The Peacekeeper Wars
May. 28th, 2011 11:55 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stoutfellowI wrapped up my Farscape rewatch with the Peacekeeper Wars mini-series. I considered not doing so, because I find it a slightly uncomfortable fit with the rest of the series. For the unspoiled, I'll put the rest under a cut.
On the plus side, it was good to see the appalling ending of Season Four repaired. (I must note, though, that, when I described the ending to a non-Scaper friend, he thought it was entirely appropriate....) The sight of Aeryn, baby in one arm, pulse pistol in the other, was worth it as well. The Scarrans' reaction to the Eidolons was entirely in character, although a bit rushed. D'Argo's death, though unexpected, was character-appropriate.
On the minus side.... I think the big problem was that they were trying to cram a full season's worth of plot into three hours. That's a compression factor of better than 5-1, and it doesn't quite work. Item: the revelation of Sikozu as a Scarran spy is pretty much incompatible with her behavior in the "We're So Screwed" triplet. I assume that, had Season Five actually run, her coat-turning would have come later, after a feeler from the Scarrans offering freedom to the Kalish; as is, it feels forced. Grayza's pregnancy (presumably by the general she later murdered) came from out of the blue, as did her switch from willingness to make peace to a Scorpius-like hatred of the Skarrans. Again, her betrayal by the Scarrans after the first round of peace negotiations might have motivated the latter, but there wasn't time for that to work. (I'm thinking of plot-time, not internal chronology: the viewer needs to see things happen, and that requires time on-screen.) The whole pregnant-Rygel bit, the reappearance of Jothee, the destruction of the Eidolon homeworld (and Jool's death) - there were just too many plot elements that needed development, and didn't get it. (And speaking of Jool, what's with her "I knew you'd come back to me" bit? The only person we ever saw her romantically interested in was D'Argo. Because John's the romantic lead, all the young female cast have to be attracted to him? Was Sikozu supposed to fall for him in Season Six?)
All in all, I have to rate the mini-series an interesting failure. For me, it doesn't quite achieve a satisfying closure.
On the plus side, it was good to see the appalling ending of Season Four repaired. (I must note, though, that, when I described the ending to a non-Scaper friend, he thought it was entirely appropriate....) The sight of Aeryn, baby in one arm, pulse pistol in the other, was worth it as well. The Scarrans' reaction to the Eidolons was entirely in character, although a bit rushed. D'Argo's death, though unexpected, was character-appropriate.
On the minus side.... I think the big problem was that they were trying to cram a full season's worth of plot into three hours. That's a compression factor of better than 5-1, and it doesn't quite work. Item: the revelation of Sikozu as a Scarran spy is pretty much incompatible with her behavior in the "We're So Screwed" triplet. I assume that, had Season Five actually run, her coat-turning would have come later, after a feeler from the Scarrans offering freedom to the Kalish; as is, it feels forced. Grayza's pregnancy (presumably by the general she later murdered) came from out of the blue, as did her switch from willingness to make peace to a Scorpius-like hatred of the Skarrans. Again, her betrayal by the Scarrans after the first round of peace negotiations might have motivated the latter, but there wasn't time for that to work. (I'm thinking of plot-time, not internal chronology: the viewer needs to see things happen, and that requires time on-screen.) The whole pregnant-Rygel bit, the reappearance of Jothee, the destruction of the Eidolon homeworld (and Jool's death) - there were just too many plot elements that needed development, and didn't get it. (And speaking of Jool, what's with her "I knew you'd come back to me" bit? The only person we ever saw her romantically interested in was D'Argo. Because John's the romantic lead, all the young female cast have to be attracted to him? Was Sikozu supposed to fall for him in Season Six?)
All in all, I have to rate the mini-series an interesting failure. For me, it doesn't quite achieve a satisfying closure.
