Who would have been the first character to die?

POSTED BY: Jahzara
UPDATED: Tuesday, February 3, 2004 01:16
VIEWED: 8421
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TALONPEST

Sunday, February 1, 2004 2:34 AM

I agree that they would all have survived the first season- they've all got stuff to do still. Inara may have temporarily left the ship, but I think the narrative would have followed her while she was off on her own.

If Joss were to kill someone off, it would likely be someone who doesn't have a specific job, like Wash, Simon, and Kaylee. Kill one of them, you just have to bring in someone else to do their job just to keep the ship flying, and that's pointless unless an actor wants out.

Mal is also presumably immune. That leaves Zoey, Jayne, Book, Inara, and River. As for who goes first, I'm going to say it'd be a tossup between Book and River. Both of them are pretty much one-trick ponies, and once their secrets are out you can't do much with them. Book is pretty replacable. Once you figure out who he really is, you can dump him for someone with a new story to tell.

In order for River's character to grow in any way, she'll have to gain more control over her faculties and ablities. And once she gets her act together... well, no power in the 'verse could stop her. And to quote Joss from the top of the page as I write this, "I wanted to do a show about people who are not 'super,' just working-class people, the people history steps on." That sure doesn't describe River.

STEVE580

Sunday, February 1, 2004 3:16 AM

Yeah, I'm sure Mal was on the show for good, just as Angel or Buffy were on 'Angel' and 'Buffy' for good.

REDJACK

Sunday, February 1, 2004 3:41 AM

I don't think any of the characters would have died in season one. This isn't the BUFFY-verse where people can be magically resusitated at the drop of a claddegh.

In the commentary both Joss and I think Tim Minear make referense to the notion that Inara planned to leave Serenity.

I imagine this would have come out of the internal conflict of her character who was least suited to the lifestyle of outlaw/smuggler/theives.

We spent the first season pretty much on the outside of the Alliance– getting only glimpses here and there.

If Inara leaves Serenity but not the show, we might have gotten more stories about her end of the social pool culminating with her return to the shipand, of course, to Mal.

The only character I feel is actually expendable is Simon but I doubt even he would have gotten killed.

The Price of Knowledge is Knowing.

VETERAN

Sunday, February 1, 2004 4:38 AM

Inara was obviously leaving Serenity. Whether her leaving was permenant or not, who really knows?

If you want to talk about expendable characters it might be interesting to find out who the original five characters were before Joss decided to expand the ensemble to nine.

STEVE580

Sunday, February 1, 2004 8:41 PM

Simon? Expendable? I disagree. Book, or Jayne, perhaps...even wash...but surely not Simon. For one, as someone mentioned, he's the doctor - his leaving would neccesetate(sp?) the arrival of a new doctor charactor. Also, his relation with River and Kaylee, and to a lesser extent, Mal and Jayne - I think he was too much a part of the ship to leave.

Besides, he's my favorite charactor!
-Steve

KALATHENA

Sunday, February 1, 2004 9:03 PM

Now you're talking about something different: LEAVING the show. Characters, even contract characters leave Joss shows all the times. Conflicts come up; actors decide to go on to other projects, etc. Just because they leave, however, does NOT mean they will be killed off.

Personally, I'd love to see Joss break his formula and actually kill off a contract character when the actor decides to leave the show. I just don't believe he'll ever do it. He's so obsessed with breaking TV formula that he doesn't even realize how much of his own that he's developed.

--Kala

RADHIL

Sunday, February 1, 2004 9:16 PM

That's probably exactly why he'd be killed - he's integral to quite a number of characters, especially Kaylee and River. And Josh has no better tool in his arsenal than putting his sweetest characters through hellish anguish.

As for replacement doctors, I notice in a few of the unaired scripts posted here that Inara was kinda becoming his de facto nurse...

Radhil Trebors
Persona Under Construction

TMURRIE

Sunday, February 1, 2004 10:36 PM

I don't believe anyone would have been killed at all in the first season. Or left, with the possible exception of Inara. Even though Joss loves to piss of his fans by killing a loved character, I think he loved the show much much more.

GWEILO

Monday, February 2, 2004 5:03 AM

I think the cast was picked to last. The relationships and potential relationships between them all led me to believe that they were all intended to stay with the show for a really long time. But then again… I never figured Doyle would kick the bucket after 10 some odd episodes, so what do I know?

What I’m willing to bet everyone here loves about Whedon is his ability to make you jump out of your seat and go: “WHAT?!?!”. Stare at the TV, mouth hanging open, blinking in disbelief and repeat that “what”, like a crazy person. (Suspect this may be why neighbours look at me funny. Thin walls…)

This is what makes me so &#%$€ about the cancellation of the series. They robbed us of another opportunity for Whedon to come up with something that none of us could have anticipated.

OPUSTHEPENGUIN

Monday, February 2, 2004 5:54 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by athertonwing:
Joss is happiest when his fans are pissed off at him,

This is why Joss himself arranged to have the show canceled. He'll bring it back. You'll see. ;-)

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