Firefly

Scott Hardie | August 25, 2005
(No spoilers in my comment.) If you haven't seen the 14-episode series "Firefly," now's the time to rent it, a month before the feature film comes out. (link) Aaron Shurtleff, who will be overjoyed to discuss it here, was kind enough to loan me the boxed set, which I was surprised to enjoy as much as I did. The pilot episode was a brilliant work, and I knew the rules of television would demand that the amoral lead character would soften into a teddy bear, unable to shoot even his own nemeses – but I didn't expect him to turn out better that way, so likeable and layered. The first few regular episodes were kind of flat as the show dabbled in a sitcom-likee romance between two of the least bright people on the ship, but it very quickly found its footing and turned out a great multi-episode story arc about betrayal within the crew. When the betrayer had to face the captain over what happened, it was possibly the single best scene in the series, just plain electric. The final episodes were dynamite work, obviously a labor of love for the creative team that was trying to keep the show from cancelation, and the final episode features a commentary track from Joss Whedon that shows just how deep his themes were running. The series has a few corny elements like the cutesy overuse of Mandarin whenever the characters need to swear, but it's easy to like and short enough to take in quickly. I recommend it to anyone who missed its original run a few years ago but would like to catch up in time for the movie. Any other fans here?

Megan Baxter | August 25, 2005
I love Firefly! (And all other Joss Whedon shows)

I think the thing that I liked best about the series (other than the writing, acting, etc.) was that in almost every episode they very deliberately took a movie/tv convention and turned it on its head (the heavy who says that he'll come back and get them, and the reaction to that, the "tough choice" poised to Zoe when crew members are captured, and others like that. I'm trying to be vague in my descriptions so as not to spoil it for others, but hopefully people will recognize them.)

I haven't seen the last few episodes, even though I own the box set. My mother and then my sisters stole it, and I finally got it back. Must watch them before the movie comes out!

Scott Horowitz | August 25, 2005
I didn't give Firefly much of a chance, when it was on TV, mostly because it was in the "Time Slot of Death"... I loved Buffy and Angel, and am now watching the Firefly reruns on Scifi channel. It's damn good.

Joss is probably the best writer in Hollywood right now.

(link)

David Mitzman | August 25, 2005
Joss Whedon is my master now...

Scott Horowitz | September 12, 2005
This show keeps getting better, I hope the movie does well enough that they will bring it back.

David Mitzman | September 13, 2005
You are going to burn in a very special level of hell reserved for child molesters and people who talk at the theater.

Kris Weberg | September 13, 2005
Wait, I'm confused, which one of those is he?

Amy Austin | September 13, 2005
I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that Mitz was using a Boolean "and"... ;-DDD

David Mitzman | September 13, 2005
Hehe, that line is a quote from an episode, so far it ranks as one of my fav's of the series.

Scott Horowitz | September 13, 2005
rofl..... and I do not talk at the theater

Michael Paul Cote | September 16, 2005
Awesome show, can't wait for the movie. Anyone besides me in love with Kaylee?

Scott Horowitz | September 16, 2005
I'd hit it...

Aaron Shurtleff | September 16, 2005
I'm not beside you, but I love Kaylee! ;) OK, that was bad, sorry.

Scott Horowitz | September 17, 2005
I have to admit, the lyrics to the theme song are very poignant, even though the tune isn't the greatest.

Take my love, take my land
Take me where I cannot stand
I don't care, I'm still free
You can't take the sky from me
Take me out to the black
Tell 'em I ain't comin' back
Burn the land and boil the sea
You can't take the sky from me
There's no place I can be
Since I found serenity
But you can't take the sky from me

Scott Hardie | September 24, 2005
Kaylee just bugs me. She's too illogical they way they write her. Several times in the series, Simon says something thoughtless to her that would be offensive if it were not completely obvious that he's just socially awkward and apt to say clumsy things in the company of pretty women and didn't mean any offense, but she gets all huffy about it anyway. What, are we supposed to side with her? "Friends" pulled this kind of bullshit on a regular basis and the Kaylee-Simon relationship reminded me of it in a bad way. Plus she suffered from a minor madonna/whore complex, as she was sometimes the innocent, pure heart of the show (Joss Whedon said he created her for that purpose), and other times she'd be caught fucking total strangers in dark rooms. Like Zoe and Wash, I think she suffered underdevelopment from there being so many characters on the show.

Aaron Shurtleff | September 27, 2005
*SPOILERS, maybe...I think...don't take any chances*






First of all, I apologize ahead of time if I sound like I'm bitchy or lecturing. I am fully aware that Scott knows more about the nuance and subtlety of film and television than I could ever hope to know. If I did movie reviews, you would think Frankenstein's monster was ghost-writing for me "(Explosion GOOD!)". Scott's the man. I am not worthy. etc.

I guess I'll have to stick up for the wildly irrational romantics, although they'd hate to have me as a spokesperson! Could it not also be that, since Kaylee is so obviously in love with Simon that she takes everything he says WAY too seriously? I've done that before, personally (to my ultimate embarrassment!) It's something that could happen in the realm of "real life". Also, I got the impression that Kaylee is sort of "only in her element" when she's around the ship, or in those types of situations. I think she's equally socially awkward, which also explains her "huffiness". Actually, most of the characters seem to have their "comfort zone", and they all have their moments of inappropriateness when they are outside of them. Ultimately, the problem is both too many characters, and not enough time to flesh them all out. We can only imagine what could have been...unless the movie kicks so much booty that the show makes a comeback. YAY!! YAY COMEBACK!!!!

Now the madonna/whore complex...yeah it's there...but I wouldn't say Kaylee suffers from it! ;) Actually, I'd say her...ahem...moment of indiscretion...could probably be rationalized on some level (the irrational rational level!). She's from a backwater planet, she loves working on stuff, Serenity's engine revs Kaylee's engine. Couldn't innocent naive little Kaylee get talked into something like that for the chance to see the engine of a Firefly-class ship? I can see it. Can't you? :P

Michael Paul Cote | September 27, 2005
I can see it to a point. I still think that if Simon threw her down on the deck and had his way with her she would be in her glory! I'm kinda surprised that she hasn't done it to him yet.

Scott Hardie | September 29, 2005
Thanks for the kind words, Aaron. I like explosions too; I guess I just look at what the filmmakers or writers are trying to do with the explosions, since there are good explosions and bad ones. (Boy, do I sound pretentious or what?) My point is, I don't know what the writers were trying to do with Kaylee's reactions to Simon's "offensive" comments. I really meant it when I wrote above, What, are we supposed to side with her? Joss Whedon said in the pilot commentary that he created Kaylee to be the true heart of the show: Because she was guileless, the audience would know someone was a rat if she believed they were a rat, et cetera. Does that mean they're trying to say Simon really IS offensive because Kaylee thinks he is? That's just not right. It seems even more that way since Kaylee doesn't make similar mistakes: If she's just socially awkward too, how come only one of them says inappropriate things to the other? Oh well, she probably would have had her moments too if the show had lasted longer. I blame those scenes on underdevelopment and the usual first-season inconsistency with characters before the writers firmly knew who they were (or, the case of "Star Trek: Voyager," the first-six-seasons inconsistency).

I can see Kaylee getting seduced to get inside the ship, sure. It makes sense for her character. But again, I don't know what the hell the writers were trying to do with that scene, since it makes her seem slutty, which is not the thing they should be making Kaylee seem. There may well be a valid reason why they chose to have her chronological first appearance go that way, but I suspect it's because they were mere horny mortals who liked making her into a bimbo with a scene that is, in terms of the spirit of the show, out of continuity. It doesn't violate her character, but it violates the purpose her character is supposed to serve in the narrative. I should be mad at the writers for this and not mad at Kaylee, but it can't help but turn me off from the character. :-\

Scott Hardie | September 29, 2005
By the way, this habit of mine to judge a character based on what I believe the writers were trying to do with her is why I never came around on the character of Inara. They wanted to create a more sophisticated, independent, and worldly woman to supply the sexual tension for the primary romance on the show – Kaylee, for instance, wouldn't cut it – but they could have achieved all that, and still given her other sexual partners, without making her a professional whore. That was a cheap gimmick that, in my judgment, overshadowed her character. She never really grew past the gimmick that there are hookers in the 26th century! and they can pick their own clients! and they're respected in society! to become her own character. Again, more time probably would have done it.

Scott Hardie | September 29, 2005
And: I say all of this while remaining highly critical of my own writing, which I think is lousy but I keep doing anyway because I enjoy it. :-) For example, I've stated on a number of occasions my belief that the frequent comings-and-goings of characters into and out of scenes is one basic hallmark of bad writing, so believe it when I say I'm acutely aware of that very thing happening in FIN. The current post is less than three printed pages but describes over a dozen entrances and exits. Is it true that people become critics because they don't know how to do it themselves?

Scott Horowitz | September 29, 2005
About the "companion," you have to remember that it has a western spin to it. Prostitution was more common in the old west, and not frowned upon as it is now. Kaylee being a mechanic is a huge thing there as well, in the ep where they are at the ball, the men are enamored with her because a woman knows machines, it had to get her off seeing that enginee, it just had to

Michael Paul Cote | September 29, 2005
I don't find Kaylee slutty at all, even in the introductory scene. I think that with keeping Kaylee guileless as you say, the writers are also making her, "one of the guys" and if having sex is ok for guys, isn't it ok for her? She isn't a prostitute or companion like Inara, but do you see the envious looks Inara gets from her when they discuss "clients". Also, it may just be me, and everyone get your minds out of the gutter, but the relationship between Kaylee and Inara seems a bit more than sisterly!
As far as Simon goes, his remarks do not permanently scar Kaylee as she keeps going back for more. I think that she is just frustrated that the two of them never connect and when they come close, he sticks his foot in his mouth. She wants the romance so it's not just another fling in the engine room.

Aaron Shurtleff | October 3, 2005
Have you seen this yet?!?! Well, WHY NOT???

Mike Eberhart | October 3, 2005
Saw it. Good movie....

Jackie Mason | October 3, 2005
[hidden by request]

Michael Paul Cote | October 4, 2005
I'm amazed that Aaron has made so few comments about the movie. I found it excellent, very entertaining, kept with the feel of the show, but it is understandable even if you are not familiar with the show. I give it two thumbs up.

Mike Eberhart | October 4, 2005
I had only seen part of one episode of the TV show before seeing this movie. I still thought the movie was outstanding. I actually thought it was better than any of the Star Wars movies (Episodes 1-3). I'll definately be getting this on on DVD when it comes out.

Scott Horowitz | October 9, 2005
I thought the movie was great. When TV translates to the big screen, a lot of times it is an extended episode, but this was done very well. Joss is still the master.

Scott Hardie | October 16, 2005
Great movie. I was worried the trailers had given the best jokes and one big surprise (the sudden fight scene with a character who had never fought before), but no, there were lots more good jokes and surprises in store. And sorry fellas, but after the movie I now think Kaylee is stupid in addition to poorly written. :-)

Scott Hardie | October 16, 2005
Any word yet on whether the movie was successful enough to continue the series in either format? I know Whedon has a three-picture deal with Universal, but I have to assume the other two pictures depend on the first one making money. It had a budget of $40 mil and only made half that much domestically, so I wouldn't be surprised if this was it for the series. (And if so, I'd be a little disappointed with the decidedly non-final feeling of the final scene, as if it's just going to have another episode next week.)

Scott Horowitz | October 17, 2005
I know the cast had signed up for 2 sequels, but it hasn't made its $30 million budget yet. (link) I think it may have DVD appeal to the cult following, which may help sequels get made.

-Scott