Firefly: The Complete Series (2002) (15th Anniversary Edition)

[starr]

IMO don't buy this if you're a fan of the show. you're just giving more money to FOX.

[darkness2918]

I bought the UK set about a month ago so I'll just stick with that.

[Iron-Fisted Punk]

Originally Posted by starr

IMO don't buy this if you're a fan of the show. you're just giving more money to FOX.

Or everyone buy it and put it in FOX's face that they canceled something special that could have made them a lot more money.

[kevin87]

Originally Posted by Iron-Fisted Punk

Or everyone buy it and put it in FOX's face that they canceled something special that could have made them a lot more money.

That.. doesn't make sense? Fox will take it as ok cool we can milk this for all it's worth without doing anything better other than packaging, but yet we only had to produce one season and mistreat it.

If you have it, don't rebuy it... if you don't, you should.

[wakey]

Originally Posted by kevin87

That.. doesn't make sense? Fox will take it as ok cool we can milk this for all it's worth without doing anything better other than packaging, but yet we only had to produce one season and mistreat it.

If you have it, don't rebuy it... if you don't, you should.

I'm a massive fan of the show but I feel this mistreatment claim has really been over egged. What exactly did they really do to mistreat the show? The only thing you can really point to is the pilot but even that is pushing it because lets be honest from a broadcasting pov it was the right decision, the pilot has to be watched at a whole and a 2-hour pilot is a commitment that's going to put many off. Also while it's a great pilot, on one hand, its a bit dense to capture the casual viewer and its the lack of casual viewers that killed the show.

The show that was cancelled to free up the budget for Firefly which was Dark Angel did much better in the ratings than Firefly did and that's where the problem was, people didn't tune in so its the TV viewers who were the problem not the network.

In addition remember it was Fox Broadcasting Company who demanded a new pilot, not 20th Century Television who made the show. Yes they belong to the same parent company but 20th Century Television has different agendas to Fox Broadcasting Company. The Studio gave the show plenty of support both during the time it was airing and especially afterwards. It's the sales that keep the studio interested in telling future stories while also making outlets be aware that it's a universe they may be worth while commissioning new stories via any delivery method.

[Strapped4Cash]

Originally Posted by wakey

I'm a massive fan of the show but I feel this mistreatment claim has really been over egged. What exactly did they really do to mistreat the show? The only thing you can really point to is the pilot but even that is pushing it because lets be honest from a broadcasting pov it was the right decision, the pilot has to be watched at a whole and a 2-hour pilot is a commitment that's going to put many off. Also while it's a great pilot, on one hand, its a bit dense to capture the casual viewer and its the lack of casual viewers that killed the show.

The show that was cancelled to free up the budget for Firefly which was Dark Angel did much better in the ratings than Firefly did and that's where the problem was, people didn't tune in so its the TV viewers who were the problem not the network.

I miss Dark Angel too, at least Season 1 DA.

As for Firefly, other arguments that I've regularly heard include:

That it was shown on Friday nights, a bad night to establish a new show.

That the pilot episode broadcast was written in only one weekend, due to a lack of notice from Fox about needing a new pilot. It's one thing to need a new pilot, another to need it that quickly.

This was Fox's most expensive show to produce, so there was outsize pressure on it to perform well quickly.

Firefly premiered in September while Fox was showing mostly Major League Baseball Playoffs and therefore not as many potential non-sports viewers were paying attention.

The trailers were uninteresting and/or misleading and so did a poor job of attracting potential viewers. (I was watching the show anyway back then, but imo the ads likely would have turned me away if I hadn't been watching).

[nighthawk07]

Originally Posted by Strapped4Cash

I miss Dark Angel too, at least Season 1 DA.

As for Firefly, other arguments that I've regularly heard include:

That it was shown on Friday nights, a bad night to establish a new show.

That the pilot episode broadcast was written in only one weekend, due to a lack of notice from Fox about needing a new pilot. It's one thing to need a new pilot, another to need it that quickly.

This was Fox's most expensive show to produce, so there was outsize pressure on it to perform well quickly.

Firefly premiered in September while Fox was showing mostly Major League Baseball Playoffs and therefore not as many potential non-sports viewers were paying attention.

The trailers were uninteresting and/or misleading and so did a poor job of attracting potential viewers. (I was watching the show anyway back then, but imo the ads likely would have turned me away if I hadn't been watching).

All these reasons, agreed. FOX definitely mistreated the show. a 2 hour finale is daunting, yes, but not out of the norm. Not to mention, didn't they air the episodes out of order too and perhaps created continuity errors.

In any case, I already own the original DVD release, and the new set sure is cool looking. If I weren't between jobs right now, I would most likely be getting it. Definitely a shame there is no new added material though, makes it easier to pass on this.

[emailking]

Originally Posted by nighthawk07

All these reasons, agreed. FOX definitely mistreated the show. a 2 hour finale is daunting, yes, but not out of the norm. Not to mention, didn't they air the episodes out of order too and perhaps created continuity errors.

Yes. The originally intended pilot that properly introduces the characters was aired last instead of first. A few episodes in the middle were aired out of order, and then 3 episodes from various parts of the season were never aired by Fox at all.

[theater dreamer]

This.

Three things a network can do to absolutely kill a show's chances.

Put it on Friday. Everybody is out on Friday night. But for those souls home actually watching tv on a Friday night....

Show them trailers that completely fail to capture the essence of a show, so more potential viewers are turned off.

But then, the biggest fail of all...airing the episodes out of order. That's inexcusable.

Imagine if Star Wars were a television series, the narrative spread out to cover 12 hour hour long episodes. In the first episode, the rebels blow up the Death Star. Then, the next three episodes show the rebels talking about how they're going to blow up the Death Star.

Imagine if Dallas had started with the "Who shot J.R." episode, and then the next week, J.R. and Bobby are shown arguing with Jock.

Firefly never had a chance because the network that held their fate in their hands was run by colossal F ups.

And, I'm sorry. There wasn't enough backstory? Mal and Zoe were the only ones to escape the Battle of Serenity. They are the core of the crew. Others come and go, but Malcolm and Zoe are the constants. We know the history of their relationship as much as it needed to be flushed out. We know where their bond was forged, and how strong it is. Shepherd Book's back story is left mysterious on purpose. He knows about the Alliance, and the assassins (operatives) at their disposal. His back story was presented the way it was to add dramatic intrigue, which is a common plot device. It gives the viewer something to look forward to. We know a whole lot about Simon and River's back story. Simon was a brilliant surgeon that sacrificed his fortune in order to save his sister from the Alliance. River was a child prodigy that the Alliance turned into a living, breathing weapon. Inara was a registered companion. Her back story is teased throughout the early episodes of the series, and then detailed more in "Heart of Gold", when we learn more about her, and, more importantly, the depth of her feelings for Mal. Wash? He likes dinosaurs, and loves Zoe. He's nutty, and fun, and a helluva pilot. What more do we need to know about him? Kaylee is the sweetest person in the 'verse, and has a natural aptitude for all things mechanical, including those run on batteries.

I think that the amount of backstory that was revealed in the first season was perfectly done. The characters on board the Serenity were highly compelling. I came to care about all of them, even Jayne. My opinion of Jayne changed drastically over time. The hard ass mercenary shows little flashes of something much deeper when you watch carefully. One of my favorite scenes of the entire series occurs when Kaylee is shot in the pilot. As Simon is operating on her, Jayne is crouched down, watching from outside the operating room. In that fleeting moment, there is a a depth of emotion to his character that is revealed. Wheedon is a master when it comes to character depth. There have been very few series where I've felt emotionally invested in the welfare of those involved. Firefly is that rare series, and 15 years later, I'm still wanting more.

I'd give my right arm for one more season, even fifteen years later. That is how much I loved the show.

Originally Posted by nighthawk07

All these reasons, agreed. FOX definitely mistreated the show. a 2 hour finale is daunting, yes, but not out of the norm. Not to mention, didn't they air the episodes out of order too and perhaps created continuity errors.

[doctor_who]

Originally Posted by starr

IMO don't buy this if you're a fan of the show. you're just giving more money to FOX.

You don't want Fox to bring to back? There's a good chance eventually in my opinion. Effects are cheaper now, and even shows like Will and Grace and Heroes (which was terrible at the end) have been brought back.