posted
The discs for the first season of Farscape have been in my Netflix queue for months now. I think part of the hesitation on my part is that it is a big commitment.
So here's my question...
Do you need to start watching Farscape from season 1? Or is it one of those shows where it really gets good at season 2 or 3 and it doesn't really matter if you cut out the prior seasons? For example, as much as I liked Angel, I think that you could easily skip the first two seasons.
Hmmmm. The fact that it was only four seasons long sort of answers my question. But still. Do I skip season 1?
Posts: 3423 | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
I got hooked watching later episodes, during Season 2, and then watched seasons 1 and 2 in order during the break before season 3. I would say season 1 is not as good as the later seasons, but I can't name an episode where you should start watching, and I think you'll eventually want to watch them all. So if you can handle the first couple of episodes being slightly less-than-compelling, I'd recommend starting at the beginning.
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
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/agree Season 1 is definately the "worst" of the seasons (not to say that it's bad, just no where near the genious of seasons 3-4 for example)
End of season 1/season 2 is where it starts being really important that you watch. I think there's a dvd out there with some of the highlights of season 1 that was a good primer, but I'll try to come up with a list of specific episodes it would be good to watch (hopefully I'll catch the important ones)
Pilot PK Tech Girl DNA Mad Scientist They've Got a Secret Till the Blood Runs Clear Durka Returns A Human Reaction Nerve The Hidden Memory Family Ties
Then I'd definately reccomend watching everything from the second season on.
You're certainly going to get the most out of it if you watch everything (for example, I'm not 100% sure I got all the episodes in there that main characters pop up in etc, but I think I hit most of the particularly good/vital episodes from season 1)
Posts: 1038 | Registered: Feb 2006
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Thanks everybody. I'll start from episode 1 then. And if I get bored, I'll skip to those that TheGrimace recommends.
Posts: 3423 | Registered: Aug 2001
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The best thing about starting from disc one is that you witness something not seen on any other sci-fi show--how a crew of different people actually come together. There is no starfleet academy or military training that forces these different creatures to help each other, and become friends. Its all personality and conflict.
Posts: 11895 | Registered: Apr 2002
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Dan, that's a good way of putting it. While the inherent plot in many of the season 1 episodes isn't necessarily that interesting, all the interpersonal sparring IS.
getting this crew of aliens, none from the same species, of vastly differing ages, of vastly differing backgrounds, of vastly differing goals and interests from complete strangers to a well-oiled family is one of the huge accomplishments of the series.
I think the only characters I ever questioned the motivations of (or the motivations of the rest towards) were perhaps Jool and Neranti (and Zal, dont worry about these as it will be a while until you see them). Everyone else you steadily come to accept with all their oddities.
The crew of Moya is incredibly flawed, but as a result incredibly real (at least to me). And it all ties together. When Aeryn makes comments in late season three that go back to an offhand description by John in episode 2 it just makes me smile inside. "yoda... little green guy, trains warriors" "oh"
and one last comment, while episode 2 is probably my least favorite episode of the series, I also thing it's very well done as that odd juxtaposition that Chrichton really isnt the only one in that kind of position, and what it might look like from the other sid eof a UFO Minor spoiler-------------------------------- so when you have Chrichton alternately fearing that Da'argo will kill him, and being willing to lay down his life for him at the same time in season 3 it's not dishonest.
And when despite the fact that Rigel is a greedy old bastard, you don't doubt that there is a good deal of attachment between him and every member of the crew.
Posts: 1038 | Registered: Feb 2006
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I agree with Grimace's list, but would also add "That Old Black Magic" Not so much for the strength of the episode, but because both Chrighton and Zhaan have some interesting moral dilemmas, and we get some background on Crais, who continues to be important up through third season.
posted
Season 1 isn't the best season, but I'm always a supporter of experiencing series in the proper order, whether it's a tv show, movie series, or book series.
On a side note, Farscape is an excellent sci-fi series. It's right up there with Firefly and the new BSG in my opinion, although all three are very different kinds of outer space sci-fi.
Posts: 1569 | Registered: Dec 2004
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I was annoyed to find out that the shows for Season 1 do not simply come in order on the DVDs. Especially early in the season, they didn't put them in sequence two per disc, but skipped around quite a bit.
When we got them from Netflix, it was like a math problem trying to figure out which discs to hang onto and which ones to return to get the other discs with the next few shows.
Late in the season they grouped sequentially odd & even numbered episodes. Not as bad, but if you really like to watch the whole thing in sequence, it means having to get two discs at a time.
Posts: 22497 | Registered: Sep 2000
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But it can be done without returning a disk and getting it again later, which is good. Because I watch things in order. We're almost through season 1, and if this is the weakest season, then the later seasons must be incredible.
Posts: 9866 | Registered: Apr 2002
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I cannot fathom why they would release them that way. Noemon had the same problem with netflix. obviously the only solution is to buy the first season dvd set, which DOES have them in the right order.
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Yep. Mine's in order. Are you going to finish season 1 before July? I can just loan you season 2 and you won't have to deal with it. You have to promise to bring it back promptly, though.
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
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dkw, I think the reason the first season is considered the weakest season is because they still didn't know where they were going with the series. It was a jumble of stories and adventures. However, I personally liked almost all of the first season and think it was good for what it was creatively. The first season not good enough to watch all of them hasn't even crossed my mind.
Personally, I thought the third season (at least I think it was the third season. It was the one with the episode involving the cartoons) was the worst of them. It went far too overboard and, like X-Files after Mulder was abducted, seemed to lose its way. Almost stopped watching the series at that point. However, it picked up again near the end of that season and went full steam the rest of the way. Until the series finale - mumble, mumble - that came close destroying the series as a whole.
Thankfully there was an awesome miniseries that made it all worth while. If you count the miniseries as the series finale, I would have to put it at the very top (somewhere at 1 through 3) of the best series finale's ever made.
Posts: 2207 | Registered: Oct 2003
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I actually thought the episodes that Ben Browder directed were what made it feel like it was losing it's way for me. The one where they're stuck in Stark's game, for example, and the one where they're on a planet and everyone's having memory problems, just make me feel like they need to get over themselves.
And I couldn't disagree with you more about the finale. I was happy for the resolution, but not for the way we got it.
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
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I think second season is probably my favorite, and the first half of third season. The princess episodes are especially good, as are the 'Liars Guns and Money' ones. The last episode of the second season and the first episode of the third are about the two best episodes in the entire series.
Jool drives me crazy, and so do Spudnik and Wrinkles. I like the original crew.
posted
I've been buying them on amazon.com, get the starburst edition, they are $15 a pop. 3 per season. I think you should watch it all. Every episode seems to add something to the story arch of the show. It also shows more character development, and relationship development.
Posts: 1132 | Registered: Jul 2002
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Occasional, just out of curiosity, do you know the story behind the 4th season finale? because if you do the whole thing makes a lot of sense.
When I saw it I was heartbroken by how much it left you wanting more, but also thought it did a good job of ending when they didn't know if they would be able to do anything more with the series...
And I won't say that any particular season doesnt have some incredible high points, and rather low points. Personally I loved each progressive season more than the last just because I was more and more attached to them and their plights, and I loved how delightfully mad it became.
It's fun that their holes get progressively deeper to the point of absurdity, but as a result so do their plans (and they aknowledge it) but an absurdity that makes a fair amount of sense. But I could go on musing about Farscape for weeks =p
Posts: 1038 | Registered: Feb 2006
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I never bothered to wade through the hassle of watching the show; that business about putting them on the DVDs out of order really irritated me. I honestly can't imagine what the thinking was on that one.
As a result, I've only seen the pilot and maybe one other episode.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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Hmmm. I noticed the discs were all weird when I added season 1 to my queue. I'm on the only 4 per month plan (I know that's crazy because you don't actually save any money that way over renting from a local store, but it's what works for us right now).
So I either am going to need to wait until we bump up to the next plan or rent the first season from a store.
Posts: 3423 | Registered: Aug 2001
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well, kwsni has a good point. Since most of season 1 is more or less Star-Trek-ish (i.e. each individual episode has little direct impact on the next episode it shouldnt make a huge impact; other than Durka Returns for exactly the reasons mentioned)
and to those put off by the apparent packaging snafu with rental copies of season 1 don't let that cause you to miss out on this fantastic series!
Posts: 1038 | Registered: Feb 2006
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Sure, but they still add up for interactions between characters, D'argo, and Chiana. I really think most of the characters get to shine in all of the episodes. They show the dynamic of how the ship works, and I think if you're going to watch it, you might as well commit to watching the whole thing.
That way, it isn't possible to miss any undertones.
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