Boxed Set, Vol. 1: Smallville, Due South, Farscape
A topic for the discussion of Farscape, Smallville, and Due South. Beware possible invasions of Stargate, Highlander, or pretty much anything else that captures our fancy. Expect Adult Content and discussion of the Big Gay Sex.
Well, I watched the first two episodes of Farscape, and all I can say is... Eh. I like the lead guy well enough. And the blue lady and Aeryn Sun. I'm even okay with the warrior guy. But I hate the little floaty king-y guy.
The first episode is a pretty good intro, but it basically just sets things up. I, ET originally aired later in the season because it was considered weak. I'd say in the early parts of season one, they were finding their feet with a few bad episodes and a few outstanding ones. The second half of the season (and pretty much all of two and three) rock the house. Then the wheels came off about a third of the way into season 4.
However, Rygel (floaty guy) never stops being annoying. Pilot becomes quite a good character though (he's the muppet who will make you cry), and there are more regulars to come who are cool.
I'd say you need to give it more time, Rayne. It took me more than a few episodes to really get into it.
Agreed about the theme though! Never liked it and still don't.
Oh yeah. I remember watching "I, ET" and being decidedly underwhelmed. There are a few real clunkers in the first season. You could probably skip the first half of the season 1 with the exception of "PK, Tech Girl" and "DNA Mad Scientist". From the second half of the S1, I'd say, *definitely* watch "Flax", skip the next two (especially the godawful "Jeremiah Crichton"), then proceed to "Durka Returns" and onward, which are all excellent.
ETA: The theme music--god, yes. So bloody annoying. It never grew on me the way Firefly theme did.
It's entertaining, to look back at season 1 and realize that the show as it began had no intention of being an arc-driven show. Nor was it entirely intended as 'realistic' SF at first, what with That Old Black Magic. I liked its pointless (or anyway, impactless) oddity a great deal, although I also liked watching the retroactive fill-in-the-gaps as the show's creators figured out what they were doing (end of S1, beginning of S2).
In retrospect, "A Human Reaction" looks like the first episode where the creators were thinking ahead to later plot possibilities.
Keep going, Rayne. I just got to the end of S3. So worth it.
Rayne, if you're not a completist, skip right to DNA Mad Scientist and PK Tech Girl. Those are much better episodes, and give a better sense of what the show is all about. I think that DNA Mad Scientist is the best episode in the first half of season 1, possibly the best standalone episode in the whole season (although I adore Through the Looking Glass too).
And yes, Rygel never ceases to be annoying, but on the other hand they do give him some actual virtues, which he exhibits occasionally in spite of himself. It's rare but it happens.
I like the lead guy well enough
That may change. I thought he was just okay at the beginning too. But now I think he's brilliant: he gets much better during the course of the show. And the leather pants don't hurt, either. *grin*
Nor was it entirely intended as 'realistic' SF at first, what with That Old Black Magic.
This is the show that had the principal cast survive a nuclear explosion by hiding out in a digging machine with really tough metal armor. Realistic SF didn't just leave the building, it never showed up in the first place.
"Jeremiah Crichton" does have the benefit of more Ben Browder shirtlessness than any other episode, and some good Rygel moments. But I'd probably watch it with the sound off.
"Jeremiah Crichton" does have the benefit of more Ben Browder shirtlessness than any other episode, and some good Rygel moments. But I'd probably watch it with the sound off.
Yes, but that won't save you from the mangy badger that's eating Browder's face for most of the episode.
Oh, god, not the badger!
Now I have to go look at some miniseries promo shots to get the image out of my mind.
The things I do for fandom. *grin*
Speaking of Farscape, I just rewatched The Maltese Crichton over the weekend, and why do they keep showing that episode? It's just... not good. And I seem to trip over it all the time. (Of course, the next question is "why did you rewatch it, then?")
On the plus side I enjoy the Clayvor-and-the-Scarran Show. ("He's not much of a threat to you without his head!")
