Firefly and Serenity discussion thread

[thenammagazine]

I've had the blu ray set since christmas & haven't watched it yet

 

[plasmid303]

You know, I actually watched a couple of episodes of Firefly when it first aired on Fox a decade or so ago. I gave up on it because at that time, I found the series to be a less interesting take on the 'Cowboys-in-outerspace' concept that the anime series Cowboy Bebop had already tried a year or so before to much success (when it first aired on American tv). I liked the latter more than the former, and I still do now, but I've grown to appreciate Firefly/Serenity as another great take on the concept. Granted, back then I was really into anime and Japanese stuff in general. That proclivity has waned since. I bought the Firefly dvd set a few years ago. I kinda wanted to upgrade to blu-ray, but haven't found the need, yet.

My favorite Firefly episode is Out of Gas.

 

[Kamandi]

Bebop and Firefly are completely different creatures. I love CB, but there's honestly not that much Cowboy to it.

Favorite episodes: Pierrot le Fou and Wild Horses (I loved the Space Shuttle Columbia launching using JATO bottles)

 

[plasmid303]

With some hindsight, I do agree that the two shows are fairly dissimilar, but enough broad similarities exist between the two that I believe they can be fairly compared.

Serenity is a much better movie than Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' On Heaven's Door, though.

 

[Kamandi]

I see more asian influence in Firefly than I see Cowboy influence in Bebop. Bebop always felt more like a retro late 70's action film than spaghetti western.

I wish Bebop the series would come out on Blu. A great hole in my video collection.

 

[plasmid303]

The basic underlying template can be seen in both, though, and that's what makes a surface comparison valid. A rag-tag group of space-faring folks who work in the outskirts of society. The dynamic and tone of the shows are very similar, even if the particulars aren't. I think it's undeniable that Firefly has more in common with Cowboy Bebop than any of either's contemporaries or influences (i.e. Star Wars, Star Trek, Babylon, etc etc) You're right, in terms of each show's use of the 'cowboy' trope. I should've been more detailed in my comparison of the two. Firefly is very obvious in its presentation of frontier life, even in the far future. Bebop, though it has its own back-water worlds and slums, feels more futuristic and urban, even though the characters are essentially futuristic cowboys (bounty hunters).

 

[BadMoon]

All of that on account of an annual gynecological exam.

This message has been brought to you by our public relations officer.

 

[hunnipot85]

Finished the series.... watching the movie now

 

[devilof76]

How did you like Heart of Gold?

This message has been brought to you by our public relations officer.

I've already called Travolta and told him not to worry. I'll fix everything.

 

[hunnipot85]

I enjoyed mostly all the episodes and really enjoyed the film.

My favorites were - Out of Gas, Objects in Space, Trash, Ariel, Our Mrs. Reynolds.

I'm turning into a Whedonite!

Spoiler

Was so sad Shepherd and Wash died in the film

 

[CelticPredator]

I never saw the series first when I saw the movie in theaters.

They did indeed make me sad.

 

[BuffyGirl]

I enjoyed mostly all the episodes and really enjoyed the film.

My favorites were - Out of Gas, Objects in Space, Trash, Ariel, Our Mrs. Reynolds.

I'm turning into a Whedonite!

Spoiler

Was so sad Shepherd and Wash died in the film

There's a lot more out there. Buffy/Angel/Dr. Horrible's sing-a-long Blog/Comics. He's done so much that you can completely lose yourself in his work, if you love it/him enough.

Like me.

 

[hunnipot85]

I used to watch Buffy all the time... I think I stopped in season 2 or 3? Whenever her little sister showed up?

 

[darthviper107]

That was season 5

 

[hunnipot85]

Oh, I for sure didn't watch that much...

How many seasons were there in total? Maybe I did. I don't even remember, seemed so far away. I used to love Buffy though.

 

[darthviper107]

7 seasons

First season had the Master as the villain, second season was Spike, third was Angelus, 4th was Adam (?), fifth season was Glory, with the first appearance Buffy's sister Dawn. Also was when Buffy died.

 

[hunnipot85]

I think I watched till Season 3 (like every episode) and maybe scattered episodes after because I remember seeing her sister and I remember Buffy dying.

 

[ChibiSchmoo]

Glad people have started discussing the show itself!

I tend to prefer episodes that take place mostly on the ship. My ranking from favorite to least favorite:

Out of Gas, Objects in Space, Serenity (pilot), Our Mrs. Reynolds, Ariel, Shindig, Bushwhacked, War Stories, Jaynestown, Safe, Trash, The Message, Train Job, Heart of Gold

(Some of those middle/later ones might switch places a bit if I were to watch them again)

 

[Anzik]

I want Morena Baccarin to be my next ex wife.

 

[blue_rogue]

I'm pretty sure Firefly would have become my all time favorite TV series if it had continued. I remember not being too excited about it when Fox first started airing previews, but I knew I was going to give it a chance because it was Whedon. I was hooked after the first episode.

A lot has changed since it first aired nearly 10 years ago because I recall finding out in a magazine, and not the internet, that the show was in jeopardy of being cancelled.