Farscape 1.02-1.05
Jun. 23rd, 2010 10:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shipperxOkay, I'm going to cut through a bunch of episodes here because I honestly don't have a great deal to say about them. I never feel like the show really kicks in until after them. To me, these eps clearly represent a show trying to find its footing and that it hasn't yet. And ironically, I suspect that I actually enjoy them more now than I did the first time through because at least in rewatching I can appreciate when it hits some character point or moment that will actually carry through.
I actually totally enjoy the opening scene in this one because it shows that John is so much the fish out of water. There's an alarm going off on Moya, so loud that it's causing Crichton's eye to twitch.
"It feels like my eye is melting!" Then it strikes him where he is and he looks worried. "Couldn't really be doing that, could it?" Heh.
When I first saw this episode it seemed very Star Trek episode premise to me. They go to a non-space travelling planet that doesn't know about aliens so now John is really, really an alien.
It seems very strange that on the heels of John first meeting aliens, while he's still trying to adjust, that he finds himself on a planet that seems to only have present Earth level technology such that now Crichton is the 'advanced' alien. I wonder why it was the first episode after the pilot. Seems that it may have fit better at a later date. Still, even with that said, I enjoy this episode even if it is rather Star Trek-ish and not real Farscape flavor.
Writer Commentary: It's trying to dial up the personality of the characters and have them be flawed. And not have John be 'heroic' but to actually be kind of a wussy. :)
I have this bizarre affection for the alien maggot-bug that brushes teeth. It's so gross. And of course, John is freaking out because, really, is a tooth brush that difficult to find? It does highlight that John is in a very alien world. Plot of the week? It's attack of the 2 ft long cockroaches, so... yeah. What am I going to add to that?
Ep is memorable primarily because of the way that Peacekeeper/Sebacean soldiers are presented with face make-up that we never, ever see again. That and it introduces the concept of Sebacean/Peacekeeper heat sickness. That always struck me as quite the vulnerability for Peacekeepers, but it does prove to be important in several future instances for Aeryn and in the creation of Scorpius.
+ Naked Zhaan ass.
Meanwhile, commentary informs us that Zhaan is actually a plant and that Anthony Simcoe (D'Argo) was injured during the filming of this episode where a chemical accident while removing his make-up nearly blinded him. This required his filming without the contacts, forever changing D'Argo's make-up such that from here on out we see Anthony Simcoe's real eyes rather than the otherwordly contacts.
Also I love the moment where John calls for tractor beams, because he of course grew up with Star Trek so there are supposed to be tractor beams. Yes? And everyone just looks at him like "What in the hell are you talking about?" Though, again, the episode isn't particularly strong.
The early episodes really do have the show trying to find its voice. This ep at least introduces that D'Argo's race bleeds black and that he will die unless the blood runs clear.
Still an early Farscape 'eh.'
It's a shame that whenever someone starts watching Farscape you have to keep insisting that it gets better! The first string of episodes are somewhat underwhelming.
And this is why I hate this episode. It's the guys getting psychic roofied and near-date-raped, but I hate the whole thing. I especially hate the villain. And did I mention that I dislike the episode? A lot?
I'm glad I didn't watch the series in order when I first watched, because had I not developed a love for the show before seeing this, I don't know that I would have continued watching.
Blech. Let's forget this one.
Having dispensed with these, now I can look forward to better episodes. Yay!
1.02 - I, E.T.
John: It's kinda looks like Louisiana... or Dagobah. [beat] Dagobah, where Yoda lives.
Aeryn: Who's Yoda?
John: It's kinda looks like Louisiana... or Dagobah. [beat] Dagobah, where Yoda lives.
Aeryn: Who's Yoda?
I actually totally enjoy the opening scene in this one because it shows that John is so much the fish out of water. There's an alarm going off on Moya, so loud that it's causing Crichton's eye to twitch.
"It feels like my eye is melting!" Then it strikes him where he is and he looks worried. "Couldn't really be doing that, could it?" Heh.
When I first saw this episode it seemed very Star Trek episode premise to me. They go to a non-space travelling planet that doesn't know about aliens so now John is really, really an alien.
It seems very strange that on the heels of John first meeting aliens, while he's still trying to adjust, that he finds himself on a planet that seems to only have present Earth level technology such that now Crichton is the 'advanced' alien. I wonder why it was the first episode after the pilot. Seems that it may have fit better at a later date. Still, even with that said, I enjoy this episode even if it is rather Star Trek-ish and not real Farscape flavor.
1.03 - Exodus from Genesis
Aeryn: I'm sure your world has no force so ruthless.
John: We call them linebackers... or serial killers. Depends on whether they're professional or amateur.
Aeryn: I'm sure your world has no force so ruthless.
John: We call them linebackers... or serial killers. Depends on whether they're professional or amateur.
Writer Commentary: It's trying to dial up the personality of the characters and have them be flawed. And not have John be 'heroic' but to actually be kind of a wussy. :)
I have this bizarre affection for the alien maggot-bug that brushes teeth. It's so gross. And of course, John is freaking out because, really, is a tooth brush that difficult to find? It does highlight that John is in a very alien world. Plot of the week? It's attack of the 2 ft long cockroaches, so... yeah. What am I going to add to that?
Ep is memorable primarily because of the way that Peacekeeper/Sebacean soldiers are presented with face make-up that we never, ever see again. That and it introduces the concept of Sebacean/Peacekeeper heat sickness. That always struck me as quite the vulnerability for Peacekeepers, but it does prove to be important in several future instances for Aeryn and in the creation of Scorpius.
1.04 - Throne for a Loss
Crichton: "Wiley Coyote could come up with a better plan!"
Crichton: "Wiley Coyote could come up with a better plan!"
+ Naked Zhaan ass.
Meanwhile, commentary informs us that Zhaan is actually a plant and that Anthony Simcoe (D'Argo) was injured during the filming of this episode where a chemical accident while removing his make-up nearly blinded him. This required his filming without the contacts, forever changing D'Argo's make-up such that from here on out we see Anthony Simcoe's real eyes rather than the otherwordly contacts.
Also I love the moment where John calls for tractor beams, because he of course grew up with Star Trek so there are supposed to be tractor beams. Yes? And everyone just looks at him like "What in the hell are you talking about?" Though, again, the episode isn't particularly strong.
The early episodes really do have the show trying to find its voice. This ep at least introduces that D'Argo's race bleeds black and that he will die unless the blood runs clear.
Still an early Farscape 'eh.'
It's a shame that whenever someone starts watching Farscape you have to keep insisting that it gets better! The first string of episodes are somewhat underwhelming.
1.05 - Back and Back and Back to the Future
Writer Commentary: We're disguising [time shifts] as psychic Spanish Fly.
Ben Browder Commentary: It's kind of a dark, twisted rape fantasy.
Writer Commentary: We're disguising [time shifts] as psychic Spanish Fly.
Ben Browder Commentary: It's kind of a dark, twisted rape fantasy.
And this is why I hate this episode. It's the guys getting psychic roofied and near-date-raped, but I hate the whole thing. I especially hate the villain. And did I mention that I dislike the episode? A lot?
I'm glad I didn't watch the series in order when I first watched, because had I not developed a love for the show before seeing this, I don't know that I would have continued watching.
Blech. Let's forget this one.
Having dispensed with these, now I can look forward to better episodes. Yay!
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no subject
Date: 2010-06-24 03:42 am (UTC)I think it's mainly because the crew still don't know each other very well (or trust each other even slightly), which makes for a fun dynamic.
Plus, I will forever be grateful to Exodus from Genesis, because it's the only episode I'd ever seen, and the only thing that got me thinking "Hmm. I vaguely remember enjoying this show. Maybe I should buy a copy?"
no subject
Date: 2010-06-24 04:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-24 10:34 am (UTC)I do still enjoy watching them for the character moments though
no subject
Date: 2010-06-24 02:09 pm (UTC)I'm just somewhat bored and doing a marathon viewing of it.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-24 04:45 pm (UTC)The writers/creators were more interested in serial story telling a la Babylon 5, as opposed to Star Trek.
So they more or less did what they could.
Another item that should be noted - this was mentioned in the hilarious commentary for I, ET - they were filming the first four - six episodes together. What this means is I-ET and Exodus to Genesis were filmed literally at the same time, they jumped between the two. Filmed one act on I-ET, then one on Exodus.
It's apparently how they do things in Australia but they discovered rather quickly it does not work for a sci-fi show with the production demands of Farscape. It just about killed everyone, and affected the quality.
Back and Back and Back to the Future Again - I enjoyed more than you did. Didn't find overly memorable. But it does do a good job of setting up D'Argo's character and his relationship with Crichton. It also sets up the Scarren's as the enemy that the Peacekeepers and others are fighting early on. Important in a lot of ways.
I'm clearly enjoying my re-watch more, but I also can't remember any of the episodes or just bits and pieces of them. Have only watched the series once. And have not seen any of it since 2004. Hadn't listened to most of the commentary. So, for me? It's almost brand new. Which I think makes a HUGE difference in perspective. (I've noticed this with people rewatching Buffy, the one's who don't remember it as well- often enjoy it more. It's fresher.)
no subject
Date: 2010-06-26 02:44 am (UTC)Oddly, it's Season 4 that I've watched and remember least so it'll be interesting to see whether that makes a difference.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-26 02:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-26 02:46 am (UTC)I know that I saw some early episode of Farscape and just kept going. It wasn't until I started watching Season 4 that I became intrigued and then backtracked.