The Order According to Joss and Tim

POSTED BY: Sarahetc
UPDATED: Monday, July 28, 2003 00:41
VIEWED: 13560
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MAYFAE

Tuesday, July 15, 2003 6:34 AM

-hello
-i am new to the board and unspoiled on the unaired episodes, would someone who has seen them all be so kind as tell me what order to watch them in? i've gotten my ep files from a source where 'the message' was labeled with both 15 & 13, and i think i even saw an eleven ..and googling episode guides has gotten me nothing but conflicting orders...
i'm all hyped about having new ffs to watch ...but they're only new once so i really want the optimum viewage sequence
-please help

-farscape-roswell-alias-firefly-SFU-DLM-angel-

-in that order.

SHINY

Tuesday, July 15, 2003 2:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by mayfae:
-hello
-i am new to the board and unspoiled on the unaired episodes, would someone who has seen them all be so kind as tell me what order to watch them in?

Well, if you read all of the above posts, you'll see that there's little consensus on the issue, except that you definitely want to watch Trash before The Message. Where Heart of Gold goes is a matter if intense debate, even after reported attempts at clarification by Joss/Tim. I suggest you decide based on how you would like the last episode to end -- if you want more of a cliffhanger, OMG what's going to happen, DAMMIT WHY DID THE GORRAM BASTARDS AT FOX CANCEL THIS AWESOME SHOW, I WANT TO KNOW HOW THIS TURNS OUT kind of ending, watch Heart of Gold last. If you prefer something with a little less uncertainty and want to be left with the feeling that the crew is getting closer instead of threatening to fragment, then watch Heart of Gold first, then re-watch Objects in Space (and pretend that the beginning part is sufficient closure for the ending of Heart of Gold), followed by Trash and ending with The Message.

Just my $0.02

INVISIBLEGREEN

Wednesday, July 16, 2003 4:38 PM

It's very confusing, but let me try to explain it. Here is the order the episodes were produced in:

Serenity, Part 1
Serenity, Part 2
The Train Job
Bushwhacked
Shindig
Safe
Our Mrs. Reynolds
Jaynestown
Out of Gas
Ariel
War Stories
Heart of Gold
Objects in Space
Trash
The Message

However, FOX found the original pilot "Serenity" to be dull, so they aired it last, making Joss Whedon & Tim Minear write and shoot a new pilot (The Train Job). Tim Minear also made a decision to air "Shindig" and "Safe" after "Out of Gas" instead of after "Bushwhacked." As far as I know, neither Joss nor Tim has made a conclusive statement as to where these episodes belong chronologically. [Although you will notice that the "previously" segment of "Safe" contains a clip from "Our Mrs. Reynolds," suggesting that the episodes do occur after "Out of Gas." Also, "Ariel" seems to have been written to occur shortly after "Safe"]

The series was cancelled after "War Stories" aired. Knowing this, "Objects in Space" was aired last (before "Serenity"), leaving three episodes unaired in the US. However, production continued for a few more weeks, so these episodes were completed.

Tim Minear has clearly stated that the order of the last four episodes, regardless of production number, is:

Trash
The Message
Heart of Gold
Objects in Space

The previously segments on these episodes also suggest this order.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Those are the facts. Make from them what you will.

MAYFAE

Friday, July 18, 2003 7:07 PM

-thanks invisiblegreen and shiny, your advice is much appreciated
-i'm going to watch...
trash--->the message--->heartofgold--->objects

-yay, i have an order Thanks so much

-farscape-roswell-alias-firefly-SFU-DLM-angel-
-in that order.

VETERAN

Saturday, July 19, 2003 12:55 AM

"I think we can safely blame Fox for all of our woes. If they hadn't messed with Joss, messed with the intended order and cancelled the show, then we wouldn't be having these inconsistencies."

I raise a shot of JD to you... Well said! Hear hear!

SERGEANTX

Saturday, July 19, 2003 6:35 PM

This has been brought up before, but I was watching "The Message" last night, and got to thinking about Jayne's line concerning River being a "..mind-reading genius.." This line has been pointed out as a continuity error in light of the semi-official order of the last few shows: Trash, Message, Heart of Gold then Objects in Space. But I'm not sure it would really be seen this way if the episodes had been shown in the above order.

Consider the events that occurred in "Safe". It seems probable that Simon would have told the crew, at least some of them, about what happened and about what River was accused of. Most likely none of them would have believed that River was actually reading minds, but it might have been something they would have brought up in a joking manner. I'm thinking that this is the way Jayne was using the term "mind-reading genuis". It would have been a mild dig, as well as something that may have been on his mind, at least subconsciously, after the creepy threat River made in "Trash".

Then in "Objects in Space", Jayne seems shocked at the possiblity that River really reads minds. This makes sense if he'd just been teasing her before, making it that much more shocking that what he'd been teasing her about turned out to be true.... and that much more frightening to him in light of the threat.

If the change in OIS turns out to be the scene with Mal an Inara, as is expected, that would really be the only change needed to preserve continuity -- if you buy the above explanation.
What do you think?

SergeantX

"..and here's to all the dreamers, may our open hearts find rest." -- Nanci Griffith

VETERAN

Saturday, July 19, 2003 9:38 PM

When you consider Safe, it makes sense that the crew would at least have it in the back of their minds that River can read minds.

MELEAUX

Saturday, July 19, 2003 10:24 PM

Uhm,
It's just a tv show. I know I blasphem but com'on people.
I watch the episode I in the mood for.
Sheeze.

She understands, she doesn't comprehend

LUNATIKAT

Saturday, July 19, 2003 11:15 PM

Dear Sarahetc,
In regards to

Quote:
Originally posted by Sarahetc:
...1. Do you always make posts without reading previous posts?...4. When the DVDs come out, all should be made clear. Until then, just enjoy for sobbing out loud!...
Sarah

Am I right in thinking then, ma'am, that you're the one who can help me learn how to find old posts? I came a little late to this party and am only semi-savvy 'bout this kind o' thing. What if I wanted to read from post number one to post number current in sequential order? Is that even possible? Desirable?
Also, I was wondering about your name. Is that like Sarah, et cetera? Originally, my brain kept translating it like a telescoping of Sarah and heretic, which I still like even after putting my glasses on and learning my error, but which may not reflect anything of your persona.
Meanwhile, I'll just enjoy. Anybody know what the DVD will cost?

Lunatikat - afflicted with cats, with a small outbreak of pug

SUCCATASH

Sunday, July 20, 2003 2:24 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SergeantX:
It seems probable that Simon would have told the crew

Oh yeah, Sarge? Then why did Simon pretend River wasn't a reader in OiS? Mal said River is a reader and Simon said something like, "She's sensitive" and acted all innocent when they were all sitting together at the table.

I guess I just sort of blew your whole theory away, hope you're not mad. It's cool that you posted, you must be new, are you from England? Welcome, brother in War. It's great to have you here. The guy who runs this site is named Haken, that's about all you need to know. Enjoy your new Firefly experience. Shiny.

- Succatash

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