Firefly

[mrblakemiller]

For my money, Firefly gets at least twice the credit it deserves. I don't see why so many people like it other than it's Whedon and his writing style. Everything he makes from now on will have a massive fan base because of the (admittedly pretty darn good) work he did with Buffy.

Firefly? There are way to many characters (Cowboy Bebop told a great story with just 4.5 main characters). That's my second biggest grip with the series. The biggest has to be River Tam, the walking, talking, deus ex machina. She's loopy as a lemming 90% of the time, then they need her to kick ass or solve a complex problem and she snaps together just long enough to make everything turn out alright. This was really taken too far with the film. The Reavers are a group of murderous cannibals that attack by the dozen and fight unrelentingly, and she kills them all without sustaining a scratch when three other characters die for stupid reasons. Cut out River, Simon, and Inara, and maybe Wash, from the show and the whole thing would be easier to tell great stories around.

TL;DR: River Tam is a poorly-written goddess of a character who removes all sense of dramatic scale from the show.

 

[No_Remainders]

Ok, so here goes. I'm wondering exactly why Firefly has the cult following it has.

I'm on the third episode, and while it is a very good show, I'm still unsure as to why it has the massive fan-base that it does, considering there were only fourteen episodes.

Anyone able to explain this to me?

You clearly do not appreciate the glory that is Jayne, the Space Redneck. XD

... I officially love this show.

"I say Zoe gets naked."
"Nope."
"I could get naked?"
"No...."

Jayne is hilarious xD

 

[Skarecrow13]

Give it some time yet. I just got into it myself. It doesn't really pick up steam until about half way though the series. It's good though out, but once you get a few in it really starts rockin' and a rollin'.

 

[Sindre1]

I don't see why so many people like it other than it's Whedon and his writing style.

His writing is just really really good, so why would anyone need another reason to love it?
But the cast, art department and music is great aswell.

Everything he makes from now on will have a massive fan base because of the (admittedly pretty darn good) work he did with Buffy.

I think Firefly was better than (most of) Buffy.
How do you explain that?

 

[mrF00bar]

because pirates in space that's why

Pielikey hit it on the nail. I am hoping that Firefly might start up again with all of this buying the show business.

 

[scorrishbeef]

Actually is Cowboys Pirates in Space... If that's not the most awesome idea of all, then I don't know what is...[/quote]

That is EXACTLY the reason

 

[viperthejedi]

Pretty much because of Joss Whedon. The man is a genius.

 

[Bearjing]

because pirates in space that's why

Pielikey hit it on the nail. I am hoping that Firefly might start up again with all of this buying the show business.

I heard fox has never sold the rights to any of it's shows, except for once i think. People buying it just proves it is worth money .

 

[Diceman]

because pirates in space that's why

I believe you mean "Cowboys in space."

Also, because it actually has depth and is interesting. Would it have died after season 3 if it'd continued? Possible, but unlikely.
It simply beats most other series to date.

 

[cefm]

It did have the benefit of only having one season, which tends to maximize quality and minimize the shitty 'filler' episodes. The actual acting, writing, and execution was very good, so why NOT have a fan-base.

Ultimately it's got a cult following because the series finished before the fans did, giving them a nasty case of blue-balls and a desperate need to vent somewhere.

 

[darkman80723]

I think there are really three reasons why its got such a following
a.) It showed that Joss Whedon can be just as compelling without as much of the bells and whistles of Angel/Buffy (dont get me wrong, loved those, but Firefly seemed to have more depth)
b.) Excellent premise, great acting, and even better writing...always good things
c.) Finally it left the fans clamoring for more and more.

 

[ragsmorrison]

For a nice chunk of everything that makes the series awesome, I would recommend my two favorite episodes, "Safe" and "Our Mrs. Reynolds." for these two alone, I bow to Mr. Whedon's excellence.

"(sung)...the hero of geekdom,
the man they call JOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSS..."

 

[Fetzenfisch]

For my money, Firefly gets at least twice the credit it deserves. I don't see why so many people like it other than it's Whedon and his writing style. Everything he makes from now on will have a massive fan base because of the (admittedly pretty darn good) work he did with Buffy.

Firefly? There are way to many characters (Cowboy Bebop told a great story with just 4.5 main characters). That's my second biggest grip with the series. The biggest has to be River Tam, the walking, talking, deus ex machina. She's loopy as a lemming 90% of the time, then they need her to kick ass or solve a complex problem and she snaps together just long enough to make everything turn out alright. This was really taken too far with the film. The Reavers are a group of murderous cannibals that attack by the dozen and fight unrelentingly, and she kills them all without sustaining a scratch when three other characters die for stupid reasons. Cut out River, Simon, and Inara, and maybe Wash, from the show and the whole thing would be easier to tell great stories around.

TL;DR: River Tam is a poorly-written goddess of a character who removes all sense of dramatic scale from the show.

you may be right there, the movie really tried to much at once. i agree.
but i still lost respect for you for posting a TL;DR for 8 fucking lines. dont support those illiterate idiots who wont even read 8 lines of text.

 

[minus_273c]

Because it is the live action equivalent of Cowboy Bebop...

I have watched all episodes of both, several times, and love them both, but have never made that link. I really am quite dim. Thanks.

 

[Erja_Perttu]

Really good writing.
Really good cast.
Lots of potential.
And BAM - gone.

It's the tease of it. None of your questions will ever be answered (other than the ones in the Serenity movie). So all you ever have is that great, unfulfilled potential. Forever.

I most heartily agree.

Also I find the premise and cast completely and utterly charming, and there's a wonderful fusion between old and new with the theming. The production values and attention to detail with locations, costumes and prop choices are some of the most effective I've seen on a tv show. There's always new things to look at and appreciate.

That's why I like it anyways.

 

[Zarincos]

I'm personally a devoted browncoat, I've watched the series several times and hold it as my personal "Best Thing Ever Made Ever". As everyone else is saying, watch the rest of the series, and you'll probably share a similar mindset as me or think it was decent, one of the two.

The biggest [gripe] has to be River Tam, the walking, talking, deus ex machina. She's loopy as a lemming 90% of the time, then they need her to kick ass or solve a complex problem and she snaps together just long enough to make everything turn out alright. This was really taken too far with the film. The Reavers are a group of murderous cannibals that attack by the dozen and fight unrelentingly, and she kills them all without sustaining a scratch when three other characters die for stupid reasons. Cut out River, Simon, and Inara, and maybe Wash, from the show and the whole thing would be easier to tell great stories around.

A lot of the problems described in the post arise from the fact that the producers had to push Firefly (which I imagine to be, optimally, a 3-4 season show) into an hour and a half. Some stuff had to be cut and all the tension that was building towards the end of Firefly had to be reduced to 5-10 minutes so they could fit it into a movie; I and several others I know believe that Serenity isn't nearly as good as Firefly, though still pretty great.

The characters dying somewhat randomly was a bit of a letdown, but I think I would be more let down if the crew survived it without a scratch, then it would be almost a feel-good family film, not anything that had depth or weight to actions.

As for the characters, if they cut everyone you suggested it would have no plot. It would be four people smuggling things, it would still probably be good, the early episodes were mostly that, but there would be no massive fear attack from seeing an Alliance ship, they'd just hide the goods and be happy with life. Inara is the least vital character, but she's still needed as a legit business front.

 

[viperthejedi]

I would miss Wash and Book too much if they ever brought this show back.