Firefly....Serenity...SHINY!

[lk70]

Ok, I've posted in geekdom about Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis before and I thought SG-1 was the best Sc-Fi creation I'd ever seen, but that was before a friend turned me on to Firefly.

I'm sure most of you Sci Fi geeks watched it years ago and will tell me I'm late on the scene, but just in case anyone isn't aware of this series and subsequent feature film, Serenity, do yourselves a favor and buy the DVDs NOW.

Ladies, regardless of your taste, there is a man for you. Me, I'm partial to Captain Reynolds, which is unusual for me. Usually I prefer the more intellectual sensitive ones, but I believe it's in there somewhere. But there's a macho fighter with GREAT biceps, a highly intelligent if somewhat wimpy doctor, a funny and charming ship's pilot, and a quick witted handsome preacher man with Einstein hair.

Oh yeah, there are beautiful women too. I'd have a tough time choosing which one I'd want to be with but I suppose it would be Zoey, or possibly River AFTER the cool fight with the Reavers. She was stunning in that.

Anyway, brilliant writing, brilliant characters, brilliant cast, brilliant everything. Can I get an AMEN?

 

[Redmage]

That was some remarkable television. I don't often buy DVDs, but I bought those.

 

[Synful Pryde]

Amen!

I introduced the series and movie to both of my parents (who rarely agree on what to watch) two years ago, and to my sister and her husband (neither of whom particularly care for science fiction or westerns) last month. The results were consistent across the board: "We could probably watch one more episode tonight..." (episode passes) "Well, maybe just one more..." (another episode passes) "I suppose just one more couldn't hurt!" 🙂

~syn

 

[SmileyTkls]

Well, I'm convinced! I'm going to go right out 2 years ago and buy the DVD set! 😀 Sorry, LK, just had to tease ya, I loved Firefly and Serenity, even though I liked Wash a lot and felt a little bad about Book, too. So glad to see we enjoy something else in common. 😉

 

[alchemy]

Hmm...you know, I never got into it really. I liked the premise of the show, but the characters (except Jayne and the ships pilot) seriously got on my nerves. The captain was a jerk, the first officer lady was...well...wooden..., the preacher was annoying, and by the end of the first disk, I wanted the captain to shoot the engineer lady into the depths of space.
Don't mean to be the little rain cloud in this thread...I mean, I thought the show had potential, but...ugh..those characters just annoyed the living hell out of me. You know, I had the same problem with that new Star Trek show Enterprise...could have been a decent show, but had ridiculously annoying characters and it seemed like the space adventure aspect always took a back seat to the "character drama" that was always going on. The same with firefly...so and so has a thing for so and so...so and so hurts the feelings of so and so...so and so is causing drama with so and so...so and so is acting like a bitch and so and so is acting like a jerk.......and in the midst of all of that, some kind of adventure/money making plot is going on.

Sorry guy, just couldn't get into it.

 

[Icycle]

Amen, sister!

Firefly is truly one of the best television series I have ever seen. I borrowed the DVDs from a friend, knowing nothing other that her high recommendation and effusive praise. Had I known ahead of time that it was a sci-fi/western I might have a been a little skeptical, but Joss Whedon really sells it, and I never questioned for a minute the authenticity of the world he created.

Even over the course of just a half season, he created and developed a very interesting, complex, and compelling ensemble of characters. It was very clear that his characters and his universe had enough depth to carry the show for many more seasons. It still makes me very sad that the show was cancelled so prematurely.

 

[The Sean Man]

I too loved the series, and have the dvd set. And Serenity? I thought it was far better than the last three Star Wars pics combined.

I'll be on my merry now....

 

[TklDuo-Drew]

We saw "Serenity" first, I thought it was one of the best sci-fi movies ever made even though I wasn't familiar with the characters. Then in December of 2006, a good friend of ours bought us the "Firefly" discs, I've been hooked ever since.
This show is SO phenomenal! Joss Whedon's genius touch is present here as it was on "Buffy" and "Angel".



Drew

 

[drew70]

I was a big fan of Buffy so when I heard about Firefly I had an idea it would be good. The series seemed to be an interesting combination of Star Wars and Fist Full of Dollars. It was a different take on outer space drama, a welcome departure from the usual military warfare with the alien bad guys.

It's premature retirement is perhaps one of the hugest travesties in television history, which required Joss Whedon to release a movie that all-too-quickly wrapped up all the loose ends that should have carried into several seasons of story-telling.

 

[Snail Shell]

Y'know, I appreciate Firefly for what it was, but after watching a few episodes, I just couldn't get into it. I loved the moments where Malcolm was challenged by a crew member and just had nothing:

"You wanna be captain of this ship?!?!"
"YES!"
"Well.... you can't...." (lol)

But other than that, it just didn't resonate with me. Ah well.

Snail Shell

 

[lk70]

It's premature retirement is perhaps one of the hugest travesties in television history, which required Joss Whedon to release a movie that all-too-quickly wrapped up all the loose ends that should have carried into several seasons of story-telling.

Very well said, Drew.

 

[Goodieluver]

I finished watching serenity last weekend and in the process of downloadin firefly

"I suppose you want to run the ship!"
"Yes, i do"
"....well.....you cant"

I also love how Joss Whedon uses so many of the same actors for firefly who were also used in angel\buffy

 

[LindyHopper]

I'll add my "Amen!" to the rest.

Ladies, regardless of your taste, there is a man for you. Me, I'm partial to Captain Reynolds, which is unusual for me. Usually I prefer the more intellectual sensitive ones, but I believe it's in there somewhere. But there's a macho fighter with GREAT biceps, a highly intelligent if somewhat wimpy doctor, a funny and charming ship's pilot, and a quick witted handsome preacher man with Einstein hair.

I'd say that choosing is impossibly hard. But I'll say Jayne and Wash are my favorites, because they're funny as all hell.

Of course, it was kinda hard to like Nathan Fillion in Serenity after seeing him play Caleb on Buffy and unceremoniously poking out one of Xander's eyes.

Yeah... but if you saw him in "Waitress," you can think he's really cute and sweet.

I thought the show had potential, but...ugh..those characters just annoyed the living hell out of me. You know, I had the same problem with that new Star Trek show Enterprise...could have been a decent show, but had ridiculously annoying characters and it seemed like the space adventure aspect always took a back seat to the "character drama" that was always going on.

I also disliked Enterprise, partly for the reasons you describe. I suppose in the end, what matters isn't whether or not there is character drama, but whether or not the writers and actors have made you care about these characters. And on Firefly, I did care. I guess these things are subjective. 🙂

We saw "Serenity" first, I thought it was one of the best sci-fi movies ever made even though I wasn't familiar with the characters.

I think... that may have helped, in a way. I was familiar with the characters, so I was really bitter when one I adored was killed off for no particular reason, and story arcs that should have taken years to tell were rushed or skipped over. So I didn't particularly like the movie. But I kind of think that Firefly fans aren't qualified to judge the movie objectively - we probably love it or hate it on grounds aside from its actual merits. 😛

Anyway, I at least fully support the TV series! What there was of it, at least.

 

[Redhering]

I saw Serenity on the shelf at the movie place and thought it looked like a really cool movie. I had no idea until I started watching it that it was related to a TV series. I found it immensely enjoyable 🙂 I've been pondering getting the Firefly TV series ever since (couple years now I guess?) but have never quite actually convinced myself to buy it. Maybe soon 🙂

 

[Synful Pryde]

Yeah... but if you saw him in "Waitress," you can think he's really cute and sweet.

Or, in "Saving Private Ryan", pitiable

 

[Icycle]

I also disliked Enterprise, partly for the reasons you describe. I suppose in the end, what matters isn't whether or not there is character drama, but whether or not the writers and actors have made you care about these characters. And on Firefly, I did care. I guess these things are subjective. 🙂

Here, here. Even a back-stabbing scoundrel like Jayne was human, and heck, lovable.

I was familiar with the characters, so I was really bitter when one I adored was killed off for no particular reason, and story arcs that should have taken years to tell were rushed or skipped over.

The death to which you refer was one of the most shocking and saddest deaths I have ever seen in a movie or television. After a quintessential character moment, the character died in an unforeseeable moment of random and senseless violence that didn't even serve to advance the story. As anyone familiar with the works of Joss Whedon can tell you, he is not afraid to kill beloved characters, but even by his standards, this was hard to take.

I'm glad the movie was made, as a chance to tie up some loose ends in the Firefly universe, and get one more last good story with the talented cast and crew, but I agree that it left a lot to be desired. The western aspects of the story were downplayed, presumably to be more acceptable to an audience unfamiliar with the television series. Story arcs were rushed or skipped. And tragically, by then end of the movie Joss effectively ended the story of Serenity and her crew, closing the door on their further adventures. 🙁

 

[lk70]

Yeah... but if you saw him in "Waitress," you can think he's really cute and sweet.

At the risk of getting all girly and hijacking my own thread, um, YEAH. Goodness but he's a cutie. All nice and sweet and bumbling. Then, in Firely, and moreso in Serenity, all tough and manly and I can so picture him grabbing me by the hair...whew! Must stop now.

so I was really bitter when one I adored was killed off for no particular reason,

Bitter? Bitter? I was bitter the first time, at Haven. The SECOND time (which is what I'm sure you're talking about) I was HORRIFIED. What a horrible thing to do and for no good reason! "Like a leaf in the wind" then BLAMMO.

 

[lk70]

by the end of the movie Joss effectively ended the story of Serenity and her crew, closing the door on their further adventures. 🙁

Yes, I'd have to agree this was a tragedy. He should have left room to bring it back. He could still, I suppose, by just ignoring the fact of the movie, but I'd have preferred he not "wrap everything up." Mistake.

Then again, he's undoubtedly moved on while the rest of us geeks are still living in the Firefly 'verse. 🙂

 

[Redmage]

Bitter? Bitter? I was bitter the first time, at Haven. The SECOND time (which is what I'm sure you're talking about) I was HORRIFIED. What a horrible thing to do and for no good reason! "Like a leaf in the wind" then BLAMMO.

I think Whedon's reason in that case was precisely because the death was senseless. He was making the point that heroes don't always end nobly, and that any one of them could die at any time.

I bet no one in the audience was sure about any other character's chances from that point on.

 

[rllionhart]

I think Whedon's reason in that case was precisely because the death was senseless. He was making the point that heroes don't always end nobly, and that any one of them could die at any time.

I bet no one in the audience was sure about any other character's chances from that point on.

Thats exactly what Joss reasoning was.
WASH LIVES! Talk to Jayne, he's our PR guy.

Browncoats!

 

[eternalnewguy]

I loved that show and the movie as well. Exciting, dramatic, and funny. It worked on every level.
It's too bad the movie never made back its budget (domestically, anyway). There was some talk of them doing straight-to-DVD movies, but that never materialized.

 

[The Last Laugh]

Hmm...you know, I never got into it really. I liked the premise of the show, but the characters (except Jayne and the ships pilot) seriously got on my nerves.

Interesting. Personally, before I starting actually watching the show, I thought the premise was pretty dubious. I quickly got to enjoy it more as I watched it, but it's really the characters that I like best. There's some very interesting morally gray characters in there (Like Malcom and Jayne).

Frankly, while I admit Malcolm can seem pretty harsh sometimes, and a tad macho, the thing is that he realizes he lives in a tough world, and he does his best to survive with a realistic point of view. He doesn't especially like some of the things he does, but he knows they need to be done. Mind you, I also very much enjoy Captain Jean-Luc Picard types (brains and diplomacy), but Malcolm strikes me as a very credible compromise.

 

[Abaddon]

Browncoat reporting! I love Firefly, ever since a friend got me into it a few years back, along with about 30 other people, and I ended up going to see an advance preview of Serenity. Wash's scene just left me completely gobsmacked for about 20 minutes (WHY JOSS WHY!!!). Brilliant being in a cinema full of Browncoats who cheered when Mal made his speech and even clapped at the end. And we got the Shiny introduction by Joss.

Yes, I'd have to agree this was a tragedy. He should have left room to bring it back. He could still, I suppose, by just ignoring the fact of the movie, but I'd have preferred he not "wrap everything up." Mistake.

Then again, he's undoubtedly moved on while the rest of us geeks are still living in the Firefly 'verse. 🙂

Nah, Joss is still flying high in the 'verse. Theres another comic coming out this year telling Book's story (FINALLY). The only reason he did what he did in Serenity is cos Fox have the licence to the series and there was no way he could carry it on like he wanted too, since he doesn't want to carry it on in film form. Plus, Alan Tudyk always said he wanted Wash to be killed off by the end of the second season if it carried on, so I guess he got his wish.

 

[Icycle]

I think Whedon's reason in that case was precisely because the death was senseless. He was making the point that heroes don't always end nobly, and that any one of them could die at any time.

I bet no one in the audience was sure about any other character's chances from that point on.

You know, that's the best explanation I've heard so far, and it actually makes quite a bit of sense. During the carnage that followed, every time a character took a hit, I really did wonder if they would pull through. If Joss wasn't afraid to kill so cavalierly once, what would stop him from doing it again?

Nah, Joss is still flying high in the 'verse. Theres another comic coming out this year telling Book's story (FINALLY).

Yay!:

I'm so happy to hear that! There were clues dropped throughout the series that there was more to Book than meets the eye. And that made his backstory more intriguing than just about any other major character in the series. I was sad when Book died, because I figured his story died with him. Yay prequel!

The only reason he did what he did in Serenity is cos Fox have the licence to the series and there was no way he could carry it on like he wanted too, since he doesn't want to carry it on in film form.

I would be perfectly happy with graphic novels and such that continue to tell the tale of the 'verse. There's plenty of story to tell, even if much of is before the full crew of Serenity assembled, or after it was dispersed. Keep 'em coming Joss!

Plus, Alan Tudyk always said he wanted Wash to be killed off by the end of the second season if it carried on, so I guess he got his wish.

I'm sad to hear that Alan Tudyk wanted his character to be killed off. 🙁 Wash was one of my favorites, add quite a bit of comic relief to the ensemble. And he's a very talented actor as well. I've seen him onstage in Monte Python's Holy Grail musical on Broadway, and more recently in a chilling guest role as a pedophile on CSI, and I never fail to be impressed!

 

[TklDuo-Drew]

I was bummed when Wash died in "Serenity", but it was nothing like the devastation I felt when Tara was killed in "Buffy".(damn you, Warren!)

On a happier Firefly note.......I love the episode that started with Kaylie chasing River around the ship shouting "I'm gonna get you!" This was so adorable and the possibilities were endless.

And the last episode that started with Kaylie giggling away while she had her bare feet in Simon's lap was pretty cool, too.


Drew