The final "Farscape" shows...

[wolfy]

Well, folks, the time is coming...

Next week is going to be the last of one of the greatest shows on television (next to "The Muppet Show"), and it's ending...

"Farscape" is having it's swan song next Friday night (tonight is the final of the latest trilogy of the series), and from what was said in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about the show, I have a feeling that some of us are either going to be screaming our heads off (or rupturing our vocal chords), throwing things at our televisions or else just plain crying "Why, Sci-Fi, WHY?"

Rumor has it that the show will have a nice, pat, standardized ending about a minute before the show ends, which COULD wrap up the series so nicely, but there will be some kind of major TWIST (yes, all capitol) in the next 30-60 seconds that will have faithful "Farscape" fans screaming for more, me included!

I have NO idea what this twist is, but I am already sweating bullets and having bad dreams about it.

I have also heard that there is going to either be a miniseries or a movie ("Movie, movie, movie"...keep the chant going, because this thing is bigger than "Star Trek" and could go on for YEARS), but that the stars and the Henson Company have to work things out first...

Oh, please, Brian and all the Henson people...if you have even a TINY bit of love for "Farscape" fans in you, PLEASE do something to continue showing the program for us here in the USA...we LOVE it, and we really don't want to lose it at all!!

Okay...I'm heading out to get my VCR warmed up for tonight, and I'm buying NEW TAPES for next week's two-hour finale...
wolfy

[UncleDeadly]

:eek:TWO HOUR FINALE?!:eek:

Why have I not heard this sooner?

[Phillip Chapman]

Ironically, next week's series finale will be titled "BAD TIMING". Everyone needs to tune in and show their support.

After March 21st, Sci-Fi will begin airing Farscape re-runs each week.

[Super Scooter]

Originally posted by Phillip Chapman
Ironically, next week's series finale will be titled "BAD TIMING". Everyone needs to tune in and show their support.

After March 21st, Sci-Fi will begin airing Farscape re-runs each week.

He he! That's funny Phil.

Good! I was thinking they might not do reruns of the show! I didn't start getting into it until four episodes before it's due to end!

[wolfy]

Ironically, next week's series finale will be titled "BAD TIMING". Everyone needs to tune in and show their support.

Oooooh, that IS ironic!

Thanks SO much for letting us know, and for telling us that Sci-Fi will be airing re-runs starting the 21st of March.

We missed a lot of the eps this season, and we really need to catch up on them!

Considering we were such big "Farscape" fans (even going as far as to join the club and not complaining when we didn't get our newsletters or anything else from them we were promised except for the tape in a neat box and some posters), I'm surprised at us.

But then, when they changed the time from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays I had to make a major choice between "Farscape" and "Law & Order, SVU," which I try to never miss...

Does Sci-Fi still air a second showing of the program later on at night? I haven't checked lately...

I will be there, though, for the finale and I am hunting all the stores for the DVDs of the four seasons' worth of episodes. This two and three episodes on one DVD (to me) is a waste of DVD space. Give me a full season with extras and inside reports, interviews and background info from the stars about their characters on a two- or three-disc set and I'll pay the bucks for it!
wolfy

[EmmyMik]

Originally posted by wolfy
Does Sci-Fi still air a second showing of the program later on at night? I haven't checked lately...


Yeah, it airs at midnight.

My friends and I love Farscape, and it's our Friday night ritual (last night we spontaneously decided to order pizza, which we inhaled while watching Farscape).

I have a feeling we'll be tuning in next week...

[wolfy]

Thanks, Emmy...

This way, if the hubby and little one wish to watch something earlier in the evening, I still get to record it off the satellite at midnight.

Appreciate the help!
wolfy

[toyzboy]

http://www.savefarscape.com/

I'm not sure if it does any good, but for those who are interested.

:eek:

[Chilly Down]

Woo-hoo! Glad to see they're finally putting Farscape back in the daily reruns.

I can understand why people have a hard time getting into this show. I hated the first episode I saw. But people kept saying great things about it, so I watched another episode. I didn't like that one either. But it continued to be acclaimed by people whose opinion I respect. So I kept trying.

Finally, after seeing about 5 episodes in the course of 8 months, I saw the second-season finale, "Die Me Dichotomy." Whoa. Now the series had my attention, and I watched it almost every week after that.

Any new viewer should start at the beginning when the episodes start airing as daily reruns. They don't need to watch every episode, but starting at the beginning is the best place. And they should make sure not to miss hilarious episodes like "Crackers Don't Matter," "Out of their Minds," and "Won't Get Fooled Again." And as someone else said, the third season as a whole is just phenomal, with heartbreaking episodes like "Relativity" (possibly the show's best) and "Different Destinations," and entertaining shows like "Green Eyed Monster" (written by series star Ben Browder) and "Revenging Angel."

In the fourth season, the show seriously lost its way. In an effort to improve ratings, a villainous character was added -- I don't remember her name, but I just call her Cleavage, because that's why they brought her on board. There was a lot of sleazy sensationalism like this. Meanwhile, on Moya, a lot of great, interesting characters (like Stark and Crais) left the show, in favor of characters that were generic rehashes of those we'd already seen (the new redhead is just a slightly less brash version of Jool, and the mystic is a cheap version of Zhaan). These new characters were not as interesting as the ones they replaced. And while the show had always tried to fight its "Muppety" stigma because the characters were made by the Creature Shop, this season they really went overboard with making the aliens so gross that it was just unpleasant to keep the TV on. Plus, there were major continuity holes that one could drive a bus through. The writers never explained how Scorpius could survive being shot at point-blank range, and being buried in the cold ground in front of everyone! In fact, both Scorpius and "Harvey" have come back from the dead so many times, death has lost all meaning.

The only two great episodes this year were the loopy, fanciful "John Quixote" and the fun "Unrealized Reality," both of which reunited some of the characters from previous seasons, in a sense. (I still haven't seen the rest of the 3-parter where John returns to Earth circa 1985. Aargh!)

Anyway, just because the show was bad in Season 4 doesn't mean it couldn't have rebounded in Season 5. The series as a whole was good, and I'm disgusted that they never got the chance to rebound. I'm just hoping the last episode is a good sendoff.

[wolfy]

Wow, Chilly, you know a LOT about the various episodes of "Farscape!"

What was the name of my favorite one, and the one my kids talk about ALL the time...where John had this cartoon dream about the crew, and it was done by Warner Brothers ala "Bugs Bunny/Road Runner" style?

I swear, we were laughing so hard we almost choked that night!

I have to admit..."Farscape" can be both for kids and for adults, as the jokes can get riske' at times, but it's something that people of ALL ages can really enjoy.

And those COSTUMES! Would I love to have those makeup and costume people around MY house come Halloween and Convention times...!

*sigh*

Well, I think I'll go to the "Save Farscape" site and get me one of those neat TShirts or sometime...I love the look of some of them, and I have to admit, even though I love "Farscape" and it's show and it's merchandise, I don't see too many "Save Farscape" items on their web site... :)
wolfy

[Chilly Down]

"What was the name of my favorite one, and the one my kids talk about ALL the time...where John had this cartoon dream about the crew, and it was done by Warner Brothers ala "Bugs Bunny/Road Runner" style?"

That would be "Revenging Angel." :)

[Wozza Fraggle]

They actually made the characters into cartoon form ?
How did they look ?

I wonder if Disney buys Henson, Would they start Farscape back up again ?

It airs twice a day here, And three times Tuesdays !

see ya

[Chilly Down]

The style of animation was very influenced by old Warner Bros. cartoons. I heard a rumor that this was the last thing Chuck Jones supervised before his death, but I didn't see his name on the credits. The animation was actually done by EM.TV. The likenesses were pretty good; I think I might actually prefer this style of animation (as opposed to anime) if Farscape became a cartoon series.

Regardless of whether Disney or someone else owns Farscape, the problem is the same: that other networks view the show as "the Sci-Fi Channel's used junk." :( It's going to be an uphill battle for them to get anything on the air, whenever this buyout thing is over.

[Phillip Chapman]

Just a reminder, Farscape season 4 concludes tonight. It will likely be the series finale as well. Check it out tonight at 8 pm eastern and 12 am eastern. Let us know what you think.

[wolfy]

AAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

I cried!

How COULD they end it like that?

And what's with the "To Be Continued" stuff?

When? Where? What channel? How?

Too many questions, totally unanswered!!

Oh, and Pilot...poor, dear, wonderful Pilot...again, I cried...

I'm emotionally drained...completely, emotionally drained...
wolfy

[Chilly Down]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGG GGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! is right.

It's not the creators' fault. I can't believe Sci-Fi wouldn't let them wrap this up. The episode was FANTASTIC right up until that last scene.

(I should note, though, Wolfy, I think you misunderstood something. Pilot was hurting from the transfer, but I got the impression he would be all right.)

Maybe there'll be a movie or an anime series, but I don't hold out much hope with all this buyout nonsense. Besides, Sam Beckett from "Quantum Leap" never made it home. "Sliders" ended on an unresolved cliffhanger. I guess I'm just going to have to get used to the idea that every show I ever like is going to have a bad ending.

I'm never watching this stupid network again.



:mad: :( :eek: :boo: :grouchy:

[Phillip Chapman]

I think most of this episode last night was written and shot before the news of Sci-Fi's cancellation came down last September. So it's not like this is how they wanted the show to end. Sci-Fi decided it would end this way.

I thought the thank you to the supporters of Farsscape at the end of the show was kind of a slap in the face since Sci-Fi isn't even allowing a proper conclusion to the series.

[wolfy]

I don't really think it was a "slap in the face" to the viewers, Phil.

I think the people from "Farscape" honestly do thank the viewers for their loyalty and patronage.

What I think is a slap in the face, though, is that Sci-Fi feels that "Farscape" isn't really good enough for them to put on their channel...

For some reason, they feel that moving the show from it's great 9 p.m. Friday night time slot to 10 p.m. Friday, opposite NBC's heavy hitter "Law & Order, SVU," just to help "Stargate - SG1" make it's debut and pull in some viewers. That wasn't nice of Sci-Fi to do in the first place.

Then Sci-Fi seemed to make out like "Stargate" was getting better ratings (okay, some of "Farscape's" viewers did leave because of the time change, but was it so many the ratings fell THAT drastically?) than "Farscape," and started rumbling about the cost of the program vs the amount of revenue it was bringing in.

THEN comes the "the show costs too much," "we can get better effects and ratings with American-made shows like 'SG-1'" and all that crud that I heard was going around that Sci-Fi allegedly was saying to "Farscape," which made things worse.

THEN...the death knell..."we aren't going to renew your contract," "we have less costly shows lined up that we think viewers will enjoy more." "we're cancelling the show as of this season..."

"Farscape" fans have been working their collective rears off to save this show, and to what end? Only to have Sci-Fi ignore their pleas and end the show with no hope or knowledge of having it on another channel.

We have the rumors of a movie, a miniseries, animated series and comics to live on, but even the "Farscape" magazine ended with the March 2003 issue; is this really hope of a future of some kind?

Personally, I will not watch Sci-Fi any more. I only watched it for two programs (currently): Twilight Zone (original shows) and "Farscape." When "Quantum Leap" was on I'd watch them, because I LOVED Scott Bakula who played "Sam." When I was single I wanted to marry someone just like him...sweet, kind, good looking, understanding...a doctor...

Since neither of those programs are on any more, and I am not really into "Twilight Zone" much any more (I can see it at noon?), I have no need of the Sci-Fi channel.

Besides, I don't have any love for "Dune," "Children of Dune," "Rivertown" (or whatever it is called), "Tremors" (a waste of film as far as I'm concerned, all three movies and now the show, which I will probably get flak about from it's fans) or whatever other show they might put on in place of "Farscape" or on most other nights...

Oh...I guess I do like "Mystery Theater 3000." Does that come on Sci-Fi? If so, darn. I'll miss that...

And Chilly, I know that Pilot was all right after he and Moya regenerated, but he was in such pain when he was being cut away from her in the first place. I remember what pain he went through before, both when he became part of her and when they were torn apart once before. Pain for both of them. And he was being so noble and self-sacrificing about doing this for John and the crew...

THAT'S what made me cry...
wolfy

[Phillip Chapman]

I wasn't in any way saying that the "slap in the face" was from the Farscape cast, it is from Sci-Fi for the way they have handled this mess. The cast and crew have been amazing to the fans during this time.

I totally agree with you that changing the timeslot played a roll in the shows demise. What was even worse was taking the show off the air totally for 4-5 months, then adding it again last summer, then yanking it off again until January. Sci-Fi could have at least shown re-runs on a more regular basis instead of showing nothing in the down times.

[wolfy]

RE: the "thanks" at the end of the show...

Oh...okay, I think I must have misread how you meant it. Sorry.

And yes, the way they kept yanking the show, putting it on again months later then pulling it again for weeks on end WAS a horrid way to do things to both the fans and any new viewers of "Farscape."

My husband feels that what Sci-Fi did was barely short of sabotage to the show, for whatever reasons they did it for...

All I know is that I had to agree with whomever said they wouldn't watch Sci-Fi again...I have no REAL reason to, now, as "Farscape" was the best show there was on the air for that station!

By the way...what the HECK happened to Scorpius and Zu? I know that John sent them somewhere (with a bomb attached to Scorpy's bod), but were they on the Scarren ship that met them in the wormhole, or did they die somewhere else?

I am so confused...!
wolfy

[Chilly Down]

Scorpy and Zu are fine. The bomb would only be triggered if Moya was not allowed to get away in peace. Because Moya did get away safely, Scorp and Zu were seen later aboard the Peacekeeper ship, with Scorpius saying that John would soon come back to them of his own volition. John talked about it but changed his mind. I think that's the last we saw of them.

Again, it's always obligatory for the network to thank the viewers at the end of a run of a show with a heavy fan base. But they don't really care, as evidenced by the fact that (as you both have pointed out) they took them off the air so often, then put them in a bad timeslot and didn't give them a chance to redeem themselves. SG-1 was on the verge of cancellation when it joined Sci-Fi. How well would IT have done in Farscape's timeslot?

When I said I'd never watch Sci-Fi again, it was mainly exaggeration to make a point about how mad I was. I can't say that I won't watch the network 10 years from now, or that I'll never catch a rerun of a favorite show in passing. But Farscape was one of my only "appointment" shows a week, and the only one on Sci-Fi. Hence, no need to watch it any more. I'm not interested in "Tremors" (just how many different ways can you kill a big bug?) and I don't care about the "Battlestar Galactica" mini-series in December, since they've gone out of their way to anger fans before it even airs.

Sci-Fi has repeatedly said in interviews that they hate the "geeky" sci-fi fan and they're always trying to appeal to a "mainstream" audience. Guess what, Sci-Fi? We ARE your audience. If you aired cooking shows and sitcoms on a sports network, you'd anger the very people who were watching your channel, and they'd stop tuning in. Sci-Fi, if you keep this up, you are going to be paying the piper very soon.

[wolfy]

Well, I don't know how "geeky" we really are, since the only real Sci-Fi fan in the family is my hubby, but the boys and I enjoy scifi stuff, and we aren't the "geek" types (you know, pocket protectors, slide rules, the knowledge of various mathematical equations on the tip of your tongue as well as being able to tear apart a computer and put it back together in an instant...), nor are we the heavy-duty scifi types (ala "Trekkies" et al, going to conventions, worshiping Asminov or Roddenberry...).

What we are are normal people; watch numerous, varied television programs, including soaps (everyone gasp, now), use the computer for work, play and school, enjoy reading, writing, playing, cards, board games, travelling, just being with each other and our pet (a dog).

Yep, we are the typical broke American lower-middle-class family with all the struggles, trials and tribulations (but no tribbles)...

We are of the ages between 10 and 51, so we meet all the demographics that those places who want to sell things to crave, so the Sci-Fi channel must love us, right? And they would want to put our favorite kinds of shows on the air, right?

Noooooo, they take our best viewing off the air and chase us off.

Again, I agree with Chilly that, while I can't say "never, ever, ever again" because of reruns of "Farscape" or "Quantum Leap" when it comes to watching Sci-Fi, I will say that, unless those shows are on, I won't BE watching it at all...

Okay, NBC, CBS, ABC or whomever else (Food Network gets me for "Iron Chef" every week)...HERE WE ARE!!
wolfy

PS...sure would like to know what is going to happen with Scorpy and Zu, because just leaving them off on their own wasn't a very satisfying ending, especially since they seemed to be getting...um, close...

Thanks for the info, though, Chilly...I was wondering what happened to them on the show. Don't know where my brain was at that moment...(probably upset enough about this being the last show ever that I wasn't paying attention fully...)

[EmmyMik]

Nutbunnies!!!!

I forgot that this was on last night.

Of course I've been out of it lately (I woke up this morning, wondering what exams I had today. Then I realized that I didn't have any. And then that's when I realized that I missed the Back to the Future cartoon on Fox. Darn it all!)...

[Chilly Down]

Yep, it was unsatisfying, particularly after Scorpius has been so built up as the Darth Vader of the Farscape world. He deserved a more interesting ending. But that's what happens when you don't get the extra year of your contract that your network promised to you.

Emmy: Isn't that the worst? I can't tell you how many times I've done that. Sci-Fi is showing Farscape again from the beginning, starting on Mar. 31, so keep your eyes open for the episodes you've missed. (The finale probably won't be till July or August!)

[PinkTribeChick]

Dude...I was nearly in tears and screaming at the TV because of that ending. They finally get engaged - and the baby is his...all is right with the world...and then out of nowhere this ugly looking creature disintegrates them! It was just so wrong!!! :mad: The very least Sci-Fi could have done was to let them film one more episode - some sort of proper ending to the series, rather than the mean jolt we got! I can only hope Disney has some sense, and if they buy Henson - they will latch on to this wonderful show and give it everything it deserves - including a real, decent ending that ties up all the loose ends!
Shame on you, SciFi - you obviously have very little respect for your fans . . . :grouchy:

[daimyo_00]

Hey all :D I am new to the forum. I signed up after the finale episode. But I did some digging and have found some really interesting info. I guess as you all may have heard, is that Sci-fi pulled the plug on Farscape because of the ratings. They new what they were doing when they wrote the last episode, because when they decided to take the last season, they only signed up for 11-13 episodes (i cant remember the exact amount), instead of the normal 22 episodes. The good news is, from my reliable sources, is that this is all a marketing ploy. Sci-fi, from what I understand, is either going to start producing or airing, new Farscape episodes next January. So think of it... Farscape with bad ratings, and insane finale that has people screeming for more, how do you think the ratings will be if and when they start airing new episodes. Pretty good I think. BUT...the clincher is, is that it is unsure whether Sci-fi will be airing the episodes, or another cable channel. But i hope this little bitt of info will keep a few of you from jumping out a window, at least til January :D

[Chilly Down]

Damiyo, I appreciate your trying to keep our sanity and prevent us from jumping out windows. :D But I do have to ask, what is your source? Many online sources are not reliable--even Ain't It Cool News is right only about half the time. So I'm just curious as to where you heard this.

The online sources I typically trust for Farscape news include Cinescape.com, Scifi.com, and of course, Muppet Central.

[FerrariGuy]

I had heard that Sci-Fi was going to cancel the series, but with it bouncing on & off the air I wasn't sure until it was announced that the SERIES finaly was going to air last Friday.

I found this forum doing a web search trying to find out what the future fate of Farscape & the Jim Henson Co was... & registered so I could post.

I just wanted to say that I thought the *current* final episode was BRILLIANT just like every episode of Farscape has been. It strikes me that the ending may very well have been the doing of the writers rather than the Sci-Fi channel with the possibility of causing what hopefully will be a tremendous outcry that will bring the series back to life. I thought it was probably the most well written *wish it weren't ending* series finaly ever. Anyone remember the end of Moonlighting? I really applaud the writers & producers for not cutting the ending. Course.. that could just be wishful thinking.

If the writers had wanted a pretty ending.. they HAD the oportunity. Slip in 3 more minutes of commercials & cut the final few minutes & gee wiz bang.. nice tidy wittless ending. Click....

Sci-Fi has lost me as an appointment viewer as well... I could care less about the rest of the marginal mainstream last a season or two shows it it currently sponsering. Stargate is fairly good, but it's no appointment show... they wanted mainstream... they got it...

I think I might get into some of the initiaves www.savefarscape.com is suggesting. (old news to some I'm sure)

http://www.watchfarscape.com/news/index.php

The main idea is to get Farscape fans together for a food drive. BUT, the fans will be selective & buy food from advertisers that supported Farscape (list available). Pretty nice idea & hopefully may help save Farscape as a side benifit.

Paul Kobres

[Wozza Fraggle]

OMG OMG OMG !

I cant believe this !

I saw this episode a few weeks ago on UK TV !

I was like "Oh My God, What is gonna happen?"
I didnt even realise until i read this !

Whoa, I nver knew that we got Farscape before you guys!


Dang!

[Chilly Down]

Hi, FerrariGuy! Welcome to the forum! :)

From all that's been reported, the ending of the show was not a deliberate attempt to cause an outcry to get the show back. They were pretty much just wrapping filming, and Sci-Fi called to tell them it wasn't honoring the rest of its contract. The writers had written the ending the way they did based on the belief that they would be back for a fifth season.

For that matter, if they had deliberately planned it that way, I would be against it. "Sliders" also deliberately ended with a cliffhanger, even though Sci-Fi had told them to wrap things up. Three years later, it's still unresolved. The networks never listen, and the only ones hurt are the fans.

At any rate, Farscape didn't need a crazy cliffhanger ending to get a public outcry. It already got one in September when the cancellation was announced. And despite a massive effort by fans, all the work has fallen on Sci-Fi's stubborn deaf ears.

I agree with you that the ending is good, but only as a season finale, not a series finale. I'm not interested in a happy, witless ending either, but there's a balance somewhere between that and the utterly cynical, nihillist ending we got.

The analogy I like to use is "Back to the Future." The original movie ended with Doc and Marty flying off on new misadventures--"uh, oh, here we go again!" I like the sequels, but if they had never followed up on THAT cliffhanger, I would still be happy. It was great fun. Now imagine that the movie ends instead while we're enjoying a warm embrace between Marty and Jennifer...and then, without rhyme or reason, Biff runs out of the house and shoots them both dead on the spot. Roll credits.

That's how I feel about the end of Farscape. They didn't have to be mushy, but they didn't have to (as Danny Horn so eloquently put it) "kill the puppy" either.

Anyway, those are just my thoughts in the matter. Looking forward to future discussions with you!