'The Message' : Once too often? by Giskard

FIREFLY EPISODE DISCUSSIONS

'The Message' : Once too often?

POSTED BY: GISKARD
UPDATED: Saturday, January 28, 2006 20:28
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Thursday, January 19, 2006 5:17 PM

The whole "When you can't run....." if I remember correctly, it was repeated 3 times. Twice in the recording and once by the boy.

The 2nd and third ones were too closely placed and sort of irritated me. Though the wonderfully sentimental way the last scene was shot sort of helped make up for it.

Did anyone else feel the same way?

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Thursday, January 19, 2006 6:02 PM

HOGWAFFLE

actaully i love how often they repeat it =)

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Thursday, January 19, 2006 7:39 PM

EPECKMIO

i love it as well, and notice how you actually don't know how it ends until the ending?

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Thursday, January 19, 2006 7:55 PM

OOKAMIKAWAHARA

The thing is that it is true. If your in combat that is how it plays out and the truth needs to be drummed into some peoples heads here. Combat ain't a pretty thing whether in real life or even training for it. I loved it, some body had a take on the line where they ended it with Bukkake. No I'm not gonna translate it and yes it is pretty heavy (read explict)

Surren know enough Japanese to get myself into and out of trouble

mata, Ookami yori

Strike, strike, and strike again cause these Alliance boys are a starten to crumble. Surren ain't nothen to it.

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Thursday, January 19, 2006 7:59 PM

N0SKILLZ

I didn't like it cause Tracys voice was just WAY to annoying to me. but a good quote tho...

-------------------------------

RAF Lakenheath

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Friday, January 20, 2006 9:39 PM

OIAMSLAIN

I understand it was supposed to be affecting and all but I think Whedon & Minear really overdid it with this ep, which was surprisingly and really disappointing.

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Sunday, January 22, 2006 4:32 AM

NUCLEARDAY

Well, 3 tends to be the magic number right? Think I remember hearing that somewhere. Like in big speeches, you try to make three points in higher and higher levels of emphasis, etc. "I came, I saw, I conquered," for example.

Come to think of it, isn't that quote in three parts? (Can't remember off-hand the exact phrase, so I could be wrong, tends to happen quite often. :)

1)"When you can't run you walk"
2)"When you can't walk you crawl."
3)"When you can't crawl..." (Sorry, but I get all foggy-eyed when I hear the whole thing, so forgive me for not completing it... but, well, you know the rest :)
Anyways, the rule of 3 tends to be a guideline writers and such use for dramatic purposes. It's kind of like the golden rectangle in visual art, not a steadfast rule but something to fall back on in times of need.

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Sunday, January 22, 2006 3:38 PM

QWERTY

I have to admit, the one thing about this episode that bugged me was that if they'd let Tracey in on what they were planning from the get-go, he would never have had to die.

Why didn't they just tell Tracey that they knew the "Alliance" guys were out of their jurisdiction, and knew that they didn't have to turn Tracey over? That way, Tracey could've just returned to his family, and no one would've really been the wiser?

This is just a little something that has bugged ever since I watched the epi.

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Monday, January 23, 2006 11:31 AM

FARAMIR

Quote:
Originally posted by qwerty:
I have to admit, the one thing about this episode that bugged me was that if they'd let Tracey in on what they were planning from the get-go, he would never have had to die.

Why didn't they just tell Tracey that they knew the "Alliance" guys were out of their jurisdiction, and knew that they didn't have to turn Tracey over? That way, Tracey could've just returned to his family, and no one would've really been the wiser?

This is just a little something that has bugged ever since I watched the epi.

I agree, a bad note to an otherwise usually outstanding series. Just tell him "Dude, chill, we have this plan, see. They're out of their jurisdiction...."

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Monday, January 23, 2006 11:41 AM

PURPLEBELLY

With due respect, I think you're missing the point -- twice.

The homily has to be repeated:
when Tracey learns it
when Tracey uses it to play the crew
when Tracey uses it genuinely
when Tracey's grieving parents derive false comfort from it.

The crew don't share their plan with Tracey because they always have thought that he's a worthless piece of shit who's likely to get everyone killed -- they give succour out of loyalty to a comrade, not because he's wonderful human being.

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Monday, January 23, 2006 12:45 PM

FARAMIR

Quote:
The crew don't share their plan with Tracey because they always have thought that he's a worthless piece of shit who's likely to get everyone killed -- they give succour out of loyalty to a comrade, not because he's wonderful man being.

I could maybe see that initially, but after he starts shooting and has Kaylee as a hostage, it would seem MUCH easier to just tell him rather than have to shoot him.

But that's just me.

Shiny!

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Monday, January 23, 2006 12:48 PM

CBY

Quote:
Originally posted by Giskard:
Did anyone else feel the same way?

*raises arm* (my own I mean)

°°°°°°°°°°°°
http://www.byond-trax.com - my selfmade ambient/lounge/chillout music

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Tuesday, January 24, 2006 8:41 PM

FORGOTN

Have to agree that it wasn't my favorite episode, but you have to remember that The Message was the last episode they shot and that the show had allready been canceled. Some things, like Wash going postal when he had to fly around the mountain pass, were done for the hell of it. Tracey not being told the plan was what was needed for the episode, not what was the most logical. I personally think that they were going for the whole "Tracey didn't give them the chance to tell him the plan because he jumped to a conclusion because he believed the worst about everyone because he believed the worst about himself" angle but it just didn't really come out right.

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Saturday, January 28, 2006 8:28 PM

FATHOUNDDAWG

I'd have to say, again, that you're missing the point here. If Tracy had been in on the plot, the episode wouldn't have had the same effect at all.

Tracy - and the audience, really - doesn't realize until it's too late just how deep the loyalty goes. As was said, he might not be the best of guys or their best buddy by any means, but he came to them for help. The clues are there regarding what's up, but if you don't pay attention (because, say, you're Tracy and you're panicked) you miss them. Plus who can resist thwarting the Alliance?

I thought it was an extremely poignant episode. It couldn't have been the same if Tracy had known. Less sad, sure, but lacking.

--------------------
Zoe: "I don't think she'd harm anyone."
Jayne: "Butcher knife!"
Zoe: "Anyone we can't spare."

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