Firefly: Fandom and Series Thoughts (no movie spoilers)

[butterfly]

Not about the movie. There are zero movie spoilers in this post.

I can still remember the first time I saw Firefly. It's funny, I can't actually remember the episode (and I don't mention the title in my post about it), but I remember just being curious. Fine, I thought to myself at last, I'll go check out this new thing that Joss is all excited about, this thing that is more important to him than Buffy.

The characters that struck me on that first viewing were Simon and River ("fascinating"), the Captain ("is cool, I guess") and the first officer ("was interesting"). The next week, I decided that I loved everyone (Jayne, I hated "in a loving way"). I adored the couple that is Wash and Zoe, found Simon and River's relationship even more interesting, and noticed the gayness (shipped and still ship Mal/Simon). Again, I didn't note the name of the episode, but I'd guess from context that it was Safe. After this episode, girlfromsouth made me up a tape of the eps already aired and mailed them to me.

I watched the tape of episodes. I showed that tape to jic. I was, officially, hooked. Thus, I was so sad when only a short time later, we all found out that the show had been cancelled. This show shouldn't have ended yet, I could feel that. It was over, but it'd barely just begun. How could it already be over?

See, the thing that cuts at me the most nowadays is that we'd only just gotten through the introductory episodes. Joss was taking his good, sweet time with these characters, and his absolute love for them and this universe bleeds through every episode, every situation. With Objects in Space, it looked like we were finally through the set-up episodes, what with integrating River into the crew and all.

Every episode, from the pilot to Objects in Space, was about setting up and explaining at least one key detail about the universe and characters. And, oh, the continuity between the episodes is wonderful, the way they just flow together when they're watched in the correct order. God, I wanted more of this show. I loved the movie but... god, I want more of this show, still, now. At least five good, solid years. They would have been shiny. The cast sparkled together, the universe was fascinating, and Joss Whedon and his team of writers were just kicking absolute ass.

Seriously, though, I'm deeply, hopelessly in love with this universe. The episodes just get better, every single time that I watch them. The characters feel deeper, the 'verse even more intriguing. It's not just Joss, though the show carries his unmistakable flavor, but the actors really do have something special, all nine of them, because this is something that neither of Joss' earlier shows was.

A true ensemble. Mal isn't so much the leading man in the show as he is the first among equals. It's a true ten-character ensemble show.

Ten characters?

I've watched a lot of shows with space ships. A couple of them even had sentient ships. Serenity is the only ship that I've ever fallen in love with. Because of Mal and Kaylee and Wash and River and Inara, Serenity is a ship that lives, that has relationships, despite being 'only' a ship, and not objectively alive at all. She's a good girl, she's a home, she's Mal's dearest love, what he buried himself in after the battle of Serenity left him faithless. She hurts and she needs and she lives. She lives.

The first thirteen episodes, the only thirteen episodes, are a dance. The characters dance around each other, establishing relationships and personalities, showing us who they are.

Serenity (series pilot): This is a hell of good beginning. We see Mal lose his faith, we see the strength of his relationship with Zoe, we see Simon and River and Book all get thrown into this jumbled up outlaw ship of Malcolm Reynolds. It's an episode with a light touch, but one that resonates. This episode briefly shows us all the subjects that the later episodes cover in-depth.

The Train Job: The reintroduction to everything, but with an emphasis on Mal. This episode shows us who Mal is at this point in time. His bitterness at losing the war. His desperation and hate because of the Alliance. His inate goodness, as shown by his returning the goods, and his ruthlessness when he needs it.

Bushwacked: Hello, Reavers. This episode is all about exploring the Reavers and various characters' reactions to them.

Shindig: And the Mal/Inara UST would like to wave hello. This episode is all about showing us the hows and whys of these characters and why they both insult and genuinely like each other. And we see Badger from Serenity again, our first reoccuring character.

Safe: Simon Tam becomes crew and knows it.

Our Mrs. Reynolds: Our first big hint that being a Companion isn't just about sleeping with people for money. Saffron is like an ex-spy, more than anything else.

Jaynestown: Jayne's character exploration episode. It's funny, it's got violence, it's got grime. It's so very Jayne. Also, an exploration of faith, a very important part of the FF universe.

Out of Gas: In Safe, we got to see the past of the Tam siblings and especially of Simon. In this episode, we get to find out just how the crew all came aboard Serenity. This is our ship's big character episode.

Ariel: While Jaynestown was about Jayne, alone, this episode establishes Jayne's relationships with various characters. It also establishes Simon Tam as a strong and talented leader-type. He has a good, solid plan that takes into account both his needs and the crews. And he's a very encouraging teacher-type, too. *sigh* Simon.

War Stories: That whole Mal/Zoe/Wash thing. This is Wash's episode, where he learns about what it's like to be Zoe and just why she trusts Mal so damn much. And we also get to see him do a totally kick-ass pilot thing. "Like throwing a dart at a dartboard six thousand miles away." And I half-suspect that dealing with Niska would have been the real Season 1 or 2 finale, if we'd gotten one.

Trash: Inara's first active participation in an on-going job. This episode also reminded us that Saffron was out there, and clearly, she wasn't going to end up a one or two episode character. We'd have seen her back, sometime, if the show had gone on.

The Message: Mal. Mal and the war, but so very much about Mal. This episode never fails to make me cry. "What are we now?"

Heart of Gold: On the differences between a Companion and a whore.

Objects in Space: What Safe was for Simon, this is for River. Making her crew, and getting to truly see things from her point of view.

And that's it. That's all we got. There's so much depth there, but it had only just begun. I am so grateful to have the movie, to live in this universe again, if only for a bare two hours, but I wanted so much more. Wanted years of more. Still want, but we take what we can get.

Nearly two years ago, I said this on my lj:

Anything beloved is worth fighting for. Whether it's a person or a dream or a cause or a television show - if it matters, if it is loved, then it's worth the fight, even if you don't win.

In the Firefly theme, there's that phrase - "You can't take the sky from me," and no one can. No one can take a dream away from someone.

Firefly is a reminder to look up at the sky and see the beauty of the flickering black. Stars burn and explode, but their light lasts far beyond their time of dying. That's the way it is with anything that burns that hotly.

And as long as the show is loved, Serenity is still flying.

And look at us now.

We're still flying.

Oh, and on a related note, my mom (I saw Serenity with her on Saturday) just sent me an email, and she said this in it: "Guess what. Serenity is a HIT with our astronomy club! Everybody loves it and is going out to buy the Firefly DVDs."

Comments

[annaalamode.livejournal.com]

Hee. I love your mom.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

So do I! Hee.

She's great.

[danamaree.livejournal.com]

I love your comment. And I totally agree.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

It really does make me get all choked up with how much I really do love the characters, and the universe.

[madame-parker.livejournal.com]

Bushwacked: Hello, Reavers. This episode is all about exploring the Reavers and various characters' reactions to them.
I thought I remembered something about the Reavers on Firefly, I'm telling you, they freaked me out while watching the film, and I love that Joss took the risk of really showing what happens when humans are no longer humans, to put it simply, when Sin is removed, you are left with only the darkness of your soul and the Reavers really are as dark as you can get as a human being.
Our Mrs. Reynolds: Our first big hint that being a Companion isn't just about sleeping with people for money. Saffron is like an ex-spy, more than anything else.
I loved Saffron, she was so cool, Joss is amazing at writing all types of strong women. I too think she would have carried on to turn up once in a while.
War Stories: That whole Mal/Zoe/Wash thing.
Lol, no kdding, I laughed soo hard while watching this, that was some great writing and Wash, I loved Wash and yes, his flying was amazing, only he could have pulled it off.
I'm working on taking my Mum to see the film, she loved Firefly, she wasn't able to get into Buffy or Angel but Firefly, that got her hooked and she was sad to see it go.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Firefly just had so much depth and so many interesting things, so early on. I mean, I love BtVS and AtS, but they needed time to get to a level of true excellence, while Firefly started at that level of gold (practice really does help, apparently). And the cast really did just click into place.

[nic]

This is such a beautiful post - you capture the 'heart' of the series and remind me why I love it.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

It's been so long that you've probably forgetting even commenting here, but I just wanted to thank you. I just really love the show and love sharing that love.