Ep 5. Farscape: S3 E5 - Different Destinations

John Crichton, the astronaut who finds himself stranded in a distant part of the universe aboard a living spaceship with a group of eclectic aliens, travels back in time to Earth in the season three episode titled Different Destinations. The episode sees Crichton confront the question of whether one's destiny is predetermined despite personal choices.

Different Destinations begins with Crichton and his crewmates on Moya, the living spaceship, encountering a temporal disruption. As they try to navigate back to their timeline, a strange force catapults them through a wormhole into the 1800s in the American Wild West. The crew find themselves in the middle of a gunfight and are quickly taken hostage by a group of cowboys led by Sheriff Kemper. The Sheriff and his posse mistake Crichton for a notorious bank robber named Savage who they had been hunting.

As the crew tries to figure out how to get back to their time, Crichton realizes that the timeline they find themselves in is an alternate version of history. Crichton discovers that his appearance in the past has altered the course of events, particularly the history of a young woman, Caroline Wallace. She is destined to die in a robbery-gone-wrong, but Crichton's presence has shifted her fate. Crichton, still believing he can change the timeline back to its original path, sets out to ensure Caroline's death so that the future can play out as it should. However, Pilot, the ship's navigator, warns Crichton that this may not be possible.

As Crichton tries to prevent Caroline's survival, his crewmates begin to take on different roles in the Wild West town. Zhaan, the spiritual Delvian alien, masquerades as a traveling showgirl and performance artist, Rygel, the tyrannical Hynerian, poses as a freakshow monster, and D'Argo, a Luxan warrior, becomes the deputy sheriff. Meanwhile, Chiana, an unpredictable Nebari thief, is in danger of being sold into prostitution, and Crichton must save her.

Throughout the episode, Different Destinations raises the question of fate versus free will. Crichton grapples with the idea that he is not in control of his own destiny and struggles with the idea that his choices may not matter. The presence of the crew complicates matters as they take on different roles in society and begin to affect the timeline themselves. The episode explores how different choices lead to different outcomes and how one's actions can have unforeseen consequences.

Different Destinations is a standout episode in Farscape's critically acclaimed and innovative third season. It showcases the show's inventive style and unique approach to science fiction storytelling. The episode features a nuanced discussion about the nature of time and predestination, while also delivering exciting action and character development. Ultimately, Different Destinations offers a thought-provoking and entertaining adventure that is sure to please fans of the series and newcomers alike.