Least favorite Firefly character

[D Man]

Firefly is one of my favorite sci-fi shows, and it boasts one of the best ensemble casts ever assembled. The show obviously didn't go on along enough to take the characters very far, but I think it still managed to develop them moreso than many, many other shows pull off in just half a season. But is there a main character in the mix that doesn't quite click with you?

For me it's Zoe. I never quite bought her chemistry with Wash until it was too late (her last few scenes in Serenity are terrific) and overall she never quite gelled with the rest of the characters, IMO. Nothing to do with the actress---I think all the show's actors were really great, but something about the writing just didn't click properly for me. Do you love all nine of 'em, or is there one you can single out as "least favorite?" Even if only a little.

 

[RoJoHen]

Book. I was slightly intrigued by him, but generally I wasn't a huge fan of the way Ron Glass played him in the show.

Incidentally, I loved the way he played him in the movie.

 

[Kegg]

It was a close call between Inara and River, but at least Inara - as trite as some of her companion plots could be - was a reasonably fleshed out and developed character. River's just a bundle of plot points and fetishes with the occasional snap of humour, and those plot points begin to contradict each other come Serenity (which included a couple of retcons to why she went mad and why the Alliance want her now.)

Kaylee gets an honourary nod. Oddly, Zoe is about the only female character on Firefly I was completely fine with.

 

[byron lomax]

Wash was my least favourite. There wasn't very much in the character that stood out for me compared to the others. He was just there.

 

[Mr Light]

Simon. He was an annoying douche bag. Everybody else I liked.

 

[Scout101]

Never really liked the way River was used, but at least she had something going on. And Simon you can understand, even if he's kinda a douche at times; fish out of water, grew up rich, etc.

Book did nothing for me. Completely wasted character, never got any development, just hints of a secret that went nowhere. Never really did much for the story, no backstory for him, and all you get is a facade without revealing what's behind it. No thanks...

 

[cultcross]

Inara. She was an interesting idea to add to the cast, but I never felt that the stories used her very well, and when they did she tended to have little to do with the actual story and just act as a setup for it. Shindig being the best example, but even the movie did it.

 

[Ethros]

If I had to pick a "least favourite" I guess I'd go with River. She never really did that much besides babble nonsense most of the time

 

[Silvercrest]

Firefly is one of my favorite sci-fi shows, and it boasts one of the best ensemble casts ever assembled. The show obviously didn't go on along enough to take the characters very far, but I think it still managed to develop them moreso than many, many other shows pull off in just half a season. But is there a main character in the mix that doesn't quite click with you?

For me it's Zoe. I never quite bought her chemistry with Wash until it was too late (her last few scenes in Serenity are terrific) and overall she never quite gelled with the rest of the characters, IMO. Nothing to do with the actress---I think all the show's actors were really great, but something about the writing just didn't click properly for me. Do you love all nine of 'em, or is there one you can single out as "least favorite?" Even if only a little.

Zoe. Same reasons. But only a little.

 

[Othello]

Firefly is one of my favorite sci-fi shows, and it boasts one of the best ensemble casts ever assembled. The show obviously didn't go on along enough to take the characters very far, but I think it still managed to develop them moreso than many, many other shows pull off in just half a season. But is there a main character in the mix that doesn't quite click with you?

For me it's Zoe. I never quite bought her chemistry with Wash until it was too late (her last few scenes in Serenity are terrific) and overall she never quite gelled with the rest of the characters, IMO. Nothing to do with the actress---I think all the show's actors were really great, but something about the writing just didn't click properly for me. Do you love all nine of 'em, or is there one you can single out as "least favorite?" Even if only a little.

My sentiments exactly.

 

[Caligula]

Firefly is one of my favorite sci-fi shows, and it boasts one of the best ensemble casts ever assembled. The show obviously didn't go on along enough to take the characters very far, but I think it still managed to develop them moreso than many, many other shows pull off in just half a season. But is there a main character in the mix that doesn't quite click with you?

For me it's Zoe. I never quite bought her chemistry with Wash until it was too late (her last few scenes in Serenity are terrific) and overall she never quite gelled with the rest of the characters, IMO. Nothing to do with the actress---I think all the show's actors were really great, but something about the writing just didn't click properly for me. Do you love all nine of 'em, or is there one you can single out as "least favorite?" Even if only a little.

My sentiments exactly.

Mine, as well.

 

[Hyperspace05]

River.... Ugh.

 

[Captaindemotion]

I'd say Simon, if pushed. I don't dislike him - he just wasn't as tough as Mal, as funny as Wash, as endearingly stupid and mercenary as Jayne, as sexy as the girls or as enigmatic as Book. A good character but the most straitlaced and least quirky of the bunch.

'Least favourite' is the best way of putting it, as I still like him - just less than the others.

 

[Goji]

Inara and Book, tied. They always seemed to appear in the most throw-away scenes, and weren't interesting enough to salvage them.

 

[auntiehill]

Inara. She was an interesting idea to add to the cast, but I never felt that the stories used her very well, and when they did she tended to have little to do with the actual story and just act as a setup for it. Shindig being the best example, but even the movie did it.

^This.

She always seemed the most unnecessary of all the characters.

 

[Kirkman1987]

Zoe, although I like them all really. There is no real Neelix or Mr. Crusher type on Firefly.

 

[Lapis Exilis]

For me it's a toss up between Inara and Simon. I liked the idea of Inara, but I thought the actress was very weak, and the "tension" between her and Mal was tremendously contrived. Simon's pretty much the same - weak actor, though he probably had more good moments than Baccarin. I also felt, writing-wise, that Simon was supposed to provide an earnest foil for the crew's criminal activities, but he never really did.

 

[Agent Richard07]

I don't like Mal or Jayne, but I had to go with one so I chose Mal. He's just plain snarky and assholish. So is Jayne, but he at least has a dumb innocence and a lot of humor surrounding him.

 

[Caliburn24]

Simon, the boring straight man of the crew.

But in that alternate universe where Firefly ran for seven seasons with higher ratings than American Idol I am sure Simon would have transformed over time into a bigger badass than Wesley on Angel.

 

[Harvey]

Inara. The space hooker with a heart of gold. Ugh. No wonder she doesn't show up until half way through the movie.