Farscape is one of the strangest sci-fi shows to come out of the brief turn of the century boom in the genre. Created as a counter to the perceived notion Star Trek "played it safe", Farscape was grimy, grungy, and sexual. In this show, the main characters operate on the fringes of society, and the "federation", championed by Trek, are the bad guys. With the strange alien designs and puppet work, the show is an acquired taste. But it has many ideas and notions in its story worth watching. Season 1 is perhaps the weakest. After John Crichton is blasted into space, many episodes are aired out of order and make confusing plot developments. D'argo learning patience and restraint in "I ET" is contradicted by "Thrown for a Loss" which might come earlier. Also, many of the premises feel juvenile with the comic relief of Rigel dominating and making it feel more like Power Rangers than a TV-14 show. The romantic subplot between John and Arryn also feels a bit forced, as though they had to include it somehow. The plot thickens around the midpoint with the introduction of Chiana. Having an abuse victim from the federation shows the true stakes of the fight and what they are up against, as well as introducing a strong regular to the main cast. With this tension increased, it gives more of a reason to watch and see how the Moya crew interacts with each other. This leads to a blistering, savage season finale with a cliffhanger leaving you begging for more. Farscape was made in the late 90's when serialization was not as common. As such, many elements of its story and ethos feel a bit dated. But it is salvaged by good acting, impressive puppetry courtesy of the Jim Henson Company, and many strong episodes. They just come later in the season. With a rocky start, Farscape takes time to get into, but does at least leave off with the viewer looking forward to Season 2.