Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars (2004) (TV)

Director:

Brian Henson

Writers (WGA):

Rockne S. O'Bannon (characters)
Rockne S. O'Bannon (written by) ...

Release Date:

17 October 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

John Crichton may not have started the war - but only he can end it.

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Fugitive | Friend | On The Run | Sergeant | Spacecraft

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 3 wins

Cast

Ben Browder	...	John Crichton
Claudia Black	...	Aeryn Sun
Anthony Simcoe	...	Ka D'Argo
Gigi Edgley	...	Chiana
Wayne Pygram	...	Scorpius / Harvey
Raelee Hill	...	Sikozu Svala Shanti Sugaysi Shanu
Melissa Jaffer	...	Utu-Noranti Pralatong
Paul Goddard	...	Stark
Tammy McIntosh	...	Joolushko 'Jool' Tunai Fenta Hovalis
David Franklin	...	Captain Meeklo Braca
Rebecca Riggs	...	Commandant Mele-on-Grayza
Duncan Young	...	Emperor Staleek
Francesca Buller	...	War Minister Akhna
Hugh Keays-Byrne	...	Grunchlik
Jonathan Hardy	...	Rygel XVI (voice)

Also Known As:

The Farscape Miniseries (USA) (informal title)

Runtime:

182 min (2 parts)

Country:

USA | Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Netherlands:6 | Australia:M | UK:12 | USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

Fox Studios, Moore Park, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Jim Henson Company, The

Trivia:

Jim Henson's Creature Shop was responsible for most of the interesting aliens in the series. At one point, Crichton complains about being chased by the electric mayhem. The band on the "The Muppet Show" (1976) were known as Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem and put out at least one album in the 1970s.

Goofs:

Plot holes: The Eidelon priest told Aeryn that at the dawn of their usefulness 27 thousand cycles (about 27 thousand years) ago they found a primitive and barely clothed species, humans, which they genetically engineered to make peacekeepers. Crichton found an artifact near the Eidelon temple with an Egyptian hieroglyph. The Egyptian hieroglyphs are dated 3200 b.c, about 5.2 thousand years ago, there were no Egyptians 27 thousand years ago, nor there were Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Quotes:

Aeryn Sun: John! You went there, didn't you?
John Crichton: I went the whole way there.
Aeryn Sun: I didn't want you to do that.
John Crichton: Yes, you did. Everybody wants to see the great big wormhole weapon.
Aeryn Sun: No, I want to see war turned into peace.
John Crichton: War and Peace, War and Peace. Did you know that Woody Allen's version is better than Tolstoy's? Because it is funnier and absolute power corrupts, absolutely. Where the hell's my pen? Where's my pen?
Aeryn Sun: This is what you want!
John Crichton: No, Aeryn it is not what I want! It's just that fate keeps blocking all the exits! And no matter what I do I just keep circling closer to the flame!
Aeryn Sun: Then pull back. This war is not your responsibility.
John Crichton: You and the baby are my responsibility. And how am I supposed to protect you from the Peacekeepers and the Scarrans and the Tragans and the lions, tigers and bears? With this? Winona? This gun? No gun is big enough.
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

Far Out!

Just in case you are not familiar with the back story of this excellent little mini-series: Farscape PKWs is a continuation of a cancelled television series on the Scifi channel. Nothing special about that you say?

Well, what makes this unique is the fact that it never would have been made except for the legions of fans who caused such a ruckus after Scifi made the stupid mistake of canceling. THE FANS got the attention of financial backers who then invested in making this little gem. How amazing is that? In a world where we feel like people crap on us at will and it's us again the big corporations...the little man finally won a small but decisive battle.

As for the show, some die-hard fans, myself included, noticed a few differences in how the mini-series was shot and some character changes...though all the original actors were used. Still, I was almost in tears when I saw my favorite Hynerian in all his squat and toadlike splendor. Definitely not a disappointment to loyal fans and hopefully an eye catcher to those who are new to the series. The humor was there, the dangers were still lurking around the corners, and the chemistry was as sizzling as ever. I highly recommend that anyone who hasn't seen this glorious series go out and rent the first season. You'll never regret it!