My Journey Through The 'Verse

POSTED BY: Beatlesfan
UPDATED: Wednesday, May 6, 2009 12:22
VIEWED: 8121
PAGE 1 of 1

BEATLESFAN

Friday, April 24, 2009 4:18 PM (P)

I'm watching this show for the first time, and after my introductory post, someone suggested making a little "Viewing Journal." So here it is! I figured I'd get caught up to where I am now and keep updating as I watch!

1. Serenity: I had actually seen part of The Train Job and all of Bushwhacked when I visited my fiancee in Canada in early March, but I didn't see this until I bought the series in late March/early April. My initial thought was, "Hmmm, after that first scene this goes kind of slow..." That didn't last, though, and when I watched it a second time (when the REST of my family fell in love with it), I saw that it was used as an introduction for the characters. "Part 1," as it were, isn't as action-packed as The Train Job, but it's just as interesting. The characters immediately grabbed me. I was initially pulled in by Inara's character, something that I would never expect to really see in a Western. Soon after, though, after realizing WHO Kaylee was (or who Jewel Staite was, rather - hadn't seen her since I, and she, was a kid) I fell for her character. I'm a sucker for the kind of easy-going, friendly types, being one myself. Simon was soon to follow, and when I saw their interaction developing, I did a silent (and not-so-silent) "YES!"

After seeming so futuristic for the first part of the show (minus the little bit on Persephone), the scene at the end with the "gold" (I lost it when it turned out to be food) was so bizarre that I almost had to do a double take.

Throughout the entire episode, though, I kept thinking, "This has to be the most quotable show in existence." "Nice hat *BAM*" "Are you asking me to dance?"

2. The Train Job: As previously mentioned, I had seen part of this before. As it turned out, I hadn't missed much, but seeing it from start to finish uninterrupted was still nice. This was my favourite episode for a long while. I am not a sci-fi buff by any means. I used to watch Start Trek TNG with my dad as a kid, but that is about the extent of my hard-core sci-fi knowledge (not counting Star Wars because really who doesn't know at least a little about it?). The Western aspect of the show is probably what most appeals to me, though its integration with the space theme is even cooler than a plain old western.

That being said, it's hard to beat a good old-fashioned train heist. It should have been cliche, but as I quickly discovered, it wasn't. Something about settlers traveling west on a train through a desert with an enormous horse-shaped spaceship flying above it is...unique.

Again I found myself laughing hysterically at a good bit of the episode. (Is it a bad thing that I laughed when Mal kicked the guy into the turbines?) "'What are we doing?' 'Crime.' 'Crime! Good! Okay! Crime.'" "'So you've done this before?' 'Oh hell no. But I think it's gonna work.'"

3. Bushwhacked: This was the one episode I had seen in full before I bought the series. It was just as creepy the second time, I can assure you. This one was one of the ones that was so space-centered that I found myself asking, "Is this the same show that I saw 'The Train Job' on?" Putting those episodes back-to-back, though, was great. There's not much to say about this episode other than, "Holy cow that was intense." It's non-stop tension, even though there's not a lot of action. Probably the most memorable part for me, though, is the bit with Simon and River outside the ship. It's just hilarious. Oh, and of course: "'Fought with a lot of people in the war.' 'And your husband?' 'Fight with him sometimes, too.'" "I definitely have to say it was her legs. You can put that down! Her legs, and right where her legs meet her back. That - actually that whole area. That and - and above it."

4. Shindig: And another angle is added to the show. The almost Elizabethan dresses in a Western city with a spaceship sitting outside sounds ridiculous. Unless you've seen it. Then you know it's genius. I have to admit that I spent most of the episode going

VIOLYNS

Sunday, April 26, 2009 3:05 PM (P)

This is really fun to read! Thanks for doing it! :)

-----
~mia

Serenifly Costumes http://serenifly.tripod.com

ECGORDON

Sunday, April 26, 2009 5:32 PM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by Beatlesfan:
Also, I saw somewhere that there were deleted scenes from this one...are they on the DVD somewhere?

If you have the original Region One dvds, the deleted scenes are on Disc Four. If it's the Blu-Ray set they are on Disc Three. There are deleted scenes for Serenity, Our Mrs. Reynolds and Objects in Space.

Also, when you finish watching all of the episodes and special features you should go back and watch again, this time turning on the commentary tracks for Serenity, The Train Job, Shindig, Out of Gas, War Stories, The Message and Objects in Space. The Blu-Ray set has an extra commentary track on Our Mrs. Reynolds.

In case I haven't already, I wish you a big welcome to the 'Verse. Glad to have you on board.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Monday, April 27, 2009 10:24 AM (P)

This is great. Thought you'd like Out of Gas. You got Ariel and War Stories coming up, can't wait to hear your comments.

BEATLESFAN

Tuesday, April 28, 2009 2:53 AM (P)

Updated through Ariel and War Stories. WOW those two were good!!

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Tuesday, April 28, 2009 6:28 AM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by Beatlesfan:
Updated through Ariel and War Stories. WOW those two were good!!

I liked Mal's "You starting a Book Club? What, you want to torture me now?"

BEATLESFAN

Tuesday, April 28, 2009 5:34 PM (P)

Hah forgot about that one. I had a hard time getting humour out of a lot of that scene. Probably the whole "Hi, I'm being tortured but still being a smart aleck" thing - I was going "YEAH!" rather than laughing, if that makes sense. That, and I have a tendency to be that way. If someone was torturing me, I'd probably be a smart aleck till the end :P

BEATLESFAN

Saturday, May 2, 2009 1:12 PM (P)

Only one episode left :( Well, and the movie, but still. The fact that the light at the end of the tunnel is gettin' mighty big is not comforting.

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Sunday, May 3, 2009 7:18 AM (P)

Looks like you're watching OiS as the last ep, instead of Message. That's the way the DVD is laid out. When you see the originally aired scene from OiS (in deleted scenes or bonus material), conjure on it a bit.

BEATLESFAN

Sunday, May 3, 2009 1:39 PM (P)

Does it go the other way 'round chronologically? I could see the series ending with Heart of Gold, but then again I haven't watched Objects In Space yet...

BEATLESFAN

Monday, May 4, 2009 3:10 AM (P)

And I'm done...and I'm sad :( Only Serenity to go, then it's over T_T

CELLARDOOR

Monday, May 4, 2009 3:22 AM (P)

Aww... :( *hugs* I know, it's depressing. From what I can tell though, even for people who have seen the episodes about 60 times each (give or take) over the last seven years, it doesn't get old! I'm hoping that's the case for me too. Plus, you can watch director commentary, deleted scenes, gag reels, and then delve into fan fiction!

Thanks for sharing the viewing journal and enjoy the BDM when you get around to watching it! (For me, that was harder than finishing the series, because like you, I did start with the show DVDs and the movie was in fact "the end"). Heh, not to end on a downer... You've got a treat in store!

OH! and PLEASE beware of Serenity movie spoilers still! There are MAJOR spoilers out there, so... just be careful is all I'm sayin'.

BEATLESFAN

Monday, May 4, 2009 3:29 AM (P)

Thanks for the heads up. I joined the "Atlanta Browncoats" forum (My local Browncoats, woo), which seems to be a ghost town, so I joined the Austin Browncoats forum as well. In both, though, I'm avoiding just about everything except for my introduction post until I've seen Serenity.

Also, edited my post to put in my fav quotes from this episode :)

CELLARDOOR

Monday, May 4, 2009 3:36 AM (P)

Oh wow, you're close to Dragon*Con then, I'm jealous! :) In Tennessee I'm several hours away from it, so that's not a trip that's happening this year. Hehe, yes Austin Browncoats are certainly an active bunch if you want to keep tabs on Browncoat activity in the USA!

SHINYVERA2517

Monday, May 4, 2009 3:39 AM (P)

"Throughout the entire episode, though, I kept thinking, "This has to be the most quotable show in existence."

Gah, can't stop thinking about Firefly now. I don't watch much TV....... Finding a series that was SO good made me smile but also frown because it's not around anymore."

*****
Hey, Beatlesfan, like you I only recently discovered the show (probably a week or so before you did). I totally agree about the quotable-ness of the show. In fact, I had the chance to quote 'The Message' today .....I was having trouble w/some food and told my friends that it was problematic....none of them got it, but I was happy for having been able to finally use that quote.
Anyway....I also can't stop thinking about the show. I get distracted at work all the time now thinking about it....like Attention Deficit Firefly Disorder or something, lol.
Let us know when you watch the movie. And DON'T read too much online....I stupidly was reading stuff on a Facebook Firefly fanpage and have part of it TOTALLY ruined for me that I really wish I hadn't known about beforehand!
OH, also, you should try watching Chuck too if you haven't already. Adam Baldwin (Jayne) is fabulous on it..... hopefully it'll get picked up for a 3rd season!
_____
"He was mostly brave.....MOSTLY??!?!...he was brave..."

BEATLESFAN

Monday, May 4, 2009 3:40 AM (P)

I saw that Ron Glass is gonna be there this year. I'm KICKING myself for not discovering this show before LAST year when they were ALL there. Now I just watch Youtube videos and gaze wistfully at my screen imagining what could have been.

But yeah, definitely going. Buying my ticket as soon as my paycheck gets here. Goin' as Simon. Fiancee's comin' down to go as Kaylee. My brother is going as Jayne. We're gonna be Big Damn Dorks and proud of it!

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Monday, May 4, 2009 7:44 AM (P)

After you've watched the BDM, check out the Episode forum for threads like Episode Order, and timeline stuff.
Original scripted and shot eps ended with WS, HoG, OiS, Trash, Message. Notice no mention of Lassiter in Hog or OiS? After F*x cancelled, order was rearranged to WS, Trash, Message, HoG, OiS. Many do feel Message was the most fitting (albeit premature) end to the series.

If still wanting more, remember Done The Impossible, and the Visual Companion Books for Serenity and Firefly (Vol 1&2), and The Map of the Verse.
Don't forget Can't Stop The Serenity screenings.

BEATLESFAN

Tuesday, May 5, 2009 2:03 AM (P)

...Finished :( :( :(

PEACEKEEPER

Tuesday, May 5, 2009 3:35 PM (P)

Loved reading all of this.Nice to hear someones thoughts from a fresh perspective. Must admit, I hate watching OIS.Knowing its the last depresses me.And its so obvious it wasnt supposed to be a season ender,that it bugs me that its left hanging with no threads tied up.The movie is one of my "desert island dvd's" but I dont think Book was used anywhere near as much as he should have been,but I can understand the constraints on Joss in the movie making process and it would have been difficult to place him in that particular story.
What I love about the film is the way it can be watched by the folk who have never seen the series,but still has little subtle references to the series that keep us Browncoats happy.For example,note the scene where Mal is talking to Inara on the screen in his bunk.He is standing there shirtless and you see a scar on his right upper torso.To the uninitiated it is just the sign of a battlescarred ships captain, but to us its the wound he got from Crow's hooked blade in the Train Job.Subtle and clever I thought.

RIPWASH

Tuesday, May 5, 2009 5:13 PM (P)

I was very glad to read your thoughts on the episodes. I am fairly new to the 'Verse myself and I think I had roughly the same reaction to some of the episodes. Out of Gas is probably my favorite with Ariel a close second.

If anything can cheer you while watching Serenity (the BDM) - and it did me - is that at the funeral scene Zoe walks up dressed very nicely, but I couldn't help think that she finally got her slinky dress, but not for the occassion she'd hoped for. That and the quotes in my signature just tear me up(both pronunciations, actually - I get teary eyed and it's heart-breaking).

I'll echo the thoughts of many a Browncoat and say once again, for the millionth time, CURSE YOU FOX FOR CANCELLING THIS SHOW!!!!!!

Mal: You think she'll hold together?
Zoë: She's torn up plenty, but she'll fly true.
Mal: Could be bumpy.
Zoë: Always is

BYTEMITE

Tuesday, May 5, 2009 5:23 PM (P)

Aw, hey, Chi, don't get so down. There's still lots of material out there. You said you're getting the RPG manual, I have it myself and I think it's a great source. There's still the Visual Companions, the Comic Books...

And Joss Whedon has said he's by no means done with this verse. He's been a little distracted lately, but there's always going to be more.

I'll keep a look out for your fanfics. :)

BEATLESFAN

Tuesday, May 5, 2009 5:32 PM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by Bytemite:
And Joss Whedon has said he's by no means done with this verse. He's been a little distracted lately, but there's always going to be more.

This makes me happy. And curious.

I didn't even think of the "slinky dress" thing. Probably cause I was all teary and such. Blah.

Still, seeing Simon and Kaylee FINALLY get together made the whole journey worth it <3

SHINYVERA2517

Wednesday, May 6, 2009 2:19 AM (P)

I hadn't thought about the slinky dress either.....maybe I was still shocked at how sudden Wash's death was....or I was looking at her dress wondering why she wore white to her husband's funeral (apparently it's something they do in China). On youtube there is video of Alan Tudyk reading Wash's eulogy, which was written by a fan, but he edits as he's reading it (which is where the quote in my signature comes from). It's worth a watch if you're bored.

_____
"He was mostly brave.....MOSTLY??!?!...he was brave..."

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Wednesday, May 6, 2009 7:25 AM (P)

Well, not to point out the obvious, but there are about some 38 thousand threads to peruse just on this board alone.
Many are quite interesting and thought-provoking.

BEATLESFAN

Wednesday, May 6, 2009 12:22 PM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by jewelstaitefan:
Well, not to point out the obvious, but there are about some 38 thousand threads to peruse just on this board alone.
Many are quite interesting and thought-provoking.

Haha, yeah. I think my mind is un-blown enough now that I can think straight to discuss it properly ;)