Firefly = TV series: then, now, and forever...
POSTED BY: Elghin
UPDATED: Monday, October 24, 2005 06:29
VIEWED: 5508
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Hello everyone,
I'm a huge fan of the Firefly series. Buffy and Angel were quality entertainment but when I first saw Firefly I knew it was something extra special. In all honesty, I will also admit to boycotting Fox for quite some time after what they did to the TV series. But that is ancient history.
I am glad that someone had the foresight to release the completed episodes on DVD. It’s a good thing that DVD’s don’t degenerate with extended use, because I’d be on my fourth of fifth set by now.
I’ve followed fantasy and sci-fi Television over the years. Star Trek TNG being probably my favorite. But never did any episode or scene from any of the movies ever make me stand up while I was watching and turn to everyone in the room and say, “He did NOT just do that”!!! This was my reaction to when Mal kicked the bad guy thru the engine intake at the end of the second episode. In that moment I was hooked, and I’ve been a fan ever since. I think Firefly is just that good.
I’ve seen a lot of posts reading this forum in relation to the movie. Personally, I liked the movie a lot. Unfortunately, I feel the same way towards it as I feel towards all the Star Trek movies. For some reason the silver screen just doesn’t do a TV series justice. I’d have rather seen several mini-series made. But that’s just me. And I’ll say it right now just to back up everyone else who’s said it before me:
WHY JOSS WHY??? Why did you have to kill off Wash and the Preacher?
Ok, got that out of my system. I notice he’s not answered it in the “Joss Answers” section. When I had calmed down after smoking several cigarettes outside the theater, I came to the conclusion that the actors portraying the characters didn’t want to be included in any up and coming media. It is very sad, because Wash, well, he’s just Wash, and you can’t help but fall in love with him, but the Preacher, my god, you could write an entire season of episodes doing flashbacks and whatnot with that character.
Which brings me back to the point I made above: Firefly just belongs on the Boob-Tube. And although I think I understand some of the logic of the creators in hoping that the movie does well, to maybe show the executive powers that be that Firefly would be well received as a TV show once again, I just can’t help but feel that they went about it backwards.
I’ll bet you that the Sci-Fi channel has more people watching when Firefly is airing than at any other time during the day. In my opinion, I would think Firefly would be a perfect replacement for SG1 and Atlantis. Huge fan of SG1, but 8 seasons was enough for me. Replacing the cast with Farscape cast members just didn’t sit well with me. But then, I don’t know if Sci-Fi channel even comes close to what Joss has in mind.
And what about this 80 Million estimate? I hope that is for the movie AND DVD release next month. I think they’ll clear at least 60, but 80 may be a bit of a stretch.
So Joss, or any friends of Joss that are reading this, please take some advice from someone who doesn’t know thing one about corporate executive policy or Neilson ratings.
Do whatever you need to do, and get Firefly back on Television. It’s where it belongs. I’ve had it up to here with Crime dramas. I love CSI, but enough is enough. What are there now, 10 or 12 different prime time slots a week with cops catching the bad guys? Talk about mindless copycat programming.
The only thing resembling anything sci-fi/fantasy is some show on the WB about ghosts and ghoulies.
Bleh… I’m don’t ranting… y’all get the point.
Firefly needs to be a TV series again. It’s where it belongs, plain and simple.
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I'd prefer to see a revival of the TV series too, but I was more than happy with Serenity. Different medium, different take on things.
Please don't let the events in the movie get you down. Joss Whedon is known for this sort of thing, and he probably would have done something similar by now had Firefly lasted this long.
You really should edit your post to put the word "Spoilers" in your subject line -- there are visitors here from places where Serenity hasn't opened yet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ain't about you, Jayne. It's about what they need.
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I agree 100% that Firefly belongs on TV. Serenity was great, but the pace of a movie is so hurried that there just isn't enough time for all of the little things that worked so well on Firefly. I am a relatively new fan and it is interesting how passionate people are about this story whether they have been with it since the beginning or just watched the first episode.
All of these fans seem to be asking for the same thing... Continue the story. Please.
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Well being that all nine actors signed on for 2 sequels (if we get any), I'm guessing it's not just because they didn't want to be involved anymore.
And DAMN. Must we have a thread for every breast-beater and teeth-gnasher to whinge about Wash and Book dying?
________________________________________________________________________
I wish I had a magical wish-granting plank.
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It took me only a weeks to fall completly in love with Serenity and Firefly. It also took only a few days to become an addict, and now Wash and Book's death just caught up with me.
I'm now really bitter; not about Wash or Book's death, but about the whole Firefly series.
I'm bitter because I've been in this forum all week reading everything (plus all the archived stuff) you nice people have been writing about Firefly and Serenity for a long period of time, and I feel real sorry for all of you.
I'm bitter because 98% of you are as passionate about this strange tv series like I am, and you take no prisoners letting everyone else know exactly how you feel about it not being on the air anymore, and for this I have a big heart for all of you.
I'm bitter because the networks allowed this gem of a show to get yanked off the air, and I'm especially bitter at Josh for starting this whole thing, and not fighting hard enough for it.
I really became bitter at Josh when I watched the interview on The Making of Firefly that's included on the Complete Series DVD. He didnt seem like he really GOT that he had created a major fan base; he didnt seem to realize that those 14 episodes that he made, made a differences to the lives of a lot of people.
He didnt seem to get that he created a world that we all felt comfortable watching, and then he allowed it to be taken away from us; How can he sleep at night?
This writer and director Josh, he may be smart, and he may be creative, but I dont think he has a backbone what so ever in him and I suspect he's gonna go to that "special hell" reserved for writers who make good tv series, and then allow other people to take it away from the fans.
**Emotional-Mode Activated** We are fans for gorram's sakes! Why doesnt anyone listen to us? Isnt it about what WE want?
I came to the conclusion this morning that they are never going to give us a tv series about Firefly ever again; not ever, so all the posts going on here in this forum, is in vsin.
You and I are wasting our time because, if you havent figured it out yet, STUPID shows get played forever on tv. Intelligent shows have a short life span.
This whole mess reminds me of Sliders. The 1st 2 seasons were great, and then here comes the network executives and their divine wisdom! They thought that the characters on the show acted like too much of a family, so they added some new woman into the cast, and by the 3rd season, our lovable characters were at each others throats; thats what killed Sliders off for me.
They fucked up Sliders so bad that towards the end, it was a show only for idiots.
Firefly struck a chord in me, it was familar in some way and it was comforting. It made me imagine, and hope, and yes, even cry, which is RARE for one such as myself.
All the characters (even Jayne) grabbed my attention and held it for the entire duration of the show, and even after the show, I found myself thinking about the characters which is also rare with me.
I don't think I have anything good to say about Josh at this point. I know he's a big thing to the people on this forum, but for me, all he did was made a really great show, captured my heart, and then slammed the door; i'd like to kick his azz for that.
Josh should be sent to that planet in Firefly, where those people were going to burn River and Simon at the stake for being a witch. They should also have had Josh all tied up at a stake right next to River and Simon in the same scene, and then they would tell Josh that his crime was the worst of all crimes. His crime was giving people false hope, and then they would light him up.
Yes, I am very Bitter! We are not going to get anymore episodes people, so stop writing here. The networks don't care if we love this show, they only care about putting stupid shows on because there are a lot of idiots out there who like stupid shows, and these network executives know it...thats where their profit comes from.
If by accident they decided to bring back the show, they will rape i
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I'm...detecting some negativity here, am I wrong?
Browncoats have done the impossible, and will do so again. Joss does what he does, no sayin' you have to love it. Firefly was Joss' child, and he fought as hard as he could- and she's still flying.
Chill- and put on Jaynestown again.
I liked Sliders too Chrisisall
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Quote:
Originally posted by RiveR6213:
I really became bitter at Josh when I watched the interview on The Making of Firefly that's included on the Complete Series DVD. He didnt seem like he really GOT that he had created a major fan base; he didnt seem to realize that those 14 episodes that he made, made a differences to the lives of a lot of people.
He didnt seem to get that he created a world that we all felt comfortable watching, and then he allowed it to be taken away from us; How can he sleep at night?
This writer and director Josh, he may be smart, and he may be creative, but I dont think he has a backbone what so ever in him and I suspect he's gonna go to that "special hell" reserved for writers who make good tv series, and then allow other people to take it away from the fans.
I was there...trust me, Joss (his name is Joss) knew that he had fans, as devoted to the show as he was. And believe me, he did try to keep Firefly alive - I mean, hell, that's why we got a movie.
I know, it sucks for your favorite show that's no more. But hey, it's better to have loved and lost...
Also, don't be so confident we're not getting anymore Firefly. I was there, when the show was first cancelled - and many people then were saying it was over for good. They'd talk about the charctors in past-tense, and I'd correct them. Now, again, people are saying it's over. But again, I don't believe that.
-Steve
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Quote:Um, first of all, I'm a little doubtful of how closely you were watching the documentary since it's Joss, not "Josh." As for whether Joss knew knew he had created this big fanbase, let's turn to what the man himself has said:
Originally posted by RiveR6213:
I really became bitter at Josh when I watched the interview on The Making of Firefly that's included on the Complete Series DVD. He didnt seem like he really GOT that he had created a major fan base; he didnt seem to realize that those 14 episodes that he made, made a differences to the lives of a lot of people.
...
This writer and director Josh, he may be smart, and he may be creative, but I dont think he has a backbone what so ever in him and I suspect he's gonna go to that "special hell" reserved for writers who make good tv series, and then allow other people to take it away from the fans.
Message before the film at the pre-screenings (you know, the pre-screening Joss pressured the studio to hold for the fans because the movie date got pushed back, the ones attended mostly by the fans, the ones Joss himself attended so he could be with the fans?):
Quote:Post on the Universal Board responding to a CHUD article
Hi, my name is Joss Whedon. Before we begin the special screening, I have a little story I want to tell you. It's about a TV show called Firefly.
Firefly went on the air a few years ago and was instantly hailed by critics as one of the most canceled shows of the year. It was ignored and abandoned and the story should end there, but it doesn't, because the people who made the show and the people who saw the show (which is...roughly...the same number of people) fell in love with it a little bit...too much to let it go, too much to lay down arms when the battle looked pretty much lost. In Hollywood, people like that are called 'unrealistic' ... 'quixotic' ... 'obsessive'.
In my world, they're called 'Browncoats'.
Whether you've watched the show, or saw the DVD's, or whether you've never set foot in the Firefly universe before tonight, the fact that you're here means that you are part of something...something that is a little bit remarkable. This movie should not exist. Failed TV shows don't get made into major motion pictures unless the creator, the cast, and the fans believe beyond reason.
It's what I've felt. It's what I've seen...in the DVD sales, the booths at the cons run by fans, the websites, the fundraisers... all the work the fans have done to help make this movie. It is, in an unprecedented sense, your movie...which means, if it sucks, it's your fault. You let us down, but let's not dwell on your failures because the work is not done.
I have to finish making it. Obviously not quite the final cut and you will notice some placeholders in music and effects, but we're very close. Once we are finished, we have to get people to see it. Now, obviously the studio is going to do their thing. There will be ads and trailers and all that joy, but this movie doesn't have stars and it doesn't have a giant mega-budget or even a simple salable premise. What it has is us, the people who believed unreasonably.
If this movie matters to you, let somebody know. Let everybody know. Make yourselves heard. If you don't like the movie, this is a time for quiet, silent contemplation. But, when the unfinished credits roll, if you still call yourself a Browncoat, remember the millions of people who don't...who might.
I want us to do this together. The cast is going to be appearing wherever they can. I'm going to be blogging and stumping and whatever I can think of. We've got Can'tStopTheSignal.com up and running...I'm fairly certain. We're all doing everything we can to make this the event that it should be.
Just remember, they tried to kill us...they did kill us...and here we are. We have done the impossible, and that makes us mighty. Thank you for helping to get this movie as far as it has gotten.
Welcome to Serenity.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Causal:
And DAMN. Must we have a thread for every breast-beater and teeth-gnasher to whinge about Wash and Book dying?
Actually, yes, because everyone has a right to their own opinion.
Look, I don't have a problem with characters being written out. I understand that Joss tried to cram a whole season into a 2 hour movie. I've read about rumors here that Wash was possibly going to be written out anyway.
My only beef is that going from a TV series to a movie format is generally not that great of an idea. The sound is better, the characters are bigger, and the explosions are "in your face", but it's still TV on the big screen.
I left the theater with the feeling that I has just watched episode 15, that happened to be 2 hours long. I loved the movie. Honestly I really did. Some people are going to pick it apart until there is nothing left of the plot line.
For instance, many people seem to think that Mal would never have let the bad guy live. I tend to disagree, because in the first 14 episodes, there are several occasions where Mal did let the bad guy live. It's open for debate.
My only pet peeve is that I spent 14 episodes getting used to the crew. That's half a season worth. And in episode 15 two of my favorite characters get mowed down.
I don't recall any of Buffies friends getting waxed in the first few seasons. Not the core people at any rate. Same thing goes for Angel. So telling me that Joss has a habbit of writing out people to thicken the plot doesn't quite fly with me.
If any of you havn't done so, I strongly recomend buying the TV series DVD's of Firefly and watching the extra material on DVD #4. Although I'm sure the interviews are a few years old, the feeling that you get from them is amazing in my opinion.
Look, all I was trying to say above, and what I'm trying to convey here, is that I'd much rather see weekly episodes of Firefly than any more Serenity movies. In my humble opinion the siver screen just doesn't do the storyline and characters justice.
And the family of 10 (ship included) just became a family of 8 in one episode. I loved the Wash character because he made me laugh, so anyone who isn't sad to see him go just doesn't get Firefly at all in my opinion. And to lose Book, well, as I stated above, I found him to be quite possibly the most ingriguing out of the 9, and if you think I'm upset because now I'll most likely never know the secrets I've been guessing about, just think how Jayne must feel. Hell, just about every episode Jayne made some statement inquiring about Book's past.
So asking me or telling me to "get over it" won't do anything for me. You have every right to agree or disagree with anytying I say. And I reserve the right to feel less than happy about one or two things I didn't like about the movie.
Lastly, please don't hi-jack this thread. If I wanted it to be a thread about the correct spelling of Joss's first name or what he could or couldn't have done doing battle most grevious with the Fox exec's I would have written it as such. This is just my point of view of why it's not always a good idea to turn a TV series into a movie format, or trying to squeeze 20+ episodes of storyline into 2 hours worth of big screen action.
So thanks in advance.
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Elghin, I think some folks are just so used to seeing new "I hate Serenity" threads these days that they weren't really paying much attention to what you in particular were writing.
I think just about everybody: browncoats, Joss, even the actors (from what I'm heard Alan and Ron will be back on screen, somehow) all think it would be better to tell the story on TV. But right now, all Joss has got to work with are movies and if he has to choose between telling the story in a medium slightly less suited for it and not telling it at all, I think we know which side he errs on. I'd love for some sort of resurrection on TV, but right now that's up to FOX. And I don't trust those 
bastards father than I can throw them--a distance I hope to someday determine.
As for this comment, though:
Quote:In the first season of "Angel," Whedon kills off a third of the cast before the season's half done. And he's said he wanted to kill a cast member in the first few episodes of Buffy, but couldn't get the network to promote a guest star to the cast for just a couple episodes (remember Jesse? He was supposed to be a cast member). Both times, I feel it was very effective, but that's my opinion.
I don't recall any of Buffies friends getting waxed in the first few seasons. Not the core people at any rate. Same thing goes for Angel. So telling me that Joss has a habbit of writing out people to thicken the plot doesn't quite fly with me.
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