schneefink | Farscape: how so awesome?

Look, I now have a pretty Moya icon! *points*

Fair warning, this journal will contain a lot of Farscape squee in the next time. This show! I love it. I have found the best way to watch it is with my big plush monkey: first because I forgot to turn on the heating in the room, and then because it's great to have something to squeeze every five minutes.

I'm surprised because I heard a lot about Firefly and how it's the best SF show ever, but I like Farscape far better and I almost never heard of it. Firefly had good worldbuilding and some great characters, but Farscape not only has great characters, it also has good storytelling. Firefly had very few episodes I unconditionally enjoyed (I can only think of "Ariel", and "Out of Gas" and "War Stories" were also good), but Farscape constantly has episodes that keep me on the edge of my seat because they're so exciting, have good character stuff and some sweet and some funny bits, and nothing obviously stupid that throws me out of my enjoyment.

Some thoughts about what I've seen so far:

Gilina! I loved her in PK Tech Girl and I'm delighted to see her again. Her interactions with Crichton and Aeryn then were great and believable, and a good set up for her actions now. She had enough chemistry with Crichton that I can actually believe her crush and that she'd go to such lengths to help him (and Chiana helped that along, heh.) And she's smart! And cute ;-)

Now I also hope to see Furlow again, she was awesome. Wormhole technology seems to become a major plot point.

Chiana: I was expecting not to like her before she even showed up because I didn't want anyone to interfere with the existing character dynamics, and "Durka Returns" didn't convince me otherwise. But "Through the Looking Glass" did: I like how they acknowledged that she seems to have the role of the "troublesome teenage daughter", her interactions with John and Rygel, and I love the cat-like way she moves. I'm looking forward to see her interact more with D'Argo and Aeryn. I also think that it's important that she wasn't imprisoned by the Peacekeepers like the others, so she's not that afraid of them and volunteered to infiltrate their base. I find the Nebari much scarier than the Peacekeepers - well, except maybe of Scorpius' machine. Ouch.

Speaking of the torture scene: Well done. Poor John. The torture makes me less uncomfortable than it did in Firefly's War Stories, though, and I think that's because it doesn't have that inappropriate half-involuntary funny element when Mal and Wash talk. Instead, it's presented as the horror it is and taken seriously, and that helps.

Have I mentioned how much I love Moya's pregnancy yet? So much love. And the baby is so often risk - I wasn't sure it was going to survive until the very end of Durka's Return and Through the Looking Glass, and I was so relieved. Everyone on board is so protective of the baby! But Moya would have sacrificed it so save her crew! Awww, Moya *hugs her* And the crew is talking about names and so concerned for it, so much love.

Through the Looking Glass is a great episosde in general. Good character stuff everywhere, interactions, the different dimensions were very well done, so was the "beast", and it made sense why Crichton of all people was the one running around and coming up with a solution. I love how the show shows that the others listen to Crichton because he comes up with ideas that have worked in the past, how they're trusting him and his crazy ideas more and more, even though he's still "Crichton", how Zhaan says, confusing and a bit crazy and an alien.

A Human Reaction was also very good. I had no idea what was going on before John did, not even when Rygel died, and it was so damn plausible. Ouch. Again, poor John. I have a feeling I'll be saying that a lot. I'm just sorry we didn't get more of resolution with the others afterwards.

And now Nerve: I know Scorpius is going to become important later, but so far every time I see him I can't help but think "that thing on his chin looks really painful." I already mentioned that I love Gilina and Chiana; I was a bit surprised how Chiana burned the Peacekeeper, but it was self-defense. And I hope Gilina will get away. I also loved D'Argo and Aeryn. And John and Aeryn, of course! I really like how slowly they're developing their relationship, and that they're not suddenly being romantic all the time and practically married just because they slept together.

In fact the only episode so far that I didn't like is Jeremiah Crichton. That one was bad. But 18/19 is fantastic.

It's not unlikely that I'll watch the rest of season 1 today. I seem to be addicted.

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We watched Farscape last year, so just waving a flag to say... yeah! Kind of crazy it doesn't get hyped up more, isn't it? It's the best SF show I've seen for having really alien aliens, and for managing to imply that there's a ton of stuff going on in this galaxy that the heroes barely scratch the surface of.

It's also one of the most unabashedly kinky things I've seen on TV, not just sexual kinks but narrative kinks. And I can't remember who pointed this out-- I think maybe Thingswithwings or Toft for

kink_bingo, idk-- but where a lot of science fiction shows are very antiseptic, and even gritty science fiction tends to be... gritty, as in dirt and grime and wear and tear, Farscape is a very embodied show. Even the ship is alive, and biology, bodily functions, they're acknowledged much more frankly than on most shows.

And as you note, there are some welcome instances of the show playing things light and fun, but then gearing down and taking heavy events seriously.

And I know it probably gets old to hear "It gets even better" especially when you already like it a lot, but... it does get even better once Scorpius becomes the main antagonist. The ambitions of the series seem to rise from 'space chase with muppet aliens' to 'we're going to do everything we've ever wanted to see on a science fiction show and never have before, sometimes all of it at once.'

Everyone seems to know it, so why don't they talk about it? Weird. There are some canons where I feel less of an urge to talk about it or create fanworks, but I've already thought of dozens of episode tags or what-ifs or side stories for Farscape. I probably missed most discussions by a few years.

I'm still having a hard time taking Scorpius seriously. The mask, okay, but then his uniform, all black leather with those shoulder pieces and the long coat-tail things... And the scene where he walks through the smoke! And his assistant, quiet in black leather and long red hear. No, not convinced yet. I am curious about his backstory, so maybe I'll get to like him (or at least enjoy him as a character.)

I think I read the meta you're referencing. Now that I think of it, it's particularly striking when comparing Moya (alive, pregnant!) with Atlantis (pretty, but clearly artificial and much more sterile.) Serenity is in-between somewhere. I love spaceships :)

I'm getting more and more curious about seasons two and three! Soon, fortunately :)

Farscape is my favorite SF show hands down. The characters are real and it's one of the few shows in TV (SF or not) where we see long-term character development. Things that happen to the characters in an episode impact their behavior, emotions, way to deal with thing further down the line, and it's made plausible with obvious PSTD and paranoia and just plain acknowledgment that when life fucks you in a episode it just doesn't go away the next.

Yes, exactly! I'm only watching season 1 and there's already some of that. In 1x20, when Aeryn told Crais that her whole life as a Peacekeeper was worthless, it was believable. (Come to think of it, I'm wary what Crais will do next...)

Farscape is an awesome show and now I am contemplating a rewatch. Or at least committing some fanfic. You will see Furlow again, and, mm. I'm trying to think of other things that happen in the future that you might be interested. Crais's arc is really fun in that fascinating character development sort of a way. Poor John has whole other realms of being made uncomfortable ahead of him with Grayza, Stark is one of my favorite characters, I think you must have met him yet.

I'm not sure why it isn't talked up more, but I know I was first introduced to it way on when it was in its final season or so, and before I started being online as much as I am now. That said, if I do commit a rewatch, I will definitely be babbling about it. A lot.

*runs off to see if there's any Yuletide NYR stories to be made out of Farscape*

No spoilers, please! I enjoy the surprises.
But I'm happy if I could interest you in the show again. :)

No spoilers, check! I'm trying not to spoil but to tantalize. :)

Definitely, it's the kind of thing I periodically come back to, because it wears well. Also, muppets.

Oh, I agree 100%

there is just so much unexpected depth to Farscape. And you spend an awful lot of time saying - Poor John.

I was actually keen to meet Chiana, as I thought she looked very interesting, and over time I was proved right.

Alas, Scorpius worried me in season 1 and continues to worry me now (in season 4). I find him a very disturbing character. In respects I miss the Peacekeepers hunting John, as at least it was less complicated. Oh well, you'll get there - eventually :)

Chiana looks great! I'm looking forward to the werecat!Chiana fic that surely must exist somewhere ^^

I'm withholding judgement of Scorpius as a character yet (he killed Gilina, the bastard!)

Don't withhold judgement! Judge him!! :)

Creepy little psychopath

And FYI avoid ALL Scorpius/Critchon fic. It will fry your mind!!

Hehe! Let's put it this way: I am open to surprises, but I'm not holding my breath.

Farscape: how so awesome?

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