I am – Hercules!!

We Yanks don’t get access to “Farscape” 4.12 on the SciFi Channel until Jan. 10, but it’s all history to the filthy Britishers, who have already seen it on BBC2 and are spoiling to spill.

We kick things off with “Charlie & Tex”:

FARSCAPE: 4.12: KANSAS.

After being left on his own on the arse-end of wormhole orbiting Earth, Crichton is joined by the rest of the main cast as they discover that they are facing Earth circa 1986 and that the timeline has been screwed up.

Crichton realizes that his father is due to captain the space shuttle Challenger on its ill-fated mission, meaning that Crichton Snr. will be dead, the Farscape mission will not go ahead and all the events that have taken place up ‘til now will never happen, etc, etc…

Cue a Star Trek IV-style romp that involves aliens being bemused in a familiar setting, said aliens dressing in “funny” clothing to try and blend in and the obligatory unwanted intervention of inept members of the local law enforcement.

What’s good about the episode is that it gives a chance for the characters you know and love to be seen in a different light, but in a way that works so much better than the usual SF format-breaker. Although many of the situations are very familiar, they work due to the strength of the characters – witness the hilarious scenes that depict Rigel becoming addicted to sugar, snarling ferally “I want Kit-Kat! I want M&M’s”.

What’s bad is that there are more than a few familiar dramatic moments, witness Crichton trying in vain to get his mother to disclose the early stages of her illness – there was something almost identical to that in the “Leap Home” story in Quantum Leap. Another problem is that Crichton’s 1986 self is able to understand Chiana even though he does not have one of those damned devices stuck in his lughole. Also slightly unoriginal is the convenience of the story taking place on Halloween to allow the non-human members of Moya to explain away their appearances – not through with ripping off ET, it too features aliens getting English lessons from Sesame Street.

It also has to be said that the use of a real-life tragedy in what is otherwise a “romp” is a little distasteful, and featuring rapid inter-cutting of shots of the Challenger exploding from different angles seems to dumb-down the tragedy of the event, rather than creature the dramatic effect they were intending.

Oh, and the effect of making Kent McCord look younger is accomplished by the tricky CGI effect known as Grecian 2000. We’re not saying it is that convincing, but it will take a damn site more than dying his hair black to make him look like Troy again…

As is the fashion with Farscape, this is merely the mid-section of a multi-episode story, with a couple of careless details left unchecked that will have serious ramifications for the next episode.

The secondary story aboard Moya is rather weak, but it will undoubtedly pay off eventually, with the scene set for a major confrontation between Scorpious and a certain villianess with the lop-sided cleavage.

Season four of Farscape has been a bit of a disappointment, when it began it seemed to have lost it’s sense of fun, then episodes became too silly, but this and the previous episode seem to have put the show back on track. It’s just a pity that the show is now half-way toward it’s own extinction and all that has been set up in this season will be left hanging and the crew of Moya will join the Robinsons and Tony & Doug in that televisual void…

“King of the Groovers” offers a spoiler-free take:

4.12 - Kansas: written by Justin Monjo, directed by Rowan Woods

At last the two week wait is over - at least for those in the UK, Farscape's final eleven kicks off with Kansas, a very quiet and effective tale.

Kicking off right where the last episode kicked off, Crichton soon returns to a mid-1980's earth to find his father is listed for the disastrous Challenger Shuttle Mission. Not the most original or nail-biting Farscape plot we've ever had, yet in true Farscape fashion, it's played brilliantly. The closest comparison is Star Trek IV. The crew is sent back in time to retrieve a pair of wales. Here Crichton et co are trying to revert the timeline and save Jack Crichton, and ergo all the positive actions Crichton has had since arriving in the Unchartered Territories.

This is not an action piece. Kansas is a great character piece, centering on John's family. Touching scenes were frequent, as was hilarity. Just like The Voyage Home, several of Moya's crew find their way back to earth, and provide most of the episode's deliberate humour. The humour being driven by the character's misinterpretation of the culture around them; and not at the cost of the character. I won't spoil any of the jokes. If I did, they wouldn't be as funny!

Scorpius fans (and who isn't?) will delight in seeing another twist in the Scorpius-on-Moya arc. Yes, hands up, I never saw this one coming. Hats off to the writers again! The B-Plot takes place entirely on Moya, and I won't give anything away. Suffice it to say, there will be consequences in part 2, Terra Firma.

And those wondering, yes it does end in a cliffhanger, and the last line of dialogue will delight fans of A Human Reaction, as things have come full circle in a way. It's not a season-cliffhanging moment of great magnitiude, but an effective hook for the next week.

To sum it up, it's a quiet story, with the odd emotional punch, plenty of humour, and intrigue. I get the feeling that the B-plot on Moya is leading up to something very big in next week's conclusion. Oh and the young actor who plays the young John Cricthon is very well cast. And you will be saying he's a lucky b*stard, once you see what happens to him!

My rating 8/10

“English Mark” adds:

hi all

call me english mark. This is my first ever attempt at reviewing so bear with me. Here, submitted for your approval is a review of latest farscape episode. Number 4.12 if 'm not mistaken (which I'm not) called Kansas. I'm doing this because Farscape is my favourite show of all time (not least because it features muppets, I'm still waiting for animal to appear). I've been with it right from the beginning, and was heartbroken to hear of its cancellation, (if you've seen chiana or sikozu, you will see what I mean) so I'm going to encourage you to watch it, even if you've never seen it before (if just for chiana and sikozu). So just for you scaper virgins out there here is what you've missed

The story so far John Crichton (astronaut and part time leather model) is blasted to the other end of the galaxy by a wormhole whilst testing out his module as part of project farscape (hence the title). He finds himself in the middle of a battle, where the peacekeepers (a totalitarian orgainsation with an ironic name) are trying to take back a prison ship (a leviathan called moya, a living ship). On leaving the wormhole into the battle, John accidentally hits a fighter, causing it to be destroyed (this becomes important later, bear with me). John boards moya where he meets the crew of escaped prisoners, D'argo, angry badass alien with a penchant for shooting things (great one liner about that earlier in series 4) framed for killing his wife by a peacekeeper. Rygel, a former ruler (dominar) of 18 billion subjects, fond of eating (he has two stomachs) and farting helium (with the obvious joke every time which is somehow still funny), Aeyrn Sun, a (very hot) peacekeeper who is forced to join our heroes and wear leather (not all bad) and Zhaan, a blue delvian priestess.

They escape, but are pursued by Bialar Crais, peacekeeper captain and a brother of the pilot who john accidentally killed! Later, Moya gives birth to Talyn, a half leviathan, half warship hybrid and meet Chiana (yay), a grey skinned nebari whos fond of, ahem, socialising with males and has a cleavage that just won't quit. John also meets a race named the ancients, aliens from another dimension who give him knowledge of wormholes, and therfore possibly how to get home. However he can't access it so he has to keep running and find a way. Then they meet Scorpius, a half sebacean (human like species) and half scarran (uply, you know one when you see it). A war is inevitable between the two, and Scorpius needs a weapon to give the peacekeepers the advantage. Wornhole technology could provide that answer, so he tortures john to find ut, but when that doesn't work, he puts a clone of himself in Johns head to steal it. John escapes, but scorpius keeps pursuing him, both in the real world and in his head (causing him to name the clone Harvey, as he keeps talking to clone scorpy, even though no ones there, as in the film, nyah, you get the point). Eventally the clone overtakes him, causing him to kill Aeryn (who he has fallen in love with). Scorpy arrives, takes most of the clone and the knowledge and leaves crichton to die. However, the others come to the rescue and save john, and Zhaan uses her mysitical mojo to bring Aeryn back, but costing Zhaan most of her life, leaving her dying. She later sacrifices herself when moya hits a ship in a wormhole.

Crais by this point is against Scorpius, and john, althugh not trusting each other. This causes Crais to join with Talyn (share a mind- wonder what ships think about? Is it lady ships?) and become his captain. Scorpy meanwhile can't get at the information and so needs John himself who understands it. So they relucantly join forces, however john still doesn't trust scorpy, thinking he will use the weapon for his own purposes. So crais and talyn sacrifice themselves by exploding in scorpys ship hanger (great fx), allowing them all to escape. Then, just when they thought it was all over and so began to go there seperate ways, john found out aeryn was pregnant! So john in his module, tried to return to moya so they could catch up with aeryn, who had gone her seperate way. Then a wormhole opens up and swallows moya, leaving john hanging in space alone in one of the best moments in tv history! John luckily finds a nealy dead leviathan, and cracks the knowledge of wormholes. Here he meets sikozu (hubba hubba) who was hunting for dead leviathans for her employers. John works with sikozu to save the ship, along with Chiana and Rygel, who have just appeared with no knowledge of what happened in the wormhole or the others. They meet up with the others on a world where they find evidence of a relation between earth and other alien races (this hasn't paid off yet, but hopefully it will, its just a cool idea). Here they find another peacekeeper is after them called Grayza (who I shall call commandant cleavage, as John does). She wants the same as scorpy said he did, and to prove it, kills scorpy. Her methods of extraction live up to her nickname, but john escapes (WHY!!!!!). Eventually they catch up with moya, to find Aeryn on board, with SCORPIUS. Scorpius is now kept in a prison cell (although sikozu seems quite interested in him but why, we just don't know). Aeryn has one more surprise though, as through one thing or another, john may not be the father, as peacekeepers can hold a foetus for seven cycles (years), so that efinitely ups the possibility of number of fathers. John, with his new wormhole knowledge can now anticipate wormholes, and in one experiment is sucked into one! There he meets another ancient, who tells him the scret of controlling wormholes- that you must know where and when you want to arrive (it took a whole episode to get to that conclusion) as space and time are linked. John leaves, thinking about moya and so wanting to return there, however, then he finds himself where no one, not even the audience expected, ABOVE EARTH!

And that is up to date with the scapers. A lot I know, but all interesting back knowledge. May not relate to the story, but I'm trying to build new fans, which is what will ressurect the show. To other fans, I know I left out a lot (the two cichtons storylne) but I want to bring new people in, so I told them the stuff they need to know, and who knows, if any sci fi execs read it, they may realise what an innovative series they've just lost.

Anyway onto the current episode. Firstly let me reassure fans, he is back on earth. It isn't a simulation made by aliens (as done twice previously, both to brilliant affect. Womens toilets anyone). He got the place right, but the time very wrong! BUt let me go from the beginning

The episode opens with john still in orbit above earth, but somehow still in contact with Moya, so D'Argo and the others take D'Argos ship through the wormhole, locked in Crichtns suit, leaving Sikozu and Scorpy on board. To stop them doing anything to te ship, Moya is powered down. John joins evryone on baord his ship, and then hear an announcement over their radios from Reagan. The first sign of oh oh! So he goes down to the Crichton family abode to find things very wrong, his dad (Jack) is part of the challenger mission, due to launch in a couple of weeks. Naturally this is wrong, an aberration to the timeline which he can fix entirely as long as he stops Jack going on the mission.

After hearing this, he tells the other to hide in an abandoned house down the road and stay out of the way. John then tries to talk to his family, first his ex-girlfriend (not yet ex though). Though he only speaks to her when he gets caught drinking their milk, milk not being something he has drunk for three years! Then he tries with young John himself. Naturally the rebel doesn't want a cause (he thinks his dad treats his mum badly), and so finally tries with his mother, a very spiritual woman herself (she reads cards). This is especially heartbreaking when you consider that his mother had died four years before, and my hat off to Ben Browders (John) acting, who really balances out the heartache of seeing his mother again, and not telling her too much.

Meanwhile the others stuck in the house discover earth culture in the funniest scenes in Farscape I've seen in ages. Aeryn berating a child learning english on Sesame Street has to be seen to be believed, whilst Chiana discovers jeans and a load of hippy clothes (see aeryns cher dress later on, you'll see what I mean). Chiana naturally goes walkabout (luckily its halloween) and picks up the young John Crichton who obviously cannot believe his eyes, and I can't blame him! but still the neighbour notices and calls the police. Who when they come knocking and discovers everyone, the halloween excuse doesn't work, meaning D'Argo gets to try out the only three sentences he knows in English- No, Yes and bite me! Yes it is as good as it sounds! Sadly Noranti uses one of her powders to knock them out and make them forget

But theres still more! Grayza catches up with Moya. Sikozu and Scorpy hide in the thermal vents to mask their life signs whilst Grayza, Braca and 30 peacekeeper troops board and search the ship. We now find out how Scorpius survived, and the identity of Scorpius's spy- Braca, his old second in command! He tells Scorpy that Grayza is apparently making a deal with the scarrens, but as scorpy has realised, the scarrens are obviously just playing her to gain an advantage. More on this later.

Back on Earth, John hatches a plan to delay his fathers leaving. John was apparently once in a coma for 2 days, a result of a house fire which Jack rescued him from. John intends to recreate that, forcing his father not to leave. So chiana leads him back to his house, and in a surprisingly touching scene, keeps him busy by taking his virginity! Noranti then puts him in a coma using a powder experimented on the policeman earlier, in a moment that puts a much needed intimitating side to her. She uses too much, nearly killing young John which has the affect of making older John invisible (he can't exist if he dies in the past)! This he uses by going to tell his mother that he is in danger, and tells her to get Jack. This is the best scene of the episode, despite it's hokey nature, as you see the shadow of johns hand touching her cheek, saying goodbye, and tries to tell her not to be afraid. Noranti fixes the problem, bring john back to visibility. They all run away as Jack runs in, but accidentally knocks himself out! leaving John to save his dad and himself, and make it look like jack did it, which he does but not before sharing a lingering moment with his father staring at him. They all promptly return to the ship and leave earth, the past fixed. They meet up with Moya who has returned to earth of 2003. However there are some last minute twists in true Farscape style. Highlight the inviso-text below to see them.

You were warned

John disembarks to find his father standing there in the hanger, along with his supposedly dead mother and family! Also, Grayza has left a present for John, as she did not find him but knew he would be back, has left some sort of creature, undectable by Moya, capable of homing in on Johns DNA and bringing him back to her. Roll on nexct episode!

This episode is just perfect, and importantly a good jumping on place for newcomers, as it sets up new poltlines which may not be carried out. If nothing else, watch it to see Rygel get addicted to sugar, with the best line "Is this dren illeagal, I want some more!" and scaring trick or treating kids away to steal their candy. Apparently Kit Kats ae the best. Oh and D'Argos driving. And not forgetting the sheriff who everyone is convinced is mad, and .... oh just watch it!

Thanks herc. Until next time (next weeks farscape ep), farewell!

Finally, we have the American take. Regular Coax contributor “Gaspode” happens to be in London at the moment:

Herc:

Last week, you asked UK Farscape fans to send in their reviews of episodes airing on BBC2. Hope you don’t mind a few quick comments from one of your American viewers over in London for a few weeks. Episode #412 ‘Kansas’ Written by Justin Monjo Directed by Rowan Woods

The episode title is doubtless an allusion to The Wizard of Oz, but more accurately could have been called ‘Florida,’ as most of the action takes place in the Sunshine State. Using his still-dodgy use of wormhole technology, Crichton has returned to Earth, but it’s actually 1986 Earth, where Reagan is president and the space shuttle Challenger is about to depart on its tragic mission. Oh yes, and our hero is still orbiting the planet, singing ‘100 Bottles of Beer.’

Fortunately, Crichton manages to get a signal through to Moya, and D’Argo, Aeryn, Chiana, Noranti and Rygel all pile into D’Argo’s ship, leaving Scorpius and Sikozu to mind the store. When the rescue party arrives on Earth, Crichton discovers that he’s back in 1986, just one day before his father is about to go on the Challenger mission. This is a slightly different reality, which can only be put back on track by restoring events to their natural course, so it’s up to Crichton to stop his dad by getting in touch with his family, including a younger, more rebellious version of John himself. Meanwhile, the rest of the group are learning a bit more about Earth customs, which includes reruns of Sesame Street, the traditional middle-fingered salute (should be interesting to see if Sci-Fi airs those scenes in the US) and Halloween. Oh yes, and back on Moya, Grayza’s Peacekeeper’s board the ship, and Scorpius reveals that all is not as it appears…

Like many fourth season episodes, ‘Kansas’ is a mixed bag. The A story of Crichton trying to change his past and confronting his younger self has been done countless times before and better, although Ben Browder does his best with what he’s given. The best moments however, come from the rest of Moya’s crew, trying to cope with 1986 Florida. Whether it’s Aeryn learning English from Sesame Street, Rygel scaring a bunch of trick or treaters, or Chiana putting the moves on a young Crichton, there are plenty of enjoyable set pieces. And seeing Aeryn and Chiana dressed in garish vintage clothing doesn’t hurt either.

So overall, a light and funny episode, but judging from past seasons, things are going to start getting real serious, real soon. Enjoy the laughs while, you can get em, folks.

-Gaspode

I am – Hercules!!

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