Firefly Show Bible?

POSTED BY: CaptBaggytrousers
UPDATED: Saturday, March 25, 2006 22:55
VIEWED: 39496
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CAPTBAGGYTROUSERS

Wednesday, June 25, 2003 7:09 PM

Well, yes, but I'm not trying to be one in this instance. More of a wiseass.

Just remember what happened when when River took the symbols out of context: they turned into paper.

History repeats the old conceits

CHRISTHECYNIC

Wednesday, June 25, 2003 7:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by CaptBaggytrousers:
What, mistranslated from Hebrew and Latin? Most likely.

History repeats the old conceits

Oh what I would give for a good translation, as they go from older texts, and less biased translations it becomes vastly different. The origin of the term Lucifer is not in reference to a fallen angel but rather a Babylonian prince (the term is Latin, but the Hebrew text it was put in is about a Babylonian prince.) There are almost no references to Hell (perhaps none at all), it never says Judas betrayed Jesus, and it does say Jesus asked Judas to die with him (Judas later commits suicide.) It goes on like that, it is really quite fascinating.

Anyway, a show bible would be very fun. It would probably include things like Book’s past, and the extent (and thus limits of) River’s psychic abilities.

What’s this about a map? Anyone have any more information?

CAPTBAGGYTROUSERS

Wednesday, June 25, 2003 7:33 PM

Thanks for the heads up on those Biblical discrepencies, Chris. I'd never heard those. Very interesting.

As for a Firelfy bible, I don't think it would go into unrevealed backstories on the characters. The few writer's bibles I've read have been a good deal more general. It would more likely be things we Browncoats, having seen every episode, would already be aware of. What interests me is how characters and situations might have originally been conceived and how they changed with the influence of production and the actors who played them. Also it would possibly settle the "one star system or many?" debate once and for all.

History repeats the old conceits

CHRISTHECYNIC

Wednesday, June 25, 2003 9:35 PM

Well it would have to say the extent of what Book could know/reveal, but probably in general terms.

I think it would have to go into depth about River, there have to be rules about psychics, for example can she see the future? We haven’t seen solid evidence that she can (we’ve seen evidence that she might, but nothing solid) so a writer has to know if she can see the future. We’ve seen limits to what she can tell (she didn’t know Simon would jump Jubal) so there have to be rules governing what a write can and can’t have her do, which would be in the bible.

CHANNAIN

Thursday, July 10, 2003 6:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by christhecynic:
Well it would have to say the extent of what Book could know/reveal, but probably in general terms.

I think it would have to go into depth about River...

Oh, you'd be surprised how little the writer's bibles for a TV series actually reveal about the characters. Mainly, so that WHEN some enterprising soul releases it on the internet, it won't reveal anything about where the ultimate story arch (if any) is going--but that's just my theory. I've seen fan fic writers guides with more guts to them.

Considering how bare bones they are, I'm thinking the "bibles" are initially written at the start of a show as a base of reference and launching point for the writers. After that, the writers keep their own journals with more detailed information, or just store it in their heads. Maybe Joss is the bible - as in he's the only one who really knows how it's going to turn out. Chances are pretty good the writers were just making it up as they went along, working with past info, then waiting for the big reveal at the writers meeting when Joss sits down with them and says "yes do that...no...definitely no...yes, but not yet."

I found the way, by the sound of your voice--so many things to say.
These are only words. Now I've only words. Once there was a choice.
David Sylvian

MANIACNUMBERONE

Thursday, July 10, 2003 9:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by christhecynic:
Quote:
Originally posted by CaptBaggytrousers:
What, mistranslated from Hebrew and Latin? Most likely.

History repeats the old conceits

Oh what I would give for a good translation, as they go from older texts, and less biased translations it becomes vastly different. The origin of the term Lucifer is not in reference to a fallen angel but rather a Babylonian prince (the term is Latin, but the Hebrew text it was put in is about a Babylonian prince.) There are almost no references to Hell (perhaps none at all), it never says Judas betrayed Jesus, and it does say Jesus asked Judas to die with him (Judas later commits suicide.) It goes on like that, it is really quite fascinating.

Anyway, a show bible would be very fun. It would probably include things like Book’s past, and the extent (and thus limits of) River’s psychic abilities.

What’s this about a map? Anyone have any more information?

Do you believe what you write?

CHRISTHECYNIC

Thursday, July 10, 2003 10:52 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by ManiacNumberOne:
Do you believe what you write?

In what regard? Are you talking about what I said about Lucifer? Lucifer means Venus (also known as the morning star) in Latin. Or are you talking about Jesus and Judas? It never says that Judas betrayed Jesus, that doesn’t mean he didn’t. It just means that it never says it. What it says is something more akin to “hand over”, and seeing as how it was Jesus’ plan (in accordance with prophecies and god’s plan) to be handed over that might mean that it wasn’t a betrayal. Which is not to say that it wasn’t, no one can possibly know what was going through the minds’ of Jesus and Judas.

The next bit is where Jesus said spoke of the cup of death, and asked if any of the others would drink it with him, none said yes but they all died. Of course Jesus didn’t ask Judas to kill himself, it never says that. In fact the only thing that it does say that we can really use to interpret this situation one way or the other is that Jesus called Judas friend, Judas was the only one to get this honor (might not be in certain translations.) On the other hand he could have been being ironic or sarcastic.

That’s it.

Thirty pieces of silver was necessary, he had to take them in accordance with the laws of the time (funny law, I would think that if someone didn’t want to be paid it would be no problem) and he gave them back.

So what are you asking?

I’ll try to answer even though I’m not totally sure.

I believe that the name Lucifer is in reference to a Babylonian prince.
I believe that more accurate translations of the Bible have fewer references to Hell, instead saying grave, Gehenna (a lush valley), or another word.
I believe that the Bible never explicitly says Judas betrayed Jesus. I chose to wait until I’m dead to decide if Judas really did betray Jesus.
I believe that Jesus asked if anyone else would be willing to die with him, not asking them to commit suicide but instead asking them to stand up for Christianity rather than deny involvement like Peter did.

I think that covers everything.

Now might be a good time to add that I’m a dirty heathen who thinks that God doesn’t really care which religion, if any, someone believes in. I think that god lets us believe what we will believe and is more concerned with who we are, and what kind of a person we are. I believe that the Bible is right when it says that god does not want one to be lost, and I think god gets what he (or she or it) wants. I can’t conceive of how some can be rehabilitated, Hitler and Stalin come to mind, but I think god can do it, and will.

Back to the topic of the thread, I guess you guys are right, they would have if be very bare bones if at all. It probably was a situation of going up to Joss and asking if you’re not sure about something. It just seems to me like you would have to know things like say Book doesn’t know about government things that are this recent, or River can’t see into the future. You know just basic guidelines that might give some idea of the background. But it looks like you guys know more about this than me so I’ll take you word.

If there is a bible what do you think would be in it? It’s my understanding that for a Sci Fi show it usually has technical stuff, but Firefly doesn’t really get into that much.

IGNATIUSREILLY

Saturday, July 19, 2003 3:13 AM

I thought Gehenna was the smouldering rubbish heap outside Jerusalem.

CHRISTHECYNIC

Monday, July 21, 2003 5:56 AM

Nope, it's nice now. There was a prophecy that said it would become nice, that makes me wonder even when I’m in an atheistic stupor.

UTHER55

Tuesday, October 7, 2003 5:24 AM

Interesting.

I'm in the process of preparing to suggest a Firefly Play by E-mail Game to an online SciFi Group I frequent. I've JUST started to go episode by episode to write a "Roleplayers Guide". I'm thinking for most people, the show wasn't on long enough for all the terminology to be as familiar as say Star Trek (to the average fan, anyway).

By the way, for anyone that doesn't know, a PBeM game is basically team fan fiction with each person controlling one character. Very fun.

Anyway, I hope to glue together a list of terms, points of interest, blah blah blah so that people that aren't HARD CORE fans can still play. Anyone know if a thing like that already exists?

And in addition to here, I'll check out those sites somebody suggested. Thanks. :)

Quality Firefly Play By E-Mail Sim on the way at:

www.slasims.com/tenforward

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