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

Discussion in 'Science Fiction & Fantasy' started by lurok, Nov 11, 2012.

  1. FarStrider

    FarStrider Commander Red Shirt

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    I actually think the explanation was in the episode (although it was glossed over): our crew arrived during shift change in the middle of the night. . . during those few minutes, no one would be in the morgue, and because it was at night, the scanning room would most likely be empty. It's convenient, but it was planned that way. :rofl:

    ~FS
     
  2. teacake

    teacake Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Post contains no spoilers.

    I'm reading the Firefly comics. I've got the three hardcover compilations (thank you people who actually listened to my xmas requests, yes I do prefer this to a blender). The first one has a bit at the back:

    "The following section contains the pre-predoduction memo A Brief History of the Universe Circa 2515 A.D. written by Joss Whedon for use during the Serenity motion picture."

    It's an interesting background of Earth-that-was and what happened next, much of which is gleaned by paying close attention to the show but nice to read it all in one place. This bit seems just utterly ridiculous: "Prostitution as we understand it had long since been abolished by the legalization and strict federal legislation of the sex trade. "Companion" houses were set up throughout the central planets." Oh really. So prostitution has been wiped out because everyone is happy for it to have been replaced with rich people only high class sex workers?! Like everyone can afford this? Like this doesn't open up a huge market for non-regulated, non-elitist sex trade where you don't have to worry because no fancy dress Companion would ever in her right mind choose you?

    Whedon is an a weirdo. It's not like he's painted some evolved human picture ala TNG either, there is no reason given the people we see to think that prostitution would not have a demand.

    Talking about the Companions he says.. "they lived not unlike nuns.." :lol: This guy is really quite into his whore Madonnas.

    Now this does apply to the core planets which as we saw in Ariel are highly regulated places run by Alliance and not dirtballs like the outer rim. But I still can't see this wiping out prostitution no matter how regulated life is, especially when you dangle the Companion carrot which doesn't even have any moral qualms attached to it in front of everyone's face. Here is something YOU WANT and it is highly respected, it's wonderful really.. but you suck so you can't have it.

    Now we do see
    non companion sex work eventually. But it's still ridiculous that this is presented as an aberration.

    OF course all that regulation and the nunnery :rolleyes: does shed some light on how Inara may have felt suffocated and prefers her life on Serenity.

    And the hardcover comic compilations are really gorgeous. Very nice artwork, extra portraits throughout. A treat.
     
  3. IcecreamLtDan

    IcecreamLtDan Captain Captain

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    The simple answer to the question in your spoiler is, yes.
     
  4. lurok

    lurok Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    EP 10 - WAR STORIES

    [​IMG]

    Da sexy episode. BDSM, sweaty man chests, hot girl-on-girl action, unrequited sexual tension, gals with guns. I'll be in my bunk. Funniest episode for a while (despite the torture porn) with some great lines. But it's the Zoe-Wash-Mal ménage à trois that gives it some heart. The final scene was beautifully played.
     
  5. Ar-Pharazon

    Ar-Pharazon Admiral Premium Member

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    Considering how Jayne joined Mal originally, you'd think Mal couldn't be too surprised.
     
  6. lurok

    lurok Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    need to finish these off asap now...

    EP 11 - TRASH

    [​IMG]

    The continuity episode. Ah, yes, we bandy chinese insults. Haven't done that for a while. And what if Simon & River figured out what Jayne was up to in Ariel? And, of course, the inevitable return of Christina Hendricks and another heist-job-that-almost-goes-wrong. Okayish episode. I'm trying to figure out what is that's 'off' about Hendricks' character. It's like the writers (or actress) can't decide if she's Hit Girl or a femme fatale. Meanwhile Baccarin's Inara just continues to be wasted.
     
  7. teacake

    teacake Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Nooo... I don't have much time this week, having trouble keeping up. Might manage war stories tonight.

    And yes, she was wasted :(
     
  8. lurok

    lurok Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    EP 12 - THE MESSAGE
    EP 13 - HEART OF GOLD


    [​IMG]

    The war one and the whore one. No huge surprises. OK, maybe the 'resurrection' in The Message was a nice twist, but both eps fairly by-the-numbers. So I find myself distracted by those little touches. Jayne's hat. The thronging extras (wish we saw more of those bustling communities, but I guess budget prohibited it). How good the costume design is (I liked Simon's black/gray stripe top). The Serenity flying through icy canyons. How beautiful Mal's face is in some shots. And I swore I heard someone use the word 'quim'.
     
  9. marksound

    marksound Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    "Man walks down the street in that hat, people know he's not afraid of anything."

    Two guest stars from these episodes guested on Chuck too.
     
  10. lurok

    lurok Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    EP 14 - OBJECTS IN SPACE

    Ermm...I suppose Whedon didn't know the show was going to be cancelled? That was a pretty good episode that would have been better earlier in run. But it kinda sucks as a finale.

    So I guess we're done here :) Has made me curious to see Serenity again though as I suspect will make a lot more sense now. I've also got special features to watch, and now feel safe to read up on series without fear of spoilers.
     
  11. Admiral Buzzkill

    Admiral Buzzkill Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Whedon's comment about Jayne was that no one on the show realized that the audience (and, perhaps, the writers) would come to love him as quickly as they did, which apparently complicated some of Whedon's original ideas about how he'd use the character.
     
  12. Forbin

    Forbin Admiral Admiral

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    IIRC, The Message was the last episode shot, and the funeral scene at the end was the final scene shot. A very fitting "unexpected finale" for a show! I don't know why they chose to NOT show it last.
     
  13. marksound

    marksound Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Objects is another one of my favorites. Whedon has said that he had planned to bring Early back for another visit. It would have been fun to see just how loony he really was.
     
  14. IcecreamLtDan

    IcecreamLtDan Captain Captain

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    Yea, I wanted to know more about him as well. It was obvious that he knew more about a certain crew member than anyone on the ship did and I would love to have seen that explored.
     
  15. therealsb63

    therealsb63 Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

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    I never saw the show when it first ran, I got the series set and the movie for Christmas and have been discovering the show for the first time myself. I already wonder why I never saw it to begin with. The characters are interesting to say the least.

    But Jayne? He's a jerk. Just sayin'.
     
  16. Lindley

    Lindley Moderator with a Soul Premium Member

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    Yeah, but he's our jerk.

    "Not as deceiving as a low-down, dirty....deceiver."
     
  17. lurok

    lurok Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    They certainly are. I'm all done now but please feel free to post any observations here :)
     
  18. therealsb63

    therealsb63 Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

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    Yeah, he's been growing on me, the guy you like to dislike.

    :rommie:
     
  19. therealsb63

    therealsb63 Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

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    One of my favorite interactions is Mal and Inara. After seeing "Out Of Gas," we see they've loved each other from the start, but from "Serenity" (the pilot) on so far, he just can't get past his disdain for what she does, and she won't forgive him for it.

    Speaking of "Out Of Gas," was a bit shocked how Mal met Kaylee...she seems like such a "good" girl...:wtf:

    And soooo much we obviously don't know about Shepherd Book...I didn't even know Ron Glass was in the series until I started watching the episodes, that's how in the dark I was about the series...
     
  20. nightwind1

    nightwind1 Commodore Commodore

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    Well, he does wear a rather cunning hat...