Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Farscape: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie Review

Small updates make this the set to own... mainly for those who don't already own a previous edition.

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown February 21, 2024

The initial inspiration for Farscape (1999-2004), the little Australian sci-fi intergalactic saga that could? Co-producer Brian Henson (yep, that Brian Henson) and his love of the cantina scene in Star Wars. Now, take that wildy diverse, wickedly wretched hive of scum and villainy, slap together a crew of (mostly) like-minded space-farers on the lam, add in more than a sprinkle of everything from classic Star Trek to Doctor Who, OG Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek: The Next Generation, DS9, and the swashbuckling high-adventure serials and prosthetic-heads black-and-white sci-fi of Henson and the Farscape team's childhoods and you have an inventive, minimally formulaic epic that spans four seasons and a miniseries, features multiple planets and endless alien species, and is led from locale to locale by a normal ol' human flung across the stars and stranded in another galaxy. Whew. But the thing that makes Farscape so special -- and is responsible for its staying power with its very passionate following -- is that it's a show of big ideas. The sky, or rather the stars, are the limit. Like its greatest inspirations and best contemporaries, it's a series that ignored things like constricting budgets and countless challenges, favoring innovation and creativity above all else.

Present day astronaut John Crichton (Ben Browder, resembling the love child of Chris Evans and Chris Pine) is flung through a wormhole and lost in a galaxy far, far, far from Earth. Unable to return home, he finds himself in the middle of a prison break, surrounded by hostile aliens, soaring through space inside a living, sentient spaceship called a Leviathan (this particular Leviathan being named Moya). Hunted by the relentless Peacekeepers, he allies himself with his fellow alien refugees and searches for a way home. So begins the epic sci-fi classic Farscape, a fusion of Star Trek exploration, Star Wars action, larger than life alien villains, an eclectic crew of ragtag heroes, live-action state-of-the-art puppetry and practical creature effects, striking prosthetics and species designs, strong production design that defies the series' modest budget and, for the era, compelling CG that brings starships and alien worlds to imaginative life. Add to that a healthy dose of real heart and humor, not to mention the showrunning and characters of the Jim Henson Creature Shop, and you have a must-see early 2000s series far too many people haven't had the pleasure of watching.

The series also stars Claudia Black as renegade officer Aeryn Sun; Virginia Hey as blue-skinned Delvian, former priestess and anarchist fugitive Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan; Jonathan Hardy as the voice of the deposed ruler of the Hynerians, Dominar Rygel XVI; Anthony Simcoe as the imposing, blade- wielding Luxan warrior Ka D'Argo (Worf? What are you talking about? Who's this Worf?); Gigi Edgley as silver-skinned Nebari rogue Chiana; Wayne Pygram as hybrid human/Scarran war commander Scorpius; Lani Tupu as the voice of the Moya's pilot, an alien creature connected to Moya's nervous system; Paul Goddard as Stykera pain reliever Stark; Lani Tupu as Peacekeeper Captain Bialar, initially an enemy but eventually moving to the side of the angels; Melissa Jaffer as herbalist refugee Noranti; Raelee Hill as late addition to the crew Sikozu; and, like most sprawling sci-fi series, a stream of character actors, familiar and less so, that appear as a villain, protagonist or alien-in-need of the week, and like those same sci-fi series, are used as an oftentimes intriguing way to expand Farscape's multi-world lore and to deliver galaxy-building quickly and efficiently.

Click here for Jeffrey Kauffman's full 2011 review of the series, which he praises for "very sharp writing and an invincible sense of humor about itself." Adding, "there's a literally childlike sense of wonder to many of these episodes, helped immeasurably by the wonderful creations of Henson Studios and some very good makeup effects."

Farscape: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Farscape: A Succinct High Definition History

Farscape has a surprisingly long and sordid history on Blu-ray, though through no real fault of the show or the likes of Sony, A&E, Cinedigm or any other studio or distributor that has released a complete series box set over the past thirteen years. As has been reported at length, the cause of every forthcoming issue I'll mention is the destruction (or best case, the loss) of the original 35mm film elements. Like Firefly and other early 2000s sci-fi series, visual effects were completed in standard definition, as no one dreamed of a world of dazzling high definition like we've inherited. Thus sequences involving FX are only available as SD-sourced 480p video, upscaled here to 1080p. However, in this case even non-FX shots are hindered by unavoidable up-conversion, and the results follow suit. Add to that any studio, distributor or remaster wizards have no way of starting from scratch, even if the budget were unlimited. Worse, the film elements that were destroyed were reportedly raw, pre-edited footage; all of the edited footage was completed past that point, and without the original FX files or the pre-edited footage, assembling a new version of Farscape that is 100% faithful to the original presentation is impossible.

Ah, but what about Star Trek and its classic and Next Generation series' from-the-ground-up recreation and reimplementation of visual effects shots? Costly, and likely not something Farscape has the fanbase to support. Star Trek fandom is massive. Farscape fandom is respectable but the series remains rather niche. Okay, what about cutting edge AI- enhanced upscaling? Slow down, hoss. Maybe we'll get there. But human eyes still have to do a lot of work, even when AI is involved, to make sure the final product is everything consumers hope it will be. We aren't that far in the future -- yet -- and even then, it would initially be quite cost-prohibitive.

For the Farscape Faithful Who Already Own a Previous Blu-ray Set

And so we're left to squint, scan, study and determine if Shout Factory's new 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation of Farscape's four seasons are merely comparable to the releases and transfers that have come before, or if Shout has managed to deliver a few improvements utilizing the same source materials Sony, A&E, Cinedigm and others had at their disposal. The answer is... sort of? Maybe? A little? Without an episode by episode, minute by minute breakdown of bitrates and encoding efficiency, it's difficult to state with certainty. But to my eyes, comparing the 2023 set to the 2013 15th anniversary Cinedigm and 2019 20th anniversary Sony versions, Shout's 25th anniversary edition has managed to deliver a slightly, and I mean slightly, better encode, while the show's palette and contrast are slightly, and goodness do I mean slightly, more lifelike, which would presumably involve tweaking saturation and/or contrast leveling. Whether that was intentional or simply a happy accident, we'll not know unless Shout details decisions made that would indeed lead to such minor differences.

My scientific method, though? Not so scientific. Wholly subjective actually. Meaning you may walk away with the opinion that video quality is identical, or agree and note the best scenes to make a case. I unfortunately don't have that kind of time, so I leave it to our dutiful forum members to crack the case. I'll of course keep an eye on the thread and update my review if and when it becomes necessary with any pertinent findings. We currently don't have a review of the 2018 Sony set -- I simply own a copy as a fan -- but I'm confident that, aside from the slight saturation and contrast improvements over the previous three editions, other aspects of the 2023 video presentation remain virtually the same as what you already own. As it stands, I would set my video score at a 3.25 if quarter points were an option in our system, giving the new set's presentation a fractional edge over the past editions' dual 3.0's (reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman in 2011 and 2013). But as I'm working with half-point increments, the video score bumps to 3.5 (as 3.25 rounds up); although it may be a touch misleading to those comparing scores of various editions at a quick glance.

For Those Who've Never Purchased Farscape on Blu-ray Before

Originally filmed in Australia in PAL standard, Farscape's first, second and third seasons are presented at 1.33:1, while the fourth and final season comes in at 1.78:1. The shift from full to widescreen also brings with it a bump in visual quality. Sadly, the episodes suffer from the loss of the original film elements and any studio's inability to overhaul what survives in a way that would radically improve the transfers. Colors are decent all things considered, though combined with decidedly inconsistent and underwhelming contrast, the output often appears muddy, weak, murky or darker than I imagine was intended. The image actually appears quite soft more times than not. And while edge definition is reasonably precise, fine textures lack natural crispness, clarity is all over the place, and crush is a prevailing problem that brings with it some unwanted blockiness and loss of detail in the shadows. The worst part is you can really see what Farscape could be in an alternate 2024 where the film elements had been preserved and a studio plunked down enough cash to give the show a full restoration. Ignoring the subpar high definition qualities (or lack thereof), there's still a lot to love and a great deal of care that's been put into everything from ship design to world building, prosthetics, costuming and makeup.

I'm actually a bit puzzled by how frequently Farscape is scooped up and released, re-released and re-re-released on Blu-ray. I'm a fan as much as the next guy, but other than rights being passed to a new distributor and the desire to keep sets available for new and old fans alike... well, I guess I just solved the mystery. We aren't talking competing Farscape sets as much as we're talking about diehard fans trying to find the very, very best version of a beloved saga that, for the foreseeable future, isn't going to get the overhaul we all crave. The best case scenario is that, one by one, new fans find the series, fall in love (video quality be damned), and pave the way for the smallest of small chances that AI-upscaling will manage to advance to a place that Farscape can magically be transformed into what it's always meant to have been. Here's hoping. Thankfully, there are some other tweaks and new content to dive into!

Farscape: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

I was already more than pleased with Farscape's previous lossless tracks, but Shout Factory's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround mix actually sounds a tiny bit better to my ears. I wouldn't call it an outright upgrade or improvement, but there is a sense of depth and weight to the soundscape here that I prefer to more crystalline sci-fi sonics. Let's call it a preference and then call it a day. Either way, the highlight of Farscape's AV presentation is undoubtedly its audio, thanks to excellent TV-series dynamics, a (relatively remarkable modern level of fidelity, and clean intelligible dialogue that's almost always neatly prioritized and naturally grounded in the soundfield (barring a handful of chaotic scenes where voices can get a tad overwhelmed). Rear speaker activity is quite engaging -- involving even -- despite some occasional spottiness when front-heavy conversations dominate and the surrounds aren't so readily utilized. But goodness, once action, intrigue, a bloody battle, a tense dogfight, a shipwide emergency, or a planetary crisis storms an episode? Whether it's by way of Guy Gross's infectious music and themes or the invasion of precision-crafted directional effects or silky smooth starship channel pans, the soundfield comes to life and proves surprisingly immersive. LFE output is punchy and powerful too, with what I perceive to be a more organic sense of weight in this particular track, though I was already very happy with the previous editions' low-end performance. All told, there aren't many caveats when discussing Farscape's audio, making for an aspect of the set that helps justify its price tag.

Click here or here to read Jeffrey Kauffman's 2011 and 2013 reviews of Farscape's lossless audio, which he says "maintains excellent clarity and precision even in the noisiest moments."

(Note: Shout Factory has corrected a pitch issue in "The Peacekeeper Wars" that was present on previous studios' sets. It has been corrected for the 2023 edition.)

Farscape: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Shout Factory brings Farscape back to Blu-ray with a 22-disc set divided into five cases (four seasons plus "The Peacekeeper Wars"), packaged snuggly in a slipcover-thin box. It's not the greatest or most fetching set you've ever laid eyes on -- it's as simple as it gets -- but it serves its purpose just fine. The following is a breakdown of the special features included across the set's 22 discs. I did my best to keep it succinct and easy to reference. Suffice to say, the hours and hours of previously released bonus content have been ported over from past releases in their entirety, with a new high definition retrospective roundtable included to sweeten the deal.

• NEW: A Look Back at Farscape (HD, 44 minutes) - This newly produced retrospective roundtable features executive producer Brian Henson and series creator/writer Rockne O'Bannon. Hosted by comedian Adam Savage. This is the only debut extra to grace the Shout release but it's a good one, full of laughs, stories, memories and more from the duo responsible for the entire saga.

• Audio Commentaries - All thirty previously released cast and crew commentaries are included:
  
  
  Season One
  
  
  • Premiere w/ Rockne S. O'Bannon, Brian Henson and Ben Browder
  • I, E.T.: Claudia Black and Anthony Simcoe
  • Exodus from Genesis w/ Brian Henson and Virginia Hey
  • Throne for a Loss w/ Ben Browder and Claudia Black
  • Back and Back and Back to the Future w/ Ben Browder and Rowan Woods
  • Thank God It's Friday... Again w/ Rockne S. O'Bannon and Anthony Simcoe
  • DNA Mad Scientist w/ Ben Browder and Claudia Black
  • DNA Mad Scientist w/ Rockne S. O'Bannon and David Kemper
  • Jeremiah Crichton w/ Ben Browder, Claudia Black, Rockne S. O'Bannon and David Kemper
  • A Human Reaction w/ Ben Browder and Claudia Black
  • Nerve w/ Ben Browder and Claudia Black
  • Born to be Wild w/ Anthony Simcoe
  • Family Ties w/ Ben Browder and Claudia Black
  • Family Ties w/ Rockne S. O'Bannon and David Kemper
  
  Season Two
  
  
  • Crackers Don't Matter w/ Claudia Black and Ian Watson
  • The Way We Weren't w/ Ben Browder and Claudia Black
  • Won't Get Fooled Again w/ Rowan Woods and Richard Manning
  • The Locket w/ Ben Browder and Claudia Black
  • Die Me, Dichotomy w/ Ben Browder, Claudia Black and David Kemper
  
  Season Three
  
  
  • Self Inflicted Wounds Part II w/ Wait for the Wheel: Claudia Black
  • Eat Me w/ Guy Gross
  • Green Eyed Monster w/ Ben Browder and Tony Tilse
  • Relativity w/ Lani Tupu and Peter Andrikidis
  • The Choice w/ Claudia Black
  • The Choice w/ Rowan Woods and Justin Monjo
  • Into the Lion's Den Part II w/ Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: Rockne S. O'Bannon and David Kemper
  • Dog With Two Bones w/ Ben Browder and Claudia Black
  
  Season Four
  
  
  • John Quixote w/ Ben Browder and Claudia Black
  • Kansas w/ Ben Browder, Claudia Black and David Kemper
  • Bad Timing w/ Ben Browder, Claudia Black and David Kemper
  
  

• Additional Bonus Content - The more detail provided in a review, the more overwhelming the breakdown becomes. As such, I've tried to keep things as minimalistic as possible. Please reference Jeffrey Kauffman's 2011 and 2013 reviews if you'd like every last runtime of every last deleted scene and promo.


• Video Profiles and Behind-the-Scenes Interviews (SD) - Nearly four hours of lengthy interviews are included with Wayne Pygram, David Franklin, Claudia Black, Anthony Simcoe, Ben Browder, Gigi Edgley, Rebecca Riggs and Paul Goddard, along with two video profiles of Rockne S. O'Bannon and David Kemper.


• Deleted Scenes (SD) - So... many... deleted... scenes: approximately 15 minutes across the Season Two discs, 31 minutes across the Season Three discs, and 43 minutes across the Season Four discs.


• Director's Cut Scenes (SD) - "The Flax", "Through the Looking Glass", "Re:Union", "Mind the Baby", "Vitas Mortis" and "Taking the Stone" earn extra attention with comparisons between the broadcast and director's cut versions of each episode.


• Listening In Featurettes with Composer Guy Gross (SD) - Twelve episodes receive a 7-12 minute featurette with Gross: "The Way We Weren't", "My Three Crichtons", "The Locket", "Die Me, Dichotomy", "Eat Me", "Revenging Angel", "The Choice", "Into The Lion's Den, Part II", "Crichton Kicks", "John Quixote", "Terra Firma" and "Bad Timing".


• Memories of Moya (HD, 37 minutes) - One of the few high definition extras, this retrospective documentary takes a look back on the four-season run of the show, its story and characters, and its highlights.


• The Making of a Space Opera (SD, 22 minutes) - Behind-the-scenes of Season One.


• Farscape Undressed (SD, 44 minutes) - Television promo special hosted by Browder.


• Guy Gross Discusses the Season Three Theme (SD, 5 minutes)


• Season Three: A Look Back (SD, 44 minutes) - An overview of the first three seasons.


• The Story So Far (SD, 27 minutes) - A second special recapping the first three seasons.


• Zhaan Forever (SD, 30 minutes) - Virginia Hey hosts a special about her character.


• Inside Farscape: Villains (SD, 15 minutes) - The show's baddies.


• Inside Farscape: Visual Effects (SD, 10 minutes) - An FX special.


• Inside Farscape: Save Farscape! (SD, 31 minutes) - Fans mobilize.


• In the Beginning (SD, 38 minutes) - A 2004 series retrospective interview with Brian Henson.


• Alternate Cut of Re:Union (SD, 44 minutes)


• Season Two Bloopers (SD, 7 minutes)


• Season Three TV Promos (SD, 5 minutes)

Farscape: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Oh, to buy or not to buy? That is the physical media collector's eternal question. Multiple box sets have come before, so is the Shout Factory edition worth the cost of admission? Yes... and no. Offering the slightest of video improvements to a cursed video presentation (that, due to the loss of original elements is unlikely to look any better than it does here), a single new 45-minute retrospective interview with the creators (on top of hours upon hours of previously released commentaries, documentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes and much, much more), and a terrific lossless audio track that, for all intents and purposes, is comparable to its predecessors, Shout Factory's 22-disc box set will prove to be a tough decision for fans who already own the series and a much easier prospect for newcomers. The only remaining addition that might tip the scales? Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars, the finale miniseries, is included here, unlike Sony, A&E and Cinedigm's previous editions. So what's a series fan to do? If you don't already own a Complete set, this is the one to purchase. If you do, weigh the benefits -- a slight video presentation tweak, an additional extra, and The Peacekeeper Wars in one set -- and decide accordingly.