selenak | How To Seduce Someone Into Farscape In 48 Hours

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How To Seduce Someone Into Farscape In 48 Hours

That was a question, by the way. Okay, here is what material I have to work with:

1) Box Set DVDs of season 1
2) Season 3 individual DVDs from "Incubator" onwards till "Dog with two Bones"

Mind you, I also have the other episodes, but they're on CD Rom (and were my own introduction to the show, courtesy of the estimable

hmpf). Hence not available for TV consumption.

I also have a friend who is going to visit me over the weekend and whom I will be trying to convert. So I ask you, oh fellow fans, which episodes shall I pick? The premiere of course, but then? Shall I go for a Scorpius arc and start with "Nerve/The Hidden Memory"? But isn't "A Human Reaction" also crucial to the show? Do the final TalynJohn episodes stand enough on their own that I should include them during the marathon I'm planning? Please, advise.

In other news, I've given in a while ago and aquired the season 6 BTVS DVDs despite owning the videos already. I mean, how can one resist the Once more, with feeling karaoke? All those episodes in pristine DVD quality? (As you know, big later seasons of BTVS fan here.) Audio commentaries? I just heard Joss on OMWF, and will listen to Drew Greenberg on Smashed next. The Jossian ramblings are entertaining and enlightening as always. Something which I find particularly endearing is the affectionate and proud way he talks not just of his actors but his production crew (from the choreographer to the three guys who play everyone from the vampires in Buffy's graveyard scene to the window cleaners to Sweet's minions) and fellow writers, in this case, for obvious reasons, David Fury and Marti Noxon, "my partner in crime", as he calls her. (And he did write that Parking Ticket lady bit to showcase her voice.) There were earlier shows where I paid attention to the writer/producers (i.e. DS9 - loved Ira Behr for his Ferengi episodes, and Ron Moore for his dark, arc-oriented eps, plus Peter Fields for several of the Cardassian-centric shows), but none where I fangirled the lot of them the way I do for BTVS and AtS. Which presumably is why the casting changes over the years, including the newest ones, aren't that big a deal to me. It's really the writing I am in love with.

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It would depend on your friend's tastes, as well as per acceptance and knowledge of genre.

I suppose you could always show per the premiere, "I, E.T.", and "Exodus from Genesis", which were the first three eps to be produced, after all, and then whet per's appetite for more by showing per something wacky, like "Scratch 'n Sniff"?

I agree with all of your Season 1 choices. May I also suggest DNA Mad Scientist? That was the episode that got me completely hooked on the show. You got to see under the tough exterior how emotionally fragile and scared Aeryn could be. Her talking about being "left behind" breaks my heart everytime. You also get to see the relationship between J/A (though expected) really begin to bloom in the way he races to save her while the others are consumed by their desires to get home. And what about the others decision to take Pilot's arm against his will? Wow. That shocked me at the time, but that was the point - to see how less then heroic are heros could be. Not a lot of shows would take a risk like that.

As for TalynJohn episodes, can't recall the name just now, but the one where he and Aeryn can't keep their hands off each other? Sexy and cracks me up everytime, especially Crais reactions to it all.

I think "A Human Reaction" is an excellent single-episode commercial for Farscape. For me, the way it takes a hoary cliche ("aliens are messing with my head") and gives it a whole new emotional weight really encapsulates the things that Farscape is good at.

"DNA Mad Scientist" is definitely a thought, too, although my instinct is that there should be something between the premiere and it to establish the characters enough that what D'Argo, Rygel, and Zhaan do to Pilot will have the proper impact.

Hard to go wrong with Nerve/Hidden Memory. But I think the final TalynJohn episodes probably do need more context to really work.

"Scratch 'n Sniff" will definitely be included, but at a later point - perhaps after the angst of Nerve/The Hidden Memory/Family Ties?

My problem with "I, ET" is that this was the first or second Farscape episode I saw, and I thought, at the time, it was terrible blah. Then I rewatched it when aquiring my season 1 DVDs and saw there was some continuity importance here, but I still think it's kind of blah.

Friends' taste: she's a genre fan, likes BTVS, AtS, B5, Firefly. Which I hope bodes well for her liking Farscape.

DNA Mad Scientist, of course! You're right. That's one I had missed on the original run, but watched with awed amazement later on.

So, between the premiere and DNA Mad Scientist, which episode would you suggest to give her a chance to get warm with the characters?

If I leave the final TalynJohn episodes out, how do I explain the state of the J/A relationship when finishing the seduction marathon with the Into the Lion's Den two-parter? Or rather, of course I can explain, but the emotional resonance will be different. Also, I would like to include The Choice, both for Claudia Black's performance and for some more emotional texture for Crais.

I think "I, ET" is the worst Farscape episode in the first three seasons, and quite possibly the worst in the entire series.

I would do the Pilot, PK Tech Girl (skippable--but it's solid and it's helpful to know who Gilina is for Nerve/Hidden Memory), DNA Mad Scientist, They've Got A Secret (if you need to explain Talyn and D'Argo backstory), Durka Returns, A Human Reaction, A Bug's Life, Nerve/Hidden Memory, Family Ties, and then as much of S3 as you've got and can fit in, really. Well, skip Revenging Angel. But aside from that.

I started watching with Fractures, then Sci-Fi had a two or three month hiatus during which they reran the entire series -- so I saw the end of the twin John arc, then went back to beginning. It worked.

So, between the premiere and DNA Mad Scientist, which episode would you suggest to give her a chance to get warm with the characters?

Hmm... I must need to rewatch the episodes, because I'm having trouble remembering which of those pre-DNA episodes have good bond-with-the-crew values. But if you put in PK Tech Girl then you'd have a good setup for Nerve/Hidden Memory, plus some sense of John/Aeryn.

If I leave the final TalynJohn episodes out, how do I explain the state of the J/A relationship when finishing the seduction marathon with the Into the Lion's Den two-parter? Or rather, of course I can explain, but the emotional resonance will be different. Also, I would like to include The Choice, both for Claudia Black's performance and for some more emotional texture for Crais.

Oh, I didn't realize you were going to do Lion's Den... in that case, maybe doing the final TJohn episodes and just trying to explain the setup for them is better. I have a strong attachment to S3's plot arc as it plays out in order, is all.

Between the premiere and DNA Mad Scientist, I'd say there are one of two choices. The previously mentioned PK Tech Girl or Throne for a Loss. As I mentioned in another post of yours, I too am a Rygel fan and I think those two eps provide some good character moments for him. PK has the added of advantage of introducing Gilina which makes her actions in Nerve/Hidden Memory clear.

I've actually shown some friends the first part of a condensed version of Season One, in an attempt to get them hooked. These are the first season eps I'd suggest. Not all of them are those that are the most important for the storyline, but I think they demonstrate the show at it's best. You would need to leave space to explain a few things in between episodes - like how Moya got pregnant and who the new girl is - but when pushed for time I'd always pick entertainment over continuity.

1) The Premiere

Well, obviously *g*.

2) Throne For A Loss

It's funny, the plot is interesting and fast-paced, and all the everyone has good material. This went down very well with the test audience, and it gives you a good feel for the characters.

3) PK Tech Girl

I actually think this is skippable, although it's handy if you want to avoid explaining Gilena later on. But if you have the time, it's worth watching.

4) DNA Mad Scientist

I list this because it was the episode that really hooked me, even though the test audience fell asleep during the screening. It's a great one for the character dynamics, but you need a couple of episodes between the Premiere and this for it to have an impact. And it's kind of heavy on the talk, so don't show it late at night when your subject hasn't had much sleep. Also: check if your friend has a problem with eye injections first. One of mine kind of freaked out *g*.

5) Till the Blood Runs Clear

This is one of my favourites from Season One, and I think it's a good episode for new viewers. Once again, there's lots of humour, stronge characerisation, and everyone has interesting material. Particularly nice is the way it underlines John's desparation to get home, and Aeryn's clever plan. Not essential, but it will save you having to explain Furlow at a later date.

6) A Human Reaction

If you're pushed for time, skip straight from the Premiere to this, but don't skip this. I think it's too important to miss in a number of ways. But I have an essay about why here.

7) A Bug's Life

Better for introducing Chiana than Durka Returns, IMHO, and it's a good episode all around. Also a big turning point for John. Not necessary, but if you have time, it's a sensible choice.

8/9) Nerve/The Hidden Memory

A pair of episodes I don't need to explain the importance of. I think you could just show Premiere/Human Reaction and jump straight to this ... but then, it probably does have more impact if you know John.

10) Family Ties

It's kind of mean to show this if you can't follow up with Mind the Baby, but if you're going to show anything from Season Three you need to explain what's going on with Crais. It's probably faster to watch this and then explain Season Two than it is to describe the events, and it shows the impact the Aurora Chair had on John.

Of course, you probably don't have time for all of that, especially if you want to fit bits of Season Three in as well, but it's something to think about at least.

I mean, yes, it's not arc-necessary, and if there isn't time I will leave it out, but otoh my friend is a sucker for the experimental episodes of BTVS, so I thinks she should love this one.

Thank you! (And I'll check whether there is a problem with eye injection, though I don't think so - she loved "Blade Runner" and "Minority Report", after all.*g*)

You're right about A Human Reaction as an essential turning point, of course, and your essay rocks. Had some related thoughts when rewatching season 1 on DVD some months ago here (http://www.livejournal.com/users/selenak/9566.html#cutid1).

It bores me. But then I hate Roadrunner cartoons.

Hehe. Good luck! Gotta spread the infection. ;-)

I'm sorry, I was away from my computer for most of the week; only returned yesterday afternoon, and didn't check my friends page until now. But I see you got good advice already.

That friend someone I might know? Just curious.

Friend: it's Bimo, aka Sybille.

And yes, I try my humble best to do unto others what you did to me.*g*

And I'll check whether there is a problem with eye injection, though I don't think so - she loved "Blade Runner" and "Minority Report", after all.*g*

She'll probably be fine - I just have squeamish friends *g*. We watched Blade Runner together, too, and while one of them was covering her eyes during the scene were Roy breaks Deckard's fingers, I admit I took evil delight in assuring her that it was going to get worse in a minute ...

You're right about A Human Reaction as an essential turning point, of course, and your essay rocks.

Thank you. I enjoyed reading your observations as well, especially the part about Scorpius's continuing tendency to underestimate Crais - as does Crichton.

In 'Family Ties', although John certainly doesn't trust Crais, he allows himself and the rest of the crew to become distracted by Scorpius, and Talyn is shipnapped as a result. At the end of Season Three, Scorpius is so busy paying attention to John that he forgets about Crais altogether.

And then, in Season Four, both of them almost turn into Crais. Scorpius the PK exile who's lost his command, forced to turn to the crew of Moya for refuge. John, who has become so narrow in his focus on his threatened loved ones that he is willing to give wormholes to Scorpius (and thus give him the means to kill billions) to save one woman, one unborn child.

It's a pity Crais isn't around to be amused by the irony.

Considering that when Roy Batty broke Deckard's fingers, I was more empathising with Roy than with Deckard, I never had a problem there, either.*g*

Scorpius doesn't quite forget that Crais exists in ItLD - he did leave orders that Crais was not to be allowed anywhere near Talyn - but he certainly underestimated him right to the very end, and Family Ties is the first example of this continuing trend. (Whereas Crais proves in FT that he does have insight in Scorpius, correctly predicting Scorpius would be willing to sacrifice the Gammak Base rather than let John be killed.) It would be interesting to speculate why. Any ideas?

Considering that when Roy Batty broke Deckard's fingers, I was more empathising with Roy than with Deckard, I never had a problem there, either.*g*

That's pretty much Blade Runner for me. Roy's interogating technicians? Poor Roy! Roy's putting out his master's eyes? Poor Roy!

(I mean, apart from anything else, I doubt that anyone had ever introduced him to the concept murder is wrong. In fact, just the oposite - four years old, and built to kill. And then die before he could become an inconvenience ...)

Scorpius doesn't quite forget that Crais exists in ItLD

I was thinking, specifically, of the distraction itself, where the lure of a ride through a real live wormhole overcomes his natural suspicion. He left guards, but ... well, they're PK guards. We know how effective they usually are *g*. I think he'd ceased to see Crais as a serious threat.

(Not to mention that Crais got away with misleading the hybrid with the inbuilt lie-detector, no doubt by very carefully telling the literal truth. I swear, if he hadn't been otherwise occupied during Thanks for Sharing they could have sent Crais to deal with the truth-sensing lobster test and he'd have walked away alive ...)

It would be interesting to speculate why. Any ideas?

Enough to make an essay out of :-). What it boils down to is that Scorpius hold Crais in contempt. He sees him as a man who is less intelligent than himself, who allows his emotions to drive him, who has no loyalty to his species or the oganisation that raised and trained him, who led his followers carelessly and with no respect for their potential use. And, above all, as a man is ideologically uncommitted: he can be bought.

All of those things are, in fact, an accurate description of Crais. Scorpius sees the evidence -but then he draws an erroneous conclusion.

He thinks that, because he is more intelligent than Crais, he can easily outwit him. He thinks that, because Crais can be appealed to emotionally, he won't notice that his ex-girlfriend has been sent to spy on him. He thinks that, because Crais has a price, he can buy him off with the promise of a restored comission.

He underestimated both Crais's intelligence (which is considerable) and his desire for revenge, but more than that I think Scorpius failed to understand Crais's capacity for love, in this case his love for Talyn. I'm reasonably sure that if Crais thought Scorpius could give him Talyn (whole and sane) and freedom to take his ship wherever he wanted, then he would have turned on John and, yes, even Aeryn.

But by then Crais has come to the conclusion that, even if Talyn could be repaired, he shouldn't be. Indeed, he should never have built the thing he loves most in the world ... that's his tragedy. The terrible weapon he keeps out of Peace Keeper hands by dying isn't wormholes - it's Talyn.

Scorpius has no grasp at all on any of that. To Scorpius, everything is about a) defeating Scarrans or b) wormholes or c) John.

As for why Crais has insight into Scorpius, well, he did rise through the ranks in spite of being a mere recruit - he understands the priorities of people in power.

(He also can't afford to let his intense hatred of Scorpius prevent him from understanding the hybrid. I mean, Crais habours at least a mild dislike for almost every sentient being in the universe, but it doesn't stop him reading them quite well most of the time.)

That's pretty much Blade Runner for me. Roy's interogating technicians? Poor Roy! Roy's putting out his master's eyes? Poor Roy!

(I mean, apart from anything else, I doubt that anyone had ever introduced him to the concept murder is wrong. In fact, just the oposite - four years old, and built to kill. And then die before he could become an inconvenience ...)

Exactly. Heck, when Tyrell smugly made his "sorry, old chap, but you're toast anyway, so look at the things you've accomplished as our slave and cheer up!" statement, I was rooting for his demise! Incidentally, at the time I also thought that scene was the best rendition of Frankenstein's Creature, as written by Mary Shelley (as opposed to the movie versions), confronting his maker we had in cinema.

Given that the replicants only had four years and were programmed as killers and sex slaves respectively, the fact they could come up with their own emotions and - Roy at least, in the end when he saves Deckard - ethics is amazing.

Scorpius and Crais: yes, that makes sense.

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How To Seduce Someone Into Farscape In 48 Hours

Hooked on Farscape

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Speaking from experience ...

What's wrong with "Revenging Angel"?

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You do me proud!

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