Subtle yet interesting show observations -- post yours

POSTED BY: AnimalM0ther
UPDATED: Friday, December 7, 2007 19:19
VIEWED: 122045
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ANIMALM0THER

Saturday, January 28, 2006 7:31 PM

I dont know if this has been mentioned before but I just love how there are always a few little things I pick up that I hadnt noticed from the last time watching an episode.

One of my favorites is from Objects in Space. When the show starts we see Serenity flying by a red/white/green planet then the camera goes through the ship to River. At the very end of the episode, when River and Kaylee are playing jacks, River says "I can do this" and drops a rubber ball that looks pretty much the same as the planet they passed by at the beginning of the show. Then of course the camera goes through the ship again this time to end up with an external view. I just love that whole sequence of how the end shot is in reverse of the opening shot: From the planet, through the ship, to River, then reversed. A beautiful way to start and end the episode, showing us those objects in space literally.

I'll be in my bunk.

KIZYR

Saturday, January 28, 2006 8:41 PM

Two things:

1) It wasn't until I'd watched the Serenity pilot three times that I noticed Mal kissing the cross around his neck at the Battle of Serenity Valley. Me and my friend just looked at each other in amazement, since it was the first time he'd noticed it, too.

2) In the Serenity movie... the entire opening with Mal walking through the ship from the cockpit to the cargo hold is shot in one take. No cuts. Not quite subtle, but really amazing when you realize it. KF

~KF

Lord, I'm walking your way. Let me in, for my feet are sore, my clothes are ragged.
Look in my eyes, Lord, and my sins will play out on them as on a screen. Read them all.
Forgive what you can and send me on my path. I will walk on until you bid me rest.
~Haven Prayer

NANDIFAN

Sunday, January 29, 2006 5:41 AM

I have a Serenity observation.

In the very last scene with Inara, when she tells Mal she doesn't know if she wants to leave, she has absolutely no makeup on. I have to go back through the shows, but I think that is the first time she has ever been on with no makeup. It was like she was giving up being a Companion. Again, I have to double check, and if I am wrong, please let me know.

Basically, seems to be all about the symbolism, and I love trying to figure out what he meant by this shot or this scene. Of course, then I watch the commentary and he explains it! Just love him!

"If they've got guns or brains at all."
"They've got guns."

GUTTERBALL

Sunday, January 29, 2006 5:54 AM

I love how, in both the BDS and the BDM, all the out-in-space shots are silent. Sure, there's occasional background music and you can hear the crew talking through their helmets, but there's no ship noise, no explosions, no air rushing past, no clanking of parts, no lasers whining. It's as it should be, as sound doesn't travel in space -- or so I've heard.

Heh, never been, myself.

It's pretty subtle, but also pretty ballsy after all the Star Trek and Star Wars movies with those noiseful space battles and such. I just like it.

And yes, Nandifan, I noticed that shot of her without make-up, too. I think it's the first time Inara is bare of her companion trappings. Her outfit is relatively non-ornate, too. Very poignant.

________________________________________

Please remember that the 9:30 show is completely different from the 7:30 show. Don't forget to tip your waitress.

LUTHIEN1121

Sunday, January 29, 2006 6:06 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Kizyr:
Two things:

2) In the Serenity movie... the entire opening with Mal walking through the ship from the cockpit to the cargo hold is shot in one take. No cuts. Not quite subtle, but really amazing when you realize it. KF

I didn't notice that in the theatre, but I did notice when watching the DVD at home. Beautiful, isn't it? Done as if to emphasize the continuity of the set in the movie, just like on the series. And of course to introduce all the characters--including Serenity herself--right away.

We're gonna explode? I don't wanna explode!

LUTHIEN1121

Sunday, January 29, 2006 6:08 AM

P.S.

That opening sequence with all the character interactions is one of my favorites in the entire series. Particularly the PA announcement and Jayne conversation!

We're gonna explode? I don't wanna explode!

AYRAD

Sunday, January 29, 2006 11:22 AM

Anyone noticed Jayne's shirt in "The Message"?
It has a drawing of a man's head wearing something kinda orangy (a hat??).
So, we have Jayne in a very cunning orange hat wearing a shirt with a guy who has something orange on his head, too! Shiny!

AB AMORE NON RECEDAM
www.cthomashowell.net

MISTERDRGN

Sunday, January 29, 2006 12:03 PM

Some of the stuff y'all mentioned is talked about by Joss in the commentary. There's extensive stuff about everything relating to Objects in Space, including the opening/ending parallel. Also, the really long shot at the beginning of the movie Serenity is actually two shots, since the two floors of the ship are seperate sets. Still quite impressive, tho.

I didn't notice the part about Inara's makeup. That's pretty cool.

NCBROWNCOAT

Monday, January 30, 2006 4:37 AM

Joss also mentioned in the commentary that the camera operator in that long stedicam shot only tripped once in 45 takes. I'd be tripping all over the place.

THEONETRUEBIX

Monday, January 30, 2006 4:41 AM

The planet/ball thing in OiS isn't so much subtle as intended parallel imagery.

What IS subtle in OiS is the fact that when Early is leading Simon through the ship, they pass the spacesuit locker... which is open.

Because at that point, although the audience doesn't know it yet, River has already left the ship to go sit inside Early's.

VOSHEXETER

Monday, January 30, 2006 5:18 AM

That's subtle.

I can't compete with that. But, I just watched the pilot and i was wondering about JW's comments about Kaylee being a depiction of sexuality, warmth, etc...Am I making too much of the fact then, that she is ironically shot in the abdomen in the pilot. Did any one wonder, for example, if she could still bear children after this incident? I'm reaching, I know. I was just so sad.

"...fer stew, sure...." Jayne

voshExeter

ETHAN

Monday, January 30, 2006 5:37 AM

In Objects in Space when Early is kickin the crap out of Simon, and there is the brief cut to Jayne sleeping in his bunk. He has his 'is he going to be a hero-oh no he's just going to be Jayne' moment...you can see there is a huge honkin drool puddle on his pillow. Talk about adding a little something extra to a scene!

SHEWCHUK

Monday, January 30, 2006 6:25 AM

In Serenity when Simon is cleaning River's wounds when she is handcuffed in the pantry river says something to the effect of "old men with no blood on their hands, yet they're in an ocean of it." I think shes refering to the parliament and their decision that led to the graveyard of Miranda.

Though and Action when harmonized free each from the other

RUXTON

Monday, January 30, 2006 6:34 AM

Nandifan,
Oddly, that shot of Morena is one of the few of her that I've always really liked, but didn't quite know why. Subtle, eh?

One of my favorite scenes for subtlety is when Mal talks with the crew in the movie about his belief. He is backlit, like he is surrounded by a holy light, invisible to viewers behind the camera (us), as his belief floods back to him.

THEONETRUEBIX

Monday, January 30, 2006 7:12 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Shewchuk:
In Serenity when Simon is cleaning River's wounds when she is handcuffed in the pantry river says something to the effect of "old men with no blood on their hands, yet they're in an ocean of it." I think shes refering to the parliament and their decision that led to the graveyard of Miranda.

That's really sort of another example of "you're supposed to notice this" I think, and not so much something subtle.

NANDIFAN

Monday, January 30, 2006 4:39 PM

I had no so much an observation, but a question about an observation.

Does Jayne ever recite Chinese verses? I know he curses in Chinese, but has he ever uttered one of the complex phrases JW assigns everyone else?

Please correct if I am wrong, 'cause its sort of driving me crazy trying to remember!

(Hopefully soon I will be able to go through all the episodes myself, but land me a hand till then!)

Thanks

"If they've got guns or brains at all."
"They've got guns."

CAPTAINSGAL

Monday, January 30, 2006 5:55 PM

I know I'm a little dense, because all of you probably noticed this months ago, but it has to do with Firefly's opening credits, theme. 2/3's of the way into the theme, they a show a picture of the Alliance, followed by Simon, River and Shepard.
Obviously, all three have a connection with the Feds, further instilling my belief that Shepard was once an Alliance officer or Operative.

I wish Joss would have had more time to explain Shepard's background, I'm thinking Shepard became a priest to deal with the guilt of his Alliance past.

"A government is a body of people usually, notably, ungoverned." - Shepard quoting the Captain.

ANIMALM0THER

Monday, January 30, 2006 9:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by CaptainsGal:
2/3's of the way into the theme, they a show a picture of the Alliance, followed by Simon, River and Shepard.
Obviously, all three have a connection with the Feds, further instilling my belief that Shepard was once an Alliance officer.

Huh, never really picked up on the Alliance-connection part of that in the intro, just always thought that since they were the 3 that Serenity picked up during the pilot and not originally fundemental crew members they were left for the end of the intro.

All of these observations are pretty intrigueing. You can be sure I will be pointing these things out to my friends next time we watch them.

I'll be in my bunk.

KIZYR

Monday, January 30, 2006 9:52 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Nandifan:
I have a Serenity observation.

In the very last scene with Inara, when she tells Mal she doesn't know if she wants to leave, she has absolutely no makeup on. I have to go back through the shows, but I think that is the first time she has ever been on with no makeup. It was like she was giving up being a Companion. Again, I have to double check, and if I am wrong, please let me know.

You know... I don't know a single guy who would've ever picked up on that. Hell I think Morena looks lovely either way, so I doubt I'd've ever noticed that unless someone pointed it out.

Is it really that clear when a girl is or isn't wearing makeup? Half the time I can't tell. Then again most women I know personally make a point to apply makeup in subtle ways so it doesn't really look like they've applied anything. KF

~KF

Lord, I'm walking your way. Let me in, for my feet are sore, my clothes are ragged.
Look in my eyes, Lord, and my sins will play out on them as on a screen. Read them all.
Forgive what you can and send me on my path. I will walk on until you bid me rest.
~Haven Prayer

NANDIFAN

Monday, January 30, 2006 10:29 PM

Is it really that clear when a girl is or isn't wearing makeup? Half the time I can't tell. Then again most women I know personally make a point to apply makeup in subtle ways so it doesn't really look like they've applied anything. KF

It's not really all that clear, since it took me about 5 times of watching to notice, and I think
the only reason I noticed was because I had watched a marathon the whole day before I watched the movie, but just something about it made me realize she wasn't in full Companion mode, that she looked natural.

Yes, the point of girl makeup is to not look like we have makeup on. It is very complicated, and girls are born with an innate knowledge of it. As Mal says, "We are a mystery!"

"If they've got guns or brains at all."
"They've got guns."

MISSTRESSAHARA

Tuesday, January 31, 2006 12:27 AM

Well, since I haven't seen it mentioned by anyone else, and it came to be a topic of conversation a few years earlier I can proudly be the one to bring it up.

In the movie when Mal is in his room looking at the video of Inarah (this is lead from the line Kaylee makes about pushing Inarah away) they pan out to show him sitting watching the vid, (you must look close, it goes by quick) what do we see in front of him? Can you see? Can you see? Hup, that's right kiddies, it's his toilet, his john, his thrown, seat down. I didn't see it until the second viewing, but when I did I
re-wround and paused and sure enough, there it is. Joss did it, he got the FIRST toilet in space. Good on ya Joss.

There are more from the tv, but I won't mention them for now. I love these threads.

If I'm a bitch, then life just got interesting.

NANDIFAN

Tuesday, January 31, 2006 12:40 AM

Isn't there a scene in one of the episodes where it shows Mal just finishing up using the toilet? He pushes it up with his leg and then pulls another thing down which is his sink. Am I wrong? What episode is it if I am right?

"If they've got guns or brains at all."
"They've got guns."

MISSTRESSAHARA

Tuesday, January 31, 2006 1:48 AM

No, your not wrong Nandi, it's in the original 2 parter Serenty pilot. It's lead in from the conversation Inarah and Book are having talking about the Captain.

She asks "Why are you so fascinated by him?" he replies "Because he's somewhat of a mystery. Why are you?" she answers "Because so few men are." This fades to us seeing him buttoning up his pants (Damn, too late) him kicking up the toilet seat and then pulling out the sink and washing his face.

People talked about Star Trek and how you never see them use the head (toilet) and wondering if anyone ever would, and Joss putting one in. So when I saw the seat in the movie I thought yayyy, the first flush in space. So there you go.

If I'm a bitch, then life just got interesting.

btw, the commentary for the Serenity pilot is hilarious. Joss and Nathan being two very funny mischevious boys, and that scene mentioned has a comment by Joss that will just crack you up.

NANDIFAN

Tuesday, January 31, 2006 1:51 AM

Hey thanks Mistressahara!

You got to love JW's desire for realism!

"If they've got guns or brains at all."
"They've got guns."

WANTSTOBEJAYNE

Thursday, February 2, 2006 4:00 AM

I'm not sure how subtle this is, but I didn't notice it until the last time I watched Serenity.

When they're robbing the vault and River points out the troublemaker, Zoe says, "Do you know what the definition of a hero is? Someone who gets other people killed. You can look it up later." Damn, but there's the rest of the movie in a couple of lines.

MISSTRESSAHARA

Thursday, February 2, 2006 8:03 AM

Nother one from the series. Heart of Gold: They're in the main room talking about fighting Rance and tightening their defences. The camera goes from one to another as they say their lines, they pan to Jayne, I believe his line was, "Aw hell they won't be expecting a fight."
That didn't interest me so much as the fact that Jayne, this big rugged man's man... was BRAIDING the ladies (whore's) hair. BRAIDING IT. You must check that out. If gives an even newer depth to this supposed hard ass mercenary.

Jayne, braid my hair please.

If I'm a bitch, then life just got interesting.

NELLIE

Thursday, February 2, 2006 8:41 AM

On the Operative's ship in the movie, there's a guy in Alliance uniform on a lower level doing things with a control panel, and he turns around and says something to the Operative. Something about him made me wonder:

Is that Wash?

Or am I just imagining things?
Or has everybody already noticed this before and it's old news?

AVATAR37

Thursday, February 2, 2006 9:11 AM

"In the very last scene with Inara, when she tells Mal she doesn't know if she wants to leave, she has absolutely no makeup on. I have to go back through the shows, but I think that is the first time she has ever been on with no makeup. It was like she was giving up being a Companion. Again, I have to double check, and if I am wrong, please let me know."

I don't think she was giving up being a companion so much as finally feeling comfortable enough around Mal and Serenity as to finally start treating it like her home. Previously, she always made a point that the shuttle was her home. I think, in her own way, it was her way of showing Mal that she loves him.

MOOSE

Friday, February 3, 2006 2:34 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by jayneisagirlsname:
In the funeral scene at the end of The Message, when Tracy's mom touches his face, Jayne's obviously thinking of his mom, because he pulls the hat that she made for him off of his head, and it almost looks like he's crying ... and you know he's not crying for Tracy. He's probably thinking about when his body will get shipped home to his mom after he's killed.

I had finally gotten to the point where I could watch that scene without having my eyes tear up.
Thanks for ruining that....

DC4BS

Friday, February 3, 2006 3:13 AM

I dunno about subtle, but in the pilot episode "Serenity" you can see a star wars imperial shuttle lifting off from the spaceport in the background.

It happens when Inara is docking her shuttle with Serenity for the very first time (2nd 1/2 of the 2 part docking scene).

If you watch the upper, left corner of the screen the imperial shuttle comes up from behind some shipping containers, unfolds its wings and flys off the left side of the screen...

I got a big laugh the first time I noticed that (around the 5th time I watched it or so)... Just keep noticing more and more wonderfull little details the more I watch this show.

------------------------------------------
dc4bs

GOLDINBOY

Friday, February 3, 2006 4:01 AM

A couple Jayne observations:

-in Serenity after River beats up everyone including Jayne in the bar, back on the ship Jayne is holding someting on his crotch, I assume somthing frozen to ease the pain. a few moments later he is eating something, and it apears to be grapes from the bag he just had on his crotch.

-When they are flying through the reaver space for the first time, Jayne is in the back holding his gun in a comforting fassion, like he needs it for emotional support.

I got a kick out of these when I noticed them!

KOMELION

Friday, February 3, 2006 4:02 AM

In Shindig I noticed that Badger cuts the apple he’s eating.

Also in Our Mrs. Reynolds the only time River spoke was cut.

------
Well, here I am.

FREERADICAL42

Friday, February 3, 2006 4:20 AM

So, I just wanted to make a comment about the noise in space thing, because it's even more subtle than that.

In Serenity, you hear the report from the cannon as if it were muffled- almost as if the cameraman was in a pressure suit standing on Serenity and was "hearing" the cannon fire through the vibrations in the ship's hull.

Additionally, there is sound in space during the battle, but it is the only time there is actual sound. Why is this? Because the ship is inside an ion cloud, which *does* transmit sound. Just absolutely brilliant.

"See, morbid and creepifying, I got no problem with, long as she does it quiet-like."

KANESKI

Saturday, February 4, 2006 1:03 AM

First one is the definition of a hero - 'someone who gets other people killed', combined with Jayne's 'how many came out of Serenity Valley alive?', combined with Bushwacked 'you have a tendency to inspire loyalty, sergant.'. The whole thing makes a link that Mal is the anti-hero hero.

Other one is River rushing to fight the reavers, the lights running alongside the tunnel they're in light up as she runs past them. Thought it was nice.

End of BDM - when Mal sits down in the pilot's seat, he flicks the 'magical 3 switches'. Wash tribute?

GUTTERBALL

Saturday, February 4, 2006 1:13 AM

Heh, I dunno if this counts as "subtle" so much as "frickin HI-larious", but while watching "War Stories" with Mr. Fillion's and Mr. Tudyk's commentary, I got to seriously laughing about the "headless Wash" scene.

See, after Zoe's rescued Wash and Niska has his henchman cut off Mal's ear, Wash has turned away and is leaning against a doorway with his head on the opposite side. When they show him from the torture room's side again -- and we're probably supposed to be watching Zoe stick Mal's ear down her shirt -- the door jamb and that Hawaiian shirt make it look like Wash doesn't have a head. Heh.

Priceless stuff, especially with those two laughing it up on the commentary track.

________________________________________

Please remember that the 9:30 show is completely different from the 7:30 show. Don't forget to tip your waitress.

BLUEISHBROWNCOAT

Saturday, February 4, 2006 9:57 AM

just watched Serenity tonite.

I noticed when Mal is watching the video of Inara (on that postcard thingy) in the video River is there and as Kaylee says "...in this very bed..." Rive is doing her "look how I can bend over cause I'm a dancer" thing and sniffing the bed..or atleast giving it a VERY close examination.

It was just a cool River presence moment.

-----------------------------------------
twas a perrty sight as jello was a slingen and the ladies were all in a heap of fun.
Twas a right shiny event for the eyes to feast on.
It was fun!!
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=2&t=16371

Hoplessly addicted but in that good sort of way. :)

SCAD/Savannah,GA Browncoat

CAPELLA

Saturday, February 4, 2006 3:21 PM

In the pilot ep Serenity, just when they land in Persephone, Kaylee complains about some stuff that should be seen to and Mal kind of cuts her off. She then says that if the compression coil blows, they will be helplessly drifting in outer space (which of course is what happens in OoG later on).

Keep flying,
Capella

SAMAFIN

Saturday, February 4, 2006 4:02 PM

I watched everything backwards, starting with the BDM and then on to the box set.

One thing that occured odd to me was that

Select to view spoiler:

Wash died...wahhhhhhh

And, during the opening scenes of the show, during the song...when the song says..."Take me out to the black, tell them I ain't comin' back"...who's it showing?

I always see that and go...hmmmmmm.....wierd.

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

GUTTERBALL

Sunday, February 5, 2006 5:13 AM

I just noticed something on this...oh...tenth? twelfth?...viewing of the BDM. It might be considered a spoiler to someone who hasn't seen it, so I'll put it behind a cut, though I'll still try to be appropriately vague.

Select to view spoiler:

When the Operative contacts Mal on Haven, he starts talking about how he believes in something greater than himself -- a better world. Mal says, "So me and mine gotta lay down and die so you can live in your better world?"

Boy...ain't that poignant? Considering River's secret, ya know?

It's one of those things that makes a heckuva lot more sense once you've seen it a couple of times.

________________________________________

Please remember that the 9:30 show is completely different from the 7:30 show. Don't forget to tip your waitress.

TEALCANDTRIP

Sunday, February 5, 2006 5:59 AM

Something just occurred to me earlier today...

In Our Mrs. Reynolds, after Mal makes the awful divorce comments and "saffron" runs away, then Mal has to go looking for her and finds her in the engine room.

While he was looking for her was probably when she was screwing up the engine... which they don't find out till later in the show.

ELOISA

Sunday, February 5, 2006 11:38 AM

This isn't incredibly subtle: in the bar fight at the start of Shindig, Mal would have got knocked down one time fewer if he hadn't been posturing at Inara.

This is a bit more so: earlyish in Trash, when YoSaffBridg is outlining the heist to the crew, Jayne immediately responds like he knows exactly what the Lassiter is. The rest of the crew are just looking a bit blankly at her or in an "Oh. Interesting." way, and Jayne's getting pretty excited - even before the spiel about it being the forerunner of modern lasers. The boy really knows his guns.

***
http://forums.ffonline.com/forumdisplay.php?f=19
Creative Writing

CAPELLA

Sunday, February 5, 2006 1:05 PM

I rewatched Shindig today and found something I had not noticed earlier (even though it might be more obvious for someone who is a native speaker of English).

In the scene in the dining room, where Shepherd, Simon and Jayne are playing cards and River comes in and rips off the labels of the food cans, the last thing Jayne says is: "So do we go on playing or do we just screw around"

Then the camera cuts to Wash and Zoe who are doing just that: screwing around.

As I said, maybe I was just slow on the uptake and everyone else got that on the first view, but it did struck me as funny when I noticed.

JOHNBOY

Monday, February 6, 2006 12:03 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Capella:
In the pilot ep Serenity, just when they land in Persephone, Kaylee complains about some stuff that should be seen to and Mal kind of cuts her off. She then says that if the compression coil blows, they will be helplessly drifting in outer space (which of course is what happens in OoG later on).

Keep flying,
Capella

In Arial, when Wash and Kylee are walking around the junkyard looking for parts - Wash picks up a piece of junk, then turns around and throws it away when he sees the ambulance. The piece of junk he throws away is a catalyzer for a compression coil - the very thing that broke in Out of Gas.

NUCLEARDAY

Monday, February 6, 2006 6:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Kaneski:
End of BDM - when Mal sits down in the pilot's seat, he flicks the 'magical 3 switches'. Wash tribute?

OMG... I'd never noticed that... I can barely watch scene without crying in the first place. That just made it that much tougher.. ;p

ASARIAN

Friday, February 10, 2006 1:43 PM

Hmm, not sure it qualifies as subtle, per se, but the:

"Ask her"

Line from River (referring to the lady in the holographic recording at Miranda). A comment which throws Simon for a loop a bit, causing him to ask: "Am I talking to Miranda now?" (followed, in turn, by River's priceless: "I am not a multiple, dummy" look; but I digress).

Anyway, I missed it the first time. Could just mean I'm slow, lol, but I thought that was subtle. :)

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

ASARIAN

Friday, February 10, 2006 1:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Johnboy:
Quote:
Originally posted by Capella:
In the pilot ep Serenity, just when they land in Persephone, Kaylee complains about some stuff that should be seen to and Mal kind of cuts her off. She then says that if the compression coil blows, they will be helplessly drifting in outer space (which of course is what happens in OoG later on).

Keep flying,
Capella

In Arial, when Wash and Kylee are walking around the junkyard looking for parts - Wash picks up a piece of junk, then turns around and throws it away when he sees the ambulance. The piece of junk he throws away is a catalyzer for a compression coil - the very thing that broke in Out of Gas.

Oh, I missed that! Good catch.

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

ELOISA

Friday, February 10, 2006 2:18 PM

This is either subtle or entirely unintended. At the end of Ariel when the crew dressed as paramedics are getting out of the air ambulance and unfastening their unwanted clothing, Inara walks down to the cargo bay. At the exact moment when Mal notices her he takes his hat off and carries on holding it while he's talking to her. That's generally regarded as a sign of respect. This could have happened that way by coincidence, though.

***
http://forums.ffonline.com/forumdisplay.php?f=19
Creative Writing

ASARIAN

Friday, February 10, 2006 2:18 PM

Subtle it may not be either, but in Objects in Space, aboard Early's ship, you can clearly see Early holding a (transparent) fugitive alert for River and Simon. And it says (mirrored): "WANTED ALIVE". Later, in the BDM, they sent an assassin, of course.

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

SCHOONER

Friday, February 10, 2006 2:29 PM

I noticed in 'Safe', during the River dance scene, that River's moves start to imitate Mal's during the gunfight. When she is shown bending down for a move, the next shot of Mal shows him walking in a deep crouch. River drops into a split, and the next shot shows Mal tackling the gunman to the ground. Very cool choreography and cinematography, and it really foreshadows River 'seeing' the situation with Book a few seconds later.

Also, anyone notice in the BDM, when the Operative is reviewing Mal's war record, the display below Mal's photo. Its a DNA chain, apparently giving information about Mal's genetic signature. Those nice little touches, making the 'verse seem more real, are one of the things that really drew me to Firefly.

AMITON

Friday, February 10, 2006 2:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Blueishbrowncoat:
just watched Serenity tonite.

I noticed when Mal is watching the video of Inara (on that postcard thingy) in the video River is there and as Kaylee says "...in this very bed..." Rive is doing her "look how I can bend over cause I'm a dancer" thing and sniffing the bed..or atleast giving it a VERY close examination.

It was just a cool River presence moment.

The River and sex thing seems to be a recurring theme for some reason... There is this scene, of course. Then there is River seeing Wash and Zoe in the moment in "OiS", and River sticking her head down out of the hatch at the end of the BDM to see Kaylee and Simon. Add to that, as subtly as you can in a comic, the crew is on the bridge in one cell after Wash and Zoe were, erm...busy, and in the midst of everyone else's very focused dialog, River's line is "It smells like sex in here."

It kind of strikes me as funny...especially when River went to the Academy at 12 and was so deeply "immersed" in the program. Does she personally *know* what sex smells like??? Strange, at least to me.

Amiton.

ASARIAN

Friday, February 10, 2006 3:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Amiton:

It kind of strikes me as funny...especially when River went to the Academy at 12 and was so deeply "immersed" in the program.

River went to the Academy when she was 14, I believe.

As for the s*x and River thing, I could stand to hear a little less. :) *shudder*

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

AMITON

Friday, February 10, 2006 4:04 PM

Quote:

River went to the Academy when she was 14, I believe.

You're right...my mistake =)

I hate it when my memory fails me so. It's still kind of weird, though =)

Amiton.

ARCLIGHT

Friday, February 10, 2006 4:17 PM

Jayne Cobb's cunning hat uses the same colors as Serenity's nose art.

DUG

Friday, February 10, 2006 4:33 PM

In the movie when Serenity is being repaired Zoe is shown welding the windows on the bridge. It took a couple of viewings until I realized she was repairing the damage from the telephone poles.

Just think about that for a minute...

SHAMBLEAU

Friday, February 10, 2006 5:23 PM

In the beginning of the pilot, there's the famous scene where Zoe tells Mal that help's not coming. We watch while all Mal's beliefs drain out of him, everything that connected him to others, that grounded him, so to speak.

And the very next scene we see is Mal floating in space, drifting and weightless. Brilliant metaphor.

I also liked that when the Alliance ships are landing, the scene is beautiful. They could have shot it as ugly and horrific. It reminds me of the scene in Blade Runner, where the last replicant is dying and talking about the terrible beauty of starships exploding off Orion. Or of the scene in The Body, on Buffy, where she's staring out the doorway after finding her mother's body, and you hear the sounds of children playing, someone practicing piano, life just going on.

CASIVONA

Friday, February 10, 2006 5:46 PM

Something ever so subtle that I noticed in OiS. Nothing of real significance, though. Right before Early actually gets in Serenity, the camera shot shows Mal going down into this bunk, it pans around and slightly passes the hatch that Early enters from. You see the shaft of light as the hatch opens, and the camera pans back to it, as if it weren't expecting that it happen. I just though that simple move was kinda cool.

Also, I'm curious if anyone has noticed the Motorola logo in the beginning of the first episode?

___________________________________________________
check out http://www.bluegrassbrowncoats.net ! The homebase of Northern Kentucky FireFly fans!

ASARIAN

Friday, February 10, 2006 6:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Amiton:
Quote:

River went to the Academy when she was 14, I believe.

You're right...my mistake =)

I hate it when my memory fails me so. It's still kind of weird, though =)

Amiton.

Hey, what can I say, memories may come and go, but browncoat friends accumulate. :)

Okay, regaining composure now, on the outtakes in the BDM, I believe there's a scene where Inara says she's been in the companion training house since she was 12. So, maybe you got the two confused? :)

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

AMITON

Saturday, February 11, 2006 3:13 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by asarian:
Hey, what can I say, memories may come and go, but browncoat friends accumulate. :)

Okay, regaining composure now, on the outtakes in the BDM, I believe there's a scene where Inara says she's been in the companion training house since she was 12. So, maybe you got the two confused? :)

I appreciate the vote of confidence, but I think it's just a senior moment more than anything =p I'd actually completely glazed over anything relating age with the Companion Training house =\

It's all smiles!

Amiton.

ASARIAN

Saturday, February 11, 2006 11:19 AM

I apologize if this is already common knowledge; but yesterday, watching "War Stories" again, I noticed something shiny about our Mr. Reynolds that I hadn't realized before.

Remember when Mal gets up, half dazed still, turns to Niska, and says: "You wanna meet the real me now?" In any other movie/series, this line would just have been put in for laughs. But yesterday it suddenly dawned on me, that Niska *did* meet the real Mal, because Mal... didn't kill him! As he told Simon: "If I ever kill you, you'll be awake. You'll be facing me. And you'll be armed." Niska, at the time, was neither facing him, nor armed. Captain made the choice he said he would.

Just thought that was really classy, is all.

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

2X2

Saturday, February 11, 2006 3:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Avatar37:
"In the very last scene with Inara... she has absolutely no makeup on."

I don't think she was giving up being a companion so much as finally feeling comfortable enough around Mal and Serenity as to finally start treating it like her home. Previously, she always made a point that the shuttle was her home. I think, in her own way, it was her way of showing Mal that she loves him.

This is one of my favourite scenes, just because she looks so young and innocent - the real Inara, soft and open, no Companion facade, and I don't mean just makeup... I love her smile in this scene so much... but enough about that!

There are a couple things to consider with this scene, I think... one is that they've presumably spent a fair amount of time docked while they repair Serenity, and they've been working on her, the kind of work that, really, it doesn't make much sense to get made up for. Secondly, remember that she only left one trunk of 'sundries' and such on board Serenity, and left the training house in rather a hurry with Mal, so, it's also very possible that she doesn't actully have much in the way of makeup or shiny clothes at the moment... which I think would lead perfectly into your thought Avatar37, that by the end of the movie, she has become comfortable without her Mask - and I believe her Companion composure that has always kept her separate - through happy circumstance and, yes, I also believe she is acknowledging, to herself as much to Mal, her love for him as well as Serenity, as well as new found respect for Mal. She's seen him rise to the occassion, be willing to sacrifice everythign for what is right, and she has discovered that, hey, guess what? Mal wasn't so wrong about the Alliance after all, they aren't the shiny benevolent organization that Inara, raised in the Core of Core planets has grown up believing (and I know she's been aware of this through what's happened to River and Simon, but I believe that she has only now, after Miranda, come to truely believe in the 'wrongness' the Alliance is capable of, and has committed - a lifetime of belief is a hard thing to change, and it's much easier to fool yourself into disregarding a lot of evidence in order to maintain the comfort of your beliefs, but after the horror of Miranda, Inara has had no choice but to face the illusion of that belief - and losing belief is a powerful thing, like being lost without a compass. But there's Mal, and now, after Mirande and his moral and even noble actions, I think she has committed herself to him, and his beliefs, and she has a lot mroe respect for him than she did before. She's now treating him as The Captain, the respect is just there, naturally, unconsciously, without the sarcasm to obsure it ... There's no calm, assured response from her when he asks if she's ready to leave again. Instead, she's hesitant, and openly vulnerable as she, in reality, is asking his permission to be allowed to stay, waiting on his reply to know if she's still welcome or not. It's a very different dynamic for their relationship up till this point, and demonstrates just how much the events of the movie have changed them. As Joss states in his commentary, there is such a feeling of potential between Mal and Inara after this scene, and as I mentioned, I love her smile. To me, that is her most stunningly beautiful look in the entire franchise... that smile just makes my toes curl with happiness...

But anyway, I hope this hasn't been too much of a babbling ramble, and is still sort of ontopic for this conversation... it touches a nerve, as I said, being one of my favourite scenes in the entire franchise.... and sometimes when I start going on, I discover all kinds of things I didn't even realize I felt or knew myself, and I always love some character exploration, so thanks for this topic, and the discussion about this scene in particular...

And now I'll shut up ;o)

BLINKER

Saturday, February 11, 2006 4:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Amiton:
Add to that, as subtly as you can in a comic, the crew is on the bridge in one cell after Wash and Zoe were, erm...busy, and in the midst of everyone else's very focused dialog, River's line is "It smells like sex in here."

It kind of strikes me as funny...especially when River went to the Academy at 12 and was so deeply "immersed" in the program. Does she personally *know* what sex smells like???

I took that as River blurting out what Jayne was thinking. It feels more like one of his lines (cf. "Smells like crotch.")

_________
Sliders: Gate Haven - http://slidersweb.net/blinker

MYSELF

Saturday, February 11, 2006 4:53 PM

My husband's favorite sci-fi peeve is hearing explosions and such in space. I like the silence- it makes the out in space shots feel vast and empty, like a good void should.

Sandra

MYSELF

Saturday, February 11, 2006 5:07 PM

You get to see a toilet in the Serenity pilot episode, too. You see Mal zipping up, and it's like a murphy toilet that stows away into the wall, and the sink pulls out like a drawer. I noticed because I'd actually like a toilet like that- my bathroom is really small.

Sandra

SAVEWASH

Saturday, February 11, 2006 6:02 PM

One of the little touches I always liked in the BDM happened when the Operative is looking at Mal's record and in the shot of Mal, you can see him rolling his eyes. That's so perfect! Of course he'd be rebellious even when in custody.

"Honey, I'm home."

ANIMALM0THER

Saturday, February 11, 2006 7:11 PM

I just noticed this yesterday while watching Out of Gas. When Inara and Simon are having a conversation about the current grave situation facing the crew and what they thought of Serenity, Simon says how he thought the ship sounded "funereal" but Inara has the opposite feeling: she says she loves the ship and has since she first layed eyes on it. Hmmm, she's basically describing exactly how Mal feels about the ship when he first layed eyes on it at the end of the episode. Its interesting considering the relationship those two have; regardless of the differences among their characters, they both dearly love Serenity. They both fell in love with Serenity at first sight and arguably had immediate feelings for each other in their first meeting.

I'll be in my bunk.

ASARIAN

Saturday, February 11, 2006 7:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Blinker:

Quote:
Originally posted by Amiton:

Add to that, as subtly as you can in a comic, the crew is on the bridge in one cell after Wash and Zoe were, erm...busy, and in the midst of everyone else's very focused dialog, River's line is "It smells like sex in here."

It kind of strikes me as funny...especially when River went to the Academy at 12 and was so deeply "immersed" in the program. Does she personally *know* what sex smells like???

I took that as River blurting out what Jayne was thinking. It feels more like one of his lines (cf. "Smells like crotch.")

I like that explanation. :) I'm going with that. Thank you!

/me, feeling ever-so relieved. :)

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

MICO

Saturday, February 11, 2006 8:10 PM

I guess I'll jump in here with my favorite subtle observation: In the BDM, where Mal is making his big "I aim to misbehave" speech, he says that the Alliance will some day, maybe next week or maybe ten years from now, come back around to the idea that they can make people . . . better. In that pause he very pointedly looks directly at River as he says the word "better." It's hard to see because of the lighting. Every time I see that, I know that a big part of Mal's motivation for his misbehaving is to redress not only the wrong done to the people on Miranda, but also the wrong done to River. It's very personal to him at that point.

BLUE786

Saturday, February 11, 2006 8:32 PM

Something I haven't seen mentioned:

In the pilot, right after Mal uses the toilet, he washes up in the sink. Except he seems to be very careful to use the absoulte minimum amount of water to wash his hands an splash water on his face.

Concerned with the limited amount of water on a ship--or maybe just a habit from being a foot soilder.

LADYSINGS

Saturday, February 11, 2006 10:21 PM

This scene is VERY subtle. In fact, you have to zoom in on it to be able to see it. In Ariel when Jayne is preparing to forge the ident badges, look at the pictures of Jayne, Zoe, Mal and Wash. Jayne, Zoe and Mal are all serious but Wash has this goofy grin on his face!

Also in Ariel when Jayne gets hit by a blaster after River and Simon are taken away by the Feds....they have him cuffed but after he is hit with blaster "fire", his hands are free. (I guess that's more of a blooper!)

I don't know if this is only on the US version of the DVD's but if you watch The Message with the audio commentary, you'll notice that the commentary is actually ahead of the episode. In other words, when the ship is close to being hit by gunfire from the rogue Fed ship, Jewel and Alan react to it before it happens! (guess that one is somewhere between a subtle/interesting observation and a blooper! LOL)

"Well ya know, we studied bludgeoning in the academy first year but by the time you graduate, you just forget everything. I'm a bad cop." ----Lawrence Dobson

ELOISA

Sunday, February 12, 2006 1:34 AM

About the Jayne and handcuffs moment in Ariel, the Feds only get the cuffs on one wrist before he gets shot. I think. Ooh! An excuse to watch the episode again!

***
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Creative Writing

NCBROWNCOAT

Sunday, February 12, 2006 2:04 AM

A lot of the planet and place names go back to Roman and Greek mythology or Shakespeare-Hera (wife of Zeus-goddess of the hearth),Ariel, Persephone (spouse of Hades, he kidnapped her-she revists her mother on the earth for 6 months-Spring, Suumer- then spends 3 months with Hades-Winter), Belerophon, Osiris etc are the ones from mythology.

Some of the Shakespeare references are from "The Tempest" and other plays-Miranda(Prospero's innocent and nieve daughter), Caliban etc. Joss himself in the commentary refers to Mal's speech in the dining room in the BDM as his "St. Crispins Day speech".

HUMBUG

Sunday, February 12, 2006 2:19 AM

I love the fact that Jayne's very favourite gun is called Vera - which means Faith or Truth in Russian, and Summer in Albanian!!!

So Jayne is fighting using Faith and Truth.......... ian't THAT ironic!

And, of course, the connection with Summer Glau's name. As well as the Russian connection: River's safe words are in Russian.... Spooky connections!

Faith (or lack of) is a theme running through Joss' work:

Faith, the other Vampire Slayer
The Scoobies faith in Buffy
His team's faith in Angel
Caleb, the mad preacher in Buffy (played by Nathan)
Shepherd Book's faith in God
The Crew's faith in Mal and Serenity, and so on.. .....

So Cool!!!!! Shiny!!

GUTTERBALL

Sunday, February 12, 2006 2:38 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Humbug:
I love the fact that Jayne's very favourite gun is called Vera...

I love that gun. His devotion to it brings a tear to the eye. *sniff*

Melts this ol' Ice Queen every time.

________________________________________

Please remember that the 9:30 show is completely different from the 7:30 show. Don't forget to tip your waitress.

ASARIAN

Sunday, February 12, 2006 12:58 PM

Yesterday, at the end of the BDM (only in my possession for four weeks now), I had a Duh! moment (still like to call it "subtle", though, so as not to make me appear stupid).

Mal and Zoe walk towards each other, in the cargo bay; then halt, facing each other closely.

Zoe: Inspection's pos' and we're clear for up-thrust.
Mal: Think she'll hold together?
Zoe: She's tore up plenty. But she'll fly true.

How would Zoe know whether "she'll hold together"? (notice the "she"). This would really be the proper conversation to have with the ship's mechanic, Kaylee. Then I suddenly realized: captain ain't talking about his boat; he's talking about Zoe! And asking her whether she will hold up after what she gone through (what with Washes untimely demise and all).

Now y'all think: didn't you realize that? No, I didn't. :)

And another one:

At Miranda, River throws up after hearing the recording. Simon walks up to her.

Simon: River.
River: I'm all right.
...
River: I'm all right.

See? I didn't get that before, either. But yesterday it suddenly dawned upon me, as well. At the second "I'm all right" (and you can hear it in her voice) River's no longer talking about the retching, but realizes, and effectively says, for the first time, "Things will be fine, Simon; I'm gonna be okay!"

(now I'm all choked up again)

This is, in fact, a turning point for River (after, in the pantry, River had said: "Things are going to get much, much worse.")

Sniff. Who could not Love River!?

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

DONCOAT

Monday, February 13, 2006 1:56 AM

Two great revelatory moments there, Asarian.

You weren't the only one to miss the implications of the Mal/Zoe exchange. In one of the commentaries, Joss mentions that Gina came to him and said, "This is about me, isn't it?" Nathan was standing there too, and he said, "What? It is?... Oh God, I don't believe I missed that!"

Joss also said it was funny to him *because* Nathan almost always "got it".

It took me a couple viewings to get that one, too, but I caught the River moment right away. It was quickly confirmed, too, because I read the script in the Visual Companion. That line includes the notation that River's eyes are full of clarity on the repitition of the line. That makes Joss' intent pretty clear.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't disagree on any particular point.

ASARIAN

Monday, February 13, 2006 1:20 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DonCoat:

Two great revelatory moments there, Asarian.

You weren't the only one to miss the implications of the Mal/Zoe exchange. In one of the commentaries, Joss mentions that Gina came to him and said, "This is about me, isn't it?" Nathan was standing there too, and he said, "What? It is?... Oh God, I don't believe I missed that!"

Joss also said it was funny to him *because* Nathan almost always "got it".

It took me a couple viewings to get that one, too, but I caught the River moment right away. It was quickly confirmed, too, because I read the script in the Visual Companion.

Thank you, DonCoat, for your nice and complete reply.

I wonder where you heard all those commentaries. Seems I'm a little slow on the uptake.

One other thing, though, what is this Visual Companion you're referring to? I've seen it mentioned before. It sounds like a must-have item (visual 'companion', now there's a disturbing mental image; eew; lol).

Thanks!

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

DAVESHAYNE

Monday, February 13, 2006 4:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by asarian:
One other thing, though, what is this Visual Companion you're referring to? I've seen it mentioned before. It sounds like a must-have item (visual 'companion', now there's a disturbing mental image; eew; lol).

Serenity The Official Vissual Companion
ISBN 1-84576-082-4

Edit: Available through Amazon via the link on the home page.

It's basically the shooting script, an interview with Joss, and some production notes combined with lots of pretty pictures from the movie, concept art, story boards and the like.

I would call it a must have.

David

You wanna go, Little Man?
Only if it's someplace with candle light.

ASARIAN

Monday, February 13, 2006 5:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by daveshayne:
Quote:
Originally posted by asarian:
One other thing, though, what is this Visual Companion you're referring to? I've seen it mentioned before. It sounds like a must-have item (visual 'companion', now there's a disturbing mental image; eew; lol).

Serenity The Official Vissual Companion
ISBN 1-84576-082-4

Edit: Available through Amazon via the link on the home page.

It's basically the shooting script, an interview with Joss, and some production notes combined with lots of pretty pictures from the movie, concept art, story boards and the like.

I would call it a must have.

Thank you very much!! I am soooooo ordering this! :)

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

GUTTERBALL

Monday, February 13, 2006 5:52 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by asarian:
Thank you very much!! I am soooooo ordering this!

*big grin* Does nothing ever get you down, Asarian? Have you been taking notes from Kaylee?

Not a snark! I swear!

You just confound me some, is all.

________________________________________

Please remember that the 9:30 show is completely different from the 7:30 show. Don't forget to tip your waitress.

PINGJING

Monday, February 13, 2006 6:00 PM

Quote:
Misstressahara wrote:
Monday, January 30, 2006 15:48
No, your not wrong Nandi, it's in the original 2 parter Serenty pilot. It's lead in from the conversation Inarah and Book are having talking about the Captain.

She asks "Why are you so fascinated by him?" he replies "Because he's somewhat of a mystery. Why are you?" she answers "Because so few men are." This fades to us seeing him buttoning up his pants (Damn, too late) him kicking up the toilet seat and then pulling out the sink and washing his face.

I didn't notice the toilet in the BDM, but I did notice this in the pilot. I love this scene, because not only is it very real, it's also a subtly hilarious scene - Inara was just saying Mal is a mystery, and the next thing you see is Mal taking care of a basic need...I guess in some ways he's not that mysterious after all...

Julia

ASARIAN

Monday, February 13, 2006 8:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by GutterBall:

Quote:
Originally posted by asarian:

Thank you very much!! I am soooooo ordering this!

*big grin* Does nothing ever get you down, Asarian? Have you been taking notes from Kaylee?

Not a snark! I swear!

You just confound me some, is all.

Behold, I got glad tidings about a Visual Companion who can be mine, if only money exchanges hands, and this is supposed to get me down? :) LOL. Well, what can I say? I love my Kaylee! She's a regular sweetheart.

Funny how that works, though. Only the other day I expressed a worry to a fellow browncoat here, how I went off again, all heavy-handed, on a River Tam tangent, and how I probably brought the whole room down; and how I might look all creepifying and weird. And today, I appear too cheerful. Ha! :) So, lemme see if I got this right; morbid and creepifying, you got no problem with, long as I'm not cheerful? :) Wow! What brave new 'verse that has such creatures in it!

Seriously, though, you don't believe there's a power in the 'verse that can stop me from being cheerful? You'd be wrong. Life, well, it sucks. :) Like that guy, yesterday, talking about his taxes. Why, see, I get that! In fact, that is precisely why I'm here: this world does NOT suck. :) Here, in the 'verse, everything is shiny. In "This Land" I can Love River Tam; and she makes me happy; and she makes me believe in humanity. And no one mocks that dream; in fact, many a shiny browncoat shares it with me; yup, a thousand points of light -- the FireFly variety. And the greatest charge I have yet been submitted to, is that of of being cheerful. Good man, do you not see? That alone makes me cheerful! :) I am genuinely happy here! See, now I got all emotional. Breaks the heart.

To finally answer your question (terse I am not; nor laconic), I got the worthier notes from River, of course; but this one I tore out of Kaylee's book, and it did not just turn into paper: you just gotta have faith in people!

Cheerfulness keeps the 'coat shiny. I Love shiny; and River Tam; and not necessarily in that particular order. :)

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

GUTTERBALL

Monday, February 13, 2006 9:20 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by asarian:
So, lemme see if I got this right; morbid and creepifying, you got no problem with, long as I'm not cheerful?

Heh, that's about the size of it.

Kidding! Actually, I rather marvel at your chipperness. I tend to be more snarky. Even a little cynical. Never outright a downer, as I rarely take anything seriously, but never quite smiley, either.

Don't change, Asarian. We like you just as you are, River-loving and all.

Quote:
...this world does NOT suck. :) Here, in the 'verse, everything is shiny. In "This Land" I can Love River Tam...

*shiny grin* Does that mean that, in This Land, I get Jayne?

Woot! Sign me up! Maybe This Land is worth savin' after all!

*hides the button again*

________________________________________

Please remember that the 9:30 show is completely different from the 7:30 show. Don't forget to tip your waitress.

DONCOAT

Tuesday, February 14, 2006 1:19 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by asarian:
Quote:
Originally posted by DonCoat:

Two great revelatory moments there, Asarian.

You weren't the only one to miss the implications of the Mal/Zoe exchange. In one of the commentaries, Joss mentions that Gina came to him and said, "This is about me, isn't it?" Nathan was standing there too, and he said, "What? It is?... Oh God, I don't believe I missed that!"

Joss also said it was funny to him *because* Nathan almost always "got it".

It took me a couple viewings to get that one, too, but I caught the River moment right away. It was quickly confirmed, too, because I read the script in the Visual Companion.

Thank you, DonCoat, for your nice and complete reply.

I wonder where you heard all those commentaries. Seems I'm a little slow on the uptake.

Well, I've seen and read enough interviews and commentaries (plus seeing him in the flesh at the Flanvention) that I can't really remember which particular one(s) included those comments. I would have said it was in the Serenity director's commentary as a first guess, but I could easily be wrong.

I'm glad to see you've already gotten the information about the VC. You will find it does nothing to diminish your cheerful demeanor, I'm afraid...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't disagree on any particular point.

GUTTERBALL

Sunday, February 19, 2006 9:36 PM

This one's from the BDM:

Did anyone else notice that the Operative only calls Mal "Mal" after he stabs him during the big fight at the end? It's weird!

Before, he only called him "Captain" or "Malcolm", very formal, very proper. But they're fighting, there's the stab...and a look of almost regret passes over the Operative's face, and he murmurs, "Do you know what your sin is...Mal?"

It's almost like only then does he respect the man enough to use the more familiar term. To be almost friendly, in a way.

It's like now, he knows Mal well enough to acknowledge it.

Very subtle, but a very nice touch.

Heh, there's also the benefit that I had to watch the movie all over again just to be sure I hadn't just imagined it. Woo-hoo!

________________________________________

Please remember that the 9:30 show is completely different from the 7:30 show. Don't forget to tip your waitress.

QWERTY

Monday, February 20, 2006 1:33 AM

Maybe I'm way off base here, but after viewing "Shindig" a couple of times, I keep going back to the scene where River is tearing the labels off the cans, and smashing up the crackers.

When Book and Simon go to try and calm her down, Book seems to be more irritated/angry than the situation seems to call for when he mentions, "We'll just have a couple of mystery meals".

It seemed to hearken to the scene in "Objects in Space" when River 'hears' Book comment snidely, "I don't care if you're innocent or not, so where does that leave you?"

I dunno, it just struck me as a bit odd.

NANOMOOSE

Monday, February 20, 2006 3:32 AM

This isn't very 'subtle' or 'interesting', but it IS adorable and hilarious - In Our Mrs. Reynolds, watch Alan Tudyk's face while YoSafBridge does her "Stars" speech. His expressions are wonderful. He's clearly reacting to the subtext in that speech, going from a little interested to deeply uncomfortable and even round-eyed in surprise. It's a fun sequence, and it makes his discomfort later even funnier.

Yub, yub.

GUTTERBALL

Tuesday, February 21, 2006 3:02 AM

Subtle and amusing...and not at all important:

In The Train Job, when they come out of the Alliance-friendly bar swingin', please notice that Mal's fighting one guy, Zoe's fighting one guy, and Jayne...is fighting THREE.

Heh. Love that guy.

And he's the one that wasn't gonna fight because he "didn't fight in no war. Best o' luck, though."

*snort* As if he would miss out on a good brawl.

________________________________________

Please remember that the 9:30 show is completely different from the 7:30 show. Don't forget to tip your waitress.

DREAMSPHOTO

Tuesday, February 21, 2006 4:07 AM

i have two very favorite very subtle things that haven't been mentioned yet...

in war stories, at the very end, when mal's ear has been re-attached... you might notice, that the only place on his neck/cheek that's clean is around his ear. like that's all simon needed to clean to do the op, and that's all he was going to.

and the other is in trash, watching it again, knowing that the crew knows the plans, kaylee's reactions to everything said, and especially wash's overabundant outbreak... classic, and very subtle, cuz your eyes are not on her. and you can even see her calm herself down to get to business... its great...

my third fave has already been mentioned with the 3 switches thing...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

How did your brain even learn human speech? :D

RAGUA

Tuesday, February 21, 2006 9:54 PM

In "Serenity" the pilot, Simon forces Mal's hand by threatening to withhold medical attention from Kaylee, who has been shot in the stomach. In the BDM, these actions come full circle: Simon gets shot in almost the exact same spot when he stands up to get his medkit in order to attend to Kaylee.

I originally thought maybe it was just a coincidence, but after having read all the other subtleties here, I'm begining to suspect otherwise!

AGIRLYMAN

Thursday, February 23, 2006 5:33 AM

Don't kill me, I don't have all the episode names commited to memory, yet. This about the "Bounty hunter" episode, when River is walking through the ship listening to everybody...she comes up on Wash and Zoe in a very intimate moment...and their passion for each other overwhelms her...then River said "I'll be in Jayne's bunk".

Sorry, I made that last part up

AM I NOT MERCIFUL?!?!?!?

Tee Hee

CANTONHEROINE

Thursday, February 23, 2006 6:07 AM

I've posted mine in a blog before, and it refers not so much to the movie, but the deleted scenes.

When the crew arrive at Haven, there's a scene where you see Jayne handing Book some cigars. The subtle bit is where he snatches one back at the last minute to keep for himself. (Mercenaries obviously don't make good gift-givers ).

Book smokes one of his during his fire-light conversation with Mal, and Jayne's smoking the withheld cigar in the funeral scene at the end of the BDM.

All Adam's idea, apparently.
I love that guy.

-----
"Now somethin' about that is just downright unsettlin'."

ETHAN

Thursday, February 23, 2006 6:19 AM

In 'Out Of Gas'during the Kaylee introduction scene when she and Fester are "ahem" bringing their engine room festivities to a climax, Mal yells "Fester....Fester....Fester!!!" It sounds like he's rooting them on, "Faster...faster...faster!"

Mwuhahaha..it is an evil laugh...

WORKWORKWORK

Thursday, February 23, 2006 6:56 AM

Actually, the first mechanics name was 'Bester', but your observation is interesting anyway.

As to the "Jayne fighting three guys" reference earlier, I remember that just before Jayne bursts out of the saloon door, Mal says to Zoe, "Is Jayne even awake?"

Perfect comic timing. I love watching a good bar fight and Firefly/Serenity have given me some great ones!

Mal: You can't open the book of my life and jump in the middle. Like woman, I am a mystery.

EMPXENU

Saturday, February 25, 2006 10:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by GutterBall:
Before, he only called him "Captain" or "Malcolm", very formal, very proper. But they're fighting, there's the stab...and a look of almost regret passes over the Operative's face, and he murmurs, "Do you know what your sin is...Mal?"

It's almost like only then does he respect the man enough to use the more familiar term. To be almost friendly, in a way.

It's like now, he knows Mal well enough to acknowledge it.

Maybe he's familiar with the works of Shan Yu.

"I've been following the footsteps of a carpenter for some time now" - Book. Double meaning there, I guess.

----
"I think, therefore I am... I think"

AUSSAY

Sunday, February 26, 2006 1:24 PM

Not really a subtle thing but I just like watching for Jayne's face for his reactions as they are almost always hilarious. Like when Simon is cutting open the corpse in The Message, he has an excited look on his face.

One thing I dont think thats been mentioned is the in 'Trash' in one scen when Safron looks out the window you can see Earlys ship

ITHAS2BME

Monday, February 27, 2006 3:42 AM

So subtle they didn't even mention it in the commentary...

The Message: Han Solo encased in carbonite quietly watching over Kaylee as she listens to the message on the ipod-thingy from the "dead" Tracey.

If you weren't aware, I'm sure you are in disbelief. Follow the link my friends:

still-flying.net/images/themessage/index.php?image=themessage269.jpg

Nice little subtle indication for the really astute that Tracey was in fact, not dead. Now if we can just find the secret, has no business being on the ship, clue to Book's past and Inara's secret.

...I'm in.

TEALCANDTRIP

Friday, March 3, 2006 12:06 AM

First of all, the guy's name is Bester. Fester was a guy on the Adam's family.

I only recently noticed that Zoe always tucks a napkin into Wash's collar. She does it in War Stories and Out of Gas, possibly a few others too.

When did she start that habit? and Wash just seems to take it.

"I also hear that there's something called Firefly, which is either a canceled science-fiction television show or a new religion, I'm not clear on that. Either way, prayers for the resurrection are involved." – Lore Sjoberg

ASARIAN

Friday, March 3, 2006 1:45 AM

It's not really subtle, either, in that it's in plain sight; but, in the BDM, when River is lying on that grid in the pantry, cuffed, the crew is talking about her. Jayne says: "She goes woolly again, we're gonna have to put a bullet to her." Mal replies: "It's crossed my mind." But you see River when he says that, and just the back and/or side of Mal's head superimposed over that scene, with River lip-syncing those words with him.

Like I said, not really subtle; but cinematographically certainly beautiful; and very reminiscent of Objects in Space, of course.

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

FLETCH2

Friday, March 3, 2006 2:31 AM

HANSWURST

Friday, March 3, 2006 3:47 PM

Re the opening shot: I think that they do slyly edit, when Mal is walking away from the Doc saying "This ship is my home..." The camera swings back to Simon but is in black for an instant as it pans the wall and then Simon appears. Perfect place for a sneaky cut and splice (digitally speaking) and allows for Jayne and Zoe to appear in the cargo bay--without the actors having to unreasonably scramble to get in position.

It's all illusion.

Quote:
Originally posted by Kizyr:
Two things:

1) It wasn't until I'd watched the Serenity pilot three times that I noticed Mal kissing the cross around his neck at the Battle of Serenity Valley. Me and my friend just looked at each other in amazement, since it was the first time he'd noticed it, too.

2) In the Serenity movie... the entire opening with Mal walking through the ship from the cockpit to the cargo hold is shot in one take. No cuts. Not quite subtle, but really amazing when you realize it. KF

~KF

Lord, I'm walking your way. Let me in, for my feet are sore, my clothes are ragged.
Look in my eyes, Lord, and my sins will play out on them as on a screen. Read them all.
Forgive what you can and send me on my path. I will walk on until you bid me rest.
~Haven Prayer

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