Farscape and Firefly: unpopular opinion

POSTED BY: ELKA
UPDATED: Saturday, January 25, 2003 05:19
VIEWED: 7155
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ELKA

Tuesday, January 14, 2003 1:32 AM

This is an unpopular opinion, and I know that I am going to get flamed for it, but I am going to say it anyway.

I watched Farscape from the first season, and I watched every episode of Firefly. As far as the campaigns to save them, I am participating in only the Firefly efforts, because I think it is more worthy, here is why:

Farscape aired for 4 seasons, Firefly aired for a few months. In those few months Firefly had, it's episodes were almost consistently gems, each one of them thought provoking, and creative (okay, maybe not 'The Train Job'...). In 4 years, Farscape had great first and second seasons, I loved them, I have them all on tape. But the third season was horrible, to be harsh, and weaker, to be nicer. It began to emphasize big boobs, big guns, and shock value. The new charactors introduced were vapid, leather clad exotic sexy female aliens. The fourth season was getting better, but it had still lost a lot of the quality that it once had. While the cancellation was abrupt, not giving time to write a proper farewell episode, I think that Farscape was ending it's ...'golden' period.

There's also just the plain fact that Farscape had four seasons, Firefly didn't even have one. I don't think Firefly had a chance, whereas Farscape did.

Lastly, and this is really probably more of a cynical observation, I watched on CNN when they showed the sets of Farscape being destroyed (it made me cry). So I don't think it has much of a chance to return, especially after all this time. But they are still making an anime and talking about a feature film.

So, in my opinion only, and you're free to disagree, I'm sure a lot of people do, I just hope everyone can be respectful and intelligent in their disagreements, I'd rather Sci-Fi pick up Firefly as a show than as a mini-series and let Farscape go down in the annals of great sci-fi before it completely loses what makes it appealing.

Cmmd. ELKA, The bumpkiniest of the Bumpkin Army.

SERGEANTX

Tuesday, January 14, 2003 1:58 AM

I have to agree with you, but I haven't commented because I really haven't seen more than four or five episodes of Farscape. What I did see was entertaining and I could see there was depth there, but the characters just didn't reach out and grab me the way Firefly did. I've also kept quiet because I have the utmost respect for Haken and the wonderful job he's done with this sight.... if he want's us to try to save Farscape too, then I'm all for it

Needless to say, they're both quality programs and in a just world neither would have trouble finding airtime.

SergeantX

"..and here's to all the dreamers, may our open hearts find rest." -- Nanci Griffith

GREYWOLFWOOD

Tuesday, January 14, 2003 2:56 AM

It's not the fact that there is conflict between these two shows. It's just that they were the best sci-fi shows on TV. And they're both being cancelled!!!!
Let's just say that season 3 was a bust for Farscape (which it wasn't because I've never seen a show divide it's cast and still be so damn interesting, or make a clone's death so emotional). It was still better than anything voyager or enterprise has put out. Or that bloody andromeda crap. If you didn't like Farscape in it's latter years, you have to agree that it still rocked the casba.

-'Til the end of the World
GWW

CMARK51

Tuesday, January 14, 2003 3:03 AM

No flames from this direction - all fair comment. Farscape has had its ups and downs - as for the T&A factor, I have no problems with sexy alien babes, as long as they play more than an ornamental role. YOu should have been around during the "jiggle factor" flurry in the 70s - suddenly every show seemed to have been invaded by braless women in tight T-shirts, thanks to Charlie's Angels.

Every show has its weak episodes, some have weak seasons, and some stay around way too long and sooner or later "jump the shark"

Sadly, Firefly just never got the chance to jump - it set up characters, situations, story arcs, but the suits just never gave it a chance to build, and that's a shame.

Just compare with movies these days - where I work, the weekly movie story is about box office - which pictures had the big weekend. If a movies doesn't hit x dollars on the *opening* weekend now, the studios declares a flop. Just notice how the crappiest movies get the most intense advance promotion.
the same syndrome works on TV and had for a long time - if it doesnt pull the big ratings pronto, it's toast.
That's the show biz.

HEGEMON

Tuesday, January 14, 2003 3:38 AM

Personally, I think the third season of Farscape is the greatest season in the history of science-fiction television. But that doesn't mean I don't have room in my heart to love Firefly as well.

I find it amazing that Firefly and Farscape are really the only sci-fi shows that have on a consistant basis put out good/great episodes. Farscape has had a few bummers, but I've found two of Firefly's eps to be bummers thus far as well. Yet these bummers, when compared with the rest of television, are actually gems (it's just that my expectations for them are too high). They both still produce consistant quality - something very hard to find these days. Both have an amazing cast, amazing writers, amazing special effects, amazing crew, and an amazing story.

If it came down to it, I would rather that Farscape had another season that Firefly - simply because I've had four long years to fall in love. I've had four years to come to know the characters of the Farscape universe.

But IMO, I believe both shows are equally worthy of another season.

JERRY

Tuesday, January 14, 2003 4:35 AM

I think Farscape is a good show. I prefer Firefly, largely because I prefer a show about humans, and find the Muppets a bit off-putting. But it's a highly creative show that it worthy of admiration in it's own right. I do think that Sci Fi gave it a good run, and was entitled to cancel it if they were losing money, although I think they should have provided a better opportunity to wrap up the storylines than is apparently going to happen. Whereas Firefly was not well handled by Fox at all. But in general, I think it's pointless to try to build up one show by knocking the other.

BROWNCOAT1

Tuesday, January 14, 2003 4:31 PM

I have watched Farscape since day one, as I have Firefly. I loved the first season and the second season, but I started losing interest in the third season when it seemed they were relying more and more on T&A to keep interest in the show. The plots seemed to get weaker and it got to the point if I missed an episode, oh well. When it got cancelled, I just sort of shrugged and thought no more of it.

Not so w/ Firefly. I felt fired up and wanted to do something to get this show back on the air. I was truly upset that the show got cancelled.

MELI

Tuesday, January 14, 2003 5:10 PM

I also watched both Farscape and Firefly from the beginning, and I agree in principle with the arguments above.

I am enjoying the new Farscape episodes, but they don't "grab" me the way they once did -- perhaps because the show has had a chance to go through its logical progression. I feel a bit more comfortable about saying "goodbye" or seeing the show morph into some other format (movies, mini-series, better novels).

At this point (without having seen the remaining episodes of Farscape), I feel that I would rather have a final Farscape movie or mini-series, to wrap up loose ends, and a full season of Firefly, rather than the other way around. I also think this arrangement would be an easier sell to Sci-Fi, since Farscape is more difficult for new viewers to get into, while Firefly would be much easier to introduce to the uninitiated.

On the more emotional level, I think there is just so much more left to explore in the Firefly 'verse. It is an incredibly deep milieu, of which we have only been allowed to scratch the surface. Combine a terrific political/technological/psychological environment with arguably the most interesting, well-developed, and distinct character set in a "ship" show of all time, and I really really really want MORE.

-- Meli

"There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be."

FURYFIRE

Tuesday, January 14, 2003 11:24 PM

Drown Farscape. More attention is paid to the save Farscape campaign on this site than Firefly. Com on ppls! SAVE FIREFLY. It never had a chance. farscape did and blew it. Firefly has soo much potential, and is now dead beneath its own wings.

If you know anyone that can help my screenwriting career, please help! And yes, I am self-advertising here. Hehehe, me such a little devil.

LORA

Tuesday, January 14, 2003 11:49 PM

After so many seasons, I would not say Farscape "blew it". It had a good run. We have been sending all those postcards to try to get Firefly a run like that.

Furyfire: are you in on the virtual season thread?

I don't care, I'm still free. You can't take the sky from me.

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