Farscape 2.4 [DVD] [1999]

Won't Get Fooled Again is a marevlous episode that plays with both audience expectations, Crichton's previous experience with a simulation of a return trip home and the essence of the show's regular characters. It also reveals important information about why Scorpi keeps showing up in Crichton's wakeful "dreams". It's another way for Scorpi to be in the script, interacting with Crichton even in the setting of Moya. It's marvelously paced and Ben Browder gives a superb performance (as do all the actors playing against character "type")as a man losing his mind. Kudos to writer Richard Manning for pulling off an episode that, essentially, revisits theme from the previous season and Rowan Woods' surreal directorial touches (the red pumps on Crais is a marvelous touch).

The Locket focuses on the outcome of Crichton's infatuation with Aryn. It's a great "what if" episode that, again, defies expectations. It's a heartfelt episode that focuses on character and the various character's expectations of each other. Writer Justin Monjo's script and Ian Watson's direction are both top-notch.

The Ugly Truth could have been a routine episode. By dint of the performances, direction and writing it overcomes many of the limitations of the basic premise. The dialog by first time Farscape writers Gabrielle Stanton and Harry Werksman, Jr. has some sparkling dialog and character moments. The opticals exceed expectations in what could have been a simple "bottle" episode.

This quartet of episodes are among the best the second season had to offer. The next boxset will focus on a strong trio of episodes that unfold what Scorpi really did to Crichton and the disasterous outcome of his shipmates attempt to save him.

The transfer is top notch with little or no analog or digital artifacts. While the entire series has looked really good, it's clear that ADV has hit their stride with the second season set. I did notice some analog artifacts on the previous set but it wasn't a huge distraction. There's no such problems that I can see here. The extras include deleted scenes, conceptual artwork, a biography of Anthony Simcoe as well as a backstory on D'Argo. There's also the first part of a text/visual driven look at the various alien species.

The sound is, for the most part, exceptional (except for some of the deleted scenes where it's clear that it came from a broadcast episode probably created for a foreign market with no stereo or 5.1 sound available).

While I did have problems with some of the science in some of the previous episodes (Crichton's escape in one episode was engineered by decompressing into space and using a gun to propel himself to another craft. While it's possible, the amount of time Crichton was in space could have killed him. He didn't look any worse for the wear. It's a nice little tribute to a similar scene in 2001 though).

"Won't Get Fooled Again" is a wild ride through madness as Crichton again returns to Earth. He is a little skeptical this time and is confident he won't get fooled again. A great use of the cast in their alternate roles. Aeryn as a sexy doctor, D'Argo as a boozing fly boy, Chiana as an astronaut groupie, Zahn as the therapist and Rygel as Crichton's new over bearing boss. Oh and mix in Pilot and Scorpy and you have a great episode full of twist and turns.

In the second episode on the DVD you have one of the ultimate Shippy eps with "The Locket." Aeryn returns to Moya having aged 165 cycles and she has only been gone one solar day. It is a taste of the future without having to live it as the crew tries to get out of another sticky predicament. Also, we finally find out what happen to Stark, as he makes a return.

It is full of he said, she said in "The Ugly Truth." The crew re-tell their versions of an incident involving Talyn and Crais. Some great moments as one member pays the price for the rest.

We finally get some answers on Chiana's people the Nebari in "A Clockwork Nebari." Cricthton and Chiana are the only ones who aren't affected by the mind cleansing, or so they think. More backstory on Chiana and a great Rygel quote.

All in all, great set-up for the major push in season two which comes with the Liars, Guns and Money trilogy and Die Me, Dicohtomy in 2.5.