Did anybody else laugh their ass off... by Hops

FIREFLY EPISODE DISCUSSIONS

Did anybody else laugh their ass off...

POSTED BY: HOPS
UPDATED: Friday, January 20, 2006 04:07
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 17915
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Tuesday, July 26, 2005 2:17 PM

when Mal and Wash were getting tortured? My wife think's I'm warped, but I found their banter about Zoe and her affection for the captain to be hiliarious. Perhaps all the more so that they continued it through the brutal torture. If I'm wrong in this let me know. I'll try to control myself in the future if this was wrong. -Hops

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Tuesday, July 26, 2005 2:25 PM

KNIBBLET

Everyone laughs themselves silly - then grimaces, winces, laughs again, flinches, guffaws, tries not to cry and then ends up wanting to puke.

All of this while laughing their ass off.

It's called 'the Whedon experience'.

Looking at Xander and knowing that Caleb has taken out his eye ... and laughing out loud when he tells a joke about '... being on the patch' doesn't make you a bad person. Only a Whedon fan.

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/MN-Firefly/

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Tuesday, July 26, 2005 2:28 PM

DIETCOKE

Thank you for your post. This is the funniest torture scenes every. I couldn't stop laughing! I felt guilty and a little dirty for laughing but it was sooooooooooooooo funny. Every time someone was going to swear Niska turned up the juice.

This is so Joss. Season 5 of Angel had a great fight scene between Angel and Spike. The whole fight was also a verbal fight. It was brilliant.

Yep. Much fun.

NY/NJ Browncoats: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/firefly_nyc

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Tuesday, July 26, 2005 3:14 PM

SIGMANUNKI

I as well, am guilty of laughing during this scene.

Hm, what does that mean?

----
"Canada being mad at you is like Mr. Rogers throwing a brick through your window." -Jon Stewart, The Daily Show

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Tuesday, July 26, 2005 3:25 PM

JOSSISAGOD

Did Caleb look familiar to you? a la Nathan before or after Firefly, I can't keep track of when he was on Buffy? Also, I was confused watching the tourture scene in "War Stories", wasn't sure what emotion to feel, actually felt all of them at once.

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Tuesday, July 26, 2005 9:43 PM

BATMARLOWE

It's an example of the genius of Joss. Not only was what they were saying funny but it's why they're saying it. And that's because it's Mal's way of getting Wash through the torture.
So it's working on two levels. And it isn't the "Aren't we clever we're going to have our characters crack jokes while facing danger" kind of B.S. that you see in a lot of action movies. In this scene the wise-cracks are motivated.

That's our Joss. Or if Joss didn't write that episode--it's the mark of Joss.

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Wednesday, July 27, 2005 3:20 AM

HOPS

OK, I feel better now. I was beginning to second guess myself.

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Wednesday, July 27, 2005 5:40 AM

INEVITABLEBETRAYAL

Quote:
Originally posted by batmarlowe:
It's an example of the genius of Joss. Not only was what they were saying funny but it's why they're saying it. And that's because it's Mal's way of getting Wash through the torture.
So it's working on two levels. And it isn't the "Aren't we clever we're going to have our characters crack jokes while facing danger" kind of B.S. that you see in a lot of action movies. In this scene the wise-cracks are motivated.

That's our Joss. Or if Joss didn't write that episode--it's the mark of Joss.

I agree with previous posters that the banter about Zoe is funny (I laugh, too), and that it shows Mal's concern for Wash. But let's not forget this is TV. Joss had to do something to lighten up the torture sequence or it would have been unwatchable. After all, if memory serves, there are no extended sequences of Mal being tortured. You can't just do torture; it's too grim. Joss needed to lighten it up, and he did. He could have made the banter between the two of them unamusing, after all--talk of Wash's home world or flight school stories or some such.

Oh, plus, point of interest: talking about Zoe allowed Joss to do some very natural exposition--and you know Joss, he's all about subtle exposition.

_______________________________________________
I wish I had a magical wish-granting plank.

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Thursday, October 6, 2005 10:02 AM

VALA

what i found even more funny then that torture part was in the end when mal tells zoe what went on and tells her that they have to have sex, and wash sitting there cant stand it! great ending to a kind of dark eps.

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Thursday, October 6, 2005 10:37 AM

STATIC

What's even funnier is that when youwatch the scene, you can tell that Niska is LISTENING.

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Thursday, October 6, 2005 11:35 AM

MER

Lol. I love that ep. I find it funny just before the torture scene is Mal talking to Niska while Wash is in the bkg looking around saying, "Huh?"

"Ride me sir, ride me good and hard."

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Thursday, October 6, 2005 6:20 PM

ANGELICANGEL

Yeah I laughed! It was funny, well not them getting tortured. There banter was high-larious!

AngelicAngel

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Thursday, October 6, 2005 7:05 PM

LIMINALOSITY

There's an essay in "Finding Serenity" that talks about the the whys and wherefores of the subject of conversation when Niska is torturing the boys in "War Stories". Good essay, good book, available with just a click or two (and a few beans) on the home page of the site. Might as well have something recursive to read while you're standing in the ticket line again this weekend, har har.

No, this must be what going mad feels like. -Simon

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Sunday, October 30, 2005 10:26 AM

MEGMAC

"War Stories" is a superb episode, because it works on so many levels. It's funny, it's unsettling, it's moving. To me it sums up the entire season, it's what Firefly is all about.

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Sunday, October 30, 2005 6:14 PM

SHINYGEEKET

You are all sick and twisted people...and I'm one of you, lol. I love that scene and laugh everytime I watch it. It might be why I love War Stories so much.

"We will rule over all this land, and we will call it... 'This Land'."

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Sunday, October 30, 2005 7:36 PM

BRETTYBOY

Being rather new to the series I understand your concern, that is only one of the many twisted scenes that I just cant help myself with. So enjoy the ride.

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Sunday, October 30, 2005 7:55 PM

URSULA

Quote:
Originally posted by jossisagod:
Did Caleb look familiar to you?

I think Caleb was played by Nathan's evil twin, Norbert Fillion.

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Sunday, October 30, 2005 10:10 PM

FALLENANGEL

I laughed too at that scene. That's Whedon humor for you. Only he can make you laugh while somebody is being viciously tortured. Part of his charm.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I am a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar."

-Wash.

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Monday, October 31, 2005 5:16 PM

SERAFIMO

Quote:
Originally posted by Hops:
when Mal and Wash were getting tortured? My wife think's I'm warped, but I found their banter about Zoe and her affection for the captain to be hiliarious. Perhaps all the more so that they continued it through the brutal torture. If I'm wrong in this let me know. I'll try to control myself in the future if this was wrong. -Hops

Maybe this is a bit off topic, but if it's actually physically possible to do that, I'm gonna have to watch this episode...

Cause right now I'm into all the Halloween candy.

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Thursday, November 3, 2005 1:26 PM

RIVER6213

Mal should have killed that old fart of a monster the moment he got free.

Torture is not funny at all.

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Thursday, November 3, 2005 1:27 PM

RIVER6213

Oh and I forgot to add that people who find scenes of torture funny, really have issues that they need to deal with.

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Thursday, November 3, 2005 1:45 PM

KHYRON

Quote:
Originally posted by RiveR6213:
Oh and I forgot to add that people who find scenes of torture funny, really have issues that they need to deal with.

But I like having issues! Especially because dealing with them can be a real drag. All that introspection and personal growth - it sounds like it might get depressing and boring.

Great, now the mere thought of having to deal with my issues at some stage made me depressed. Better put on War Stories and skip to the torture scene so that I've got something to laugh about and cheer me up.

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Thursday, November 3, 2005 3:20 PM

URSULA

Quote:
Originally posted by RiveR6213:
Oh and I forgot to add that people who find scenes of torture funny, really have issues that they need to deal with.

Yeah, well, if you get to the age I have and don't have issues, then you've led a far, far too sheltered life.

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Sunday, November 6, 2005 1:51 PM

RIVER6213

I'm sorry...just forget i even said that okay?

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Sunday, November 6, 2005 2:16 PM

URSULA

Hey, River, no problem. My point is that all have issues--usually the older we are, the more we've acquired. If you don't think the scene was funny, which is certainly a legitimate viewpoint, that's your right. Hang in their, mei-mei.

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Monday, November 7, 2005 9:22 AM

NIRVANI

Let me put it this way, i think i brused my rib... Seeing that i saw "sernity" first i didnt know what i was in for a shock of my life. so when the first hint of humor came up they has just rescue rivers and the ship was going down,my boyfriend was hidding his face and shushing me. i couldnt contain my self.

there is so much emotion that goes through you when you look at it. By the time i got to look at the eposide of "firefly" that's where i brused my ribs.

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Monday, November 7, 2005 10:30 AM

RIVERNOT

Quote:
Originally posted by Static:
What's even funnier is that when you watch the scene, you can tell that Niska is LISTENING.

Which leads to what I thought was the funniest part of the whole episode: the look on Niska's face when Zoe said, "I'm sorry. You were going to ask me to choose, right?"

Poor Niska.

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Monday, November 7, 2005 12:33 PM

BELFASTBROWNCOAT

I liked when Wash said 'Screw you!',to which Mal replied 'Get in line!'

But Joss is notorious for turning something really dark into quite a funny thing.

'Party in my eyesocket and everyone's invited!'

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Monday, November 7, 2005 12:51 PM

DAISYCUTTER

I thought the whole episode was full of funny quotes

"I'll be in my bunk."
"I've been in a firefight before...well a fire...okay so I was fired."
"Take me sir, take me hard."
"The order was pretty clear on killing, but it was fuzzier on the issue of kneecaps"
"Trust me son, I was there, and I'm sure you haven't killed any one yet"

and

"Don't worry we're going to get him back."
"What are you going to do, clone him?

-------------------------------------
Grenade Ping Pong is pointless as both players loose, unless the grenade is whacked into the crowd, in which case its a lawsuit

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Monday, November 7, 2005 12:52 PM

REGINAROADIE

No, that was definitly one of the funniest scenes of the show. Just the idea of these two arguing over a woman while they're being electrocuted makes the whole scene funny. But for me, the funniest detail about the whole thing was that at times, Niska's attitude shifted from "Wait, I want to hear this." and "Shut up. (zap)"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"YES!!!I'm a man posessed by many demons....Polite demons that would open the door for a lady carrying too many parcels...BUT DEMONS NONETHELESS!!!! Yes. I have walked along the path of evil many times, it's a twisting, curving path that..actually leads to a charming plot garden, BUT BEYOND THAT EVIL!!!"

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Tuesday, November 8, 2005 6:12 AM

HOBANIWASHBURNE

Yeah... that was one of the funniest ones for charcter development and insight. I find myself laughing every time we put in the DVD. And I agree that we dont have to feel guilty for laughing at torture. Joss humor all the way.... It was pretty impressive how Mal kept provoking Wash in order to keep him alive. To not fall down and give up, seeing as he's not a soldier. To me, that's one of the main differences between Mal and Zoe. I don't know that Zoe would be capable of something quite that clever.

Guess that is what makes Mal the good leader he is.... despite it all.

"Tis the season for the fireplace. Fa la la la la. La la. La la.

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Tuesday, November 8, 2005 3:19 PM

SHINYFLY

I think this is one of the best and most revealing insights into Mal's character. To see just how much torture he can take is a sign of what he endured during the war. It's touching that he's more concerned for Wash than himself...but their banter is great! Best lines: "This whole Captain thing isn't Zoe's problem...it's the guy she never slept with thing." .."Screw you!" "Get in line!"..."And they say people don't look like their pets.."..."I'm angry and I'm armed."..."I was in a firefight...I was in a fire...okay I was fired...from a fry cook opportunity."....Just to name a few...(Also Jayne's "suicide" bit and Wash's "Leave no man behind"):)

"Should I start with the part where you're stranded in the desert or the part where you have no clothes?"...Inara

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Tuesday, November 8, 2005 4:27 PM

HOBANIWASHBURNE

Hehehee... totally agree.

And we can't forget: "That's just it! YOU she obeys. There's obeying happening right under my nose!"

"Therapy is expensive. Bubblewrap is cheap. The choice is yours."

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Friday, November 11, 2005 7:34 AM

GEDEON

Yeah, I laughed.

But then Wash says "oh, no, run..." and
I wan't laughing anymore.

Gedeon

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Friday, November 11, 2005 8:06 AM

KELLYOFLUTHIEN

Quote:
Originally posted by shinyfly:
I think this is one of the best and most revealing insights into Mal's character. To see just how much torture he can take is a sign of what he endured during the war. It's touching that he's more concerned for Wash than himself...but their banter is great!

I think caring for others is precisely how Mal is able to survive himself. I think he was probably saying to himself "if I am to keep Wash alive, I must keep up this banter." By thinking of others, he is able to somewhat remove himself from the pain that he himself is enduring. Kind of like in Out of Gas where he stayed to try to fix the ship and gave the others a shot at life.

Wow, got a little deep there

Another great line from this episode is when the crew is getting ready to save Mal:
Zoe: "If it moves, shoot it."
Kaylee: "Unless it's the captain!"
Zoe: "Unless it's the captain."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love my Captain

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Friday, November 11, 2005 5:50 PM

NOPASARAN

Quote:
Originally posted by Hops:
when Mal and Wash were getting tortured? My wife think's I'm warped, but I found their banter about Zoe and her affection for the captain to be hiliarious. Perhaps all the more so that they continued it through the brutal torture. If I'm wrong in this let me know. I'll try to control myself in the future if this was wrong. -Hops

I don't know about any of this. I think the truth is stranger than fiction.

Mal is a guy who has obviously dealt with dire, stressful, life and death situations before. Remember in the pilot when he was trying to keep Bendis focussed while they were under attack? His way of dealing with Wash was similar. Keep him thinking about the things worth living for, to keep him from breaking. The exchange seemed funny because Niska is outside of their relationship and while we know Mal and Wash's relationship, it seemed absurd considering the circumstances.

He was worried about Wash because he's that kind of a leader, but more importantly, the poor guy would break a lot quicker than Mal.

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Sunday, November 13, 2005 8:55 PM

REDLEAF

I agree, it was a brilliantly written scene. Very funny and very horrible at the same time. Well-motivated with Mal trying to keep Wash from breaking. And it worked. I think Wash's reactions are real--he's really reacting to what Mal is saying and it keeps him sane. Mal's focus on keeping Wash occupied is, at the same time, getting himself through the torture. Note, it didn't take Mal that much longer to die after Wash was rescued by Zoe.

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Thursday, December 22, 2005 10:43 PM

SHUTTLE2

Quote:
Originally posted by Knibblet:

Looking at Xander and knowing that Caleb has taken out his eye ... and laughing out loud when he tells a joke about '... being on the patch' doesn't make you a bad person. Only a Whedon fan.

ht]

HAHAHA!!! I remember that!! I laughed too!! Then grimaced... and then a few episodes later he made a joke about the "its all fun and games till you lose an eye" joke. HAHA!

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Thursday, December 22, 2005 10:51 PM

OOKAMIKAWAHARA

Yeah I gotta confess that I laughed my ass off as well. During the torture scene and later when Mal goes sorry Zoe, your husband wants us to do it.....

one of my favs next to the bar brawl, going to meet Precious etc etc So many good times.
mata, Ookami yori

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Thursday, December 22, 2005 10:55 PM

SHUTTLE2

HAHA! It's not Precious. It's Patience.

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Thursday, December 22, 2005 11:02 PM

OOKAMIKAWAHARA

Thanks Shuttle2,
Yeah I keep forgetting that one. Didn't bother to look it up. To damn lazy.....(quitely cussen in Japanese) Anyways thanks for the correction. Love that part though with everyone chiming in. "Didn't she shoot you!!?!!" etc.
mata, Ookami yori
shimatta, cho baka ne. sukoshi atode harakiri o shi masu ne.....

I just be itchen for another fire fight here son.
I do believe its time for a regime change at Fox!!

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Thursday, December 22, 2005 11:12 PM

NYKEGYRL

Hell yes, but I am a pretty sick and twisted individual!!

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Tuesday, December 27, 2005 8:58 AM

FLIPDOG

I think its so totally hilarious. And I too am one sick wang bao dahn. And darn proud of it.

But think about it...if Malcolm wouldn't have instilled that anger, we might have lost Wash back then.

------------------------
mmm....wife soup...

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Friday, December 30, 2005 10:21 AM

FEATHERONTHEWIND

Quote:
Originally posted by FlipDog:
I think its so totally hilarious. And I too am one sick wang bao dahn. And darn proud of it.

But think about it...if Malcolm wouldn't have instilled that anger, we might have lost Wash back then.

How true that is. He lived through torture and then got taken out by stupid reavers. Damn you Joss!!!!! We love you and your show, but damn you man. You just had to take him away didn't you? DIDN'T YOU?

Darn you FlipDog, now the next time I see that scene I'm going to be all sad while simultaneously laughing my ass off. Good point though.

"Pain is scary." -Jayne

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Friday, December 30, 2005 10:58 AM

FLIPDOG

Right there with ya man. Part of me still can't get over it. I feel like I lost a friend.

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Saturday, January 14, 2006 5:52 PM

COMPANION6

Yes we are all sick and twisted people because I also thought it was way to funny for words. But I am so pissed off a Joss for killing Wash and Shepard. All he had to do was get one or the other not both. That totally broke my heart. I love Joss I think that man can write anything and have anyone play in his movies, the timing between the actors are/were awesome, however, my buddy and Shepard are gone and that sucks. But we move on.

Always Remember "The Litany Of Fear"

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Saturday, January 14, 2006 6:54 PM

PROSERPINE

My favorite moment in that scene is when Mal briefly breaks out of the banter because Wash is starting to fail, and he's like "Wash, Wash!" and then just slips right back into the insulting dialogue. Then you really know for certain that all of the nasty things he's saying to Wash are just to save him. Oh, Captain.

I also LOVE how Zoe immediately chooses Wash. They are an awesome couple.

Why, Joss, why?! Wash had so much left to give!

"Dear Diary, Today I was pompous and my sister was crazy. Today we were kidnapped by hill folk never to be seen again. It was the best day ever."

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Sunday, January 15, 2006 4:45 PM

COPILOTLEONARD

OK, I feel bad for agreeing but yeah I loved that scene. Not only was it funny, but damn Wash's body

"I'm going down too quick. Likely crash and kill us all"

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Monday, January 16, 2006 6:53 AM

JOLYNEHEATHER

Nathan played Caleb after Firefly was cancelled.

Also, I can kill you with my brain...

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Tuesday, January 17, 2006 1:07 PM

NANASHI

Had to mention this, but didn't want to create a new thread over it...

Just been watching Bushwacked, and when Serenity gets boarded and the guys are searching for Simon and River, and then the shot zooms out to show them on the outside of the ship?

Well, in that scene, did you see the Alliance guys looking under placemats?! As if the fugitives would be found under there.

I just thought it was absolutely hilarious, almost cartoon-like.

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