1.01: Premiere - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

padders · 14th September 2000, 08:49 PM

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padders · 16th September 2000, 10:47 AM

Well you have to start somewhere!

This was one of the best premier's for a sci-fi show that I have seen considering they went down the "single episode" route as opposed to doing a double episode.

The episode lobbed John Crichton straight into the new universe we are set to explore and also introduced as really nicely to the other characters. We got to see D'argo's firery nature straight away which was great. I really good episode i thought!

Texane · 15th October 2000, 01:28 AM

I agree. If you look back at Star Trek Next Gen, the first year, and being a fan, you still have to admit how (dare I say it) bad it was.

Farscape's first episode was amazingly helpful with the characters for just one episode. The writers gave you a good insight into not only D'Argo, but also Moya, the peacekeepers and Aeryn, and John Crighton. Pretty good work for just one hour.

For those who aren't scifi fans, I don't think they give sufficient time to think through how difficult it must be to write for this type of series. In initially creating the peacekeepers and Aeryn, D'Argo, Rygel, Zhahn, Pilot and Moya, the writers created entirely different species, worlds, religions, backgrounds, and lives, not just actors with different looks. A big task.

NBC might as well just admit why their ratings for the Olympics have gone down. Farscape fans are boycotting. We want our series back, and we want it NOW.

padders · 15th October 2000, 08:38 AM

Well I am going to watch all my episodes again so i thought i would start from the beginning and went back to this ep.

The episode must have taken a long time to write and i sincerely doubt it was the first episode they wrote at all. As Texane suggests a lot of work would have had to go into creating all the character information, the universe they are in and all that. I would think they played around with this and lots of other episodes before they actually made the first one.

It is amazing how much information you get from this episode. It both introduces characters and also sets up the major plot line for the 1st series anyway: Get home, being chased by Crais and why. All the characters are introduced well by Zhaan the slight exception but then she has a complicated character. It was still her that listened to John with his theory about going back down to the planet.

I could almost go and watch it again right now.

Definitely a 10/10 episode in my books.

peachy · 5th April 2001, 10:08 AM

the sci-fi channel is showing the pilot episode, followed by back to back episodes of season 1, before they start season 2, i think it's the end of april...peachy

Texane · 25th April 2001, 02:15 AM

In the words of General Hammond, YEEEEHAAAAAHHHHH!!!

boohoo · 27th November 2001, 01:54 PM

I've recieved my first batch of dvd's so here goes. I thought the episode suffered a bit from being 'just' a single episode. Things seemed very rushed, especially in the beginning. If they could have made this episode twice as long and spend twice as much time on each bit it would have been better.

Getting to know John's friends on earth better would have let us felt the loss he must feel better than we can from the glimpses we're given. When he pops out of the wormhole things happen a bit quick as well. *pop* *crash* *suck* *sneak* *needle* there you go, here's your friends for the next 5 seasons. The bit when they go down to the planet, get caught and escape does also feel a bit rushed.

All in all the overall story is nice and it does the job of introducing the characters and all that but the actual episode could have been even better if they'd made it a two parter or twice as long. Just my opinion of course

Mysterious Stranger · 4th September 2004, 11:31 PM

Okay, having watched this ep for the first time in a while, I must say I'm still thoroughly impressed. The effects are outstanding and they only improve from there. There was a lot of information crammed into this first hour and it's all told very well, so you can keep up if you pay attention. I would have preferred a 2 hour premiere so they could delve a little more into the escape and subsequent scenes, but the character development is right there and that's what's important. You know who everyone is and their role on the ship. D'Argo is trying to take charge, Rygel is looking out for himself, Zhaan is the "peacekeeper" and mother-type, and Pilot is, well . . . Pilot.

Aeryn and John have the most character development in my opinion. Aeryn starts out cocky and arrogant, not wanting to be a part of anything then comes around, beginning to accept her circumstances even if she hates it. And John is at the center of it all, lost and confused and just trying to keep from getting killed.

All in all, not a bad way to start such an epic saga.

pkgrl · 5th September 2004, 05:24 PM

Just re-watched this one, too. I just read people's comments on another bboard just a few days ago and tried to keep an eye on what they had pointed out (which was also pointed out here) while I watched.

First off, when I first watched Premiere, I thought it was two hours long. There was so much information crammed into this single hour pilot ep that I figured I had been watching it for quite a bit longer!

Perception is everything, I guess.

This time around, I was still impressed with how much information I got, and how far the story was pushed in that single hour (50 minutes, actually). So much happened to John, and he had learned and done so much that it's still hard to believe that Rock, Prowsie and all managed to get it done. So YEAH for them!

I had no problem identifying with John... after all, he was the only Human in the show... and later on, Aeryn. I'm actually glad that they didn't spend more time establishing John's life on Earth in Premiere. If I'd seen that, I'd have less in common with John, so I'd have been spending more time finding someone else to identify with, instead of focusing on this guy as the central character. It's important that each "Human TV viewer" can see John as themselves. That way, we're drawn in to the story... we have a stake in the outcome.

Of all the six earliest eps, I think Premiere was the strongest.

5th April 2001, 10:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
peachy Daniels Beloved Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: i commute between cheyenne mountain & scotland Posts: 2,952	good news the sci-fi channel is showing the pilot episode, followed by back to back episodes of season 1, before they start season 2, i think it's the end of april...peachy

14th September 2000, 08:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
padders System Lord of ASciFi.com Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 2,810	----------------------------- Creating topic, remember you can only discuss this episode inside this topic. Reviews of the episode are encouraged -----------------------------

16th September 2000, 10:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
padders System Lord of ASciFi.com Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 2,810	Well you have to start somewhere! This was one of the best premier's for a sci-fi show that I have seen considering they went down the "single episode" route as opposed to doing a double episode. The episode lobbed John Crichton straight into the new universe we are set to explore and also introduced as really nicely to the other characters. We got to see D'argo's firery nature straight away which was great. I really good episode i thought!

15th October 2000, 01:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
Texane Frelling Wicked Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Texas (of course!) Posts: 3,877	I agree. If you look back at Star Trek Next Gen, the first year, and being a fan, you still have to admit how (dare I say it) bad it was. Farscape's first episode was amazingly helpful with the characters for just one episode. The writers gave you a good insight into not only D'Argo, but also Moya, the peacekeepers and Aeryn, and John Crighton. Pretty good work for just one hour. For those who aren't scifi fans, I don't think they give sufficient time to think through how difficult it must be to write for this type of series. In initially creating the peacekeepers and Aeryn, D'Argo, Rygel, Zhahn, Pilot and Moya, the writers created entirely different species, worlds, religions, backgrounds, and lives, not just actors with different looks. A big task. NBC might as well just admit why their ratings for the Olympics have gone down. Farscape fans are boycotting. We want our series back, and we want it NOW.

15th October 2000, 08:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
padders System Lord of ASciFi.com Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 2,810	Well I am going to watch all my episodes again so i thought i would start from the beginning and went back to this ep. The episode must have taken a long time to write and i sincerely doubt it was the first episode they wrote at all. As Texane suggests a lot of work would have had to go into creating all the character information, the universe they are in and all that. I would think they played around with this and lots of other episodes before they actually made the first one. It is amazing how much information you get from this episode. It both introduces characters and also sets up the major plot line for the 1st series anyway: Get home, being chased by Crais and why. All the characters are introduced well by Zhaan the slight exception but then she has a complicated character. It was still her that listened to John with his theory about going back down to the planet. I could almost go and watch it again right now. Definitely a 10/10 episode in my books.

25th April 2001, 02:15 AM	#6 (permalink)
Texane Frelling Wicked Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Texas (of course!) Posts: 3,877	In the words of General Hammond, YEEEEHAAAAAHHHHH!!!

27th November 2001, 01:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
boohoo Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 2	I've recieved my first batch of dvd's so here goes. I thought the episode suffered a bit from being 'just' a single episode. Things seemed very rushed, especially in the beginning. If they could have made this episode twice as long and spend twice as much time on each bit it would have been better. Getting to know John's friends on earth better would have let us felt the loss he must feel better than we can from the glimpses we're given. When he pops out of the wormhole things happen a bit quick as well. pop crash suck sneak needle there you go, here's your friends for the next 5 seasons. The bit when they go down to the planet, get caught and escape does also feel a bit rushed. All in all the overall story is nice and it does the job of introducing the characters and all that but the actual episode could have been even better if they'd made it a two parter or twice as long. Just my opinion of course

4th September 2004, 11:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mysterious Stranger Gigi's "Spark" Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: In my dark corner, waiting... Posts: 842	Okay, having watched this ep for the first time in a while, I must say I'm still thoroughly impressed. The effects are outstanding and they only improve from there. There was a lot of information crammed into this first hour and it's all told very well, so you can keep up if you pay attention. I would have preferred a 2 hour premiere so they could delve a little more into the escape and subsequent scenes, but the character development is right there and that's what's important. You know who everyone is and their role on the ship. D'Argo is trying to take charge, Rygel is looking out for himself, Zhaan is the "peacekeeper" and mother-type, and Pilot is, well . . . Pilot. Aeryn and John have the most character development in my opinion. Aeryn starts out cocky and arrogant, not wanting to be a part of anything then comes around, beginning to accept her circumstances even if she hates it. And John is at the center of it all, lost and confused and just trying to keep from getting killed. All in all, not a bad way to start such an epic saga.

5th September 2004, 05:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
pkgrl Ultimate J/A shipper! Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Southern California Posts: 2,423	Just re-watched this one, too. I just read people's comments on another bboard just a few days ago and tried to keep an eye on what they had pointed out (which was also pointed out here) while I watched. First off, when I first watched Premiere, I thought it was two hours long. There was so much information crammed into this single hour pilot ep that I figured I had been watching it for quite a bit longer! Perception is everything, I guess. This time around, I was still impressed with how much information I got, and how far the story was pushed in that single hour (50 minutes, actually). So much happened to John, and he had learned and done so much that it's still hard to believe that Rock, Prowsie and all managed to get it done. So YEAH for them! I had no problem identifying with John... after all, he was the only Human in the show... and later on, Aeryn. I'm actually glad that they didn't spend more time establishing John's life on Earth in Premiere. If I'd seen that, I'd have *less* in common with John, so I'd have been spending more time finding someone else to identify with, instead of focusing on this guy as the central character. It's important that each "Human TV viewer" can see John as themselves. That way, we're drawn in to the story... we have a stake in the outcome. Of all the six earliest eps, I think Premiere was the strongest.