Home ¤ Is Farscape Clichéd?: Section III: Oversused story events and plot devices

Is Farscape Clichéd?
Joan Hedman ¤ updated March 2002

Introduction
Section 1: Overused Plots and Storylines
Section II: Overused Settings and Characterizations
Section III: Overused story events and plot devices
Section IV: Silly Science

Note: ¤NA¤ indicates that particular element doesn't apply in the Farscape universe... so far.

Section III: Overused story events and plot devices
Intro ¤ Section 1 ¤ Section II ¤ Section III ¤ Section IV ¤ Send a Comment ¤

1. Discussions, ending with a joke, about how bureaucracies are the same everywhere in the galaxy. ¤NA¤
2. The most intelligent course of action is precluded by orders from high-ranking ignoramus, on the basis of a transparently flawed rationale. ¤NA¤
3. Technological malfunction as a plot device.
   Cliché alert! Stuck in starburst from "Through the Looking Glass" is the one that leaps to mind, and the broken transport pod in "Eat Me" sets that whole grisly episode in motion. Joan C writes that about a third of the plots are motivated by necessary repairs to either Moya or Talyn, noting that repairs to the Farscape module led to the tragic events on Dam-ba-da in "Infinite Possibilities". I'm sure there are more that are escaping me just now, please feel free to write with your additions!
4. The timer count-down on the Bad Guy Device being stopped by the hero with bare seconds left. ¤NA¤
5. Alien contact perceived or regarded as a spiritual/quasi-religious experience.
   Cliché alert! Zhaan waxes rhapsodic about the Inter-dimensional creature in "Through the Looking Glass" until Crichton sets her straight.
6. Aliens who are vastly more intelligent and advanced than we are, but we beat them anyway by "ingenuity," plain guts, or exploiting an Achilles Heel.
   Cliché alert! Crichton manages to kill his captor Scarran in "Won't Get Fooled Again."
7. A teenage genius discovers an entire new field of science, and builds practical devices that use it, in his bedroom. ¤NA¤
8. The psychological trauma/attitude problem of female character is cured (or at least temporarily relieved) by a Dose of Good Luvin' from the hero.
   Cliché alert! Aeryn underwent a major softening during her relationship with John on Talyn. Of course, it's all over now. Joan C goes so far as to identify this as "the driving force behind the first three seasons."
9. Persons of different species interbreed without difficulty.
   Cliché alert! Jothee and Scorpius, although we know from "Incubator" that it took the Scarrans many attempts before they were able to produce viable offspring from a Sebacean. (Also noted by Joan C.)
10. The author lectures the viewer/reader; the lecture takes the form of a Platonic Dialogue between two characters, or of the Cosmic Message from the Ultra-enlightened Aliens to the Great Unwashed Human Masses. ¤NA¤
11. A conspiracy develops, involving lots of people, and remains secret for an extended period of time.
    Cliché alert! The Nebari Galactic Overthrow falls nicely in here.
12. The author attempts to wittily euphemize the phrase go screw yourself by referring to it as "a physiologically impossible act". ¤NA¤
13. The availability of firearms notwithstanding, swordfighting returns as a significant method of combat.
    Cliché alert! A close call: D'Argo's qualta blade provides a nice touch, Joan C. notes.
14. A Big Surprise awaits the reader/viewer at the end of the tale:
    1. The Barbaric Society is really post-cataclysmic Western civilization. ¤NA¤
    2. The man and woman who flee from a doomed civilization and start rebuilding on the third planet of a medium-sized yellow star are named Adam and Eve ¤NA¤
    3. The alien children, slaves, or pets are really the parents, masters, or owners
       Cliché alert! "Bone to Be Wild" fits this one, Joan C. writes.
    4. The head of Terran government is a disguised Bad Guy or is under direct control of the Bad Guys. ¤NA¤
    5. A major figure in the conflict is really another major figure in disguise. ¤NA¤
    6. The Kindly Benevolent Aliens are neither. ¤NA¤
    7. The reputedly inhospitable Outdoors is not only inhabitable, but markedly better. ¤NA¤
    8. It was all just a dream/game/simulation.
       Cliché alert! "A Human Reaction" and "Won't Get Fooled Again" both fit the bill.
    9. The alien threat was just a hoax to unite humanity. ¤NA¤
    10. An ancient civilization was actually founded by space aliens. ¤NA¤
    11. A major historical figure (Jesus, Einstein, Lincoln, Elvis) was really a space alien. ¤NA¤
    12. The apparently-human leader of the robot/cyborg army is also a robot or cyborg, and this becomes appartent when his/her/its "skin" falls off.¤NA¤
15. Telepaths use their power to achieve a heightened sexual experience.
    Cliché alert! Delvians and that "Fourth Sensation", not to mention Unity. Joan C comments, "I guess that's what Zhaan did to her lover in 'Rhapsody in Blue.'"
16. Telepaths are regarded as witches or lunatics, and are dealt with accordingly. ¤NA¤
17. Inherited supernatural power (telepathy, lycanthropy, etc.) becomes pronounced at the onset of puberty. ¤NA¤
18. Humans leave for the stars, forget all about Earth, and rediscover it later. ¤NA¤
19. No matter how slowly the monster shambles along, or how quickly the victim runs, the monster is always right behind the victim when he/she trips or encounters an obstacle.¤NA¤
20. When fleeing danger, females trip over their own shadows while men can sprint without caution. ¤NA¤
21. An alien artifact imbues human(s) with incredible abilities. ¤NA¤
22. A fighter pilot, upon destroying an alien vessel, yells "yeeeeeeee-haaaaaaa!" ¤NA¤
23. The time traveller helps the future society mellow out by introducing music from his period. ¤NA¤
24. Time travellers go back in time to prevent some Bad Thing from happening and in the process actually cause the Bad Thing to happen.
    Cliché alert? I don't think so, although "...Different Destinations" does deal with this a little. However, there's no way anyone could ever call that episode clichéd.
25. Time travellers go back in time to prevent some Bad Thing from happening; they succeed, but cause something worse to happen.
    Cliché alert? Again, "...Different Destinations" comes close, but I refuse to even consider that it's hackneyed. Joan C says this "describes '...Different Destinations' perfectly," and it may, but it's still not a bad thing.
26. When a player gets "killed" in a virtual reality simulation, they also die in real life. ¤NA¤
27. A war gets started over a stupid misunderstanding between two sides that otherwise have no reason to fight, and no effort is made to resolve the crisis diplomatically. ¤NA¤
28. Humans have a special quality that makes us unique, so that even superbeings can learn something from us.
    Cliché alert? "Humans are superior!" Crichton insists, although faced with overwhelming evidence to the contrary. However, it is relatively poor eyesight that keeps him somewhat sane in "Crackers Don't Matter." Joan C notes that Crichton's problem-solving abilities seem to greatly exceed everyone else's.
29. A pet survives the disaster, and is discovered at the end of the story. ¤NA¤
30. So-called elite forces get their butts kicked by a smaller, less well-armed force.
    Cliché alert! Pretty much any time Moya & co fight the Peacekeepers (the Marauder crew in "Exodus from Genesis"), trained guards ("Liars, Guns, and Money" trilogy as noted by Joan C) or anyone else for that matter (Charrids in "Infinite Possibilities").
31. A scientist develops an artificially intelligent computer system that can understand natural language and draw inductive conclusions from incomplete data, and uses it on projects far less practical and/or profitable than such a computer would be. ¤NA¤
32. Someone gets healed by contact with aliens (often by a laying on of hands).
    Cliché alert? Does Zhaan bringing Aeryn back from the dead in "Season of Death" count? Joan C Zhaan can take someone's pain, as in "I, ET", or "DNA Mad Scientist." How about Stark comforting Crichton in "The Hidden Memory"?
33. The greedy businessman refuses to recognize that his dangerous product/service will screw him over long before he can hope to make a profit. ¤NA¤
34. The monster kills/eats the token black guy first.
    Cliché alert? Joan C notes that the dark-skinned Sebacean pilot was the first to be liquefied in "Incubator", but I'm not convinced this qualifies.
35. Explorers are greeted as gods by the natives, who cling to this belief in spite of everything the explorers do and say.
    Cliché alert! Rygel in "Jeremiah Crichton", says Joan C.
36. An alien custom throws humans into confusion, even though one or more human cultures share the custom and have followed it for centuries. ¤NA¤
37. Low-brow white male human bar patron of the future spouts bigoted remarks that wouldn't be tolerated today, while protagonists look on in silent dismay at the "dark side" of the human race. ¤NA¤
38. A person's physical impairments vanish when they are possessed by the Alien Entity. ¤NA¤
39. A technologically advanced race conquers a technologically inferior race, and puts them to work doing things that the conqueror's machines can do far more efficiently.
    Cliché alert! "Thank God It's Friday, Again" -- did the Peacekeepers really need to enslave that population just to harvest tannot root? Joan C asks "Ever wonder why those folks went to the fields without so much as a hoe?"
40. The gang of cute and/or misfit kids rescue the universe, where a large group of competent, organized and well-armed adults failed. ¤NA¤
41. The aliens' plan to exterminate the human race is stopped at the last moment when they notice a human exhibiting some virtue , such as love, humor, etc. ¤NA¤
42. A fellow has Super Powers, but can only use them when he is emotionally agitated. ¤NA¤
43. The protagonists destroy the entire social structure and governmental system of the society they encounter, and only a few old fuddy-duddies complain.
    Cliché alert? These guys have toppled many governments or local authorities, but they never hang around long enough to hear the complaints...
44. A problem involving an alien is resolved in a manner dependent on the unusual and heretofore-unknown location of the alien's reproductive organs. ¤NA¤
45. The human abdomen is an ideal incubator for Alien Eggs/Spawn, and this has no apparent effect on the host until the Alien Spawn erupts from their stomach in a messy fashion. ¤NA¤
46. No matter how large a ship is, any monster let loose on board will learn its way around in an hour's time, enabling it to sneak up behind its victims without fail.
    Cliché alert! The Intellant Virus in "A Bug's Life", and whatever that parasite was in "Beware of Dog."
47. A female antagonist changes sides after receiving a Dose of Good Luvin' from the hero.
    Cliché alert? Jenavian in the "Look at the Princess" trilogy comes perilously close here.
48. The crewmember who is brainwashed or otherwise subverted into sabotaging/betraying the ship is allowed to return to duty, with no concerns that they remain a security risk.
    Cliché alert! How stupid was it not lock Crais up in "Family Ties"?
49. Resolving the imminent threat to mankind requires that the drunken has-been get sober. ¤NA¤
50. A high-ranking matriarch, in a society that oppresses men, falls for the Hero's rugged charms.¤NA¤
51. A crewmember has a radical change of personality, but the few people who notice don't seem particularily bothered by it. ¤NA¤
52. Human spies are sent to inflitrate an alien society in order to better understand it. ¤NA¤
53. When the Evil Overlord dies, none of his surviving henchmen move into the power vacuum; instead, his empire collapses. ¤NA¤
54. The Good Guys, after a setback, launch their counterattack with the help of members of a rastafarian-like culture. ¤NA¤
55. The death of the Bad Guy involves a long fall.
    Cliché alert? He didn't really "die", but Scorpius/Harvey did take a header from that roller coaster in "Infinite Possiblities".
56. At some point the protagonists must enter a hostile region called The Forbidden Zone. ¤NA¤
57. When the Heroes destroy the computer that runs an entire society, it's considered a good thing for the members of that society. ¤NA¤
58. When an ordinary crewmember transforms into the Enlightened Being of Cosmic Power, he departs the scene instead of staying around to help out his still-human buddies. ¤NA¤
59. A society of humans adopts an artifical means of reproduction (such as cloning), forgets about sex and intimacy, and has to learn about it at some later point. ¤NA¤
60. Any weapon can be picked up and used by anyone, no matter how lacking they are in training and/or upper-body strength. ¤NA¤
61. When defeat is imminent, it is avoided by a strategem, tactic, or weapon that could just as easily been used at the start of the fight.¤NA¤

Go back to Section II: Overused Settings and Characterizations
Continue to Section IV: Silly Science
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