We've been watching Age destroy Bronze Tribe fleets like they're nothing, but now he's fighting another Nodos. And that's a completely different story. Karkinos isn't just some random alien he's Age's equal.The Bronze Tribe attacks are almost a distraction at this point, the real conflict is between the Nodos, this is the episode that shows Age isn't invincible. He can be challenged and that makes the story way more interesting.