Farscape - Guerre pacificatrice

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!

This miniseries neatly wraps up the plots and characters of the always inventive, wildly funny, and deeply intelligent Farscape. (Check out the first four seasons for proof).

And it does so with panache! It's wonderful to see Crichton, Aeryn, D'Argo, Chiana, Moya, Pilot and Rygel back, their inimitable selves as usual. And of course the Scarrans, Scorpius, Grayza and a host of other less than savory characters also make their presence keenly felt.

I won't talk about the plot (people have done so already), but the acting and the characters and the plot are all raised to the next level. The wit is just as sharp, the emotions just as strong, and many loose ends get tied up (but not so tightly that there can't be more future Farscape if the creators decide to go that route).

The last hour of the mini is enough to justify it a permanent place on my DVD shelf whenever it comes out. I cried, I laughed, I gasped. I was thoroughly entertained. Truly, some of the best sci-fi out there.

For all the farscapers that were left at the edge of their seats from the series' finale cliff-hanger, you will be truly satisfied with how this mini-series successfully ties all loose ends. I was impressed on how the they took a few minutes to summarize the series and quickly introduces the characters, their relationships and the basic plot line to any new viewers at the beginning. After that, the show takes off!

Farscape: The Peackeeper Wars continues to extract elements from what made the series superb in the first place, by relying on characterization and great dialogue. What lies at the core of the Farscape world is their characters, their relationships with one another, their own evolution as a person and their abilities to deal with a harsh environment. All the sci-fi elements, at times, seem almost to be implemented as accessories, an extra-added bonus. The basic story lines and character develop can work in the real world.

With a bigger budget to work with, the mini-series' special effects were very impressive, not to say that the series' wasn't either. The program had it all, space battles, laser-gun battles, worm holes, scary aliens and alien romance! I was kept at the edge of my seat the whole time.

Although I was greatly hurt that the series was cancelled, I was truly satisfied on how Farscape ended, although some out there won't be happy on how some of the story lines and characters ended. For those not familiar with Farscape, the mini-series acts as a spring-board to go back from the beginning watch the series. Your best bet is on DVD, as the SciFi Channel rarely show reruns and when they do, it'll most likely be on in the early morning hours.

I expected a lot of The Peacekeeper Wars, and I think these hopes were a little unrealistic for a mini-series trying to cover what was intended for a series.

Unfortunately, this very much a full series squeezed into three hours. Many fascinating stories could be discerned, but few had the air time they needed, and many were simply confusing. Characters exchanged meaningful looks, only to never be seen again. The editing process had taken its toll.

For a Farscape "episode" this was surprisingly conventional fare, and in places it did wander into the cliché. But full credit for the minds behind it, they were squeezing in a series (and from the content on display it seems obvious that their claims to having plans for the fifth series were far from insubstantial) and simply didn't have the time. Beyond all this, it was still Farscape. Brilliant acting, fine writing and the age old characters, all a little wiser as they were in series four.

I rather enjoyed the... unconventional end to series four, but it's obvious that many wanted closure, and while it doesn't entirely satisfy that demand, it was good to see the finest sci-fi ever made back on our screens, if only for a little while.

I still have my "Wanted: Farscape Season 5" posters on my wall, they have been there since Season 4 was being shown.

This is by all accounts a true Farscape story - But it feels like the continuity which had built up in Farscape the Series was broken somehow. Changes in Jool's appearance, In Rygel's, In Sikozu, in Jothee, even in "War Minister Akhna" (Chricton's Real Life Wife Francesca Buller - Who was also the great character from S1E20 "M'Lee")- All worked against me initially in my own suspension of disbelief. In fact, this story had lost some of the unique 'Farscapese" which we loved week after week, I can never imagine Rygel using the phrase "Don't get your Knickers in a Twist" - He would have used some other more disgusting (and alien) words. Also, Guy Gross' Music is not very Farscapish or Subvisionish, it is traditional - Not like the show at all, although he did almost 3 seasons worth of music.

But as the story gets more involved, that continuity returns and we once again enter Tormented Space and The Uncharted Territories which is where Moya and crew were when last we looked.

Had we a season 5, there would have been more explanation of why "Grunchlk" was still alive and exactly why Chiana could see across "Unrealized Realities", also we never really got into what Sikozu really was, other than what is shown here.

And it also seems that the Skarran Empre was not slowed down one bit by the destruction of Staleek's "Bird of Paradise" farm, and they are kicking the pants off of the Peacekeepers.

If this story had been told across a 22-Episode 5th season, maybe we could have gotten those answers. But here has to end the story of John and Aeryn. Unfortunately, some other stories end here as well, which what upset me most. Mostly because it meant "No More Farscape" in it's current form.

What made Farscape unique was the involvement of Jim Henson's Creature Shop, So putting on this Mini Series was difficult enough, a year after the cancellation of Farscape- Some of the series production design did not transfer over well, maybe this was due to destruction of original sets, but even in the series, those were destroyed as well, in the episodes. Moya survived well, she looked great on the inside and outside.

The best part of this was probably the last few visits John has with "Harvey" - And I never understood why John called Scorpie's Neural Clone "Harvey" until this was shown, then the reference to the 1950 Jimmy Stewart film became clear. After that, I was able to visit all of the episodes where John talks to Harvey and it makes a lot more sense.

John Chicton was a walking, talking encyclopedia of Movie and TV knowledge, spouting phrases in Klingon, even taking on the mantle of The Roadrunner from the WB Cartoons. It's what made Farscape great, and so in this last Farscape "Episode" John Chricton is in fine Chricton form. As is Ka D'Argo. Unfortunately, Pa'u Zhaan never was found by Stark, or at least we never saw that. But even Stark is perfectly Stark, now that he shaved his head again. And Chiana was a great Chiana. But when I saw Sikozu, I asked "who is That?" Maybe it was the influence of being Scorpies Girlfriend. Scorpy, mystery as he is, has become the most Human he can ever be, even to the point of trusting someone and having feeling for them. Poor Scorpy, he cold not help being Scorpy. Jool was great, but not enough of her, my favorite 3rd season Moya Passenger.

It was mainly the little details that made Farscape the phenomena it was, and some of those were lost, but many of them remained- Enough remained for one last Starburst into The Uncharted Territories.