Recently in Farscape Category
Program the Tardis and the TiVos: The Doctor Who revival will finally come to American shores this March, when the Sci-Fi Channel begins airing Season One. (Via Triptych Cryptic.) I guess this means I'll have to give up the Sci-Fi boycott, but, then again, I guess I gave it up in principle when I bought the first season of the new Battlestar Galactica last weekend.
Speaking of quality television on DVD, some good news for 'Scapers (or bad news, if you already bought the ridiculously overpriced $150 season sets): Farscape is being re-released in "Starburst Editions" -- 3 volumes a season, 7 episodes per volume -- at the much more reasonable price of $15-20 each. The first two-thirds of Season 1 are already out (mine came today), with more to follow in mid-March.
Ben Browder and Claudia Black, a.k.a. John and Aeryn Crichton of Farscape, will both be joining Stargate SG-1 as regulars in the next few months. Nope, I'm still not watching that Sci-Fi channel dren.
It's finally here...at 9pm tonight and tomorrow, Sci-Fi will air Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars, the long-awaited and warmly reviewed conclusion to what TV Guide long ago correctly deemed "the best science-fiction series on TV." Apparently, it's still fun even if you don't know the continuity, so come on aboard...there's lots of room on this here interstellar bandwagon.
If you never saw Blake's 7, which is 'Scape's immediate ancestor, then here's the basic gist: Smart-ass, gung-ho astronaut John Crichton (Ben Browder) was inadvertently sent through a wormhole to the far corner of space several years ago, whereupon he fell in with a bunch of rag-tag aliens aboard the living prison ship Moya. For the past four years or so, Crichton has been battling the nefarious Peacekeepers (Think Star Trek's Federation gone bad) while falling in love with one of their number, Aeryn Sun (Claudia Black), refining his knowledge of wormhole tech in order to get back home, and annoying all manner of extraterrestrial species with his inveterate pop culture referencing. (He's already made it back to Earth a few times now...don't worry, this ain't Quantum Leap, and the show never takes quite the tack you expect.) In recent seasons, however, Crichton and his band of cranky shipmates have discovered that there's a much bigger danger lurking in the far regions of space than the Peacekeepers...the reptilian, take-no-guff Scarrans. There's obviously been a lot of twists and turns along the way, which I highly suggest you check out on DVD, but basically the Moya crew has had to align with some of their most dangerous past enemies (namely, the Scarran half-breed Scorpius) in order to outwit, outfox, and outlast the new Big Bads. Where it goes from here is anyone's guess...but if you're a fan of either quality sci-fi or smart, funny, sexy television in general (I'm looking at you, B5'ers, Buffyites, and Whedoniacs), you owe it to yourself to check Farscape out. Update: Brief, spoiler-filled thoughts in the comments.
For frell's sake, don't forget to set the Tivo, 'cause - as Quiddity notes, Sci-Fi will be showing all 88 episodes of Farscape ("the best science-fiction series on TV" - TV Guide) beginning this Friday at 8am. Seriously, if you're looking to catch some of the funniest, sexiest, best-written sci-fi out there in recent years, check Farscape out while you have the chance. (And remember to boycott Sci-Fi once again as soon as they air The Peacekeeper Wars.)
No need to break the Sci-Fi boycott until the main event, 'cause the trailer for Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars is now online. It doesn't look like they'll be attracting any new fans with this miniseries, what with all the various unresolved subplots alluded to in the trailer alone (I'd forgotten about Wormhole Business-Suit Guy, for example), but at least we 'Scapers will finally get some closure.
Lots of promo shots from the Farscape mini-series have made it online of late, and so far the Peacekeeper War looks like quality vintage 'Scape, right down to Einstein Harvey. I may have to break the Sci-Fi boycott for this.
It's official...A year after reneging on their two-year deal, the cretins at Sci-Fi have agreed to resurrect Farscape for the Peacekeeper War, a four-hour miniseries set for this fall. It'll be nice to see Crichton & co. return for closure, and I'll definitely have to break the Sci-Fi boycott for this event. Still, we were supposed to get 22 episodes, not 4 hours. Frellers...
They cancelled Farscape?!? Oh, those frelling bastards. This makes me very, very, very unhappy. Update: Ok, it will probably amount to naught, but a campaign has begun, and I did send off a few strongly-worded letters this morning to Sci-Fi (if a show as bad as The Pretender can be brought back this way, it seems Farscape at least deserves the opportunity.) In case any one of the handful of readers here also cares to get involved, I'm reposting the letter writing guide I put up at AICN:
1) Be Polite. Which doesn't mean don't be angry, disappointed, emphatic, pleading, and/or strong in your choice of words. It means no swearing, no personal threats or threats to the company (OTHER than to say you'll no longer be watching them.) Remember what [Farscape creator David] Kemper said about [Sci-Fi Channel President] Bonnie Hunter - if he's not angry at her, you shouldn't be.
2) Be "Normal." Sci-Fi expects the fanboy/fangirl conventioners to be pissed and will write them off as acceptable losses. So it may help to disguise oneself (if necessary) as an average (upscale) consumer, deeply disappointed by the loss of the show. The type of person who wouldn't normally watch science-fiction but was enthralled by Farscape.
3) Mention Critical Acclaim. Refer to both the Saturn awards and that oft-repeated TV Guide quote, "the best science-fiction series on TV" - Sci-Fi used it in almost all of their Farscape promos, so there's no harm in hoisting them by their own petard. Plus, it's true. ("TV's best space series" [USA Today] and "The Year's Best in TV" [Newsday] are also worth mentioning.)
4) It's Not Just the Cancellation, It's the Cliffhanger. It is a double disservice to fans and the show in that, in its current state, it will never be resolved. (Think Dale Cooper in the Black Lodge.)
5) Farscape gave Sci-Fi Legitimacy and Ratings. Before that first wave of Friday prime shows, Sci-Fi was Dark Shadows 24-7. Farscape was an early hit for the network and the first show to ever give the fledgling network respectability. As such, it deserves a more honorable sendout.
6) Crumbs Do Matter. If you're participating in the "Crackers DO Matter" campaign and sending some form of crackers to Sci-Fi (I didn't), make sure (a) they are sealed in a bag of some sort and (b) very well marked. This is most assuredly not the week to be sending unmarked powdery substances to Rockefeller Center.
7) This Decision Will Impact Sci-Fi's Ratings. Admit to enjoying a few of the other shows on the network (or future shows - I mentioned anticipation of the forthcoming Children of Dune film.) Say that you will boycott these programs AND the network as a result of this decision.
8) You Will Also Boycott Farscape Reruns. I think [other posters are] probably right about the Sci-Fi plan...it's to make all future money on re-runs of the first 88 episodes. Say that you will not watch them on Sci-Fi in protest.
9) Keep It Succinct, And Spell-Check. As I said before, the less fanboy and more professional the letter seems, the more Sci-Fi will have to wonder about the type of demographic who wrote it.
10) If Sci-Fi doesn't save Farscape, they have no business calling themselves the "Sci-Fi" channel. Nuff said.
Hope that helps. Now lets go get the frellers.
Second Update: It can't hurt to hit 'em in the pocketbook and contact Sci-Fi's corporate sponsors as well (scroll to the bottom for contact info.) If nothing else, I get to hone my strongly-worded-letter-writing for the next few weeks.
