TV Review: Farscape - season 1

Want some more Star Wars in your Star Trek?  Then Farscape is the show for you.  I'm assuming you not have already watched it, given it began its four-year run in 1999.  

Farscape is an Australian/American production from the Jim Henson company.  It may be worth noting that Brian Henson, son of legendary puppeteer Jim Henson, is the co-producer of the show.  Farscape features a wide array of creative alien muppets, two of which are show regulars.  It took me a little while to get used to the puppetry, but now I can't imagine the show without them.   Additionally, Farscape features a great cast of unknown actors and some imaginative writing.

I'd classify the title as science-fantasy, rather than science fiction, but in the first season, the writers do play around with some great sci-fi concepts like time loops and multiple dimensions not to mention Moya, the living starship which is the primary setting for the action.  The episodes that drew me in were more abstract and science fiction based, but as the show progressed, I grew to love the characters and be invested in them, Moya included.  I suppose it's worth comparing the show to other shows like Firefly or Cowboy Bebop, in that Farscape is heavily character-driven, and the characters are all good-hearted outlaws.  

I'd say my favorite characters at this time are Aeryn-Sun, the Peacekeeper and D'Argo, the Luxan.  When I first saw D'Argo, I have to admit that I thought he was just some kind of knock-off Klingon.  But even if that is what he were, he is still an excellent character, and well performed.  D'Argo is a Warrior, but he is also a deeply caring person.  Aeryn is a military grunt who shows signs of character growth that are intriguing.  Because she lived a highly regimented life, being an outlaw makes for a tough transition.    

From what I've heard, this show gets even better as it progresses, though I have really enjoyed it in the first season.  It's a science fiction show with a lot of heart, that's not afraid to get weird.  I recommend it to any fans of science fiction television looking for a new/old show to watch.

-D

Monthly Update - Winnie June 2015

Monthly Update

Hoo boy, I am slacking in the blogging department.  In my defense, things really have been busy lately.  I’ve got plans every weekend in June, through the first weekend of July.  This last weekend, I was busy all day Friday, Saturday and most of Sunday.  My time management just hasn’t caught up to my newfound busy status.  

The most important thing to happen in my life was that I became an Uncle!  My older sister Emz had a baby, a tiny and beautiful girl named Winnie June.  Unfortunately, she lives thousands of miles away, so I am unable to visit her at this time, but it's the thing I want to do most.  It will happen eventually.  For now, I’m just glad my niece is here, and I am happy to let the new parents have some time with her on their own.

On the gaming front, Jane and I have continued to progress through the Blackwell series.  So far, we both really like it.  We’re about halfway through the third game in the series, Blackwell Convergence.  With every episode, the production value improves, and by now we’ve got better acting, writing and graphics.  Not to mention that the plot is contiguous and it is growing more intriguing with every release.  So far this one is the best yet, and I hear really good things about the next game in the series.

On the Television front, I started watching Farscape.  Only fifteen years late.  The show was put on by Jim Henson productions and it shows in the many imaginative alien designs and puppetry.  So far I'm enjoying the show, and I hear it gets better as it goes on.  

I think I’m going to keep this one short, but I’ll have more in the near future.

-D