Customer Reviews

Farscape Season 1, Vol. 4 - PK Tech Girl/That Old Black Magic

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Well, actually, to clarify, I hate DVDs that have just *two* episodes and nothing more. I didn't mind so much when the episodes had commentary tracks because I didn't feel quite so cheated. Paramount started the disgraceful practice of two-episodes per disk but I'm not particularly interested in helping that notion become an industry standard. The people at ADV could learn a thing or two from MGM (who have their own DVD problems when it comes to movie releases, I'll admit), who just released a reasonably priced five-disk set of the first season of Stargate SG-1, with each episode letterboxed and anamorphic. And there were extras on each disk, including the four or five episodes per.

But hey, ADV, start putting four or five Farscape episodes per disk, and releasing them in season box sets, and I am *so* there with you. Until then, rather than spending my money on the Farscape two-episode DVDs being released slower than snails move, I'll just save my dollars for season two of Stargate SG-1.

It is a bit of a rip to only release 2 episodes per DVD. I was dealing with that fine. The commentary tracks on the past DVDs made up for it a bit. This one has NO extras at all and yet is still priced like the prior ones. ADV and Jim Henson should be ashamed. I think I will stick with my dub tapes rather than get this DVD. I returned mine. Sad to say though that people are still going to buy these no mater how overpriced they are. The episodes on here are great though. PK Tech Girl develops some of the emotions between Aeryn and John. That Old Black Magic shows some of Zahn's dark past.

I believe that it was ADV's president that said that this is the only way they could release the series. Henson demanded (and rightfully so) that the audio/video quality be high, so there are two episodes per dual-layer DVD (1 ep per layer). I believe the UK discs are two single-layer DVDs per pack with four episode (2 eps per layer). What this means is that there is nearly twice the bitrate on the American discs and the shows look fantastic.

Adding one more episode to the disc would be akward because it would mean a layer change in the middle of the second episode (as well as the diminished quality based on the bitrate). Adding another disc would make them more expensive, and the major retailers won't buy ...discs from smaller companies like ADV. Neither will they buy the bigger box sets...

So the choices are: (1) A little more expensive with knockout video (2) Reduce the quality (and I don't think this was an option because of Henson) (3) NO DVDs

Given these choices, we should be glad we're seeing these at all...

And it looks like V7 may start a slightly cheaper pricing scheme as well....

Since sci fi channel is not running 1st & 2nd seasons eps, this is the only way I have to see them. I do enjoy the alt commentaries on each ep which other TV/DVD's don't have and I adore the extra few minutes that we in the US are robbed of. all the other 'extra's on the dvd are pointless. I do agree that a boxed set of 1st season would have been a better buy. When it does come I am gonna be annoyed that I couldn't wait and had to buy these. For 2 eps the price should have been lower.

I bought a few of these after hearing great stuff about the show and I loved the episodes but I wont buy anymore because like the above reviews, only two episodes is not enough for me to pay a DVD every month or so. I want the season box sets and wont buy anymore until they come out with those. Great show though. Very imaginative, good stories and conflict. Recent Star Trek shows should get a clue and watch some of these.

I've recently started watching the show on the sci-fi channel and instantly got hooked. The cast, characters and special effects is everything you could ever want in a weekly sci-fi epic.

I bought the first two DVD released by ADV to catch up on the story since we're well into season 3 now. Then I found out that ADV is releasing only 2 episodes per month. I will have to wait approx. 7 more months to view season 1. >:-(

Then there is the cost of... per episode that discouraged me even further. I ended up buying Farscape region 2 DVD's from the UK for about... for the entire season 1 and I'm mid-way through season 2 now. :-) It’s a bit expensive but I did save... and the wait, well worth it.

I had to switch the region code on my DVD-rom drive on my computer so I can view it. NO BIG DEAL but do your homework if you go this route.

Hopefully ADV and Jim Henson Co. will get the hint and start thinking about the fans and not about maximizing profits on nickel and dime DVD sales. I wanted to view the entire season and I would have preferred it to be in region 1 coding. Oh, well I lost patience and ADV lost my money. Too bad for ADV.

Well, it was bound to happen. The fourth DVD based on the FARSCAPE series came out, but it was the first one without any real special features at all. While the DVDs are nice to have simply because of the quality of the graphics and the extra footage not seen in North America, is that really enough? I don't think so.

This one starts out with "PK Tech Girl", one of my favourite Season One episodes. When the crew of Moya find the wreckage of a legendary Peacekeeper ship, the Zelbininon, floating in space, they go aboard to see what they can find starchart-wise. But the Zelbinion is not deserted, as Crais left a tech team to go over the ship, and the only survivor, Gilina, hits it off with Crichton. Meanwhile, Rygel must come to grips with having been tortured on this infamous ship, and the fire-breathing scavengers, the Sheyangs, who arrive on the scene don't make the situation any easier. This is a lovely story with some good stuff in it, marred only by the Sheyang at times, but the extra footage here doesn't really make or break this episode. Still, it puts certain story elements into the forefront, provides some background on Rygel, and give Crichton a lust interest that he's not really been given a chance to have yet. Plus, it acts as the catalyst for several storyline developments down the road (notably in "Durka Returns").

The second episode, "That Old Black Magic", has the crew of Moya visiting a commerce planet searching for a remedy for Rygel's case of flu. An evil sorcerer, Maldis, rules the planet through fear and intimdiation, and when he captures both Crichton and Crais and pits them against one another, Zhaan is forced to bring her dark side to the surface to save her shipmate. This episode is a terrific story with some great acting by Lani Tupu as Crais and Chris Heywood as Maldis, and brings the Crichton/Crais relationship back into focus. The extra footage here is worth the price, simply because it adds significantly to the background of Crais and a whole new dimension to some of the morality and ethics of the story.

With no commentary versions or any other special features, other than the terrific D'Argo/Anthony Simcoe profile, this DVD is very light on extra features for the price. I don't know what the reasoning for this was, other than that it was a Henson Company decision, but having the episodes on DVD is the real bonus here. I gave the episode four stars, rather than three, simply because the Anthony Simcoe interview was illuminating and because the extra footage in "That Old Black Magic" made the DVD worth the price alone.

While the first 3 DVDs had entertaining audio commentaries on the episodes, the 4th DVD does not. Indeed, the "extras" are production designs and a D'Argo profile, of which half of the footage is recycled from eariler DVD extra footage.

Given that they are only putting 2 episodes on each DVD, this really felt like they are socking it to us. I was rather ticked about the whole deal. If it wasn't such a great series, I would never contemplate buying another DVD. As it is, they better not skimp on the extras on the future DVDs, or they will have one fewer customer in me. :(

I am totally enjoying the DVD releases of Farscape. The sound is outstanding (listen on headphones!) and the picture quality is nearly perfect. Only briefly are there any unmoving background shots which take on a static, unreal matte quality. Alyssa-Jane Cook is wonderful as the PK Tech Girl; wish they could have kept her in the series. Like others, I miss the audio commentary on the later discs. Still, these are fantastic releases. Buy them now!

I have never written a review before, but after having read the other reviews I felt compelled to add my two cents. I love Farscape, and have been watching it since the beginning. The picture and sound quality of this and the other Farscape DVDs is amazing, especially when compared to the quality one gets when watching the show on television. The addition of deleted scenes is very cool - they often help to provide greater insight as to the motivations of the characters, and the luxury of watching my favorite show without commercials is wonderful! Honestly, I have never watched any commentary on any DVD - I personally think that "behind the scenes" information detracts somewhat from the "magic", particularly with Farscape, where they have done such a great job at creating an entire imaginary world. In response to the complaints of others about the length of the DVD, 100 minutes is really about the same length as many movies (which generally range from 90-120 minutes). So I say, "Keep up the good work!"