Home :: DVD :: Television :: TV Series  

A&E Home Video
BBC
Classic TV
Discovery Channel
Fox TV
General
HBO
History Channel
Miniseries
MTV
National Geographic
Nickelodeon
PBS
Star Trek
TV Series

WGBH Boston
Farscape - The Complete Season 1

Farscape - The Complete Season 1

List Price: $149.98
Your Price: $119.98
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 3 >>

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: You've got to be freakin' kidding me!!!
Review: $150 list price, and it's not even widescreen?! I ordered the first three seasons, just assuming it had to be widescreen for that premium price. That's my only disappointment - sticking a 5-star show on a 3-star DVD format is a major let-down. Even though I only paid $75/season(shop around online - don't get ripped off), I expected a DVD with all the bells and whistles.

About the show - it just keeps getting better with each season. Believe me, if you are a sci-fi fan, it's worth suffering through the substandard DVD.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Creative World of FarScape Deserves a Fifth Season
Review: A fascinating universe with many races and plots centered around a human that happened be pulled away from Earth in a worm hole. He ends up in a new complex world of aliens. The world is very well put together with much creativity and flare for the unusual. At times (especially when you first start watching the show) it may appear silly or corny. However, the characters and the world they are in really grows on you. I am now approaching the very final two episodes of season one and feel a little bit sad to leave this little fictional universe. I am looking forward to the second season. It is a great show and if you love Sci-Fi I cannot see how you would not be drawn to this creative work. The only drawback with the series is that it is difficult to jump into (i.e. it is helpful to have followed the series). Even though many episodes are self-contained there are several story lines that connect the episodes. I personally first saw episodes from season 3 and was thoroughly confused. When I bought season one I got the opportunity to follow the buildup of the characters and the plot. I love this show and highly recommend it! FarScape deserves to get a fifth season on the Sci-Fi channel. You will not be disappointed by the FarScape universe.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: 22 episoded of genius!
Review: Although I will admit I, I have not seen every science fiction show in existence but I have seen several. These include Buffy, Angel, Stargate SG-1, Mutant X, Andromeda, Dark Angel, Firefly, Lexx, Relic Hunter and all of the Star Treks as well as many others. I do not care much for any of those programs, however with the acception of Alias (and I am not sure that show qualifies), Farscape is the best of them all!

With the ammount of creativity and effort put into the plots and characters of this series, I feel Farscape not only surpasses most science fiction, but rises above most shows of any genre.

I have seen every episode with the acception of two from Season 3, and I believe the first season had some of the best episodes of the series. These include DNA Mad Scientist, A Human Reaction, A Bug's Life, Nerve, The Hidden Memory and of course the touching Family Ties.

Watch Farscape for a thrilling experience of adventure, romance and humour.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Farscape's first season
Review: Farscape is arguably the best SF ever produced for television. It takes a fairly common storyline of a group of travelers thrown together and being pursued by individual of near obsessive (and evil) qualities. This formula has gone bad before in several genres, western, SF, road movies etc. Here, an contemporary American astronaut is sucked through a wormhole into another side of the galaxy where he is immediately caught up in a "prison break" in space. What makes Farscape so successful is a mixture of qualities.

First the casting is excellent. Filmed in Australia, most of the characters (except the lead, John Crighton's) are from there giving it an "off" feel to American ears which contributes to it's alieness. Each of the character's is part colorful stereotype, has weaknesses and is extremely individual. The chemistry is fantastic, especially after the first two or three shows in the series. Especially notworthy is the chemistry between the love interests played by Claudia Black and Ben Browder (John Crighton).

Another plus is the writing. Non-stop action and story telling is the hallmark of this series. Little time is spent creating mood or atmosphere (that is done by the characters and background), everything advances the plot line. Additionally, most episodes are connected in that previous storylines are built upon and create a chronology of events for the later stories.

Farscape space is inhabited by aliens who pass gas, burp, have intimate relations, love, hate, get hungry and can be fairly dirty in their habits. Add to this the great cultural references made by Crighton, the viewer gets the feeling that this is a bit like what space would really be like. A far cry from the antiseptic cleanliness and "wonder" of the Star Trek franchise.
Lastly Farscape has a timeline in the sense that it's not an endless variety of adventures for no particular reason there is an actual endstate the writers and producers have in mind at the end of the series.

Let's hope that Sci Fi Channel has the good sense to let Farscape complete its last season and reverse its cancellation. Shows of this quality and with such a loyal fanbase are rare.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: 22 HOURS OF MOVIE QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT
Review: Farscape is doing for TV, what the original Star Wars did for movies back in 1977. Only it has an advantage over the movie, it is not limited to the 3 hour time constraint movies have. Believe me, Farscape uses every second for plot development and adding a richness to the characters rarely seen in both movies and TV.

Like Star Wars, Farscape combines humor, action, & drama with state of the art F/X and creatures (two of which are regular characters). The characterizations are so strong you will forget that Zhann is blue, D'Argo has tentacles, & Rygel is a puppet. Farscape's tends to leave you with a feeling that you just peaked into the characters' lives, as opposed to have just watched a scripted TV show.

While watching this box set, you will notice there is something right about Farscape. Over the course of the season, the characters grow from distrustful individuals to a functional team/family of sorts. Don't get me wrong, everyone on board the living ship has their own agenda, and one betrays the group at the beginning of the last episode "Family Ties." Season 1 slowly builds momentum then kicks into overdrive with episode 18 "A Bug's Life." The last five episodes will be difficult not to watch in one sitting. Whatever the creative forces behind Farscape tried to do, they definitely accomplished it!

If you never have seen Farscape and are hesitant by the price of this box set, I suggest getting the Best of Season 1 set (type B000067IVT in the search box) first. It contains 6 amazing episodes which are a great introduction to the series...you can always lend it out to friends later. Once you've experienced these episodes, you'll need the rest of the season & can order this box set then. Also keep in mind, Farscape is known for its cliffhanger season finales, & season 1 began this tradition in an explosive way. So it would be a good idea to keep Season 2, Vol. 1 (type B000068TOM in the search box) ready to order in your shopping cart.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Farscape - Penultimate Science Fiction
Review: Farscape shares quite a bit with another cult inspiring hit TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Snappy dialogue. Tons of pop culture references. Tons of weird characters and make-up. The biggest one, though, is that the over arching plots of this space opera are all character driven.

There's not an interchangeable character in the bunch, and they're not afraid to off their characters as they go along. Two very notable deaths occur in season 3.

The first half season is very much like Buffy's first couple of seasons, spent trying to feel out the tone of the show and the way that the primary characters inter-relate. By the end of season 1, they have it down pat and the last three seasons were the wildest TV serial ride ever. I kid you not.

Writing, costumes, special effects, make-up, all are top notch. Set design sometimes leave a little to be desired (a la you can see the wheels on some of Moya's sets to facilitate rolling them on and off the sound stage), but are still visually captivating.

All of the characters are intriguing. Each has a distinct personality, and even if they're not likeable, (Rygel), they are unpredictable and edgy enough that you can't tear yourself away. If nothing else, though, watch it for the consistently superb Claudia Black (Aeryn Sun). Her strong, understated performance is reminiscent of Bill Murray in Lost in Translation. However, Ms. Black manages to keep up this mastery of her craft for pretty much four straigh seasons. Unprecedetned, and unbelieveable. You'll just have to watch and find out.

The most expensive DVDs I have bought, but also worth every penny. Buckle up Baby, we're going for a ride.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This should be remebered for years!
Review: Farscape tells the story of John Crichton as he tries to survive in deep space, after a disasterous experiment rips him from Earth, sets him up with friends and foes, then sends him on his way to encounter numerous adventures.

The story of Farscape is greater then almost any other science fiction series. The twists and the implications of what is to come creates an undeniable suspense, and brings each season to a thrilling climax.

Although people first watching the series from the beginning will most likely disagree, Farscape also has fantastic characters. This quality comes from their evolution. John Crichton in the first season turns from a confused astronaught into a confident and heroic crusader. Other evolutions progress as well as each character bonds and unbonds after each event they come across. Fascinating developements and menacing villains also help the series along. What also makes the character far more intirgueing is that they can be touched. Things will happen to them and those things will have consequences, which makes the viewers care and worry for the characters.

Some of the best acting on a science fiction show ever. Ben Browder portrays a goofy and sometimes terrified young man who then changes into the ultimate hero. He also portrays a man who can occasionally go insane. The preformances are rather unimpressive in the first few episodes, but that is mainly because for most of the actors, Farscape was their first big project. Considering that point, how the actors manage to develope their skills to a striking level is commendable.

Like the acting, the directing does not really pick up until after the first few episodes, but from then on, it only gets better. The stories are so brilliantly synthesized and delivered that the directors become just as important as the writers.

Buy the first and second series of Farscape. They are well done and worht watching. I espeacially can't wait to see the Farscape miniseries. Hopefully with only four hours, the writers will have been able to pull together something very speacial.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good show -- but overpriced DVD set
Review: Farscape was a wonderful, innovative show. Unfortunately, they've done a very poor job of packaging the DVDs. The current price is $120 for 22 episodes -- more than twice the price of Stargate SG-1 for the same number of episodes, and almost three times the price of Buffy or Angel. They need to repackage this in a more affordable form before I collect all the seasons.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Stop complaining!
Review: I am starting to get a little annoyed with the number of fans who complain about these DVD's. I realise they are far from the best you can buy, but that should not judge the quality of the series.

Many reviews protest how individual episodes can not be selected. Is it such a burden to have to go to the scene selection? It only takes a few additional seconds! If you are that pressed for time you should not be watching TV!

Responding to the other comments concerning the quality or the lack of on the DVD like the lack of extra features, I think the quality of the marvelous series eisily compensates. Considering how ADV films has scratched up some worthless features to put on the digital menu, I say they are working with all they have.

Although the price is rather high, it is only because so few people buy this set. Quite a viscous cycle if you ask me.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Farscape is truly the best show on television - period.
Review: I am writing this review with a heavy heart. Shortly after I first started writing this review I learned that The Sci Fi channel/USA Network had decided to cancel Farscape at the conclusion of it's fourth season (which will probably happen around March of 2003). Stupid, Stupid, Stupid.

Farscape is truly the best show on television - not just science fiction television. What the "science fiction" aspect does, or did, was open it up and allow the writers and actors to push the envelope and keep the audience guessing and surprised while offering just plan good stories. The characters and stories are extremely well written, complex, multi-layered, dramatic, quick-whit funny, and often a little (or very) twisted with direction and visuals worthy of any big screen motion picture. It's got everything you could possibly want. There's sex, there's violence, there's partial nudity, and there's colorful language as well as, you're-the-love-of-my-life romance, personal sacrifices for greater goods, humility and elegant prose. And on top of all of that, special effects, costuming and make-up that makes those folks over at Skywalker Ranch and Industrial Light & Magic go, "Wow." (And believe me, Farscape is what the current Star Wars films * should * be.)

Listen, if you don't enjoy Farscape it's just something wrong with ya. :) If you don't believe me, access the reviews of any professional entertainment critic who's seen it and read what he or she has to say. I'll bet you'll find the reviews to be at least 95% positive. But here's the real kicker - they're actually correct! How often does it happen that the audience and the critics are in agreement? I guess in hindsight, this should have been the first red flag that the show was doomed for a premature demise. [Sigh] Farscape is truly the whole package. Did I mention that the powers that be at The Sci Fi Channel/USA Network are stupid for canceling it? Oh yeah, ... I did. Anyway, run, do not walk, your mouse over to the shopping cart and drop this puppy in. Pick up every Farscape item you can find for that matter. I guarantee you will not regret it. The only bad thing is the profits The Sci Fi/USA Network will get from your purchases. [Sigh] There's just no justice in the world - or at the other end of a wormhole.


<< 1 2 3 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates