Customer Reviews

Farscape Season 1, Vol. 7 - The Flax/Jeremiah Crichton

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's wonderful that this excellent television series is being released to video and DVD. After all, it should be viewed in order, and those who miss the episodes on TV can catch up this way. As with all the Farscape, these two episodes continue to show the growth and change among the various characters. My only objection is that the U.S. is releasing the DVDs more slowly than the British, who have almost concluded Season Two in their DVD offerings. Patience is *not* one of my virtues! Also, when it comes to the "extras" packaged with the DVDs, I know fans of television shows would love to see previews, ad spots, missing scenes, and...perhaps most importantly...BLOOPERS! Thus far, most of the DVD available today lack these elements, although the Farscape disks are packed with other goodies to keep the fans entertained long after the initial episodes conclude.

Like the two previous DVDs in the FARSCAPE series, this weventh DVD shows how willing the FARSCAPE team is to experiment with the series and the two episodes on this DVD are worthy of note simply because one is so negatively overrated at times and one is so under appreciated.

This seventh DVD begins with "The Flax," an episode of FARSCAPE that finds Crichton learning how to fly a transport pod from Aeryn, while the others wait for them to return on board Moya. When the transport pod encounters an invisible mesh in space, designed to trap ships on behalf of the Zenetan pirates, called the Flax, Aeryn and Crichton are forced to struggle for their survival. Meanwhile on Moya, the remaining crew encounter Staanz, a former pirate who can help the characters recover Aeryn and John, if D'Argo can overcome a selfish streak. The episode is one of the better ones of the first season that has some interesting characterisation, shows several of the characters in a different light, and gives us the first kiss between Aeryn and Crichton (abeit under duress). The bonus footage on this one makes it an even more enjoyable episode, but I think it would have been terrific to see a commentary version of this episode with Ben and Claudia. Pity really that that wasn't an option.

The second episode on this DVD, "Jeremiah Crichton", is one of the more underrated of the first season episodes. When Crichton leaves Moya in a huff in Farscape 1 and the pregnant Leviathan is forced to Starburst, Crichton finds himself all alone. Some three months later, Moya's crew comes looking for him and finds him living on an idyllic planet called Acquara. But there is more going on here than first appears, as an energy field dampens the use of all technology, and when Rygel and D'Argo descend to the planet they find a Crichton who doesn't necessarily want to return to Moya. Meanwhile, Rygel's presence on the planet lifts the spirits of the Acquarans, since he is prophesised as the one who will "lead us into the light." The episode is a terrific piece of underrated work based on the movie JEREMIAH JOHNSON with the FARSCAPE twists and turns that we've all come to know and love. Some of the dialogue here is scintillating, although not as good as the one-liners from "The Flax," but the episode also features some very nice outdoor camera work and a good job of acting by Ben Browder and the rest - even if Aeryn and Zhaan literally sit on the ship with nothing to do. The extra footage here is very nice and offers all manner of little bits that complete the episode seen on tv with commercials. Again there is no commentary version to this one, and so the story must stand on its own.

The seventh DVD based on the first season of FARSCAPE highlights two episodes that, to me, are an indication of some of the unique aspects of characterisation that are found in the series, as well as the FARSCAPE production team's willingness to try new things. With little in the way of features and extra material on the DVD, the steep price of this one (as is typical for the series on the part of ADV Films) makes it a good DVD to own for the compleatist FARSCAPE fan. I've given it four stars because the quality of the DVD is very high, the extra footage makes the piece all worthwhile, and the material in the Profile adds some perspective on the series overall - but these DVDs need some extras, some *oomph!* to them, to make them worth the price we're paying for these [people].

Neither the "Flax" nor "Jeremiah Crichton" are my favorite Farscape episodes but they are still better than most of the 'dren' you can watch.
The "Flax" episode really helps with continuity later on in the series. Aeryn teaches John to fly, but they both get caught in a web. D'argo must choose between his Luxan heritage and his friends. Rygel shows how cunning he is at negotiations. Zhaan continues to be the voice of reason. And we meet a new alien species. By the bye, the better of the two episodes.
"Jeremiah Crichton": John is stranded on a planet. An ancestor of Rygel's had bannished his subjects to this planet many 100s of cycles ago. Will Rygel overcome his selfishness and save the day?
Enjoy!

This is another awesome DVD of the Farscape series. The first episode has Crichton and Aeryn trapped in outer space. The crew must mind a way to rescue them. But will they make it in time? This episode also expands Crichton's and Aeryn's relationship.

The second episode has Crichton stuck on alien planet after Moya accidently leaves . Crichton lands on planet and lives with the people there for 3 months. The crew of Moya find their lost friend. But the planet also has a secret . Rygel is also worshipped as a god. But can the crew save their lost friends on a paradise like planet?Also Crichton is bearded and shirtless for the female fans! It's only for about 10 minutes though !

The only problem with this DVD is there is no captions! There was captions on a few of the earlier DVD's. But not this DVD!

I really enjoyed these two episodes.I liked ''The Flax'' so much better on this dvd then I did when it was on tv.The story had more focus of Aeryn and John in this I thought.Plus, we meet Staantz who is actually a female of his species and is being hunted by his kind.Rygel is fun in this one he plays a game that they point of it is you have to bluff it is great! plus John and Aeryn reach a new point in their relationship.''Jeremiah Crichton'' I thought was a okay episode it isn't one of the best of Farscape that is for sure.After viewing the second time I thought that this story wa sprety mediocre.John bascially gets frustrated with the crew and flys off in his module when Moya is dealing with her pregancy and starbursts away and John thinks his crewmates have abandoned him,but they look for him the next 3 months.Then find him on a island where their is no energy so anyome who comes to this planet is stuck.D'Argo and Rygel go down to retrieve him too.John doesn't want to go back but other circumstances ensue and then John does return.It is funny when the islanders start to worship Rygel.Overall I thought that episode needed some work.But if you are a Big Farscape fan(like me) you should definetly purchase this and add it to your collection.

I do not know if it by design but the two episodes of "Farscape" on Volume 7 of Season 1 have a thematic unity in that they find Moya's crew actually starting to act like their are actually crewmates. In Episode 13, "The Flax," Crichton (Ben Browder) and Aeryn's (Claudia Black) Transport Pod becomes immobilized in the Flax, an invisible drift net used by scavenging Zenetan pirates. One of them shows up on Moya and offers D'Argo (Anthony Simcoe) the opportunity to visit a Luxan ship also stuck in the Flax. Meanwhile, Crichton and Aeryn are running out of atmosphere had have to make some hard choices that will obviously remind you of "The Abyss." Any episode that has Crichton teaching Aeryn CPR is my sort of episode.

In Episode 14, "Jeremiah Crichton," the earthman gets in a snit and goes out in his ship to get away from it all. Unfortunately the pregnant Moya reacts to this by doing a spontaneous star burst. A quarter cycle later we find a bearded Crichton trying to survive on the planet Acquara where he is fast becoming the odd man out in a love triangle. He cannot get off the planet because something is draining all the power. Meanwhile the Farscape gang has been searching every planet in the area looking for Crichton, mainly because of the insistence of D'Argo and Aeryn. When D'Argo and Rygel investigate Acquara they also fall victim of the power drain. Then things get interesting when the locals decide that Rygel is their promised savior who will deliver them unto the light.

Now, I am not really sure why D'Argo suddenly considers Crichton to be a true crewmate and am also clueless as to why Rygel does the right thing two episodes in a row as well, but it is about time. Not that this will stop anybody from going after each other in the future. Right now my big question is what is going to happen on "Farscape" first: Aeryn and Zhaan (Virginia Hey) coming to blows, Aeryn and Crichton jumping each other, or Moya having her baby. I just started watching the series on DVD so this is all news to me and while I have yet to see any really great episodes, I think the first season of "Farscape" is stronger than that of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and we all know how good that one got down the road.

I see alot of people dogged on Jeremiah Crichton. I liked the episode alot. Sometimes its nice for a change of setting. I call episodes like Jeremiah Crichton Treking (Star Trek) episodes. Yes females will enjoy it but the plot itself was not as horible as others lead you to believe. Also even if the dvd isn't packed with 20 hours of extras the Digital sound and Picture is better then any VCR recording. For the price you can't beat also there is about 5 minutes of footage not shown on Sci-Fi for each episode. I give it five stars like i do all the Farscape DVD's. The flax is a great episode also very funny.

I've followed the show since the beginning and its been great. I am a huge Sci Fi fan. I have collected all of the Darscapes on DVD so far...I would never buy on VHS. Having a 5.1 Digital Surround System these discs take full usage of that format being in 5.1. Wether there are a lot of extras on the disc or not (always a plus) its the difference between night and day watching it in plain old surround on the SciFi channel. Keep them coming, and I'll keep buying.

While The Flax is a decent episode, Jeremiah Crichton might as well be an episode of Gilligans Island. Using the amazingly cliched plot of a primitive culture that thinks one of the shows regular cast is their god, viewers are treated to Rygel being mistaken for a god and of course the almost havoc that ensues when they discover that he is not. If I never see this plotline used again in a television show or a movie I will be a happier person. I love FARSCAPE but I really hate this episode and all it's gag inducing unoriginality. I'm mad that I even own this disc and would not if it was not for the fact that The Flax is a good episode.

I have already pre ordered this DVD, and I cannot wait for it to arrive! I have the rest of the previous collection, and one cannot be more satisfied. The Sound and Audio on these DVD's is phenomenal. I have always been a Sci-Fi fan, with Startrek Voyager, and Next Generation, but Sci-Fi has really outdone themselves with this Awesome Series. I was hooked in the first 5 minutes. It's hilarious and romantic. So if this is your first DVD, do not hesitate, Buy it NOW! And if you like Sci-Fi and have never witnessed this Series, Trust ME, You will Love IT!!!