Firefly

[Neustache]

After dropping Netflix, we decided to get some shows on DVD from the library.  We started watching Firefly last night, after hearing many talk about it being really great. As in..best.show.EVER. 

Is it....going to get funny?  Or is just really that serious the whole show?  We got 90% through the first episode but had to turn in for the night.  I mean, I know it's a drama...but it's so dang serious.  And the western/space thing....that's gonna take some gettin' used to for me. 

At what point were you hooked?  Because I'm vaguely interested in it now.  But I prefer comedies....and a comedy it ain't. 

[KMMK]

Keep watching. I haven't seen every episode, but from what I have seen it's one of the funniest/best-written SF TV shows. Definitely not all serious.

[Dulcimina]

It's been at least 10 (?!) years since I've seen it so I can't remember too many specifics.  I know it's witty and sarcastic and I cared about the characters, but it wasn't a sitcom.

[geekette]

Yes, more clever than funny.  Definitely worth watching!

[sol]

If you're looking for something with a laugh track, it may not be your cup of tea.

[Neustache]

Oh, I don't need a laugh track.  My favorite shows are 100% laugh track free.  But..I do need to be amused. I'll give it one more episode.  Thanks, all!

[Goldielocks]

Dry humor of many situations. Some darkness that cuts through at times that highlights the humour.

What hooked me was the use of language and turn of expressions.

[DragonSlayer]

Give it about three episodes before you decide. The first couple were kind of uneven; I think it took a couple of episodes for the cast to gel. Still, it's not everyone's cup of tea, but it definitely shouldn't be judged by the first episode alone.

[BlueHouse]

Well, there's 13 hours that I'll never get back again.  It's okay.  A little campy.  I thought of it as a cross between Battlestar Gallactica and Bonanza.  Maybe I'm the biggest dullard in the history of the world, but I didn't really see too much to classify as "witty".  Great for a sick day though. 

[Roland of Gilead]

How anyone can watch the episode with a statue of Jayne and not think this is good tv is beyond me.

[legacyoneup]

Loved it!

Then again, I love most of the sci fi series.

[tesla]

It's not Breaking Bad but its still a very good show. I found myself really liking the characters, following the actors post Firefly and seeing the move Serenity.

[lizzzi]

Well, it's not a ha-ha comedy, but there's a lot of dry humor mixed up with the drama. It's very original--there just isn't anything else like it, as far as I know. I loved it, and became totally hooked, and I'm not somebody who even watches much TV. I would suggest watching all the (13?) episodes, unless you really, really don't like it. Then watch the movie "Serenity" for completion.  That mix of outer space, the wild west, and Chinese/English is pretty strange, until you understand the history of why things developed that way in the Firefly universe. I always find it a little difficult to "get into" a new science-fiction universe…I loved the Star Trek universe so much that it was hard at first to get into the Babylon 5 stories. Once I did get hooked on Bab 5, there was no stopping me. It was the same with Firefly…you have to tune in your brain, and give the new reality a chance.

If you like Nathan Filion and you're looking for comedy, I'd recommend the first two seasons of "Castle." Great stuff.

[Neustache]

I've seen a bit of Castle - liked it but never got into it.  I thought Adam Baldwin was great in Chuck, which was part of the reason why I wanted to watch this. 

Good to know an explanation/back story is coming for the Chinese/western/space bits. 

Alas, unless I figure out how to advance the DVD to episode 2 without a remote, I won't be able to watch it.  Or we could buy a new remote.  We should probably just buy a dang remote.  These are the kind of silly purchases we put off all the time.


I'm not really into sci-fi, but I keep thinking I just haven't found the right sci-fi.  Ha!   And good lord, I'm sure Breaking Bad is good, but I had to stop watching after 2 episodes.  Way too intense.   I don't mind action movies, but when they let that guy die and he was gasping for breath, I was done.  No thank you. 

[BlueMR2]

I dunno.  I don't recall it ever getting "funny".  I'm a huge sci-fi nut, but Firefly left me flat.  I really found it quite disappointing.  Whatever it is that drove all the other nerds crazy eluded me.

[LibrarIan]

I just finished the series a couple days ago and I watched the movie last night. I thought the show was awesome. Keep watching!

[cdttmm]

How anyone can watch the episode with a statue of Jayne and not think this is good tv is beyond me.

LOL -- I think that just might be my favorite Firefly episode!

[Roland of Gilead]

I dunno.  I don't recall it ever getting "funny".  I'm a huge sci-fi nut, but Firefly left me flat.  I really found it quite disappointing.  Whatever it is that drove all the other nerds crazy eluded me.

Oh come on.   "I'll be in my bunk"

How could you not find that scene/comment funny?

[dragoncar]

How anyone can watch the episode with a statue of Jayne and not think this is good tv is beyond me.

LOL -- I think that just might be my favorite Firefly episode!

He robbed from the rich and he gave to the poor.
Stood up to the Man and he gave him what for.
Our love for him now ain't hard to explain,
The Hero of Canton, the man they call Jayne.

[arebelspy]

I find it very clever, which to me is funny.

The pilot is long, as they have to set some stuff up - give it at least an episode or two past that.

Greatest TV show ever.  Possibly the only one I've seen worth watching.

[mjs111]

I really liked the show.  I've also liked everything else I've seen from Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, The Avengers).  Whedon creates a really nice blend of action, comedy, and horror, and the dialog is fantastic.  When I watched a Buffy episode I frequently came away thinking "I wish I could come up with witty stuff like that when I'm talking."

Mike

[eil]

Firefly may have lost a bit of its luster in the last decade because much of what made it extremely original and entertaining has since been mimicked in lots of other shows.

Firefly wasn't a comedy, it was proper sci-fi. Although the scripts had a lot of wit and the characters were all extremely well written and performed. But then, I'm attracted to character-driven stories moreso than most people, I think. The plot can be dull, the set design low-rent, but if the characters are good, I'm hooked.

I really can't watch Firefly anymore because after the last episode I get angry that it was cancelled just when it was starting to get really, really good.

My favorite episode is Out of Gas.

/browncoat4lyfe

[arebelspy]

My favorite episode is Out of Gas.

That's my wife's favorite; learning all the back stories is fun.

[Roland of Gilead]

I really can't watch Firefly anymore because after the last episode I get angry that it was cancelled just when it was starting to get really, really good.

Totally agree.  They cancel Firefly after what, 4 episodes aired?   They run Two and a Half men for like 30 seasons...

TV life ain't fair.

[mjs111]

I really liked the show.  I've also liked everything else I've seen from Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, The Avengers).  Whedon creates a really nice blend of action, comedy, and horror, and the dialog is fantastic.  When I watched a Buffy episode I frequently came away thinking "I wish I could come up with witty stuff like that when I'm talking."

Mike

You forgot "Doll House" and a few more that I can't remember. I'm also a huge Joss Whedon fan but sadly many of his TV shows (besides "Buffy") don't seem to last. Maybe WE are the ones with bad taste in TV? Nah! My current fav TV show is "Supernatural". Not a Joss Whedon but oh so worthy of watching IMHO.

I'm a huge Supernatural fan.  I think it's the closest thing to Buffy on TV now. 

My favorite character is Castiel.  I saw an interview with Misha Collins and he said when he got the part it was just for one episode so he decided to do a gruff voice for the part (he doesn't talk like that at all in real life). If he knew he was going to become a series regular he would have skipped sounding cool and saved his voice. ;)

I went Off Topic in Off Topic...

Mike

[dragoncar]

I really liked the show.  I've also liked everything else I've seen from Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, The Avengers).  Whedon creates a really nice blend of action, comedy, and horror, and the dialog is fantastic.  When I watched a Buffy episode I frequently came away thinking "I wish I could come up with witty stuff like that when I'm talking."

Mike

You forgot "Doll House" and a few more that I can't remember. I'm also a huge Joss Whedon fan but sadly many of his TV shows (besides "Buffy") don't seem to last. Maybe WE are the ones with bad taste in TV? Nah! My current fav TV show is "Supernatural". Not a Joss Whedon but oh so worthy of watching IMHO.

I'm a huge Supernatural fan.  I think it's the closest thing to Buffy on TV now. 

My favorite character is Castiel.  I saw an interview with Misha Collins and he said when he got the part it was just for one episode so he decided to do a gruff voice for the part (he doesn't talk like that at all in real life). If he knew he was going to become a series regular he would have skipped sounding cool and saved his voice. ;)

I went Off Topic in Off Topic...

Mike

I watched 2 seasons and stopped... is it time to start watching again?

[Neustache]

So I got a new remote and was able to advance the DVD - I'm thinking I watched something out of order?  I watched the Train Job and really enjoyed it last night.  Had enough light-heartedness that I appreciated.  Now I see that was the first one aired, but the first one I watched on the DVD was a very long episode that gave more backstory to the war.  So I'm confused.  Anyways, I really liked the The Train Job episode and while it wasn't laugh out loud funny, I did smirk a bit which is all I ask. 

I can't handle drama for drama's-sake.  Life is dramatic enough.  I want to be amused. 

[skunkfunk]

You didn't like it after 90% of the first episode?!! Sacrilege! Everybody get out your pitchforks!

Seriously though, it's a great show. Reminds a little bit of the wire - hard to get into at first, tough to get away from after that.

[Neustache]

Okay..so apparently I watched Serenity which was supposed to be the first episode.  I understand why the network wanted The Train Job one first, but then it would be confusing without the boring backstory.  Glad I watched it in the order it was supposed to be watched.  We were intrigued enough to watch the 2nd episode and I think we'll both really like it. 

[arebelspy]

You're good - the network aired out of order, but you watched the pilot, then second (train job).

It's about to get even better (Bushwhacked is decent, then Shindig, right after that, is awesome).

[frugalnacho]

I just watched the 1st episode on recommendation from members on this forum.  It was alright.  The wife is not into it, but I am going to give it a shot anyway whether she wants to or not. 

I haven't read all the posts on here, but how do you get 90% through one episode and then go to bed? I only watch tv episodes as whole units.  If I don't have enough time to finish an episode, I don't start it.

[arebelspy]

I just watched the 1st episode on recommendation from members on this forum.  It was alright.  The wife is not into it, but I am going to give it a shot anyway whether she wants to or not. 

Like we said, you gotta get past the first one, which is set up.  Give it 3-4.  I bet after you're done with the series you'll understand why some people think it's the best show ever, even if you don't.  It won't waste your time.

[Polaria]

It gets better and better as the season progresses.
The first episode is like a slap in the face, but if you accept that the Firefly universe is as it is, I think it is a great watch.

We are approaching the end of Season 5 of Castle in Polaria's household - "There are no cows in space!".

[Neustache]

Yep, still watching.  Finished episode 5 last night.  Makes me chuckle, is entertaining enough, and we are getting more of the characters' back story which I like. 

As far as starting something and not finishing it...well, we have kids.  Sleep is precious, and we don't get to determine when and how often we'll wake up during a night.  So when the first episode was much longer than we realized (86 minutes!! vs. what we assumed would be like 45 minutes), we stopped.  Sleeeeeep.  The two year old is special when it comes to sleeping.  Gah.

[whitedragon]

Stick with it Neustache!

Firefly is pretty awesome, and c'mon, Nathan Fillion is a great lead.

[Neustache]

Just watched "Ariel".  Super intense.  I like the funny ones better but it was really, really good. 

[Tallgirl1204]

I love Out of Gas too, but my favorite is Shindig.  Maybe because I'm a folk-dancing nerd, but also because Kaylee is my favorite and her sweetness and smarts shine through-- first when the "mean girls" are so nasty to her, and then when she is surrounded (in a call back to Scarlett O'Hara surrounded by admirers) while she regales them with mechanic humor. 

I also love the language of the show, some of which I find laugh-out-loud funny  ("My days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle" stands out.)-- the way English has continued to evolve into this new world, giving new meaning to the words "shiny," "trim" (ooh, I think it's a dirty word), etc.  And even Zoe's deadpan seriousness has its own humor.  Captain:  "Are you ready?"  Zoe:  "Always."

So glad others here are Browncoats too.  um, while I'm thinking about Mal, I'll be in my bunk. 
 

[solon]

I watched these years ago, but just started watching them again with my kids (teenagers). They love it! We laugh hysterically at most things Wash says, and my son wants to be Jayne.

[Chranstronaut]

Firefly is one of my favorites, but as many people have said, I had to get to episode 3 before I was really sure it was good.  The pacing was slow in my opinion, and the banter takes a while to follow closely, so it's... unsettling? unusual?  Some people have said they prefer to watch the movie Serenity first, but I am really glad I watched it after finishing the series.

Now to be honest, I just never really got into the new Battlestar Galactica.  I watched all of the first season and it was mildly addicting, but in a bad way.  As if I didn't want to keep watching, but I couldn't help myself.  Netflix was a pusher.

[Kaspian]

I'm one of the goofs who goes to conventions as a "Firefly" character.  That's me, second from the left wearing a brown coat.  :)

Glad the Mustachians all seem to dig it!

There's that one scene in "Serenity" where the Firefly comes at the Alliance through a gas fog and if you don't stand up and cheer, you ain't human.  Possibly the best science fiction moment since Luke blew up the Death Star.  (Trying not to give spoilers here isn't easy!)

[arebelspy]

Awesome!  My wife totally wants a duster.

I bet the hat on the guy next to you keeps him warm in his trav-els.

[Kaspian]

Awesome!  My wife totally wants a duster.

I bet the hat on the guy next to you keeps him warm in his trav-els.

Yeah, Keith loves wearing that hat!  His girlfriend (on the right) actually knitted it.  Hahaha... But most sci-fi cons land in July or August.

However, Cosplay is possibly one of the most anti-Mustachian hobbies ever!  Thank God I got most of the pieces I'll need (hopefully for life) before discovering FIRE.  I do need the boots and this costume will be almost 100% screen accurate.  They cost $500.  :(  I've been putting off buying them since I discovered MMM in July '12.  The cheap brown, vinyl $15 Jedi/cavalry boots I've been using don't do the rest justice.
The only decent thing about putting these costumes together is that if they're well done, they have resale value of pretty much what you paid or more.  If you have all the pieces for a set, you can make much more.  The belt is an actual WWII German officer's belt (same as used onscreen), the suspenders is an Israeli military harness (same as used onscreen and dyed wheat colour by yours truly).  Most people use an expensive imitation belt and cheap suspenders.  I lucked out on both those pieces and got them cheap (sellers who didn't know what they had), but if I put them on e-Bay now I'd make a small fortune due to their authenticity.

[lizzzi]

Kaspian is a great Mal.

I also vote for watching the TV episodes before watching the movie "Serenity". It seems to me that you'd be getting the story backwards if you watched the movie first.

I'll also vote for the TV show "Castle" for those who like Nathan Fillion's work. I am up to season 4, and still enjoying it greatly.

[arebelspy]

Kaspian is a great Mal.

I also vote for watching the TV episodes before watching the movie "Serenity". It seems to me that you'd be getting the story backwards if you watched the movie first.

I'll also vote for the TV show "Castle" for those who like Nathan Fillion's work. I am up to season 4, and still enjoying it greatly.

My wife loves Castle.  I couldn't stand, after awhile, how formulaic and predictable it was.

But NF is fun to watch.

[Kaspian]

I couldn't stand, after awhile, how formulaic and predictable it was.

Yeah, me too.  If it's on, fine--it's decent, but I don't go out of my way for it.  IMO, here's the best "Castle" scene:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q3pdj9p6yI

[arebelspy]

I couldn't stand, after awhile, how formulaic and predictable it was.

Yeah, me too.  If it's on, fine--it's decent, but I don't go out of my way for it.  IMO, here's the best "Castle" scene:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q3pdj9p6yI

I knew what it was before I clicked.  The wife and I quote that scene sometimes.  :)

[lizzzi]

Ha-ha…yeah, everybody…"There are no cows in space."

I agree with all who say Castle is formulaic and predictable, but I'm watching it late at night, on my portable DVD player in bed…when I'm fried, trying to go to sleep, and just want entertaining fluff.

[Neustache]

We watched all of Firefly, still need to get the movie to finish it.  We really liked it!  I think it just started off slow but it got better, and yes, funny!

Thanks - might check out Castle, but I doubt my husband will want to watch it. 

[gimp]

One of the best shows of all time. And yes, it's pretty funny.

Buffy and Angel are pretty good shows. So was Dollhouse, especially as it kicked into gear.

[Neustache]

I have zero chance of getting my husband to watch Buffy.  I should get it though and watch it during naptime.