Cancellation as a Silver Lining: a Newbie's Take

POSTED BY: malinara21
UPDATED: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 07:50
VIEWED: 3542
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MALINARA21

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 6:20 AM

I must begin this (warning, rather long) post with a story. I sat down today to watch the newest episode of Chuck (Adam Baldwin's Agent Casey certainly has his Jayne moments). I consider myself a fan of the show, and have not missed an episode since its debut. The first season in particular was funny, sappy, and action-filled in just the right amounts. Agree or disagree if you wish, but that's just my opinion.

Today's episode, however, was rather weak. In fact, towards the finale of the episode, I found myself wishing the damn thing would just end. Now I know that TV shows, much like everything else in life, have their ups and downs, but this has been an ongoing trend in Chuck lately. Whether or not that show has jumped the shark is not what I want to discuss here. What I want to discuss is whether a similar phenomenon would've happened with our beloved Firefly, had we been fortunate enough to be blessed with more seasons.

I think we're all in agreement that Firefly was something special. With the possible exception of some episodes of Battlestar Galactica (and some would argue that that show, too, may have jumped the shark), I have never been so enthralled and endeared by a TV program. I cared for River and her trauma, laughed at Jayne and his often hilarious hijinx, and wished so very dearly (hopeless romantic that I am) that Mal and Inara would just allow themselves to fall in love.

Would Firefly have fallen victim to the same problem that has befallen Chuck? The episodes we were blessed with were great, but what if the next ten were not? Joss is a great writer, but what if, heaven forbid, he lost his passion for the universe and it showed in his writing? What if Firefly jumped the shark in its second season, perhaps after the revelation that Sheperd Book is, in fact, an alien from the planet Whedonon IV, sent from the future to eliminate River before she brings about the end of the Alliance?

My argument, thus, is this: that the cancellation of Firefly has a silver lining to it, and that is we never had to fear it jumping the shark. Do we pay more attention to fireworks or to desk lamps? Both provide light. The immortal desk lamp is steady and reliable, but the evanescent fireworks are captivating and enthralling.

I'd rather have the fireworks.

Obviously, the tragedy of the situation is that there are some stories which will never be told. The hopefully non-alien Sheperd Book will always remain a mystery (at least for now) and the sweeping Mal and Inara romance I long so dearly for will only take place in the realm of fanfic. But is this not also a gift? We have this world, these characters to play with, to imagine in this situation or that one. What will happen the next time Jayne's loyalty is tested? When Simon runs out of meds the second Zoe is shot? When the browncoats inevitably rise again? We can decide.

If there is consolation to be found in the fact that the show is no longer running, it is this: that Firefly will always burn brightly, simply because it never had a chance to burn out.

...man, I tend to ramble. Sorry.

BYTEMITE

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 6:45 AM

I suppose wondering whether Whedon would jump the shark with Firefly depends on whether you think he ever did so with Buffy or Angel, before.

I haven't seen Buffy or Angel, so I can't comment. I've heard good things about Buffy's run though.

And welcome! Long posts with lots of points are fun to discuss.

JONGSSTRAW

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 1:02 PM

It's always possible that Firefly might have run out of originality at some point after a few seasons, but the journey to that point would have been glorious.

A future reviewer might have described the 5th season of Firefly using an old Yogi Berra line : "Firefly is like pizza. When it's good, it's really, really good. And when it's bad, it's still pretty good."

RALLEM

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 1:54 PM

I don't know how Firefly would have jumped the shark in the future, but I concede it is possible. The thing I would have feared most was if the episodes began doubling back on themselves and they began looking similar in most ways. The thing is I believe Joss would have had an answer to that problem through foreshadowing and flashback, or some other plot devices he has in store. One way he could have prevented the episode from becoming too similar was to spend a season’s time developing the back stories for each character, but have the episodes weaved so that it didn’t get repetitive.

http://www.swyzzlestyx.com/index.html

ZZETTA13

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 3:39 PM

MalInara21, ironic but I have posted a fanfic here about that same thing. Here be a link below:

http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=21674&nid=30447

It is a satire of what could have happened if Firefly could have been revised and become the tv show of the future.

Now your question. Are we thankful for what we have gotten? I don’t think that there is a true blue browncoat member among us that wasn’t effected on an emotional level of the first and only season of FF. IF it had been allowed to continues where would we be now? Well that’s a big IF. The sin that has been committed and I think all browncoats agree is that there was no IF. There was just no MORE. The essence of what became of Firefly wasn’t in the power of the fans that held the love of the show so dear to their hearts. The power lay not even with Joss. It was given over to an uncaring entity that for love of anything other than money doomed the creative process. These same people that if Sh*T were for sale and made a lot of money would can their beloved “American Idol” and invest in a manure farm.

Are we glad for what we got ( one season of FF) you’re damn skippy we are, but at the same time we are pissed at what we did not get. A chance to become so sick of Firefly we would ( like the Romans) after 20 season regurgitate our discus of the long running tv program with a feather. The return of FF; will the moon be in the seventh house and Jupiter aligned with Mars again? Not sure, but a curse to those that in their own arrogant, mind-god thinking doomed everything about the creative process. They did not allow it to gain an audience, they did not allow it to saturate itself and make Joss the George Lucas of his day, and they thought Firefly and it’s fans (even future ones) would fade into the universe and crash like a light bug headed toward the light beam of a car in the darkness of the nights black. They were wrong!

I am a CHUCK tv fan also. I’m a registered board member. Got the same sn and everything. I agree with you on many points. I ain’t giving up on Chuck yet but I’m hoping that Chris and Josh come to understand what creative writing is all about and that fans “can” know what they are actually talking about. Maybe Adam can clue then in. Never stop learning.

Just the way I see it, Z

WASHNWEAR

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 3:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by malinara21:
I must begin this (warning, rather long) post with a story. I sat down today to watch the newest episode of Chuck (Adam Baldwin's Agent Casey certainly has his Jayne moments). I consider myself a fan of the show, and have not missed an episode since its debut. The first season in particular was funny, sappy, and action-filled in just the right amounts. Agree or disagree if you wish, but that's just my opinion.

Today's episode, however, was rather weak. In fact, towards the finale of the episode, I found myself wishing the damn thing would just end. Now I know that TV shows, much like everything else in life, have their ups and downs, but this has been an ongoing trend in Chuck lately. Whether or not that show has jumped the shark is not what I want to discuss here. What I want to discuss is whether a similar phenomenon would've happened with our beloved Firefly, had we been fortunate enough to be blessed with more seasons.

I think we're all in agreement that Firefly was something special. With the possible exception of some episodes of Battlestar Galactica (and some would argue that that show, too, may have jumped the shark), I have never been so enthralled and endeared by a TV program. I cared for River and her trauma, laughed at Jayne and his often hilarious hijinx, and wished so very dearly (hopeless romantic that I am) that Mal and Inara would just allow themselves to fall in love.

Would Firefly have fallen victim to the same problem that has befallen Chuck? The episodes we were blessed with were great, but what if the next ten were not? Joss is a great writer, but what if, heaven forbid, he lost his passion for the universe and it showed in his writing? What if Firefly jumped the shark in its second season, perhaps after the revelation that Sheperd Book is, in fact, an alien from the planet Whedonon IV, sent from the future to eliminate River before she brings about the end of the Alliance?

My argument, thus, is this: that the cancellation of Firefly has a silver lining to it, and that is we never had to fear it jumping the shark. Do we pay more attention to fireworks or to desk lamps? Both provide light. The immortal desk lamp is steady and reliable, but the evanescent fireworks are captivating and enthralling.

I'd rather have the fireworks.

Obviously, the tragedy of the situation is that there are some stories which will never be told. The hopefully non-alien Sheperd Book will always remain a mystery (at least for now) and the sweeping Mal and Inara romance I long so dearly for will only take place in the realm of fanfic. But is this not also a gift? We have this world, these characters to play with, to imagine in this situation or that one. What will happen the next time Jayne's loyalty is tested? When Simon runs out of meds the second Zoe is shot? When the browncoats inevitably rise again? We can decide.

If there is consolation to be found in the fact that the show is no longer running, it is this: that Firefly will always burn brightly, simply because it never had a chance to burn out.

...man, I tend to ramble. Sorry.

I hear what you're saying. I'm one of those who feels that X-Files stumbled along a season or three longer than it maybe should've. But given my confidence - misplaced, perhaps - that Firefly could've made it at least a few seasons before going total Fonzies on us...well, I think I'd still rather have Firefly seasons 1-5 (or 6, or 7, or 15...). I'd feel pretty firework-y about that.

BTW, I tried once sort of mentally "writing" my own resolution to the adventures of Firefly and its crew. They pretty much all wound up brokering questionable real estate deals on St. Albans, and Firefly herself was pressed into service for the "River Tam Reality Tour". So ya see, I'm no good on my own...

It was like that when we got here!

CHRISISALL

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 10:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by malinara21:

I'd rather have the fireworks.

Honestly, Serenity is my favourite movie of all time, and that wouldn't have been possible without Firefly's cancellation.
If I had my pick, I would have let 'em go for five years or more. But at least there WAS a consolation prize.
My pennies.

"Thanks." -Hero, 2009

The laughing Chrisisall

INSTANTKARMAGIRL

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 10:43 PM

First off, I still think Chuck is awesome and WAY better than a lot of the alternatives...

That being said, we make the best of the situation.

I haven't met one person, browncoat or not, that has watched Firefly, even just one episode, and not said "Why the hell isn't this on anymore?"

I watched BtVS and Angel from the beginning to the end...and let me tell you, there were "mis-steps" and errors in writing judgement, however, it did not undermine the core of what Joss and Team are capable of and what they actually achieved.

Buffy and Angel spoilers below. You're warned.
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Buffy and Spike might have jumped the shark, for me, but it always had redeeming qualities that save it from "Dear God, why am I still watching this show" (which is more than I can say for Heroes). Angel and Darla having a kid, yeah, didn't like it then, and still don't like it now...however, Angel sacrificing himself to give his son the life he wanted...FLIPPIN' PRICELESS and I wouldn't have changed ANY of it if it meant losing that last 10 minutes of the episode "Home."

And I believe that yes, Joss and Team, would have taken the Firefly crew to place I wouldn't like, but the end result would have been worth it.

So maybe River ended up pregnant with Badger's child. And perhaps Kaylee and Mal would have a little fling...and I would hate every minute of it, up until the point when Joss took out his emotional beating stick and whacked me over the head with it, forcing me to come to terms with the fact that he does know what he's doing with his characters.

No one can ever say that Joss doesn't know how to tell a story. Maybe we don't like how he gets there, but in the end, it leaves us loving him more and more.

As for Chuck...yeah, I don't have a negative thing to say about, except maybe Chuck needs to listen just once...but I love character flaws.

I'm thankful for Serenity, but I would have gladly never had it if we'd been allowed 7 wonderful seasons on TV.

~**~
"How come you're flying about with us brigands? I mean, shouldn't you be off bringing religiosity to the Fuzzie-Wuzzies or some such?"~Cap'n Mal

ZEEK

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 11:36 PM

I'm not worried about Firefly jumping the shark. I'd gladly take that risk to get more of what was in store for our beloved characters. That is not the silver lining of cancellation IMO.

The real silver lining is this place. I was a big Buffy and Angel fan. However, I've never once joined their online communities. I didn't have to. The shows were there and gave me what I wanted from them. When Firefly went belly up I was pissed. I wanted more. I wanted to know what was going on. Was there going to be a DVD set (much more rare back then)? What are these rumors of unaired episodes? Did someone just say movie?

All of that brought us together. I must say Browncoats are an amazing group of people. I think bringing together such a strong community was the silver lining. I doubt anything will ever top the movie going experience I had with Serenity. The atmosphere at the prescreening was incredible. I think that is almost worth not getting more Firefly...almost.

CHRISISALL

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 11:38 PM

*GROUP HUG ALERT*

"Thanks." -Hero, 2009

The laughing Chrisisall

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