Firefly (series) & Serenity (movie)

[ArnoBD]

As at this moment (sep-oct 2013) "Firefly"-series is sold cheap (~10 pound) on Amazon.co.uk. So i had to order this title without really knowing what to expect...
At the end of watching "Firefly" i was very disappointed that the series had been cancelled ! I would loved to see more from the crew of the "Serenity".

My Review


Then i noticed that there IS a movie continuation called.. "Serenity" !!!


My Review

Watching in the last few days the series "Firefly" at first and then after that the movie "Serenity" was a great enjoyment.
The movie is certainly the answer to the disappointment i was left behind with, after seeing the series and then knowing that the series had been cancelled.
Although i would prefer to have seen a series 2, 3 or even more instead of the movie, that that same movie is just superb !

[Indiana Jones]

Its a miracle we even got the film, how many other shows that only last 14 episodes get a big budget cinema feature.

[theprestige85]

^ Very true. Don't know how Whedon does it sometimes. I've yet to see Firefly. I liked Serenity, but never saw the series. Just wondering if i'll feel underwhelmed seeing the series at this point.

[CouncilSpectre]

I loved Serenity, but the series is soooo much more.

[tigertron]

Looks like we have another Browncoat.

[hagios]

What's this series all about in the SyFy realm, I've not seen it or the movie? What, if it can, does it compare to?

Have thought about getting it at this great price, though! If it is an interesting SyFy drama.

[deepbreathsanddeath]

Originally Posted by hagios

What's this series all about in the SyFy realm, I've not seen it or the movie? What, if it can, does it compare to?

Have thought about getting it at this great price, though! If it is an interesting SyFy drama.

Please stop calling it a SyFy drama. Got that's a gross channel name. Its a Sci-Fi Western and... You can't really compare it to anything else. That's why it got cancelled and why it has such a dedicated cult following. There's nothing else quite like it. If you like "Joss Whedon" stuff, you simply can't NOT see it. That's just insanity.

It accomplished more quality television in 14 episodes than a lot of other shows manage in their whole run. There's no dud episodes. Serenity is awesome too. The only thing holding it back from being quite as grand as Firefly is the fact that they had to make it so it would appeal to those who never saw the series. I personal hate when a movie is made and the characters have to kinda be introduced again.

In saying that, Joss Whedon did an exceptional job handling that crappy necessity, and its not very obvious or tedious at all. In fact he bothered to add a little more to the characters during this which makes it feel a lot less unnessary. It's always worse when they rehash stuff we have already seen in the re-introductions. So kudos.

Amazing series and a truly terrific film follow up.

[theprestige85]

Originally Posted by deepbreathsanddeath

Please stop calling it a SyFy drama. Got that's a gross channel name. Its a Sci-Fi Western and... You can't really compare it to anything else. That's why it got cancelled and why it has such a dedicated cult following. There's nothing else quite like it. If you like "Joss Whedon" stuff, you simply can't NOT see it. That's just insanity.

It accomplished more quality television in 14 episodes than a lot of other shows manage in their whole run. There's no dud episodes. Serenity is awesome too. The only thing holding it back from being quite as grand as Firefly is the fact that they had to make it so it would appeal to those who never saw the series. I personal hate when a movie is made and the characters have to kinda be introduced again.

In saying that, Joss Whedon did an exceptional job handling that crappy necessity, and its not very obvious or tedious at all. In fact he bothered to add a little more to the characters during this which makes it feel a lot less unnessary. It's always worse when they rehash stuff we have already seen in the re-introductions. So kudos.

Amazing series and a truly terrific film follow up.

And with that said, I think i'll buy it...perhaps more sells will translate in Buffy & Angel on blu ray?

[Buzz201]

Originally Posted by deepbreathsanddeath

Please stop calling it a SyFy drama. Got that's a gross channel name. Its a Sci-Fi Western and... You can't really compare it to anything else. That's why it got cancelled and why it has such a dedicated cult following. There's nothing else quite like it. If you like "Joss Whedon" stuff, you simply can't NOT see it. That's just insanity.

You know how incredibly unhelpful that is right?

[ArnoBD]

Originally Posted by theprestige85

^ Very true. Don't know how Whedon does it sometimes. I've yet to see Firefly. I liked Serenity, but never saw the series. Just wondering if i'll feel underwhelmed seeing the series at this point.

Definitely you would not get underwhelmed.
I had seen Serenity before, 2 years ago. Found it then a nice movie.
Now after watching the series i watched it again, after i found out that it was the same crew as the series, and it made it for me a superb movie !
After seeing the series you understand so much more of the characters.
So be sure you will get overwhelmed !

[deepbreathsanddeath]

Originally Posted by Buzz201

You know how incredibly unhelpful that is right?

I'm not really aiming to "help". This isn't 'Nikita' or 'Lost Girl'. It's Firefly/Serenity. The franchise is iconic by now for a reason. If you can't decide if its worth watching, it probay isn't aimed at you. It's a no brainer if you're even remotely in the league of being interested in what it has to offer.

It's fun, well cast, well acted, well scripted, well characterized, well directed, well scored, nicely shot (lots of ugly, obvious 70's zooms of the ship) funny, sad, pretty much everything you COULD want. Except maybe "state of the art special FX". They're gorgeous in Serenity but indeed they've aged a little in the show (it's been a decade, remember.) Doesn't bother me though.

[Buzz201]

Originally Posted by deepbreathsanddeath

I'm not really aiming to "help". This isn't 'Nikita' or 'Lost Girl'. It's Firefly/Serenity. The franchise is iconic by now for a reason. If you can't decide if its worth watching, it probay isn't aimed at you. It's a no brainer if you're even remotely in the league of being interested in what it has to offer.

It's fun, well cast, well acted, well scripted, well characterized, well directed, well scored, nicely shot (lots of ugly, obvious 70's zooms of the ship) funny, sad, pretty much everything you COULD want. Except maybe "state of the art special FX". They're gorgeous in Serenity but indeed they've aged a little in the show (it's been a decade, remember.) Doesn't bother me though.

I'm of the same opinion as theprestige85, it's been hyped so much it can only be disappointing. And I'd rather not give up my time just to be disappointed, without even a scrap of reference...

[ArnoBD]

Originally Posted by Buzz201

I'm of the same opinion as theprestige85, it's been hyped so much it can only be disappointing. And I'd rather not give up my time just to be disappointed, without even a scrap of reference...

There is a difference as theprestige85 said:

Originally Posted by theprestige85

I liked Serenity, but never saw the series.

Believe me, if you liked "Serenity" then you certainly will like "Firefly".
Especially watch "Serenity" after you have seen "Firefly" and you experience a whole new/different movie !

[Buzz201]

Originally Posted by ArnoBD

There is a difference as theprestige85 said:

The way people go on about it, and how Fox screwed it over makes it out to be "The Godfather of television", and it just makes me think it's bound to be disappointing.

Arrested Development is the only overhyped show that clicked immediately for me. I like Community, but they should've given me a disclaimer with regards to the first series and I was even disappointed to the point of being off put by Breaking Bad's first season.

That's why I think it'll be disappointing, people go on about these shows so much, and then they just struggle to deliver with the expectations people give me of them...

[CouncilSpectre]

Of course there's always that danger, but realistically, you'll know within a few episodes whether or not you're going to love it. Firefly, the series, doesn't change much over the course of its run - what you see up front, is largely, what you get, for the rest of the series.

The movie, Serenity, is a good place to start in terms of figuring out whether or not you're going to enjoy the series - the major difference between the movie and the series is obviously budget, spectacle and the amount of action - the series is scaled back, obviously, placing a firmer focus on the characters and how they all fit together, whilst they're pulling jobs.

Guess it depends on what you dug from the movie, if it's the characters, there's little chance that you won't love the series. If it's the action, well you still get that, only on a smaller, television, scale. There was the beginnings of the larger series arc, that was being progressed, but obviously that was curtailed with the show's cancellation. That being said, the movie, accelerates what would have happened over the duration of the series, so you will get a resolution of sorts.

TBH, I hated the sound of the premise when I first heard it. The show had been cancelled by the time I got a hold of the series and started watching it. What a bittersweet experience that was. We watched the entire run in a couple of nights. The movie was a godsend.

At worst, you'll check out a few episodes of a show that you think is overhyped. At best, you'll be indoctrinated into a show that you'll treasure for years to come. It's a risk well worth taking in my book.

[Buzz201]

Originally Posted by CouncilSpectre

Of course there's always that danger, but realistically, you'll know within a few episodes whether or not you're going to love it. Firefly, the series, doesn't change much over the course of its run - what you see up front, is largely, what you get, for the rest of the series.

The movie, Serenity, is a good place to start in terms of figuring out whether or not you're going to enjoy the series - the major difference between the movie and the series is obviously budget, spectacle and the amount of action - the series is scaled back, obviously, placing a firmer focus on the characters and how they all fit together, whilst they're pulling jobs.

Guess it depends on what you dug from the movie, if it's the characters, there's little chance that you won't love the series. If it's the action, well you still get that, only on a smaller, television, scale. There was the beginnings of the larger series arc, that was being progressed, but obviously that was curtailed with the show's cancellation. That being said, the movie, accelerates what would have happened over the duration of the series, so you will get a resolution of sorts.

TBH, I hated the sound of the premise when I first heard it. The show had been cancelled by the time I got a hold of the series and started watching it. What a bittersweet experience that was. We watched the entire run in a couple of nights. The movie was a godsend.

At worst, you'll check out a few episodes of a show that you think is overhyped. At best, you'll be indoctrinated into a show that you'll treasure for years to come. It's a risk well worth taking in my book.

I'll give the pilot a try, see if it's any good, and if I like it I'll try and catch the film next time it's on ITV...

(Edit: Serenity is on ITV4 next Friday and Sunday, I'll probably give it a look then...)

[CouncilSpectre]

I should just clarify, that when I said that the movie is a good place to start in terms of knowing whether or not you'll enjoy the series, that was from the perspective of "if you've seen the movie and enjoyed it, then you'll most likely enjoy the series". If you haven't seen the series or the movie then I'd definitely recommend watching the series before you watch the movie. The series was cancelled, and whilst the overall series arc had been hinted at and progressed in some small measure, the movie accelerates that arc to a conclusion, hence see the movie before you finish the series and you'll spoil yourself to a degree.

The pilot for the series, is an interesting one - it should be 'Serenity' (the episode of the series, not the movie), but when the show aired, it actually started with 'The Train Job'. for the life of me, I can't remember what running order the BDs go with.

[ArnoBD]

Originally Posted by CouncilSpectre

but when the show aired, it actually started with 'The Train Job'. for the life of me, I can't remember what running order the BDs go with.

Yeah that what wondered me !
When i had a look at imdb there was another episode numbering then on the discs. By your remark i guess now that the following on imdb are on the TV airing episode dates.

Disc 1:
- Serenity part 1 & 2
- The train job
- Bushwacked
- Shindig

Disc 2:
- Safe
- Our Mrs. Reynolds
- Jaynestown
- Out of Gas
- Ariel

Disc 3:
- War Stories
- Trash
- The Message
- Heart of Gold
- Objects in Space

On IMDB:
2002:
s1e01 - The train job
s1e02 - Bushwacked
s1e03 - Our Mrs. Reynolds
s1e04 - Jaynestown
s1e05 - Out of Gas

s1e06 - Shindig
s1e07 - Safe
s1e08 - Ariel
s1e09 - War Stories
s1e10 - Objects in Space

s1e11 - Serenity (pilot)

2003:
s1e12 - Heart of Gold
s1e13 - Trash
s1e14 - The Message

---

[CouncilSpectre]

Yep, the disc order is spot on.

[Buzz201]

Just watched the Pilot (Serenity, Parts 1 & 2). Was interesting and enjoyable, but it's not 100% got me yet, and I'm still not convinced of it's "best sci-fi show ever" status. I'll try the second episode soon...

What's up with the casual unexplained Chinese every 5 seconds?