I Heart Farscape, Part Two: How Giant Robots have nothing to do with Farscape.

Perhaps you remember The Transformers? While they're different than they were back in the 80s, they're still around... I guess giant robots that transform into cars and planes are almost as timeless in capturing childhood imaginations as Dinosaurs and Tonka trucks.

Aside: I know what you're thinking, and yes, there actually were Transformers that transformed into Dinosaurs; cleverly called, ahem, Dinobots. All the kiddies loved Grimlock, their lovable T-Rex leader who was mildly retarded, yet incredibly strong. There were also Transformers that turned into Construction Vehicles, called, also cleverly, the Constructicons. The dump truck one was called Long Haul. My favorite Transformer was Wheeljack, who, not surprisingly due to my geeky upbringing, was the "mad scientist" of the good guys, the Autobots.

Now, does that mean that I'm about to somehow say that Farscape is similar to a war between opposing factions of said giant robots, one unyieldingly benevolent, the other ruthlessly evil? No. No, I'm not.

What I am going to say, is that the tagline for the Transformers is: "More than Meets the Eye," and that statement embodies my second big reason for loving Farscape.

Through an endless string of role reversals, shocks, surprises, and general use of turning situations on their proverbial heads, Farscape is able to take ideas and concepts that would otherwise be tired or overused in TV and sci-fi, and put a new spin on them to make them very interesting.

Farscape will often let you have a glimpse at the "easy way out" that the writers could take to resolve a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, and sometimes it will even appear that they're going to take it... and then, at the last second, something really amazing happens; they break a traditional "rule" of TV series. (This is especially for a sci-fi series, since they come from the Star Trek pedigree, who are the kings of the "easy way out," where everything formulaically and automagically ends up back where it started.)

Aside: Yes, I said automagically. I feel the need to address my purposeful mispronounciation, lest I be struck down for being a hypocrite; since I can't STAND the rampant (and entirely unintentional) use of mispronounced words like, "expecially," "supposubly," and their fruity cousin, "liberry."

So, basically what it boils down to is that in any given Farscape episode, you never really know what's going to happen, or who you're meeting, when there's a sticky situation or a guest star. It could just be something that is featured in that episode... but probably not.

At the very least, unless that person is killed (and sometimes even then...), you're probably going to see them again sometime.

Other times, you don't even realize you just met the latest "regular" cast member; who will be in the next 20+ episodes.

Aside: I guess a little corollary to this whole spiel on Farscape's counterintuitive approach would be a nod to the idea of reincorporation. I'm planning a catch-all "all the little things" post to wrap up my Farscape love letters, and this will get full focus there, but I think a little nod here is prudent. Reincorporation, sort of like Crichton's pop culture references, serves as sort of an inside joke, a little shout-out to the fans. Besides major things like bringin back characters, it's also present in a lot of little things that usually aren't mentioned overtly, but if you're paying attention and you've been watching, you pick up on them. (Like the crew's collection of weapons and devices being made up of an identifiable hodge-podge of stuff they've picked up from previous episodes.)

Again, I'm trying to keep this spoiler-free, so all I'll say is that somewhere in Season 3, Farscape breaks one of the biggest rules in TV and Sci-Fi shows. It starts as a predictable gimmick that is somewhat typical for the sci-fi genre, and you keep thinking that everything's going to end up normal by the end of the episode; and it really looks like it will. But then, suddenly, it doesn't happen. And it doesn't in the next episode. Or the one after that.... and you slowly realize that they just totally changed the dynamic of the show on you. It's one of my favorite glowing box moments, something I wish I could see again for the first time.

Aside: I think the first 5 minutes or so of the South Park Movie (From "Mountain Town" through "Uncle F*cka") has to top that list. I'm not sure I ever laughed or smiled that hard for that long when I first saw that. I was doubled over in pain and laughter for most of it, it was such pure, immature, lowest-denominator humor.

I also mentioned "role reversals" in my list of things that Farscape does differently.

The biggest role reversal is probably the fact that despite Crichton being apparently cast in the strong, fit, leading guy type of role; when push comes to shove, for at least most of the show's duration, Crichton ranks third (or worse) among his allies when it comes to shoving ability.

Aside: Now, if you've watched typical sci-fi, fantasy, or other shows that will occasionally include action, the main protagonist is usually either a) badass to begin with, either by nature or training, or b) acquires some kind of special power or weapon that makes him badass. In either case, the "leading guy" is the one who dishes out the heavy damage when it's fightin' time.

Farscape is a refreshing change, where though Crichton does indeed turn out to be "special" in some way, (Actually in several ways, depending on the season. This is a gimmick, but it's non-negotiable; there really wouldn't be too much reason for serious drama if he was just some guy out there that no one cared about.) it has nothing to do with his ability to fight or keep himself alive, and his two closest allies are much better at fighting than he is.

The other really big role reversal has to do with one of those allies; and it's going to have to wait for the next post.

Here's a teaser. One of the crew members on the show that fights better than Crichton is also the main love interest. Despite all the press photos of Farscape showing Claudia Black's character, Aeryn Sun, as a sexy babe snuggled up next to Crichton, the truth of the matter is that Aeryn wouldn't be caught dead playing subservient arm-hanger to Crichton. She's a soldier, and love, especially the expression of love, is just as alien to her as Crichton is, despite Sebaceans (Aeryn's alien race) looking identical to Humans.

Stand by for another thrashing of my favorite deceased equine target, Shakespearean Shrew-Taming.