Yo! New member here. I did a search for this topic, and if there's a discussion already on it, please let me know....If not...I'm amazed no one has talked about this yet.
The Space Laundry. The second it came up, I paused the show, burst out laughing, and asked my partner "Why can't they get out the ink?" Because here on 21st century Earth, there are laundry pens that remove ink stains. You'd think a galactic empire with light speed travel and space elevators could match us in that. Even for those in third class on slow boats to Terminus.
Of course, my partner's response to this question was even better: "Why are there ink stains?" Well, that's a puzzler. Because Hari uses a quill to jot down his calculations?
Look, I get the idea of a scene to show how down-to-Earth Hari is and how venerated he is by the humble lower classes who, on their four year journey to another planet, are working to get clothes clean with washboards and wooden tubs (or maybe just a coin operated Laundromat?)...but this was the best the writer of this show could come up with to demonstrate that? A space laundry and ink stains? 🙄
To give it credit, this ludicrous scene got me hooked on the show...I'm watching every episode in hopes of more absurdities and laughter. So far, it hasn't disappointed.
More space laundry 🧺
The palace looks dim because that's how the Emperor likes to show it to his subjects, obviously.