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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.
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.
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...
'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.
My only problem is that there are only 4 new episodes...
Season Four starts on June 7.
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!
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.
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>requiring their newer/bigger set top box and yet another remote
... BAH!
Not only that, I've noticed a real loss in picture quality on the digital channels. Anytime the video goes through high-motion, you can see lots of crappy compression artifacts (reminds me of a really badly compressed CNN video).
"100% Digital Quality"?
There is much cruelty in the universe, John.
Yeah, we seem to have the tour map.
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."
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
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?
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?
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.
Realize that 'michael' posted the last story, and CmdrTaco posted this one.
FYI, these are two different people.
"And like that
You forgot to mention it has McGyver.
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
Great, 4 episodes which will surely end in a cliffhanger followed a 5 week gap...ARG! Preceeded by not airing anything for something on the order of 3 MONTHS in the middle of the current season...SciFi is driving me nuts!
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.
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. :(
You need to read the moderator guidelines, lobsterBoy. I gave up my chance to mod this thread by posting.
FACT: The previous story was about the push to move to digital TV in order to force pay-per-view.
FACT: Jim Henson productions is owned by one of the conglomerates paying legislators to force digital TV and pay-per-view on us.
FACT: People here bitch and moan about DeCSS and DMCA and then a couple stories later gush about some upcoming DVD release from AOL-T-W or a new toy from Sony. "BOYCOTT THEM... after I get my memory stick, that is!"
This makes me a troll? Bite me. You can't handle the truth.
woof.
I'm correct, just not politically correct.
I really really like Farscape. And I have sometimes asked myself why. What it boils down to for me is *consequences*.
Take your standard scifi show, say Star Trek (any series), in the majority of cases each episode starts fresh - the universe is more or less "reset" at the start of each episode and the things that happen in the episode very seldom have consequences flowing through the future episodes. Jump in anywhere in any season and pretty much you'll have no problem watching an episode and understanding why something is happening.
Farscape is different in this respect, in farscape when something happens in an episode - you can be sure that it will have consequences in future episodes.
For example, way back in series 1 John gets the gift of the worm hole technology from the ancients (appearing as John's father), and *this* triggers the whole John-Scorpius thing, if it wasn't for this one episode, this one happening, Scorpius would have no interest in John.
Now imagine this happening in say ST Voyager, I'd give it one or two episodes max before they get the technology out of his head and get rid of Scorpy, and the universe resets for the next story. Let alone that, when scorpy put's harvey in John's head - hell that would never stay in star trek, it'd be outa his head in a flash.
Farscape's character bvuilding is also much much better than almost anything, you really do see the characters develop over time, they grow up, they get depressed, they get angry, fall in love, fall out of love, hell they even go insane from time to time.
I guess it is a bit like a soap opera, but that's what makes the characters "real" to me. And it's the only scifi/fantasy show now or any time previous that has done that.
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The majority of their demographic can probably figure out how to program the thing too.
My God, it's Full of Source!
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