Farscape: The Complete Series

The first real trademark hit for the Sci Fi Channel, the space fantasy Farscape takes place in a distant universe filled with exotic aliens and settings that look like they're ripped from the covers of Amazing Stories. Ben Browder stars as American astronaut John Crichton, flung through a wormhole to the far side of the galaxy and into a ship filled with fugitives from a fascist authoritarian force ironically named Peacekeepers. The totalitarian worlds and mercenary survivors of this hostile environment bear little resemblance to the Federation-friendly universe of Star Trek. The dark art direction, often grotesque creatures (courtesy of Jim Henson studios), and offbeat sense of humor made this the most imaginative and unpredictable science fiction show on TV in its day, with interstellar heists, royal intrigues, clones, resurrections, family feuds, alternate realities, and even an animated episode. Devoted fans came close to rebellion when the fourth season left viewers with a “To be continued …” cliffhanger right before the series was cancelled (a subsequent two-part TV film, available separately from Lionsgate as Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars, finally wrapped things up). Compiling all 88 episodes from the entire series (1999-2003) on 26 discs, DVD extras include all the bonus material from the earlier season sets (audio commentaries, featurettes, interviews, deleted scenes), plus the DVD debut of the 2001 TV special “Farscape: Undressed,” described by host Browder as a “crash course primer on Farscape.” Recommended. (S. Axmaker)[Blu-ray Review—Nov. 19, 2013—Cinedigm, 20 discs, 4,086 min., not rated, Blu-ray: $149.95—Making its second appearance on Blu-ray, 1999-2003's Farscape: The Complete Series, which compiles all 88 episodes, features a solid transfer and a DTS-HD 5.1 soundtrack. Season One extras include 14 cast and crew audio commentaries on select episodes, director's cut scenes for two episodes (42 min.), “In the Beginning: A Look Back” with executive producer Brian Henson (38 min.), interviews with costars Anthony Simcoe (29 min.) and Lani John Tupu (24 min.), a “making-of” featurette (23 min.), and an interview with costar Jonathan Hardy (21 min.). Season Two extras include five audio commentaries, director's cut scenes for eight episodes (101 min.), the “Re: Union” alternate season premiere (44 min.), an “Undressed” behind-the-scenes special (44 min.), “Listening in with Composer Guy Gross” segments for four episodes (42 min.), interviews with costars Wayne Pygram (22 min.) and David Franklin (17 min.), deleted scenes (15 min.), and bloopers (7 min.). Season Three extras include nine audio commentaries, a retrospective featurette with executive producer and writer David Kemper (44 min.), four more music segments with Gross (39 min.), an interview with costar Claudia Black (36 min.), deleted scenes (32 min.), a “Zhaan Forever” character segment with costar Virginia Hey, interviews with costars Rebecca Riggs (29 min.), Simcoe (27 min.), Pygram (25 min.), Gigi Edgley (18 min.), Ben Browder (6 min.), and Paul Goddard (5 min.), an archival segment with Gross on the theme music (5 min.), and original promos. Season Four extras include three audio commentaries, the behind-the-scenes featurettes “Villains,” “Visual Effects,” and “Save Farscape” (50 min. total), deleted scenes (44 min.), a “Memories of Moya” retrospective (36 min.), four additional music segments with Gross (33 min.), “The Story So Far” clip reel (27 min.), profiles of creator Rockne S. O'Bannon (20 min.) and David Kemper (12 min.), and the “On the Last Day” wrap speech by Kemper (4 min.). Also included is the collectible 16-page comic book Peacekeeper Wars, with the original story by Ramon Perez and an exclusive interview with Henson. Bottom line: a sci-fi series with a devoted fan base, this is recommended for those who don't already own the initial Blu-ray release.]