Hence the bank of microfiche readers?

I assumed it was meant to be as in Aussie slang, e.g. "You little ripper!" but at the same time that kind of Aussie phraseology all seems to be disappearing.

I think ultimately this episode is a mess. It's got five or six really great ideas in it... the ancient ship, the honest scientists working for the Federation, Avon blackmailing an old friend, a heist of a translator crystal from the facility, the autopsy, the motives of the aliens, the plague itself and how the facility falls to pieces even as they calmly search for a diagnosis and cure... it just needed another draft or two to really bring out the magic.

They do seem to lack a sense of personal jeopardy.

I thought it was because they were so touch they ripped out your teeth

Great episode, well I like it anyway. Thanks for your company guys. Maybe see you next week.

I assumed it was meant to be as in Aussie slang, e.g. "You little ripper!" but at the same time that kind of Aussie phraseology all seems to be disappearing.

I think ultimately this episode is a mess. It's got five or six really great ideas in it... the ancient ship, the honest scientists working for the Federation, Avon blackmailing an old friend, a heist of a translator crystal from the facility, the autopsy, the motives of the aliens, the plague itself and how the facility falls to pieces even as they calmly search for a diagnosis and cure... it just needed another draft or two to really bring out the magic.

Their immunity here is rather grating - especially Blake's. He's at the centre of the action from the beginning, and yet he doesn't seem to be harmed at all, or to think that he might be.

(Apparently there was a Russian mass murderer with the colouful - and probably accurate - title of the Red Ripper, so they changed to the z). But even that didn't last long. Another good lolly bites the dust (weird menatal image there...).

Oops, there's the London sitting next to Liberator.

Well, the first thing I think of when I see the word 'Ripper' is 'Jack the . . .' But that might be a British thing.

It's also odd when he turns to Zen and says "I want a plague warning transmitter put in orbit." What makes him think Liberator has any? If you're checking out your new spaceship, you certainly look for food and water, make sure it has air, maybe weapons for protection... but warning transmitters? I was half waiting for Zen to say "What are they?" or "We don't have any."

It's also odd when he turns to Zen and says "I want a plague warning transmitter put in orbit." What makes him think Liberator has any? If you're checking out your new spaceship, you certainly look for food and water, make sure it has air, maybe weapons for protection... but warning transmitters? I was half waiting for Zen to say "What are they?" or "We don't have any."

Aussie: Ripper Rita!

Aussie: Ripper Rita!

BLAKE: Put a plague warning transmitter in orbit!
ZEN: An excellent suggestion, Blake, with only two minor drawbacks.
BLAKE: Oh?
ZEN: One... we don't have any "plague warning transmitters"
BLAKE: And?
ZEN: Two... there's no so such thing as a "plague warning transmitter"
JENNA: But other than that it was an excellent suggestion

Well, the first thing I think of when I see the word 'Ripper' is 'Jack the . . .' But that might be a British thing.

Mediocre episode - so much more they could have made of it - but a great rewatch. Hope you all have a good week, and see you next time!

BLAKE: Put a plague warning transmitter in orbit!
ZEN: An excellent suggestion, Blake, with only two minor drawbacks.
BLAKE: Oh?
ZEN: One... we don't have any "plague warning transmitters"
BLAKE: And?
ZEN: Two... there's no so such thing as a "plague warning transmitter"
JENNA: But other than that it was an excellent suggestion

I think our 'ripper' is British, at it's heart - 'ripping yarns' though, rather than Saucy Jack.

Exactly! There's this sort of assumption that we have whatever we need in Zen's cupboards.

Jenna: We've arrived, Blake, and it turns out the planet is covered in water.
Blake: Okay Zen, deploy two dinghies with outboard motors, some oars, wetsuits for all and enough scuba gear for six.
Zen: [Thinks] Blimey!

Exactly! There's this sort of assumption that we have whatever we need in Zen's cupboards.

Jenna: We've arrived, Blake, and it turns out the planet is covered in water.
Blake: Okay Zen, deploy two dinghies with outboard motors, some oars, wetsuits for all and enough scuba gear for six.
Zen: [Thinks] Blimey!

Who uses grouse anymore?

Without having a go at multiculuralism, I think a lot of that is dying out because we have a whole lot of people who haven't grown up with it. Redheads don't get called Bluey anymore, they get called "Rangas" (basically - you're an orangutan!). You don't here Waltzing Matilda as much, when it used to be like a defacto anthem. Etc, etc.

Though there is a rather clever (but a bit rude) set of sketches by some Indian Australians - "How to Talk Australians".

Also, Blake was kind of a passenger in this episode a bit. I wonder if they knew he wasn't coming back next season

Also, Blake was kind of a passenger in this episode a bit. I wonder if they knew he wasn't coming back next season

Who uses grouse anymore?

It's got of a bit of a 'Doctor Who' feeling, with Blake knowing everything about the old ship, and telling the experts his theory on what the animated zombie was for, etc.

It's got of a bit of a 'Doctor Who' feeling, with Blake knowing everything about the old ship, and telling the experts his theory on what the animated zombie was for, etc.

Well I am seeing a grouse tonight 😂

And we should all be speaking Murican now according to the young things. My 25 year-old niece is half French but speaks with a Murican accent when speaking English. WTF?