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Originally posted by malinara21:
I must begin this (warning, rather long) post with a story. I sat down today to watch the newest episode of Chuck (Adam Baldwin's Agent Casey certainly has his Jayne moments). I consider myself a fan of the show, and have not missed an episode since its debut. The first season in particular was funny, sappy, and action-filled in just the right amounts. Agree or disagree if you wish, but that's just my opinion.

Today's episode, however, was rather weak. In fact, towards the finale of the episode, I found myself wishing the damn thing would just end. Now I know that TV shows, much like everything else in life, have their ups and downs, but this has been an ongoing trend in Chuck lately. Whether or not that show has jumped the shark is not what I want to discuss here. What I want to discuss is whether a similar phenomenon would've happened with our beloved Firefly, had we been fortunate enough to be blessed with more seasons.

I think we're all in agreement that Firefly was something special. With the possible exception of some episodes of Battlestar Galactica (and some would argue that that show, too, may have jumped the shark), I have never been so enthralled and endeared by a TV program. I cared for River and her trauma, laughed at Jayne and his often hilarious hijinx, and wished so very dearly (hopeless romantic that I am) that Mal and Inara would just allow themselves to fall in love.

Would Firefly have fallen victim to the same problem that has befallen Chuck? The episodes we were blessed with were great, but what if the next ten were not? Joss is a great writer, but what if, heaven forbid, he lost his passion for the universe and it showed in his writing? What if Firefly jumped the shark in its second season, perhaps after the revelation that Sheperd Book is, in fact, an alien from the planet Whedonon IV, sent from the future to eliminate River before she brings about the end of the Alliance?

My argument, thus, is this: that the cancellation of Firefly has a silver lining to it, and that is we never had to fear it jumping the shark. Do we pay more attention to fireworks or to desk lamps? Both provide light. The immortal desk lamp is steady and reliable, but the evanescent fireworks are captivating and enthralling.

I'd rather have the fireworks.

Obviously, the tragedy of the situation is that there are some stories which will never be told. The hopefully non-alien Sheperd Book will always remain a mystery (at least for now) and the sweeping Mal and Inara romance I long so dearly for will only take place in the realm of fanfic. But is this not also a gift? We have this world, these characters to play with, to imagine in this situation or that one. What will happen the next time Jayne's loyalty is tested? When Simon runs out of meds the second Zoe is shot? When the browncoats inevitably rise again? We can decide.

If there is consolation to be found in the fact that the show is no longer running, it is this: that Firefly will always burn brightly, simply because it never had a chance to burn out.

...man, I tend to ramble. Sorry.

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Originally posted by malinara21:

I'd rather have the fireworks.

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