Favorite Details by milford

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Favorite Details

POSTED BY: MILFORD
UPDATED: Saturday, February 25, 2006 10:13
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Wednesday, February 22, 2006 9:53 AM

With the wife and daughter out of town this weekend visiting family I had a rather large chunk of free time on my hands. What else could I do but have my very on Firefly/Serenity marathon (with a brief interruption to watch my KU Jayhawks pummel those mizzou kitties!). In watching the series and film again a couple of things happened:

1-I got depressed. I spent most of the day on Saturday trying to explain to my dogs why the worst thing that ever happened in TV history was the cancellation and mishandling of this show. I became quite sullen.

2-As I always do, I noticed some new details that have escaped my attention. The first detail I noticed was in Shindig. I was struck by how ill-fitting Mal's coat is at the party. Given the excellent costumes that I've come to expect from the show, I can help but think that this was on purpose, reinforcing the fact that Mal didn't belong.

My second new favorite detail is from Serenity. For some reason I had never noticed the "spinning" sound you get when the back end of the ship goes by. So cool.

What kinds of tidbits have you guys noticed that make your viewing experiences more enjoyable?

Remember, that but for one trifling exception, the entire universe is made up of others.- Oliver Wendall Holmes

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Wednesday, February 22, 2006 10:01 AM

GRIZWALD

That would have to be the little subtleties of the digital work. Last night we watched Bushwacked for the 40,000th time and I had to replay over and over again how the camera zooms in when

Select to view spoiler:

those tendrily things that comprise the Reaver booby trap attach themselves to Serenity.

I love how at first the "camera" doesn't focus, then it does. Just like live action. Same thing when you're looking through the

Select to view spoiler:

window of the Dortmunder at Serenity

and again it zooms in, then focuses. All digital. Didn't have to be that way. So clever!

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Wednesday, February 22, 2006 11:30 AM

FOLLOWMAL

Quote:
Originally posted by milford:

1-I got depressed. I spent most of the day on Saturday trying to explain to my dogs why the worst thing that ever happened in TV history was the cancellation and mishandling of this show. I became quite sullen.

I don't particularly have something I've noticed recently, I'll be back when I do, I just had to say....

1. Go Mizzou kitties... next time!

2. Pertaining to your above quote.... I love us.
Who but Browncoats could feel righteous anger at the mishandling of this show and absolute sulleness. I haven't told my dogs... they are outside when I watch Firefly, but my cats have gotten an earful!

" You hold. Hold til I get back." Mal

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Wednesday, February 22, 2006 11:31 AM

Watching Ariel I noticed that Jayne is wearing a Blue Sun shirt, the same one in Bushwhacked. THis made me form the theory
that RIver cut him for that reason.

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Wednesday, February 22, 2006 4:14 PM

MILFORD

Hey 13, that's a pretty interesting theory. Never made that connction. I just assumed that she cut him because she saw what he was thinking about doing on Ariel.

I realized later today that the coat Mal is wearing in Shindig is the same one Simon wears later, I think in Jaynestown. The main difference is that it fits Simon. I guess he borrowed it from him.

Remember, that but for one trifling exception, the entire universe is made up of others.- Oliver Wendall Holmes

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Wednesday, February 22, 2006 4:16 PM

MILFORD

Don't worry, we split with those kitties this year, but next year we're looking for the sweep! Rock Chalk Jayawk! Go KU!

Remember, that but for one trifling exception, the entire universe is made up of others.- Oliver Wendall Holmes

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Wednesday, February 22, 2006 4:24 PM

FLAUTISTFIRST

Upon watching "Train Job" for the 15th time (I'm a newbie), I realized what Jayne was saying in the opening. He didn't understand the cute drunk's toast at first:

"Suspicious? What day is it? What month is it?"

Upon realizing he states to Mal and Zoe, fight at hand, that "I didn't fight in no war" (or something very close to that.)

Before, I just didn't understand Jayne.

Also, in "Heart of Gold", when Mal is putting on his shirt, there is no scar on his right shoulder from the injury he sustained in "Train Job." Don't know why I would have been staring intently at his chest during that brief moment....hmmmm.

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Wednesday, February 22, 2006 4:36 PM

THEPISTONENGINE

I love the camera angles in Safe, when Simon is climbing up to be burned with River. The camera is slightly below them, giving sort of a common's man view of his uncommon act. He's "elevating" himself above the rabble. I also like the cut in the same scene that shows the full bodies of Simon and River, just the way they're parallel and he's pulling himself close, tight, into River. There's a feint sexual feeling to it, but the real effect is beyond that. I can't put my finger on it. It goes beyond simply sibling love, too. Maybe someone with a clearer mind will tell me what I'm almost thinking.

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Wednesday, February 22, 2006 4:48 PM

BULLET1510

I like the fact that Mal's coat has an obvious patch on the upper arm from where he was shot by Patience's man in the (original) pilot.

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Wednesday, February 22, 2006 4:59 PM

NINAH148

I agree, just as the little gestures and nonverbals make the characters, the set design and costumes are just an endless source of interest in terms of defining the world these characters live in. I had the flu (complete with 103 degree fever) this weekend, and decided that Firefly cures all. I noticed that the dress Haleigh wears on the space station (where they pick up the crate with the dead guy) is the same one she was wearing in the Out of Gas pilot when she's sleeping witht he original mechanic...it's such a nice frontier touch that she has one "company" dress. I also love the little handwritten sign above the hatch to her bunk. And I love how charming Simon is when he relaxes -- you forget about it because he's so serious so much of the time. The sharp angles and Alliance colors of his clothing in comparison to Mal...It's just beautiful.

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Wednesday, February 22, 2006 5:26 PM

AFTERGLOW

Seeing as how my favorite character is Jayne (don't ask, dunno myself), my favorite little details involve him:
1) In "Shindig" at Badger's "tea party", Jayne's shoving little sandwiches into his mouth by the twos and threes. However, he DOES use the dainty sugar cube tongs to transfer sugar to his tea (that won't make you go blind). Oh, and that he is the one who puts a finger on the conversation when Mal's at a loss of words: Mal:Made us feel; Jayne:Pretentious??
Jane comming up with that word gives both Mal and Badger pause.
2) In "Heart of Gold", when Mal is explaining to all the *ahem* staff of the house that he'd like to cut and run, all the other girls are listening. The *ahem* girl Jayne picked out is listening to Mal's speech while Jayne sits behind her on the bar, brushing her hair. Wonderful!!
Jayne can be a pig, but he's our pig.
And thanx to Adam Baldwin who gave such depth and structure to what could've been just a 2D merc.
Viva la Jayne!

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Thursday, February 23, 2006 8:33 AM

DONCOAT

Quote:
Originally posted by afterglow:
Seeing as how my favorite character is Jayne (don't ask, dunno myself), my favorite little details involve him.

You may have noticed this one in the BDM: when Mal and Jayne sit down with Fanty and Mingo in the Maidenhead, they each take a drink from the waitress' tray. Mal, Fanty, and Mingo raise their glasses in a toast. As they do, Jayne just slugs his down.

Social graces? Jayne's answer: "I knew a gal named Grace once."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't disagree on any particular point.

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Thursday, February 23, 2006 10:28 AM

MEGMAC

A pretty obvious detail this one, but i love the fact that Mal kisses a cross in the intro to the pilot and yet he later shows such hostility towards the shepherd and a couple of episodes later gives the line:
"You're welcome on my boat, preacher - God aint" (or something like that)

I just think it was a nice touch. One of those great things you dont need to notice.

Also in the pilot, when the camera focuses on the teddybear on Kaylee's overalls, it just brings home that she's a sweet, innocent charcater caught up in this mess.
-------------------------------------------------
Mal: Wheel never stops turning, Badger.
Badger: That only matters to the people on the rim.

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Thursday, February 23, 2006 10:35 AM

HANSWURST

After 6 viewings of the opening robbery of Serenity (the movie) its structure is coming clear.
The escape from the Reavers has 2 parts: the high speed escape part which ends when Jayne gets his leg pierced and hangs off the back. After that begins the 2nd set of scenes: getting the ship to scoop them up.

I've always been troubled by that leg piercing, as it would be (in reality) too incredibly physically excruciating for someone to hang off the back the moving vehicle. That's not my argument--my point is that the very unrealistic and comic-bookness of Jayne getting shot like that is a means of transitioning from the more personal moments of driving/flying being fired on. The barn swallow is on a bigger scope, more suspension of disbelief required--and the move from one mode to the other requires that bit of business as a transition. In my opinion.

In that chase, the Reavers ship visually echoes the Glove in Yellow Submarine, in the way both take off from a slow or stopped position and speed off in a loud burst with a trail of thick smoke.

The young guy running out for them to take him along seems a way of smashing another cliche, of adventure heroes always going out of their way to rescue somebody. The guy looked like someone who might have become another passenger on the ship--but the harsh reality makes its cold presence known.

These are my personal takes, and I of course believe they are accurate, valid and brilliant.

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Thursday, February 23, 2006 10:45 AM

MILFORD

I also wondered about the Jayne's leg incident, thinking that any Reaver with any sense would simply stop and watch his leg be torn off. I decided to rationalize it by assuming that Zoe altered her speed to keep the leg on our BDH. So I have to agree that the suspension of belief is necessary there, but that's a suspension I don't mind making.

If we're in a critical mode, I also have a problem with Inara's costume at the end battle in Mr. Universe's complex. What I love about the FF/S 'verse is the utility that every object has, a very-much lived in look. Things are functional and useful. That being said, I can't for the life of me figure out why Inara decided to wear a gold bra to a battle for the death. Of all the eposodes and the film, and the FUTURE episodes, that is the only problem I've ever had with the costuming. Trust me, no one wants Inara scantily clothed more than I do, but there was just no reason for it. Kinda looked silly. Fortunately there was tons of great dialogue, action, acting, and special effects to distract me.

However, if out of thirteen hours of TV and two hors of film that's the only problem I have, I'd have to say they're getting the details pretty well.

Remember, that but for one trifling exception, the entire universe is made up of others.- Oliver Wendall Holmes

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Thursday, February 23, 2006 10:48 AM

A detail I never noticed before was Mike Masa getting hit by the mule in Train Job until I listened to the commentary. Another fine detail is that Mal's classic tuxedo appears twice, in SHindig and Heart of Gold.

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Thursday, February 23, 2006 11:04 AM

THY1139

Doncoat: Social graces? Jayne's answer: "I knew a gal named Grace once."

"I dated a girl named Faith. She cheated on me... with a girl named Chastity." - Burchenal, The Red Planet.

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Thursday, February 23, 2006 11:07 AM

GRIZWALD

Quote:
I can't for the life of me figure out why Inara decided to wear a gold bra to a battle for the death.

Well, OBviously (she says in a snotty voice) everything else was in the LAUNdreeeeee.

No, seriously, I don't think Inara knows the meaning of the words "casual Friday." I don't think she owns anything she could use to, oh, I don't know, scrub the toilet on the shuttle, or fight a heroic battle with mindless savages.

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Thursday, February 23, 2006 11:31 AM

BULLET1510

Why does Badger have two horrendously but brightly colored 'female' wigs on the shelves behind his desk - a kinky hobby perhaps...

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Thursday, February 23, 2006 11:37 AM

CAPERCAILLIE

I just noticed last night in The Message that Mal is wearing a jersey shirt under his browncoat. It is very different from all of the other Mal shirts.

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Thursday, February 23, 2006 1:46 PM

DONCOAT

Quote:
Originally posted by Hanswurst:
In that chase, the Reavers ship visually echoes the Glove in Yellow Submarine, in the way both take off from a slow or stopped position and speed off in a loud burst with a trail of thick smoke.

YES!! Excellent catch.

That realization was lurking around in my subconscious just waiting for your post to let it out. I knew the motion of that skiff was familiar. I just never thought of Glovie.

I'd love to know if this was a deliberate nod or a subconscious one on the part of the CGI folks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't disagree on any particular point.

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Thursday, February 23, 2006 1:51 PM

LADYSINGS

Okay, I have watched all of the episodes so many times, I have lost count but here is something I never noticed before:

In the episode Safe when they are questioning River just before they get ready to burn her....I never realized that when River was reading the patron of the town, that she was implying that he murdered the former patron.

"I'm the patron here, do you know what that means?'

"Yes, you're in charge. Ever since the old patron died."

"That's right."

"He was sick and he was getting better. (watch the patron's demeanor change after she says this next line) You were alone in the room with him...." **SMACK**

"This girl reads minds AND spins falsehoods."

....am I alone in thinking that River was about to reveal this? (I'm hoping that I'm not reading too much into this. If I am, it will just confirm my anal/compulsive nature and we can't have THAT happening! LOL)

"Well ya know, we studied bludgeoning in the academy first year but by the time you graduate, you just forget everything. I'm a bad cop." ----Lawrence Dobson

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Thursday, February 23, 2006 2:00 PM

DAVESHAYNE

Quote:
Originally posted by LadySings:
....am I alone in thinking that River was about to reveal this?

Nope. She was definitely about to spill the beans. Unfortunately for her she wouldn't have been believed. Fortunately however she knew some "Big Damn' Heroes."

David

"A lot of people are asking me, you know, what exactly is Firefly? It's a tv show you morons!" - Joss Whedon

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Thursday, February 23, 2006 2:12 PM

LADYSINGS

Quote:
Originally posted by daveshayne:
Quote:
Originally posted by LadySings:
....am I alone in thinking that River was about to reveal this?

Nope. She was definitely about to spill the beans.

....thank God! Didn't want to have to go into therapy and try to explain this obsession of mine!

"Well ya know, we studied bludgeoning in the academy first year but by the time you graduate, you just forget everything. I'm a bad cop." ----Lawrence Dobson

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Thursday, February 23, 2006 2:36 PM

HANSWURST

Yup--it's a great moment becuase he gets all excited to burn her to hide the fact that he's a murderer.

I call it the Doctors Without Borders episode.

I kind of wish that the witch thing had been a bigger part of the episode--she's a witch!

Also, why does Mal come back for them if he was able to just leave them earlier?

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Thursday, February 23, 2006 2:48 PM

DAVESHAYNE

Quote:
Originally posted by Hanswurst:
Also, why does Mal come back for them if he was able to just leave them earlier?

Mal only left earlier because he had the gravely wounded Book to take care of. After the emergency is over his conscience won't let him just leave the Tams behind.

David

"A lot of people are asking me, you know, what exactly is Firefly? It's a tv show you morons!" - Joss Whedon

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Thursday, February 23, 2006 2:54 PM

GUTTERBALL

Quote:
Originally posted by Hanswurst:
Also, why does Mal come back for them if he was able to just leave them earlier?

Because he knew he wasn't leaving them forever. He was just being Mal -- prioritizing. Book's survival was more important than tracking down the doctor and his wayward sister at the moment.

When he had time, he took care of the rest of his business.

I always like how he counters the Patron's "You cannot think to thwart the Will of God" speech:

Ya'll see that man hangin' out of the spaceship with the really big gun? Now, I'm not saying you were hard to find, but it was out of our way and he didn't want to come anyway. Man's lookin' to kill some folks. So it's really HIS will you oughtta worry about thwartin'."

Heh, comic gold. 'Specially with Jayne lookin' so darn put out to have to, yet again, dangle from the cargo hold.

________________________________________

Please remember that the 9:30 show is completely different from the 7:30 show. Don't forget to tip your waitress.

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Thursday, February 23, 2006 3:45 PM

THY1139

Quote:
Originally posted by bullet1510:
Why does Badger have two horrendously but brightly colored 'female' wigs on the shelves behind his desk - a kinky hobby perhaps...

Remember the girl whose teeth Badger was checking... ?

Also, I spotted what appears to be an M-203 grenade launcher (slung under an M-16) and what appears to be a good old Israeli Uzi 9mm.

"I'd like to be the king of all Londinum and wear a shiny hat." - Mal

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Saturday, February 25, 2006 10:13 AM

MEGMAC

Watched The Message again today, and I had always overlooked the fact that Jayne takes his hat off when Tracy's message is playing and during the beautiful scene where they take his body home. Very moving, shows a different side to Jayne.

------------------------------------------------
Mal: Wheel never stops turning, Badger.
Badger: That only matters to the people on the rim.

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