On Jul 06, 2025, the very first episode of Australian space operaFarscapepremiered. Entitled simply “Premiere,” it told the story of John Crichton (Ben Browder), an astronaut from Earth who was flung into the far reaches of the universe. Coming across the living ship Moya and its crew of displaced inhabitants, what began as a simple search for Crichton’s way home would develop into an epic tale of found family, exploration, diplomacy, and the power of technology in this belovedsci-fi show.
Now, 25 years afterFarscapefirst debuted, new fans have the perfect opportunity to discover this beloved series for the first time.
Shout! TV is Celebrating the Anniversary With a Marathon
To celebrate the 25th anniversary ofFarscape’sfirst episode, digital entertainmentstreaming serviceShout! TV will be hosting aFarscapemarathon. It will begin at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET on March 19, hosted via the Shout TV app as well as Shout’sFarscape-exclusive channel, Farscape.tv. It has not been confirmed exactly which episodes will feature in the marathon, but the event is said to feature “classic and fan favorite episodes of the series.”
Tune into Shout! TV March 19 for Farscape’s 25th anniversary marathon, featuring new segments with stars Ben Browder and Gigi Edgley, and an exclusive introduction by executive producer Brian Henson.
In addition to airing severalFarscapeepisodes, the marathon will also include trivia, commentary, and behind-the-scenes memories from actorsBen Browder, who played John Crichton, andGigi Edgley, who played Nebari thief and rebel Chiana. Although it has been two decades sinceFarscapeconcluded in 2004, both Crichton and Edgley are still avid fans of the show. Recently, both confirmed for Game Rant that they would love to return to the roles of Crichton and Chiana should aFarscapecontinuation or revival occur. In particular, Edgley revealed that she has spoken to series co-creator Brian Henson about her desire to seeFarscapereturn.
Farscape’sThemes and Stories Are Relevant to a Modern Audience
AlthoughFarscapeis decades old, it contains many themes that a modern viewer could easily relate to. The central concept of a group of characters thrown and, in some cases, literally trapped together in an enclosed space due to outside threats is highly relatable following the lengthy quarantines of theCOVID-19 pandemic. And Crichton’s eventual transformation from a man simply desperate to get home to someone dedicated to stopping an intergalactic war, even at the potential cost of his own life, is a meaningful journey that will resonate with any viewer.
Farscape’sunique combination of live-action and puppetry—using puppets created byThe Henson Company—makes it a fascinating viewing experience. Several of the show’s characters are portrayed by expertly crafted puppets. Among these are two of the main cast, the deposed ruler Rygel XVI and Pilot, the many-limbed being psychically bonded to Moya. The four seasons plus the concludingPeacekeeper Warsminiseries included a vast variety of alien races, portrayed by both human actors and puppets, creating a unique aesthetic that still stands out many years later.
New or oldFarscapefans interested in revisiting the series but unable to catch the Shout! TV marathon can also check out the newly releasedFarscape: The Complete Series (25th Anniversary Edition)Blu-ray, also produced by Shout! TV. The collection includes all 88 episodes of the original series along with thetwo-episodeThe Peacekeeper Warsminiseries. Also included are brand-new interviews with the series' creators and executive producers, Rockne O’Bannon and Brian Henson. ManyFarscapefans—and actors such as Browder and Edgley—have long hoped to see a revival of the series in some form, and a new influx of viewers in 2024 is something that could make such a revival more likely to happen.
