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Farscape Season 1: Episode 1: Pilot

Posted on the 22 February 2011 by Jimblack78
I have heard a lot of good things about Farscape but never watched it on a regular basis.  I was only able to see an occasional episode when it was being broadcast.  I finally picked up the DVD sets of the entire series.  Now it is time to watch the series from the beginning.  Farscape Season 1:  Episode 1:  Pilot
PilotWritten by Rockne S. O'BannonFrom the Henson website...
Astronaut John Crichton's experimental Farscape module is swallowed by a wormhole and spat out on the other side of the universe - in the middle of a pitched space battle. Taken on board Moya - a huge bio-mechanoid "living ship" desperately trying to escape captivity - Crichton is confronted by alien life forms: Ka D'Argo, the fierce Luxan warrior; Rygel XVI, the sluglike Dominar of the Hynerian Empire; Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan, the serene blue Delvian priestess; Pilot, a four-armed creature physically and neurally bonded to Moya, and Oficer Aeryn Sun, an enemy Peacekeeper. In order to repair Moya, Zhaan, D'Argo and Rygel are forced to a Commerce Planet. Pursued by the ruthless Captain Crais, Crichton must use his primitive earth science to devise a means for Moya to slingshot out of range of Crais' ship and into the Uncharted Territories.
I can see why this series was a hit with the fans.  The action is fast paced, the story keeps moving, the aliens (such as Moya, Rygel, and Pilot) are extremely alien, the ships are fascinating, and hints are dropped that the crew has secrets.  
One of my favorite things was the way everyone on the ship knew how things operated except for the newcomer.  Crichton finds things that he does not understand while the others assume he should already know.  It gives him the "man out of his element" aura that he should have.  At times his Earth background gives him insights and tactics that the others are not familiar with.  The roguish, loveable, Crichton sells this series.  A less energetic actor would have been a disaster for Farscape.
Another interesting part of the series is the living ship Moya and the very alien Pilot.  Both remain a mystery that will be explored in the future.
Farscape Season 1:  Episode 1:  PilotThe main story arc for this part of the series is Crichton on the run from Crais.  The Peacekeepers do not believe that the death of Crais' brother was an accident.  Like many groups in the past, the name does not reflect the true nature of the group.  "Peacekeepers" appear to have more in common with the Nazis than any force for peace.  It seems that their version of peace means they have absolute control. 
The writer reveals enough about the characters to let you sympathize with them without telling all of their secrets.  From what I understand, secrets will be uncovered as the series progresses.
Based on just watching the pilot episode, I would consider this on a par with Star Trek and Babylon 5.  I hope it will continue to grow like those series did. 

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COMMENTS ( 2 )

By shoulder length haircuts
posted on 28 November at 21:24
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This makes great sense!!

By hello welcome
posted on 03 November at 15:38
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That was a really good piece...

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