Amazon.com

The two episodes (numbers 21 and 22) contained in this, the 11th and final volume from Farscape's first season, carry on with the series' entertaining brew of drama, humor, superior production values, credible special effects, and, perhaps best of all, the clever commingling of human and humanoid characters with puppets designed by the Jim Henson Company. Episode 22, "Family Ties," ends with a cliffhanger guaranteed to bring viewers back for more, as the duplicitous Rygel plans to turn traitor, which eventually leaves the fates of Crichton (Ben Browder) and D'Argo (Anthony Simcoe) up for grabs and "living spaceship" Moya's young offspring under the control of the conflicted villain Crais, among other developments. Television viewers already know how it all turns out, as the third season completed its run in April 2002. The rest of us, however, must be content to wait until subsequent Farscape seasons are issued for the home video market. --Sam Graham ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Great climax for season 1 Finale
This DVD marks the end of season one and these two episodes are indicative of this great series. "Bone to be wild" is a good who do you trust episode. The crew while hiding in an asteroid field to avoid Crais and Scorpious are hailed by an unknown alien. Once meeting this alien they find that a creature is preying upon them as they find remains of previous victims. They are attacked by another plant like creature who is more than he seems. They find out that they only have a short time before the creature attacks again but who are they going to trust?
"Family Ties" sees Rygel up to his old tricks in trying to sell out his comrades to save his own green hide. But with Crais under arrest and Scorpious in charge he knows he has much of a chance to cut a good deal. He instead makes a deal with Crais and comes back to Moya with him. So Crichton is faced with one of his nemises, will he overcome the urge to take revenge? It ends with a great cliffhanger in this season finale. Look out for this one if you are a farscape fan or someone who enjoys a good drama and great acting, sci-fi or no. Enjoy:)

"Farscape" ends Season One with a massive starburst
Volume 11 finishes off Season 1 of "Farscape," and heralds the return of the audio commentaries that allowed the first DVDs in this series to set the standard for being fan-friendly. Of course, you are not going to listen to the commentary tracks until the second time around, where Anthony Simcoe provides solo commentary on "Bone to be Wild" and Ben Browder and Claudia Black do their tag-team act on "Family Ties." However, one thing that cropped up in the latter is useful for appreciating what we are seeing, namely that "Farscape" had not been reviewed when they started filming the finale of Season 1. Consequently, you want to read "Family Ties" as not only a cliffhanger, but also as a possible grand finale (sort of like this year's final episode of "Angel").

Episode 21, "Bone to Be Wild," starts with Moya still hiding in the asteroid field from the Peacekeeper Command Carrier of Crais (Lani John Tupu). While Aeryn (Black) checks out the newborn Leviathan with its intriguing synthesis of Peacekeeper technology, Chrichton (Browder), D'Argo (Simcoe) and Zhaan (Virginia Hey) answer a distress call. What they find is an asteroid that is a garden paradise and two creatures, each claiming the other is a killer. The title has to do with the fact that the female of the pair only eats bones and the only animal life on this asteroid is her opponent and, as we discover, two of the three visitors. Meanwhile, Crais discovers he is in a losing power struggle with Scorpius (Wayne Pygram), and Aeryn starts to build a relationship with Moya's newborn offspring. Obviously there is a lot happening in this episode that we will have to remember down the road.

Episode 22, "Family Ties," is fairly impressive as a season finale in terms of the massive galactic train wreck that is created by the time the producers credit pops up at the end of the episode. Keep in mind that for most of the filming the cast thought this was their final episode, so there is a sense of gravity here beyond that dictated by the situation. The chaos begins immediately as Rygel goes off to cut his own deal with the Peacekeepers on their Command Carrier, where Crais is on the verge of losing control to Scorpius. Things start getting really worse until Moya's crew has to come up with a desperate and complicated plan to get out of the asteroid field alive. Then the situation gets so bad that when it ends they do not even need to tell you "to be continued," because the thought of ending the series at this point is too horrible to contemplate.

"Farscape" certainly ends its first season on a high note, ironically by charting the depths of despair. The commentary tracks provides lots of insights into the details of the show, such as how to turn the instructions in the language of Papau New Guinea for getting to a McDonalds into a Delvian blessing (drop one consonant per word). The commentaries were recorded at the end of Season 3 so the actors are able to provide perspective on what would be happening down the road (there are lots of references to "seeds" being planted). You will also find a pair of video profiles this time around, featuring series creator Rockne O'Bannon and executive producer David Kemper, along with a look at the Jim Henson Creature Shop in Australia, conceptual designs, and other goodies.

Season Finale Triumph
Family Ties is such a strong episode that I have ignored its unfortunate pairing with Bone to be Wild (an episode of little consequence and terrible storyline placement) and given this a 5 star rating. Family Ties is everything a season finale should be -- enemies old and new, each character coming fully into their own, Farscape's typical wit mixed with the most poignant moments to date, and of course a cliffhanger that makes you glad the SciFi channel is goofy enough to air the final four episodes right before the beginning of the new season so you don't have to agonize too long. These actors can handle anything with style, and Family Ties is one of the most stylish episodes from any season.

Great and Silly episodes
The DVD's are well coordinated and the menus are easy to follow. The clarity is excellent.

Farscape was (and I specify was) one of the best new SciFi series out. I recommend all episodes in season one and season two however, starting with the ending of season three it has become silly and juvenile. Chreiton's brain implant is becomming redundant and needs to be resolved. I do not plan on purchasing any additional episodes (perhaps even watching) unless they get new writers (someone over the age of 12 at least)for the upcoming episodes.
LETS HOPE THEY RETURN TO THE ORIGINAL CONCEPTS OF THE SERIES.

Two great episodes to watch over and over
Being Sci-fi fans for a long time, particularly of the Star Trek franchise (our favorite was Voyager), we have been bowled over by the Farscape series. It is far more creative and adventurous than anything before it--thanks to the amazing work of Henson's Creature Shop and the bold vision of its creators...but the real success of the show is due to its fabulous cast, who make the scripts sing and sizzle...funny and poignant and raucous adventure, all rolled into one! These two episodes are truly representative of Farscape's best features, with creatures to die for (Bone to Be Wild) and the captivating performances by the cast (Family Ties). Our full salute to this inventive show! ... Read more

Description

"Durka Returns": When Moya nearly collides with another transport, Moya feels obligated to make repairs and brings the vessel aboard. Once docked, they find the ship carries a powerful race known as the Nebari---including a Nebari official, Salis, a Nebari criminal, Chiana, and Captain Selto Durka, the ex-Peacekeeper Commander responsible for the torture of Rygel. Durka has been mentally cleansed by the Nebari to remove all those thought processes deemed unacceptable, making him incapable of inappropriate behavior. Seeking revenge, Rygel attempts to kill Durka, but instead breaks the mind cleansing.

"A Human Reaction": Crichton finds a wormhole and returns to Earth. However, only his father, Major Jack Crichton, believes he is really his son. When Moya's Transport Pod blasts through, Crichton convinces the military not to shoot, but he can't prevent them from drugging and imprisoning Rygel, D'Argo and Aeryn. In horror, Rygel is killed and dissected. Aeryn escapes with Crichton and they steal away to a safe house where they give in to their long-standing passion. The next morning, with his father's help, Aeryn and Crichton plan an escape until he realizes that nothing is as it seems. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Enter Chiana
"Durka Returns" and "A Human Reaction" are two excellent episodes. The first ep involves Moya accidently colliding with a Nebari transport. The transport is brought aboard, from which a Nebari male, Salis, a female Nebari prisoner named Chiana, and a Sebacean exit the pod. Much to Rygel's horror, the Sebacean is the dreaded PK Captain Durka - The one who tortured him for so many cycles during his captivity. Salis, the Nebari official, informs the crew of Moya that Durka has been 'cleansed' of all aggressive, violent behavior and that he consitutes no danger to anyone. Rygel and the others are skeptical; You can take the Sebacean out of the Peace Keepers, but can you take the Peace Keeper out of the Sebacean? Why is Chiana a prisoner? Is she as dangerous as Salis claims? Perhaps, even a murderer?!?
"A Human Reaction" takes place when Crichton finds an unstable wormhole. In the hope that the wormhole will take him back to Earth, he flys his module in. What he finds is Earth, but his welcome home isn't what he had hoped for. Aeryn, D'Argo, and Sparky, worried about Crichton, follow him in a pod to Earth. But is Earth ready for the likes of these alien beings? Or is something more sinister at work than Crichton realizes?

Moya will never be the same with the introduction of the sex kitten and all around B-girl, Chiana.

Chiana arrives on Moya and Crichton returns to Earth
The standard first season episode of "Farscape" involved human John Crichton (Ben Browder) saving his alien crewmates aboard Moya from whatever peril of the week afflicts them in a particular episode. That makes the two episodes collected in Volume 8 of Season 1 of "Farscape" stand out all the more, because which the earth man remains the focal character, we are not dealing with the same old stories this time around:

"Durka Returns" but the Peacekeeper responsible for Rygel's torture is not the only visitor who arrives aboard Moya. Chiana (Gigi Edgley), a Nebari prisoner, introduces an element of discord back aboard Moya, more so than Crichton did in the beginning. But the main plot line has to do with Rygel's attempt to get revenge on Durka; of course, Rygel's efforts propel things from bad to worse. This is not a perfect episode, mainly because Rygel does not take a prominent role is dispatching Durka; actually, the fact that after facing his inner demon, personified by Durka in a previous episode, Rygel finds himself back to square one is a bit of a let down since it renders the previous episode rather moot. However, in the end the point is not that Durka returns, but rather than Chiana arrives (to be continued...).

"A Human Reaction" is one of the most intriguing episodes from the first season even though this is a standard Science Fiction plot line. Moya finds a wormhole that appears to have Earth at the other end (Crichton's crewmates have fun dissing his home planet). Crichton takes the risk and uses the wormhole to return back to Earth (Australia to be specific). There he is held captive by those he used to work with; apparently after he left the wormhole never shut down, everybody on Earth has freaked, his ship has been upgraded with unknown alien technology, and there are concerns about those funny little microbes that help Crichton understand every language on the planet. The only person who believes his story is his father (Kent McCord), but that might not be enough. Then Aeryn (Claudia Black), D'Argo (Anthony Simcoe) and Rygel follow Crichton to Earth and the suspicion escalates. Obviously there has to be a catch with this episode since "Farscape"cannot continue with Crichton back on Earth. There are some nice moments between Crichton and D'Argo early on in the episode when the Earthling takes his leave of his shipmates, and a real sense that the crew has bonded.

This is one of the better sets of episodes available from Season 1 of "Farscape." If they indicate the importance of character over plot, then it simply confirms what has been established by every other successful Space Opera television series since the original "Star Trek." Meanwhile, Moya's pregnancy is progressing slowly but surely.

Have They Made A Bad Episode Yet?
Even on subsequent viewings, FARSCAPE keeps getting better and better. Going back now (after three seasons) and watching these 1st season outings, a viewer can only appreciate, in greater depth, the subtletys in all of the performances, characters, and situations. Truly, this is the 'thinking man's STAR TREK.'

DURKA RETURNS is relatively formulaic, creating a situation where Rygel revisits the horrors of his previous incarceration and torture when the spaceship Moya rescues a transport carrying his former captor, Durka. The torturer has been reduced to a peacenik through alien mind suppression programming, but -- as one might expect -- that doesn't last for long. However, also along for the ride is the introduction of Chianna, one of FARSCAPE's most beloved heroes or femme fatales, depending upon your perspective. Gigi Edgley plays Chi with an edge of sexual curiosity, brazen antiauthoritarianism, and moral promiscuity. If genre shows deserved Emmys in the acting category, Gigi would certainly be nominated.

A HUMAN REACTION, for me, is one of the highlights of the show's 1st season. Again, the story is relatively formulaic: a wormhole opens up directly in front of Moya, and John Creighton can see that it leads directly to Earth (a tad too convenient ... or is it?). Of course, not missing the chance to return home, Creighton travels back to his homeworld, but things are far different than what he left behind. Kent McCord is on board, guest starring (once more) as John's father, and the surprise / nonsurprise ending is handled with incredible poignancy.

Where STAR TREK has succumbed to appealing to a viewer's more basic instincts, FARSCAPE continues to strive to tell interesting, thought-provoking, CHARACTER-DRIVEN space opera stories with plenty of laughs AND flashes thrown in for good measure.

Long live FARSCAPE!

Chiana Debut Enhances DVD #8
It was bound to happen. On a ship like Moya, which can hold many more prisoners/passengers than it contains, the production team was bound to shake the crew up by adding a new shipmate. This eighth DVD of the first season of FARSCAPE brings that new character on board, while containing two stories that have all manner of ramifications down the line for the series.

The first episode on the DVD is "Durka Returns." When the pregnant Moya collides with a Nebari transport after emerging from Starburst, seriously damaging it, the transport is brought aboard the Leviathan. Three people come onto Moya - a Nebari, Salis, bringing his female prisoner, Chiana, and a Sebacean male whom Rygel recognises with horror as Durka, the Peacekeeper captain who tortured him on the Zelbinion all those many cycles ago (first mentioned in "PK Tech Girl"). Durka has been cleansed of all his evil, violent, aggressive tendencies, and is no danger to anyone. When Chiana escapes from custody and an attempt to kill Durka removes his conditioning, it's only a matter of time to see which one of the two is more of a threat. When Salis shows up dead, the stakes are raised to a new level. This episode is one of the more chilling episodes of the series to this point, and the "creepy" factor with Salis and the early Durka is really good. The extra footage on the DVD for this one isn't that bad, and really does enhance the story. I think it also makes very clear whether Chiana or Durka killed Salis, too, something that is one of the hottest topics for debate in FARSCAPE fandom.

The second episode, "A Human Reaction" gives Crichton an opportunity to go home, when an unstable wormhole is found at the other end of which lies Earth. While he seems to have made it home, he doesn't receive the welcome that expects. When Aeryn, D'Argo, and Rygel follow him to make sure he's all right in a transport pod, they are captured, and Crichton finds himself faced with a dilemma. However, all is not what it seems, and the question becomes whether Crichton will manage to free his friends, and even if he does, can they make it back to Moya. The extra footage in this episode contributes very much to the story overall, adding a sequence that makes it very clear whether Aeryn and Crichton slept together or not, and the other extra scenes add to the overall feel of the whole story's main premise.

This DVD is a marvellous experienece overall, although the continued advertising of ADV products at the beginning of the DVD is still annoying, and there is little extra material included on this one (per usual) that makes the price of the DVD somewhat high (also annoying). That said, the Profile on Gigi Edgley/Chiana is simply terrific, and she discusses some of the various decisions made on the portrayal of Chiana that explains a lot about her first six to eight appearances in the series. These two truly superb episodes are enhanced by the Chiana Profile material, and make this DVD worth the price and a valuable asset to the FARSCAPE fan's collection. Recommended.

Very Intriquing!
I thought both episodes were pretty intriquing in their own right.Then first episode introduces,Chiana, a nebari prisoner.It isn't clear on why she is being imprisoned until later in the series.She helps John and the others to distract Durka, a old enemy of Rygel's who tortured him over a 100 cycles ago.A Human Reaction I thought was pretty interesting episode John thinks that he is going back to Earth he goes in the wormhole then he is back and everyone thinks he is dangerous.Aeryn,D'Argo,and Rygel follow him to see if he is okay.But then they are captured as well it is a pretty good episode that pretty much gets things ready for the future of the show....J/A relationship issues,Wormholes,ancients,ect. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Farscape is genre television at its most ambitious, inspired both by the cult appeal of Babylon 5 and the continuing success of the Star Trek franchise, but taking a visual and conceptual leap beyond those shows. Making extensive use of CGI, prosthetics, and state-of-the-art puppetry, courtesy of Jim Henson's Creature Shop, the Farscape concept has a freshness that makes it look and feel completely original. In "Through the Looking Glass," the crew and Moya are thrown into a dimensional schism inhabited by a strange creature; and, in "A Bug's Life," an intelligent virus is released on the ship after an encounter with Peacekeepers. --Mark Walker ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A good place to start your Farscape adventure
Both episodes are superior pieces of work from the first season of Farscape.

"Through the Looking Glass" is a supurb stand-alone episode that is, IMHO, the best introduction to those new to the Farscape universe. All of Moya's crew gets to shine is this interesting set-piece when Moya gets stuck in starburst and is split into four separate environments representing normal, light, sound, & giddyness (I guess). Note how the show begins and ends with the crew eating together and just how different the mood is between both scenes. Also note Chiana's rather cat-like growl at John in the "happy" section.

"A Bug's Life" in notable for being the first in the five-episode run that ended the first season. It's best viewed with the rest of the episodes so you can fully enjoy the storyline.

A hearty recommendation and bon appetite!

Crichton figures out how to save the crew two more times
Volume 9 in the DVD series of Season 1 of "Farscape" offers another set of episodes where Moya's crew struggles to work together to keep themselves alive and free. In "Through the Looking Glass" the problem is spatial. The crew is expressing their concerns about Moya's pregnancy; to prove she is still up to the task Moya attempts StarBurst prematurely. The result is rather disorienting; Rygel has disappeared and Crichton (Ben Browder) discovers inter-dimensional doors leading to four different Moyas. Once again, it is up to Crichton to figure out what is really going on before everybody dies.

"A Bug's Life" overs the "Farscape" twist on the old "alien, alien, who's got the alien" plot line. Special Peacekeeper commandos come aboard Moya when their ship has a fuel leak, where they find Crichton pretending to be in command with Aeryn holding a big gun by his side. The others are pretending to be prisoners to make the visitors beleive Moya is still under Peacekeepr control. The commandos are on an ultra-top secret mission to deliver an unmarked crate to a secret base. However, when the too curious for their own good Rygel and Chiana check out the crate, they release a lethal virus that jumps from one host body to the next and most of the bodies on board Moya are carrying guns and hair triggers.

These are standard "Farscape" episodes, pretty much on cruise control. When I watched the DVD feature on Lani John Tupu, play provides the voice for Pilot and plays Peacekeeper Captain Bialar Crais, I was struck by how many memorable scenes were included in the clips. There is nothing equally memorable in this particular pair of episodes. At least there is a rationale for the crew being back at each other's throats again in "A Bug's Life."

One of the better season 1 dvd's
Maybe it's just my poor timing, but I find these episodes to be ones that haven't often turned up on Scifi. They're both excellent. Without spoilers, the first one begins with the crew hilariously munching out and trashing each other while occasionally throwing food, interrupted by Moya splitting into dimensions. The dimensional shifts are handled differently than usual, which is quite interesting. In A Bug's Life, Crichton masquerades as a Peacekeeper captain in order to deal with a peacekeeper crew landing on Moya, but much else goes on, with Erin particularly good in this episode believably attracted to someone other than John. The "extra" focuses on Lani Tupu. It is terrible, like all the extras on the Farscape dvd's, but is redeemed by his talking of how he voices Pilot!

Two Favorites in one DVD
Add this volume to the "Best Of" compilation and you will have nearly everything you need of season 1 ("They've Got a Secret" is also important). TTLG is one of my favorites, allowing the cast to have some fun and a mini-mystery. Bug's Life is pivotal to the storyline in the finale arc (Farscape delivers some of the most amazing finales in tv, definite movie calibre!).

FARSCAPE Continues to Shine!
Science fiction tv series often find it difficult to maintain a high level of quality in their first year, and while FARSCAPE has had some inconsistency in this regard, the ninth DVD of the first season of the series brings us two of the best episodes in the first season to this date.

The first episode on the DVD, "Through the Looking Glass," offers the vision of a Moya split into four different realities through the act of the Leviathan's attempting to Starburst without enough energy to make the trip successfully. Each of the realities has variances from the norm that make the situation more difficult. Crichton manages to find gateways or doorways between the realities, and attempts to bring the four Moyas back together again. But there is another force at work here, a force that is ripping gouges in the realities of the various Moyas, and perhaps this is the biggest threat of all...or not. This episode brings together some of the best characterisation and acting in the series so far, presenting as it does two marvellous "dinner on Moya" scenes - one at the beginning, one at the end - that truly frame the differences in the crew at the two different points of the story. It is an episode where Chiana truly begins to fit in on Moya (in her own way, of course), and where we get to see a different side of Rygel and the others as well.

The second episode is "A Bug's Life," the first season episode that leads into the story arc that wraps up the season which will change the lives of the characters forever. When Larraq and his fellow PK Commandos commandeer Moya to transport a single crate to the Peacekeeper Gammak base in the Uncharted Territories, Crichton and Aeryn masquerade as PKs, while D'Argo, Zhaan, and Rygel pretend to be prisoners once more. But when Rygel and Chiana's curiosity get the better of them and they open the crate, they release a virus on board that threatens the entire crew...and may cost one of Moya's crew's life. This episode is a marvellous morality play that deals with the issues of trust, and has a wonderfully paranoid feeling to it. Heck, "evil Crichton" is worth seeing this one for!

Both episodes have some extended footage here that adds to the stories in general, and "A Bug's Life" is notable in this regard, featuring a good scene between Aeryn and Larraq that explains much of the personality of our favourite female PK. Thh additional footage in "Through the Looking Glass" is also worth the effort of seeing, and provides a bit of insight into the major characters, but doesn't really enhance what we've seen to this point. What would have made this DVD really exceptional would have been a commentary version of each of these episodes, since both are psychological works that really would have been enhanced by such material. There is a nice Profile on Lani Tupu's work here, although there was less time than I would have liked to see devoted to Pilot in this, but such is life and all.

With two of the best episodes of the first season on it, this ninth FARSCAPE DVD is a good buy as each of these episodes is worth viewing more than once. A few more extras on the DVD wouldn't have hurt it, but I think that this DVD is still worth the price. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The blood in question in "Till the Blood Runs Clear" belongs to thewarrior D'Argo, and it starts to flow when he's captured by a pair of feralBloodtrackers, mercenaries who look as lovely as their name would suggest. Theobsessed Peacekeeper Captain Crais has put a bounty on the heads of D'Argo,Zhaan, and Rygel, which Crichton and Aeryn discover when they set down on adesert planet for repairs but neglect to tell their shipmates.

"Rhapsody in Blue" takes Moya and her crew to a remote Delvian outpost, wherethe head priestess has lured Zhaan to help her keep her madness in check, or soshe says. There's something more sinister going on in this power grab, and ithas something to do with Zhaan's dark, criminal past. The crew is paralyzed inself-pity and Crichton is on the verge of an emotional breakdown, but Zhaan'storment as her past comes flooding back gives this episode its punch. --SeanAxmaker ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Best sci-fi on TV!!!
In short, Farscape is the most brilliant science-fiction television show in television history. The absolute best way to see them are on DVD. The picture and colors are amazing, and you get the complete episodes. On Sci-Fi, at least 5 minutes are trimmed out of every episode, unlike in the UK, where they get to see the whole thing. Now, we can too!
These two episodes are wonderful, by the way, particularly in character development.
Oh, and as far as the extras, it turns out that there were no commentaries for the past few disks, because of licensing problems. At a recent Science Fiction convention, a rep from ADV films, who produce this disk, said that this problem has been cleared up, and the commentaries, and much more features will return by the 11th volume, and will be for all volumes after that. So don't stop buying the DVDs...The lack of extras is not the DVD producers' fault and they are returning them soon!

Personally, the amazing picture quality and extra scenes are reason enough to buy these DVDs. The extras are just icing on the cake!

Forced landing and hallucinations ......
If you've ever seen Farscape, then you have yet to see till the blood runs clear and rhapsody in blue.

Till the blood runs clear is where Crichton and Aeryn are forced to land Farscape One Module on the planet Dam-Ba-Da after it suffers a plasma leak during a failed experiment to create wormholes. While there, they notice a Peacekeeper Beacon broadcasting rewards for the capture of D'Argo, Zhaan and Rygel. A pair of bounty hunters also take notice of the broadcast, forcing Crichton to impersonate a bounty hunter himself in order to ensure the safety of the others.

Rhapsody in blue is about the entire crew who experience strange and powerful dreams. Moya, imagining the distress cries of a pregnant Leviathan, starbursts without warning in search of the call. Moya and the crew discover it is not a ship but a small colony of Delvian missionaries who followed their leader into the Uncharted Territories. The become distracted by powerful hallucinations of their pasts, activated by the mind control of the missionaries.

To keep you on the edge of your seat, I can speak no more of these 2 great episodes. All I can say is, you WILL enjoy them. If you're not a Farscape fan, you will be after viewing these episodes.

Very Pleasing!
I enjoyed this dvd like I have enjoyed the other ones.I really enjoyed ''Till the Blood runs Clear'' it shows John finding the beginnings of a wormhole and what that does to his module.The Aeryn-John relationship progresses some as well.Plus,D'Argo and John come to an understanding with one another.This episode also forshadowed some things in season 3 which I found to be interesting .
''Rhapsody in Blue'' was also a interesting episode for it showed some more delvians and more of Zhaan's past and why she is a prisoner on Moya.John we see has had a long-term relationship with a woman named Alex who he almost had proposed to which I found to be interesting thing to know as well.But I am a fan of the John-Aeryn relationship so I am glad he is in the UT with everyone on Moya.These two episodes showcase how far the characters have come in the short time the show had been on at this point.It is half way through season 1 and it has been One helluva ride!

Crichton continues to set things straight on "Farscape"
This is my first trip through the "Farscape" universe and by the time I have gotten halfway through Season 1 my recurring thought is that John Crichton (Ben Browder) really needs to stop hogging the stage. Now, I understand that this earth astronaut stuck in a galaxy far, far away is our conduit into this particular science fiction realm, but I am really much more interested in the other characters on Moya. The recurring plot element at this point in the series is that every time one of the others becomes the focus point, Crichton is required to save the day.

"Till the Blood Runs Clear" has the crew discovering that bounty hunters are looking for the reward posted by Captain Crais for Zhaan, D'Argo and Rygel. This leaves Crichton and Aeryn (Claudia Black) off the hook for the time being, but they cross paths with a pair of Bloodtrackers. At this point Crichton goes into an alpha male routine as the baddest tracker in the galaxy (he is "Butch" and Aeryn is "Sundance"). This is all quite inconvenient for Crichton because while out in his spacecraft he almost created a wormhole and he needs the ship repaired before the localized phenomenon dissipates. At least in this episode Crichton and D'Argo (Anthony Simcoe) have a long overdue talk, but the, ah, intense pleasure Zhaan (Virginia Hey) gets from soaking up the rays is a missed opportunity for further exploration.

The good news is that "Rhapsody in Blue" involves the crew encountering a remote Delvian outpost, but the bad news is that all of the blue skinned women there have hair. Consequently, none of them look as great as Zhaan (Virginia Hey's decision to shave her head clearly set the bar too high for the actresses playing the other Delvian women in this episode). The head priestess says she wants to help Zhaan control her madness, but, of course, she has something else in mind. Actually, everybody in this episode has something else in their mind as the Delvins play head games with the crew. "Rhapsody in Blue" is the first episode to really unravel Zhaan's past and Crichton has to deal with more than just learning about the crime for which she was imprisoned.

The obvious formula of the series at this point, to always keep Crichton center stage, is working against the evolution "Farscape." It is not surprising that the aliens are more interesting than the one "human" character." By this point viewers are clearly hooked on the series and they should be opening it up more in favor of the rest of Moya's crew. Having a poignant moment of understanding between Crichton and one of his crewmates each week becomes quite dull from all this repetition. Volume 6 of Season 1 of "Farscape" includes a look at Moya and Pilot, but, once again, the commentaries that made the first three DVDs so fan-friendly are missing.

Two Great FARSCAPE Episodes
One of the things that the FARSCAPE tv series does so well is explore the boundaries of television science fiction and take on the task of giving their stories interesting turns and twists of both plot and characterisation. The sixth DVD disc of the first season is no exception to this rule.

The first episode on this disc is "Till the Blood Runs Clear." In the story, Crichton and Aeryn, while out researching wormholes, are forced to land on the desert world of Dam-Ba-Da, and seek the help of the mechanic Furlow to repair Farscape 1. They discover that there are warning beacons out on the characters now, and Crichton and Aeryn are forced to pretend to be a pair of bounty hunters when they encounter two Vorcarians, seeking the rewards for the fugitives. Complicating matters are Zhaan's reaction to the solar flares in the area, and D'Argo's impatience with Crichton and his arrival on the planet - only to be captured by the bounty hunters, and putting Crichton in a dangerous position. This is a terrific episode that focuses on Crichton and Aeryn, and leads to some interesting revelations as Crichton and D'Argo come to a mutual understanding about their relationship. The extras here provide some interesting depth to the characters, and make some of the storyline a bit clearer. One terrific episode, that owes a lot to some of the sf movies that have been out there for a while.

"Rhapsody in Blue", the second offering on the DVD, is a story in which the strange dreams about past loves that Moya's crew have, coupled with Moya's own Starbursting in response to another pregnant Leviathan, leads the crew into the clutches of a group of renegade Delvians led by one Tahleen. She wants to learn the secrets that Zhaan possesses that prevent Zhaan from succumbing to her "dark impulses," but when Zhaan offers to show her the means in Unty, a Delvian form of joining of two spirits/souls, Tahleen takes the extra step and *steals* the knowledge from Zhaan. With the rest of the crew being disrupted by the other Delvians' manipulating their worst fears and desires, it's up to Crichton to show Zhaan the path back to her loveable self. A superb episode that sheds light on the Delvian Seek, on Zhaan's crime, and on the love of John Crichton's life. It has some interesting ramifications for the future, and sees several changes in the personalities of Moya's crew. The extra footage here enhances elements of the "Delvian experience", but isn't a necessity.

Like the previous DVDs in the series, the sixth DVD of FARSCAPE's first season has the commercials ads at the beginning... but the episodes presented and the sheer quality of both sound and picture are abso-frelling superb. While the extras on this DVD are once more pretty skimpy - presenting a Profile on Moya, Pilot, and the folks who bring these beings to life - the reason for the lack of extras on the last few DVDs has been explained as a licensing problem (one that has been cleared up, and will see other features once more, such as the commentary versions of the episodes on the DVDs, on them from the eleventh DVD on). That doesn't mitigate the cost of the DVDs however, as these are quite expensive, but FARSCAPE is a series well worth owning on DVD. Overall, "Till the Blood Runs Clear" and "Rhapsody in Blue" are terrific episodes of FARSCAPE that emphasize the true boundaries to which sf can be pushed, but the lack of extras make the DVDs not necessarily everyone's cup of tea. ... Read more

Amazon.com

While the Farscape crew barely maintains civility in the best oftimes, nothing in the series prepares the viewer for the devious and ruthlessresponse they show when the DNA mad scientist offers them a way home in exchangefor a sample of their DNA... and one of Pilot's arms. They warm up by hackingoff Pilot's appendage in a savage amputation and then turn on each other when itbecomes apparent that Moya can only get to one of their worlds.

"They've Got a Secret" is a rather misleading title, for the secret belongs tothe living ship Moya, and the crew spends the entire episode trying to find outwhat it is. D'Argo yanks the wrong nerve in Moya's network and shoots throughthe ship's bowels like a kid on a water slide. He awakens in a delusion that hashim reliving his tragic past and building up to a murderous rage directedsquarely at Crichton yet again. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Wonderful episodes, wish this DVD had commentaries
"DNA Mad Scientist" is one of the best of the early Farscape episodes. "They've got a Secret" is also good, and gives information about one of the characters that is important for later episodes in the series. This is a wonderful scifi series, much better than Star Trek, which has gotten tired and boring in its latest incarnations. Farscape mixes humor, drama, romance, action, great stories and characters into a very satisfying whole, and takes on some of the great human themes and problems that go beyond genre, as the best scifi does. My only real complaint is that I loved the commentaries on the first three DVDs in this series, and I wish we could have them back on future DVDs--please! Or maybe an extra of outtakes and bloopers.

It's No Secret, One of these episodes is really bad.
As you can tell from my title, one of these episodes does not impress me at all.

"DNA Mad Scientist" features one of the best Henson creations of the series with Namtar, who is the title character of this episode. Basically, he is a fully realized alien species complete with backward knees (like the rear legs of dogs or horses).

The storyline is pretty straightforward. Namtar is collecting DNA from a variety of species and offeres the Moya crew a complete map of the galaxy in exchange for one of Pilot's arms. D'Argo, Rygel, & Zhaan go behind Aeryn & John's back to collect the arm (with Pilot screaming in agony, this is one of the most shocking scenes in Farscape history). With the DNA collected from the arm, Namtar then infects Aeryn and she begins to transform.

Although you can probably guess how it will turn out, there is an interesting surprise that's revealed at the end of the show about the origins of Namtar. The special effects are once again top notch, especially the scene with the map of the planets floating in Namtar's office. Overall, this is a fine episode and one of the better ones from the pre-Chiana days.

"They've Got A Secret" is simply the most boring episode of Farscape ever produced. Unfortunately, this episode cannot be ignored because it began two of the most important running plots in the series. The first one deals with D'Argo as he was accidentally cast out of Moya during the teaser. He is recovered, but his mind is drifting and we get to know something important about his past. His "secret" does manage to produce a tender scene with Zhaan, but that's about it.

Moya also has a "secret" and while it's revelation is somewhat interesting, the time it takes to get there may have you fast forwarding the DVD to get to that point. Basically, we have a twenty minute show stretched into fifty minutes with one long, pointless scene after another with the crew guessing as to what is wrong with D'Argo & Moya. I swear to the Lord above that one scene alone with John & Aeryn conversing about "what is going on", time itself comes to a stop.

I know that many 'scapers will disagree with me about my review of this episode. And all I can say is that I call 'em like I see 'em. This could've easily been a thirty minute show with room to spare and we wouldn't have missed a thing.

Ken

The bad side and the good side of the Farscape crew
Volume 5 of Season 1 of "Farscape" offers up an interesting counterpoint between two episodes that show the characters at their worst and at their best as crewmates. In "DNA Mad Scientist" D'Argo, Zhaan and Rygel barely blink before they cut off one of Pilot's arms in order to trade it for a crystal that will show them how to get home and avoid the Peacekeepers. At that point they turn on each other in the great tradition of "Treasure of the Sierra Madre." Meanwhile, the titular mad scientist turns Aeryn into an intergalactic guinea pig in one of those plotlines I hate where playing with DNA has characters evolving/devolving with the greatest of ease, leaving it to Crichton to restore sanity and order to our dysfunctional little family.

"They've Got a Secret" keeps us guessing as to who exactly they turns out to be in this episode, which has long-range implications for the series. In a previous episode we had been teased with the idea that D'Argo has not revealed the true reason that he was imprisoned by the Peacekeeper. Yes, we find out what his deep dark secret is in this episode--it proves to be very deep and very dark--and, no, you never would have seen this one coming. Certainly we see a different side of D'Argo in this episode, turning the blustering warrior into a much more sympathetic figure.

I am not surprised but Crichton, the only human character on "Farscape," turns out to be the least interesting one of the bunch. Part of the reason for this is that he is so busy saving the day in episode after episode that his character development consists of nothing more than making pop culture references and missing Earth. In this particular volume it is D'Argo who clearly grows the most as a character. Having lauded these DVDs for the tag-team commentary on the first three discs, I would add my voice to the chorus of those who are bitterly disappointed that the practice does not extend to the entire series. This DVD series started off setting the standards for being fan-friendly and now it is fairly pedestrian. Now we have the irony that just as the episodes were getting a lot better, we lose the commentary and insights from the cast and crew.

Two Great Eps, but No Substance :(
As a latecomer to FARSCAPE, I was pleased to see that ADV was releasing the episode of the series on DVD, and the first season is working its way along on these 2 eps per disc DVDs. While the first three DVDs had some neat extras on them, the last two (including this one) don't. And that's sad, given the price on these DVDs.

One of the things that FARSCAPE excels at is the story driven by character, and these two episodes have it. The disc begins with with "DNA Mad Scientist," one of my favourite episodes from the first season. With the possibility of finding a way home based on the help of scientist Nam'Tar, Moya's crew are willing to sacrifice a little bit of DNA from their eyes in what is obviously a highly unpleasant procedure. But when the demands for the starchart information the crew wants means one of Pilot's arms...well, let's just say the ruthlessness of some of the crew surprises the viewer. Things take on a more dangerous slant, when Nam'Tar injects some of Pilot's DNA into Aeryn Sun, and only John Crichton can make things right as the rest of Moya's crew are preoccupied by their own agendas and greed. A terrific story, with lots of really good character development, a few shocking bits along the way, some cool special effects, and a set of extra footage that makes the episode come more sharply into focus.

The second episode is "They've Got A Secret", in which apparent malfunctions on Moya and diversion of the ship's nutrients and energy flow threaten both Pilot and Moya's crew...but leads to a surprising development which will play a major part in the rest of the first season story arc, and leads into a morass of ramifications for the second season to deal with. Strong in characterisation and the element of suspense, this episode's extra footage provides some illumination on a couple of the characters and adds immeasurably to the story being told here. One of the best episodes of its kind in television science fiction, with a truly unique surprise that is not all that telegraphed.

As noted, there are no extras on this DVD, other than the extra footage per episode and the Profile on Rygel (and some of the folks behind-the-scenes on this annoying little Hynerian). I still get ticked off at the fact that ADV insists on putting their commercial advertising for other ADV products at the *beginning* of the DVDs, rather than as a menu feature, and that the last couple of FARSCAPE DVDs have had no real special features on them. On the other hand, the quality of the DVD and its two episodes with the extra footage doesn't quite make up for the lack of any additional features. The Rygel feature is entertaining in its own right, but there's nothing on the DVD besides the two episodes that makes it worth the price. The only reason I've given this episode three stars is for the quality of the episodes themselves and the fact that the extra footage in each one adds something to the shows in question.

Two Excellent Eps
DNA Mad Scientist is great. The creature in this episode is amazing. And secret is an excellent character builder. ... Read more

Description

Farscape Season Three: First release episodes "Season of Death" (Episode 301) Although Scorpius' neural chip has been removed, Crichton feels he has no reason to live- Aeryn is dead, his power of speech is gone, and the Scorpy clone remains in his mind.What's more, the crew of Moya discover they have more than just Crichton and Scorpiusto deal with... lurking in the Medical Facility is a murderous Scarran.

"Suns and Lovers" (Episode 302) Eager to spend currency from the Shadow Depository heist, the crew of Moya head to aCommerce Station. When the station is severely damaged by sudden violent storms,Moya becomes ensnared in the docking cables. As it becomes clear that the storms arenot natural phenomena, and the crew looks to escape, D'Argo learns that Chiana hasbetrayed him.

"Self Inflicted Wounds, Part 1: Could'a, Would'a, Should'a" (Episode 303)While searching for a planet to heal the dying Zhaan, Moya collides and fuses with asmall spacecraft, seriously injuring Moya and trapping both ships in a series of loopingwormholes. Crichton and the captain of the other ship, Neeyala, soon realize that one ofthe ships must be sacrificed if any of them are to survive.

"Self Inflicted Wounds, Part 2: Wait for the Wheel" (Episode 304) Hoping to preserve their own ship at Moya's expense, Neeyala's crew sabotage Moya,hastening her disintegration. As the situation worsens, the only possibility of savingMoya requires that one of her crew make the ultimate sacrifice. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Third Season of Separation and Death begins here
At the end of the second season of "Farscape" John Crichton (Ben Browder) was on an operating table with the top of his skull off as Scorpius (Wayne Pygram) has interrupted the surgery to remove the neural chip from his brain and Aeryn Sun (Claudia Black) was killed when she was trapped in her ejector chair that crashed into the freezing water on the planet below. Little did we know that the themes of death and seaparation were going to be so powerfully strong during the third season, but we get a few hints on Volume 1, which has the first two episodes:

Episode 301, "Season of Death" (Written by Richard Manning, Aired March 16, 2001) has the good news that Scorpius' neural chip has finally been removed from Chrichton outweighed by the fact he can not speak, a "clone" of the personality of Scorpius remains in his mind, and Aeryn is dead awaiting a Peacekeeper's funeral. Although Moya's crew makes a series of touching farewells to Officer Sun, Zhaan (Virginia Hey) has an idea. On the one hand bringing back the leading lady of the series from the dead was a bit too easy, but on the other it is clear in retrospect that we are being set up for a series of much more permanent demises by the end of the season (Four Wormholes).

Episode 302, "Suns and Lovers" (Written by Justin Monjo, Aired March 23, 2001), as the title indicates, is a pun on the infamous D.H. Lawrence novel and on target because the lovers end up being Chiana (Gigi Edgley) and Jothee, son of D'Argo (Anthony Simcoe). The main plot has to do with Moya's crew heading to a Commerce Station to spend their spoils, but a violent storm of unnatural origin hits the station. This episode strikes me as more clearing of the decks in terms of stamping out D'Argo's brief period of happiness, which does not strike me as being particularly necessary, although Chiana's motivations for the betrayal are a nice character touch (3 Wormholes).

These early episodes from Season 3 are transitional stories that resolve or reset many of the elements from the previous season. But they also set the stage for the two dominant themes of this third season, both of which will be brought home with some of the show's most powerful episodes.

Mmm, Farscape
I'm not sure what the reviewer before me is talking about; this is DVD 3.1, and you do get the first four episodes of season three. Great episodes, and mostly they look wonderful on DVD, but in places the transfer seems grainy. Still, a fabulous collection of episodes, from a show that ended much too soon.

2 Episodes not 4!!!!!!
The description is WRONG! If you want the 1st 4 season 3 episodes you need volume 3.1 ... Read more

Description

"The Flax": When Crichton and Aeryn's Transport Pod is ensnared in an invisible drift net called The Flax, a former Zenetan pirate offers to free it for a small fee. He also promises he'll take D'Argo to a Luxan ship that is similarly trapped. But when readings indicate that Crichton and Aeryn's pod is running out of atmosphere, D'Argo must make a difficult choice-retrieve the star charts that will take him home or save his friends!

"Jeremiah Crichton": After Moya starbursts without warning, Crichton finds himself stranded on the planet Acquara, an earth-like paradise where he is more than happy to stay. Paradise is lost, however, when D'Argo and Rygel land on the planet in the middle of a dispute between Crichton and a young warrior, and Rygel is hailed as the Acquaran's savior. Can Aeryn and Zhaan find a way to rescue Crichton before Rygel's true identity is revealed? ... Read more

Reviews (15)

A Must Have For Fans of the Show
It's wonderful that this excellent television series is being released to video and DVD. After all, it should be viewed in order, and those who miss the episodes on TV can catch up this way. As with all the Farscape, these two episodes continue to show the growth and change among the various characters. My only objection is that the U.S. is releasing the DVDs more slowly than the British, who have almost concluded Season Two in their DVD offerings. Patience is *not* one of my virtues! Also, when it comes to the "extras" packaged with the DVDs, I know fans of television shows would love to see previews, ad spots, missing scenes, and...perhaps most importantly...BLOOPERS! Thus far, most of the DVD available today lack these elements, although the Farscape disks are packed with other goodies to keep the fans entertained long after the initial episodes conclude.

Another awesome DVD of this sci-fi series!Captions missing!
This is another awesome DVD of the Farscape series. The first episode has Crichton and Aeryn trapped in outer space. The crew must mind a way to rescue them. But will they make it in time? This episode also expands Crichton's and Aeryn's relationship.

The second episode has Crichton stuck on alien planet after Moya accidently leaves . Crichton lands on planet and lives with the people there for 3 months. The crew of Moya find their lost friend. But the planet also has a secret . Rygel is also worshipped as a god. But can the crew save their lost friends on a paradise like planet?Also Crichton is bearded and shirtless for the female fans! It's only for about 10 minutes though !

The only problem with this DVD is there is no captions! There was captions on a few of the earlier DVD's. But not this DVD!

Enjoyed this Very Much!
I really enjoyed these two episodes.I liked ''The Flax'' so much better on this dvd then I did when it was on tv.The story had more focus of Aeryn and John in this I thought.Plus, we meet Staantz who is actually a female of his species and is being hunted by his kind.Rygel is fun in this one he plays a game that they point of it is you have to bluff it is great! plus John and Aeryn reach a new point in their relationship.''Jeremiah Crichton'' I thought was a okay episode it isn't one of the best of Farscape that is for sure.After viewing the second time I thought that this story wa sprety mediocre.John bascially gets frustrated with the crew and flys off in his module when Moya is dealing with her pregancy and starbursts away and John thinks his crewmates have abandoned him,but they look for him the next 3 months.Then find him on a island where their is no energy so anyome who comes to this planet is stuck.D'Argo and Rygel go down to retrieve him too.John doesn't want to go back but other circumstances ensue and then John does return.It is funny when the islanders start to worship Rygel.Overall I thought that episode needed some work.But if you are a Big Farscape fan(like me) you should definetly purchase this and add it to your collection.

Love, Abandonment, & Games all in one.
It was well into the first season before the Farscape we've come to know and love arrived. "The Flax" is one of the first episodes to capture that spirit.

"The Flax" is three subplots that meld into one fine show. Onboard Moya, Zhaan & Rygel must delay the guardians of the 'flax' (a kind of space web that traps ships for plunder). These pirates must be delayed because John & Aeryn are trapped in the flax and are running out of air. D'Argo, with the assistance of a rogue collector, sets out to free John 'n Aeryn. But he gets diverted to a gigantic salvage yard to search for clues about his son's wherabouts.

Admittedly, there is a certain "soapy" quality to each plot, but the acting and nice storyline twists keep this way above the "All My Children" level. 'Shippers (a term for those who follow John 'n Aeryn's budding relationship) will note that this is the first episode where they reveal their feelings for each other (the earlier episode PK Tech Girl only scratched the surface). Not to mention the top notch special effects work, particulary the junk yard with the Luxon ship.

A real highlight is the fantastic music by Subvision. Take particular note of the scene when D'Argo says, "...but can I look him (my son) in the eye." The background music is simply wonderful.

"Jerimiah Chricton" starts off with a great tease of John being abandoned by Moya after an accidental starburst. He's stranded on a paradise-ish planet where a dampning field prevents power sources from working. The Moya crew manages to find John and keep him from the clutches of the natives.

This episode features some really good special effects (take note of the first scene after the credits where John is sunbathing on his ship) and some humerous moments with Rygel. But all in all, it's not that interesting since the "natives" look like refugees from "Xena: Warrior Princess" and lack the ability to act. Plus the plot is boringly predictable, despite a end of show twist involving Rygel.

All in all, a worthy edition to your Farscape collection.

Farscape at its best
Two A-plus episodes that showcase all of Farscape's strengths. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Farscape established itself as a darker, more volatilealternative to the relative utopian ideals of the Star Trek universe,right down to its gloomy, claustrophobic look, but nowhere is that more apparentthan its journeys into the hidden pasts of its fugitive heroes. The fourth volume of episodes features a peek into the pasts of Dominar Rygel and ninth level Priestess Zhaan as they hide from the fleets of Peacekeeper soldiers in the galactic frontier known as the Uncharted Territories.

Rygel spent years imprisoned and tortured aboard the Zelbinion, the most feared Peacekeeper battleship of all time, and when they find it a drifting derelict in PK Tech Girl, his memories come back to haunt him. While hebattles his demons of the past, the defenseless crew takes on a fleet ofruthless, froglike scavengers ("They spit fire? How come nobody tells me these things!") while American rocket jockey John Crichton finds romance with the a pretty Peacekeeper technician abandoned aboard the wreck (resulting in emotional fireworks from the jealous Aeryn).

That Old Black Magic pits the crew against an evil magician that has been draining the souls of his planet for years and craves the fresh minds of Moya's crew. "I feed on death," the psychic vampire cackles while pittingCrichton against his bloodthirsty nemesis, Peacekeeper Captain Crais, and onlyZhaan can save him by unleashing the angry, evil former self she had spent yearsburying deep within her soul. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Love the show, hate the DVDs
Well, actually, to clarify, I hate DVDs that have just *two* episodes and nothing more. I didn't mind so much when the episodes had commentary tracks because I didn't feel quite so cheated. Paramount started the disgraceful practice of two-episodes per disk but I'm not particularly interested in helping that notion become an industry standard. The people at ADV could learn a thing or two from MGM (who have their own DVD problems when it comes to movie releases, I'll admit), who just released a reasonably priced five-disk set of the first season of Stargate SG-1, with each episode letterboxed and anamorphic. And there were extras on each disk, including the four or five episodes per.

But hey, ADV, start putting four or five Farscape episodes per disk, and releasing them in season box sets, and I am *so* there with you. Until then, rather than spending my money on the Farscape two-episode DVDs being released slower than snails move, I'll just save my dollars for season two of Stargate SG-1.

Love that Farscape
I did not get interested in Farscape until the last 5 episodes of the second season. I don't know why I didn't watch it before. I have been hooked ever since and have started collecting the DVD's as they come out. I would prefer more than two episodes per DVD but only if they were the same quality. "That Old Black Magic" is my favorite episode so far. My favorite character is Bialar Crais and TOBM really delves into what makes him tick. "PK Tech Girl" was also a good episode. It is interesting to see how John reacts to all the new things he is encountering in their travels. Buy 'em and watch 'em they are the best!!!!!!!!!

Best Sci-Fi Show EVER!!!!
I am 37 year old and have watched Sci-Fi all my life. Farscape is definitely the most creative, original, dynamic, intriguing, sophisticated, intelligent and exhilarating sci-fi show ever produced. YOU MUST SEE THE WHOLE THING!!!!! If you want to learn more about what Farscape is about visit www.savefarscape.com.

A pair of pivotal PeaceKeeper episodes (but no commentary?)
Well, here I have been watching the Season 1 "Farscape" DVDs and praising the tag-team great commentaries I had been enjoying as the best in fan friendly extras (not to mentioning why Joss Whedon has been so skimpy with such commentaries on the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" DVDs). So I get to Volume 4, which is the best pair of episodes I have seen to date, and guess what: no commentaries. I was all ready to give this volume 5 stars but I have to subtract one in protest because I am so disappointed.

"PK Tech Girl" does offer the old chestnut about the prisoner who falls for the captor, in this case retelling the tale (quite self-consciously it must be admitted) with the titular character, Technician Gilina Renaez (Alyssa-Jane Cook), a PeaceKeeper technician found on an abandoned PK super cruiser, and John Crichton (Ben Browder) in the familiar roles. What makes this episode work a bit better than that is how this affair irks Aeryn (Claudia Black), plus the fact that this is not a one shot deal for Gilina, which makes this more than a brief but close encounter. There is also a nice little subplot with Rygel, who was once tortured aboard this Peace Keeper ship and needs to confront a rather significant ghost.

I had been wondering what had happened to PeaceKeeper Captain Bialar Crais (Lani John Tupu), who has vowed to hunt down Crichton in the pilot episode. Well, in "That Old Black Magic" Crais and Crichton are brought together by a warlock vampire type being who wants them to try and kill each other. Crichton has long wanted an opportunity to explain that the death of Crais' brother was an accident. This episode gives him a chance to reason with the PeaceKeeper, for all the good it is going to do him. Meanwhile, Crichton's crewmates are trying a way to rescue him, even though they do not know exactly what is going on. Again there is an interesting element to the story involving the difficulty Zhaan (Virginia Hey) is having in taking advantage of her long dormant dark side in being part of the rescue effort. Of the first eight episodes, this is the best of the bunch.

The reason that both of these episodes are above average is because they both have implications for several of the story and character arcs in "Farscape." Like all great science fiction shows, the characters and their relationships are the best part of the show. By this point in the first season we are starting to learn some interesting things and the characters and their relationships are starting to click. On to Volume 5, please.

Farscape is the greatest show on TV.
Anyone who does not understand why one would buy DVD's of this show is not a fan. The DVD's last forever and you can revisit the show when ever you want through them. I'm not getting these for right now. I'm getting these for ten years from now. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The second volume of episodes from the cult cable science fiction seriesFarscape finds the motley crew of fugitives still learning to live together,with often fractious results. A swarm of interstellar insects infiltrate Moya in"Exodus from Genesis" and crank up the heat to levels that will prove fatal to Aeryn'sheat-sensitive Sebacean system. The heat wave isn't the only thing pushing already flaringtempers, however; the bugs create perfect replicas of the crew to carry out their commands,which lead to some rather interesting clashes. The episode echoes elements of StarTrek's "The Devil in the Dark" and the Next Generation episode "Evolution"(among others), then twists them to fit into the chaotic Farscape universe.

In "Throne for a Loss," the most action-packed and stylishly directed episode todate, a race of mercenary criminals called the Tavleks kidnap the imperious Rygel.Despite the temptation to leave the blustering coward behind, the crew hatches a(typically) half-cooked plan to storm the planet-side prison with the help of a dangerouslyaddictive Tavlek power gauntlet. The adrenaline-pumping, laser-blasting weapon increasesthe aggressive natures of D'Argo and Aeryn to tyrannical levels but also leads to a quietconnection between the warriors as they recover from the drug's effects and compare noteson their human shipmate: "Just imagine, there's a whole race of Crichtons running around.Think how useless they must be."

Each episode includes footage unseen in the U.S. broadcasts, and the DVD features aprofile of Claudia Black's character Aeryn Sun as well as commentary on each episode.Director Brian Henson and costar Virginia Hey (Zhaan) discuss the process of definingand developing their characters in the early episodes on "Exodus from Genesis" and starsBen Browder and Claudia Black exchange playful repartee for the energetic commentary on"Throne for a Loss." --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Terrific Treat for SF Fans!
One of the strengths of good sf on television is that it takes the characters and basic elements of its "universe" and adds to and develops them. FARSCAPE is no exception to this rule, and does it quite wonderfully in this pair of episodes.

"Exodus From Genesis" is about a bug infestation on Moya, and the surprising truth of what is behind it. With a commentary track version of the episode by Brian Henson and Virginia Hey, the episode has some very good character interaction, and the extra footage on the disc presents some rather intriguing material for fans of Zhaan. Solid episode, good story, with some neat visual effects.

"Throne for a Loss" is an episode that deals with an attempt on Moya's crew to trade with beings called Tavleks that takes an unexpected turn when Rygel is kidnapped for ransom. Excellent sense of humour in this episode with some great lines from various cast members, and the extra footage here makes the episode worthwhile. However, when one adds the commentary track with Ben Browder and Claudia Black, one has an episode version that offers all kinds of insights into the episode and how it was made (among other subjects discussed by the two actors).

Overall, a marvellous DVD and well worth adding to any collection of sf discs - but even better that it's a FARSCAPE one!

Nice episodes, great extras
I admit it--I came a bit late to the Farscape party. But ever since my jump into the series during the mid-point of season two, I've been hooked. So, I'm delighed that the entire series is coming on DVD and giving a relatively new fan like myself a chance to catch up on the early days in the Uncharted Territories.

And this DVD contains one of my favorite episodes from the first six or so and then one that's pretty darn good. The "pretty darn good one" is Exodus from Genesis which features parasites who feed on Moya. The story works because it does what Farscape does best--takes an old sci-fi convention and gives it a new spin. There's also some character development along the way, which is always a good thing.

The second episode is one of my personal favorites--"Throne for a Loss." Rygel is kidnapped by the Tavleks, who think he's a high-ranking offical that Moya's crew will pay generously to have returned to them. The premise of the episode works well and it's interesting to see the character relationships begin to grow and gel a bit. But the highlight of the story is that while the situation is serious, there is still some great humor thrown in. It's Farscape in the finest tradition--intelligent, witty and fun. Definitely worth seeing--even if you're not a Farscape fan.

What throws this DVD other the top though is the extras. Both episodes include commentaries that really help the episodes become more interesting. The commentary on Throne for a Loss is a hoot, featuring series stars Ben Browder (Crichton) and Claudia Black (Aeryn). There's an infectous energy in the the commentary that carries over to the episode and helps give some now insights into the series and its early days.

So, if you're a long time Scaper, get this one for the commentaries. If you're a new fan, get this one to see two episodes that show just why Farscape is some of the best sci-fi on TV today.

Two early in Season 1 for these two "Farscape" episodes
I started watching the first season of "Farscape" on DVD without ever having seen the show on television (I knew it was the show with the blue skinned woman and that was about it). My assumption is that nobody is going to come to Volume 2 of Season 1 without having watched Volume 1. Consequently, I get to engage more in commentary than description for this review of Episodes 3 and 4 from the debut season.

"Exodus from Genesis" is a story designed to have Crichton (Ben Browder) earn the respect of his crewmates. Moya is invaded by aliens who are able to assume the form of the crew. If that is not enough fun a squad of Peacekeepers boards the ship as well. Like the previous episode, "I, E.T.," this is another instance where "Farscape" is getting ahead of itself. Episode 3 is too soon to be doing a story where the actors play reproductions or possessed versions of their characters. We still have so much to learn about these characters, which means details like the problems Aeryn (Claudia Black) has with high temperatures is of more interest than how many copies of Crichton can show up in one room.

"Throne for a Loss" find Rygel kidnapped and held for ransom. Crichton, Aeryn, and D'Argo (Anthony Simcoe) go off to rescue the floating puppet. Their efforts are compromised by the acquisition of a gauntlet, the weapon used by the bad guys. Unfortunately, the gauntlet tends to make its user a bit psychotic, as each of the trio of rescuers discovers. However, Crichton wants to rely on good old human honesty to save the day rather than alien technology. The most interesting part of this episode is back on Moya, when Zhaan (Virginia Hey) is trying to help their prisoner deal with the loss of his gauntlet and the addictive chemicals it provides its user. Of course Zhaan is the most fascinating character on the show and every new revelation about her becomes another piece of the puzzle.

One thing that is already clear to me by this second disc from the first season is that "Farscape" is extremely fan friendly when it comes to putting the episodes out on DVD. First, the episodes contain previously unbroadcast footage, which means all the stuff they cut to show "Farscape" on American television (apparently we have 3-4 minutes more commercials than the rest of the civilized world). Second, all of the episodes feature commentary by a pair of cast and crewmembers: Brian Henson and Virginia Hey on Episode 3 and Ben Browder and Claudia Black on Episode 4. I assume future DVDs will continue to mix and match these people in various combinations. Having two people engage in a conversation works well and all the participants tend to talk about not just the particular episode but also their characters and the series overall.

Crichton tries to fit in with his Farscape crew mates
I started watching the first season of "Farscape" on DVD without ever having seen the show on television (I knew it was the show with the blue skinned woman and that was about it). My assumption is that nobody is going to come to Volume 2 of Season 1 without having watched Volume 1. Consequently, I get to engage more in commentary than description for this review.

"Exodus from Genesis" is a story designed to have Crichton (Ben Browder) earn the respect of his crewmates. Moya is invaded by aliens who are able to assume the form of the crew. If that is not enough fun a squad of Peacekeepers boards the ship as well. Like the previous episode, "I, E.T.," this is another instance where "Farscape" is getting ahead of itself. Episode 3 is too soon to be doing a story where the actors play reproductions or possessed versions of their characters. We still have so much to learn about these characters, which means details like the problems Aeryn (Claudia Black) has with high temperatures is of more interest than how many copies of Crichton can show up in one room.

"Throne for a Loss" find Rygel kidnapped and held for ransom. Crichton, Aeryn, and D'Argo (Anthony Simcoe) go off to rescue the floating puppet. Their efforts are compromised by the acquisition of a gauntlet, the weapon used by the bad guys. Unfortunately, the gauntlet tends to make its user a bit psychotic, as each of the trio of rescuers discovers. However, Crichton wants to rely on good old human honesty to save the day rather than alien technology. The most interesting part of this episode is back on Moya, when Zhaan (Virginia Hey) is trying to help their prisoner deal with the loss of his gauntlet and the addictive chemicals it provides its user. Of course Zhaan is the most fascinating character on the show and every new revelation about her becomes another piece of the puzzle.

One thing that is already clear to me by this second disc from the first season is that "Farscape" is extremely fan friendly when it comes to putting the episodes out on DVD. First, the episodes contain previously unbroadcast footage, which means all the stuff they cut to show "Farscape" on American television (apparently we have 3-4 minutes more commercials than the rest of the civilized world). Second, all of the episodes feature commentary by a pair of cast and crewmembers: Brian Henson and Virginia Hey on Episode 3 and Ben Browder and Claudia Black on Episode 4. I assume future DVDs will continue to mix and match these people in various combinations. Having two people engage in a conversation works well and all the participants tend to talk about not just the particular episode but also their characters and the series overall.

"Exodus"--3 stars; "Throne"--4 stars
"Farscape" has developed into one of the best shows on television. Enjoyment of these early episodes is enhanced by the addition of deleted material and lively commentary. "Escape from Exodus" is an enjoyable story, but far from "Farscape" at its best. The tale of an infestation by space parasites is enlivened by entertaining character interaction, always one of this show's strengths. "Throne for a Loss," on the other hand, is terrific. Rygel, as despicably hilarious as ever, is kidnapped by the Tavleks, a race of warriors who rely on an addictive drug, administered through "power gauntlets," to heighten their power and aggression. To save Rygel, Aeryn, Crichton, and D'Argo all take their turns with the weapon, and the way in which it affects each of them provides interesting and amusing insights into their characters. The way in which Crichton resolves the conflict is perfect. ... Read more

Description

"Season of Death" (Episode 301) Although Scorpius' neural chip has been removed, Crichton feels he has no reason to live- Aeryn is dead, his power of speech is gone, and the Scorpy clone remains in his mind.What's more, the crew of Moya discover they have more than just Crichton and Scorpiusto deal with... lurking in the Medical Facility is a murderous Scarran.

"Suns and Lovers" (Episode 302) Eager to spend currency from the Shadow Depository heist, the crew of Moya head to aCommerce Station. When the station is severely damaged by sudden violent storms,Moya becomes ensnared in the docking cables. As it becomes clear that the storms arenot natural phenomena, and the crew looks to escape, D'Argo learns that Chiana hasbetrayed him. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The ultimate sacrifice of Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan
At the start of Season 3 of "Farscape" Aeryn Sun (Claudia Black) was dead and John Crichton (Ben Browder) was on an operating table with the top of his skull off. By the time we get to this two-part story comprising episodes 3 and 4, Aeryn is alive and Crichton is speaking coherently again, but Zhaan (Virginia Hey) is paying a price for having used Unity to bring back Aeyrn:

Episode 303, "Self Inflicted Wounds, Part 1: Could'a, Would'a, Should'a" (Written by David Kemper, Aired March 30, 2001) sets up a new problem for the crew when an alien vessel collides with Moya and the two ships sort of merge with each other. However, the more important concern is for Zhaan, who is dying. Her only hope is to buried in special soil, which means finding the right sort of planet. Meanwhile, Crichton's hopes are raised by the "appearance" of the Three Stooges (4 Wormholes).

Episode 304, "Self Inflicted Wounds, Part 2: Wait for the Wheel" (Written by David Kemper, Aired April 6, 2001), picks up with Zhaan dying, Moya dying, and Pilot in a coma. Breaking away from the wormhole has not solved all of their problems. This becomes a pivotal episode in the "Farscape" series, which no doubt caught many viewers by surprise since it was only the fourth episode of the season and we have a major shake up in the cast of the series. I have to admit, I did not think this was a permanent event until I was about halfway through the third season. A memorable episode in a season that will be providing even bigger changes (5 wormholes). ... Read more

Description

"... Different Destinations" (Episode 305) While at a Peacekeeper memorial, Crichton and the crew are pulled back in time into agreat siege between Peacekeepers and the Venek Horde. As they try to stay alive and getback to their own time, they realize that every action changes the course of history-withdevastating effects on the future.

"Eat Me" (Episode 306) Their Transport Pod damaged, Crichton, Chiana, D'Argo and Jool are forced to land onan old, diseased Leviathan in a Peacekeeper Control Collar. Their fears of running intoPeacekeepers are soon replaced by terrifyingly real foes: mutant scavengers... andKaarvok, a madman with an horrific taste for brain matter.

"Thanks For Sharing" (Episode 307) Crichton has been duplicated into two identical Crichtons. Moya's crew, trying to buy ahealing agent for the injured gunship Talyn, become embroiled in a planet's deadlypolitics. Meanwhile, Aeryn discovers that her own mother is leading the PeacekeeperRetrieval Squad sent to recapture Talyn. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Which is worse? Swallowed by a Budong or Rider possession?
We all know how big of a headache John Crichton has been for Moya's crew since he arrived in the "Farscape" universe, so now we get to see how much fun twin Crichtons can be as the major story arc for Season 3 starts playing out in earnest on Volume 4, which offers up episodes 8 and 9 (really, those are the ones you will find on this particular DVD):

"Green Eyed Monster" (Written by Ben Browder, First Aired June 22, 2001) finds an interesting metaphor for the jealousy that is consuming the two Crichtons when Talyn is swallowed by a gargantuan space creature called a Budong (think what happened to the "Millennium Falcon" in "The Empire Strikes Back"). The plan is to simply let the ship go through the creature's digestive system until Stark explains what a Budong's stomach is really like and they decide that they need to find another way out. Meanwhile, Crais' neural connection to Talyn goes bad, so he asks Aeryn to help him control the hybrid gunship. (4 Wormholes)

"Losing Time" (Written by Justin Monjo, June 29, 2001) finds that if Pilot cannot get away from Moya to get into trouble, trouble will find Pilot. After Moya passes through a magnetic cluster, Crichton starts experiencing blackouts and sudden nose bleeds. Everyone thinks Crichton has just been pushing himself too hard looking for those wormholes, but then it turns out he has not been alone in experiencing time loss. A DRD recording shows them what has been happening to them, but when they turn to Pilot they discover he has been possessed by a strange energy rider who announces they must prepare to face judgment. Apparently another energy rider, who is evil, has possessed one of Moya's crew and will do so until the host dies. Thus begins our thrilling game of rider, rider, who has the rider. (4 Wormholes)

Neither of these "Farscape" episodes is classic, but they are solid Season 3 stories and also includes Ben Browder's first script for the show (apparently he had more time to write scripts once his character was cloned). ... Read more