Now, I'm a fan of a lot of things sci-fi, and I had never heard about either the show or the movie during their runs on their respective screens, but seeing that both are out on Blu-ray has piqued my interest! Thus, I had a few questions to ask.
I don't like to generalize, but if you could describe Serenity, what would it be like? In vague terms, i.e., "It's a little bit of _______ (other movie name) with some _________ and a little ________." Don't ruin too much for me,
Should I watch the TV series first before the movie itself? Is it necessary? Thanks, chaps, this is looking like a great blind buy to add to my collection, all the moreso after reading the sparkling technical reviews.
EDIT: And lo and behold, owa bumps up the Serenity thread as I write this. Time to go read it.
I'd classify it as a sci-fi western and don't think you have to watch the TV series first but knowing the characters and what they've been through would help you appreciate the movie more. I started out with the TV shows (not from the beginning though) and didn't actually like it at first since some things just seemed really weird. Like it being a sci-fi western for one and they'll also speak Chinese at times (short phrases, mostly when they're upset ). Not knowing what was up with that, kind of turned me off at first. Now, I love it though.
Anyway, IMO, it's not necessary to have watched the TV series to like/enjoy the movie. It pretty self-contained. You just don't get as much of the backstory and background on the characters. If you get both of them, start with the series though.
Should I watch the TV series first before the movie itself? Is it necessary?
Serenity is basically the conclusion to all the story threads started by Firefly.
Its also all a bit corny, In a good way. Watching the series first gets this style across more gently. Watching Serenity first would be jarring in terms of narrative and style.
I know some people have seen the movie first and are ok about it, but to me I would have been turned off and would have had the impresssion that the movie was like a rushed and corny Star Trek episode.
See it how its supposed to be the - the Firefly series and then Serenity, the movie that completes the series.
My brother came home with the T.V. series (that his co-worker borrowed him to watch) on regular Dvd, and I threw it in to see what it was all about one afternoon......and I ended up watching the whole series in 2 afternoons. Really enjoyed it, so when the movie came out I went to see it. Yes....it's probably not necessary to see the series first, but it would help to understand the characters more like mentioned above!
Serenity is basically the conclusion to all the story threads started by Firefly.
Watching Serenity first would be jarring in terms of narrative and style.
I know some people have seen the movie first and are ok about it, but to me I would have been turned off and would have had the impresssion that the movie was like a rushed and corny Star Trek episode.
I have to seriously disagree. I had never heard of Firefly before seeing the trailer for Serenity in theaters. What I am saying is I wasn't aware about the series at all.
I was intrigued by the trailer and I first went to go see Serenity. All I can say is it blew my mind, in a good way. It quickly became one of my all time favorite sci-fi movies. It's genius. I went out after seeing the movie and purchased the series on DVD and I think I came to love it even more after that.
But that's just me. (OP, I recommend doing what you want, but don't be afraid to watch the movie first).
I have to seriously disagree. I had never heard of Firefly before seeing the trailer for Serenity in theaters. What I am saying is I wasn't aware about the series at all.
I was intrigued by the trailer and I first went to go see Serenity. All I can say is it blew my mind, in a good way. It quickly became one of my all time favorite sci-fi movies. It's genius. I went out after seeing the movie and purchased the series on DVD and I think I came to love it even more after that.
But that's just me. (OP, I recommend doing what you want, but don't be afraid to watch the movie first).
I watched Serenity first, had never seen the series at all, I loved the movie and didn't realize it was a continuation of the Firefly series at first. I tried to watch the series once on TV, and didn't really enjoy the series. A bit later I ended up with it on DVD and sat down watching it in order and loved the series as much as the movie.
Even though you've made up your mind, I felt like chiming in here.
I should start out by saying I probably watch too much TV, and over the years have developed quite a large list of shows that I absolutely loved. They've ranged from Crime Drama's like the original "Law and Order", to politically themed shows like "The West Wing", to tense thrillers like "24" and the first couple seasons of "Alias", to sci-fi themed shows like the "X-Files" to "Lost", right through to the pure Sci-Fi the likes of "Battlestar Galactica" (particularly the new series), and of course "Star Trek" in all of it's various incarnations. Some of current favourites include the weirdly hilarious and action packed "Chuck", "Heroes", "Supernatural", and "Eli Stone". I have pretty varied tastes in television, and having said that...
Firefly is my absolute favourite television series of ALL TIME!
Should you watch this series? Absolutely! Yes!
Is it necessary in order to enjoy "Serenity"? Not really, but I highly recommend it.
Some previous posters have alluded to the western-themed science fiction nature of the show, and how some of the dialogue is "spiced" up with Mandarin Chinese. But, this show is more of a character driven series to me than anything else. It is set in the future, in space, on other planets, but the western theme re-inforces the feelings of settling down in new territory, and carving out a new life from sometimes, untamed and wild lands, much like a western would. The fact that everyone in the 'verse can speak fluent chinese is also a bit of insight into how the American and Chinese cultures have merged over time, due to them being the last 2 superpowers. The dialogue is quirky, but feels completely natural coming out of the characters' mouths, and the chinese is placed strategically so that it often would be used in place of some more colourful expletives. It actually enhances, the lines rather than detracts from it.
As I said before, however, this show is completely character driven. A lot of the dialogue and situations stem from the relationships that each character ultimately has with one another. Some characters like Mal, for instance, react and act completely different with each of the other characters in the cast. While he commands the trio of Zoe, Wash, and Jayne, it's obvious he has the most respect for Zoe, and is possibly slightly intimidated by her. Mal's relationship with Wash is the most like Employer/Employee, and he treats Jayne with a patronizing indifference sometimes. While he is also Kaylee's boss, his relationship is less employer/employee, and more father/daughter (not quite... but that's the closest approximation of his relationship with her I can think up). Then there's how he interacts with the passengers aboard Serenity (Book, Simon, and River), and his tenant (Innara) which I won't get into here.
I feel it's the relationships that these characters had with one another that really propelled this show, and my love for it. Some of this can get lost in the movie, if that is your starting point, although you get hints of these relationships, it is a much more satisfying experience in my opinion if you watch the series first. Especially, with regards to River Tam (Summer Glau), who is one of the 3 most important characters in the series/movie along with Malcolm Reynolds, and the ship Serenity herself (the series is named Firefly, the type of ship, and the movie is named for her, after all). As much as you get to see of how disturbed/dangerous River is in the movie, you don't really get to see some of the most heartbreaking scenes with that character, if you haven't seen the television series (or what a phenomenal acting job Summer does, given this was her first major acting role).
What other sci-fi shows would anyone out there recommend to someone who liked Firefly, but hasn't watched any other sci-fi shows? I'd prefer something with good writing/interesting themes, not just techy-futuristic-nerdishness. So...any recommendations?
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Also, I vote for watching Firefly before seeing Serenity. Serenity isn't really a great movie, so the only point to watching it is to get some sort of closure for Firefly, otherwise I think it's somewhat of a waste of time.
Firefly, however, is great. I came across it during my fascination with westerns (which still continues to this day).
What other sci-fi shows would anyone out there recommend to someone who liked Firefly, but hasn't watched any other sci-fi shows? I'd prefer something with good writing/interesting themes, not just techy-futuristic-nerdishness. So...any recommendations?
FARSCAPE. But this one you cannot join in the middle of.
I am a Firefly/Serenity fan who also likes Farscape....it has the same sense of anarchy fun that Firefly/Serenity has. It is pretty difficult to get a hold of the DVDs anymore however, and they have always been way too expensive. Well over a year ago there was a story about Sony acquiring the first season and possible trying to acquire the rest as well. Hopefully they will buy it all and get it back out there...in blu!!!
PS - as HumanMedia already stated, the new Battlestar Galactica is also great, however it doesn't have much of anything in common with Firefly/Serenity except the fact that it is quality Sci Fi. Battlestar Galactica is more of a dark complex drama, where as Firefly/Serenity is popcorn fun.
Last edited by Vendetta-akk; 12-19-2008 at 11:46 AM.
I had never watched the show, and watched the movie (first), and loved it. Just keep in mind that the characters are for the most part established in a small tv show before watching, and you'll get on just fine.
It's a sci-fi (star wars/trek adveture type), with an almost awkward yet comfortable western twinge to it. And an extremely likeable cast of characters.
And if anything, the movie just made me want to go back and watch the show. I havent yet (well, the first episdoe at least), btu I defintiely plan too. And if I like it as much as the movie, it will defintiely become a part of my Blu collection.
You will not be disappointed at all. I'm a huge Firefly/Serenity fan and cannot wait for the movie to hit Blu in 11 days!!
When I first saw the trailer for the movie I vaguely knew about the series but had never seen an episode. I went to see the movie and absolutely loved it. It's easily in my top ten favorite movies of all time. Caught about half the episodes of the show on the Sci-Fi Channel during a marathon and immediately went out and picked up the series a couple of years ago.
The show is definitely a mixture of western and sci-fi with the show having a little more of a western feel while the movie has more of the sci-fi element.
Enjoy it and you'll be a Browncoat before you know it.
And you may possibly fall in love with Morena Baccarin as Inara...absoutely beautiful
Serenity is basically the conclusion to all the story threads started by Firefly.
I think I've asked about this before but it might have been a different forum. I've often wondered where Serenity fits in on the timeline but maybe that is the way to think about it (as the conclusion to all the story threads). Basically a summary for the whole show and encompassing the whole timeline.
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Firefly TV Show / Serenity film: Few Questions
). Not knowing what was up with that, kind of turned me off at first. Now, I love it though. 
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