war stories

POSTED BY: mirthmaster
UPDATED: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 04:52
VIEWED: 4595
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MIRTHMASTER

Monday, February 13, 2006 2:39 PM

i know this will be old news to many of you, but as a newbie who just purchased the firefly dvd, i have been rationing myself to one episode per day, and i just saw "war stories" for the first time. while i love every episode, and have to admit that the spirit of this one is a little different than anything else from the "verse", the multiple layers of meaning and premonition in the opening sequence about the teachings of the psycho dictator (shan yu is in my mind, but doesn't sound quite right, sorry). in the episode, each characters inner strength and values are revealed in the "test of fire", from Jaynes often misplaced loyalty, and i believe, almost worship of mal, to the stalwart nature of simon, the lethal inner core of book, who looks totally at home with a serious piece of killing machine (how good is he as an actor) and the uncertainity of kaylee, beside the more obvious reveals of mal, river, zoe, and wash. within the confines of a hour-long television episode, i am not sure that i have ever seen as much character development. "out of gas" has a wonderful structure and a neatness that is on par with other wonderful examples of that type of nested storytelling, but i am not sure that i have ever seen anything as subtle and significant as that episode. i am in awe of the people, both storytellers and actors, who brought to the screen what could be a simple tell of violence, evil, and revenge, and instead made it the starting point for much that was brought to fruition in the movie.

"its worse than you know"

"it usually is"

ELOISA

Monday, February 13, 2006 2:57 PM

I have the same response to that episode (90% certain now that it is my favourite) - especially with regards to Jayne's continuing character development. Going on the mission in WS despite having described it as suicidal is the first time he shows any real loyalty to Mal. A relic of Ariel? I think so.

***
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NUCLEARDAY

Monday, February 13, 2006 10:13 PM

I heartily agree, that's one of the more telling episodes, not to mention the fact that it revealed alot about all nine of the crew in that ep.

I could never pick a 'favorite' episode, but War Stories is certainly in the running simply for the "emotional rollercoaster" aspect. In the course of that one episode, you run the whole gamut from dark to darkly humorous, to downright hysterical, scary, touching, and downright awed, all at the same time. Great juxtapositions in that one.

As well as having some of my favorite moments. (Still crack up every time at the end where Zoe restrains the others from shooting the henchman. "This is something Mal has to do himself." "No it's not!" :)

GUTTERBALL

Monday, February 13, 2006 10:18 PM

I love watching War Stories with the commentary. Cracks me up to hear Wash and Mal talk about how Jayne never blinks when he shoots (they call Adam Baldwin a machine, heh) and how poor Wash had to keep asking how to look cool with a gun because he's sure he looks like a geek.

What a riot!

Yes, it's an excellent episode. One of my favorites, to be sure. I especially love how we finally get to see an inkling of the assassin that River was forced to be.

*BAM*BAM*BAM!*

No power in the 'Verse can stop her. And damn if she weren't serious!

________________________________________

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RYCE

Monday, February 13, 2006 10:46 PM

I've always wondered...what did Wash mean by "The whole "captain" thing isn't Zoe's trouble. It's the guy-she-never-slept-with thing"? I've never quite understood it.

No power in the 'verse can stop me!

GUTTERBALL

Tuesday, February 14, 2006 12:12 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Ryce:
I've always wondered...what did Wash mean by "The whole "captain" thing isn't Zoe's trouble. It's the guy-she-never-slept-with thing"? I've never quite understood it.

I took it to mean that Wash would rather believe that Zoe had unrequited feelings for Mal than that she simply follows him out of military loyalty. It's like, in the extremity of his pain, he'd rather believe she wanted the guy she never got than that she'd blindly, mindlessly follow someone.

But that was the torture talking. At that point, I think they were both just extrapolating worst case scenarios to keep their minds off the torture.

________________________________________

Please remember that the 9:30 show is completely different from the 7:30 show. Don't forget to tip your waitress.

GORBISHUN

Tuesday, February 14, 2006 1:03 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by GutterBall:
Quote:
Originally posted by Ryce:
I've always wondered...what did Wash mean by "The whole "captain" thing isn't Zoe's trouble. It's the guy-she-never-slept-with thing"? I've never quite understood it.

I took it to mean that Wash would rather believe that Zoe had unrequited feelings for Mal than that she simply follows him out of military loyalty. It's like, in the extremity of his pain, he'd rather believe she wanted the guy she never got than that she'd blindly, mindlessly follow someone.

But that was the torture talking. At that point, I think they were both just extrapolating worst case scenarios to keep their minds off the torture.

________________________________________

Please remember that the 9:30 show is completely different from the 7:30 show. Don't forget to tip your waitress.

Huh? I thought Wash meant that he wished Zoe had slept with Mal, just gotten it over with. That way it would be done and over, or in the past, or whatever. That way Zoe would presumably be "over it." There wouldn’t be the so-called "sexual tension."

Just what I took it to mean.

GUTTERBALL

Tuesday, February 14, 2006 1:08 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Gorbishun:
I thought Wash meant that he wished Zoe had slept with Mal, just gotten it over with. That way it would be done and over, or in the past, or whatever. That way Zoe would presumably be "over it." There wouldn’t be the so-called "sexual tension."

There ya go! In under 50 words, exactly what I tried to talk around. Heh. I went too in-depth.

Sorry!

________________________________________

Please remember that the 9:30 show is completely different from the 7:30 show. Don't forget to tip your waitress.

GORBISHUN

Tuesday, February 14, 2006 1:27 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by GutterBall:
There ya go! In under 50 words, exactly what I tried to talk around. Heh. I went too in-depth.

Sorry!

________________________________________

Please remember that the 9:30 show is completely different from the 7:30 show. Don't forget to tip your waitress.

Thanks, I'm glad I could simplify things. For a second there I was confused.

GUTTERBALL

Tuesday, February 14, 2006 1:46 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Gorbishun:
For a second there I was confused.

*sheepish* Yeah, I'm good at that. Being confusing.

'S my specialty. I hear some people wash feet....

________________________________________

Please remember that the 9:30 show is completely different from the 7:30 show. Don't forget to tip your waitress.

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