Firefly - I just don't get it

[Chain Lightning]

I probably tried Firefly in the wrong way. I saw the test screening of Serenity and that was my first taste of it. I've heard of the series and the basic premise. I thought it sounded like something worth checking out. But just never got around to doing it.

Saw the movie, and was kinda...."Eh, its okay". I like the concept of the space western, but in my opinion, it was not executed right. If there was a recipe for this, it seemed Whedon used 2cups of sci-fi, and only 1 teaspoon of Western. A lot of the guns they use aren't very western-esque. The costumes weren't too western -esque either. It only seemed like two characters were western-esque and that was it. That...and maybe the kitchen....but that was really it.

Directing wise....the movie didn't feel like a movie. The sets, the camera work, the fight scenes, they all seemed very TV-ish still.

I didn't think it stunk. Still was more enjoyable than Andromeda or Lexx, but it didn't wow me. And it certainly didn't elevate my fanboy nature to the level I see others exhibit.

But like an above poster said, I'm glad others really enjoy it. Just not my thing is all. I know I have some things I love and nobody else gets it.

 

[Shadowdancer]

I was a big fan of Buffy and Angel, so I was also excited about Firefly. I have to admit though, I was underwhelmed by the first few episodes. I kept watching, coz even with its faults it was still better than most of the shows on at the time.

It turned out to be some primo creeper of a show. Once the show started clicking - around the time of "Out of Gas", "Ariel", and "War Stories" - I was pretty well hooked. I just wish it would have had a bit more time to grow an audience.

I'm stoked about the movie, and will probably see it opening day. I'd love to see the film become a success and ressurect the tv show, but I'm not holding my breath.

I wasn't a big fan of Buffy and Angel, but everything else in your post is about the same way I felt. I watched some of the first few episodes, and felt the show was OK, but I was hoping for better. But it was better than most shows on broadcast TV.

Then with "Out of Gas," the series started to gel. The writing, the acting, the stories, the directing -- everything clicked. Just about everything after that was really great, and kept getting better. I was so glad I had kept watching -- I felt like the time I had invested in watching the earlier episodes was being rewarded.

It takes a while for any series to find itself. The actors have to adjust to the characters. The writers have to adjust to the actors. The directors have to get a feel for -- everything about the milieu.

For those who are watching the series on Sci Fi, or watching the DVD set in order, I encourage you to stick with it. The episodes will improve as the series progresses.

 

[RangerWickett]

I must be the only person who enjoyed Alien Resurrection. Aside from the climax (I cringe at the physics of sucking something to bits with vacuum), I had no complaints. It's a solid, tongue-in-cheek action movie.

 

[mhacdebhandia]

There are shows which ran for a lot longer than Firefly which took a lot more time to get in their groove than Firefly did.

Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, for two.

To be consistently hitting your stride and producing excellent genre drama after less than a dozen episodes is an admirable feat.

That's not to say that its excellence means it has to appeal to everyone - I can envision many people having a "meh" or "wtf?" reaction to the slightly archaic language, the Mandarin, the science of the spaceships and terraformed moons, and so on. If it doesn't jazz you, it doesn't jazz you - tian xiaode why, but if everyone liked the same thing what a terrible oatmeal shortage there would be.

 

[Umbran]

Saw the movie, and was kinda...."Eh, its okay". I like the concept of the space western, but in my opinion, it was not executed right. If there was a recipe for this, it seemed Whedon used 2cups of sci-fi, and only 1 teaspoon of Western.

The film does not emphasize the western style as much as the series did.

Directing wise....the movie didn't feel like a movie. The sets, the camera work, the fight scenes, they all seemed very TV-ish still.

Well, given that the movie is supposed to follow on from the series, you would not expect (or want) a serious departure from the series style. If your main attraction is that you're descended from an apple, you don't then go and hand the audience an orange.

 

[mhacdebhandia]

The film does not emphasize the western style as much as the series did.

This is very true. The emphasis was firmly on the "future" and less on the "frontier" throughout. I'd expect that to change if they make a sequel.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

I think Whedon is definitely a love-him-or-hate-him kind of thing. Not everyone is going to like his particular brand of humor and style. It's a kind of post-hip, southern california vibe, and I can see all kinds of folks not getting it or liking it. I like most of his stuff, as do most of the folks I hang around with, but I don't feel the need to have everyone like it.

 

[Psychic Warrior]

I love Firefly but pretty much loathed Buffy/Angel. I can see a lot of people not liking Firefly but since the show was never given a real shot I guess we will never know exactly how successful it could have been.

C'mon September!

 

[Aeson]

I must be the only person who enjoyed Alien Resurrection. Aside from the climax (I cringe at the physics of sucking something to bits with vacuum), I had no complaints. It's a solid, tongue-in-cheek action movie.

I liked it. I mean anything with Ron Pearlman is going to be good while his character is still alive.
That was not the only reason. Like you said it was a solid, tongue-in-cheek action movie. I think the movie had some of the more interesting and entertaining characters in the series.

 

[MaxKaladin]

I don't think I'm tainted by fan attitude unless there is residual from Buffy and Angel -- two shows I never really cared for with really... enthusiastic... fan bases. I watched the first couple episodes of Firefly when it first aired and developed no real love or hate for it. I liked it enough that I'd watch it when I knew it was coming on (unlike Buffy or Angel) but I didn't think it was great the way something like Babylon 5 was great. I didn't see that many episodes because it kept getting shifted around and I couldn't keep up with it -- and the show didn't really inspire me to make much effort to do so.

I've started watching this time around because I keep hearing how great the episodes are if seen in order and I want to see for myself. Having just seen the pilot, it's probably too early to tell. Things make more sense now than they did originally, but my attitude hasn't really changed yet. I suppose I'll watch the whole run and see how things go.

My problem so far hasn't been with the technology, it's been the characters. None of them has really struck me as likeable except the girl who got shot. The priest and the woman who appears to be the captain's first officer are starting to grow on me but I don't really care for any of the others. I particularly dislike Jayne (despite his obvious appreciation for being properly armed) and River (who reminds me too much of "Buffy" and I never liked that show). I suspect I'd like the show more if I liked the characters more.