XOXO, Puppet Girl Season One
What Was Farscape Season One?
It was 22 episodes of science fiction television, each about 48 minutes long. It was not that remarkable. If Farscape had been cancelled at the end of season one, we would have no cause to discourse here, because Farscape would be another Earth-2 or Space: Above and Beyond. Science fiction television shows come and go, and they frequently burn their entire first season introducing the premise. So too with Farscape.
Over the last 22 episodes/11 blog posts, we established a baseline for the discourse of Farscape: the themes, the aesthetics, and the oppositional nature of the show. We prepared a set of tools which will allow us to drill down into the core of Farscape’s two icebergs of loneliness and control. We already saw those themes recur throughout this season, applied as a thin but fresh coat of paint on familiar sci-fi show plots. As the only human in the Uncharted Territories, John is terribly lonely. In time we come to see that his companions, damaged by their victimization and imprisonment by the Peacekeepers, are equally lonely. Even Captain Crais, separated forever from his brother who was the only person he loved, is lonely. Unable to connect, frustration turns you into a crazy person flailing wildly to provoke any reaction in anyone. We will see much more of that in season two.
Who’s not lonely? Scorpius (or so we believe at this juncture 🤔). Or if Scorpius is lonely, he deals with it another way. He imposes his will on others to achieve his desire for wormhole. Scorpius walks around stitched up into a gimp suit/tuxedo and suppresses what seems to be natural (where’s his meat? how does he pee? is he bald? why did his voice go all weird when he got angry at Crais?), and in exchange he gets to bully anyone he wants.
Speaking of Scorpius’ gimpxedo: the look and feel of Farscape. The Uncharted Territories appear before us as a wet, mushy, yet slayful place. There’s a lot of leather but there’s also a lot of loose, weird robes. Many locations resemble the sets of Dr. Caligari or Boese and Wegener’s The Golem. The look of everything echoes whatever our heroes are feeling. Farscape is an expressionist show, as I keep on saying. In times of misery, the shape of the world grows small and shadowy; in better days, the universe reveals itself expansive and glorious. The only place that remains consistent is Moya, and even she keeps revealing new compartments and secrets, one which contains an entire killer baby.
You may not believe this, but there is one last facet of Farscape which we have not discussed: the relationship between Farscape and Star Trek. John Crichton references pop culture as a self-soothing tool (relatable), and Star Trek comes up fairly often. Space as presented by Star Trek, while horny and mysterious, is famously optimistic, perfectible, and if we’re being honest as Star Trek fans here, deeply unemotional. Even Kirk, the hothead of Trek, rarely makes genuine mistakes, especially those driven by irrationality. The Federation makes no room for crime, compulsion, and ugliness. This is a fantasy which is sometimes comforting but sometimes (pun intended) alienating.
This is particularly interesting to me in the context of the shows’ respective premiere dates. Star Trek debuted in the troubled 1960s and made an effort by 60s standards to present a world free of hate, where every person can be recouped into a productive member of a perfect society. Farscape arrived in 1999, the supposed End of History, and presents a world where being alive viscerally hurts and survival is an open question. Remember how many episodes they spent looking for food at the beginning of the show? Farscape addresses issues ahead of its time, like “I am afraid we are not going to make it” and “It’s not clear if we can win this thing.”
Oh, John Crichton, we are going to have to try.
The Good Stuff of Season One
After many years of deliberation, I’m ready to say it: John Crichton is my favorite science fiction television protagonist so far. Unlike many science fiction protagonists, he is played by a genuinely talented actor. His relatable journey takes him from wish fulfillment astronaut action figure to guy who’s crying while vomiting. He loves his beautiful wife, but also his boy best friend--I’m getting ahead of myself. Most importantly, John Crichton tries so hard to do the right thing, even when it isn’t a good idea, even when he’s crying while vomiting.
Puppets rock. The cool puppets fill Farscape from foam wall to foam wall. Rygel and Pilot show up in nearly every episode and they are so much better than any CGI character could be. Their tactility produces a realness in their interactions with the human-embodied cast members which cannot be replicated by any number of computers, no matter how much water and power and underpaid VFX artists the producers throw at the problem. Rocket Raccoon can go take a flying fuck off a short pier. I’ve never cared for Bradley Cooper.
I’ve said too much about Scorpius already. He’s skeletal, he’s leathery, he’s evil. He wears thigh-highs and they Stay On. You think I’m crazy about Scorpius now, wait until Harvey gets here. Who’s Harvey, you ask? He’s Scorpius in a Hawaiian shirt and he likes to play the drums, so he’s got things in common with Dr. Worm. I’m not making this up.
Here in the early part of Farscape, many elements of the show have not yet “become good”. But the heart of Farscape is already in place, and it is a heart which shares contributors in common with Muppet Christmas Carol. It offers a place for everyone, but it also acknowledges their failings and their trespasses. You can’t become a better puppet until you recognize your weaknesses. You can’t become a better puppet until someone lets you try again.
The Bad Stuff of Season One
As an Australian-American co-production, Farscape could have featured many different kinds of people, people of varied backgrounds and appearances and experiences. But it’s a science fiction show from 1999, so it has white people and white people in alien makeup and Lani Tupu as Crais and Pilot. One non-white actor does not a diverse show make, especially when he’s only getting paid guest star/voice actor rates. This is one of Farscape’s greatest failings, and it never manages to break through. There are a few more episodes like “Jeremiah Crichton” coming down the pipe, and they will suck. Where we can take comfort is in the efforts made by creators who came after and out of Farscape, like Naren Shankar, who made The Expanse a great show with an effectively-deployed cast of diverse talent.
As an Australian-American co-production, Farscape frequently telegraphs “alien future” by using visual signifiers which actually mean “Asian”. It’s giving Bladerunner. It’s giving Star Trek: The Original Series Klingons. It’s giving “YOU’VE NEVER SEEN A WOK BEFORE!!”. It’s giving “This is a common tropical fruit, spray-painted, but those sponge-brain viewers back home in the States will never be able to identify it”. It’s classic Orientalism and it is both disappointing and somehow patronizing, which is so television-core of it.
Rygel may be a beautiful puppet, but his behavior has grown somewhat rancid between 1999 and now. Here in season one, pre-character development, he’s an awful little gremlin, vicious, self-aggrandizing, and lewd. He reminds me slightly too much of certain persons. I forgive him, because he’s a Henson puppet and because I know he can change, but I want to see the change. I’m tired of the baseline.
God, the music in this season disappointed me. I’m not a music wonk, I don’t try to pass myself off as a knowledgeable listener, but I was eyerolling at the corniness of the tracks, both for action and for emotional scenes. I’m afraid this trend will continue in future seasons. Scarily, I don’t remember the music at all.
Expectation Setting
I’ve been counting these key stats for Farscape, and now I will forecast changes. When I complete season two, I will subtract the actual increase from my estimates. If my estimates are off by a cumulative 35 points or more, I will watch and review Netflix’s The Tearsmith here on the blog. Why? The male love interest is named Rigel.
Times I Have Said “What Is Happening” Out Loud to Myself So Far: 9
I recall season two having some intensely baffling episodes. I’m guessing I will say “What is happening” out loud 12 more times in season two of Farscape.
Times John Crichton Experiences a Sexual or Romantic Violation by a Villain: 2
Villains find John irresistible in an, upon reflection, almost anime protagonist-like way. I remember at least one storyline where he gets molested in season two. I’m estimating an addition of 3 to this stat in season two.
Times John Crichton Threatens Suicide: 1
Unfortunately, this is going up, which is why John Crichton's emotional journey is so affecting to me but also why he will not be happy for a long time. I’m guessing 3 more times in season two, because we haven’t even crested the hill of his mental illness yet.
Doubles Episodes So Far: 4.5
Oh, at least 4 more. Season three is the doubles season, but season two will have some doubles as a treat.
Weird Sex Things So Far: 20
Huge gamble here: 22 more weird sex things in season two. I’m staking it all on at least one weird sex thing per episode.
Tears Shed So Far: 5
I know that I will cry in season two. I can name three episodes by their actual titles that I know will make me cry. Therefore I’m guessing 7 more tears, but if I undershoot here I may be shedding even more tears over how bad The Tearsmith is.
This is the last post of 2025 and let me send off the year by saying “God curse these terrible times and these arrogant kings”. All we have is each other, and Farscape. Thank you for your time and your amusement. Your reward is a January full of blog posts about the best movies, books, and games I confronted this year, and not about Farscape.
XOXO,
Puppet Girl
