Aeryn Sun

Lore & Background

Aeryn Sun originates as a member of the Sebacean race, the same species as the Peacekeeper militaristic organization. In the first episode, she is one of the strangers picked up by Moya after its escape from the Peacekeepers, who had used the ship as a prison transport. Unlike Crichton, whom the crew initially views as a "primitive hoo-man," Aeryn understands the basic tenets of life in space but begins to learn that the Peacekeepers are not always correct. Her backstory is explored through various episodes where she confronts her conditioning; for instance, during Season Two, she grows increasingly attached to Crichton, feeling jealousy when he is forced by an Empress to marry a Princess to ensure a colony's independence. This attachment deepens as the crew faces mind-altering hijinks and dangerous alliances while fleeing Scorpius.

In Their Own Story

Aeryn's narrative arc is punctuated by intense turning points involving life, death, and resurrection. In Season One, after being injured, she helps facilitate a rescue mission that ends with Crichton and D'Argo floating in space running out of air. By Season Two, her relationship with Crichton reaches a critical peak when the neural clone of Scorpius, known as Harvey, takes control of Crichton's mind. In a devastating moment at a medical colony, Harvey seemingly kills Aeryn just as she admits her love for him. Following this event, Crichton is nearly insane from the effects of the chip until the doctor saves him using biological material from an alien called an Interon. Crucially, Zhaan revives Aeryn, bringing her back to the crew as they continue their fight against Scorpius and explore wormhole technology.

Reader's Guide

Aeryn Sun serves as a tactical leader and former Peacekeeper pilot within Moya's ensemble cast. She is known for making use of the show's distinctive slang, such as "frell," "dren," and "hezmana," as substitutes for English expletives. Her role shifts from hunter to protector as she navigates the Uncharted Territories without a common goal other than going home. Key moments defining her character include her jealousy over Crichton's forced marriage, her survival of Harvey's attack via Zhaan's intervention, and her enduring partnership with Crichton amidst the arms race for wormhole technology weapons. She represents the shift from isolation to family, adapting to life outside the Peacekeeper hierarchy while maintaining her combat prowess.

Did You Know?

• Aeryn Sun was picked up by the living ship Moya on the same day John Crichton arrived in the Uncharted Territories.
• In Season Two, Aeryn felt jealousy when Crichton was forced to marry a Princess of an independent Sebacean colony to prevent her from being handed over to Scorpius.
• Aeryn was seemingly killed by Harvey (Scorpius's neural clone) just as she admitted her love for Crichton, but was later revived by the character Zhaan.
• As a Peacekeeper, Aeryn initially viewed John Crichton as a "primitive hoo-man" who did not understand basic tenets of life in space.