in my top 3 of sci-fi tv shows. with the top 1 villain in all of sci-fi tv.
122
SAAARGE2 days ago
+64
Scorpius is definitely an S tier villain, regardless of how you feel about latex gimp suits. His dynamic with John is really what sets Farscape apart from other shows.
64
hexxeric1 day ago
+5
exactly! i convinced many people of it just by showing that one episode where they meet for the first time. it is an instant hook. just do not watch it on a big screen, it kinda looks b-movie, especially during the early seasons
5
tiltrage2 days ago
+17
Peak character acting.
17
mikayd2 days ago
+16
Man I ain’t Neva seen it, is it worth watching? The Villain is great you say, I likes a good Villain
16
PloppyTheSpaceship2 days ago
+34
The main villain doesn't come in until the end of season 1, and after that is seldom seen. The writers didn't want to make it a case where he comes along every few weeks with a plan, and fails. Thus, every time he appears, you know he's gonna f*** shit up.
As for the show - probably my favourite sci-fi of all time (unless you count Red Dwarf as a sci-fi). Yes, it is standard 22-episode-a-season late 90s early 00s stuff, but I like the crew dynamic - they're not do-gooder heroes out to save people every week, they actively dislike each other and will sell each other out. Also, the puppetry is fantastic - two of the main characters are actually Jim Henson creatures.
34
pleasetrimyourpubes2 days ago
+11
It also had one of the greatest finales of any sci-fi show ever and we got actual closure. No bullshit. Guy gets the girl. Bad guy loses. Also some of the best monologues ever. Just a perfect ending to an amazing show.
11
PloppyTheSpaceship2 days ago
+12
I was involved in the Save Farscape campaign and heard about PKW before it had been announced. Messaged the mods at Save Farscape and they said they'd heard about it, but I could tell people if I wanted. Decided not to, so they could make an announcement themselves when the time was right. Trying to keep quiet then was tough!
12
TheTresStateArea1 day ago
+3
I remember that whole thing happening. I was a bit young to understand the campaign to get a real finale. But I was so happy it happened when I finished it off.
3
LogicIsDead2215 hr ago
+1
Thank you for your service.
1
fatcatfan1 day ago
+3
Fear accompanies the possibility of death; calm shepherds its certainty.
3
yohoob1 day ago
+2
I always enjoy the multi part finales at the end of each season.
2
PloppyTheSpaceship1 day ago
+2
Yeah, Farscape does kick-ass cliffhangers.
2
mikayd2 days ago
+4
Bet I’m gonna give it a go starting tomorrow. I love sci fi
4
Really_McNamington2 days ago
+4
I'm on my first rewatch since it aired. Holds up pretty well. I still think Rygel looks a bit too puppety, tbh. (Works OK for the pilot)
4
Weinerbrod_nice2 days ago
+3
I think Rygel holds up pretty good.
3
Really_McNamington1 day ago
+2
He's a great character, which makes up for some of the shortcomings.
2
PloppyTheSpaceship2 days ago
+3
It's good, but you may find the early stuff rough or derivative. Season 3 is when it gets fantastic in my opinion - probably the best season of any TV show, I think.
3
planetary_invader1 day ago
+1
I would say the first few episodes can be a bit rough. But once Pip joins the crew in the middle of season 1 it really hits its stride. I did a rewatch a few years ago and I was actually surprised on how good the writing is. The stories actually are consistent and logical (well within Farscape logic of course) and there aren't any major plot holes that stick out.
1
TheElusiveFox1 day ago
+1
>Yes, it is standard 22-episode-a-season late 90s early 00s stuff,
You say this like its a bad thing - honestly this was pretty peak sci-fi as far as tv goes, with very few things really even being attempted let alone coming close since then.
1
ClemWillRememberThat2 days ago
+11
Yes, and be sure to double check the episode order for season 1 when you watch it. It originally aired out of order and some places still have it screwed up because of that mistake.
11
SAAARGE2 days ago
+7
First villain, not so much. Get to Season 2, and give the gimp a chance
7
KrivUK2 days ago
+7
Farscape S1 is a bit of a chore until the Drug episode (around ep 11).
It's like Babylon 5, the first few episodes you learn lore and characters. After that it's mesmerising quality episode after quality episode.
7
BrightLuchr1 day ago
+1
I'd rate Farscape as my favourite scifi show of all time. There are so many good villains. And truly scary muppets who you immediately forget aren't real aliens. It's delightfully weird and great universe building.
1
goliathfasa1 day ago
+2
Agreed. Harvey was indeed the greatest villain of all time.
I watched Farscape last summer and am almost done with Stargate SG-1. I don’t think we’ll get anything like these shows again, especially with declining attention spans.
1
hexxeric1 day ago
+1
make sure to also watch 2004's battlestar galactica then and the x-files 😃 never liked stargate (the series) though.
1
AtomicGrendel2 days ago
+81
I got to meet Gigi Edgley at C2E2 a couple years ago. She wasn’t doing the typical photo shoot meet & greet, she was just by herself at a table in the vendor section. She noticed that I recognized her and waved me over to talk. It was the absolute sweetest encounter I’ve ever had. We talked about her portrayal of Chiana, and the freedom she was given to truly act “alien” in her mannerisms. She also talked about the practical effects and puppets, and how they became more like actual cast mates. She said she couldn’t look at Rygel when the puppeteer wasn’t working him, like, “he’s my friend, and it looks like he’s lying dead on the floor.”
She was so kind to take the time to talk to me. She wasn’t even trying to sell signed merch or anything, she seemed genuinely happy to talk to her fans.
And, of course, she is still adorable.
81
Mu-Relay2 days ago
+22
I saw her at a DragonCon like 17 years ago and unlike a lot of the other celebrities, she took the time to get to know every single person that walked up to her table. Hugs, took pictures, just in general chatted with and seemed genuinely interested in their response.
22
firedrakes2 days ago
+11
she such a sweet woman!
11
tecphile2 days ago
+36
The show might have had it's faults but it still blows my mind how Farscape managed to stick the landing on not just one, but two massive, long-running narrative threads—and actually make both feel earned.
SPOILERS BELOW
From the very beginning, the core premise was simple: “How does John Crichton get back to Earth?” But by the time he actually makes it back, Crichton has changed, his idea of “home” has changed, and the show fully leans into that. The eventual return isn’t neat—it’s messy, emotional, and takes into account all the trials and tribulations he’s been through. And how would his friends and family (not to mention the US military) react to his alien crew? Exactly the kind of uneasy, borderline hostile response you’d expect, which makes the whole thing feel grounded despite how wild the journey was.
Then there’s the storyline of the wormhole tech implanted in Crichton's head by the Ancients, which could’ve easily spiraled into vague sci-fi nonsense. Instead, it becomes this central philosophical and strategic battleground— what is the cost of wielding unlimited power and knowledge? The fact that the show builds it up over multiple seasons and then pays it off in a way that’s both intellectually satisfying and dramatically explosive is kind of incredible.
Neither resolution feels rushed or like an afterthought. In fact, the way they finally converge feels almost inevitable.
A lot of shows struggle to resolve even *one* big premise without disappointing people. Farscape managed to pull off *two*.
36
iheartyourpsyche2 days ago
+7
The way that Farscape stuck the landing lives in my head rent free. They did such a good job with it, it' incredible how everything ties together so well!
I remember having a hard time watching the first season because I wasn't feeling the melodrama and camp of it all and didn't realize what I had signed up for. But I'm so glad I stuck it out, it gets so good so fast, and the ending is perfect.
7
tecphile2 days ago
+8
Exactly!
I still wouldn’t put Farscape above something like BSG or GoT. At their peaks, those shows basically transcended the genre and dragged a whole mainstream audience with them. They made “non-sci-fi” and “non-fantasy” people take them seriously in a way Farscape never really could. Farscape was always a bit too weird, a bit too .... unapologetically itself.
But man… it actually knew how to end its story.
Where BSG and GoT kind of… fumbled it (to put it nicely), Farscape absolutely nailed its core idea. And nothing sums that up better than Crichton’s wormhole weapon reveal in The Peacekeeper Wars.
That moment is seared into my brain.
It’s not just that it’s cool or shocking—it’s that sudden realization of what the show has been building toward this whole time. You think it’s all leading to Crichton finally cracking the code and using wormholes as the ultimate trump card. And then it hits you: no, the whole point is that this is something that *can’t* be used. That *shouldn’t* exist in a world where people are competing over it.
The reveal isn’t triumphant at all—it’s honestly kind of terrifying. He proves he can do it, and in doing so basically shows everyone why nobody can be allowed to have it. It’s straight-up nuclear deterrence logic, but done in a way that actually feels earned because of everything he’s been through.
And that’s the part that I remember to this day —that “oh shit” moment where it all clicks into place. You suddenly understand what the writers were going for, not just plot-wise but thematically. It re-frames Crichton’s entire journey. The thing that made him special, that gave him leverage the whole series, ends up being something he has to reject.
I genuinely wish I could wipe my memory of that scene just to experience that realization again.
8
denoflore_ai_guy1 day ago
+2
Yes and it always surprised me how much Florida looked like Sydney Australia. 😅
2
goliathfasa1 day ago
+1
That episode where he returns to earth still ranks as one of my top tv show eps of all time. It’s just so unique with how they switch between first person views of the main characters and the meta narrative of how earth and its different people and experts view both the aliens and the returning earthling. The perspectives from religious experts and psychologists discussing the change in humanity’s psyche from the revelation and also looking into Crichton’s behaviors and mind were fascinating.
They really avoided the pitfalls of a lessor show that probably would’ve focused primarily on some political intrigue with how the earth governments treated the aliens or focused too much on John’s personal story of returning to earth. Instead it portrayed the governments as trying their best to process all this new info and the earth’s populace trying to do the same, while the main focus of the story was on the more philosophical questions of humanity facing the truth about a universe it was not ready to be a part of, and Crichton’s difficult personal decisions.
Fantastic episode(s?).
1
pointfourtyfour2 days ago
+60
I hadn’t really seen any of Farscape before, but I’m thinking I’d like to give it a try.
60
CrusaderLyonar2 days ago
+84
Watching farcscape was one of those moments where everything sort of clicked that this is a thing that inspired a bunch of other things I loved.
Like it's one of the primary inspirations for both games like Mass Effect and also movies like Guardians of the Galaxy.
84
TravisKilgannon2 days ago
+52
Hell, Aeryn Sun's actress Claudia Black is *in* Mass Effect 2 and 3! She's a member of the Quarian Admiralty board, and that's just one of several notable voice acting roles she's done over the years.
52
CrusaderLyonar2 days ago
+24
Bioware tends to use the same voice actors and Claudia Black was already in Dragon Age.
24
TravisKilgannon2 days ago
+13
True, I was merely showing the direct link from Farscape to Mass Effect beyond inspiration. Black's voice as Morrigan in the Dragon Age games is one of my favorites.
13
D34THDE1TY2 days ago
+7
She's also a prolific voice actor in general.
7
NeuHundred1 day ago
+2
The actor playing Crichton was in GOTG2, he's one of the gold guys.
2
HalobenderFWT2 days ago
+2
Hmm. I always assumed the Guardians of the Galaxy comic book was the prime inspiration behind the Guardians of the Galaxy movie.
2
CrusaderLyonar2 days ago
+11
I mean Peter Quill in the movies is way closer John Crichton than to the Peter Quill in the comics.
11
Phantommy5552 days ago
+10
I’m guessing they’re saying the tone of the movies though was inspired by FarScape
10
Twiggyhiggle2 days ago
+3
GOG the movie was really far from the comics. Peter was a weary veteran of several galactic wars, along with having huge guilt for blowing up a mining colony in order to kill a supervillain. Drax wasn’t an alien, he was a human put into a different body by an entity. He was intelligent and had served as a mentor to Nova during the Annihilation wave.
3
007meow2 days ago
-4
How did Farscape inspire ME?
Aren’t the stories totally different?
-4
CrusaderLyonar2 days ago
+15
I mean "inspired by" doesn't meant "exactly alike". It's just one of many inspirations for Mass Effect.
They do have different stories but also have a lot in common. Ragtag group of alien comrades for one.
Also Zhaan is basically an Asari.
15
Atharaphelun2 days ago
+4
It's unfortunate that the actress for Zhaan had to dip out because of the toxic bodypaint.
4
snoopwire2 days ago
+36
First season has that classic sci-fi issue of being hit or miss - it's always fun though. But mid season 2 it becomes absolutely amazing and never lets off the gas. Highly recommend watching it.
36
Booster_Tutor2 days ago
+6
Yup, also back when seasons were 22 episodes so more chance of hit or miss. But that season finale! Man, that show knocked it out of the park whenever it did its “big” episodes.
6
pointfourtyfour2 days ago
+3
Well I love mass effect, so I think I’m missing out! Maybe I’ll go find a dvd box set and watch it inn my CRT tv.
3
OdepiusNecks2 days ago
+6
Definitely get the box set that includes the commentary from cast and crew. Ben Browder (Crighton’s actor) especially is a HUGE nerd when it comes to filmmaking. His commentary tracks end up becoming deep dives into all the behind-the-scenes technical aspects of how they filmed the show.
6
Really_McNamington2 days ago
+1
Blu-ray, presumably? Are they subtitled? And are the extras subtitled, because I have found they c**** out on that sometimes, to my enormous rage. (My old DVDs predate my hearing loss and are not subbed at all.
1
Phantommy5552 days ago
+2
It’s free on YouTube apparently: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcBQS2xdzwLA5tv8kP2lODaP_nfh8siNn&si=wI_-P0vz70tBrBzA
2
notover_yet2 days ago
+20
It’s delightfully weird
20
double_shadow2 days ago
+11
Oh you're in for a treat! Just be patient with the first run of episodes...the pilot is great, but then it takes a little bit to find its footing.
11
Buckets-O-Yarr2 days ago
+21
You're right, Pilot *is* great.
21
Cyrano_Knows2 days ago
+6
I see what you did there and raise you one "Mariko agrees with this sentiment".
6
Atharaphelun2 days ago
+7
It's basically a Sci-fi B*** show.
7
AncientsofMumu2 days ago
+3
So was Stargate...
3
denoflore_ai_guy1 day ago
+1
So was DS9 if you were an O’Brien fanboy
1
Haikouden2 days ago
+4
It's great, can for sure recommend.
4
shepbestshep2 days ago
+2
It's my favorite show of all time.
You won't regret it.
2
sengirminion2 days ago
+1
Farscape is awesome. I dont know if it still holds up these days but I enjoyed it as a kid. The special effects are largely practical so it probably aged pretty well.
1
Most-Steak-39911 day ago
+1
It really holds up.
1
Whirlvvind1 day ago
+1
Only thing that doesn't is the resolution and sadly the masters were destroyed (I think it was storage costs or something) and so we're never going to get a genuine 4k version. AI upscaling remasters eventually will be the best we'll ever get.
1
Flexhead1 day ago
+1
Even film stock of some episodes were lost so true 1080p scans for some episodes will never happen.
1
Charirner2 days ago
+1
It's one of my all time favorites, used to watch every episode when it aired on the Sci-Fi channel back in the day. Picked up the entire series on Blu-ray a year or so ago and it still holds up.
1
batmancdn551 day ago
+1
First season has some stuff that looked bad even for the time. Show is like a boulder rolling down a hill though and keeps picking up steam. Also I think it was the Jim Henson group that did the puppets.
1
vroart2 days ago
+9
The show holds up really well
9
prestocoffee2 days ago
+5
It's an enjoyable show but wow it was a slag getting through season 1. It gets really good season 2 into 3 and really felt like it was building momentum right up to the early end
5
nicathor2 days ago
+5
Love this show SO MUCH. Still can't get over the wide scale of emotion they hit, most episodes are fairly silly and hilarious but then they throw in the periodic episode that is so beautifully, crushingly sad it's hard to believe it's the same show. Underrated doesn't come close to describing the recognition the writers, actors, and crew wholly deserve for the clear effort and love they poured into this silly little puppet space opera
5
Kalamac2 days ago
+3
Such a great show. Think it’s time for a rewatch.
3
ejk9052 days ago
+3
He gets to repeat this moment in a sort of time loop: https://youtu.be/YnT0woIiJws?t=1055
3
Varnigma2 days ago
+8
Stargate is one of my favorite shows to binge. Even including all of the sci-fi stuff in that show, the most unbelievable thing in that show is Vala trying to hook up with Daniel and him turning her down.
8
Phantommy5552 days ago
+8
lol I can already tell this show is aggressively horny, which isn’t saying a lot for late 90’s-early 2000’s sci-fi tv
8
poopsmog2 days ago
+20
Actually Michael's main love interest in the show is a kind of asexual alien named Scorpius who psychically tortures him.
20
Phantommy5552 days ago
+9
That still does sound kinda k**** though
9
poopsmog2 days ago
+6
Oh don't get me wrong, the show is k**** as hell. I think there's a body swapping episode, all sorts of weird ass aliens, torture, this show got pretty out there. edit: I also think their ship gets pregnant and has a child.
6
mindhowl2 days ago
+6
Who is Michael?
6
Copy_Of_The_G2 days ago
+2
Love his Hawaiian shirts
2
Derailedone2 days ago
+4
Nobody has MARGARITAS with PIZZA!!
4
_PM_ME_PANGOLINS_2 days ago
+2
Scorpius is _not_ asexual. You weren’t paying attention.
2
Most-Steak-39911 day ago
+2
lol yup what about Natira??
2
Jay-Five2 days ago
+8
Try LEXX for that.
8
greenearrow2 days ago
+7
Claudia Black found a way to cause a sexual awakening in me as a grown man in SG1, but it’s not a major component of her character in Farscape. She’s a soldier through and through. There are many attractive aliens with Australian accents though.
7
Phantommy5552 days ago
+2
I mean just from this scene she’s already on top of the guy and ready to crush him with her thighs, can it get any more sexual than that?
2
mercurius4202 days ago
+6
Wait until you meet the Alien that can turn his sense of pain into literal ecstasy as he's being tortured by like 5 people.
Also they have a gimp the main character literally can't get off his mind.
Also slave collars for living spaceships.
6
Original-Sandwich-952 days ago
+5
Check out Lexx, for a very aggressively horny show if you haven't.
5
Phantommy5552 days ago
+2
Oh yeah I heard about that one, from the Wikipedia page it sure sounds like a trip..
2
Charirner2 days ago
+3
Oh it is, but it never goes to far.
3
Lyceus_2 days ago
+2
Such an incredible show.
2
bernsteinschroeder1 day ago
+2
Some of the best television you'll see even if a couple of the episodes make you want to slap the daylights out of everyone involved :D
2
joestaff1 day ago
+2
I'm only aware of this show because I binged Stargate.
2
Skytale1i1 day ago
+2
Such a great show!
2
high6ix2 days ago
+1
amazing show
1
gahlol1232 days ago
+1
I used to stay up late just so i could watch it. Best show ever! :)
1
goliathfasa1 day ago
+1
Something something mole somewhere only he knows.
1
lesjo1 day ago
+1
You just reminded me to finally finish Farscape! One of the classic shows I'm yet to finish for animatronics alone! It reminds me of The Dark Crystal.
1
bitchin_bauhaus1 day ago
+2
With everything getting a reboot or continuation, I'm baffled that Farscape hasn't returned. The contination is there using Deke to get the old team back together.
102 Comments