TV: Farscape

Farscape

Funky space opera featuring animatronic aliens and a lost astronaut.

Made by the Jim Henson Company, Farscape was initially known as the science fiction show with the Muppets. Over the course of four seasons and a mini-series it established itself as an inventive, sexy, funny show that revelled in shocking plot twists.

The story begins with astronaut John Crichton's experimental craft falling into a wormhole. Arriving on the other side of the galaxy he finds it teeming with weird alien life. Forced to throw in his lot with a motley collection of escaped criminals aboard a living ship, Crichton desperately tries to come to terms with his strange new existence.

Bright, brash and never boring, Farscape is notable for arc-heavy plotting, animatronic aliens, and a willingness to experiment. Format-breaking episodes included flashback tale Scratch 'n' Sniff and the part-animated Revenging Angel. A strong cast, led by the charismatic Ben Browder, anchored the series despite its often bizarre themes.

The complicated plots, stretching over multiple seasons, made it difficult for the show to pick up new viewers. Still, it came as a shock to Farscape's producers and fans alike when parent channel Sci-Fi cancelled the show after season four. A massive and well-organised fan campaign didn't succeed in reversing the decision. But it may have helped convince Sci-Fi to commission a mini-series, The Peacekeeper Wars, which tied up the series' loose ends.