Farscape - The Complete Series Megaset
Just in time for its 10th anniversary, the Sci Fi Channel’s cult series Farscape is available in a mega box set that contains all 4 seasons, numerous bonus features and 2 additional DVDs full of interviews and behind-the-scenes with the cast and creators of the show.
Containing 88 episodes on 26 DVDs and over 68 hours of viewing time this is pretty much everything you could possibly want to know about the series... or is it? Also included is a small comic book teaser for the new series of graphic novels based on the series that continue the adventures and offer more to all the fans who just can’t get enough of these high-flying stories that show just how far beyond the Muppets Jim Henson’s Creature Shop can take things. Prepare for Starburst!
The series is a state-of-the-art production that seamlessly melds computer generated special effects, puppetry, crazy makeup and anything else they could think up into a flashy and fun science fiction adventure that mostly all takes place in space aboard an assortment of ships in far-flung galaxies far, far away. At the center of the series is bland astronaut and scientist John Crichton who is sent up into space by NASA to perform experiments to test his various theories that could have significant effects on our ability to travel great distances through space.
However when the mission goes awry John ends up hurtling through a wormhole and emerges light years away in the midst of a prison break battle shoot out between various alien life forms fighting each other in a variety of strange, deadly alien ships. John’s ship is unable to move under its own power and ends up in the path of a ship that crashes into a large chunk of rock killing the pilot. The pilot’s brother, an evil mastermind trying to take control of something or other, is determined to find John and avenge his brother’s death. John, who ends up landing on the large escapee vessel named Moya (which is actually a living being), has his hands full trying to adjust to his new situation and not end up as a piece of space fodder.
This is the set-up for the series and the remaining episodes take John all over the cosmos as he adjusts to his new life, new friends and adversaries and stakes his claim in a world not of his own choosing. Will he ever find his way back to Earth? Will he just stop trying and settle in? And will John and his new companions ever adjust and accept each other?
Most of the cast in the series is buried under prosthetics or alien makeup so you won’t recognize them even if you knew who they were. Likely you won’t since the series was filmed in Australia. The fun of watching these dazzling adventure stories is seeing how seamlessly the production melds all the disparate elements together with irreverent humor, and off-the-wall plot twists and turns that will keep you guessing and popping in the discs for more and more of this terrific series.
If you have never seen the series then taking on a box set of this size may seem like a daunting task. But once you start watching you’ll be hooked and it will be all over far too soon. Check out Farscape and keep an eye for it to certainly be repeated on the Sci-Fi channel now that this set has been released. These things have a way of reappearing.
