#about scorpius

[scarranhalfbreed-blog]

// Honestly, if I had to pick one trait that made Scorpius such an interesting villain, it was that he never let his pride become a weakness. Pride is such a common motivating factor for villains-- even some of history’s most complex, BELOVED villains. In so many cases the villain’s motivation boils down to, “I refuse to let you win because I’m too proud to accept defeat.” That’s not the case with Scorpius. With him it’s more, “I’m trying very hard to save the galaxy and you’re preventing me from accomplishing that in the only way I know how.”

In fact, that makes it so that the protagonists and the antagonists of the series could very easily swap roles. If you changed the perspective character to, say, Braca, you would still wind up with a very effective-- and even fairly traditional-- narrative. And that’s why Farscape is so magnificent. Every character is so beautifully developed.

[scarranhalfbreed-blog]

// I always find it interesting to compare the attitudes between Scorpius and his crew once Moya’s heroes are finally aboard the command carrier. The crew are very clearly offended by the fact that Scorpius is willing to offer the hand of friendship to the very same people they’ve been chasing for two seasons-- people who, according to most Peacekeepers, are just aliens and criminals. I’m genuinely surprised that no one, save Braca and Co-Kura, has the foresight to understand the purpose beyond pardoning Moya’s crew. Ultimately, John is the only one who has demonstrated the ability to manipulate wormholes, and the Peacekeepers are pressed for time to find a weapon that can be used to effectively save off an assault by the Scarrans. But no; the Peacekeepers are proud, and the presence of Moya’s crew offends their sensibilities. Scorpius, meanwhile, is left desperately trying to maintain a diplomatic relationship while tensions continue to rise.

In spite of what he says, Scorpius DOES have a bit of an ego,  if only because he’s so desperate to distance himself from his Scarran heritage. He wants to be seen like a Sebacean-- respected like a Sebacean-- and goes so far as to build up his entire image to that end. But the important distinction with Scorpius-- the thing that separates him from 99% of other villains-- is that he never lets his pride become a weakness. It’s part of what makes him so interesting. In fact, as the series progresses and he becomes increasingly desperate to find a weapon to combat the Scarrans, we see him progressively brought lower and lower, until finally he strikes his nadir in the What Was Lost arc at the beginning of season 4. By that point he’s literally on his hands and knees, chained to a leash, kicked around by his former allies like a dog.

Wayne Pygram makes an interesting point about these episodes. Even when we think he’s been completely dismanted by Grayza, he still hasn’t lost control. Just when we think he’s being turned down, he is, in fact, being turned UP-- which is demonstrated most effectively when he’s shot and buried alive. Once he shows up on Moya, the crew repeatedly comment on the fact that he’s impossible to kill. And when Sikozu asks him how he survives, he simply replies with, “Preparation and foresight.” Rendered weak and totally helpless by Grayza’s coup, he still manages to maneuver himself into an advantageous position.

The only time we see his pride become a weakness is when he really, truly loses-- when he reaches his ultimate goal only to have it snatched irretrievably from his reach. And it only happens ONCE.

[scarranhalfbreed-blog]

// Important things to note: Scorpius’s body runs very hot. And though the cooling suit prevents this from becoming apparent just by standing in his proximity, his BREATH in particular is still extra hot. And since he likes to do the whole lean in close and whisper in the ear thing, it could get a little uncomfortable.

[scarranhalfbreed-blog]

Scorpius subverts everything.

If there’s one thing you know about his character, it’s that. It’s a recurring theme in his character throughout the series-- the motivating factor behind everything he does. But he doesn’t do it with force; he does it with charm and subtle manipulation. We see it first when he boards Captain Crais’s command carrier and manages to take control within a matter of days, just by TALKING to the crew. By this point Crais has become unstable and violent; the moment one of his men start to question his orders, he lashes out at them. So along comes Scorpius-- this civil, soft-spoken creature who politely suggests the kind of superior strategy that Crais has long since abandoned-- and it’s an easy sell. By the time he makes an official move to seize command, the crew is all too ready to support him. Even later on in the series, when he’s aboard Moya and they’re holding him at gun point most of the time, he eventually manages to earn a begrudging degree of trust. Here’s a man who has tortured them-- chased them across the Uncharted Territories-- effectively ruined their lives, and with a few acts of selflessness and vulnerability, he’s almost turned himself into an ALLY.

It’s a theme we even see in his personal relationships. Over the course of the series we get to meet two of Scorpius’s lovers-- Natira and Sikozu. Both are incredibly powerful women who submit to no one else. But Natira-- who we meet after years of intimacy with Scorpius-- is immediately deferential to him the moment he enters the room. Everything she does is done with the intention of pleasing him-- including attempting to KILL him, because “You wouldn’t have respected me otherwise.” (This is where we learn with a certainty that if he puts his hand on your throat, it means he LIKES you.)

With Sikozu, things are a little different. She’s grown accustomed to always being the smartest person in the room, so she’s noticeably thrown when Scorpius-- in his subtle, understated way-- repeatedly demonstrates his masterful intellect. And in the early days of their relationship, they’re EQUALS. He’s a brilliant strategist, yes-- but her scientific acumen is highly appealing to him, especially after she discovers a chemical means to refresh the contents of his cooling rods. The series ends with Scorpius and Sikozu on almost equal footing, living kinkily ever after aboard his new command carrier.

Fast forward to Peacekeeper Wars, which takes place some months later (two? maybe?). Sikozu has the following conversation with Aeryn:

Sikozu: When I first met Scorpius, I naturally assumed I was his superior. I have since learned that there is a reservoir to his abilities that continually overshadows my own.  Aeryn: Same with Crichton. Sikozu: You view Crichton as your superior? Aeryn: No, as my equal.

Scorpius has slowly asserted his dominance over Sikozu, and she’s accepted it. And though it breaks my heart that they’re unable to maintain more of the equality that we see in the series, I believe the writers hit the nail right on the head with that particular exchange. Scorpius is MANIPULATIVE-- he uses people. He doesn’t know how to form a relationship without some sort of agenda. So naturally, the moment a woman comes along who genuinely cares for him (as both Natira and Sikozu clearly do) he takes advantage.

[scarranhalfbreed-blog]

// Casual reminder that Scorpius chose his own name when he was an adult and joined the Peacekeepers and before that point he didn’t even HAVE one-- he was just a lab experiment.

[scarranhalfbreed-blog]

Oh, I do admire your compartmentalization of duplicity.

Noranti to Scorpius

[scarranhalfbreed-blog]

Scorpius: My cell door was wholly inadequate.  John: What’re you saying? You opened it with your bare hands? Scorpius: Gloved hands, yes. John: You mean you could have got out? Anytime you wanted? Scorpius: I never wanted to.

[scarranhalfbreed-blog]

// Bless this TVTropes description of Scorpius’ relationship with his crew: “ The general rule of thumb is that he won't waste his crew's lives, but WILL sacrifice them for his objectives and will ALWAYS give someone demanding rope enough to hang themselves.”