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

[Miss Lemon]

teacake wrote:

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

I thought that was the whole point of this thread, judging the episodes one by one.

I'm currently rewatching VOY and I was actually kinda surprised to see how well these characters worked together right from the start.

[teacake]

It just seems odd to me to say characters don't work so early on because with most shows the conflicts or behaviors of characters are gradually explained as the show unfolds. It's like walking into a room with a bunch of strangers and seeing how they behave in certain ways and having no context yet.

[6079SmithW]

I wonder if any of our first time watchers are watching episodes with the introduction to the show by Mal/Book that explains the basic premise. The episodes on Hulu have this but I don't think the dvd's do.

[Forbin]

teacake wrote:

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It's like walking into a room with a bunch of strangers and seeing how they behave in certain ways and having no context yet.

Silly aside that this reminds me of: A friend was going to a party one evening. He walked in and found everyone sitting around staring, silent, not talking. He said "What is this, did somebody die?"

Yes, he was in the wrong house, and yes, it was a wake.

[Miss Lemon]

teacake wrote:

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It just seems odd to me to say characters don't work so early on because with most shows the conflicts or behaviors of characters are gradually explained as the show unfolds.

To me it seems odd that my somewhat critical review about this one character elicits reactions that might be interpreted as defensive. You are usually quite outspoken about your opinions yourself (poor Neelix comes to mind ).

teacake wrote:

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It's like walking into a room with a bunch of strangers and seeing how they behave in certain ways and having no context yet.

Are you saying you wouldn't formulate an opinion about these people before you knew their whole background story? That seem very unlikely. I'm sure you form an opinion the second you meet someone. We all do. Might have something to do with survival.

What I look for in a TV series is character development, so that's what I'll comment about. If I'm critical, it doesn't mean I won't be open to change my opinion in future.

Well, if I keep watching this show, that is.

[teacake]

I think I'm just war weary of the haters and it makes me notice people's seeming willingness to hate on stuff. As to Neelix, I'm mostly just having fun with him, I like him fine and have always defended him from the "should have gotten rid of Neelix" crowd. He's just easy to play with in the VOY forum which goes for the surreal at the best of times.

I realize you are commenting review style and not wanting to be filled in on the understanding that evolves for those of us who have seen the show.

And Forbin that is a terrible story!

[lurok]

6079SmithW wrote:

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I wonder if any of our first time watchers are watching episodes with the introduction to the show by Mal/Book that explains the basic premise. The episodes on Hulu have this but I don't think the dvd's do.

This f/t watcher is strenuously avoiding everything other than episodes.

Miss Lemon wrote:

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Well, if I keep watching this show, that is.

But....but...we need you, Miss Lemon

teacake wrote:

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He's just easy to play with in the VOY forum which goes for the surreal at the best of times.

Surreal is an understatement

[IcecreamLtDan]

6079SmithW wrote:

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I wonder if any of our first time watchers are watching episodes with the introduction to the show by Mal/Book that explains the basic premise. The episodes on Hulu have this but I don't think the dvd's do.

You are absolutely correct, additionally the DVD's do not have the cut scene shown before the commercials where they show the ship in the same way the name of the show is shown at the beginning. I didn't see the show during its original run and the DVD set was bought for me by a friend in a "pass-along if you like" deal. It wasn't until I watched a replay of the show on some long forgotten channel that I saw Mal's intro and those cut scenes.

[Miss Lemon]

teacake wrote:

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I think I'm just war weary of the haters and it makes me notice people's seeming willingness to hate on stuff.

Hate... ? Now I'm baffled...

I know I can be direct, but then again so many people on this board are rather blunt about their opinion. I'm curious to know what would make you interpret my first opinion about one little aspect of a TV series interpret as hate...?

[Sindatur]

Miss Lemon wrote:

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Hate... ? Now I'm baffled...

I know I can be direct, but then again so many people on this board are rather blunt about their opinion. I'm curious to know what would make you interpret my first opinion about one little aspect of a TV series interpret as hate...?

I could be wrong, but, I don't think Teacake was accusing you of "Hating", I think she was saying that she is so "on edge" because of the Haters that she over-reacted because those those raw nerves caused her to initially mistake your post as "hating".

BTW, Miss Lemon, your latest photo looks more like a young Dame Maggie then ever

[teacake]

Yes I think we are having a big misunderstanding here.

[nightwind1]

Miss Lemon wrote:

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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...?

It's called being a three-dimensional character, rather than the flat, cardboard cutouts many TV characters are.

[Shawnster]

nightwind1 wrote:

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It's called being a three-dimensional character, rather than the flat, cardboard cutouts many TV characters are.

Have you met any war-weary vets? Are they all socially competent and suave around the ladies?

[Forbin]

Shawnster wrote:

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Have you met any war-weary vets? Are they all socially competent and suave around the ladies?

I have, and I find they don't all fit into a single behavior pattern or stereotype.

But I look no further than my own Dad, a WWII Pacific vet, for an example. Social in the extreme, belonged to lots of local organizations, partied hearty, and loved to flirt with the ladies. Cross him and you were fucking dead.

[teacake]

America is full of war weary vets about Mal's age these days.

Mal is very quick to draw a gun and act on the offense, surely something war teaches you. I don't think it teaches you anything about women one way or the other though.