Firefly

[roguerouge]

I saw the movie, thought it was so-so, got the first disc of the series on Netflix, it didn't grab me. But who knows, maybe someday I'll be ready to give it another try.

Dude. Waste no time. I caught the series in broadcast and I thought it was flailing. Then I saw it in order from midnight to noon at a movie theater and it was flat out amazing. It's better than Buffy--and I get paid 5 grand to teach a Buffy course. Whenever I want to introduce people to the crack cocaine of Whedon, I always start with Firefly.

"It's just 14 episodes... You'll like it.... Here: let me loan you a copy...."

And then they're hooked forever.

 

[DreadPirateMurphy]

I get paid 5 grand to teach a Buffy course.

Is that considered part of women studies, entertainment studies, or pop culture? I've heard of such things, but never actually seen such a course. Of course, when I was in college, Buffy was still years away from existing as a TV show...

I would think Firefly would be interesting from a cultural studies perspective -- Whedon mixes up Eastern and Western, frontier and urban, democratic and aristocratic all at the same time.

 

[Sutekh]

Firefly was good but not great. I actually did see it in order (speak to me one day about Australian tv views on showing scifi on tv: its far far far worse than Americas).

Generally I found the characters interesting (Adam Baldwin always brings his own style to any character he plays). I found some characters a bit superflous : Gina Torres's character (whose name escapes me) seemed to be .. extra to requirement I thought.

The main reason I didnt like Firefly more was the character of River. Ive seen Buffy, so I know about Whedon and his 'kick ass empowerment' female characters. I was just disappointed to see another one in Firefly. I found the brother's character, who had risked it all for family more interesting. The fact that later she was taking out squads of trained troops was.. familiar.

The setting itself was amazing... very different and occasionally not what I expected. It's definetly worth a look, but Im not going to create an altar to it.

 

[Crothian]

Is that considered part of women studies, entertainment studies, or pop culture? I've heard of such things, but never actually seen such a course. Of course, when I was in college, Buffy was still years away from existing as a TV show...

I forked the thread to start a discussion on this.

 

[roguerouge]

For me, it was less about River and more about her brother, the Easterner, I mean, Simon. River's just a few scenes. Plus, when it was airing, Buffy and Angel were in shades of black, so it was good to see Whedon and company playing with a different tone and palette.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I found some characters a bit superflous : Gina Torres's character (whose name escapes me) seemed to be .. extra to requirement I thought.

By comparison, I found her character fascinating - I liked the change of pace inherent in having a happily married couple, and I liked the clear thread of loyalty between her and the captain based upon their shared military history in the browncoats. Also nice to see the strong, competent female military character.

 

[shilsen]

The main reason I didnt like Firefly more was the character of River. Ive seen Buffy, so I know about Whedon and his 'kick ass empowerment' female characters. I was just disappointed to see another one in Firefly. I found the brother's character, who had risked it all for family more interesting. The fact that later she was taking out squads of trained troops was.. familiar.

Personally, I found seeing a "kick ass empowerment" female character a nice change, even if Joss has done it before, mainly because there are so few of them out there as opposed to "kick ass whatever-you-want-to-call-it" male characters. Male characters who take out squads of trained troops are also fairly familiar. Consider Malcolm, for example. His type of character has been seen a million times before (ranging from classical mythology to Han Solo and beyond). As have male characters who risk it all for family.

I'm one of the people who saw the movie Serenity before I saw the show Firefly, which might be one reason I really like the movie. And the TV show.

 

[Fast Learner]

By comparison, I found her character fascinating - I liked the change of pace inherent in having a happily married couple, and I liked the clear thread of loyalty between her and the captain based upon their shared military history in the browncoats. Also nice to see the strong, competent female military character.

I agree completely.

 

[Klaus]

Personally, I found seeing a "kick ass empowerment" female character a nice change, even if Joss has done it before, mainly because there are so few of them out there as opposed to "kick ass whatever-you-want-to-call-it" male characters. Male characters who take out squads of trained troops are also fairly familiar. Consider Malcolm, for example. His type of character has been seen a million times before (ranging from classical mythology to Han Solo and beyond). As have male characters who risk it all for family.

I'm one of the people who saw the movie Serenity before I saw the show Firefly, which might be one reason I really like the movie. And the TV show.

Sure, but Zoe was a much better "kickass empowerment female character" than River, as she was the most stable, competent and honorable character in the entire crew.

 

[SkidAce]

BSG had a name brand associated with. It was also on scifi and not network TV.

Firefly had me as a fan, something BSG didn't.

As a longtime supporter of your posts and a fan boy of your wisdom....I must regret informing you that after...well I cant even repeat the blasphemy you spoke...you henceforth are banished from my reality...you no longer exist to me.