When the SCI-FI channel announced Friday night primetime shows in 1999, only one of the shows caught my attention, Farscape. From the first minute of the teaser, I was in love with this witty and smartly written series. Rockne S. O'Bannon created a hell of a science fiction series and those of us hungry for some sci-fi written with a 'let's challenge the audience' attitude instead of the typical 'spoon-feed them science fiction and the idiots will watch anything' attitude got what we wanted!

Season one has been a kick and season two promises even more twists and turns. With Moya as the ship who lives and Pilot who kinda serves as her voice, Ka D'Argo (picture a dragon type who is sort of an angst ridden warrior), Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan (the blue priestess who is not like any religious leader here on Earth) Rygel the Sixteenth(a cute little Henson creature who flies around on his throne and has a problem with flatulence in the form of helium),

Officer Aeryn Sun (one ballsy, smart ass beautiful soldier), John Crichton (smart, brave, not scared to cry. And the human on board) and Chiana (who began as one thing, and has turned into a smart, creative and manipulative character), and stories that tease the imagination and swirl those brain cells into a fury of activity, this series is going to keep us glued to the sets for many years to come.

Pilot

Aeryn grew from a hostile scared Peacekeeper into a confused, free and not sure what to do with that soldier ex-Peacekeeper with a wry sense of humor and an eye for our man Crichton.

Crichton went from launching his Farscape for a test run and whoosh!--into the wormhole he went and into the land of Oz! Although the crew does not see being human as ranking high in the species chain, he has proven his worth and has grown to care for and almost understand the others.

D'Argo is complex and season two promises an encounter with another Luxan warrior...hummm, two of them?!

Zhaan reminds the most mysterious, powerful and peace-loving yet deadly characters on the series, and did you know she was a plant?

Rygel, what can one say about the most arrogant, will eat anything scared of his own shadow but cute Dominar?

Did Chiana escape from the cast of Cats....hehe.

Not one bad ep in this the first season of Farscape. From running away from the baddies--Peacekeepers -- to making first contact to teaching a lesson in enhancement science and how far it shouldn't go to mutiny and Pilot losing an arm to Crichton thinking he was home and the heartbreak when he found out it was aliens looking for a new home to a planet of junkies growing a crop of ammo for Peacekeepers to Moya being pregnant and having a peacekeeper ship for a baby. Now Talon the baby is off with the evil Peacekeeper. D'Argo and Crichton floating in space as Sun attempts to rescue them. Moya did a starburst and the rest of the crew is wa--aay gone. Stayed tuned for next season. ARGH!!!!! not forget t

Whew!

No wonder TV Guide named Farscape the best science fiction show of 1999! Even Farscape's theme music is cool. It sounds like Enya on speed.

On the "what can we buy?" front. 2000 will bring action figures, keychains and misc. from Henson Toys, also save some greenbacks for the trading cards. Go to eBay for photographs and other cool stuff.

Online goodies: Check out www.scifi.com and click on Farscape this site offers much, much more than the official site at www.farscape.com. There are journey logs, Moya's crew, lifeform encounters, Crichton's notes (these are really fun) message center and live communication. The sci-fi site can keep one intrigued for hours.