Ok, I'm a NOOB, and I'm hooked on Firefly

POSTED BY: Jayhawk35
UPDATED: Wednesday, November 9, 2005 04:06
VIEWED: 7280
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JAYHAWK35

Tuesday, November 8, 2005 1:57 AM

I'm sure the old timers around this site, and others like it have heard it all before a thousand times, but I just had to drop out of lurking like I've been for the past week or so to share the joy I've discovered from watching Firefly the past couple of weeks.

When Sci-Fi started plugging Firefly a few months back, a buddy and I were sitting to together, watching Tripping the Rift when the promos started for Firefly. I asked my friend what Firefly was, because I had never heard of it before (or at least paid any attention to it), and he explained that he too had just learned that it was this TV show that was cancelled, but had this humongous following, and its following was so big, that they were about to release a movie of it. He hadn't seen Firefly either, but said he planned on checking it out. A few weeks later, he was loaning me the Firefly DVD set he'd aquired, and told me I had to watch it.

Well, I'm now on episode 13, and I'm a little hesitant and sad to put in the last episode, because I know that with the exception of Serenity the movie, Firefly will be over, and I'll have nothing exciting awaiting me when I come home each night. Everyday for the past couple of weeks, the highlight of my day was coming home from work and sitting down with the lights turned down, stereo cranked up in dolby surround (where's the 5.1 mix?), and the big screen fired up for my nightly "fix" of Firefly. The show just blew me away. My wife, who can barely stay awake, and who is pregnant and will deliver next Monday the 14th, is too tired to stay awake and watch it with me. She's tried a couple of times, but she always falls asleep. She's never been a Sci-Fan, and doesn't really get it anyway. She asked me the other day, while I was on one of my "What a great show Firefly is" rants what I thought was so great about it. I had to stop and think of a way to really say and decide just what it was/is that makes Firefly so special. I finally decided that one of the things I like most about it is the sense of commeradery. My first love was the original Star Trek series, and I always felt that the reason I liked it so was because of the relationship between Kirk, Spock and McCoy. Any of those three would do ANYTHING for one of the other three without batting any eye, and every episode seemed to include some plot that required these three to put their lives on the line for one of the others, no matter the cost to their reputation or careers. Their friendship was the most important thing in their lives, and everything else was secondary. Alas, along came the NEXT GENERATION of Star Trek, and its successors, but non of them seemed to recapture this lighting in a bottle, or even attempt to implement this aspect of the original series that made it so great.

Firefly, while not the same as Star Trek, contains many of those some qualities that I found so endearing. Mal is a rough and tumble guy, but he'd do just about anything for any member of his crew, no matter what the cost, and obviously, his crew would and did the same for him when he needed help. His rag-tag crew is/was a family, and they really had this "no man gets left behind" mentality. Oh sure, Jayne was always ready to turn on Simon and River, but when he did, Mal made sure that he knew where he was coming from, and to never go behind his back again, and I believe Jayne got the message loud and clear.

One thing that I really like about Firefly that separates it from the likes of Star Trek and Star Wars is the look of 500 years into the future. Star Trek and Star Wars always made the future to be some spotless anal-retentive era where nobody has a hair out of place, and the uniforms are inevitably white like the storm troopers. Firefly breaks this mold and portrays the future as a much harder time, similar to the old west where people were struggling to survive in many areas.

The biggest regret that I have after watching these episodes is that I came into this without seeing Serenity at the theater on the big screen. With my wife in the state she's in,

EMBERS

Tuesday, November 8, 2005 2:11 AM

Welcome JayHawk...
I hope you have made it to the movie, because it probably won't be in theaters too much longer....

but don't despair:
You'll find that rewatching 'Firefly' is really good, and rewatching 'Serenity' is better than the first time!

But also there are some items you have probably missed;
check out my signiture and check out:
1. the River Tam interviews from the Academe

2. the comic books by Dark Horse called 'Serenity' (set of 3) they are still available from midtown comics in Manhattan, they'll ship

3. there is an incredible book, Joss Whedon's 'Serenity: the Official Visual Companion' includes the shooting script (w/scenes not in the film) as well as all kinds of production notes and art...

okay, maybe that last item is only for the true fanatic, but it is really sweet!

enjoy!

**********************************************
watch the R. Tam Session vids: http://www.hittarivertam.nu/
and buy the 'Serenity' comics published by Dark Horse,
and have you joined the Browncoats yet?
http://browncoats.serenitymovie.com/serenity/?fuseaction=tools.invlink
&u=embers&linkID=36

RIVERGODDESS

Tuesday, November 8, 2005 2:26 AM

Hey! Looks like I'm not the only NOOB here. I, too have just come out of lurking. Saw Serenity two Thursdays ago. (went to the late show on a school night, and dragged my dad because I was so excited, the movie previews alone blew me away! Well worth arrving home at 1 a.m.) Well, I did my research on Firefly, found this site, and really haven't left it, other than to watch the entire series this weekend after buying it friday night! There goes my paycheck!

I have found that Firefly, though short-lived, has become my most treasured TV show. Ever. I quote it now everyday, and plan on converting all my friends sometime one weekend.

Serenity. Wow, that movie was astounding. I'm counting down the days until the DVD, and until then I plan on seeing at few more times in the theater.

Glad to have joined the Browncoats! What an awesome community!

DAISYDANA

Tuesday, November 8, 2005 2:46 AM

I am right there with you! I bought the DVD set last weekend and finished in two days! I couldn't stop watching it. I fully understand the "pain" of realizing you're at the end of the set.

I've now watched all the episodes with commentary and am re-watching fave episodes. My friends are wondering where the heck I've been the past week! Ha!

I feel funny saying "Welcome" to the Firefly world when I've only been here a few days, but you will find these are the friendliest bunch on the net! No "looking down" on the new Browncoats! That has made the discovery of Firefly even better! You will love it here!

"Good night. Don't let the spacebugs bite!"
- Kaylee

BRAVESIRROBIN

Tuesday, November 8, 2005 3:01 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by embers:

3. there is an incredible book, Joss Whedon's 'Serenity: the Official Visual Companion' includes the shooting script (w/scenes not in the film) as well as all kinds of production notes and art...

okay, maybe that last item is only for the true fanatic, but it is really sweet!

A little story about purchasing the Visual Companion since I originally had no intention of buying it...

A week ago, I was ordering "Finding Serenity" and the upcoming Firefly soundtrack on amazon.com and decided to look around at some of the other Firefly/Serenity stuff. I had looked at the Serenity soundtrack, but it had pretty mixed reviews so I decided not to buy it. I also looked at the Visual Companion and noticed that the reviews were very positive. I figured since people weren't shy about criticizing the Serenity soundtrack then the Visual Companion must be really good. I bought it and agree that it's really sweet.

I definitely recommend the Visual Companion, though it's probably more of a 'nice to have' item.

CHINDI

Tuesday, November 8, 2005 3:05 AM

Glad to meetcha all... remember dinner is at 1800 hours and no need to dress!

I add my welcome and my agreement that those little dvds contain HOURS of re watching pleasure.. whenever I need to escape this reality.. and when the puppet theater sucks (which is way too often) I have a place I can go.. and it gives Serenity.

Chindi

FOLLOWMAL

Tuesday, November 8, 2005 3:14 AM

Welcome, Jayhawk35!

You are gonna love it here.

Being a Browncoat is like coming home. That's the best way I know to describe it.

'Cause how you get there is the worthier part. - Book

DARKJESTER

Tuesday, November 8, 2005 3:19 AM

Welcome JayHawk! Pull up a chair and set a spell!

I'm one of the older-timers, saw the series when it aired on Fox. Don't worry, we want to hear how new people came to love the 'verse like we do, especially when they are as detailed and eloquent as you. We ALL, old and new alike, know the pain you are feeling at coming to the end of "new" Firefly. But like Spider Robinson says, "Shared pain is lessened, and shared joy is increased."

And if you are unlucky enough to miss Serenity in the theaters, the DVD is being released December 20th. Not too long to wait!

Again, welcome!

MAL "You only gotta scare him."
JAYNE "Pain is scary..."

JOSSISAGOD

Tuesday, November 8, 2005 3:34 AM

Welcome,
You don't need to see Serenity BEFORE you finish Firefly, in fact FINISH Firefly THEN go see Serenity if it's still playing in your area! although Serenity was set up so that you didn't have to see Firefly to get Serenity.

JOSSISAGOD,

"Dammit Mal, I forgot my line!" Adam/Jayne-Firefly outtakes

RIVER6213

Tuesday, November 8, 2005 4:00 AM

Welcome Jayhawk35!

This is the best place for a new Firefly fan! The people are nice, interesting, and very intelligent. The topics regarding our connected obsession is very involved, and its just what the doctor ordered, so welcome aboard, post away, and keep watching Firefly!

:)

I threw up on your bed...

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