You Can't Take Firefly From Me
Finally saw Serenity the other day. The problem was that I wanted to finish the DVD set of the Firefly series before seeing Serenity and I didn't anticipate it being out of theaters so quickly. Fortunately, it was revived in a brief engagement at a small mall theater in Burbank last week so I was able to see it on the big screen (kinda). I'm glad I did.
I'm a big fan of Joss Whedon, the creator of Buffy and Angel (and writer of a few great comic books including Fray and Astonishing X-Men to boot) so I greatly anticipated the Firefly show when it came out. Unfortunately, it aired on a weird night and I had to get my mom to tape it for me, and when I finally watched it I thought she must have missed taping an episode because the series started off on a confusing note. There were things going on it seemed to assume I knew about and there were a ton of characters I didn't know or like right off the bat. Turns out Fox didn't think the pilot episode of Firefly had enough action so aired the episodes out of order, so no wonder I was confused. Anyway, the series didn't grab me right away, and after a few episodes, I lost interest. Actually, watching the DVDs, I didn't love Firefly immediately, but thought it was a good show. It wasn't until about halfway into the second disc that I remember thinking, "This show is great." I had the same experience with Buffy, too. The characters in Whedon's shows don't really talk or act like normal TV characters, possibly because they're more three dimensional than we're used to seeing. They get to be alternately funny, sad, serious, etc. they play against type, and sometimes they're not really all that likeable. Far from the characters in Gene Roddenberry's creations, the crew of Serenity (that's the name of the Firefly-class starship they cruise around in) fights and bickers all the time (in Chinese, no less!), sometimes betraying each other in unexpected ways. I hope I get the opportunity to play a Whedon-penned character; they seem like they would be so much fun to get into. The genre the show exists in is atypical too - this is not your typical "sci-fi" show. Just like Buffy and Angel, this show crosses genre boundaries with each episode. Comedy. Drama. Horror. Heck, it's even described as a "western in space" a mashed-up genre from the get-go, more the province of anime (eg Trigun, Cowboy Bebop) than primetime television. Certainly more ambitious than primetime is used to, which is why it's so heartbreaking that the show didn't at least get another season, at least to wrap up the many plot threads the final episode left dangling.Thankfully, Serenity continues the story left off by the canceled Firefly TV series. I felt all warm and fuzzy, sitting in the theater,
watching the crew of the Serenity back in action. I also felt a sense of dread as the minutes passed, knowing that this would be the last voyage they would take, at least on the big screen, seeing how disappointing the box office was. If this was indeed the last voyage though, it was a noble one to go out on. It was very satisfying seeing the mystery of the Reavers revealed and watching Simon finally connect with Kaylee on a real level. We didn't get to see Inara and Mal get together, but what we did get between them was enough. We also didn't get Shepherd's backstory, but that remaining a mystery is probably for the best. With such great characters and such a rich universe, it's maddening to contemplate where the next movies would have gone had the opening weekend box office been better. I heard that Joss is planning on doing a series of comic books set in Firefly's universe, so that's some consolation, but a good chunk of why the series and movie works is because of the actors, especially the captain, Malcolm Reynolds, played by Nathan Fillion. He just strikes the perfect mix of scoundrel, charmer, hard-ass and friend. I'm not spoiling anything, since it has been revealed in practically every review of the 
movie, but not all of the crew makes it to the end of the movie. Because of this, and because of what the characters go through, especially in the third act, I felt totally emotionally drained by the time I left the theater. I was hoping for that emotional impact when the twins were born and Darth Vader was revealed at the end of Episode III, but no. Serenity's characters moved me, not the special effects, which is something that Joss Whedon seems to understand and George Lucas does not. Indeed, I think I'll have to pick up this shirt immediately.See Serenity in a theater if you can, if you can find it; it's worth seeing on the big screen. Otherwise, buy the Firefly box set and watch the series now, in anticipation for the home release of the movie. Or, just mosey over to my place during the winter break, around the week of Dec. 20 when Serenity comes out on DVD, 'cuz I'm sure I'll be havin' myself a Firefly/Serenity viewing party. Yee-haw!
3 Comments:
I concur completely. In fact, we should start a lobby to get Firefly back on th air. Here's the first name on the petition:
Mitch Wilhelmsen
Sign your name and pass it on!
Jeff Schuetze
Heck, I'd settle for a new Serenity movie (even if that means straight-to-dvd) every couple of years! Anything to keep that ship and crew in space!!!
You have to wait until I get back in town on the 27th for this viewing party!! I wanna see!
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