Firefly

it's growing on me, although i do think the whole western theme is occasionally a little too forced.

oh yeah, someone was wondering about Ben Edlund before. i guess he was originally looking to get a gig on Buffy, but as this may be the final season (and the animated series is apparently now in flux), and Firefly is where he wound up. but he's got a sci-fi head and a great knack for dialogue, so he should fit

I really enjoyed last week's episode. I have high hopes for this series.

Is this on tonight, or is baseball bumping it?

It's bumped tonight...last week's previews said "In two weeks..."

Baseball is bumping it...

I wouldn't say it's my fav series, but I enjoy it. I'm thinking it could grow into a very interesting show! I want to see the show that was actually supposed to be the pilot. Anyone know when in the season that will air?

Another good ep. This was a friend of mine's first exposure to it...the good news: She liked it and wants to see more...the bad...she's a Joss Whedon fan, and had never head of the series. Makes me wonder about the publicity.

I REALLY like the engineer wink

"You can't...FIX the Bible..."

I've heard from some bitter sorts who hate the show and are gleefully predicting its demise...they say it's dying in the ratings...but Fox is still promoting the hell out of it (I saw lots of ads during last Fri's baseball game) and they have a tendency to stick with shows from proven creators. Since Joss usually wraps up all the loose ends in the average season, we ought to see at least a complete storyline this year instead of some unfinished abortion.

It's in the dreaded Death Slot, though.

IIRC, we're not going to have a large arc this season, he's saving that for next season, so I hope we get ,ore that one season. I really like the cast...and next week is a space ep. I like the space eps more, so far.

Sorry but I'm just not enjoying the show as much as everyone else seems to be. The crew, save for Jayne and Book, is boring and do not elicit any sympathy. Psychic girl should take a note from Tetsuo and start imploding bad guys with her mind. The captian needs to be more amoral so we can watch them pull off more interesting jobs. And the "companion" needs to face the fact that whoring is whoring. As for the rest of the crew who cares. These people looked like they stepped of a Ralph Lauren ad, not a rough and tumble group of rogues and misfits. Whedon should watch "Cowboy Bebop" and get a clue.

Maybe its just me. I've never liked Whedon's shows anyway, but I was looking forward to this show and hoping it would be different.

Actually, for much of history, "whoring" was a highly respected profession. Especially back in the days when people worshipped goddesses. The preistesses were often prostitutes, and vice versa.

Its just you.

Another good one this week. Nice to get some backstory on the characters. Loved how Kaylee joined up. Jayne was kinda unlikely, though.

I think it was to remind people how mercenary Jayne is. Kaylee's appearance was so unexpected (but perfect), I guess they had to go the opposite with Jayne. wink

Beautifly directed and scripted, too.

Some details on the show and the ep from Uncle Joss:

*****
"This week definitely matters [to the series' future]," the celebrated writer-director-producer tells TV Guide Online. "[Network prez] Sandy Grushow said to me before we ever started that this [show] is going to be a slow grow, and [the World Series] is going to hurt us, which it has. Fox has a lot of shows that are underperforming because of this weird season.

"So," he continues, "I'm not like, 'My future is assured!' But it's also not like the death knell chiming."

Far from it. In fact, Fox just commissioned three additional scripts from Whedon, the mastermind behind UPN's Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its glorious WB spinoff, Angel. However, Firefly has yet to get a full-season pickup. "[The script order from the net] is a vote of confidence, and it's a way of not making a decision," Whedon theorizes. "The next few weeks will be important, and this week I'm particularly stressing because I think it's such a good entrance into the world [of spaceship captain Mal Reynolds and his merry band of rogues and misfits]. That's why I'm all hyped about it.

"It has a number of flashbacks to how the crew got together," he continues, "so it's a really good way to learn how it all began. For somebody meeting the characters for the first time, it's a real insight into who they are. There's not all this [plot] information to process, which is a problem because the pilot was never shown. People are like, 'Um, what's going on?' The idea was never to confuse people."

Just so Whedon doesn't add to viewers' consternation, he quickly notes that the backtracking scenes are not highlights from the debut that Fox shot down. "These flashbacks are to before the pilot," he clarifies. "The pilot was the story of how this crew picked up a few wayward stragglers; [this installment] flashes back to how [the original gang] first found the ship itself, what the ship is and what it means to Mal, because [the craft] really is the 10th character on the show."

<a href="http://www.tvguide.com/newsgossip/insider/021025b.asp" target="_blank">http://www.tvguide.com/newsgossip/insider/021025b.asp</a>

In spite of all the doomsayers, I think this show is definately going to last a season. Fox likes Joss--remember, they produce Buffy and Angel, so they consider him to have a good track record as far as they're concerned. That might be enough to get a second season, too, the way Dark Angel did.

Sigh. I kinda wish Firefly was on Sci-Fi or some teensy cable net. That's the only place, these days, where a show can become a CULT hit and slowly get nurtured into a "Buffy", without having to worry about the axe from low ratings. We can bitch about Farscape but at least we got 4 seasons, when it probably would have lasted 13 episodes on ABC. I have to grant Fox credit for being more patient than the other Big Three--Futurama still being around and all, sorta--but they're still too "big" to let things really take their course properly. C'mon, guys, you know the litany: The Simpsons, Seinfeld, X-Files, ALL struggled through their first few years.

BTW, I've heard a few people mention it in passing, but it really is freaky that exactly TEN years ago, the situation was the same. Two new shows on friday. At 8, a tongue-in-cheek SF western. At 9, a dark and dramatic mystery show with SF elements and an ongoing mystery. I just hope history doesn't repeat itself with the SF western getting cancelled and the mystery show sticking around...John Doe is OK, but Firefly is definately shaping up to be superior.

I say this based on recent comments by the creators of J.D. which imply that they're going to string the basic setup along until the last episode. That's a bad idea, I think. One of the best things that ever happened to TV was Buffy's near-cancellation at the end of season one. It made Joss wrap everything up neatly and neccessitated further plotlines be brought in, leading to a constantly-evolving show. That's the way to go, I think. The one-two punch of Twin Peaks and The X-files proved that you can't string people along forever with one conceit--you have to keep solving mysteries, and then introducing further ones.

Agreed. Great character introductions, solid writing, and an engaging story. Good stuff all around.

The best episode, IMHO.

I've caught only two episodes so far - a much earlier one and this last Friday's - I totally dig it. Great dialogue and refreshingly unpredictable but simple plots. It surprised the hell out of me when the guys who had the missing part simply shot the captain in the stomach without being overly dramatic..

I like the cast and have been a long-time B. Edlund fan, though I was never into Whedon's Buffy(stay your cocked-arm feces assault!). I hope this show sticks around because, frankly, I think it blows Star Trek and its various clones out of the water with ease.

Kind of bizarre but I think the worst episode they've shown so far was the premiere. It wasn't a bad episode but more of the type of a filler episode once people know the characters a bit more.

Last weeks episode definatly would have made a better premiere. Either way I just hope it keeps going.

Hastur: Kaylee lookes like a cake exploded.
Me: Yet she still manages to look good....
Hastur: That's because she's CUTE.

The verbal interplay is working amazingly well...combination of good writing and great acting wink
*************

"Use of a sw'hat?!"

All right! Finally! A technologically sophisticated planet. AND acknowledgement of the whole Chinese thing. (I believe I read somewhere that the Alliance was started by the remnants of China and the U.S.) And I'm getting used to everything being an over-the-top SF version of the 18th century. Hmm, with this and "Treasure Planet" coming up we've got a hell of a lot of interplanetary retro steampunk.

"As with so many other situations, the key seems to be giving Jayne a big stick and standing back."

"Planet's coming up awful fast."
"That's just 'cause I'm going down too quick."

"I think calling him that is an insult to the psychotic lowlife community."

"Use of a swhat?"

"I could get naked!"

"Guess I'm just a good man. Well, I'm alright."

Tonights episode was pretty good! I'm becoming amazed at how many plot lines they can handle. Okay, maybe plot lines isn't entirely correct. I just liked how up until things went bad for the crew, we got to see how they all spent their free time. I love character development. Stories aren't good to me until the people they're about are living and breathing for me.

this show's pretty decent.

i expect it'll be gone by... January.

Why, because it's Fox, or just because it's good?

yes.

Is this along the same lines as my mutant ability to curse a new band to obscurity by buying their CD? wink

Pretty good stuff tonight, though we really need for that bloody continuity to kick in. Buffy never leaves us dangling this long with stuff. Nice to get an idea of what River can do, even if it's a tad cliched.

Also weird that we get a "previously on Firefly..." clip depicting stuff that hasn't aired yet.

Another good episode - I keep waiting for them to go total cliche with the plot and it just doesn't seem to happen. Everytime they rear up on a "oh, here we go" familiar sci-fi plot-point, things go all screwy and it stays original and/or unpredictable. I hope it lasts.

"Creepy and mortifing, I got no problem with...."

"Beagles?"

"They weren't cows inside."

Oh shit moment of the ep: "My...ident card...."

"Big time heros, sir."

"Chow's in 10. No need to dress."

The docking shot was very very nice.....

I wonder why the gunshots fx are played with...it may have just been because someone decided it needs to sound different, but somehow I doubt it.

HELP! I forgot to tape Firefly. Can anyone make me a copy?

RE: Blue Handed Devils tonight (11/15)

I _HATE_ it when someone makes me bleed from all my orifices with MiB technology!

This is an entertaining episode. That Fed ship that landed with reinforcements looked pretty snazzy.

Smells like crotch.

Kickass episode!

Best episode ever.

No new eps for 2 weeks, at least, due to holidays. Anyone heard anything about renewal/cancelation, yet? They should know something either very soon or by now. Same for John Doe (which also had the best ep ever tonight).

No word on Firefly as of today... but John Doe and Fastlane have been picked up.

Yeah, I think this was one of the best episodes yet.

There's a rumor over at SyFy portal that the cancellation announcement is coming. Hope it's b.s.

<a href="http://www.syfyportal.com/article.php?id=929" target="_blank">http://www.syfyportal.com/article.php?id=929</a>

I have a good feeling about it. I think it'll be able to hang on and build an audience.

I sincerely hope you're right. This series has definitely taken more than a few eps to get its footing (then again, you have to wonder how different things would be if they'd aired the eps in their intended order).

At any rate, something that's gone from a mild interest has become part of my must-see-TV. Was roaming the Firefly boards at Fox today. Nothing official there about its future. But I did find a link where you can help support the show:

<a href="http://www.fireflysupport.com" target="_blank">Support Firefly by going here!</a>

"Let them know how you feel. Emphasize what you like about the show. Is its wit what fascinates you? The fast-paced action? The exploration of the human experience? The historical inspiration? The more good points you list, the better.

Let them know who you are. Mention your demographics: age, sex, occupation, place of residence."

Fit all this on a postcard, and then send in a box with a magnifying glass....

(Note: I not really making fun of them, I'm downloading and sending a postcard, but that's an awful lot to try to fit on a card and still make it where they will read it instead of squinting at it and tossing it.)

Well, I was reading USA Today and the number of viewers it brought in was sadly second-to-last. The Friday spot is definitely deadly (although for John Doe, it's seemingly okay.). Hopefully, Fox will have the heart to pick it up for a second season.

At the moment, we're still worried about the REST of the season.

I haven't gotten into John Doe at all for some reason. But I think of the two time slots, it has the better one. At 8pm, there are still many people getting dinner or out at dinner or some such on a Friday. Both time slots suck to let a show die just because they couldn't command an audience then. You put Firefly on another night, and I think it would have a much better shot. Even with it's current slot, I think if you gave it promotion and allowed it time to grow its fan base, it has a shot. At least give it one full season fer pete's sake!

The Friday8pm slot IS the death slot for shows. 9pm has only boded well for the X-files, and when it took off, they put it on Sundays, but even that slot has been death on rails.

Nice episode. I'm really going to miss this show. The characters are all very nicely drawn, and it seems like there are some many diverse storylines they could explore. I hope somehow they manage to finish out the season.

Someone on another msg board... AICN, I think... claimed that Jayne had done a phone interview with their local newspaper or something this week and reported that Fox had ordered 3 more episodes.

Give that as much weight as you like.

Over on the firefly board at Fox, they're reporting that they ordered two new episodes to be produced from the scripts they already bought. It also appears they will air the two hour pilot sometime in December. I'm downloading it right now so that I can see what SHOULD have been the first episode.

I want this show to continue. The first episode or two I was lukewarm, but as I've "gotten to know" the characters, it's really grown on me.

Let's see if it can survive my curse of picking the losers.

<a href="http://www.fireflysupport.com" target="_blank">http://www.fireflysupport.com</a>

Good news (sorta). According to the <a href="http://forums.prospero.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=foxfirefly&msg=2116.1" target="_blank">official Firefly forums</a>, Fox just picked up a whopping two more episodes to be produced. Which means, basically, they're going to keep us in suspense a month longer. (But it seems certain that they're going to try to keep it alive until they can at least air the pilot as the big special movie they're apparently planning.)

Also, despite the lousy ratings, apparently the Firefly/Jonh Doe block consistently wins the night among the 18-to-34-year-olds. So...there you go. "Firefly: it's as good as nuts n' gum."

According to the official forum, the Pilot will be shown the Friday before Christmas - that should be a ratings extravaganza...

Assuming they really do show it all at once, that should be two hours long. I found a really bad quality version online and watched it. Everything else makes sense now... doh!

One or both of those new episodes may be in January. So we may be in suspense longer than another month.

No new episodes for the next couple of weeks.

Don't have a lot of confidence in online petitions, but hey, I guess it's an opportunity to get the fan's heard.

<a href="http://petitiononline.com/firefly1/" target="_blank">http://petitiononline.com/firefly1/</a>

so, it looks like this has been shitcanned.