The final episode of season three is finally cablecast to the Americans.
“Farscape,” the space show that does not fear the muppets, airs Fridays at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Sci-Fi.
TV Guide says:
TV Guide says:
Crichton is plagued by unnerving visions in a hypnotic cliffhanger that ends the series' third season. The episode opens with Aeryn (Claudia Black) and Crichton (Ben Browder) at a bridal shop---so obviously something's not right. Soon, it's revealed that Crichton is imagining life on Earth with his alien comrades, but his reveries lead to some troubling questions. Will Aeryn master English? Will D'Argo (Anthony Simcoe) scare children? Will Chiana (Gigi Edgley) seduce his father (Kent McCord)? As his daydreams turn to nightmares, Crichton gets counsel from a cryptic stowaway (Melissa Jaffer), while Moya's foray into a leviathan cemetery provokes an attack from a rogue ship.
“Gaspode” writes:
Dog With Two Bones
Written by David Kemper, Directed by Andrew Prowse
The premise:
With the menace of Scorpius temporarily behind them, Crichton and his comrades realize that for the first time, they're not being pursued and can finally return home. Crichton is experiencing visions of a possible future, which may be may not have something to do with the arrival of a mysterious old woman on the ship. And en route to bury an old friend, Moya encounters a rogue Leviathan that threatens to destroy them all.
The big picture:
Following the final two minutes of this episode, who knows what's going to happen?
Comments:
After the breakneck pace of 'Into the Lion's Den,' executive producer David Kemper turns in a much more internal episode. Although there are some genuinely humorous moments (Chiana as a shoplifting slut who sleeps with all of Crichton's friends anyone?), most of the scenes are weighted with some powerful emotions. The final good-bye scene between Crichton and Aeryn is one of the high points (or low points) depending on your perspective. It's easy to see why both Browder and Black were both emotionally drained after finishing the season. Special mention must also go to director Andrew Prowse, who creates Crichton's hauntingly hallucinogenic visions, as well as much subtler moments. At one point, as Rygel exults in the fact that they can all go home, the camera actually shifts back and forth between close-ups on a devastated Crichton and Aeryn. Good stuff. At the same time, Kemper is also setting things up for season four. Witness the introduction of Melissa Jaffer as an eccentric alien shaman, with whom there is much more than meets the eye, pun intended. Thus far, plans for the new season are being kept under wrapped, but US Farscape fans only have to wait until June to see what happens…
Favorite dialogue:
Crichton (to Aeryn): 'I am so much better dead!' Old Woman: 'If the dog could have had only one bone, which would it have wanted?' Crichton (final shot of the episode): 'You've got to be kidding me!'
The Blake's 7 connection?:
Come on now, all of the main characters except for the hero, being killed in slow motion by black-garbed, helmeted troopers? Somebody must have seen 'Blake,' the final episode of B7.
Final Verdict:
A deeply emotional episode, in sharp contrast to last week's action-packed outing. An unexpected season-ending cliffhanger that basically leaves everything up for grabs. 8/10.
“The Lupe” insists:
My brother watched this and hated it. He said nothing really happened, and the ending cliffhanger seemed forced. I couldn't disagree more. The last couple of minutes were completely gut-wrenching, some of the best emotional drama the show has produced to date. I even like the cliffhanger, it did come a bit out of nowhere, but that maybe the reason I liked it.
There isn't a lot of action in this episode, that is true. The first half is basically taking care of some left over business as a result of the command carriers destruction. There is some flying around, blowing things up, as they try and save Moya from an insane leviathan, but that is all very much incidental to the main plot of the episode, which is basically, their PK problem has finally been solved, so now everyone is taking off to finish up their own personal problems, leaving John alone on Moya. It is a heavy, heavy dialogue episode. Most interesting are Chricton's constant flashes back and forth between reality as he imagines what life might be like if he opens a wormhole, and takes everyone on Moya back to Earth. It's not pretty, but Rigel does look smashing in that red tux. Other people who've seen it thought this was kind of stupid, as the intercutting continues throughout the episode, including the one big action scene, but I liked it, it really helped the show maintain its consistent feel, without loosing sight of the point of the episode during the other plotline. Now that Chricton CAN get home, he has to decide if he SHOULD. Exec. Prod. David Kemper delivers one of his finest scripts ever.
The only downside of the episode is the introduction of a new character who, as far as I can tell, is simply named 'Old Woman'. She was a prisoner of the PK's who they rescued as the command carrier was destroyed, and decided to stay on board (this is all ret-conned in about halfway through the episode - she is not in ITLD at all, she just appears out of nowhere at the beginning of the episode). She seems to be taking on the Zahn/Stark role of emotional counselor, giving Chricton advice and helping him discover what his real problem is. Her dialogue and acting is actually pretty good - I think maybe the thing I dislike the most is her makeup. I usually love everything the Creature Shop puts out, but hers was horrible. Maybe it was last minute, I don't know. If they are planning on keeping her around, it's going to need some serious work. Right now, its just laughable, especially those big, floppy ears.
Finally, the cliffhanger does kind of come out of nowhere, but considering what the focus of the show has been, it isn't that bad, and, I think, is setting up who the antagonists are going to be for the next two seasons now that Scorpius appears to be gone.
Speaking of Scorpy, Harvey has a really good moment with Chricton, right at the end, that really sets the pace for their relationship in the new season. I like it, and its a way to keep Wayne Pygram around, and that's always good.
Two great episodes, maybe the strongest Farscape finale yet, they just keep outdoing themselves. And the last line of the season is pretty damn funny, in a macbre sort of way.
Now we have to wait till the summer to see how Chrichton's going to get out of this one.
“Samuel L. Bronkowitz,” who produced both “A Fistful of Yen” and “That’s Armageddon,” contributes:
First time attempting a review. I'm a Farscape addict, but of late I felt that the series was getting mediocre. I just downloaded and viewed the season finale off Imesh (it was shown in Britain last Thursday, and some kind soul put it up for us casual pirates), and I have to say that I'm hooked again. This show has re-established itself by far as the best sci fi on television at the moment (yes, SCI/FI claims that, but now I agree).
As much as the last two episodes dealt with apocalyptic action, and the (up to this point) resolution of the Scorpius story arc, this one is all Farscape in the other direction -- nothing but solid character development and exceedingly well acted. The main plot point deals with Crichton's struggle to deal with the fact that he is now a man without a home, and his shipmates (and new family) are all going their separate ways.
In particular, this episode brings the new friction between Aeryn and John to the front, and his attempts at resolving their romantic impasse. It also introduces a new character, a sort of witch that they helped escape the destruction of Scorpius' command carrier, who attempts to help John sort through and find his true feelings (hey, kind of sounds a little Yoda-ish, doesn't it? That might mean more when you see the episode). He feels torn between his desire to remain part of his new "family" and to go home, which he feels he can not do without potentially bringing disaster back with him.
There is a subplot of a renegade Leviathan attempting to prevent Moya from burying Talon in a sort of Sacred Burial Ground for Leviathans, and we learn something new about the capabilities of D'argo's ship.
But, there is very little action in this one, yet it is still mesmerizing. I found myself actually watching the time because I was enjoying it so much I didn't want it to end. That doesn't happen much as I get older and more cynical...this is one of the few shows that keeps me involved and sometimes even guessing. You can't say that about most of what's on TV today, the vast majority of which barely passes even as formulaic brain-candy.
Anyway, to sum up, I found this one as or even more engaging than the previoius two, because it really focuses on character development and does it extremely well. It has some of the best acting on the series to date.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars on my own little nerd-scale. Farscape is, after all, a TV space-opera, and this one continues to deliver on that level. It is the perfect denouement to the just-ended (?) Scorpius/Skarran/Wormhole arc that left most of us wondering "so, what's next?".
In addition, because it is the finale, there are also not one, but 2 cliffhangers within the last 60 seconds of the episode that come litterally out of nowhere, and also potentially reopens a plotline that we had thought was just resolved for a while...but I don't want to give away too much.
If you use this, you can call me Samuel L. Bronkowitz. If that's taken, well, just don't call me Shirley...
“Shipscat,” who has not seen Fantastico, chimes:
Okay, so the question is- which dress, the first one or the second one? Now I've heard people say that they like the first dress better, but I agree with John, that the first dress was a little too sexy for the occasion, and I thought the second gown had a more flattering top, and since most of the wedding photos would show from the waist up......okay, actually, that isn't the question. The question is 'Earth or Aeryn?" as John has fantasies, both bright and dark, of the crew of Moya on Earth. These daydreams are aided by an old crone who has mysteriously appeared on Moya. (There is another important question, but I won't tell you as it is a massive spoiler. )
This episode takes an abrupt left turn from the previous two eps, changing from John's struggle against Scorpius and the Peacekeepers and concentrating on his relationships with his friends and Aeryn. It also illustrates two things Farscape does very well- being strange, weird and ambiguous, and tearing fan's hearts out of their chests and stomping on them. Unsurprisingly, this episode was written by David Kemper.
The A plot, that of taking Talyn's surprisingly and suspiciously small amount of remains to the leviathan burial ground, is almost forgotten as we witness John's struggle with himself. The climax is a breathtaking confrontation between John and Aeryn, and the end leaves more questions than it answers.
This show has muppets!
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