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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RALLEM

Wednesday, February 25, 2009 12:17 AM

Like Zoe said in Heart of Gold, she ain't afraid of losing someone so much that she wasn't going to try and meet them, so maybe we sould look at a possible jump the shark episode with the same passion. Just a thought, and sorry for messing up her quote.

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

CHAOSSERENITY

Wednesday, February 25, 2009 12:58 AM

Eloquently said, and while those are excellent points (the fireworks, and all), there is still so much that we never got to see. We never got to see Simon fumble around on Valentine's Day, or Kaylee try to get Mal and Inara to smooch under mistletoe, and we didn't get to see whether Jayne straightened up or if River ever grew into herself and her abilities. I remember Joss talking on the Bluray DVD luncheon with Nathan, Ron, and Alan, about how he had so many ideas for Mal that were so ridiculously dark, and that he wanted a mutant cow episode. Too many great moments we never got to see. So, yeah, if Joss and Tim nuked the fridge occasionally with an off episode, it would be so worth it for all the good that we could've had along with it.

~~~~~
"We live in a spaceship, dear." ~Zoe

REGINAROADIE

Wednesday, February 25, 2009 6:51 AM

First, off, to address your concerns with CHUCK. I really don't feel as if they've dropped the ball on that show. If anything, last nights episode only confirmed how great the show can be. You had those two great scenes with Chuck saving Morgan's life by humiliating him (very Shakespearian from my perspective) and then the later scene of him explaining to Sarah how Morgan is far more than a best friend but a member of him and Ellie's family.

And then you had the finale of Jeffster doing an awesome cover of "Africa" which I now realize is an incredibly romantic song that in that moment became a defiant anthem. And that it intertwined Sarah saying how she never had someone who cares for her so much and Chuck replying "You do now." How can you not get choked up with that and consider that "weak"?

I'll admit I wasn't a fan of the 3D episode, but that's the only real weak spot in a pretty good second season.

As for the question at hand, it's something that's been brought up before, and I too have thought about it. I guess that's the risk of any TV show. Get canned in it's prime and/or burn out too quickly or stay around past the point of relevance. I think that every show should at least have an average of five seasons. Enough time to say what they want to say and not run the risk of burning out. And only go beyond that point if you really have something to contribute.

As to whether you want the table lamp or the fireworks, have you considered a bonfire? Bonfires when they really catch on start up really high, but then slows down to a consistent warmth that if you keep it properly stoked and fed with fuel will keep on going. I find a lot of HBO shows are like bonfires. They always have a consistent level of wuality throughout. And usually their later seasons are sometimes the best. Right now, BIG LOVE is in it's third season. And this year they've really uped the ante in terms of story, characters and all around drama. While it's nice to get payoffs and a conclusion to GALACTICA (especially since they've dragged it out for so long and at times got really pretentious) and LOST is finally paying off it's season and a half up it's ass with the time travel aspect thrown into the dramatic momentum, I find myself more and more excited for the new eps of BIG LOVE.

And as for HEROES, I know some people say it's a lost cause, but I will stick by that show to the end and am loving the momentum of the "Fugitives" volume. Hey, if LOST can get back on track, so can HEROES.

**************************************************
"And it starts with a sentence that might last a lifetime, or it all might just go down in flames. If I let you know me, then why would you want me? Each day I don't is a shame. Each day I don't is a great shame."

Loudon Wainwright III - "Strange Weirdos" off the "Knocked Up" soundtrack

MALINARA21

Wednesday, February 25, 2009 7:50 AM

Firstly, I thank all of you viewing this for taking two seconds out of your day to read my two cents, and especially to those who've bothered take a further five seconds to reply. :)

As I have already stated, my intention is not to debate the quality of Chuck; my view of the show is certainly only my own, and I don't mean to start a disagreement about that show's merits or lack thereof. I only wanted to use my feelings towards it to segue into my feelings towards Firefly. My apologies if I offended anyone's tastes; for now, let's keep the discussion to Firefly. :S

From reading the replies and re-reading my initial post, I think I may have sent a different message than I originally wanted to. I lament, in my heart of hearts, the fact that we will never see what Joss had in mind for Firefly. By looking at the "silver lining" of cancellation I mean to say that those 14 episodes were so great that I fear that it would set an unreachable standard for the rest of the series.

Would you guess that Mal and Inara are my favorite sci-fi couple? I'll borrow them again to illustrate my point. I was touched to the core during their exchange in Heart of Gold, and Inara's declaration of her intentions to leave. Everything about that scene led us to believe that this, finally, was the moment Mal had chosen to admit his feelings for her. Everything in his words, and in Nathan and Morena's eyes (the unspoken conversations they had with each other, using only their eye contact, were a favorite part of the series/movie for me) told us everything was shiny. The moment had come.

Then Inara tells us she's leaving Serenity. How many people screamed at the television? Shouted at Mal to chase after her, twirl her around, and tell her not to go? I know I did. So did my girlfriend the first time she watched it. Every facet of that scene was so powerful, so overwhelming for me. So rarely does a show come along that is able to manipulate my emotions in such a way.

But would my heartstrings feel as strong a tug in season 3, when Inara threatens to leave for the umpteenth time, and Mal chooses inaction again? How many times will I laugh at Jayne's odd fascination with guns before I find him thin and one-dimensional? At what point in season 4 will River cease being a truly sympathetic character and become, dare I say, annoying? What plot twist will leave me staring at the TV with a disgusted look on my face and "really, Joss? REALLY?" on my lips?

I should label my comment with a disclaimer of sorts: I do NOT in any way, mean to disparage the ability of Joss or anyone else on the writing team's ability to keep the above worst-case scenarios from happening. Seasons 2 to 5 might have their missteps, as every show does, but I like to think that had they had the opportunity Joss would've made a show for the ages. He would give Jayne a second and third dimension, and I have no doubt River would be mentioned with Picard or Skywalker in the pantheon of science fiction. His plot twists would be surprising, but not outlandish.

I merely want to articulate my fear of the possibility that perhaps the near mythical seasons 2-7 might not be as absolutely shiny as the first 14 episodes. The way it is now, we are left with 14 wonderful stories that rank up there with the best television I've watched.

I'll end this comment the same way I ended the first: with the statement that Firefly will always remain shiny to me, because it never had the chance to be less than that. Would you prefer the memory of something new and shiny, or the same object after it has suffered the ravages of time and rust?

Call me cowardly if you must. Part of me would agree with you. But it is a small part; the rest would keep the former.

...again, I ramble. Apologies. :)

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