Farscape has what few episodic surrealistic Sci Fi shows were able to produce.
Plots that rarely let you down, characterisations that other Sci Fi shows rarely were able to supply (Bar Firefly) puppetry that set it apart by supplying beings that differ from the norm yet are believable, sets that were like none other!
John Crichton, an International Aeronautics and Space Administration (most commonly referred to on the show as IASA) astronaut who, in the opening few minutes of the pilot episode, is accidentally catapulted through a wormhole across the universe and then drawn into the docking bay of a (to him) alien ship, the only Human Being in the series, obsessed with wormholes and the plight to get home, something which seems out of reach to him, yet so desirable that he is driven to search whatever the cost, Although Crichton is a heroic and unwaveringly loyal character, he is also a mischievously comical one, so much so that he is the primary source of humor for the series.
Sebaceans, the closest thing to a Human, physically similar so that differentiation is difficult to ascertain, in this Universe where the Sebaceans are known, they are referred to as "Peacekeepers" due to their role as the Hired Guns or Mercenaries of their part of the Universe, The main Sebacean character is Aeryn Sun who through circumstance is separated from her Peacekeeper life, yet through much of the series her Peacekeeper upbringing and training dominate her every action and thought.
There are characters such as Rygel the XVI one of two permanent Muppets portrayed in the show, the deposed Dominar Of Hyneria, this little guy who is less than a metre tall rides around on a chair that floats, he is both cunning and resourceful but also focused almost entirely on his own personal goals and wealth, he could be referred to as the "Doctor Smith" from the series "Lost in Space" in personality if nothing else, and Jim Henson has proved time and again you can't keep a good, or bad Muppet down!
The other permanent Muppet character in the series is "Pilot" a being from a race of that can, if they choose to bond permanently with a Leviathan, this Leviathan known as Moya, is a living ship and the vessel the main characters travel on and inhabit, Pilot is a formidable sight, large and definitely a show piece of what Jim Henson's genius can achieve!
Ka D'Argo is a Luxan warrior, with tattoos on his face and large appendages that cascade from the back and front of his head, D'Argo (as he is often called) carries a weapon known as a Qualta Blade, a heavy broadsword that can transform into a Qualta Rifle, he is large and often imposing and at times given to Hyper Rage, though he is also loyal and a staunch defender of his crew mates.
Amongst the original crew is Zhaan a Delvian by species, Zhaan is blue, bald and tall, though bipedal and similar is appearance to humans, she is a plant that loves bright light, a Pa'u (priestess) in the Delvian religious order.
John is perused by a succession of characters, mostly Peacekeepers, mostly obsessed with achieving wormhole technology, Scorpius being the character who from his first appearance till the Peacekeeper wars torments, threatens and even inhabits John's mind.
There are several characters that arrive and stay on Moya some longer than others, none more noteworthy than Chiana played by Gigi Edgley, she is a street-smart, savvy, and mercurial type of character who is willing to scam or steal for an adventure and risk her life for the people she loves. Chiana is a Nebari, a blue/grey-skinned race governed in a "1984" style, anyone who refuses to be guided and have their thoughts and actions set by the governing hierarchy are cleansed or reprogrammed, Chiana's character was set to be killed off after a few episodes, but after the instant popularity she gained by viewers the character was kept till the end.
One of the benefits the writing and characterisation of the series is that none of the characters were without fault, none were the stereotype of cute and endearing. If you like shows such as the ill fated Firefly, the longer running Star Treks or Stargate you should find this series to your frelling liking.
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