Typical Farscape imagination. And I'm so thrilled about Zhaan's cameo.
4 Reviews
Caught in a game
Tweekums13 September 2012
Warning: Spoilers
While out in the pod with Crichton Chiana tries to get him to pay some sort of immersive game; he declines and when she starts to play he can get no response out of her. He gets a message from Moya alerting him to some sort of problem with Scorpius but before he can hear the whole message Chiana grabs his hand and pulls him into the strange game.
Inside the game they encounter several familiar characters, including versions of themselves and characters we haven't seen for some time such as Gilena, Stark and Zhaan. If the game was working properly exiting would be easy; inevitably something has gone wrong though so they will have to win the game to get out. A version of Stark explains the rules to Crichton and Chiana; to win Crichton must kiss the princess or exit through a green door. Eventually John gets out but Chiana is left trapped inside leaving him with two problems; getting her out and regaining control of Moya from Scorpius who appears to have taken over while they were in the game! Something isn't quite right though.
Having people trapped in an artificial reality is hardly an original idea; that doesn't mean it isn't good if well executed though... I think it was in this case. The vividly designed world John and Chiana spent most of their time in was bright in a way that made a nice change; it helped that Chiana's jester outfit was so much more colourful than her usual attire. She is always a playful character but this look just increased that; Gigi Edgely did a fin job in the role. I really liked how the setting provided an excuse to show so many departed characters again; most obviously Zhaan who was such an important character in the series for so long. It was just as good to see fairly minor characters like Gilena again though. When it first looked like John had escaped from the game it crossed my mind that he might still be in there some how but I was never certain until it was revealed... even though there were clues to the fact for those observant enough to spot them! Overall this surreal episode is a treat for fans but might be a little too weird for people who aren't long term viewers of the series.
Inside the game they encounter several familiar characters, including versions of themselves and characters we haven't seen for some time such as Gilena, Stark and Zhaan. If the game was working properly exiting would be easy; inevitably something has gone wrong though so they will have to win the game to get out. A version of Stark explains the rules to Crichton and Chiana; to win Crichton must kiss the princess or exit through a green door. Eventually John gets out but Chiana is left trapped inside leaving him with two problems; getting her out and regaining control of Moya from Scorpius who appears to have taken over while they were in the game! Something isn't quite right though.
Having people trapped in an artificial reality is hardly an original idea; that doesn't mean it isn't good if well executed though... I think it was in this case. The vividly designed world John and Chiana spent most of their time in was bright in a way that made a nice change; it helped that Chiana's jester outfit was so much more colourful than her usual attire. She is always a playful character but this look just increased that; Gigi Edgely did a fin job in the role. I really liked how the setting provided an excuse to show so many departed characters again; most obviously Zhaan who was such an important character in the series for so long. It was just as good to see fairly minor characters like Gilena again though. When it first looked like John had escaped from the game it crossed my mind that he might still be in there some how but I was never certain until it was revealed... even though there were clues to the fact for those observant enough to spot them! Overall this surreal episode is a treat for fans but might be a little too weird for people who aren't long term viewers of the series.
the Alice In Wonderland fantasy episode
spasticfreakshow9 September 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I'm glad I gave it one more episode after the epic fail of "Natural Election" - because this one is a wild ride, a Farscape take on Alice, including clearly borrowed elements from the Lewis Carroll story, as well as a VW van and long-lost Farscape friends whom you've been missing. Stark with longer hair is quite lovely. Chiana is Crichton's perfect companion in this adventure, because she's always game for a whirl. The costumes and sets are brilliant and unforgettable, and Aeryn's Scarlett-esque part in the play utterly hilarious - particularly the lisp-y accent. If video games truly offered such absurd, whimsical virtual realities, I would play them. This is the most fun episode of all four seasons to watch.
Parts of the 'virtual' story play out to have been figments of Crichton's imagination and part of the game - exposing his subconscious fears and foreshadowing problems to come in future episodes. Crichton should take some of these game-dreams as a better warning for his own reality.
Parts of the 'virtual' story play out to have been figments of Crichton's imagination and part of the game - exposing his subconscious fears and foreshadowing problems to come in future episodes. Crichton should take some of these game-dreams as a better warning for his own reality.
Found a couple of things...
XweAponX12 November 2021
Since John Crichton is a walking talking encyclopedia of all things IMDb, the Elevator Operator "Crichton Headroom" gives John a couple of suggestions as to what he should name his sword:
"Cameron" or "Uma"- now it also occurs to me that Ben Browders character when he magically appeared in Stargate SG-1 for its ninth and 10th seasons was named "Cameron"- Coindidink? I think not! Also considering that in that first SG-1 episode, Ben also wields a sword, in that case it was a holographic rendition of Excalibur. So sure, why not name it "Cameron".
Now the other name that is thrown out, "Uma", brings to mind "kill bill" and a Hanzo Hattori sword, but of course kill bill had not been released yet. Did Ben have foreknowledge of Quentin Tarantino's planned movies? Maybe, he is of course "The Crichton".
This episode, as others described as the Disneyland/fantasyland episode, has all kinds of things stashed into it. First there is Gilina, appearing in a simulation of Scorpy's Gammak Base. Then there is Crais as "Beast" of Beauty and The Beast. And a various assortment of Sheyangs, Skaarans, Exploding Rygel's and "Reverse-Starks"... not to mention pseudo Chiana's, "D'ArHansel and JooGretel" (D'argo and Jool). And one weird representation of Zhaan. And did I mention farting, exploding Rygels? But one of these things is misdirection, because of who "the princess you seek" actually is.
Once John realized who he should have been looking for...
There are some very interesting directorial techniques including split screen in certain parts. Reminds me of Hitchcock.
Of course this is the first appearance of Stark since he left in search of Zhaan. And the last appearance until he shows up at Katratzi, in that case as a Bioloid.
But this is a much more important episode than we think, this is not merely filler but something very very important happens here. Something that bridges events from season three to season four.
"Cameron" or "Uma"- now it also occurs to me that Ben Browders character when he magically appeared in Stargate SG-1 for its ninth and 10th seasons was named "Cameron"- Coindidink? I think not! Also considering that in that first SG-1 episode, Ben also wields a sword, in that case it was a holographic rendition of Excalibur. So sure, why not name it "Cameron".
Now the other name that is thrown out, "Uma", brings to mind "kill bill" and a Hanzo Hattori sword, but of course kill bill had not been released yet. Did Ben have foreknowledge of Quentin Tarantino's planned movies? Maybe, he is of course "The Crichton".
This episode, as others described as the Disneyland/fantasyland episode, has all kinds of things stashed into it. First there is Gilina, appearing in a simulation of Scorpy's Gammak Base. Then there is Crais as "Beast" of Beauty and The Beast. And a various assortment of Sheyangs, Skaarans, Exploding Rygel's and "Reverse-Starks"... not to mention pseudo Chiana's, "D'ArHansel and JooGretel" (D'argo and Jool). And one weird representation of Zhaan. And did I mention farting, exploding Rygels? But one of these things is misdirection, because of who "the princess you seek" actually is.
Once John realized who he should have been looking for...
There are some very interesting directorial techniques including split screen in certain parts. Reminds me of Hitchcock.
Of course this is the first appearance of Stark since he left in search of Zhaan. And the last appearance until he shows up at Katratzi, in that case as a Bioloid.
But this is a much more important episode than we think, this is not merely filler but something very very important happens here. Something that bridges events from season three to season four.
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