Watched Serenity (pilot) again last night...

POSTED BY: IndigoStarblaster
UPDATED: Friday, July 28, 2006 01:13
VIEWED: 4165
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INDIGOSTARBLASTER

Tuesday, July 25, 2006 3:36 PM

...and was blown away. Again.

What struck me this time was what a cool customer Simon was for most of the show, considering the stress he had to be under, and how conflicted Simon was over whether he would have to kill Dobson in order to protect River.

He hesitates and hesitates, and after Mal does Simon's shooting for him he's still frozen for a moment. It made for an interesting moment, because it wasn't played up for drama at all. It was just part of the normal conflict a civilian -- particularly a doctor with that "Do no harm" oath they have to take -- would have. People shoot and get shot on TV all the time (including on Firefly) so it was sort of an interesting reminder that killing someone isn't actually that easy... at least for some of us.

Incidentally, I'm watching the series again 'cause I just bought two more sets of the Firefly DVD, one for my brother, and one for someone else come Christmastime -- I'll decide then who. But I have to watch them both first, to make sure they're working okay before I give them as gifts :)

Indigo S.

LISSA37

Tuesday, July 25, 2006 3:42 PM

;) I like that plan... watching them to make sure they work.

You're right, though. It's hard to accept how easily some people (most of Serenity's crew) can just kill other people on TV.

It was a nice touch to show how much Simon struggled with it, yet it's done so subtley. I like that part.

I also like in "War Stories" when Kaylee can't shoot anyone, either. Her situation is a little more played-up (understandably), but it's still nice to see that not all of them are able to just go out there and shoot without much thought.

*****
"I'm a leaf on the wind..." - Wash

PENGUIN

Tuesday, July 25, 2006 3:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by IndigoStarblaster:
I just bought two more sets of the Firefly DVD, one for my brother, and one for someone else come Christmastime -- I'll decide then who. But I have to watch them both first, to make sure they're working okay before I give them as gifts :)

I like how you think!

THEMANTHEYCALLMATT

Wednesday, July 26, 2006 12:49 AM

Actually, watching before giving isn't a bad idea. My first copy was defective (playback gets derailed when Kaylee meets Book), and I stupidly bought it from a store with a "no returns" policy. Luckily I picked up my second copy on sale 60% off from Amazon.

J6NGO1977

Wednesday, July 26, 2006 11:52 AM

JOss puts that seed in your head making you think SImon is a bad guy when you first see him.

SPACEANJL

Wednesday, July 26, 2006 1:11 PM

The creepy little Dracula eyeglasses?

I like the fact that not everyone can just off people. Soldiers and mercenaries can.

Off point here - but Wash is quite handy with firearms, too, even though he's a peaceful guy.

INDIGOSTARBLASTER

Thursday, July 27, 2006 7:48 PM

Every copy I've seen gets at least slightly blippy about 23 minutes into the pilot (right when Kaylee is saying "I'm Kaylee"). One never got back on track, one recovered within a beat, the one I watched earlier this week took about 7 seconds to get back on track. It's a shame, and I'm not sure how or when they'll correct it.

Re: making us think he's a bad guy -- Simon's crisp diction is also kinda off-puttin' :)

Indigo S.

DUG

Thursday, July 27, 2006 8:18 PM

Yeah. the pilot was masterfully written so that there was no telling who the baddie is.

Of course that was kinda ruined by airing airing all of the eps they were going to run before the pilot. Kinda took all of the punch out of guessing who the baddie was. Jayne putting Mal in the crosshairs right after being offered a bribe would have been a bit stressful if I hadn't already seen 2 handfuls of episodes with Mal walking about.

Once again, please remaind the people at f@x that I hold a grudge, please.

THEMANTHEYCALLMATT

Friday, July 28, 2006 1:13 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by IndigoStarblaster:
Every copy I've seen gets at least slightly blippy about 23 minutes into the pilot (right when Kaylee is saying "I'm Kaylee"). One never got back on track, one recovered within a beat, the one I watched earlier this week took about 7 seconds to get back on track. It's a shame, and I'm not sure how or when they'll correct it.

Yup, that's the spot. The one I had never got back on track after that point, I had to quit and restart at a point just after that.

I can happily report, however, that the copy I bought from Amazon works perfectly.