ADV Films continues to release top-notch Farscape discs with Volume 2.2, episodes 5-8 of the second season. Of the 4 episodes on this disc I thought "Picture If You Will" and "Dream a Little Dream" were the best. I've also grown to like Chiana during the second season episodes (remember, I missed the last 12 episodes of season one) and I hope to get to know her character better. Aeryn is still my favorite, for reasons which I'm sure are quite obvious, and it's nice to see that ADV Films has chosen to highlight her on this set, both on the cover and in the extras.
Episodes
"The Way We Weren't"
A datacam shows that Aeryn was part of a Peacekeeper firing squad that executed a previous Pilot of Moya. The crew wants some answers, but Aeryn is does not want to think of the past, especially her relationship with Velorek, the man charged with forcibly bonding a new Pilot to Moya. Pilot also does not want to remember the past. Eventually, Crichton and Aeryn finally get through to Pilot and he admits his overwhelming desire to bond with Moya properly.
"Picture If You Will"
Chiana returns to Moya portrait that tells fortunes. The crew watches as the portrait correctly predicts all of their deaths. Zhaan realizes an old nemesis, Maldis, is behind the terrifying goings-on. He is trying to bring himself back into the real world through the fears of the crew. Zhann then kills herself and Chrichton to stop Maldis from his plan. Maldis creates an exit through the painting to Moya, but Zhann, Chricton and the rest stop him and return themselves to the real world.
"Home on the Remains"
The crew is hungry, so they head for a mining colony within a giant Budong carcass. Zhann needs meat or a defense response will make her sprout buds of toxic pollen. The crew goes to find meat, but they have to contend with the overlord B'Sogg who has taken a liking to Chiana. Each of the crew go on their ways to get supplies and food for Zhann and Chricton falls upon a secret of B'Sogg. He controls a vicious creature called the Keedva and B'Sogg unleashes it on an unarmed Chricton.
"Dream a Little Dream"
Zhaan tells Crichton about what happened to Chiana, Rygel and herself when they left Chricton, Aeryn and D'Argo at Gammak Base. They went to a planet called Litigara, a world that is comprised of mostly lawyers. Zhaan was jailed for a minor offense, which did not help situations with Moya still wanting to go after her son Talyn. After getting out Zhaan was once again arrested, this time for murder. With Moya wanting to get away, Chiana and Rygel end up having to defend Zhaan, which is not an easy task given the hardcore laws of the world.
Video
I was pleased to see that the quality of the video is the same as in 2.1 (which also received a 9). The colors of the ship, the characters, their costumes...everything stands out on the transfer. Much better than what I saw broadcast on TV. The only thing keeping it from a 10 was a handful of dust specs (maybe 5 or 6 specs on the 4 episodes).
I should also point out that all the chapters are appropriately flagged so you can jump past the title sequence or to commercial breaks. There are 6 chapters for each episode, and once you're done watching the first episode, the second automatically plays (very nice).
Audio
No complaints here. Sporting a Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Surround track, this is a nice sounding release. "The Way We Weren't" contains some great audio effects. The ships (about 6:30) flying by and the gun fight (37:30) are worth listening to.
There aren't any subtitles to select, but Closed Captioning is provided for the hearing impaired.
ADV Films has included a bunch of extras on here that should be standard on TV releases. Good job ADV!
ADV Trailers
(Disc 1) Zone of the Enders, Spriggan, Super Atragon and Dai-Guard. (Disc 2) Andromeda, Evangelion, Gasaraki, The Devil Lady. I was wondering why the Andromeda trailer that appears when the first disc is inserted wasn't also included in the Trailers section. It's different from the trailer found on disc 2.
Alien Encounters
A nice feature that offers a bit of info on any aliens that the group meet in an episode. The aliens featured are: "Maldis" and "Lieutenant Velorek" (Disc 1), "B'Sogg" (Disc 2). There's a screen or two of text and a short video sequence from the encounter.
Actor Biography - Claudia Black
4 text screens about the actor. Found on Disc 1.
Character Backstory - Officer Aeryn Sun
4 screens on the character played by Claudia Black. Found on Disc 1.
Conceptual Drawings
There are 22 stills on the first disc and 11 on the second. Conceptual drawings of characters and costumes.
Weapons and Ships
One screen of text for each of the following: Luxan Qualta Blade, Farscape 1 Module, Moya's Transport Pods, Peacekeeper Command Carrier, Peacekeeper Marauder, Peacekeeper Pulse Rifle, Peacekeeper Pulse Pistol and Peacekeeper Prowler.
Farscape Dictionary: Technical Terms
"What the heck are they talking about?!?" 18 technical words and definitions. Also includes short video clips with the words usage in the show.
Deleted Scenes (4:41)
4 deleted scenes; 2 from "Dream a Little Dream" and 1 from "Home on the Remains".
Easter Eggs - DVD Credits
To view the DVD credits, go to the "Extras" screen and press up to highlight the star. This is on both disc 1 and 2.
Summary
Once again ADV Films does Farscape justice with a great DVD release. With Farscape and Andromeda being such awesome releases I can only hope ADV acquires more sci-fi shows to bring to DVD. It's a bummer that the Sci-Fi Channel decided to cancel the series.
