Rating: Summary: Poor transfer to DVD Review: Others have reviewed the show; this is to review the DVD itself. The previous three seasons of Farscape on DVD have looked fantastic for the most part, but these discs suffer from severe compression artifacts. I don't know what ADV has done differently, but unfortunately it really shows. In some scenes the compression is so great that the entire frame "refreshes" only at half-second intervals, giving the whole picture a sort of stop-action appearance. Look at Disc 2, "Lava's a Many Splendored Thing", at disc time 34:58-35:01. The clouds in the background just jerk across the scene. And at 36:15-36:20, where Scorpy and John are talking, the entire frame just jerks forward at those same half-second steps. What puzzles me is that excerpts from these same shows in the Special Features (Behind the Scenes with Rebecca Riggs) appear with much greater clarity, color, and realism, and without compression artifacts. What's going on here, ADV? A disappointing set of discs.
Rating: Summary: A BITTER-SWEET SET Review: Sweet: I'm stoked to see the first 5 eps (an ingenious move) of the 4th season are included...read on for details.Bitter: this is the first set of the last season before Farscape's forced hiatus[]. If you're new to the series, don't be intimidated by "4th season" listed on the cover. The block of episodes included was designed to introduce new viewers to the characters & the uniquely skewed world of Farscape. The 3rd season ended (as those who've been following the series...via TV or DVD's...already know) with the group having parted ways...some voluntarily, others not, & one in quite a predicament (okay, it's obviously Crichton, who can find trouble staring out a window daydreaming). This set is the 5-part premiere showing how Moya's crew regroups. It begins with Crichton's space age/mad scientist bachelor life style ("Crichton Kicks"), and leads to Aeryn's (& Scopious'?!) arrival on Moya ("Promises"). In between the rest of the crew show up, new characters are introduced & the villains restart their pursuit with renewed vigor. Farscape often has a feel of watching a great movie as opposed to a TV show, and the 4th season is no different...better at it actually. The fact that this DVD, as well as the previous DVD sets, play through all eps on a disc only adds to this feeling. It sucks you in with it's characterizations, drama, action, & humor w/o commercial interruptions or delays between the episodes. I am certain long time viewers who were frustrated with the Aeryn being MIA when the episodes originally aired (it took 5 weeks to get the same story on this set), will gain a new perspective & appreciation of this storyline while watching them back-to-back. Farscape is always more enjoyable when watching episodes in groups. I personally can't wait to get my hands on this set, & especially the sets including the 2nd half of the 4th seasons, which contain some of the best TV I ever seen. Enjoy!!!
Rating: Summary: Beginning the final season of "Farscape" Review: This is the start of the fourth and final season of "Farscape," and with this first five episodes Moya's crew reassembles and John Crichton gets some good news and bad news by the end of this 2-DVD set. As always you will find some fan friendly extras along with the episodes: Episode 401, "Crichton Kicks" (Written by David Kemper, Aired June 7, 2002) starts off the season back in the Uncharted Territories with a bearded Crichton reunited with Chiana and Rygel aboard the decaying Leviathan Elack. A group of Grudek mercenaries intent on harvesting the Leviathan's rare neural tissue mercenaries show up and have to be stopped. Moya's crew is not back together by the end of this one, but at least Crichton shakes off the cobwebs and starts getting acclimated to the idea that Aeryn is out there somewhere carrying his baby...or is she? Episode 402, "What Was Lost, Part 1: Sacrifice" (Written by Justin Monjo, Aired June 14, 2002) has more of Moya's crew showing up on a planet where Interion scientists are conducting an archeological dig. Then Commandant Grayza shows up and uses a sensual spell to try and get to Crichton's secrets and the Old Woman, convinced Crichton will crack, figures killing him would be a good thing. Fortunately they put the second part on the same disc here as the story continues. Episode 403, "What Was Lost, Part 2: Resurrection" (Written by Justin Monjo, Aired June 21, 2002) has the Farscape gang trying to stop the Peacekeepers on Arnessk from recovering an alien weapon of mass destruction while Crichton tries to resist Grayza's sensual assault. D'Argo and Jool have a plan, but you know how well those things work out. Fortunately, the dying Leviathan Elack makes for one heck of a trump card and it looks like maybe Crichton will not have Scorpius to kick around any longer (yeah, right, but Moya does lose a crewmember). Episode 404, "Lava's a Many Splendored Thing" (Written by Michael Miller, Aired June 28, 2002) has the crew still searching for Moya but being forced to make an emergency landing on a desolate planet. There Tarkan freedom fighters capture Rygel inside a cavern filled with lava after Sparky's love for shiny objects gets him in a stick situation once again. Chiana and Sikozu become the new bickering couple for the series but manage to avoid coming to blows for the time being. This is a comic relief episode that, for many reasons, strikes me as a tongue in cheek homage to the original "Star Trek." But I am probably reading too much into it. Episode 405, "Promises" (Written by Richard Manning, Aired July 12, 2002) starts off with good news and bad news. The good news is that Moya is finally reunied with her crew and Crichton gets to see Aeryn. The bad news is that she is in the company of Scorpius (you thought he was gone for good?) and in the throes of Heat Delirium. To prove his good intentions, Scorpius finally removes "Harvey," his neural clone, from Crichton's mind. Then a giant Lukythian Ship rockets up to Moya, preventing starburst, and its captain accuses Aeryn of being part of team of assassins who killed the Prime Lukythian. The Lukythians infected her with Heat Delirium and will provide an antidote in exchange for the names of those who ordered the hit. If this was not enough fun, Grayza has a prototype Peacekeeper missile for killing a Leviathan.
Rating: Summary: Beginning the final season of "Farscape" Review: This is the start of the fourth and final season of "Farscape," and with this first five episodes Moya's crew reassembles and John Crichton gets some good news and bad news by the end of this 2-DVD set. As always you will find some fan friendly extras along with the episodes: Episode 401, "Crichton Kicks" (Written by David Kemper, Aired June 7, 2002) starts off the season back in the Uncharted Territories with a bearded Crichton reunited with Chiana and Rygel aboard the decaying Leviathan Elack. A group of Grudek mercenaries intent on harvesting the Leviathan's rare neural tissue mercenaries show up and have to be stopped. Moya's crew is not back together by the end of this one, but at least Crichton shakes off the cobwebs and starts getting acclimated to the idea that Aeryn is out there somewhere carrying his baby...or is she? Episode 402, "What Was Lost, Part 1: Sacrifice" (Written by Justin Monjo, Aired June 14, 2002) has more of Moya's crew showing up on a planet where Interion scientists are conducting an archeological dig. Then Commandant Grayza shows up and uses a sensual spell to try and get to Crichton's secrets and the Old Woman, convinced Crichton will crack, figures killing him would be a good thing. Fortunately they put the second part on the same disc here as the story continues. Episode 403, "What Was Lost, Part 2: Resurrection" (Written by Justin Monjo, Aired June 21, 2002) has the Farscape gang trying to stop the Peacekeepers on Arnessk from recovering an alien weapon of mass destruction while Crichton tries to resist Grayza's sensual assault. D'Argo and Jool have a plan, but you know how well those things work out. Fortunately, the dying Leviathan Elack makes for one heck of a trump card and it looks like maybe Crichton will not have Scorpius to kick around any longer (yeah, right, but Moya does lose a crewmember). Episode 404, "Lava's a Many Splendored Thing" (Written by Michael Miller, Aired June 28, 2002) has the crew still searching for Moya but being forced to make an emergency landing on a desolate planet. There Tarkan freedom fighters capture Rygel inside a cavern filled with lava after Sparky's love for shiny objects gets him in a stick situation once again. Chiana and Sikozu become the new bickering couple for the series but manage to avoid coming to blows for the time being. This is a comic relief episode that, for many reasons, strikes me as a tongue in cheek homage to the original "Star Trek." But I am probably reading too much into it. Episode 405, "Promises" (Written by Richard Manning, Aired July 12, 2002) starts off with good news and bad news. The good news is that Moya is finally reunied with her crew and Crichton gets to see Aeryn. The bad news is that she is in the company of Scorpius (you thought he was gone for good?) and in the throes of Heat Delirium. To prove his good intentions, Scorpius finally removes "Harvey," his neural clone, from Crichton's mind. Then a giant Lukythian Ship rockets up to Moya, preventing starburst, and its captain accuses Aeryn of being part of team of assassins who killed the Prime Lukythian. The Lukythians infected her with Heat Delirium and will provide an antidote in exchange for the names of those who ordered the hit. If this was not enough fun, Grayza has a prototype Peacekeeper missile for killing a Leviathan.
Rating: Summary: Farscape is GREAT!! Review: This show has superb acting, writing, directing, sets and costumes. It's a well-told story that has something for everyone: action, adventure, romance, laughing-out-loud comedy, gut-wrenching drama, and so much more. I highly recommend "Farscape" to anyone looking for a good story!!
Rating: Summary: If bad actors don't compel, how can a muppet? Review: This show, while interesting in concept, plays like a really bad version of comic book superheros, the starjammers... and the acting is poor, even for genre television... though at least it's better than the muppet acting. If 99% of human beings are bad actors, and bad acting ruins shows, why do they keep thinking MUPPETS can act well enough to keep you in the story? Yeeesh.
Rating: Summary: Farscape: Season 4 begins... Review: Well, as this final season of "Farscape" is brought to DVD, a few changes come along with it. The most obvious is the widescreen presentation of the episodes, but the other noteworthy change is (unlike the show's previous gloom-and-doom season premieres) some much-needed laughs after several emotionally tough and dramatic episodes. Our hero john Crichton was left alone at the end of the previous season, but when we see him again, he has managed to find a dying Leviathan to call home and find time to study his knowledge of wormholes (while growing a Jim Morrison-esque mane to boot). But, things can be quiet in the world of "Farscape" for so long before circumstances drag him out of exile and into reunions with his old friends. But the biggest shock of all is the one person John Crichton distrusts more than anyone may need Crichton's help to survive. While the first five episodes in this set bring our band of misfits back together, it also sets up a tense atmosphere that plays out rather well throughout the season. Mind you, the REALLY GOOD stuff of season four isn't on DVD yet, but the epsiodes, including the two parter "What Was Lost" and the dramatic reunion of John and his love Aeryn in "Promises" manages to keep things interesting. All in all, a must-own for "Farscape" fans, and for those non-fans, well...
Rating: Summary: Farscape: Season 4 begins... Review: Well, as this final season of "Farscape" is brought to DVD, a few changes come along with it. The most obvious is the widescreen presentation of the episodes, but the other noteworthy change is (unlike the show's previous gloom-and-doom season premieres) some much-needed laughs after several emotionally tough and dramatic episodes. Our hero john Crichton was left alone at the end of the previous season, but when we see him again, he has managed to find a dying Leviathan to call home and find time to study his knowledge of wormholes (while growing a Jim Morrison-esque mane to boot). But, things can be quiet in the world of "Farscape" for so long before circumstances drag him out of exile and into reunions with his old friends. But the biggest shock of all is the one person John Crichton distrusts more than anyone may need Crichton's help to survive. While the first five episodes in this set bring our band of misfits back together, it also sets up a tense atmosphere that plays out rather well throughout the season. Mind you, the REALLY GOOD stuff of season four isn't on DVD yet, but the epsiodes, including the two parter "What Was Lost" and the dramatic reunion of John and his love Aeryn in "Promises" manages to keep things interesting. All in all, a must-own for "Farscape" fans, and for those non-fans, well...
Rating: Summary: Farscape: Season 4 begins... Review: Well, as this final season of "Farscape" is brought to DVD, a few changes come along with it. The most obvious is the widescreen presentation of the episodes, but the other noteworthy change is (unlike the show's previous gloom-and-doom season premieres) some much-needed laughs after several emotionally tough and dramatic episodes. Our hero john Crichton was left alone at the end of the previous season, but when we see him again, he has managed to find a dying Leviathan to call home and find time to study his knowledge of wormholes (while growing a Jim Morrison-esque mane to boot). But, things can be quiet in the world of "Farscape" for so long before circumstances drag him out of exile and into reunions with his old friends. But the biggest shock of all is the one person John Crichton distrusts more than anyone may need Crichton's help to survive. While the first five episodes in this set bring our band of misfits back together, it also sets up a tense atmosphere that plays out rather well throughout the season. Mind you, the REALLY GOOD stuff of season four isn't on DVD yet, but the epsiodes, including the two parter "What Was Lost" and the dramatic reunion of John and his love Aeryn in "Promises" manages to keep things interesting. All in all, a must-own for "Farscape" fans, and for those non-fans, well...
Rating: Summary: I Love Farscape Review: Why is it on a very rare occasion we are able to catch a series that doesn't completely suck, and just when you get used to television that isn't mind-numbingly dumb they take it away from you? Ahh, another disappointment. Farscape Rocks and this DVD rocks along with all their other DVD's. It's a shame the SciFi channel has sold out and replaced Farscape with crap like Scare Tactics. It's tragic. I love Farscape!
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