Heresy? by Reginald

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Heresy?

POSTED BY: REGINALD
UPDATED: Wednesday, August 2, 2006 07:15
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VIEWED: 2540
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Tuesday, August 1, 2006 2:18 PM

Okay, I'm going to say it. I don't want a Serenity sequel.

Let me state my qualifications: I am a diehard Firefly fan. I've watched the entire series nine times through now, and every time it gets better than the first. The characters become more nuanced. I notice foreshadowing that I didn't pick up on before. Even picking up on little editorial oversites just makes it a richer exerience each and every time.

That said, what I love most about Firefly is the characters I care about, each with their own foibles and special relationships with the others.

A sequel would therefore be a different experience entirely...many of the characters are either not around, or fundamentally changed, losing the things about them that I loved most. Wash is dead...so no more arguments between him and Zoe, no more wisecracks, no more thinly-veiled insults leveled at Jane. Book, certainly a character that didn't have enough time to be developed sufficiently during the series, nonetheless brought a sort of moral compass to the crew that made it interesting. And, we'll never get to see how his past with the alliance pans out.

River. I love her craziness, her unpridectibility. All that's gone...and what we have now is a character smarter than the captain, more lethal than Jane and Zoe combined, and a reader, to boot. Not to mention, I'm sure that given a couple days she could learn to be a better mechanic than Kaley or a better doctor than Simon. In essence, why do you need anyone else, when you've got River?

Therefore, the very foundation of what, in my opinion, made the show so wonderful, so sublime, has been shaken to the very core...irrevocably.

Joss & Co., of course, did the best they possibly could. I'm glad the movie came out. I'm glad I saw it. But it also seems to me like certain compromises had to be made to make it palatable to a Hollywood audience...sleeker outfits...polished guns...everything seemed just too..."shiny," but not in a way faithful to the show.

It had to be this way, of course, but still, I think it best just to enjoy it for what it is, and recognize it for what it is, rather than speculate on what it might become. Because it's already become everything it could given the nimrods at FOX. I think that Joss & CO. did everything they could given the unfavorable circumstances. But now...it just isn't the same crew I love.

On another note, I always ask this, but are there any browncoats in Cairo, Egypt?

http://thrugbhat.livejournal.com/

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Tuesday, August 1, 2006 2:29 PM

BABYWITHTHEPOWER

I actually have to agree with you. River, in effect, has become a Deus Ex Machina, a solution to almost every possible plot point they could face. As much as it pains me to admit it, you're right.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'll be in my bunk.

"Live with a man forty years. Share his house, his meals, speak on every subject. Then, tie him up and hold him over the volcano's edge--and on that day, you will finally meet the man." ~ Shan Yu

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Tuesday, August 1, 2006 3:01 PM

SPACECOYOTE

I think that Firefly is a good enough show that could adapt to new characters and situations. For a show with so many dimensions I'd find it hard to imagine that the loss of a few characters and plots twists could sustain its originality. I guess there's only one way to find out.

_________________
A dog that @#$%s fast doesn't @#$% long

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Tuesday, August 1, 2006 3:05 PM

GUYWHOWANTSAFIREFLYOFHISOWN

I would think that River is still somewhat addled, after all, the Alliance stripped her amygdala, (prolly misspelled as spell check don't recognize it) that HAS to interfere with proper (read: not crazy) brain function.

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/llama.php
-try it out, I dare you

98% of teens have smoked pot, if you are one of the 2% that haven't, copy this into your signature

I'm so into Firefly, my butt glows in the dark.

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Tuesday, August 1, 2006 3:07 PM

ASARIAN

Quote:
Originally posted by Reginald:

... In essence, why do you need anyone else, when you've got River?

You're hitting all the selling points! :) I could stand to see a little more of her.

--
"Mei-mei, everything I have is right here." -- Simon Tam

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Tuesday, August 1, 2006 3:12 PM

KANEMAN

Why would a new movie have to follow the end of Serenity? Are there stories that could be told before Maranda? Serenity didn't start after Objects in space.

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Tuesday, August 1, 2006 3:35 PM

DARKJESTER

I know there are others, even those who love being Browncoats, who would agree with you. I even know one who says he's a Firefly fan, not a Browncoat, because he feels betrayed by the movie, by the deaths and character changes.

I had the same questions before the BDM came out. We had the series, shortened as it was. The stories told in the episodes set firm boundaries around the characters, and I was afraid that some fans wouldn't be able to enjoy anything outside those boundaries, even if it came directly from Joss.

To make it short, I disagree. I will take the 'verse however Joss dishes it out (comics, movies, novels, morse code...) because I love the characters and the stories Joss tells with them. Even if he rips my heart out doing it.

MAL "You only gotta scare him."
JAYNE "Pain is scary..."

http://www.fireflytalk.com - Big Damn Podcast

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Tuesday, August 1, 2006 4:12 PM

KANEMAN

And joss has already stated he had a lot more stories to tell with those characters. Why were Inara and Book not on Serenity? Blue hands? etc..
I think they could easily make a movie with Wash and Book still in it.

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Tuesday, August 1, 2006 6:24 PM

BABYWITHTHEPOWER

Quote:
Originally posted by kaneman:
Why were Inara and Book not on Serenity? Blue hands?

Read Serenity: Those Left Behind. All three of those questions are answered. And don't forget, Inara wanted to leave Serenity because of what happened in the episode 'Heart of Gold'.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'll be in my bunk.

"Live with a man forty years. Share his house, his meals, speak on every subject. Then, tie him up and hold him over the volcano's edge--and on that day, you will finally meet the man." ~ Shan Yu

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Wednesday, August 2, 2006 2:33 AM

DEEPGIRL187

I can't say I agree, though your opinion is a valid one.

It's true that Serenity won't be the same without Wash and Book. But I don't think that completely destroys any other stories that could be told. Joss is pretty masterful at carrying on without favorite characters (just look at Buffy and Angel), so I wouldn't give up hope yet.

You also said "In essence, why do you need anyone else, when you've got River?" Well for starters, just because River can do all these things doesn't mean she should or would. I sincerely doubt River would opt to take over other crew member's duties. Serenity ceases to be a ship or a home without it's crew.

And I also think you're giving her too much credit when you say that all her craziness is gone. River will carry the experiences from the Academy with her for the rest of her life. That's bound to be traumatic for anyone. And being a reader won't just be a walk in the park for her either. She'll still need time to master her powers, and that is something that may never happen. And think about the fight with the Reavers. When everyone first got into the complex, she had a great deal of difficulty blocking them out. That is a situation that could possibly happen again. So she really isn't that infallible.

I understand not wanting another film, but I don't think it's an impossible feat either.

**************************************************

"See, this is a sign of your tragic space dementia. All paranoid and crotchety, it breaks the heart."

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Wednesday, August 2, 2006 2:49 AM

ARBAS

It would be nice to get more but I've said on other forums that maybe the excellent series and movie should be enough, at least this way the series will never "jump the shark" maybe continue the 'verse in novels and in a few years and after a few big money movie successes Joss can revisit the crew and show us how they got along after Serenity ...

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Wednesday, August 2, 2006 3:17 AM

FOLLOWMAL

Succinctly... I disagree with you Reginald.

I trust Joss. To take me on whatever story telling ride he cares to and I'll go along.

And Asarian is right... .more River.. that's a good thing. And more Mal too!

Chrisisall wrote on another post one time...

"the 'verse is unfolding as it should" or something to that effect...

and I believe that is so.

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

Click here www.fireflyfans.net for info about the Serenity Summer Campaign and how you can help!

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Wednesday, August 2, 2006 4:01 AM

PURPLEBELLY

I'm looking forward to sequels that contain none of the original human characters or cast. The advantage to Whedon of the eponymous heroine of both Firefly and Serenity is that tales of the 'Verse are Independent of casting.

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Wednesday, August 2, 2006 4:03 AM

YINYANG

You were busy trying to get yourself lit on fire. It happens.

Joss has secrets - many secrets. Say, Inara's entire past. Why wasn't she on Sihnon, a planet she clearly loves? What was in her vial in Serenity (the episode, not the movie)?

And, as has been already stated, I trust Joss. Hell, I might even trust him with my life. And, remember - he loves the 'verse just as much as we do. He is the Creator.

Even if it's in his mind to have River do everything, I don't care - in this case, there is no 'too much of a good thing.' There will never be enough.

---

Forgive me, for I am new.

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Wednesday, August 2, 2006 6:47 AM

MICJWELCH

Quote:
Originally posted by Reginald:
River. I love her craziness, her unpridectibility. All that's gone...

Simon said that she was a bit of a trickster even before the "academy." Always a bit weird. Wish I could remember his exact words. I tend to think that she would be even funnier now that she can think straight. Remember how much she laughed when she tricked the Bounty Hunter into thinking she was the ship? I think that's standard behavior for her.

As for Wash and Book, well, if we get into that we'll have a huge debate on our hands... (ahem.. steering column... cough...)

I trust Joss Whedon with the story. Buffy and Angel changed a lot over the seasons they were on. But it didn't fundamentally change the shows. It's his show.

On a side note - I think the only reason Book wasn't on the ship in the movie is because it would have been hard to explain to the audience.

"We may experience some slight turbulence, and then... explode."

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Wednesday, August 2, 2006 6:54 AM

DEEPGIRL187

Quote:
Originally posted by yinyang:
Hell, I might even trust him with my life.

I don't know about that. I love Joss dearly, but I like me too. Remember Wash? Book? Various characters on Buffy and Angel? Joss can be quite evil when he wants to be...

**************************************************

"See, this is a sign of your tragic space dementia. All paranoid and crotchety, it breaks the heart."

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Wednesday, August 2, 2006 7:13 AM

YINYANG

You were busy trying to get yourself lit on fire. It happens.

Quote:
I don't know about that. I love Joss dearly, but I like me too. Remember Wash? Book? Various characters on Buffy and Angel? Joss can be quite evil when he wants to be...

Oh, but a Joss death is usually interesting. It would be fun if he'd write mine.

---

Forgive me, for I am new.

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Wednesday, August 2, 2006 7:15 AM

CYBERSNARK

Quote:
Originally posted by Reginald:
no more thinly-veiled insults leveled at Jane.

Oh, there'll still be thinly-veiled insults directed at Jayne.

People are lining up for that, I'd imagine.

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

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