Vagrant Queen (3/5)
If I had to describe this series as simply as possible, it would be "a mix of Killjoys and Farscape." Of course, whether that's a useful description depends on whether you're familiar with those settings or not. But I do feel it's a fair description. Because the series basically combines the whackiness of Farscape with the idea of "badass space princess accompanied by two companions." Okay, again, not the best description, but you get the drift. However, regardless as to whether we're using those other shows as comparisons or not, Vagrant Queen, while it does have its moments, doesn't reach either of their heights.
Basically, it focuses on Elida - the former queen/princess (it's complicated) of Areiopa, who lost her throne and mother in a coup, and is quite happy to spend her days as a space scavenger, only the royalists want her back, and Lazaro, the man who led the revolution, wants her dead. Accompanying her is Isaac, who got sucked into this galaxy by a wormhole which opened up from Jupiter. Yeah, um...that's a thing. It's weird, but harkening back to the Farscape comparison, one would be if John Crichton did go through the wormhole and the plot remained the same, but Aeryn was the core protagonist. Usually, you'd use characters like Isaac and John as the protagonist to give the viewer a doorway into the universe, but not in this case. Still, it does pull it off, as we do get the basics of worldbuilding. And, yeah, the setting is kind of crazy. Like, the Intergalactic Parking Authority is to this galaxy what an elite force would be to any given country. The show is insane, but does get serious, but doesn't lose sight of its 'zanniness.'
On the subject of presentation, the series is a mixed bag. It's got a repeated habit of using still-shots to capture its more insane moments. As in, single frame that the camera pans through, highlighting the characters in moments of (usually violent) insanity. Also, aesthetics. It's so weird, the actual physical makeup of the aliens is actually well done (bearing in mind that every character in this universe bar Isaac is an alien, so even the humanoid ones have pointy ears at the very least), but the CGI is terrible. There's many times when the characters are obviously in front of green screen, and even the practical sets could easily fit in on Earth, or appear to have been appropriated from elsewhere. And finally, like I said, the series does get more serious towards the end, with quantifiable stakes, lots of blood, and a cliffhanger that, thanks to a lack of ratings, will never be resolved. Yay...
Anyway, I had a decent time watching this. It doesn't rise to the heights of other shows like it, but it's worth a watch. It's probably as close as we're going to get to more Farscape in this day and age, so hey, sit back and enjoy the ride.
If I had to describe this series as simply as possible, it would be "a mix of Killjoys and Farscape." Of course, whether that's a useful description depends on whether you're familiar with those settings or not. But I do feel it's a fair description. Because the series basically combines the whackiness of Farscape with the idea of "badass space princess accompanied by two companions." Okay, again, not the best description, but you get the drift. However, regardless as to whether we're using those other shows as comparisons or not, Vagrant Queen, while it does have its moments, doesn't reach either of their heights.
Basically, it focuses on Elida - the former queen/princess (it's complicated) of Areiopa, who lost her throne and mother in a coup, and is quite happy to spend her days as a space scavenger, only the royalists want her back, and Lazaro, the man who led the revolution, wants her dead. Accompanying her is Isaac, who got sucked into this galaxy by a wormhole which opened up from Jupiter. Yeah, um...that's a thing. It's weird, but harkening back to the Farscape comparison, one would be if John Crichton did go through the wormhole and the plot remained the same, but Aeryn was the core protagonist. Usually, you'd use characters like Isaac and John as the protagonist to give the viewer a doorway into the universe, but not in this case. Still, it does pull it off, as we do get the basics of worldbuilding. And, yeah, the setting is kind of crazy. Like, the Intergalactic Parking Authority is to this galaxy what an elite force would be to any given country. The show is insane, but does get serious, but doesn't lose sight of its 'zanniness.'
On the subject of presentation, the series is a mixed bag. It's got a repeated habit of using still-shots to capture its more insane moments. As in, single frame that the camera pans through, highlighting the characters in moments of (usually violent) insanity. Also, aesthetics. It's so weird, the actual physical makeup of the aliens is actually well done (bearing in mind that every character in this universe bar Isaac is an alien, so even the humanoid ones have pointy ears at the very least), but the CGI is terrible. There's many times when the characters are obviously in front of green screen, and even the practical sets could easily fit in on Earth, or appear to have been appropriated from elsewhere. And finally, like I said, the series does get more serious towards the end, with quantifiable stakes, lots of blood, and a cliffhanger that, thanks to a lack of ratings, will never be resolved. Yay...
Anyway, I had a decent time watching this. It doesn't rise to the heights of other shows like it, but it's worth a watch. It's probably as close as we're going to get to more Farscape in this day and age, so hey, sit back and enjoy the ride.
