UNDER CONSTRUCTION, MIND YOUR HEAD.....

Farscape burst onto television in the year 2000AD, with little fanfare, and even less advertising. From shaky beginings it became the premiere science fiction television show out there. Winning numerous awards for it's fast-paced, sexy dialog and its dark, moody atmosphere and the classic Farscape absurdity and madness.

This is a quick introduction to the series, but hang on tight folks cause it is one hell of a steep learning curve. Hopefully, if we start at the begining it will not descend into a continuity nightmare¹. To prevent this, and accidental spoilage for virgin viewers this Entry shall only cover the pilot episode. So if you are sitting comfortably, then we will begin.

Welcome to The Uncharted Terriories

Farscape follows the adventures of John Crighton, he is an alien from a little blue planet, circling a modest yellow star. A scientist from a primitive culture only just starting to explore the universe around them, John is shot through a wormhole when he attempts to fly his module² through a slingshot maneuver. After managing to keep the ship in one piece he is ejected from the wormhole right into the middle of a space battle. An accidental collision gives him only one team to play for and he joins the crew of Moya, trying to keep one step ahead of the Peacekeepers.

The Characters

John Crighton - The main hero of the piece. A regular Joe (as much as a scientist/astronaut who built his own spacecraft can be a regular Joe) he grew up on Earth, an all-American boy chasing girls, playing football and watching more than his fair share of what is kindly called cult television. Shot through a wormhole during the first flight of his space craft and rapidly placed in the unenviable position of stranger in a strange land, with no friends and powerful enemies so he does what anyone in the same position would do, he runs. Just so happens that the only way out is to hook up with a ship of escaped convicts, ensuring that adventures are soon to follow.

Aeryn Sun - A Sebacaen³ fighter pilot, working for the powerful enemy that is now hunting John, and the convicts he escapes with. Technically part of the Pleisar Regiment of the Peacekeeper Military she is also pulled onto the ship of escaped convicts during it's escape. This then makes her irreversably contaminated by the standards of the Peacekeepers and so condemned to flee as a traitor. Her position is precarious, no one likes Peacekeepers, especially people who were imprisoned by them.

Ka D'Argo - A Luxon warrior, large, humanoid, powerful, with tentacles on his head and wicked tongue action⁴. Imprisoned by the Peacekeepers for the murder of his Sebacaen wife and now on the lamb. Distrustful of most people, prefering to rely on himself, this comes across most acutely with Aeryn, one of the hated Peacekeepers, the people who locked him up, and whom he believes killed his wife. Quick to anger, and armed with a Qualta Blade⁵ D'Argo is not one to mess with. His escape is his chance to find his son and start life over.

Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan - A 10th level Pa'U, or Delvian Priestess. She is blue, humanoid and a plant. Now plants in sci-fi have had a bad reputation but this is a thinking, talking, walking plant. In fact if it was not mentioned there is almost no way to know she isn't just ablue alien. She is 812 cycles old, and has been imprisoned for the murder of another Delvian Pa'u. She is wise, patient and helpful and provides the voice of reason in the motely crew. However there is dark side to her, and she could probably take anyone on the ship. She is looking for a way home, to redeem herself.

Dominar Rygel XVI - The ruler of the Hynerian Empire, sixteenth of his line. Well, former ruler of the Hynerian Empire after being deposed by his nephew and imprisoned by the Peacekeepers. The smallest crew member, Sparky⁶, is barely two feet tall, however he glides around on his ThroneSled acting superior. His life has lead him to be self-centered, vain, greedy and not above a spot of larceny. On the plus side he negotiates well and is a consumate trader. This, the fact that it was Rygel who engineered the convicts escape and his small stature allows him into places unaccesable by the rest of the crew makes sure that they keep him around. He is looking to return to the Hynerian Empire and depose the pretender who has taken his throne, but he will gladly make a detour for something to eat, steal or sell.

Moya - A leviathan, a living ship. This was the convicts prison ship before they removed her control collar and escaped with her. Very large, and very helpful Moya does not mind doing almost anything for the crew, however she does have insticts and feelings and can prove to be very obstinate⁷. Leviathans are peaceful creatures, their only defense is Starburst which allows them to travel great distances very quickly⁸.

Pilot - A creature symbiotically attached to Moya, providing guidance to the Leviathan and a point of contact between Moya and the rest of the crew. Pilot is vagually humanoid in that he has a head, neck, torso and arms (four or six arms, but arms all the same) however he is attached to Moya in 'Pilot's Den' and cannot move. Pilot is suberb at multi-tasking and can see and feel all that Moya can, and all that he can, whilst performing complex mathematics and manouvers. He is a bit timid and unsure of himself, but does have some of Moya's obstinacy.

Captain Bialar Crais - Sebacaen, as all Peacekeepers are, Bialar is Captain of the Peacekeeper Command Carrier escorting the prison ship Moya and her prisoners. John's unexpected arrival during the prisoners' escape causes a near miss with a Peacekeeper Prowler⁹. Unfortunately the Prowlers wingman was not so lucky and clipped Farscape 1. Tumbling out of control the wingman careens into
an asteroid. The wingman was Tauvo Crais, Bialar's brother. Already needing to recapture the convicts for his career, the murder of his brother makes it personal.

Glossary - What the Frell Does That Mean?

Many items in Farscape need explaining for beginners, and many words are not obvious in their meaning. This section will, hopefully, enlighten you and meanings, uses and reasons. Well, as stated, that is the hopeful aim.

Prowler, Maurauder, Frell, Dren, Cycle, Arn, Metre, Microt, DRD, Translator Microbes, Dentic, Yotz, Hezmanah, drelk