So I've now watched the first four episodes of Farscape...

[Dr Midnight]

...And I'm wondering why anyone cares that it was canceled.

I mean, does it get vastly better after this? Does that insufferable thing with the beard and bright magenta outfit die? What the hell? I'm digging Zam (sp?) and Crichton (sp?), but really, I'd have stopped watching after the first disc without the foaming fans all over the place screaming its glories.

Not trolling. Just wondering if anyone would like to say "Hang in there... it starts getting really good around episode 6" or something.

 

[Argus Decimus Mokira]

My advice: Keep watching. I'd point out the first entire two seasons of ST:TNG as another example of a sci-fi series with a slow start, but then people would yell at me.

-Matt

 

[John Crichton]

...And I'm wondering why anyone cares that it was canceled.

I mean, does it get vastly better after this? Does that insufferable thing with the beard and bright magenta outfit die? What the hell? I'm digging Zam (sp?) and Crichton (sp?), but really, I'd have stopped watching after the first disc without the foaming fans all over the place screaming its glories.

Not trolling. Just wondering if anyone would like to say "Hang in there... it starts getting really good around episode 6" or something.

It gets much better about halfway thru the 1st season. The show is more episodic early on. When the continuous storylines start to kick in is when it gets really good. By the end of the first season, you should be hooked.

Also, the first season is the weakest of all of them. Takes a bit to get it started. IIRC, ep 7 is when the Aeryn/Crichton stuff starts to come in to play and that's one of the most entertaining parts of the show.

 

[Viking Bastard]

I can't get Farscape on TV.

So I get it on VHS (comes out only a couple of months later than
on TV over here). There are several shows I only follow on video
like Stargate SG-1, Buffy, Angel and more.

These on-video series are split into two groups: The ones I follow
faithfully, where I show up the minute the video rental opens on
the day the tapes hit stores (Stargate, Buffyverse etc.) and the
ones I rent whenever I just need something to watch (Lexx, TOS
etc.).

The first season of Farscape was in group 2, but after that first
year's cliffhanger it upgraded into group 1 and been there since.

So yeah, it gets better.

.

Also, there are a lot of stinker episodes in Farscape. It's not as
overall solid as say Buffy. But when it's good (which it is most
often), it's really awesome!!

 

[John Crichton]

Also, there are a lot of stinker episodes in Farscape. It's not as
overall solid as say Buffy. But when it's good (which it is most
often), it's really awesome!!

Well, those were mostly in the first season. 2 & 3 were practically wall to wall good to great eps. Oops, I forgot about eps 2 & 3 of season 2, those reeked. But the rest of the season was great. Even the divergent eps were solid. 4 has been good as well but it feels more like a set-up for a season 5 that we'll never see.

So, yeah. The best Farscape is the final 1/3 of season 1 and all (give or take an ep here and there) of seasons 2 & 3. Actually, if you stop watching Farscape at the second to last ep of season 3, there is actually a decent stopping point for the series (compared to a gaping hole where season 5 won't be). There is no big cliffhanger and many storylines are resolved. But if you watch the finale of season 3 you will be sucked right into the next season...

 

[Umbran]

...And I'm wondering why anyone cares that it was canceled.

Because a series is more than it's first four episodes

 

[Dr Midnight]

People care that it was canceled because a series is more than its first four episodes? Doesn't follow. I was trying to find out from people if the first four episodes could give me a good idea of what to expect from the series.

Thanks to everyone else. I'll rent disc 4. Disc 3 got somewhat better. I'm trying very hard to like it... space sci-fi stuff seems to leave me feeling like an antinerd. I just don't like it, generally.

Some comments- These DVDs are crap. I mean, you have to go to the chapter selection menu just to get to the 2nd episode on a disc, you can't skip past the theme (well, you CAN, but it might just jump you WELL past the end of the "commercial break", past some story), and you have to skip past ads for things like REBOOT, for crap's sake.

Liking Zan/Zam/Xan/blue chick quite a bit. Liking Crichton more and more, though I can't help but feel he's been miscast. Moya is terrific... I'm greatly anticipating something like a "mating season" for her, or something that involves her biological functions. Aeryn I dislike very strongly, because she's... I mean... and... ... I dislike her very strongly.

Dargo needs to die. I hate him. Every moment he's on screen is like getting a staplegun to the toenails. The makeup, the suit, the actor who doesn't know how to pose casually, the whole THIS IS OUR WHORF (sp?) thing... it's torture. Plus, ooh, he's got a cool gun-sword. Hey, when it's a sword, how come you can't seem to use it to save your life? I just want Bib Fortuna to swing in and beat the hell out of this guy for being a poor excuse for a tentacle-head.

 

[Jamdin]

The first time I watched Farscape was over at friend's house because I couldn't get the Sci Fi Channel. I didn't like the first half of season one. Believe me that it got much better. Some shows are like that & they need some time to get in tune with the characters.

Now I will be one of those who will be missing the show when it gets cancelled & I'll probably be one of those few who will not watch Tremors: The Series (shudder).

 

[Black Omega]

Frankly, it took me a while to really get into Farscape. For a while I only watched it while waiting on Lexx to come on. But it grew on my over time. There are some real stinky eps, but they take risks and sometimes procude some pretty amazing stuff as well.

 

[John Crichton]

People care that it was canceled because a series is more than its first four episodes? Doesn't follow. I was trying to find out from people if the first four episodes could give me a good idea of what to expect from the series.

Thanks to everyone else. I'll rent disc 4. Disc 3 got somewhat better. I'm trying very hard to like it... space sci-fi stuff seems to leave me feeling like an antinerd. I just don't like it, generally.

Some comments- These DVDs are crap. I mean, you have to go to the chapter selection menu just to get to the 2nd episode on a disc, you can't skip past the theme (well, you CAN, but it might just jump you WELL past the end of the "commercial break", past some story), and you have to skip past ads for things like REBOOT, for crap's sake.

Yeah, the DVD's aren't the best; I hate those ads. But the commentaries are cool.

Liking Zan/Zam/Xan/blue chick quite a bit. Liking Crichton more and more, though I can't help but feel he's been miscast. Moya is terrific... I'm greatly anticipating something like a "mating season" for her, or something that involves her biological functions. Aeryn I dislike very strongly, because she's... I mean... and... ... I dislike her very strongly.

Dargo needs to die. I hate him. Every moment he's on screen is like getting a staplegun to the toenails. The makeup, the suit, the actor who doesn't know how to pose casually, the whole THIS IS OUR WHORF (sp?) thing... it's torture. Plus, ooh, he's got a cool gun-sword. Hey, when it's a sword, how come you can't seem to use it to save your life? I just want Bib Fortuna to swing in and beat the hell out of this guy for being a poor excuse for a tentacle-head.

Zhaan is cool. She is really a great character. I met the actress who played her at a Con and she is really a wonderfully charismatic woman. Crichton is the man. He just gets better and better with every episode as both hero and goat.

It's too bad you don't dig Aeryn and D'argo. The big 3 of Crichton, Aeryn and D'argo are one of the show's strongest points. As for Luxans and D'argo in general I thought they were very Klingon-like as well at first but there are definite differences. D'argo will grow on you. He isn't terribly interesting in the first half of season one but he gets much better. And as for Aeryn (Claudia Black, yow!!), I can't say enough good things about her. The Crichton/Aeryn relationship makes the show go. Aeryn also grows by leaps in season 2. Season one is all about Crichton and his adjustments to this new life. The rest of the characters follow.

I hate to say it, but you could miss about 6 eps of season one and not be missing much for later. I could list them if you like. Mind you, they are decent eps but not terribly critical to the massive storyline that follows the rest of the series.

And you can't forget about Rygel. Anyone who farts helium while nervous or angry has to be cool in some way.

Also, there are other characters that have yet to join the show, where you are at, that make things infinitely more enjoyable. If you are enjoying what you see so far even just a bit, hang in there and you will be rewarded. It has to be entertaining you in some way if you are 5 or so eps in. I assume you would have just dropped it by now if you hated it...