During an experimental space flight, astronaut John Crichton (Ben Browder) is lost when he flies through a wormhole. He’s picked up by a living ship called Moya, which contains a group of varied alien beings who are trying to escape the Peacekeepers, a military-like intergalactic police force. Another refugee comes on board at the time, too, a renegade Peacekeeper, Aeryn (Claudia Black). The only thing that the occupants of Moya have in common is their desire to go home, but they find more common ground when they have to team up to fight their mutual threats.
A co-production between Australia’s Nine Network and The Jim Henson Company, Farscape’s initial four seasons were essential cult viewing in the early 2000s when it screened on BBC 2. The three-hour miniseries The Peacekeeper Wars (also included in Via Vision’s Blu-ray box set) was produced after Brian Henson bought the rights when the series was cancelled so the show wouldn’t end on a cliffhanger. The show is an adventure-filled, thrilling ride that has genuinely endearing characters, particularly the puppet-based creations Pilot, the creature who flies Moya (voiced by Lani Tupu, who also plays the main antagonist of the first season) and Rygel, a deposed, flatulent emperor with a superiority complex. The humanoids are just as memorable, Zhaan (Virginia Hey), the empathic priestess, D’Argo (Anthony Simcoe), a brutish but compassionate warrior, and Chiana (Gigi Edgley), a skittish and rebellious Nebari.
Skilfully filmed in a unique style, often using continually moving angles that make for an engrossing watch. The varied, well-developed characters and dynamics are equally captivating. For this writer, it’s as entertaining as Star Trek ever was, if not more.
Despite being popular at the time, Farscape seems to have become a forgotten series, but it’s one that’s well worth revisiting. The box set collection adds numerous bonus features in the form of commentaries and featurettes. There’s an abundance of humour in the show and despite the high concept, it never takes itself too seriously. There’s even an episode in which Crichton is in a coma and imagines everything animated. It’s not a musical, but it’s just as memorable.
