Fireflyfans vs. DVD episode order by iled

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Fireflyfans vs. DVD episode order

POSTED BY: ILED
UPDATED: Wednesday, June 16, 2004 11:45
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Tuesday, June 15, 2004 2:00 PM

I've read through about 15 latest threads concerning the best episode order for Firefly. The most recent ones seem to say that the DVD order is the right order, the order meant by Joss Whedon. However, this website, Fireflyfans.net, lists the episodes in a different order.

The only difference is whether episodes Heart Of Gold & Objects In Space come before episodes Trash & The Messsage, or not. On the DVDs, the order is Trash-Msg-HoG-OiS. Fireflyfans suggests the order HoG-OiS-Trash-Msg.

Now after seeing Firefly (in the very annoying incorrect order of original airdates, thanks to MTV3 in Finland) I must say that the DVD order also might be a bit better for continuity. The DVD order is also used in Wikipedia and FireflyWiki.

So I'm confused. Why does fireflyfans.net still list the episodes in it's own order, not the same as the DVD release?

I honestly found no arguments as to why it is so. I can only guess (from the numerous episode order threads) that the order was decided before the DVD release, and simply hasn't been corrected yet since the release. If that is the case, I hope it will be corrected soon to avoid confusion.

But if I'm just a lousy searcher, and the arguments for this order are presented somewhere on this message board, please be at least kind enough to point me to the right thread.

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Tuesday, June 15, 2004 2:39 PM

JERSEYBROWNCOAT

I'm pretty sure that the Fireflyfans.net order strictly demonstrates production order and nothing else. Of course, that's also a remnant of the pre-DVD days, when "preferred viewing order" was still in debate.

Now, I know I'm a mere few clicks away from seeing what the overseas airing order was, as that may also have bearing. But I'm not quite in right mind to figure out where where at the moment, on account of my brain being missin' at the moment. Anyone who can chime in with such a notion?

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Tuesday, June 15, 2004 6:21 PM

PURPLEBELLY

I'd like to suggest that there is no correct viewing order, because there wasn't a conventional season with completed arcs. It is probably useful to see Serenity in pilot position. There is some sense of continuity in either of the 'main' orderings. An awareness of the original order is useful too, in the context of the accomodations the writers tried to make to the Network. But apart from that, fourteen episodes shouldn't be too large a number for one head to manage.

If my experience is any help, I met Firefly through usenet - I don't have TV, and this was before DVD release. So I first saw the second half of the pilot, and then episodes every-which-a-way dependent on the generosity of others. I haven't noticed that it's done me irreparable damage,and after the fifth cycle, you can't remember the initial order.

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Wednesday, June 16, 2004 12:22 AM

RAWDEAL

I have the same problem because of MTV3 (I'm in Estonia) and after having ordered the DVDs I want to figure out how to watch them

----------------
Jayne: "Know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I beat you with till you understand who's in command."

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Wednesday, June 16, 2004 2:29 AM

ANTHONYT

Freedom is Important because People are Important

I have heard that Joss Whedon changed a line of script in the DVDs to make his preferred order the correct order.

In the original airing, this line of script was unchanged, and thus the Fireflyfans order might make more sense.

If you have the DVD, watch them in the DVD order.
If you are downloading/watching the original aired episodes, go ahead and use the Fireflyfans order, which was based on the original aired version.

--Anthony

"Liberty must not be purchased at the cost of Humanity." --Captain Robert Henner

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Wednesday, June 16, 2004 3:02 AM

ILED

It's a good point that there really is no correct order, as the original airing order, production order and the DVD release order are all different. However, although Firefly's season 1 is quite episodic in nature, and there is no large story arc, I do see some developement in crew relationships, especially with Jayne, Simon, Kaylee, Malcolm, Inara... um, well almost all of them. :)

Now I haven't yet watched the series in the DVD order, so I don't know whether the relationship developement makes better sense in the DVD order or not. However I do think Heart of Gold makes much more sense as the second last episode, rather than the fourth last as Fireflyfans endorsed production order presents it.

As for Fireflyfans having the episodes in production order - I do see some good logic there, especially if the correct episode order cannot be determined. However, with the episode order mess Firefly is in, I believe this site should try to reduce the confusion, and quickly and clearly convey a good, established episode order to watch Firefy in. There are still people coming in that are new to Firefly, and ready to become fans - for example me. It's not really about whether one episode order is better than others, it's about there being one episode order people can accept as a correct order.

Right now I believe Fireflyfans.net is only confusing the episode order mess even more, by presenting a third competing episode order (the production order) to the DVD and airdate orders. And when there is confusion about the episode order even in the fan base, newcomers can't trust any provided order, and simply get more confused. If Fireflyfans would also present the DVD order as the correct one, newcomers could easily accept this as the best order to watch the series - and get to watching the series and becoming fans rather than wondering about the episode order.

This site looks like a convincing fan site, and gets the first result on a google search "Firefly". I believe that makes it just as high authority on the episode order as airdate and DVD. If Fireflyfans.net and DVD release (and Wikipedia and FireflyWiki) would have the same order, the message would be clear - this is the correct order, the airdates were screwed up. Currently however people don't know whether the DVD order was also screwed up or not, and which place they should trust.

So after this rather extensive (and also somewhat repetitive) post, I make a request that Fireflyfans.net changes the order it presents the episodes for Firefly season 1 to match the episode order on the Firefly DVD release. If this episode order is mostly a remnant of pre-DVD days, there is no reason the keep it anymore. And if Joss Whedon actually has said that the DVD order is the intended one, shouldn't that be a reason enough?

Let's try to end the confusion.

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Wednesday, June 16, 2004 3:07 AM

ASTRIANA

I'm sure Haken will take a look at this as soon as he has the time; however, keep in mind (Hi Hat!!

) that this being a fan-run site means that those running must do so around days jobs and other commitments. These kinds of changes take time, so be patient.

Welcome to the boards!!

~A~
El Jefe Magnifico's Mistress... of Communications and Harems...

...I'm still free,
You can't take the sky from me.

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Wednesday, June 16, 2004 3:16 AM

CHANNAIN

i DO aim to misbehave

Quote:
Originally posted by Astriana:
I'm sure Haken will take a look at this as soon as he has the time; however, keep in mind (Hi Hat!! ) that this being a fan-run site means that those running must do so around days jobs and other commitments. These kinds of changes take time, so be patient.

Not to mention I don't recall anyone having asked this question before. *thinking hard about it*

nope, I think I'd remember that conversation.

Hey! Why don't you e-mail him.

haken@fireflyfans.net

As Astri said, this is a fan-run site - sometimes it takes a fan to remind a fan. Keep in mind though, he does live in Hawaii, and thus will respond accordingly - about 4-6 hours behind us mainlanders. I often picture him working wireless from a laptop on the beach, but that's just a wistful Minnesotan's idea of paradise

Ni haody new browncoats and purplebellies all!! It's you guys who keep us veterans limber.

We have art so as not to die of truth ~ Neitzsche
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

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Wednesday, June 16, 2004 3:41 AM

ILED

Yes this is not really a matter of any hurry, so Haken can check this issue when he gets around to reading this thread. :) If I seem overly hasty it's only because I was intending to write some resoning like my second post to the first one, but thought I'd ask first whether there is some non-apparent reason for the currect presented order. And there apparently wasn't.

Hmm, I could send a mail to Haken, but if he/she does read these forums actively it isn't necessary. I know nothing of his/hers forum activity rate, so if you think I should send a mail, please tell me. :)

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Wednesday, June 16, 2004 3:45 AM

ASTRIANA

He's on the boards pretty much daily, as far as I know, but if it's something specific that you'd like him to look at/do something about, it's best to send your request via e-mail.

~A~
El Jefe Magnifico's Mistress... of Communications and Harems...

...I'm still free,
You can't take the sky from me.

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Wednesday, June 16, 2004 9:15 AM

NEDWARD

The best order is that of the DVD set, because that's what Joss wanted. So if FFF.net is to list the eps in recommended order, there's a very good case for changing it to the DVD order.

That said, the airdates ought to be kept, somewhere, as the

scheduling helps to explain why the season died. Personally, I think the production order is little more than a curiosity - why should we care that Joss started filming Serenity with Mal's death?

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Wednesday, June 16, 2004 11:45 AM

ILED

Quote:
Originally posted by nedward:
That said, the airdates ought to be kept, somewhere, as the scheduling helps to explain why the season died. Personally, I think the production order is little more than a curiosity

Oh, the information definately should be kept!

I think the more detail (presented in a good way) the better - that's what these fansites are for. If we weren't here to collect things like production order that nobody but a few people care about (and even they as a mere curiosity) then who would? :)

I'm only suggesting a change to the order the episodes are presented in - and thus the order that is suggested to be the correct viewing order.

So yes, keep the airdate order, production order and other oddities somewhere. It would actually be best if there would be an article explaining the mess with episode order linked to the episode listing.

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