Where would the second season storyline go? by LutenHans

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Where would the second season storyline go?

POSTED BY: LUTENHANS
UPDATED: Monday, October 24, 2005 12:23
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VIEWED: 2835
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Sunday, October 23, 2005 4:42 PM

Having just seen the Firefly series on DVD (it wasn't screened down here, and apparently even America got the rough end of the pineapple with screening times), I have to say it was one of the best sci-fi series I have seen in a long time. However, even after the movie I think there's room for a great deal more for Firefly. Sure, some of the characters 'left the series', but it's not that bad and change is sometimes good. It's a shame Wash is gone because he was the lighter, less macho aspect of the series with a humourous display of 'cowardly' behaviour (we know he could be brave enough when forced).

What I'd like to see the expansion of some other themes including the whole super-bio-organ bizzo and Book's mysterious background. What if it's not a suicide kit or some anti-aging deal? What was the deal with Book? What's the deal with Inara? Another Firefly related site is big on the discussion about that mysterious syringe from Serenity (the episode, not the movie) and what that was all about. The focus seems to be it's some anti-aging drug and they have snipets from the series to back-up that theory.

But what if it's a drug she uses to pass on an alliance bio-tag STD for some purpose? Does it allow the alliance to keep an eye on targets they sellect her to tag? Does it allow the alliance to control the tagged subject? Does it allow the alliance to bump off tagged subjects if they don't do as they are told? Obviously Inara doesn't appear to convinced that she did the right thing when she told Mal that she supported the alliance, and she tends to avoid alliance controlled territories wherever possible, so why is that?

Inara has to go to some yearly check-up on a Core World every year, but what's that all about? Surely it can't be something as mundane as a "you're clean, citizen" sitch, so maybe the anti-aging theory isn't the only one. Maybe anti-aging is a payment for services rendered and 'tagging' clients is part of the payment? Maybe that's just one of her secrets and hence her need for family and acceptance, and her attempts to avoid admitting to herself what Mal is more than happy to convey about her 'business' and what she is? I think anti-aging is neat and all, especially the whole hope and comfort theory, but it's way too limited in its scope.

Plus, all of the characters have a darker side and a reason to cause conflict between them, and this notion of being an alliance stooge (willing or not) would really stir things up on Firefly, both on serenity and in the 'verse ... And then there's the reasoning behind why she looks to that syringe. A lot of people think it's a suicide drug rather than anti-aging, but not everybody looks to something for hope in life threatening situations. Sometimes people look for a way out (like the suicide theory or a really big gun to level the playing field), or a place to hide, or figure out a way to protect others, or start thinking about the choices they've made during their lives and wondering if they did the right thing ... What exactly was she thinking about when she opened that box and looked at that thing?

Then there's the opportunity to add something new to progress the storyline, like some new characters to add conflict and mix things up? Here's one a few of my friends and I have talked about (it really is amazing how many people have got on board with the Firefly series; even people you'd least suspect of being closet nerds, and coming out to be proud about it,like the rest of us!). Btw, feel free to jump on board and comment, add to or just go right off on a parellel type of idea regarding this or an idea for a potential stroyline of your own!

Maybe an alliance 'super'-soldier with the enhanced bio-organ stuff and similar mind-fragging like River's (except where they strip away his emotions and 'program' him with specific functions) sent to abduct River and 'protect' her as she is returned to the alliance. This dude could 'discover' himself through River (who sees and feels everything), making the two function as a whole and realising his orders are contradictory; protecting River could also mean against the alliance freaks with blue gloves and returning to those (possibly hostile) on Serenity. Watching this guy develop a personality, some form of emotion, and re-establish his own personality, and seeing how the crew adapt to him over a second season, would be really entertaining.

How would they react?

A character of this nature would be immune to Anora's charms and find Kayle confusing; Jane would be outmatched by the dude and need to think of a way to negate his abilities; Zoe and the Captain would have to deal with his distaste for all things alliance; Simon would find the guy a rival/threat/means of escape to his devotion toward River. Would Simon be able to help fix the guy? Could they learn more about River from him? Would he be able to 'transfer' his 'programing' to create some kind of loyalty toward Serenity and her family, rather than just River? Does he know anything about Book or Wash? What kind of negatives are associated with his 'programming' (eg, does he get flash-backs, feel guilt he cannot express, wig-out like River, etc) and what are his abilities (can he see into the future like River, or is he just quick to react physically and mentally on instinct and sees people as tools to accomplish future goals)?

The introduction and development of the characters as a result of change would be quite appealing too. How is the guy encountered? Does he get injured protecting River from the alliance and what kind of discussion do the crew have regarding his fate while he is unable to defend himself? Do they want another 'nut' on Serenity? Would any of their attitudes be contradictory to their usual responses? Kayle may be scared and unwilling to accept such a person, the Captain may see a kindred spirit despite their obvious differences of loyalty, maybe he looks similar to Wash or Book and Zoe is confussed by this and his service to the alliance, etc. As you can see, change is not always bad, and the chance to introduce new characters could really expand the story and interest.

I really think Firefly has a lot more to offer and it's a great break from the usual super-natural, super-human, and politically correct type of Sci-fi that has been churned out for so long now ("cough! Startrek! cough!). Where the borders between good and bad, right and wrong kind of get blurred and not so obvious (cough! Star Wars! Cough!). Bringing real issues into the story line, with real and conflicting responses and not just the pretty socially acceptible ones is a great thing to base a show on. I especially like the way that the characters are able to re-evaluate previous decisions and attitudes and change their opinion during the series rather than maintain it like many two-dimensional scifi characters of other shows. Here's hoping somebody with money is willing to use it to back the same thoughts and (assuming the evil alliance of Fox or whoever else doesn't prevent it) bring Firefly back for a second Season!

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Sunday, October 23, 2005 4:58 PM

DREAMTROVE

Very interesting and lengthy post.

Here are some general thoughts I have had on the subject:

1. Mal and co (the Big Damn Heros or BDH) will need to establish a new network. They've been using a very open network of well known fences. This obviously will no longer work, because anyone who deals with them will be killed. So a new resistance-like network will be made of people who get that this is an alliance conspiracy to make humans obediant, and they will help the BDH. This will be different because these people will believe. Many of his former allies were allies for profit.

2. River's powers would be useless against the alliance directly because they would have endless failsafe and countermeasures in place. BDH would try this once and River would get capture tortured reprogrammed and sent back at them, and might kill a permanent character. After that they will decide it's a really bad idea, and River will have to be used indirectly and creatively.

3. In season 2 River will no longer be the alliances main target, Mal will. There will be new characters of course, and some of them will die, others will come from unlikely places.

4. I don't know what the drugs are but it's interesting. I've been assuming that Mal is taking adrenaline. Inara I don't know. It's always possible that someone is already a reaver and they take a drug to keep it at bay. It would be awesome if that someone was Inara. Whoever this happened to, the drug would of course run out and we'd have to not get more and the crew would think that it was just withdrawal.

5. More time with reavers. Reavers are probably, when not attacking, somewhere inbetween a violent youth subculture and wolfshark.

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Sunday, October 23, 2005 5:19 PM

UNREGISTEREDCOMPANION

"Key members of Parliment" would come into play. Maybe we would see a couple of them...or the crew would end up tracking one down. (Maybe Zoe decides they need an ass whopping, seein' as they offed her hubby and all.)

~~~~~
"Funny and sexy. You have no idea. And you never will."

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Sunday, October 23, 2005 5:33 PM

GIANTEVILHEAD

There are always a lot of things to explore in the Firefly 'verse. We still know every little about the Unification War. We don't know much about the history of the Alliance and the new worlds, and I'm betting it's a dark history with lots of secrets. I'm also very interested to learn more about the earth that was.

As for the next group of River hunters, I'm thinking of Academy students who have had their five senses destroyed and rely entirely on their mind to perceive the world, honing their psychic abilities to a level equal to or greater than that of River's. They would make very scary/creepy villains, way scarier than the hands of blue guys.

"I swallowed a bug." -River Tam

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Monday, October 24, 2005 7:40 AM

MAJOST

The way I see it is that there are several big storylines that follow from the Firefly series.

1. Reavers (and River's secret) was dealt with in the BDM.
2. Book's past (his secret) was also explained in the BDM.

We still have:
3. Blue Sun and their evil plans (and their relation to the Alliance)
4. Inara's secret (and sexual tension with Mal), as you mentioned
5. Fallout from the BDM: A resurgence of the Browncoats?

Now, if it were to go back to the small screen I would expect one of these to be the overarching theme of the series (Just as River's exposition was the overarching theme of the first series). But I would also hope to see more of the sidelines get touched on. What has happened to all our bad guys? Niska, Early, Patience, Badger, Yosafbridg, and the others? Maybe flush out a bit of Book's past and other remnants from the movie (who all died, making new contacts), touch on each and every one of our BDHs, etc. But if it's a movie sequel... and if Joss is planning on three... then I smell love story.

Not that Joss would succumb to the prevailing standard. :p

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Monday, October 24, 2005 8:38 AM

YORG

Well with the way serenity ended, I see a huge revolution coming up.

Remember that they broadcast the final words from Miranda to basically the entire Alliance.

I bet you that it was played over and over everywhere and nearly everyone saw it or heard about it. This kind of news would create a huge underground movement and restart the alliance/independent war. Except this time, instead of it being alliance vs independents. The alliance splits and it becomes an alliance vs revolution allies + independents.

Mal would need a new pilot and River seems to have finally gathered herself through closure. River could easily become the new pilot because she's super smart and intuitive and could fly just as well if not better than Wash did.

I feel that Joe would become an empty shell of a person and part of the series would be about Joe rediscovering herself and a reason to live. In the meantime, she could still be Mal's #1.

Instead of continuing the idea of Serenity just scraping by and picking up random jobs and such. Mal would have his purpose again. His fight against the Alliance would be rekindled. Of course Mal would side with the Independents and most likely give his services as a covert/scout team (since the firefly isn't much of a fighting ship) and would be going on alliance separatists missions; who would also fund him.

As this happens, Mal would discover certain things that he didn't know about the alliance. He would find out that he was wrong about a lot of things and that there was something bigger than the alliance behind the scenes (not aliens).

And perhaps uncover a different origin for Reavers and Pax was just a cover up.

Also, I think it would be greatly interesting to see more of the Reavers from their point of view. They must have some intelligence to pilot ships, use tactics, obtain fuel and weapons. So there must be some humanity left inside them. What would be even more interesting is if there was a cure to Reaverism (perhaps a psychic psychological cure that River could do). And the crew could capture a reaver and change him nearly back to human.

I do think the Reavers are similar to the borg from star trek and have a hive mentality. So there must be a way to break that thought process and free a reaver from his madness.

Anyway, that's what I'm thinking after serenity and all. The universe is not the same after that broadcast and of course lies are always covering more lies. What tangled webs we weave.

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Monday, October 24, 2005 8:55 AM

GIANTEVILHEAD

Well we don't know a lot about the Unification War. We know that the Alliance used some questionable methods in fighting the war but we don't know if the Independents did similar things but I'm guessing that the Browncoats were not like the Rebels from Star Wars. The Independents have probably done a lot of questionable things as well. I'm thinking that if the Independents do want to restart the war, they're going to be looking for River because of all the Alliance secrets she still knows. They'll probably be nice at first but if River refuses then no more mister nice Browncoat. Mal could really be torn between his loyalties to the Browncoats and his loyalty to River. He might even have to fight some of his old friends.

"I swallowed a bug." -River Tam

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Monday, October 24, 2005 9:54 AM

VISITINGMYINTENTIONS

Quote:
Originally posted by LutenHans:
Having just seen the Firefly series on DVD (it wasn't screened down here, and apparently even America got the rough end of the pineapple with screening times), I have to say it was one of the best sci-fi series I have seen in a long time. However, even after the movie I think there's room for a great deal more for Firefly. Sure, some of the characters 'left the series', but it's not that bad and change is sometimes good. It's a shame Wash is gone because he was the lighter, less macho aspect of the series with a humourous display of 'cowardly' behaviour (we know he could be brave enough when forced).

You should put a spoiler warning in the thread title. There are still people who haven't seen Serenity yet.

---------------------------------------------------
Early: Where'd she go?

Simon: I can't keep track of her when she's NOT incorporeally possessing a spaceship, don't look at me --

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Monday, October 24, 2005 10:58 AM

LIMINALOSITY

Quote:
Originally posted by Giantevilhead:
Academy students who have had their five senses destroyed and rely entirely on their mind to perceive the world, honing their psychic abilities to a level equal to or greater than that of River's. They would make very scary/creepy villains, way scarier than the hands of blue guys.

"I swallowed a bug." -River Tam

This is a gargantuanpointyevilheaded idea, and I'm liking it very much, mister!

River could also be sussing out jobs for them with her abilities if that's not too been there/done that.

Mal's broadcast could get them a gang of rag-tag followers. Nobody does rag-tag like Joss.

Um, the Alliance might have developed some new variety of behavior mod spray mist and room deoderizer, which they just unleashed on the unsuspecting pop.

Just lettin' it flow on by

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Monday, October 24, 2005 12:12 PM

IAMALEAFONTHEWIND

First off, I think this type of thread is the type that shows why some people eventually get turned off to a series (like some people have to the movie). You sit around and think of all these ideas (which I admit is fun), but some people get so attached to them that when something different happens they can't let go of their own ideas.

That being said...

I don't think it will be a series again. Could be wrong, but the only thing definitive that I've heard from Joss is that he has no interest in it being a series agian. He is VERY interested in doing more moveis.

So, I think another movie would have a lot to do with Inara. The movie leaves us with Mal and Inara in much the same place they were at the end of the series (well, she's not so resolute on leavin', but she's unsure of what to do). On one of the commentary tracks of the series DVD set the actress who plays Inara says that there are some hints in the episodes about why Inara left the core planets and the Companion House but that she couldn't say anything about the story line. There's a hint right there!

Also in the screenplay for the film it is made clear that Inara (in the film) is not back with the Companion House. She's at a training house, but not one affiliated with the Allience. It's kind of like the set up seen in the episode "Heart of Gold" only with more money and class - but still clear of the Allience.

And then there's the whole needle thing in the pilot episode. So that's the Inara angle, which seems to me to be the biggest string left hangin' out there.

I would imagine that there would also be more with the Reavers. We saw in some of the episodes that people attacked by Reavers become Reavers. Why? They must still have the PAX or somehow infect the people they come into contact with. I think that would be explored.

Joss has also made it very clear that ALL of the cast signed on for three movies (which include Wash and Book). I don't imagine that Joss would do any cheap stunts in Firefly/Serenity like time travel or clones or the like, so my guess is that we would see Wash and Book in flashbacks as the new story moves forward.

The Blue Gloved guys were dealt with in the Dark Horse comic, but they still lead you to believe that the Allience has a lot of different means at their disposal. And River has been in contact with "Key members of Parliment". Note the plural part. No reason that Miranda was River's one big secret. She's bound to have more.

Then there's Blue Sun. Hints about Blue Sun are all over the series episodes. There's also the fallout from the movie, like how the general populace of the Allience planets react to the knowledge unleashed by our BDHs in the movie. And of course how Zoe deals with her loss. And River having a more stable mind now (although we have no idea that it would last). And Mal, now that he's taken a stand. Will he continue to feel that he has a purpose or does he basically slide back into his "normal" MO?

I would imagine that all of these things would be addressed, plus a few more. Joss is good like that.

So that's as far as I'll play. Any more would mean me tryin' to think up of story ideas of my own and I ain't goin' there. I want to be free in the head to enjoy whatever comes next.

'Sides, I got stories of my own to tell, with my very own shiny characters.

"I don't wanna explode."

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Monday, October 24, 2005 12:23 PM

LUTENHANS

Woah! Talk about some good ideas! Actually, I was thinking something similar a while after I posted this thread and came up with a few other notions as listed below:

1) The whole notion of Government as quoted by Book of Mal suggests that what's going on with River, the whole 'home-grown-human-organs' bizzo, Reavers, and what may be going on with Inara might be occuring as independent activities that none of the other internal Government factions knows much about. There could be counterproductive secret service issues all occuring at once, and what exactly are they up to ...

2) Are there Independent/Guerillas/Terrorist actions still going on to explain the need for such a high Alliance military presence just about everywhere, and what exactly are they up to?

3) Would Mal and Zoe get involved in a new war of Independents vs. Alliance considering how the Independents command betrayed them and their men on Serenity last time? Where would the others fall on the issue and why? Would any responses appear to be out of character and what motivates this?

4) Book refered to Zoe as Ma'am when they rescued Mal from Nisca in Season One, and he knows how to use weapons and handle himself in a scrap (pretty well too) and all about sniper stuff (he's also a very good shot), so exactly who was he fighting for during his military career, and why did he choose to join Serenity and her crew? Was he still fighting some secret covert war? Are there more like him?

5) I'm pretty sure Nisca and most of the other contacts Serenity made won't be coming back for Season two after the Alliance 'discouraged' them from associating with Serenity, so where do Mal and his family go now if a new war does begin? Further out? Into a neighbouring quadrant? Or will they be forced further in to avoid the fighting despite Alliance covert actions against them?

I'm not sure if River try to free any of her fellow inmates Dark Angel style, seeing as its been done before and is probably best avoided, but I like the idea of it all coming apart and biting the Alliance in the butt. A political change within the Alliance might be interesting, as this may cause the Independents to fracture with supporters and embittered disadents seeking faster change or retribution.

Perhaps a story from the perspective of some Alliance task force sent after Serenity would be good; the movie ending being portrayed as Independent lies and properganda. In any case, Serenity and her crew would literally be seen as pirates and outlaws or simply listed as terrorists (unknown to the general populace) by the powers that be. This would be a good way for a new character to be introduced, actually; an Alliance soldier capyured or who captures one or more of Serenity's crew and begins to question what he's been told ...

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