Another new try and beginning a feature rich blog that stays active. My retrospective series will take a look back over the great television shows of the past fifty years and attempt to explain them, justify them and ultimately try and figure what made them great – for me and for the world. The first of this series is one of my favorite science fiction series of all time, Farscape. I will begin with a first blog, like this, that will introduce the show to those who don’t know what it was or who the characters are, then on a schedule – yet to be determined – I will write up each season, include arcs and major plot points as well as any character drama I feel should be included. I want to try and make this an interactive feature so would love some feedback, feel free to leave comments!
Farscape was a space opera television series that began in 1999, the brainchild of Rockne S. O’Bannon (SeaQuest DSV, The Twilight Zone) and Brian Henson (Son of the great Jim Henson) and ran from 1999 through until 2004 when it was abruptly cancelled, although story – and fan sanity – was rescued with a small three hour mini-series called Farscape: Peacekeeper Wars. The show met, initially, with great praise although decreasing ratings through the third season led to funding, for a fifth and final season, to be abruptly withdrawn. Fans mounted numerous campaigns to save the show although, after the mini-series, all was lost and story lines were tied in such a way that there was little in the way of further adventures to be had.
The show follows a very specific arc and, for fans of the genre, the layout comes as no surprise. Although there is an over arc story line, this is often left to grow in the background of weekly challenges presented for the crew. Much the same as science fiction predecessors, Farscape holds a strong, small cast, often complemented by guest stars and numerous characters who repeatedly appear through the series run. Unlike the shows that came before, however, Farscape stretched its limits to show a darker, grittier side to the potentials of space travel. Astronaut John Crichton is shot across the galaxy during a science experiment and is immediately thrust in to the middle of an intergalactic prison break, finding himself on the wrong side of the law and on the run from the very first moment he arrives. Farscape deals with issues of race, oppression and sexuality from the get go, not shying away from social commentary like other fledgling shows have chosen to do.
The use of puppets is a unique charm that I hold as a true example of thinking outside the box. Brian Henson brings his skills as a master puppeteer and, from the very first encounter with an alien race, we are introduced to a puppet that would appear in every episode. The Jim Henson Company’s involvement meant a lot of resources were thrown in to the plush-filled actions of the puppets that are seen on a weekly basis, the company responsible for The Muppet’s really got to show a different side to their production and allowed for some crazy, psychedelic and delusional ideas to be pushed forward on to the screen giving Farscape a unique and, as of yet, unparalleled look and feel.
The acting from the main cast, while not stellar, is enough to sustain a believable atmosphere throughout some otherwise unbelievable situations. They sell their part of the story well and are given an appropriate amount of screen time to delve in to the deep dark corners of each motivation and response. By the time the series comes to a close at the end of season four, you feel a deep connection with the prime five characters, a sense of regret that is quickly followed by anger that there will be no more. Great chemistry between the cast members goes a long way to make the two series long love stories utterly believable. You cringe when they screw up and cheer when they get back together, in true space opera fashion this is a story of the characters that happens to be set in space, on board a living ship.
OK, so this was just a quick run down of whats going on, I’m beginning season one tonight and will post over the next week introducing the characters. After that, these blogs will go up once I’ve watched each season and written up the retrospective!
Comments, Feedback, Suggestions… Go!
“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.” ~Spock
