The show walked the tightrope between laughably absurd and heartwrenchingly dramatic, and did perfect cartwheels. I'll never forget watching "Bad Timing" and screaming along with D'Argo at the final moments.
I literally just finished a rewatch like 2 days ago and the whole show start to finish still holds up and is insanely fun. Original story (for the most part), great characters and amazing story. Only things I hated was dargo’s end in the miniseries to whole old woman, nuarto?, character.
Great little gem💎 of a show that I missed back in the day, 🦂Scorpius🦂 really elivated it upon his arrival & it remained good as long as he was in it. It's all about the villians & he was an absolutely fantastic villian. ALL HAIL SCORPIUS ‼️🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂
The one thing Farscape did well was showing the effect on Crichton and how living in an alien environment was affecting his mental state, being constantly hunted, shot at and having to deal with many bizarre instances that other characters in other shows would shrug off by the next episode. Crichton was always one step away from a total mental breakdown which is something most sci-fi shows ignored, and still mostly do to this day.
Most of the people I interact with are on the verge of a nervous breakdown! Pay attention to the people around you. Saying the words, "Things will be okay!", with a little compassion to, for instance, your cashier at Dollar General, could save a life.
Also, I would venture a guess and say the person who left the original comment DOES think about and acknowledge these points you mention, given the fact they’re even aware of it at all, let alone on tv… 🤔
Farscape was and remains my favourite sci-fi TV series. I loved it for its imagination, innovation, inventiveness and willingness to break the boundaries of traditional sci-fi. The cast were all incredible and the characters had excellent character development. I still watch it to this day, and live in the hope that my favourite show will return. (Oh, and loved the RPG too.)
@@FredHicks There are probably fan-made adaptations somewhere on the dark corner of the Uncherted territories of the WWW. The d20 version was really great with HP based on the character "race" more than on their "class". On the opposite, the Energy Point pool was more a question of training than your origin. There were a feww great things in this version and while not a fan on the D&D 3.5 edition, I enjoyed running some Farscape games for my friends, who were fans of the show. Of course I would use a more dramatic-based system nowadays to run in that setting. Fate comes to mind, of course (wink wink).
Farscape was one of the truly greatest Sci-Fi shows of all time, and that was ultimately it's downfall. It was unapologetically too weird for the mainstream, but too well written, acted, and produced to be produced long term. A show like this will probably never happen again. Be happy that it happened and enjoy what you can
It really is amazing how anything that isn't successful off the bar from the Jim Henson Company 9/10 become a cult classic. There's a magic to their production that is infectious.
Aye the alien designs are great. Think Farscape has the most unique/diverse aliens out of all sci-fi shows. And not just human look-a-likes with different head shapes like Star Trek.
@@Gelantiousactually the more I think about it, the more Farscape ends up falling back on "humans in makeup" type Star Trek aliens to the point where there's a straight-up race that looks EXACTLY like humans (but still different). Even in the main cast the "Trekkish" aliens outnumber the two puppets. Dargo, Zahn, Chiana, Juul, Sikozu. Even Scorpius falls under the old trope of, "immensely talented actor currently on television in fetish gear". The Scarrens go from being repurposed Skesksis to... well actually some of the best goddamn makeup I've ever seen. Not a knock against the show, but they ended up going down that road far more often than I thought.
Farscape is damn near the perfect epic.Very few shows in all of television history have the heart, soul and overall narrative that Farscape possesses. It's right up there with Twin Peaks as far as I'm concerned....
I still haven't recovered from the emotional damage of the series cliffhanger. So glad they were able to finish it. Hands down one of the best sci-fi series of all time.
I love Farscape. My top favorite sci-fi show. I'm glad we got some closure with the show and would love to see it make a comeback. Just like Dark Matter, another great show. I'm still mad about that getting canceled.
Farscape was formative in my taste for Science Fiction. The weird, the freaky, the hilarious, the character-driven. I was Hooked from Day 1 with the pilot, but that Season 2 cliffhanger left my little 7 year old mind shooketh, and few stories have gripped me the way the Scorpy Brain Chip Storyline did. Absolutely fantastic storytelling
My favourite review of Farscape summarized it as "An American is slowly introduced to the Australian S&M scene." I don't know who said that originally, but that review still makes me chuckle.
I’ll always be thankful to my friend who introduced me to Farscape, thanks to the BBS boards of the time, we bonded, shared our AIM screen names and we had a lot of good nights talking about anime, sci fi shows and The Jam
Sci-Fi acquiring 'Stargate SG-1' inadvertently played a role in Farscape's cancellation and one of the reasons Ben and Claudia eventually wound up as leads on that show. Also, the mystery backer was rumored...and likely to have been George Lucas as two Farscape actors were attached to the live action Star Wars show he was working on at the time...one of those being Wayne Pygram (Scorpius) who played Grand Moff Tarkin in 'Revenge of the Sith'. Lucas also, of course was friends with Henson.
Right idea, wrong show. Sci-Fi made it no secret that they were getting rid of Farscape for ... Tremors: The Series. The ntwork president would constantly ignore Farscape questions at cons saying she wanted to talk about their new show, Tremors.
From my understanding they cancelled 'Farscape' after acquiring 'SG-1' as their flagship show as it was of a similar nature, more popular, and they didn't have to produce it. Tremors didn't exactly play to the same audience, it was more comedy/horror science fiction.
I was part of the Save Farscape website. Not running it, just one of the fans that was active there and sent many emails in support of the show. I loved every part of that show. Really wish it had gotten a broader audience but it is what it is. At least we got 4 seasons and an end to the storyline with the mini-series.
I never missed an episode of Farscape on SCIFI PRIME. The show got better when Scorpius arrived. Rygel the 16th was my favorite character. The Henson puppets were awesome.
GREAT-show,I watched it with my wife ( she didn't like much sci-fi,but,made an exception for Farscape ) when it debutted on the sci-fi channel. We really enjoyed this show.
For some reason whenever I think of farscape there is one scene that always comes to mind. The ships puppet who sits in the chair, that I can't recall the name of lol. He was moved on screen and in such a way that it looked like he was 2D and moving sideways at a peculiar angle and it really threw my eyes for a loop. Obviously it messed me up cuz it stayed with me all these years lol.
@@alistairetheblu AGREED. I really liked the episode where they gave you his back-story,it was nicely done. Chaped my perspective of him. I have the Peacekeeper War ( 2 disc ) dvd in my hands now,plan to re-watch it later on tonite.
Crais was interesting as he evolved, but Scorpius MADE the show. One of the best long running villains in sci-fi. And the most disturbing aspect is that by the end of Peacekeeper Wars, SCORPIUS WINS. Seriously! He gets everything he wants by the end, and it WORKS. Just incredible.
As an Aussie, I felt compelled to support this - or at least to give it a go. I watched the first few seasons, but life got in the way, so by the end, I had already departed. It's interesting to hear all of the turmoil happening behind the scenes - I knew there was issues, but not by half!
It's not just a great Sci-Fi show, it was one of the best shows on TV, period. Even my wife LOVES it, and she *never ever* watched any other Sci-Fi show (no Start Trek, B5, Stargate, not even Star Wars in any shape) - It's the character driven narrative and performance that does it to her. The relationships between Aeryn and John, between John and Scorpius, the friendships - all of that is so grounded and real and interesting. We have actual character development that spans seasons and makes total sense, you can understand how the events unfolding leave their marks on the characters. It also helps that we have characters that are really interesting to begin with, going against established tropes, but in a way that doesn't feel pandering. The female protagonist "love interest" is actually a warrior "shoot first, ask questions later" type, but unlike modern "girl-boss" attitudes her arc is toward love and family and understanding that "she can be something more" than the mindless fighter she was raised to be. The male protagonist starts out as a cocky pilot but one who is more of a pacifist who avoids fights whenever possible, then ends up having a sidearm that he names and cares for and taking his place as a protector of the family (and the galactic civilization!).
My boyfriend at the time and I had just come off the masterpiece that was DS9 and looking for something new, when Farscape came out. It hit all the right buttons for us, down to taking particular Trek tropes and flipping them upside down and inside out. The relationship didn’t last, but my love for Farscape endured. I introduced it to my now-husband. We’re currently watching DS9 with our 13yo; Farscape is a little more mature than I think any of us would be comfortable with watching with him yet, but the day will come. ❤
Gunn shows his love of 'Farscape' right up front with his take on the Guardians. Quill/Chrichton as the wisecracking, square-jawed leading man, flung across the galaxy from modern-day earth, tossing out jokes and pop-culture references that none of his alien friends understand. Gamora/Aeryn as the alien warrior-woman, originally working for the bad guys but quickly defecting to our heros' ship and pairing romantically with the wisecracking hero. Rounding out the cast Drax/D'Argo as the hulking brute, Groot/Zhaan as the humanoid plant, and Rocket/Rygel as the pint-sized troublemaker.
I watched this series day one. Followed it to the end. The journey was wild, went so many directions, took chances, but felt smart, witty, mature, and incredible. The episodic arcs were just insane. From alliances, to betrayals, even an animated romp or two. It was so experimental, it just kept going But Peacekeeper Wars, that set the bar. But also broke our hearts, made us cry, and cry some more. It was so good I would love to see it return
Was sick in bed last year with Covid. Was flipping through the channels when I came across a network called Comet that was airing reruns of Farscape. Such a good series to catch up with again and honestly helped make being sick not so bad
A early 2000's MASTERPIECE that pre-saged so much pop culture to come that had a slightly shaky start but blossomed into one of the wittiest, most character driven and inventive Scifi/Fantasy TV shows worthy of being mentioned along side TNG, FIREFLY, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, THE X-FILES and other esteemed luninaries of genre television. And best part is you get a resolution and a near perfect wrap up to just about everything if you stay on the ride all the way to the end.
Firefly is one of the worst shows ever, BG is even worse, X-Files is 98% garbage, and TNG is one of the most overrated shows ever, but still decent in parts Farscape is greatness
@@lopa-u9f That you feel the need to "get a reaction" out of people with silly obtuse takes because you need a dopamine hit for being a contrarian online says SO MUCH about a person.
What the frell.... Dan, I didn't know it yet, but I've been waiting over fifty cycles for you to do this episode. It was sad to see Ka D'Argo pass at the series' end, but the core group had made it that long without losing anyone, and he was given a fitting farewell. Thank you always!
That's what happens whenever people stay in body paint for too long. Virginia Hey became allergic to it and had to leave the show to recover. Same thing happened to John Rys Davis in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but he didn't have to spend as much time in his as she did
I saw an interview once with one of the execs who cancelled the show at the end; wherein that exec was on a vacation with his family, in the middle of nowhere. He gets up at 2 am to grab a soda from the machine in the hotel's hallway and gets stopped by some guy waxing the floor tiles. The guy goes, "I know you, you're one of the one's that killed Farscape!" and that it was _that_ experience, more than any other, that got him onboard with getting Peacekeeper Wars made. Because those fans were not. going. to. stop. It makes me happy. Good job guys.
The ending was the most brutal moment of television for me back in the day - "To Be Continued" comes up on the screen... and the BBC announcer was like, "Except it won't, because that's the end of the show." So glad they did Peacekeeper Wars... and so glad I got the full version on DVD (rather than the shortened version they put on TV here); they really managed to cram a full season of story into one feature.
The efforts of the fans to stop the cancellation of Farscape multiple times, in an age where internet communication was in its infancy, speaks volumes. It's a true testament to how amazing and captivating the show actually was
I absolutely adore Farscape, watched it when it was first airing and was one of the only shows I made a point of trying to catch every week. About six months ago I picked up the complete bluray collection including Peacekeeper Wars and spent the next couple of months re-watching the whole thing with a good friend of mine who also liked it back in the day. So sad that it always struggled with ratings, genuinely one of the most creative and exciting shows and the care and attention put into all the practical effects was stunning, even rewatching today.
Bloody amazing show! Loved all the obscure in-jokes, too, like the alien priest whose design was directly based on Father Jack Hackett from "Father Ted."
I enjoyed Farscape a lot when I saw it on the local cable TV. I think I followed up to season 3. As my interested waned along with the departure of Zotoh Zhaan. It was understandable since Hey was suffering kidney damage from the copious amounts of makeup required for the role. Personally, Zhaan and the way Hey played her was one of the highlight of the show for me.
This is one of the weirdest and best shows of all time. If you can tune into its wavelength and what it's trying to do, there's simply nothing like it. It's a work of unbridled creativity the likes of which we almost never get to see on television. Truly worth tracking down if you've never seen it.
If anyone ever wants to teach a class on "How actors being amazing can elevate a show way above the scripts and concept of a show", this should be the prime example used. There's no way that show should have been that good, but Ben and Claudia along with the 3 other main characters' actors were so amazing. It was such a joy to watch and the first of many great shows the stupid Sci-Fi network canceled which is why I've completely given up ever watching anything on that stupid network. If fans of Farscape are looking for a similar show that also got hosed by that network, try to find Dark Matter on streaming. Less puppets and Australians but top-notch Canadian actors.
The body-swap episode is a great example. It's usually a pretty awkward concept, but the actors absolutely nailed their imitations of each other. And they swap twice, so each actor had to play as two different people. That's genuinely great work. (Although I thought D'argo-as-Chiana really stole the show.)
Fun fact, Ben Browder improvised a lot on set. In the episode "Look at the Princess" where he freaks out Braca by grabbing at his pulse pistol and pressing it into his hand; "KILL MY SEX LIFE!! KILL MY SEX LIFE!!"
I am proud to have been a very small part of the very large noise that got us "the peace keeper wars" We Were Many, and we were so loud and passionate about saveing it. I know people will still be watching and enjoying this series long after i am gone. and that is its own reward.
I really loved the shows especially since it shows that not all aliens are humanoid. Loved the Jim Henson Creature Ship for several designs. Was happy the Peace Keeper Wars concluded the series.
this hurts me and heals me at the same time, I know some say it's and exaggeration when "something" saves them, but I have to say it, Farscape saved me in my teenage years, it was so weird at the time, so un-formal, so primal, so "it's all we can do, let's do it", always with a serious tone but never taking itself too seriously to become a solemn thing
Farscape was and is a wonderful romp across the galaxy, it's dramatic, funny, heartwarming and heartbreaking. Each actor pours heavily into their character to the point you forget it's a show and not a video of friends, foes and family..but on a living spaceship. Aeryn and John forever!
Just wanted to feed the algo, and let you all know, I love this show. Never miss an episode. Thank you guys for all you do, these are my favorite weekly web show.
My all-time favorite TV show. Season 1 starts out a bit iffy, but once the show finds itself it REALLY finds itself. Incredible character development, amazing practical effects- puppets and animatronics. Best love story in TV history and much more. It's honestly the most unique show. There's nothing else like it and probably never will be.
Am I still cranky about them ordering Season 4 & 5, and then, after cancelling the series in the middle of Season 4, STILL having the gall to "To Be Continued"ing the final episode of S4? YES- yes I am.
I LOVED THIS SHOW!! Started watching while I was home during my co-op during undergrad. Had to stop only because our school didn't carry the Sci-Fi channel on it's cable offerings, but watched it EVERY TIME I came home.
I remember seeing the ads for Farscape and gave it a hard pass. Two years in someone forced me to watch the DVDs and I genuinely loved it. The resolution of the duplicate story haunts me to this day.
one of . y all time favorite shows ever. the ingenuity between human and alien just blew my mind. I was greatly saddened that it ended although I'm glad that they got to resolve the story but still... I want more.
It had big budget movie level effects, props, makeup and costumes because many of the crew were experts in the movie industry and used Farscape as a reliable source of income when thwy weren't working on a Hollywood feature here in Australia.
I haven't seen it mentioned in the comments, but did anyone else notice that Jason X footage near the beginning? Great vid! I never was able to catch it on tv, but my gf caught me up with all her dvds. Crazy and fun series for sure.
I was one of those people who discovered the show really late. I bought the complete series (probably the 1st release) on a Black Friday, and got around to watching it around 2010ish... I loved it and worked hard to hunt down Peacekeeper Wars. It is a throwback because it used practical effects in a time when big studios (think Star Wars Attack of the Clones) were leaning heavily into the CGI ("A Playstation 2 cut scene," Ryan George as "Producer Guy" from Pitch Meeting). Its use of puppetry was wonderful and I blazed through the whole show. Also, it is a quaint thing to remember when fans could bring shows back from the dead with mail campaigns. I am thinking of the original- Roswell, which came because of the Hot Sauce campaign, spurring so many others, including probably the bra one which saved Farscape.
The first release on DVD was bundles of two episodes at a time. You had to wait MONTHS to get a new DVD. It was torture. I spent a fortune to collect them! 😂
@@aimeeinkling Ah yes.. back when companies were trying to figure out how best to maximize their DVD profits. Meanwhile, today, Best Buy is phasing them out completely.
I still have all of my Farscape DVDs. This series got me through the end of undergrad start of grad school. I was so invested in this dysfunctional family and loved how power sets/abilities and their fleet of ships evolved over the course of the series.
You’ve mentioned Seaquest DSV a couple of weeks. I’d love to see a full video on it! I love that series and still run through it every two or three years.
Still my favorite show. So creative, the best story arcs, and some amazing A+ episodes. First episode watched was The Way We Weren't and it blew my mind and quickly caught up. As a member of the official fan club when it aired I still have the great fan magazines that came every month I believe.
I was never able to see Farscape when it was shown in the UK due to work (it was shown at a completely inappropriate early evening slot), but on the advice of others, binged it some years later. What a terrific show!
One of the best Science Fiction shows I've ever seen in my life!! I'm 65 and I've seen my fill of Sci-Fi shows and this one is still my favorite!! Hated the way they ended it. I wanted more episodes!!
Farscape is still one of the best science fiction shows ever . Having farscape and stargate sg1 together was one of the best things the sci fi channel ever did .
I'm so excited to see what you have to say about this! Farscape is my absolute favorite television series and sci-fi in general. I fell in love with it the moment the series debuted in 1999. It deserves so much love and recognition.
This show was bloody brilliant. I loved how during the series they clone the main character and the team splits up and goes on separate adventures for awhile making full use of its cast at all times! I hate how other shows get a huge cast and can't organically use them all to their fullest; Farscape is a perfect example of how to use the cast to it's fullest, Sidenote: I find it interesting that around the same time both Lexx (another highly underrated Science Fiction series) and Farscape had living ships :P
Great show. As much as I love Star Trek, having a completely different take on the genre is always welcome and they did a wonderful job, in many ways it feels like a modern take on Blake’s 7….I wish that would get remade….
It technically is a continuation of Blake’s 7 - it’s set in the same universe just a lot further down the track - they even reference them in all but name.
I had the pleasure of meeting Gigi Edgley at Megacon earlier this year. And yes, she is just as Beautiful now as she was in Farscape. She chatted with us for a while and was just so sweet and awesome. She took about a dozen pictures with us as well. One of the best celebrity meets i have ever had.
Farscape was one my favorite Sci-Fi Action shows along with Stargate SG-1, and Andromeda. It was well done, well written, and suberbly acted. John Crichton and Aryn Sun were truly great. Dargo, Zan, and Riegel were great too. Not only did John have to deal with these bizarre aliens, he kept at it with finding a solution to get back to Earth(despite getting back here, he chose to be with Aryn and their at the end of the second Peacekeepers Wars movie). I was really impressed with the Pilot puppet, and the Reigel puppet. The Jim Henson people did such a good job designing both of them , and their voice actors were quite good. It was such a different, weird, but really interesting, fun show. It truly was the anti-Star Trek of it's time.
Farscape handily supplanted Doctor Who as my favourite sci-fi show from the moment I first saw it. It really was like nothing else, and as much as I enjoy most of the sci-fi fan staples, nothing else comes even close!
It was a marvelous series with characters to get invested in, and I'm glad they had a chance to tie things up with Peacekeeper Wars. Not every show gets that chance. But it had its time. We can still enjoy it as it was, but we can give other stories a chance to happen now. *stares pointedly at Hollywood robotically re-re-treading every single "property" that ever saw some success in the past*
Great little gem💎 of a show that I missed back in the day, 🦂Scorpius🦂 really elivated it upon his arrival & it remained good as long as he was in it. It's all about the villians & he was an absolutely fantastic villian. ALL HAIL SCORPIUS ‼️🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂
Yes! Farscape is chronically under-rated. Absolute balls-to-the-wall, ambitious sci-fi that never lost its sense of fun. Glorious!
Summed up perfectly!
The show walked the tightrope between laughably absurd and heartwrenchingly dramatic, and did perfect cartwheels. I'll never forget watching "Bad Timing" and screaming along with D'Argo at the final moments.
I literally just finished a rewatch like 2 days ago and the whole show start to finish still holds up and is insanely fun. Original story (for the most part), great characters and amazing story. Only things I hated was dargo’s end in the miniseries to whole old woman, nuarto?, character.
Great little gem💎 of a show that I missed back in the day, 🦂Scorpius🦂 really elivated it upon his arrival & it remained good as long as he was in it. It's all about the villians & he was an absolutely fantastic villian. ALL HAIL SCORPIUS ‼️🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂
So glad people remember it! Great show!
The one thing Farscape did well was showing the effect on Crichton and how living in an alien environment was affecting his mental state, being constantly hunted, shot at and having to deal with many bizarre instances that other characters in other shows would shrug off by the next episode. Crichton was always one step away from a total mental breakdown which is something most sci-fi shows ignored, and still mostly do to this day.
I'm pretty certain he had mental breakdowns on a regular basis after "Harvey" came into the picture.
shit I'm like that here
Most of the people I interact with are on the verge of a nervous breakdown!
Pay attention to the people around you.
Saying the words, "Things will be okay!", with a little compassion to, for instance, your cashier at Dollar General, could save a life.
@jacob.tudragens -that is true, yes, but the comment was referring to the scripts of television shows, in particular, sci-fi. Lol.
Also, I would venture a guess and say the person who left the original comment DOES think about and acknowledge these points you mention, given the fact they’re even aware of it at all, let alone on tv… 🤔
Farscape was and remains my favourite sci-fi TV series. I loved it for its imagination, innovation, inventiveness and willingness to break the boundaries of traditional sci-fi. The cast were all incredible and the characters had excellent character development. I still watch it to this day, and live in the hope that my favourite show will return. (Oh, and loved the RPG too.)
Wait it has an RPG !
Did'ja diggit, muh'Scaper?
@@saiynoq6745 I remember it as an 'okay' jump onto the d20 boom-days of the early '00s, but I don't know if there was ever another/better version.
@@FredHicks There are probably fan-made adaptations somewhere on the dark corner of the Uncherted territories of the WWW. The d20 version was really great with HP based on the character "race" more than on their "class". On the opposite, the Energy Point pool was more a question of training than your origin. There were a feww great things in this version and while not a fan on the D&D 3.5 edition, I enjoyed running some Farscape games for my friends, who were fans of the show.
Of course I would use a more dramatic-based system nowadays to run in that setting. Fate comes to mind, of course (wink wink).
I've got the rpg lol
Farscape was one of the truly greatest Sci-Fi shows of all time, and that was ultimately it's downfall. It was unapologetically too weird for the mainstream, but too well written, acted, and produced to be produced long term. A show like this will probably never happen again. Be happy that it happened and enjoy what you can
It really is amazing how anything that isn't successful off the bar from the Jim Henson Company 9/10 become a cult classic. There's a magic to their production that is infectious.
I loved the alien designs for the series, naturally all thanks to the Jim Henson company. Too bad most sci-fi shows aren’t this creative.
Everything is CG now. Practical effects/costumes have sadly gone by the wayside. 😕
Aye the alien designs are great. Think Farscape has the most unique/diverse aliens out of all sci-fi shows. And not just human look-a-likes with different head shapes like Star Trek.
@@Gelantious You got Him Henson to thank for that. Even though he passed in 1990, his legacy lives on in the Creature Shop. 👍🏼
@@Gelantiousactually the more I think about it, the more Farscape ends up falling back on "humans in makeup" type Star Trek aliens to the point where there's a straight-up race that looks EXACTLY like humans (but still different). Even in the main cast the "Trekkish" aliens outnumber the two puppets. Dargo, Zahn, Chiana, Juul, Sikozu. Even Scorpius falls under the old trope of, "immensely talented actor currently on television in fetish gear". The Scarrens go from being repurposed Skesksis to... well actually some of the best goddamn makeup I've ever seen.
Not a knock against the show, but they ended up going down that road far more often than I thought.
Farscape is damn near the perfect epic.Very few shows in all of television history have the heart, soul and overall narrative that Farscape possesses. It's right up there with Twin Peaks as far as I'm concerned....
I still haven't recovered from the emotional damage of the series cliffhanger. So glad they were able to finish it. Hands down one of the best sci-fi series of all time.
I remember rewatching the show through with my sister and she cried so hard at the cliffhanger I had to put peacekeepers wars on straight after
I love Farscape. My top favorite sci-fi show. I'm glad we got some closure with the show and would love to see it make a comeback. Just like Dark Matter, another great show. I'm still mad about that getting canceled.
I loved that show! Loved Ben Browder’s Guardians of the galaxy cameo, too.
I laughed out loud because he spoke using his Sebacean voice.
James Gunn's Guardians was really just a remake of Farscape! It was ahead of its time.
@@MichaelS-jk8tj Gunn actually had the cast of GoTG watch Farscape to let them know what vibe he was going for
Farscape was formative in my taste for Science Fiction. The weird, the freaky, the hilarious, the character-driven. I was Hooked from Day 1 with the pilot, but that Season 2 cliffhanger left my little 7 year old mind shooketh, and few stories have gripped me the way the Scorpy Brain Chip Storyline did. Absolutely fantastic storytelling
Oh yeah, the cliffhangers in this show are BRUTAL. Although the standout for me was John getting turned into a statue.
Early 2000's Claudia Black was absolute fire!
She still is.
Hell yes!
My favourite review of Farscape summarized it as "An American is slowly introduced to the Australian S&M scene."
I don't know who said that originally, but that review still makes me chuckle.
It was comic book writer Warren Ellis, if memory serves.
This show was absolutely amazing. The level of creativity and artistry was just insane!
Pilot to me will remain on of the best puppets Jim Henson Creature Studios has ever produced. There were times i would forget he was a puppet at all.
@@max666tallAmen! He could convey emotions better than a lot of human actors.
I’ll always be thankful to my friend who introduced me to Farscape, thanks to the BBS boards of the time, we bonded, shared our AIM screen names and we had a lot of good nights talking about anime, sci fi shows and The Jam
Sci-Fi acquiring 'Stargate SG-1' inadvertently played a role in Farscape's cancellation and one of the reasons Ben and Claudia eventually wound up as leads on that show.
Also, the mystery backer was rumored...and likely to have been George Lucas as two Farscape actors were attached to the live action Star Wars show he was working on at the time...one of those being Wayne Pygram (Scorpius) who played Grand Moff Tarkin in 'Revenge of the Sith'. Lucas also, of course was friends with Henson.
Awesome insight. Thanks!
"200" lol
Right idea, wrong show. Sci-Fi made it no secret that they were getting rid of Farscape for ... Tremors: The Series. The ntwork president would constantly ignore Farscape questions at cons saying she wanted to talk about their new show, Tremors.
From my understanding they cancelled 'Farscape' after acquiring 'SG-1' as their flagship show as it was of a similar nature, more popular, and they didn't have to produce it. Tremors didn't exactly play to the same audience, it was more comedy/horror science fiction.
I would have killed to see Pygram play Tarkin for more than six seconds.
I was part of the Save Farscape website. Not running it, just one of the fans that was active there and sent many emails in support of the show.
I loved every part of that show. Really wish it had gotten a broader audience but it is what it is. At least we got 4 seasons and an end to the storyline with the mini-series.
Sneaking Jason X clips in under the line “a man out of time and space” is a god-tier editing gag.
I never missed an episode of Farscape on SCIFI PRIME. The show got better when Scorpius arrived. Rygel the 16th was my favorite character. The Henson puppets were awesome.
GREAT-show,I watched it with my wife ( she didn't like much sci-fi,but,made an exception for Farscape ) when it debutted on the sci-fi channel. We really enjoyed this show.
For some reason whenever I think of farscape there is one scene that always comes to mind. The ships puppet who sits in the chair, that I can't recall the name of lol. He was moved on screen and in such a way that it looked like he was 2D and moving sideways at a peculiar angle and it really threw my eyes for a loop. Obviously it messed me up cuz it stayed with me all these years lol.
Yeah, Scorpius is honestly one of the best sci-fi villains of all time.
@@alistairetheblu AGREED. I really liked the episode where they gave you his back-story,it was nicely done. Chaped my perspective of him. I have the Peacekeeper War ( 2 disc ) dvd in my hands now,plan to re-watch it later on tonite.
Crais was interesting as he evolved, but Scorpius MADE the show. One of the best long running villains in sci-fi. And the most disturbing aspect is that by the end of Peacekeeper Wars, SCORPIUS WINS. Seriously! He gets everything he wants by the end, and it WORKS. Just incredible.
Claudia Black has voiced some super great video game characters like Morrigan in Dragon Age and Chloe in Uncharted
And is now one of the Witches in Ahsoka.
She also voiced Sam in the Gears of War series.
Small part in Diablo 3, but such a show stealer.
@@CleverGirlAAH _”Oh, the things I am going to do to you...”_ - Cydaea, Diablo 3 (Claudia Black)
And a small part in Mass Effect.
As an Aussie, I felt compelled to support this - or at least to give it a go. I watched the first few seasons, but life got in the way, so by the end, I had already departed.
It's interesting to hear all of the turmoil happening behind the scenes - I knew there was issues, but not by half!
It's not just a great Sci-Fi show, it was one of the best shows on TV, period. Even my wife LOVES it, and she *never ever* watched any other Sci-Fi show (no Start Trek, B5, Stargate, not even Star Wars in any shape) - It's the character driven narrative and performance that does it to her. The relationships between Aeryn and John, between John and Scorpius, the friendships - all of that is so grounded and real and interesting. We have actual character development that spans seasons and makes total sense, you can understand how the events unfolding leave their marks on the characters. It also helps that we have characters that are really interesting to begin with, going against established tropes, but in a way that doesn't feel pandering. The female protagonist "love interest" is actually a warrior "shoot first, ask questions later" type, but unlike modern "girl-boss" attitudes her arc is toward love and family and understanding that "she can be something more" than the mindless fighter she was raised to be. The male protagonist starts out as a cocky pilot but one who is more of a pacifist who avoids fights whenever possible, then ends up having a sidearm that he names and cares for and taking his place as a protector of the family (and the galactic civilization!).
My boyfriend at the time and I had just come off the masterpiece that was DS9 and looking for something new, when Farscape came out. It hit all the right buttons for us, down to taking particular Trek tropes and flipping them upside down and inside out. The relationship didn’t last, but my love for Farscape endured. I introduced it to my now-husband. We’re currently watching DS9 with our 13yo; Farscape is a little more mature than I think any of us would be comfortable with watching with him yet, but the day will come. ❤
Thanks for your perspective, and I agree Farscape is not for kids. Glad you're waiting until he's old enough to truly appreciate it. Cheers!
Gunn shows his love of 'Farscape' right up front with his take on the Guardians. Quill/Chrichton as the wisecracking, square-jawed leading man, flung across the galaxy from modern-day earth, tossing out jokes and pop-culture references that none of his alien friends understand. Gamora/Aeryn as the alien warrior-woman, originally working for the bad guys but quickly defecting to our heros' ship and pairing romantically with the wisecracking hero. Rounding out the cast Drax/D'Argo as the hulking brute, Groot/Zhaan as the humanoid plant, and Rocket/Rygel as the pint-sized troublemaker.
I watched this series day one. Followed it to the end. The journey was wild, went so many directions, took chances, but felt smart, witty, mature, and incredible.
The episodic arcs were just insane. From alliances, to betrayals, even an animated romp or two. It was so experimental, it just kept going
But Peacekeeper Wars, that set the bar. But also broke our hearts, made us cry, and cry some more. It was so good
I would love to see it return
Loved watching this show as a kid in the UK.
The whole cast & show was wonderful & wacky.
Harvey's got to be my favourite.
Was sick in bed last year with Covid. Was flipping through the channels when I came across a network called Comet that was airing reruns of Farscape. Such a good series to catch up with again and honestly helped make being sick not so bad
Frell, that had to be miserable, but at least you had something good to distract yourself.
A early 2000's MASTERPIECE that pre-saged so much pop culture to come that had a slightly shaky start but blossomed into one of the wittiest, most character driven and inventive Scifi/Fantasy TV shows worthy of being mentioned along side TNG, FIREFLY, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, THE X-FILES and other esteemed luninaries of genre television.
And best part is you get a resolution and a near perfect wrap up to just about everything if you stay on the ride all the way to the end.
Firefly is one of the worst shows ever, BG is even worse, X-Files is 98% garbage, and TNG is one of the most overrated shows ever, but still decent in parts
Farscape is greatness
@@lopa-u9f Good for you, Jack.
@@lopa-u9f Too much irony here. You missed the mark even though we all know those shows were bangers.
@@lopa-u9f That you feel the need to "get a reaction" out of people with silly obtuse takes because you need a dopamine hit for being a contrarian online says SO MUCH about a person.
@@miguelvelez7221that's your deluions so your fragile ego can feel better
typical and pathetic
Farscape was absolute fire, love that show so much. Really hope it gets a chance to comeback like Babylon 5.
Babylon 5 was really good at first, then it got all metaphysical and lost me.
Maybe in a generation they can remake/reboot it. It wouldn’t be easy to use the same actors now, unless they really aged up the characters.
What the frell.... Dan, I didn't know it yet, but I've been waiting over fifty cycles for you to do this episode.
It was sad to see Ka D'Argo pass at the series' end, but the core group had made it that long without losing anyone, and he was given a fitting farewell. Thank you always!
@@boroughmanager7067 Three -- I'd completely forgotten and just looked it up. Thanks; I stand corrected!
That's what happens whenever people stay in body paint for too long. Virginia Hey became allergic to it and had to leave the show to recover. Same thing happened to John Rys Davis in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but he didn't have to spend as much time in his as she did
@@FlamesofJagger IIRC Hey's health was seriously threatened by her reaction. I believe she was suffering from renal failure.
@@Philbert-s2cYes. Her kidneys were bleeding.
@@Philbert-s2c thanks. Couldn't remember the specific health issues because it was so long ago.
This show remains an underappreciated masterpiece nearly a quarter of a century later.
I saw an interview once with one of the execs who cancelled the show at the end; wherein that exec was on a vacation with his family, in the middle of nowhere. He gets up at 2 am to grab a soda from the machine in the hotel's hallway and gets stopped by some guy waxing the floor tiles. The guy goes, "I know you, you're one of the one's that killed Farscape!" and that it was _that_ experience, more than any other, that got him onboard with getting Peacekeeper Wars made. Because those fans were not. going. to. stop.
It makes me happy. Good job guys.
The ending was the most brutal moment of television for me back in the day - "To Be Continued" comes up on the screen... and the BBC announcer was like, "Except it won't, because that's the end of the show."
So glad they did Peacekeeper Wars... and so glad I got the full version on DVD (rather than the shortened version they put on TV here); they really managed to cram a full season of story into one feature.
The efforts of the fans to stop the cancellation of Farscape multiple times, in an age where internet communication was in its infancy, speaks volumes. It's a true testament to how amazing and captivating the show actually was
I was a X-file fan...Then Farscape came along. It blew everything else away.
I absolutely adore Farscape, watched it when it was first airing and was one of the only shows I made a point of trying to catch every week. About six months ago I picked up the complete bluray collection including Peacekeeper Wars and spent the next couple of months re-watching the whole thing with a good friend of mine who also liked it back in the day.
So sad that it always struggled with ratings, genuinely one of the most creative and exciting shows and the care and attention put into all the practical effects was stunning, even rewatching today.
If I could give this video a million likes, I would. Awesome you covered it here. Incredible show that deserves to be brought back to life!
Bloody amazing show!
Loved all the obscure in-jokes, too, like the alien priest whose design was directly based on Father Jack Hackett from "Father Ted."
I enjoyed Farscape a lot when I saw it on the local cable TV. I think I followed up to season 3. As my interested waned along with the departure of Zotoh Zhaan. It was understandable since Hey was suffering kidney damage from the copious amounts of makeup required for the role. Personally, Zhaan and the way Hey played her was one of the highlight of the show for me.
This is one of the weirdest and best shows of all time. If you can tune into its wavelength and what it's trying to do, there's simply nothing like it. It's a work of unbridled creativity the likes of which we almost never get to see on television. Truly worth tracking down if you've never seen it.
If anyone ever wants to teach a class on "How actors being amazing can elevate a show way above the scripts and concept of a show", this should be the prime example used. There's no way that show should have been that good, but Ben and Claudia along with the 3 other main characters' actors were so amazing. It was such a joy to watch and the first of many great shows the stupid Sci-Fi network canceled which is why I've completely given up ever watching anything on that stupid network. If fans of Farscape are looking for a similar show that also got hosed by that network, try to find Dark Matter on streaming. Less puppets and Australians but top-notch Canadian actors.
The body-swap episode is a great example. It's usually a pretty awkward concept, but the actors absolutely nailed their imitations of each other. And they swap twice, so each actor had to play as two different people. That's genuinely great work.
(Although I thought D'argo-as-Chiana really stole the show.)
@@jasonblalock4429also the episode that took place in a Roadrunner and Whiley Coyote sketch should never have worked as well as it did.
Fun fact, Ben Browder improvised a lot on set. In the episode "Look at the Princess" where he freaks out Braca by grabbing at his pulse pistol and pressing it into his hand; "KILL MY SEX LIFE!! KILL MY SEX LIFE!!"
@@Cykotyk"REVENGING ANGEL." One of the best episodes of the whole series.
I love the one where Ben is having the erotic dream and then Rygel shows up dressed like a nurse, spit my beer out when I first saw it
I was watching the last episode of series 2 while eating my dinner.
The food nearly fell out of my mouth as my jaw dropped at the ending.
What a show!
I am proud to have been a very small part of the very large noise that got us "the peace keeper wars" We Were Many, and we were so loud and passionate about saveing it. I know people will still be watching and enjoying this series long after i am gone. and that is its own reward.
I love this show. My all time favorite.
I really loved the shows especially since it shows that not all aliens are humanoid. Loved the Jim Henson Creature Ship for several designs. Was happy the Peace Keeper Wars concluded the series.
this hurts me and heals me at the same time,
I know some say it's and exaggeration when "something" saves them, but I have to say it, Farscape saved me in my teenage years,
it was so weird at the time, so un-formal, so primal, so "it's all we can do, let's do it",
always with a serious tone but never taking itself too seriously to become a solemn thing
Farscape was and is a wonderful romp across the galaxy, it's dramatic, funny, heartwarming and heartbreaking. Each actor pours heavily into their character to the point you forget it's a show and not a video of friends, foes and family..but on a living spaceship. Aeryn and John forever!
Farscape was an amazing show, loved every minute of it.
Just wanted to feed the algo, and let you all know, I love this show. Never miss an episode.
Thank you guys for all you do, these are my favorite weekly web show.
My all-time favorite TV show. Season 1 starts out a bit iffy, but once the show finds itself it REALLY finds itself. Incredible character development, amazing practical effects- puppets and animatronics. Best love story in TV history and much more. It's honestly the most unique show. There's nothing else like it and probably never will be.
Farscape and Lexx were all the weirdness I needed.
Am I still cranky about them ordering Season 4 & 5, and then, after cancelling the series in the middle of Season 4, STILL having the gall to "To Be Continued"ing the final episode of S4? YES- yes I am.
This is hands down my FAVORITE sci-fi channel show, just an amazing fun space opera.
I LOVED THIS SHOW!! Started watching while I was home during my co-op during undergrad. Had to stop only because our school didn't carry the Sci-Fi channel on it's cable offerings, but watched it EVERY TIME I came home.
I remember seeing the ads for Farscape and gave it a hard pass. Two years in someone forced me to watch the DVDs and I genuinely loved it. The resolution of the duplicate story haunts me to this day.
Love Farscape. Still one of my favourites.
one of . y all time favorite shows ever. the ingenuity between human and alien just blew my mind. I was greatly saddened that it ended although I'm glad that they got to resolve the story but still... I want more.
Underrated series. Fun watch too
An absolutely amazing show that was far ahead of its time. How this isn’t better known is criminal.
The intercut of clips from Jason X did not go unnoticed or… unappreciated
Farscape is still one of my top 5 favorite television shows of all time. Hell, top 3!
Thanks for covering it!
Farscape was so Good!! I remember having Farscape parties. Fun times.
It had big budget movie level effects, props, makeup and costumes because many of the crew were experts in the movie industry and used Farscape as a reliable source of income when thwy weren't working on a Hollywood feature here in Australia.
I cried when "To be continued." Came up on the screen and I knew it wasn't going to. I cried when Ben posted they were tearing down Moya. 😢
I haven't seen it mentioned in the comments, but did anyone else notice that Jason X footage near the beginning?
Great vid! I never was able to catch it on tv, but my gf caught me up with all her dvds. Crazy and fun series for sure.
One of the bestest Sci-Fi shows what ever were.
My absolute favorite science fiction show! Everything just worked so good together.
I was one of those people who discovered the show really late. I bought the complete series (probably the 1st release) on a Black Friday, and got around to watching it around 2010ish... I loved it and worked hard to hunt down Peacekeeper Wars. It is a throwback because it used practical effects in a time when big studios (think Star Wars Attack of the Clones) were leaning heavily into the CGI ("A Playstation 2 cut scene," Ryan George as "Producer Guy" from Pitch Meeting). Its use of puppetry was wonderful and I blazed through the whole show.
Also, it is a quaint thing to remember when fans could bring shows back from the dead with mail campaigns. I am thinking of the original- Roswell, which came because of the Hot Sauce campaign, spurring so many others, including probably the bra one which saved Farscape.
The first release on DVD was bundles of two episodes at a time. You had to wait MONTHS to get a new DVD. It was torture. I spent a fortune to collect them! 😂
@@aimeeinkling Ah yes.. back when companies were trying to figure out how best to maximize their DVD profits. Meanwhile, today, Best Buy is phasing them out completely.
Yea! One of My Fav TH-cam Channels Covering My Absolute Favorite and Best (IMO) Science Fiction Series of All Time! Lets Do this!
I still have all of my Farscape DVDs. This series got me through the end of undergrad start of grad school. I was so invested in this dysfunctional family and loved how power sets/abilities and their fleet of ships evolved over the course of the series.
You’ve mentioned Seaquest DSV a couple of weeks. I’d love to see a full video on it! I love that series and still run through it every two or three years.
They worked so hard on this show, and it’s so palpable I love Farscape, and I think it’s one of the best shows ever made.
Still my favorite show. So creative, the best story arcs, and some amazing A+ episodes. First episode watched was The Way We Weren't and it blew my mind and quickly caught up. As a member of the official fan club when it aired I still have the great fan magazines that came every month I believe.
Farscape was my Guardians of The Galaxy with even more edge. I absolutely love and miss the show!
Kind of crazy (in a good way) just how insane and dark the show could get.
@@_JellyWalker Absolutely! It even holds up today! Ah, to be John Crichton… Would be awesome.
I remember watching this series religiously back in the day. I was a bit upset when it stopped. I still rate it as one of the top sci-fi tv series.
I was never able to see Farscape when it was shown in the UK due to work (it was shown at a completely inappropriate early evening slot), but on the advice of others, binged it some years later. What a terrific show!
6pm on BBC2? You didn't miss much as it was quite heavily cut as I remember.
One of the best Science Fiction shows I've ever seen in my life!! I'm 65 and I've seen my fill of Sci-Fi shows and this one is still my favorite!! Hated the way they ended it. I wanted more episodes!!
Farscape is still one of the best science fiction shows ever . Having farscape and stargate sg1 together was one of the best things the sci fi channel ever did .
Thanks again for yet another great video on a topic I am completely unaware of. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Farscape, Space above and beyond, Firefly were my favorite Sci-fi shows 90's/2000's. They were original, well made, good story line.
The crazyness of this show was wonderful. Unrealized Realities sits as one of my favorite TV episodes ever. I miss it.
I'm so excited to see what you have to say about this! Farscape is my absolute favorite television series and sci-fi in general. I fell in love with it the moment the series debuted in 1999. It deserves so much love and recognition.
This show was bloody brilliant. I loved how during the series they clone the main character and the team splits up and goes on separate adventures for awhile making full use of its cast at all times! I hate how other shows get a huge cast and can't organically use them all to their fullest; Farscape is a perfect example of how to use the cast to it's fullest,
Sidenote: I find it interesting that around the same time both Lexx (another highly underrated Science Fiction series) and Farscape had living ships :P
Farscape is such a wonderful show. Thank you for giving it the attention it deserves.
Great show. As much as I love Star Trek, having a completely different take on the genre is always welcome and they did a wonderful job, in many ways it feels like a modern take on Blake’s 7….I wish that would get remade….
Same, which is why I loved The Orville. It's everything that Star Trek never was! 😉
I find it fascinating that Blake’s 7 was part of the inspiration for Farscape and then Farscape inspired Gunn’s version of Guardians of the Galaxy…
It technically is a continuation of Blake’s 7 - it’s set in the same universe just a lot further down the track - they even reference them in all but name.
I had the pleasure of meeting Gigi Edgley at Megacon earlier this year. And yes, she is just as Beautiful now as she was in Farscape. She chatted with us for a while and was just so sweet and awesome. She took about a dozen pictures with us as well. One of the best celebrity meets i have ever had.
I've always wanted to watch this show... it looks interesting. Also I totally forgot about Space: Above and Beyond.
ive been looking for someone to give me a Moya during starburst tattoo, the show was that good. already have Firefly tats, another great show
Moya best spaceship!
2:36 Interesting idea. A tough fight, for sure.
Farscape! I still watch every week, have every episode. One of mt favorite shows ever!
Mixing just a teensy bit of Jason X footage in the clip compilation was a clever touch, editor. Deftly done. Got a giggle from me.
Farscape was one my favorite Sci-Fi Action shows along with Stargate SG-1, and Andromeda. It was well done, well written, and suberbly acted. John Crichton and Aryn Sun were truly
great. Dargo, Zan, and Riegel were great too. Not only did John have to deal with these bizarre aliens, he kept at it with finding a solution to get back to Earth(despite getting back here, he chose to be with Aryn and their at the end of the second Peacekeepers Wars movie). I was really impressed with the Pilot puppet, and the Reigel puppet. The Jim Henson people did such a good job designing both of them , and their voice actors were quite good. It was such a different, weird, but really interesting, fun show. It truly was the anti-Star Trek of it's time.
Farscape is in my top comfort TV shows. I absolutely loved this series.
Forever love the Henson things and Farscape is the top of the list
Farscape remains one of my favorite productions ever. I have lots of comics the PC game, even just got the Blu-ray collection that just came out.
I have the complete Farscape DVD collection. One of the most amazing and underrated sci-fi shows. I've watched it so many times :)
Farscape handily supplanted Doctor Who as my favourite sci-fi show from the moment I first saw it. It really was like nothing else, and as much as I enjoy most of the sci-fi fan staples, nothing else comes even close!
Farscape is a perfect show. Definitely the BEST sci-fi show ever made.
It was a marvelous series with characters to get invested in, and I'm glad they had a chance to tie things up with Peacekeeper Wars. Not every show gets that chance. But it had its time. We can still enjoy it as it was, but we can give other stories a chance to happen now. *stares pointedly at Hollywood robotically re-re-treading every single "property" that ever saw some success in the past*
Great little gem💎 of a show that I missed back in the day, 🦂Scorpius🦂 really elivated it upon his arrival & it remained good as long as he was in it. It's all about the villians & he was an absolutely fantastic villian. ALL HAIL SCORPIUS ‼️🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂