Firefly: A latecomer wonders what Fox was smoking

[Mouseferatu]

Just finished the DVD. Last episode was pretty weak, I thought. There were some gems but never really got involved in the characters the way I did with Buffy. I also can't stand the Chinese. Argh. It really bought me out of the show. Just skip it.

Hmm... I loved the characters, though it's true we knew more about most of the characters on Buffy after the first half-season than we did about these guys. And I also liked the Chinese.

But then, there's pretty much next to nothing about Firefly I didn't like.

 

[takyris]

Kinda reminds me of the line from Kevin Smith on the Clerks cartoon DVD: "F___ the brass ring." (This was, as I recall, after they had UPN offering them a full season, guaranteed, and they decided to go with ABC because, hey, A-B-C, man! ABC was the brass ring, the big-time, the real shebang. And then it aired two eps out of order and cancelled the whole thing -- and not, in my mind, unjustifiably. It was a horrible show in terms of fitting with the rest of ABC's niche at the time -- friendly family programming and reality shows. But at UPN, it would have had a full season to build a following, and UPN would've accepted far lower ratings as a success.)

In the future-potential in which I someday have a chance to make my own SF/F TV show, I don't wanna be on NBC or FOX. I want SciFi channel or WB, man. It's not that they won't screw over shows -- all networks will screw over some good show at some point, since human beings are in charge of them and human beings inevitably get their egos wrapped around making the network look like they want it to look, even if that means dropping a strong lineup without a good replacement. It's just that you're probably going to get more freedom and a less-demanding standard at the little stations, so you don't have to put in a hot chick who uses "cybersexual neuromagic" to satisfy the network execs, who think it'll help you beat "According to Jim" in your timeslot.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Fox did it TWO other popular shows (both starting with F as well...), Family Guy and Futurama, both of which pulled in some heavy dough and ratings due to CN and DVD sales.

And Wonderfalls which I never saw, but was apparently supposed to be a pretty good chick show. The heroine had little animals and whatnot coming to life and telling her to help people. The twist was that she didn't want to do any of that and didn't like helping people. Neat twist. But the show's lifespan was measured with a stopwatch.

I dunno... I was hooked with Firefly from the pilot, and by all accounts, it is probably one of the better pilots I've seen.

IIRC:
[FOX EXEC]
The beginning is depressing and there's no action in most of the episode. What's with all the talking?
[/FOX EXEC]

I'm not sure I agree with that either, but it isn't like I'm the guy spending the money.

 

[Elodan]

Just finished the DVD. Last episode was pretty weak, I thought. There were some gems but never really got involved in the characters the way I did with Buffy. I also can't stand the Chinese. Argh. It really bought me out of the show. Just skip it.

I feel like the Anti-Krug (but this just proves we all have different tastes in our Sci-Fi and Fantasy). Couldn't get into Buffy so I passed on Firefly when it was actually on TV (plus Friday is/was our game night). Got the first DVD from Netflix watched it about two weeks ago and bought the DVD set the next day. Found the Chinese cussing hilarious and thought the last episode was one of the best.

I'm lucky that my wait for the movie will only be about a year long while some of you have been pining for more of the show for a lot longer.

 

[Umbran]

...though it's true we knew more about most of the characters on Buffy after the first half-season than we did about these guys.

Yes and no. Most of the characters on Buffy were high school students. There wasn't anything to know, really. They generally didn't have much in the way of relevant history that needed revealing. You get their general outlook on life, and you know all there is about them.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Yes and no. Most of the characters on Buffy were high school students. There wasn't anything to know, really. They generally didn't have much in the way of relevant history that needed revealing. You get their general outlook on life, and you know all there is about them.

Well, yeah. The characters on Firefly were certainly a much deeper, more secretive lot (Giles notwithstanding.)

Which was the point, of course.

 

[Aaron2]

I was a little gunshy when I saw the size of the cast over the opening credits, but each character was fully fleshed out, and even the most unlikeable ones were fascinating.

When Buffy started, it had four main character. Angel had three. Firefly was written as if it were the fourth season of a show rather than the first. When I was watching the first episode I kept thinking that I had missed something. Same with the second. I only saw a few episodes after that.

What's with fruit being rare? The planets I saw seems pretty sparcely populated.


Aaron

 

[Umbran]

What's with fruit being rare? The planets I saw seems pretty sparcely populated.

The populatuions were not high for a reason - the colony worlds were haphazardly developed. Basically, they drop some people, animals, and seed on a planet and let 'em go. Animals self-replicate, machines don't. So, these planets are pretty low on technology - thus the horses. In addition, most of these colonies are not exactly lush tropical paradises. They seem to tend to be arid.

All together, that means fresh produce is at a bit of a premium.

 

[Umbran]

Firefly was written as if it were the fourth season of a show rather than the first.

I'd mofe say that Firefly was written as if they expected you to learn about the characters over time, instead of all at once. This made some sense, since the characters seemed to have reasons to have secrets, and not all of them knew each other well at the start of the show.

 

[Aaron2]

They seem to tend to be arid.

Those planets didn't seem that bad. They all looked a little like California to me.


Aaron