"Farscape" (1999) TV series 1999-2003

User Rating:

8.7/10   

Creator:

Rockne S. O'Bannon

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

19 March 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Thrown into a distant part of the universe, an Earth astronaut finds himself part of a fugitive alien starship crew.

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Space | Fugitive | Technology | Villain

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 11 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Ben Browder	...	John Crichton (88 episodes, 1999-2003)
Claudia Black	...	Officer Aeryn Sun (88 episodes, 1999-2003)
Anthony Simcoe	...	Ka D'Argo (88 episodes, 1999-2003)
Lani John Tupu	...	Pilot / ... (85 episodes, 1999-2003)
Jonathan Hardy	...	Dominar Rygel XVI / ... (84 episodes, 1999-2003)
Gigi Edgley	...	Chiana (74 episodes, 1999-2003)
Wayne Pygram	...	Scorpius / ... (61 episodes, 2000-2003)
Virginia Hey	...	Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan (50 episodes, 1999-2002)

Also Known As:

"Farscape" (Australia)
"Space Chase" (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

50 min | USA:60 min (88 episodes) | New Zealand:44 min (Season 2-4)

Country:

Australia | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Germany:16 | Australia:M (Season 2, 3, 4 DVD Rating) | New Zealand:M (Season 2, 3, 4 DVD Rating) | Australia:MA (Season 1 DVD rating) | New Zealand:R13 (Season 1 DVD rating) | Australia:MA (some episodes) | Australia:M (some episodes) | Singapore:PG | USA:TV-14 | USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

Bondi Beach, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Jim Henson Productions

Trivia:

Virginia Hey was originally required to shave her head for the full-body makeup needed for Zhaan. In later episodes, the makeup was modified to include a skullcap, allowing her to grow her hair back. Besides her problems with contact lenses, the make-up itself also negatively impacted Virginia Hey's health and was a factor in her decision to leave the series.

Quotes:

[season four opening monologue]
John Crichton: My name is John Crichton... an astronaut. Three years ago I got shot through a wormhole. I'm in a distant part of the universe aboard this living ship of escaped prisoners, my friends. I've made enemies. Powerful. Dangerous. Now all I want is to find a way home, to warn Earth. Look upward, and share... the wonders I have seen.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Stargate SG-1: 200 (#10.6)" (2006)

First class SciFi entertainment

Saw it and liked it from the first episode on. The German translation is not recommendable but the original is really a great piece of work (art), a fact, which was unfortunately not noticed by the TV-channel SciFi. If you like creative, witty and funny entertainment you will love FARSCAPE! The Jim Henson company brought in all their resources and skills to create a completely strange, alien world on your TV-screen. The overall plot is somehow old-fashioned but the ingredients of this SciFi-opera are superb. Different styles and types of movie-making have been mixed to create a very addictive show. Characters and types of creatures are worked out very carefully. The plot is unforeseeable and very varied, so you never get bored.