So Why Are YOU So Hooked On Firefly? by dietcoke

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

So Why Are YOU So Hooked On Firefly?

POSTED BY: DIETCOKE
UPDATED: Thursday, October 21, 2004 00:28
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 4949
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Monday, October 18, 2004 4:23 PM

I would love to know why everyone else has got hooked on Firefly or Joss Whedon. For me it was by accident. As a corporate type, former classically trained actress, and now middle-aged woman, I would never in a million years watch something so silly! But I was channel surfing and saw a green faced guy singing a beautiful song. I then saw a beautiful guy trying, oh so painfully to sing a Barry Mannalow song. What the *(#*(#%& is that???? Angel shows took me to Buffy and then Firefly (which I first read on-line and then had to buy the DVD.)

Okay, for me it's the great acting, (former actress thing) direction, (former director as well) and the best writing since, well.... I'm thinking Noel Coward but it could be before then.

At the end of the day, it's all about the words. Joss loves word play and REAL drama. Dang, I NEVER cry watching TV! I like to be surprised and he always surprises me!

I have NEVER been a fan of ANYTHING! I liked watching Carson when I was seven but never sent in box tops or anything like that.

So what is YOUR story?

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Monday, October 18, 2004 4:47 PM

MALICIOUS

DC!

I have a very vivid imagination. When I read a good book, I am "in" it, as an additional character, as it were. Very few tv shows can do that for me, but Firefly did. I felt as if I were another crew member, one they just don't mention much. (Or, at all.) I was one of the gang, and belonged in the group. I didn't feel like I was just watching another sci fi show on the idiot box, you know? Well, that's my story.

Mal-licious

Co-Holder of the Red Bell from Hell

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Monday, October 18, 2004 4:50 PM

DIETCOKE

Like your story! So glad to meet you at the PA Shindig! We need more Shindigs.

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Monday, October 18, 2004 5:24 PM

GOJIRO

For me, it was the total package: writing, directing, acting, cinematography, concept, humor, setting -- everything. It's not often you find a *good* show on TV, much less a *great* show, a near *perfect* show.

Out of Gas is the best of the best, IMHO.

gojiro

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Monday, October 18, 2004 5:33 PM

DIETCOKE

You said it all! It has something for everyone and it's done brilliantly.

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Monday, October 18, 2004 5:50 PM

DACUTE1

Character interactions.

I've liked the way that Joss writes characters since Buffy. Not only does he have great characters that work wonderfully together, but they actually develop. We saw 14 episodes of Firefly but in that time we saw complete strangers turn into a crew that trust each other for survival. I'm not saying it's a big happy family, and it shouldn't, it's better that we see the interactions change from one character to the next.

Example is the way that Mal acts/reacts to each character during Out of Gas. He tells Jayne, do this, Jayne does that. It's the way Jayne works, give him an order. Wash, scream at him long enough for him to figure it out himself. Kaylee you scream at she hides in the corner, you talk to her, try to work it out with her and she can help you.

The writing is brilliant, of course pair that up with a cast that works wonderfully together and who enjoy what they're doing. Lighting, sounds, production, yaddy doddy, it really is a whole package. But the stand out is the writing of characters as individuals and as a cast.

Kaylee: Wash, tell me I'm pretty
Wash: Were I unwed I would take you in a manly fashion
Kaylee: 'Cause I'm pretty?
Wash: 'Cause you're pretty

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Monday, October 18, 2004 5:52 PM

KAYLEEFRYE

It started for me way back when I was a youngin, watching Buffy. From there I got into Angel, and whe I heard Joss (the Geniusman) was making another show, I had to check it out. And it blew me away. Even more than Buffy (a close second for me, after Firefly). The entire series of Buffy was able to make me laugh a lot, and cry twice. Firefly, in it's far-too-short life, gave me all the laughter, the anger, the giddy love, and the crying that Buffy was able to give me over the course of seven seasons. Not to cheapen Buffy in anyway, because I love that show, but I think Firefly is, all around (writing, directing, cinematography, acting, etc) not only the best thing that Joss has ever made, but quite possibly the best thing to ever grace a television.

And it makes me so angry that Fox just let go! Imagine what Joss could have done with even one more season! Oh, it makes me mad . . . *deep breaths* But Serenity will show Fox the errors of it's ways. The Browncoats will see to that!

Right, longwindedly, there is my reason. It stems mostly from my knowledge of Joss' total genius-osity.

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Monday, October 18, 2004 5:59 PM

DIETCOKE

Excellent! Said it all!!!

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Monday, October 18, 2004 6:09 PM

ROBNOTRICK

Well as far as Firefly goes, I watched it out of loyalty to Joss, even though the promos were decidedly dodgy. The Train Job didn't thrill me, but there was enough there to have me come back - and with Our Mrs Reynolds, I was hooked. I knew I was hopelessly lost when I failed to tape Objects in Space while out on a Friday night, and it almost brought me to tears.

I discovered Joss through Buffy, and I can't remember exactly when that hooked me. It was somewhere around the late 3rd season that I first encountered it, but I think "Superstar" was when I started watching religiously. By that time I knew enough about the show to go "To wubba who..." and be amazed and thrilled by how twisted that episode was. Then I went back to the DVDs. Now I'm doing the same with Angel, which is enthralling me on DVD in a way it didn't first time around, which is why I stopped watching midway through Season 1. That proved to be a big mistake.

Although I am also currently watching DS9, Dark Angel and Stargate SG-1 on DVD, so its a bit of a slow process. Which I am deliberately dragiing out so I have more new Joss shows to watch for a long time to come.

Think that covers the how...

As to the why...

Easy. These shows are the total package. Writing. Directing. Acting. Not always perfect, but as close as I've ever seen TV come on such a regular basis. And I love TV.

Rob
taylorrd1
RobNotRick

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Monday, October 18, 2004 6:11 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

I don't know.

Ok,it kinda defies explanation. I was only casually interested in Buffy/Angel. I'd phase in and out of interest with those shows, not really becoming fixated 'till the last few episodes of Angel. And I have to admit, that some of that interest was seeing Firefly actors - hee hee.

As for Firefly? The whole concept was just so different, and the characters had some depth to them to which I could relate. Also, with so much going on - River's past, Book's past, love interest between Simon and Kaylee, Mal and Inara, Reavers!, ..there's no end to what one could expect next!

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

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Monday, October 18, 2004 6:26 PM

NYWOE

I could tell you why I love Firefly, but I couldn't tell you why I'm SO hooked on it. I was also skeptical when I first heard of the show (especially when I heard rumors that it was "less funny" than Buffy-- boy were they off!), but I watched because I figured I should give Joss a shot.

I think Out of Gas made me realize that this was the best televison show ever made, and then we were hit with the 1 - 2 action of Ariel and War Stories. How could you not fall in love?

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Monday, October 18, 2004 8:36 PM

WESLEYWYNDHAM

What everyone else said. The characterisation, acting, and most of all, the writing and dialogue. Just look at how many people have one-liners from the show in their sig

But for me, knowing that the characters will *change* over the seasons (or would have) is one of the best reasons. You never know what sort of trauma Joss is going to put his little creations through, but you know they will be changed by it, for better or worse. And we get to see these characters develop and become more complex.

David.

"My food is problematic."

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Tuesday, October 19, 2004 3:01 AM

COSMICFUGITIVE

It's pretty much what everyone else says too.

I've grown up watching Buffy and Angel and enjoying the high quality of both shows. Although I came across Firefly by accident. Curiousity got the better of me after I'd heard too much good stuff about it.

I've never been a fan of any kind of Westerns (especially space westerns), but the show clicked on so many of the levels already mentioned.

The mystery and the down to earth, natural quality of the characters wasn't something I'd seen in a lot of other shows. It was appealing.

It shouldn't work but it does...

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Tuesday, October 19, 2004 3:34 AM

THEREALME

What everyone has said so far applies to me, too. The writing, directing, even the SFX were great.

But the characters are the key, I think. Is there any one of them that did not show a hidden side, or surprise us with a depth that was not initially apparent?

The Real Me

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Tuesday, October 19, 2004 3:45 AM

BROWNCOAT1

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

The first thing that really reeled me in was Mal kicking Crow through the port engine of Serenity. I knew Firefly was something special at that moment.

I really watched Firefly from then on out. The acting, the writing, the realism all really drove the show home for me. This was Joss's masterpiece for me, surpassing his work on Buffy & Angel. The chemistry of the cast, coupled w/ the writing really made the show magical.

The underlying them of the show is freedom, something that each of enjoys, but few really give much thought until is infringed upon. I can appreciate the need by the crew to stay free and to stay one step ahead of a centralized oppressive government. To me freedom is the most important basic right we have, and the story of characters that fought for freedom and lost, and their efforts to stay free is something I really enjoy.

__________________________________________

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

Richmond, VA & surrounding area Firefly Meet Up:
http://firefly.meetup.com/9/boards/

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Tuesday, October 19, 2004 4:41 AM

CYBERSNARK

For me, it all comes back to Willow.

One night, in college, I was channel-surfing and came across this staggeringly cute redhead.

Willow got me hooked on Buffy, That got me to take a look at Angel, and by the time Firefly got started I had already decided that I was in for the duration.

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

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Tuesday, October 19, 2004 5:04 AM

SABACEANBABE

Why am I hooked on Firefly?

Frelling faboo writing, acting, directing, stories, characters, relationships...

Firefly, like Farscape, has brains, heart, and soul and it doesn't talk down to its viewers. I like that in a show.

Nebari mental cleansing doesn't get the tough stains out.

In the immortal words of Socrates, "I drank what?"

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Tuesday, October 19, 2004 5:25 AM

SLOWHAND

Well, I have never been a Buffy or Angel fan. Sorry. But Firefly grabbed me and didn't let go!

I don't even think of it as a TV show. It's hard to explain. It's not tv, and it's not a movie. It's a world. A great story with great characters. Every character is needed. And it wouldn't be the same without Nathan, Gina, Adam, Alan, Morena, Sean, Summer, Jewel, and Ron! And of course Joss and his amazing crew!

It has everything. I have laughed and cried in the same episode! No other show has done that. You just feel a bond to each of the characters. It's like someone else said, you feel like part of the crew! All you gotta do is hop onboard Serenity, and you're home!

Kaylee: Is that him?
Mal: That's the buffet table.
Kaylee: Well, how can we be sure, unless we question it?
Mal: Go ahead. Just don't make yourself sick.

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Tuesday, October 19, 2004 8:41 AM

MALICIOUS

Quote:
Originally posted by Slowhand:
It's like someone else said, you feel like part of the crew!

Hey! That "someone else" is ME! I'd appreciate some credit for it too. How about a footnote or something there, ol buddy, ol pal? We can't have people plagarizing me all over the place! Think of the chaos and anarchy and stuff.

Mal-licious

Co-Holder of the Red Bell from Hell

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Tuesday, October 19, 2004 8:42 AM

SPOOKYJESUS

In short - I'm a really lonely guy and it makes me really happy.

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Tuesday, October 19, 2004 11:10 AM

the movie is not the Series. Only the facts have been changed, to irritate the innocent; the names of the actors and characters remain the same

My name is YT, and I am not a Joss Whedon fan.

I think BrownCoat1's reasons (aside from other JW series) come closest to mine. I know the hook went in the first time Serenity fled from an Alliance cruiser: good physics. Most of the writing, direction, acting, technical support, are great, but I've seen better, even that same season. Firefly has flaws, yet somehow, it always adds up to so much more than the sum of its parts. By the end of the pilot, Joss had landed me. I cared about those people, and their situation(s).

Not characters . . . people.

Keep the Shiny Side Up

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Tuesday, October 19, 2004 6:17 PM

SHEPHERDQ

I have said before I became hooked by the end of the first 20 minutes of the pilot. SO hooked became when I saw the cast work together and be comfortable with the characters as if they worked together for years with these chatacters. Yes, all the things mentioned before, writing, humor CGI, etc etc.. but also, it was done with fun yet care.. it became believable that somehow if we wandered this earth, we just might find a port with Serenity sitting there waiting. Believable for tomorrows that yes, greedy will stay greedy, but good people will still strive.
Also I think that many feel that most of the cast were not major stars with egos bigger than the black. But actors that are good people and perhaps we ( browncoats ) will be able, in the near future, to point and say... I was there and supported them at the big start that showed off the actors skills.

The Journey is the worthier part.
www.southdownabbey.com

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Wednesday, October 20, 2004 7:31 PM

DINGOACTION

It's everything that's been said, the characters, the writing, the acting, above all, the way it's shot. Not just the directing, but the cinematography--it's a fun show to watch. And there is so much to see...the attention to detail is astounding.

Also, like malicious said (look! credit!), you really feel like the love the crew has for one another includes you. Now, I'm not sure where on the crew I'd fit...maybe I'm the cook Mal mentioned hiring in OoG. How hard can it be to whip together protein?

---
There'll be my side and your side! My side your side!

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Wednesday, October 20, 2004 11:32 PM

MALICIOUS

Dingoaction!

Thank you so much for the credit! I can't wait to see the compensation and residual checks inundate my mailbox.....

Mal-licious

Co-Holder of the Red Bell from Hell

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Thursday, October 21, 2004 12:28 AM

DAIKATH

For me it is all the things wich has been said before (writing,. acting, family etc) but also the feel of the show.

You can really feel for them and their struggle. I even got goosebumps for example in Heart of Gold when Malcom walks in on Inara's friend while she is dead. This isn't for the actual event but rather Mal with his big gun, the way the light falls down in the room creating a very special vibe (combined with the family feel, writing, acting etc).

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