Here's a thought. . . by Static

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Here's a thought. . .

POSTED BY: STATIC
UPDATED: Thursday, April 15, 2004 19:09
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VIEWED: 5517
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Tuesday, April 13, 2004 11:43 PM

Okay. . .

Let's think ahead a season or two in "Serenity: The Series". What nutty, off-the-wall sort of episode do you think we might see?

Buffy had her musical. . .Angel with the puppet. . .

Farscape had the 'Bugs Bunny' episode
Hercules had the 'Colonial' episode
Xena had a goofball episode

Do you think JW would ever do something like that with Firefly, or would he keep his most precious creation pure and unsullied?

==================================================
"Wash. . .we got some local color happening. A grand entrance would not go amiss."

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Tuesday, April 13, 2004 11:50 PM

FLAMETREE

peking opera

in mandarin of course with chinese and english subtitles.

I'd like to that!

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Wednesday, April 14, 2004 3:06 AM

LIZ

i don't know... i think that the other shows were kind of "campy" -- you could play in them a bit more because they were designed to be fantasy -- fantasy horror, fantasy mythological, even fantasy sci-fi... but Firefly doesn't really have that fantasy element, to me anyway. I think that it was meant to be more "realistic" (if that term can apply to a science fiction show). The other shows could justify those choices (i think, i haven't seen all of the episodes mentioned).

But if Joss could justify it, and after quite a few seasons of taking itself seriously Firefly did get to have a musical or something -- Rock On! i'd love to see a little chorus line of Inara, Kaylee, Zoe, and Wash singing back up for Book!

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Wednesday, April 14, 2004 4:16 AM

BROWNCOAT1

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.

I am w/ Liz, I just can't see Firefly doing something like Buffy's "Once More w/ Feeling" or the colonial episode of Hercules. To me Firefly is a bit too serious for something like that.

If they had to do something campy like that, I would go w/ something like the Peking Opera, as Flametree proposed. Seems fitting given the Chinese influences of Firefly.

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

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Wednesday, April 14, 2004 8:34 AM

BADGERSHAT

Hmmm... I think that, if Buffy could have a musical, and if Angel could have living puppets, Firefly could have a loose moment, also.

The Peking opera would be fun, but a musical--done already.

This would be hard, because the rules of the Firefly universe aren't supernatrual, like Buffy or Angel, so it's harder to play with.

Maybe a black and white detective noir?

--The Hat

***************************
"I like smackin 'em"--Jayne

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Wednesday, April 14, 2004 12:51 PM

TALVIN

OK. Here's one.

Jayne proposes to River, who joyfully accepts.

Book presides with Mal as Best Man, Kaylee as Maid of Honor.

Zoe is Flower Girl, Inara handles the arrangements, Wash decorates Serenity with "Just Married".

Simon watches with horror.

Jayne decides, for the Honeymoon, that he needs to "do somethin' 'bout them as keeps messin' with m' woman!" Goes after Blue Hands Central.

Chaos Ensues.

Closing scene:
(very blurry, clears slowly into Mal's face, looking concerned.)

Zoe's Voice, "He's coming around, sir!"

Mal, "You OK, Doc? Hit yer head a mite hard when you slipped on that stuff that leaked out of the cargo container. Had us worried a bit there, I'll tell you! Umm...what were you talking about when you woke up?"

"Nothing! Nothing, nothing at all. Just a...nightmare. Horrible nightmare. Hardly remember it now, really."

Is that weird and cliche enough for everyone?

"I give up. I admit it. I'm a Browncoat."

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Wednesday, April 14, 2004 1:06 PM

ZURN

Black and white detective noir would be shiny! Great idea!

I think a traditional Greek tragedy format, with the chorus, the character flaw, and the central character's death would be cool, too...maybe with the main character being Niska and his obsession with Mal leading to his death being the main plot.

Fully loaded, safety off. This
here's a recipe for unpleasantness.

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Wednesday, April 14, 2004 1:28 PM

LISSA

Quote:
Originally posted by BadgersHat:

Maybe a black and white detective noir?

fun idea, but i don't think joss would do it. he doesn't like to do things like that unless he thinks they're justified. i think in a commentary (probably for hush) he mentioned a black and white episode as something he wouldn't do for that reason. not to rain on your parade

the mostly likely thing would probably be a dream episode, but joss would have to make sure it was totally different from restless.

~lissa, spwhore

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Wednesday, April 14, 2004 2:29 PM

WHEDONESQUE

Actually, I kinda thought OiS WAS one of those episodes. It was much more subtle than puppets/spontaneous singing, but that fits with Firefly's more serious tone. I was mesmerised and transported out of the usual Firefly 'reality' during that episode.

I think this thread is really fun. I can't wait to see what other ideas you fellow fans come up with. That being said, I won't even bother to speculate. The true beauty that is JW's brain continues to delight and astound me with ideas that are truly original. I think that is why the fact that this show was cancelled so soon is so upsetting to me. Joss didn't get a chance to flex his massive creative muscle hardly at all. What a shame!

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Thursday, April 15, 2004 6:46 AM

LISSA

Quote:
Originally posted by whedonesque:
Actually, I kinda thought OiS WAS one of those episodes. It was much more subtle than puppets/spontaneous singing, but that fits with Firefly's more serious tone. I was mesmerised and transported out of the usual Firefly 'reality' during that episode.

i definitely agree with that! objects in space is so amazing...it makes me go "oooh!" everytime i watch it lol. it's just...beautiful...sort of in the way that buffy's restless was beautiful.

~lissa, spwhore

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Thursday, April 15, 2004 7:34 AM

EMBERS

yeah, I agree with this too:
I think the closest Joss will come is a show from River's POV (which can get a little wacky)
and/or a dream sequence from someone's (Mal's?) POV
But in both Angel & Buffy the excuse was a magical spell...there could never be any such excuse on 'Firefly'...

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Thursday, April 15, 2004 8:43 AM

MILORADELL

Well, this wouldn't be all the much of a leap - but what about a showdown episode? Straight on show-down with tumbleweed and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly whistling-type music all in sepia tones? With of course people accidently walking out onto the street and then scrambling back indoors.

Sure, we sort-of had a show-down in Jaynestown, but I'm talking classic western Gary Cooper High Noon main street type action.

addendum
And Zoe could wear the dress this time!

****
I know your name, Jackass.

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Thursday, April 15, 2004 9:44 AM

DELIA

Don't know that I can ever see it actually happening, but . . .

An old foe of Jayne's turns up, having heard there's a Jayne Cobb on Serenity. To hide out, Jayne does the old thing he can -- pretends to be a woman. (Since Jayne is a girl's name, even if he does have man parts.)

Like I said, can't quite see it happening, but really fun to think about.

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Thursday, April 15, 2004 10:38 AM

BLAZINGBUG

Oh, the answer was so clear, but I couldn't let it go. I just had to write the whole teaser for the show. Curse you!

TEASER

INT. SALOON - NIGHT

It's a typical saloon on a fringe world, but the kind that caters to men who suddenly come into money. The clientale fits, with miners paying in some kind of raw ore and gamblers and whores seeking to relieve them of any excess. The place is boisterous with music, dancing, whooping, and hollering. A stage can be seen to the back with red velvet curtains.

We follow a WHORE in a dress of the same red velvet as she walks towards the front door where we see MAL, ZOE, WASH, JAYNE, KAYLEE, and SIMON, who appear to have just entered.

ZOE
(to Mal)
Sir, are you sure we should be this public so close to Shanzi's territory?

MAL
For the last time, relax. Y'all did good back there, and you deserve a little R&R. Ain't no way anyone ID'd us, so we're shiny.

JAYNE
(aside to Zoe, as the whore comes up to him with a seductive smile)
Mal's the captain. You really need to learn not to question his orders.

Everyone turns to look at Jayne incredulously. Jayne is engrossed in the attributes of the whore and doesn't see.

JAYNE
See you later.

(to whore, as he walks off)
Do you know how to do the Palastinian Somersault?

SIMON
It's amazing. He never progressed beyond three basic needs; food, shelter, and sex.

WASH
With shelter being optional.

MAL
Let's just get a table. First round's on me.

KAYLEE
Ooo, I want something fruity with a little tiny umbrella in it.

MAL
(walking off towards the bar)
I'll ask if they have that.

Zoe, Wash, Simon, and Kaylee walk over to a table with chairs for six. Wash pulls out a chair for his wife, but Zoe takes a different seat that has its back against a wall and obvously showing she has a good view of the room. Wash rolls his eyes and sits in the chair he pulled out while the others sit as well.

WASH
Curse my failed etiquette. Always pull a chair out for a lady... but only after making sure it's in a defensible position.

ZOE
(sighing)
Honey, I just want to be safe... so we survive to have sex tonight.

WASH
Ah, once more you assuage my bruised ego with your carnal promises, woman.

SIMON
(obviously uncomfortable)
Look, there's going to be a (Chinese: shadow puppet play.)

WASH
Did I ever tell you about my foray into the honored tradition of (Chinese: shadow puppetry.)

ZOE KAYLEE SIMON
Yes! Yes! No.

Kaylee and Zoe both glare at Simon.

WASH
Well, it all started in...

Mal walks up with a tray of drinks. One of which is made out of a hollowed pineapple with a strawberry impaled in the top with a small umbrella.

MAL
Drinks are here. What are you guys talking about?

Mal begins handing out drinks. Kaylee is obviously thrilled at hers.

ZOE
(taking her drink)
My husband was just beginning to regale us with his shadow puppet stories.

MAL
(to Wash coldly)
No. No, he wasn't.

The lights in the room dim and the lights on the stage brighten as Mal sits in the empty seat beside Zoe, also back against the wall with a good view of the room.

KAYLEE
Oh, look, the show is starting.

The others grow quiet and focus on the stage. Zoe leans in to Mal.

ZOE
Sir, are you sure this is safe?

MAL
Zoe, seriously, for the last, last time, no one has any idea we were involved in the trouble on De Liang.

Cut to the PLAYMASTER standing on stage. He is Chinese and in traditional Chinese dress but speaks with a touch of a Southern accent.

PLAYMASTER
Tonight we will be presentin' a brand new play based on current events called... The Trouble at De Liang. And now, Act 1, Serenity's Arrival.

Cut back to table as everyone's head turns towards Mal. Zoom in on Mal.

MAL
Huh.

The next two Acts are performed in shadow puppet style telling the story of what occured on De Liang with the actors voicing their own characters.

"Wacky fun..."

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Thursday, April 15, 2004 10:53 AM

MCFLY

LOL,
I love that idea!

Maybe you should finish up that story a la fanfic.
I was getting all into it there.

Hack the planet!

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Thursday, April 15, 2004 1:52 PM

ANKHAGOGO

Quote:
Originally posted by Zurn:
Black and white detective noir would be shiny! Great idea!

Here's the real reason we'll never get a noir episode, black and white or otherwise:

Because my head would explode seeing everyone dressed in the future version of pinstripes and fedoras. Just saying that is making me a bit woozy.

I do love me some noir.

"You're usin' wiles on me!"

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Thursday, April 15, 2004 1:56 PM

RICHARDECHEANDIA

One word:

Tribbles

Wash: "Wacky Fun"

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Thursday, April 15, 2004 2:39 PM

DORAN

Tribbles would be a more probable type of episode we'd get. Humor is definently important to the show but I just feel like an all musical episode or a show where everyone has to speak in iamic pentameter is not subtle enough for Firelfy.

I'm sure Joss could prove me wrong by somehow managing to weave together an over the top humored show that is believeble, funny, tastful and still manages to remain true to the show. I just can't imagine it right now.

Jaynestown was serious and still really funny though. :O)

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Thursday, April 15, 2004 3:15 PM

RICHARDECHEANDIA

Besides...... I understand Tribbles have smallish droppings.

=======================
Mal: "Is there blubber?"

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Thursday, April 15, 2004 3:21 PM

CYBERSNARK

I'll echo the shadow puppet idea.

What I'd really like is an animé-style episode (like Farscape's "Revenging Angel" but without the silliness). See, 'cause it's animé, you can get away with less silliness than Farscape's Looney Tunes takeoff.

It'd also fit the whole Oriental motif. Just make it someone's dream (probably Jayne or Book, 'cause that'd be funniest).

Hell, the chance to see Kaylee as the kawaii bishoujo we all know she is (big, watery eyes and debilitating cuteness) would most definitely make it all worthwhile.

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Thursday, April 15, 2004 3:26 PM

ZOID

Cybersnark wrote:

Quote:
...What I'd really like is an animé-style episode...

Maybe the episode could be titled "Outlaw Star"?

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Thursday, April 15, 2004 5:25 PM

DRALIONSOLEIL

i've got a crazy idea...and i didn't read through the whole thread, so this might have come up already.
but here goes. so, you know how the crew's big into games for passing the travel time on the ship? well why not have half the group playing an RPG type thing at the table, which oddly enough parodies the hi-jinks that the other half of the crew is currently on. or oohh.. river would be a scary DM...any way i really don't know what i'm talking about since i'm not big into role playing type stuff. but i think that would be funny.

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Thursday, April 15, 2004 6:35 PM

FIREFLYTHEMOVIE

Joss can come up with the details, but all they need to do is go to a planet with odd pastimes. It might even be a planetary holiday, that lasts several days, in which the entire population of the planet (or just the city, maybe) juggles geese and only speaks in riddles. Or something like that. The crew would be baffled by the entire thing (kind of like the "So, last night, did anyone else...break into song?") I have faith in Joss. I just don't know if he'll get the chance.

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Thursday, April 15, 2004 6:57 PM

VETERAN

Don't squat with your spurs on.

How about "Firefly the Muscial?"

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Thursday, April 15, 2004 7:09 PM

I think it would be good if someone had a dream or fell unconscious and everyone switched places...like Book's the doctor and Kaylee's the companion or Mal's the mechanic...something like that.

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Thursday, April 15, 2004 7:09 PM

I think it would be good if someone had a dream or fell unconscious and everyone switched places...like Book's the doctor and Kaylee's the companion or Mal's the mechanic...something like that.

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