#25. City at the Edge of the World
I suppose it depends on who you ask, but I've never found much merit in Tarrant as a bullying character. They don't explore it, and it usually just happens for plot convenience. But the result is damage to Tarrant's overall likability and the audience's (or at least my) sympathy towards him. I get that there's an arc of him having to prove himself to Avon and mature, but this could've been depicted with depth and understanding rather than just making him a prat until he isn't. Here it's at its absolute worst as Tarrant stupidly threatens Vila into an idiotic trade scheme, thus alienating himself from the crew. I don't care to think of Tarrant being this incompetent, therefore it's my least favourite performance from Steven Pacey.
#24. Assassin
This is the one where Tarrant gets the bright idea that Soolin is jealous of a whiny idiot hovering around him, followed by him and Avon fighting over the latter. It's purely artificial drama between them all, and feels anachronistic in Series D as Tarrant had already matured into an entirely different sort of role.
Another example of Tarrant needlessly being a prick towards Vila to get the story moving (humorously, this is after he promised to fix his behaviour). The minute he pulled a gun on an OG, Tarrant should've been dead or off the ship. I'm shocked the crew have this much tolerance towards someone they know so little about.
This episode is home to the cringeworthy speech Tarrant gives about being younger and stronger than Avon. Might have worked if the character was thirteen years old. It's a really embarrassing moment, and one yearns for the complex dynamic of the Gareth Thomas years. I also didn't care for his arrogant interrogation of Cally following her return to the Liberator. Why do they have this idiot onboard?? Vila's already there to be the annoying one.
Although it's funny when Avon literally has to drag him out of the room to save the alliance, it kind of proves that Tarrant is often written as a complete schmuck who only thinks with his dick. The fact that it's one episode away from the finale is unforgivable. He doesn't really have any chemistry with Zeoona, and the crying over her death is difficult to watch for the wrong reasons.
Tarrant is introduced to the series as an enigmatic figure - a little too enigmatic if you ask me. It's a bit ludicrous that all we learn about him comes from this story (except that he had a brother). Tarrant's presence onboard and his motivation for joining the crew is absolutely unjustified. Unless Avon really missed Blake so much that having a pompous curly-haired twit around was soothing.
Mainly ranked so low for that scene of him having to seduce Dayna for the benefit of the Ultras. This is a very Tarrant-heavy episode, but it doesn't give him all that much to do personality wise, and Pacey's too young and inexperienced to carry an episode purely as a leading actor.
Tarrant spends the entire episode standing around in Xenon Base without any signs of a clue or initiative. I do like that the crew naturally looks to him for leadership and stability in Avon's absence, but I wish he actually did something.
I don't remember anything noteworthy that Tarrant did in this episode.
Similarly to Ultraworld, this is a story with a lot of Tarrant in it, but also where his only role is to be 'the good guy' and it falls flat because Pacey doesn't wield enough charisma (at this stage in his career) to carry a story purely on his own merits. At least there's nothing cringy this time. His best moment is being roasted by Vila when he's not around.
Tarrant all but disappears after the first act, but it's kinda cool to see him command the Scorpio all on his own, complete with a space battle. The banter with Slave is really good, too. The joy on Pacey's face as he opens up the septic tank door for Vila later on is infectious.
"Well, I'll be damned!" is Pacey's best line delivery in the series.
Tarrant makes for an efficient team leader doing this particular away mission, gets to mulch a Federation trooper and show off his piloting skills at Belkov's Orbiter. It's lowkey, but all very nice.
Pacey's doped-up acting really is worth its weight in gold.
A minor appearance, but I do love Tarrant's little bow after dispatching the troopers, and his joke about the Federation officer being paid to die. His willingness to help Avon here ties together nicely with what he said about loyalty to the crew in Children of Auron.
#10. Dawn of the Gods
The earliest example of Tarrant being written to be both competent and likable. He's got snark and he likes to take charge, but Avon very coolly commands the flight deck and patiently dissects his ideas for the youthful foolishness they are. It's the Series C approach to Tarrant, but without being hamfisted and irritating like in some other episodes.
#9. Rescue
I like how Tarrant is portrayed to be very weary after the events of Terminal. He seems to have realised the gravity of the situation and aware of Avon's mental instability, so he gives up playing hero and steps up to be the glue holding the crew together. It's subtle, but nicely performed and written.
#8. Headhunter
Watching Tarrant and Vila pull off a mission together was rather enjoyable. Tarrant clearly seems to enjoy having Vila around at this point (Vila's opinion hasn't changed), and it makes for a more fun dynamic between the two. Plus, I love how shamelessly he went behind Avon's back to nuke the android.
#7. Volcano
I found it really interesting how much of a point Hower made of Tarrant still thinking like a Federation captain. Tarrant's focus in this story is on piracy, and it seems to be entirely on his own initiative as the rest of the crew just go along with it. It gives Tarrant more of an identity and we get the sense that he brings something unique to the crew - the perspective of their enemy, and his enthusiasm for crime (something which Avon mysteriously lost between Series B and C). Neither would stick, but it's nonetheless well-written.
#6. The Harvest of Kairos
Sure, the emphasis given to Tarrant's leadership in this episode is unwarranted (mainly from Servalan's end), but he acquits himself rather well I thought. He's got some great lines, we get to see him operate as a "most astute space warfare commander" and the idea of him having history with the Federation officer he's fighting against is solid in theory at least. This is proof that if a writer bothers to give Tarrant a personality, then Pacey will deliver the goods.
#5. Terminal
This episode (specifically, the scene where Avon pulls a gun on him) reboots Tarrant's character into someone who holds Avon accountable for his actions and stands up for the rest of the crew. It's a neat, natural transformation and it feels like Tarrant has more of a reason to be there now instead of 'the Liberator needs a pilot and this random pirate has nothing better to do I guess'.
#4. Blake
Tarrant gets the best sendoff he could ever have asked for when he gives his life to land the Scorpio. He stays alive after that for some reason, but it was still arguably his best moment in the series. And even the stuff he does later is top tier Tarrant. The scenes between him and Blake are full of tension (and as a fan, it's just cool to see them together) and his actions of course provide us with the climactic scene.
#3. Children of Auron
Mainly this high because Tarrant's insistence on prioritizing mercy above revenge and making sure Cally is okay is by far the most likable he ever gets. It's a weird tone shift from his treatment of Vila, but I don't care because I like this version of him infinitely more. Maybe he wanted to worm his way into the crew's good graces to undermine Avon, maybe he just wanted to turn over a new leaf or maybe this is just a better written Tarrant. Whatever the case may be, his newfound code of honour makes him stand out more in the crew and is a welcome addition.
#2. Death-Watch
We get some lovely character development here with the addition of Deeta Tarrant (also played by Pacey, with far greater depth than he's afforded by the writing for Del). We see our Tarrant at his most vulnerable, we get to learn a little about his background and what shaped the man. It's obvious that Deeta had a huge part to play in who Tarrant was and also what he became. Great story, great acting by Pacey.
#1. Sand
The chemistry between Pearce and Pacey is off the charts, but it's also the story that I think best exemplifies Tarrant's intelligence. In fact, I feel that Tanith Lee might have been a little too kind to Tarrant as he's somehow able to work out the entire situation all on his own with no help. I'm not sure he's supposed to be quite that smart, but it's still great to see him at his best, and with thought put into who he is and what his strengths and weaknesses are.
Mainly that he couldn't move next door.
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