Slashdot Mirror
Farscape Returns Tonight
Silverhammer writes "After a seemingly interminable winter hiatus, SciFi Channel's Farscape returns tonight with the first part (of four) of the Season Three finale. The 'Farscape Undressed' recap show starts at 8 pm EST, and the episode itself -- titled 'I Yensch, You Yensch' -- starts at 9 pm EST. Here is a spoilerific review." God
it's about time. Debatably the best scifi on TV.
Now I can re-indulge all those "blue women" fantasies I keep having.
Nuff said! The only thing that could improve Farscape would be some fraggles.
Farscape huh...'Episode Rating: 6 out of 10'
When the muppets come back, *then* I'll be excited.
"I only speak the truth"
Karma: null(Mostly affected by an unassigned variable)
It's an aussie show IIRC, and you could see it here in UK as well
if (!signature) { throw std::runtime_error("No sig!"); }
Well, guess now is a good time to reprogram my V.C.R. since I dont want to miss this, and I'm gonna be out tonight. Then again the blinking 12:00 always put me right to sleep... hypnotic isn't it?
I like replies better than Karma, even if they are flames, because that tells me I got someone thinking.
old news. rest of season 3, including this episode, were broadcasted couple months ago in europe. you know where to download them..
Farscape started off kinda cheesy (the whole Buck Rodgers thing), but over time its really blossomed into a good show. I've been waiting for the new series for a while too. The only thing I can't understand is why Scorpius has to wear a bloody jockstrap on his head.. ;)
Meow meow meow meow, meow meow meow meow...
I have been going through Farscape withdrawl for so long....thank god it's back.
My only problem is that there are only 4 new episodes....not enough new shots of Claudia Black in all-leather outfits.
/sig "Shop smart! Shop S-Mart!"
'Farscape Undressed' serves as a visual FAQ (hosted by Ben Browder and Claudia Black, out of character) for those new to the series (the missus and I caught the first FU, and we because hooked on the show), as well as a recap to events leading up to the upcoming season/new shows (they updated the recap for the 2nd FU, to include all the then-new/now-old show).
In addition, there is behind-the-scenes commentary with the producers and the crew. And the bantering between Browder and Black playing off one another is a hoot and a half.
Mod Karma -1: I sed bad wurds. If I cep my mouf shut, I wud be at riyses.
'Yessssss!'
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First reaction of many British people who subsequently claimed to be appalled
http://www.observer.co.uk/waronterrorism/story/
http://www.observer.co.uk/waronterrorism/story/
http://www.observer.co.uk/waronterrorism/story/
http://www.observer.co.uk/waronterrorism/story/
i've already grabbed them off irc since i don't
have cable right now. but should be good for fans
of the show (in america) who don't go that route.
I haven't watched 3x22 yet, but the other 3 new
ones are pretty good.
"Weasling out of work is important to learn; it is what separates humans from animals. Except for weasels."
I'm so glad this was posted on Slashdot. I waited so long for farscape to pick up again that I forgot about it. If not for this mornings post I would've missed it.
I can't afford to miss any episode that Chiana is in.
Samsung took back my unlocked bootloader because Google wants me to rent movies. They're both evil.
Anyone know why they decided to delay these episodes so long in the U.S?
Seems like they're doing themselves a disservice. These episodes aired in the UK about 2 months ago. That's plenty of time for the fans to find "alternate ways" of viewing them, rather than waiting the 2 months until they decided to air them in the U.S.
From what I've heard, Sci-Fi usually does this sort of thing to avoid competition from network television. Maybe I'm just overestimating the number of fans who were seeking the episodes out on the net rather than waiting for two months.
alt.binaries.tv.farscape. Had them all in high quality SVCD months ago.
Warning! Keep Out of Eyes! Wash Out with Water! Don't Drink Soap! Dilute! Dilute!
This is great news, but it makes me hate my cable company (AT&T) even more -- they moved the SciFi channel to their "digital-only" offerings, requiring their newer/bigger set top box and yet another remote. I don't want such a box, nor another remote.
Andy
If I remember correctly, the last scene in the last episode several months ago showed Crichton vowing to go off and hunt down Scorpius, right? It's been so long. I don't remember what else happened in that one (although I remember it was right after one of the Crichtons died).
I knew there were going to be new episodes sometime in April, but I didn't expect it this early in April. Just yesterday I figured I'd better go look and see, and was surprised to see that the first one is tonight (and relieved I didn't wait any longer to check, though I should have known slashdot would have reminded me).
Well, since I don't have tivo, or one of the other systems, I end up recording stuff like this.....now here's my problem....sci fi fans often bitch about how great shows are, and yet they seem to be cancelled after a few short seasons.....well, here's a tip network execs, if you want your show to be successful, DON'T PUT THE DAMNED THING ON ON FRIDAY EVENING. The majority of your demagraphic is out and about partying, or hanging out, not watching tv....
this message brought to you by the statements DUH and D'OH.
Sent from your iPad.
I'm just going to plug my favoirte which seems to have been off the air for far longer than that stupid Star Trek ripoff ;) .....
Nero Wolfe
Sunday, April 14th.
A&E
I'll be there.
Look just a couple screens deeper and you find out that they're deeply involved in pushing digital rollouts and pay-to-view, from the story posted an hour earlier.
Typical day at Slashdot, just like when you look see one story bitching about DVD encryption, DMCA and DeCSS followed by the next story about the latest geek-targeted DVD release (from AOL-Time-Warner or Sony) that everyone here has just gotta go out and buy.Excuse me while I vomit.
woof.
Blimey - for once us folks on the other side of the pond (the UK) are ahead of our American cousins on a sci-fi show! The BBC showed the end of Farscape's third season a few months ago now.
I'm not going to give away too much, but you guys are in for a treat. The interplay between Crighton and Scorpius in the final episodes of the season is fantastic. I'd love to say more, especially about the role that Talyn and Crais play in the story, but doing so could ruin your enjoyment of the episodes.
Incidentally the BBC has a great Farscape web site (better than the official one) which you can find at http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/farscape/
This site includes an episode guide which has synopsis of the last 4 episodes of the season which you guys in the US haven't seen yet. The guide has plenty of spoliers - you have been warned. As well as the episode guide you'll find quite a few interviews (video and transcripts), and various other bits and pieces of interest.
The one minor annoyance though is that the season ends on a cliff-hanger. What's really annoying is it looks like you guys in the US will be getting season 4 before I do - the official Farscape web site says it will start on June 7th on Sci Fi...
The review is fairly accurate, but remember that different writers are putting these episodes together. Still, it's not the best episode aired. Still, coming from someone who has already seen the four final episodes of this season, suffer through this one...it's a set up for the 2nd and 3rd episodes which will establish an interesting new relationship between two of the characters. And ignore all spoilers for 'Into the Lion's Den' and 'Wolf in Sheep's Clothing'...you'll regret it if you don't.
And don't ask me how I laid my hands on the final four episodes. *grin*
"Courage is being afraid to do the Right Thing, and doing it anyway."
I happen to enjoy both. Mmmm...more tivo food!
(Though, I think my tivo overdosed on the Wolfe marathon during Xmas!)
Having seen these already I can only say don't miss them! I like all seasons of farscape and this is some of the best episodes.
this is the end of season 3, not the beginning of 4 (which starts in June)
:)
btw, these 4 episodes are really good you shouldn't miss them if you havn't downloaded them yet! (hell, I'm going to watch them again tonight
-1?
why -1?
are you assholes?
The best thing about Farscape is the way it turns the typical white-man's-burden storyline on its head. The hero is the standard ruggedly-handsome, super-brilliant cowboy-astronaut, of course. But for once the aliens aren't with the program. They won't admit to his Obvious Superiority no matter how many times he saves the day.
It is hard to accept that anybody can fart Helium -- but that kind of absurdity is all part of the fun.
As for the scheduling idiocy -- well, I won't repeat my previous rant. Suffice to say this is class media monopoly stupidity. Farscape is supposed to be a key part of SciFi's strategy to convince people that they're a real network, not just a dumping ground for cancelled shows. That's why they ordered two seasons in advance. But that strategy won't work until they start showing their viewers some respect.
So, for those of you who haven't been religiously following the Farscape universe, here's a quick run down of where everything's left off.
The last episode was called "Fractures", and features a bittersweet reunion of the crew, who had been traveling separately for about 10 episodes, one group on Moya (the big ship you see in all the commercials), and the second on Talyn (Moya's son, a mutant ship with really big guns).
Why Bittersweet, do you ask?
Weeeell, it's not a _complete_ reunion, two of the members of Talyn's group don't make it back to Moya. First, Stark. For those who don't know, he's a recurring character who's basically a rather deranged humanitarian, and Zhaan's (the Blue girl...as opposed to the monochromatic girl) soulmate. The second character not to make it back is John Crichton. Wait! John? Isn't he a main character? They can't kill a main character! Whooa.. settle down there sparky. John was cloned in an earlier episode. Cruel plot device? Ratings ploy? Whatever. It worked, and created some interesting circumstances. Essentially, the John on Talyn who dies gets it all figured out. Unlocks the wormhole technology in his head (with some help), forces Harvey out of his subconcious, and even gets the girl (Aeryn). In the meantime the John on Moya is just as screwed up (He has a near-death experience in the LOONEY TOONS world, for Chrissakes).
So. The reunion. The John that Aeryn fell in love with is dead. Stark is MIA, and everyone is just plain unhappy. Aeryn's a mess, the John that's still alive is confused as hell.
To wrap up, John(1) left a message for John(2), explaining everything that happened with the wormholes, and the knowledge locked in his brain, etc.. and told him how close Scorpius is to figuring out how to control wormholes himself. So John(2) does what any good down-home hero would do and decides that he needs to stop Scorpius at all costs, and will go to his ship to do it.
Aeryn and Crais join John, and Fractures ends.
Until tonight...
All done Karma Whoring now...ENJOY!
"In the end, we all fall back on fiction." -- Lonely Planet
When I don't have my weekly doses of Farscape I tend to shrivel up and have problems, you know, computer crashes, IRS audits, girls hating me... it's a good thing that will now end tonight!!!
Help Brendan pay off his student loans
And don't ask me how I laid my hands on the final four episodes. *grin*
Say no more, say no more. A nudge is as good as a wink to a blind bat!
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Having missed every bit of this show, how would everyone recommend I start watching? Should I jump in with these 4 episodes? Or perhaps I should wait till when Sci-Fi reruns everything from the beginning? Or, I could stop being cheap and go rent the first season on DVD. For that matter, is the second season on DVD yet?
I wonder how colorful the bits we can't see are...
---If you can't trust a nerd, who can you trust?
Oh no! Look out! its a muppet!!!
I find the humor and adult themes in LEXX to much better. Sad part is, muppet show gets renewed for another season while LEXX gets canceled.
Up until the 4th Season, LEXX was incredible. The most bizarre, original series to date, and the best part, its not a US/UK Production. What? You think you get great sci-fi in the states?! LOL! Suckers!
I have to agree with that sentiment.
While Farscape is good, I have to say that I find Stargate: SG-1 much better overall. SG-1, while having some problems, has a much less soap opera feel to it.
Additionally, the science in SG-1 is (usually) a lot more grounded in fact than Farscape's is.
But then, that's just my personal taste in shows. If you like soap operas, and don't care about completely made-up "science", then Farscape might be a better show for you.
...but then, of course, everyone knows that the real best sci-fi show on TV is Invader Zim.
--The Rizz
"There is something fascinating about science. One gets such wholesome returns of conjecture out of such a trifling investment of fact." --Mark Twain
I never bitched about it. As far as I'm concerned Farscape is the only show they have worth watching, with the sometimes exception of Lexx. And the occasionaly mini-series and re-run (I want a Prisoner Chain Reaction, Dammit!).
Unfortunately, being a geek, Farscape on Friday nights are just fine for me. Likewise Adult Swim Action on Saturdays. I'm pretty sure these networks, knowing their demographic and the competition on other networks for the rest of the week, are counting on this.
---If you can't trust a nerd, who can you trust?
The sci-fi promos seem to suggest these are the "final 4 episodes". Not of the season -- but ever.
For those of you not familiar with Farscape, here's a description of this wonderful show!
Launched in 1998, Farscape is the story of American astronaut Michael Crichton. Thanks to a freak radiation leak during a routine military mission, Crichton is catapulted through a black hole, landing him on the far side of the universe, a place called Moya. Now he is part of a rag-tag band of renegades and living the adventure of a lifetime. Among Crichton's friends (and sometimes enemies) are estranged military Peacekeeper Aaronson, brutish but loveable alien warrior Kad D'Argo, the exiled Hynerian King Rygel 16, mercurial Chani, the sympathetic Pilate and the capricious Stark. Unwillingly thrown together, this motley band of renegades traverse the "Uncharted Zone" in Moya -- working toward an uneasy alliance with their old enemy Crais and avoiding the evil Dr. Scorpius at all costs.
Can anyone keep track of a series in which the whole season consists of 4 episodes? Good grief, as much as I like Farscape, I've about given up on it. Why can't they produce a decent number of episodes?
P.S. Please, kill the screamer, immediately. What an annoying character.
I already have those 4 eps as DivX and VCD. Just download them off the net. Use Direct Connect...
The reason the show is on Fridays, and it's show so sporadically is because the major networks can kick the living crap out of SciFi on any given day. If there is a show on, say, CBS, Mr. Everyman is more inclined to stop at the new show on CBS instead of some weird ass SciFi show.
BUT if everything is in reruns, then there is a better chance that that Mr. Everyman might stop and watch the show.
That and, people have said, the people that watch Farscape regularly are of 2 types: those that don't go out on Friday nite anyway...and those that know how to program their VCR's to record the show while they are out. (or a combination therein).
Oh, and for reference, Farscape gets like a 1-2 share. Thats GREAT for SciFi - a non-cable network channel would kick a show off for ratings like that.
Only Lexx has four-episode seasons, and that was just the first one. Every Farscape season up to and including this one has been 22 episodes.
:P (stupid evil kemper)
This is the last four episodes of Season 3. They're just separated from the rest of the aired season for some bizarre profitmongering scheme by Sci-Fi channel. Either that, or SFC is trying to promote international file sharing of Farscape eps...
Don't worry, when the season ends, you'll know it.
... faint praise.
U.S. Democracy: born 7/4/1776, died 12/12/2000 R.I.P.
Sorry - I'm too old for muppets. I'll stick to Enterprise and Voyager re-runs.
You can get the DVD's for the first season episodes off of the usual channels, but aside from having 2 episodes on each DVD, each one has great information on each character, make-up, design, henson animatronics, etc.
The DVD's are a must for any true Farscape fan!
www.slightlycrewed.com - Because aren't we all?
If you enjoy sci-fi shows, I would recommend Cowboy Bebop on Cartoon Network if you haven't tried it already.
The only thing that we learn from history is that nobody learns anything from history.
Debateably the best sci-fi? Wot? Who on Earth would say that?
Sorry not trying to flamebait, but could someone please explain to me what the attraction to this series is supposed to be - I genuinely can't see it. It's like Doctor Who rickety sets with the muppets in space. As comedy, yes, sure, I get it, but serious sci-fi? What?
The nympho chick is so HOTTTTT and that stupid dorky white guy commander is so funny!!!! oops, that's LEXX
;-)
Okay, the hot chicks are so kewell!!! and that stupid dorky boss they have is just dumb... oops, that's Baywatch
Okay, the robots are so funny, and that stupid dorky white guy just does not get his character... oops, that's MST3K
Okay, the hot chicks are in such good shape and wear tight stuff, strong legs are a real turnon for me, then that stupid dorky boss... oops, that is Pacific Blue.
Okay, the hot chicks always talking about sex and that one that is always wearing hot shoes, then there is the older one that is ALWAYS doing some sort of wild sex... oops, that is Sex and the City.
Okay, the hot chicks in the strip club and that big mean guy that is always having people killed... oops, that's Soprano's
Ummm, this show is on Friday night? Wait, I am usually out drinking then. Will have to build a DVR to figure out what you guys are talking about
Eve Fairbanks says I drive a hybrid!LOL
"and the best part, its not a US/UK Production"
What? Umm... Farscape is produced in Australia, primarily with Australian crew. Haven't you noticed that, for some reason, many of the aliens (e.g. Aeryn) have Australian accents?
I wonder which group the will focus on.. My guess is that it will be the group that requires less makeup.
:P
Encryption: I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend your right to encrypt it...
Farscape a 'Star Trek' ripoff?!?!?
Farscape is to Star Trek as Dragonball Z is to Buggs Bunny!
:)
Although, I must admit that the new 'Enterprise' theme song totally rocks!
They were just trying to make us desperate for an episode of Farscape that we'd go out and buy all the DVDs.
It worked on me.
As a rock-in-roll Physicist once said, No matter where you go, there you are.
True, Farside is more along the lines of Doctor Who with muppets in space, as you said.
...
Lexx, on the other hand, is more classic SF, although all the recent "visit to Earth" stuff is a big yawn for the most part (though I did like the Dr Frankenstein working in the Morgue and the Dracula in Vampire castle themes - great homages).
Sadly, from my viewpoint, Farscape is an offense to classic SF, and at best could be termed Science Fantasy, whereas Lexx which is billed as Science Fantasy by many is undoubtably classic Science Fiction.
But that's just what some of us who've written this stuff think
-
--- Will in Seattle - What are you doing to fight the War?
Some other good ones are SpongeBob Squarepants - love the trips to the moon; Powerpuff Girls (strong SF underlay, with some Fantasy); and that Space Ranger that hangs out with Cowboy Woody (whatever his name is) - anyway, it's a great SciFi series in the classic space opera genre.
-
--- Will in Seattle - What are you doing to fight the War?
What? Umm... Australia sure is what everyone commonly thinks of as a US/UK production....
. . . By yourself. Have fun.
-- No Comment
I, like many other Farscape fans, got the last 4 episodes of season 3 (which is what is starting to show today) several months ago off of alt.binaries.tv.farscape after they were originally aired (not in the US, elsewhere). They're good, with alot of suprises so I'll probably watch them again now. Unfortunately, that leaves poor old me still waiting for the new Season 4 episodes. :(
No kidding. Who fucking cares indeed.
I tried to watch Farscrap once... stupidest thing I'd ever seen.
The old "Pigs in Space" segment on the muppet show was better.
Or am I the only one who thinks that Farscape is retarded! Sci-Fi should bring back Sliders!
The countdown clock at the top of the page makes the entire story blink on and off on my netscape.
Why do morons over-produce web pages?
Same reason morons boy $300,000 home sterios. To make up for inadaquate penis size...
Innocent people shouldn't be forced to pay for inferior software development.
--"Code Complete" Microsoft Press
of the Tenchi Universe Hijacking episode
The majority of their demographic can probably figure out how to program the thing too.
My God, it's Full of Source!
OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
The thing I find interesting about Farscape are the twists it puts on the tried-and-true (and a little stale) Star Trek formula. One of the most obvious is:
In Trek, the Federation is a large military organization which spans many planetary systems and is run by earthling humans. On the whole, the Federation seems relatively benign along the shiny-happy-we'll-all-get-along-eventually idea of Roddenberry's future.
In Farscape, the Peacekeepers are a large military organization which spans many planetary systems and is run by humanoids who look EXACTLY like us. However, in their corner of the universe, they're the bad-ass megalomaniacal xenophobic overlords.
Considering the history of human nature, which iteration seems most likely to happen around here when we develop interstellar travel?
Me? Debunk an American myth? And take my life in my hands?
Sadly I said As I inferred, Jules Verne preceded Mary Shelley in terms of SciFi. But even he has his antecedents.
It was pointed out to me at brunch this past Sunday that while I was correct in regards to timelines for publications (e.g. when they went to print), that in fact Mary Shelley preceded Jules Verne in terms of the date on which her story was written.
My humble apologies. While I may have been technically correct, the timeline does not accurately represent the literary history that occurred, as her story was read by others and may be argued to be the "spark" that started SciFi.
-
--- Will in Seattle - What are you doing to fight the War?