(Spoilers)To Those who felt that Serenity was a disappointment,.,,, by maxgremlin

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

(Spoilers)To Those who felt that Serenity was a disappointment,.,,,

POSTED BY: MAXGREMLIN
UPDATED: Thursday, November 24, 2005 21:01
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Thursday, November 24, 2005 8:07 PM

I've been lurking for some time and read all the criticims by some on how the film was what they expected and that it was too far of a departure from the tv series. It is true that the film is different in terms of tone and structure than the show. But I understand these differences and can at least explain.

First off let me state that I am not in the business of changing peoples minds. People are free to have their opinions and I despise online flamming battles. Just offering my opinion such as it is.

First off, I've read the Mal of the tv show would never put off River or Simon. They were a part of his crew and he never abandons his crew.

First thing to keep in mind is that Joss never lets his character remain static. This is most evident in both Buffy and Angel. They change. Their relationships changes. And hopefully in the end they evolve.

Sadly, Joss did not have the chance to let this evolution occure natrually over several episodes. He got cancelled. So now he had to essentially fast forward the series to a point in time where it was the most dramtically explosive (the River Tam plot).

In the film there has been some time passage since the end of the series. A number of things have have happened. Both Inara and Book have left. He mentions that jobs are becoming increasingly scarce and the ones that are left are unavailable to him due to Simon and River's fugitive status.

Yes Mal is protective of his crew, but he is also protective of the life he has chosen for himself. Take the pilot episode for example. In spite of the fact that Kaylee's been shot, has a run in with the Reavers, found he had two fugitives onboard, and has a Fed tied up below deck, he decides to make the deal with Patience knowing he'll be waking into an ambush.

Mal is very determined to live life on his own terms without the interference of the Alliance. River and Simon, at the time of the movie had become a threat to that life. And Mal was begining to question whether they were more a risk than an asset to that way of life. Again, had the show continued we would have seen this evolve more naturally.

Whats most telling about Mal is that even at a point where he has more reason than ever to leave them behind after the fight in the bar, he can't do it. Much to the suprise of the rest of the crew.
Perhaps in that moment he sees a true kinship with himself and River. They are both "lost in the woods". Where Mal has lost his cause and his faith, River is lost in her own mind. And the Alliance is the reason for all their misery. To abandon her is to adandon something of himself. At least in my opinion.

To those who were angry over the death of Wash, all I can say is that Joss, with only a few exceptions, does not treat his characters as being sanctified and beyond death. By the end of Angel, three regular characters had been killed (four if you count Fred). He doesn't make the decsion lightly and only does it if he wants to intensify the action and drama in a way that sets the story apart from run of the mill genre shows or movies. He wants to suprise and do things that the audience is not expecting. We both hate him and love him for it. Because though losing a favorite character rips us up inside, we also know that most directors/producers dont have the guts to do something like that. They would rather play it safe and hold on to those ratings. Thats why most of what you see on tv or in the movies is so predictable. Everyone is playing it safe.

Well, there you have my response. Sorry I've been yammering on for so long.

Don't mean to offend.

Maxgremlin

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Thursday, November 24, 2005 8:59 PM

JUTIN

Dude, you couldn't have nailed the discussion more accurately...

I wish I could write like that, containing all of my thoughts but in a cohesive manner.

I loved the movie and I pray for more movies.

What the arguments are about is the fact that they can't grasp the fact that Serenity isn't episode 16... 16 thru 22 were skipped. Firefly was cancelled. Serenity is very much like episodes 3 thru 22 of the second season...

And if they make another movie, It'll be like a third season.

As you said, all you need to do is look at Buffy and Angel...

PS - those of you who get confused just need to watch the opening credits sequence again... Mal hasn't seen Simon mad before... Mal has never taken River on a job before...

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Thursday, November 24, 2005 9:01 PM

GIANTEVILHEAD

Chronologically, the movie takes place sometime during the middle of season 2. In terms of story, it's more like the season 3 or 4 finale.

"I swallowed a bug." -River Tam

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