In contrast to the Next Generation-era Stark Trek franchises, which seem to only find their stride in season three — it’s amazing how consistent they are that way — Farscape in some ways was at its best right from the start. I think it was inevitable that as Crichton acclimates (sort of) to his new surroundings, that he’d learn to shoot and blow things up, but I think the show lost something when Moya’s crew became known as the people who pulled off incredible jobs and destroying full-on military outposts.

The first episodes do an amazing job of forcing John and the crew to find nonviolent solutions to their problems, and they do it in believable and compelling ways. It felt very Henson-inspired — very dark and very hopeful at once, and I’m not sure we’ve seen anything like it since.