Firefly first-time/rewatch (NO SPOILERS, please)

[IcecreamLtDan]

Lindley wrote:

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Inara and Book get just enough development to raise questions, not quite enough to answer them. Maybe that's what makes them so intriguing. (Some of Book's backstory is elaborated in comics.)

Some of Inara's backstory is covered in the anniversary special they did a few weeks ago.

[teacake]

OH I have to watch that, thanks for the reminder!!

[lurok]

Perhaps I should have put 'No Shipping' as well as No Spoilers Though no doubt we'll probably all get round to it at some point.

[teacake]

I'm trying to figure out Mal's age. Speculation on the firefly wiki puts it at 31.

"Screens from Serenity suggest that Mal was born on September 20, 2468—which would make him 49 at the time of the series Firefly—though this may be a mistake, since the information screen also misspells his name as "Malcom," and may have been intended to be 2486, making him 31, an age more consistent with his appearance."

Simon was born 2490 so that makes him 27 though he looks a lot younger to me.

[Skywalker]

I think 2486 makes a lot more sense, too. Fillion was about 30 while the show was airing, so I always imagined Mal was around the same age.

I can also buy Simon being 27. He's a full-fledged doctor, not just a med student, and seems to already have some experience working in hospitals. He's just one of those people who looks young. Sean Maher was also 27 at that time, if that makes any difference.

[teacake]

Shawnster wrote:

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I found The Train Job to be a very fun and entertaining episode upon repeated viewing (once I understood the whole Firefly concept and universe). I liked Niska as a villain and was glad to see that he returns again. The killing of Krull (I think it was) with the engine intake was unexpected and still cracks me up. And, with the simple scene of the 2 by 2, hands of blue agents, the overall arc is pushed forward.

A great episode especially in light of it being put together literally over a weekend.

Yes it crams a lot in! But they all do, not really any filler eps because the characters and bigger picture is always being steadily advanced even if that's not the main story for an episode.

I'm very much enjoying my rewatch, the visuals and sets are so rich that I notice new things every time.

And..

[teacake]

Skywalker wrote:

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I think 2486 makes a lot more sense, too. Fillion was about 30 while the show was airing, so I always imagined Mal was around the same age.

I can also buy Simon being 27. He's a full-fledged doctor, not just a med student, and seems to already have some experience working in hospitals. He's just one of those people who looks young. Sean Maher was also 27 at that time, if that makes any difference.

Oh I agree, I completely buy him being 27, it's just he's a young looking 27. Kaylee even comments on this.

[Forbin]

Ya know, that CAN'T be good for the engine.

[Carcazoid]

Shawnster wrote:

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Inara's much like a geisha (with the added dimension of sex as an expected part of the deal), which is odd, considering the Chinese, rather than Japanese culture.

I found The Train Job to be a very fun and entertaining episode upon repeated viewing (once I understood the whole Firefly concept and universe). I liked Niska as a villain and was glad to see that he returns again. The killing of Krull (I think it was) with the engine intake was unexpected and still cracks me up. And, with the simple scene of the 2 by 2, hands of blue agents, the overall arc is pushed forward.

A great episode especially in light of it being put together literally over a weekend.

Good analysis. Glad to see someone gets it.

The thug's name was Crow, by the way.

[Carcazoid]

Mal's chronological age is irrelevant. He spent a big part of his life fighting a war, and a big part if that commanding others. If he's not old in years, he is in life experience.

The fact that he refers to others as "son" or "boy" only emphasizes his war-weary attitude. I thought it was obvious.

[Sindatur]

Carcazoid wrote:

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Mal's chronological age is irrelevant. He spent a big part of his life fighting a war, and a big part if that commanding others. If he's not old in years, he is in life experience.

The fact that he refers to others as "son" or "boy" only emphasizes his war-weary attitude. I thought it was obvious.

Yea, Simon was 27 going on 18, and Mal was 31, going on 45

[teacake]

Sindatur wrote:

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Yea, Simon was 27 going on 18, and Mal was 31, going on 45

Yep, that's it.

As to the "son", he's just letting this man who in any other setting would be far above him in privilege and social standing know that's worth jack on his ship. He lets Book know the same thing right from the start, that being a preacher is worth exactly nothing.

[Miss Lemon]

Carcazoid wrote:

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The fact that he refers to others as "son" or "boy" only emphasizes his war-weary attitude. I thought it was obvious.

Obvious, yes. Believable, not really. The actor doesn't really look war-weary, does he? He's a guy your mum would love you to bring home. He kinda reminds me of Michael J. Fox.

But it's not only the actor. The character itself is not very constant. It doesn't make sense to see the war-weary guy act rather infantile when he's around Inara. Who exactly is socially inept again...?

[teacake]

We are two episodes in. God help most of Star Trek if the characters are judged on that.

[Forbin]

teacake wrote:

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We are two episodes in. God help most of Star Trek if the characters are judged on that.

It's in interesting internet phenomenon, isn't it? You'll hear someone say about a show they like: "You can't judge a new show by its first couple of seasons, it take 3 seasons to get its legs." But two episodes into a new show they don't like you'll hear the same person say "This sucks, it should be cancelled!"