly logical that our Pilot, this "fraudulent" Pilot as Sikozu said, is fully in synch with Moya now. Which could include a greater understanding of and perfection in handling starburst as a means of interstellar navigation.

I like the idea of Einstein somehow improving Moya's ability to tolerate wormhole travel when he "examined" them. Pilot was always kind of tight-lipped about that. Don't forget that wormhole travel and starburst are cousins to each other, so to speak.

[mjwillia]

Evolution and Einstein are both excellent points that I never thought of...

And, you are right - Pilot has always been pretty tight lipped about their "visit" with Einstein.

I sure hope The Ancients come back in the Mini!

[DJJ]

there were so many things that never happened in the mini like the mis-leading blurb that said that John has to re-create the wormhole weapon to flush the entire Secbaccan race through a wormhole well that didn't happen

[aidor]

yeah, i'd also assumed that pilot had gained a better understanding of moyas abilities over time. hadn't thought of the einstein thing - i like it tho!

and i've never heard that blurb before, i'm glad i didn't hear it cos that would have annoyed me!!

[DRD 1812]

Yeah Pilot wasn't naturally bonded to Moya then. Now that he is and overtime got to know the systems better. Plus I believe they have covered all of the Uncharted Territories and Moya has been through a couple wormholes.